A/N: Set during "Inside Job," and for a moment, Creepy!Knock Out invades the fic.
Jack looked out his window and saw the sun had set, and he sat down on his bed. He had ignored Miko as best he could at the base by distracting her with video games until his mother had come to check on him. She'd offered to take Raf and Miko home as well since they didn't know how long the Autobots would be away for. Jack had the entire ride until they dropped Miko off to avoid her making a slip to his mother about him and Smokescreen.
It was tiring, but his mother hadn't been tipped off at least.
Curiously, Jack took his phone out and called Smokescreen to see if their mission was over yet. He frowned when all he got was static and tried Arcee next.
"This isn't exactly a good time, Jack." Arcee said, but there was no blaster fire in the background.
"I just tried to call Smokescreen and he wouldn't pick up, is he okay?" Jack questioned in concern.
Arcee was silent. "Jack, I don't know how Smokescreen's doing." She said and Jack's heart started to speed up.
"What happened?" he asked and Arcee remained silent. "Please, what happened?"
"Smokescreen," Arcee said reluctantly, "was captured by the Decepticons."
"What?!" Jack shouted. "I can't believe this, how this happen? Did he get caught on the mission?"
"No, it was after." Arcee replied. "He was upset and went out for a drive, but then Soundwave showed up and captured him." she said and her voice turned sharp. "Jack, stay home, everything will be fine."
Jack frowned. "This is different than the Arctic thing, the Decepticons could very well kill him." he said. "And you expect me to believe that everything's just gonna be fine?"
"Yes." Arcee said simply. "The Decepticons need him for something, and that will give us time to try and find him. Stay calm, and stay home." She said before cutting the line.
Jack stared at his phone before he closed it and gripped his hair in frustration and worry. How was he supposed to stay calm when he felt like he was going to be sick with worry?
Smokescreen saw Jack stand in front of the entrance, his face set in determination. "I just want to talk! " he shouted and the mech transformed as he leaned in close.
"Well I don't we can't talk if there's nothing to say." He retorted and wondered why Jack didn't get the hint to leave him alone. He'd messed up, and he didn't like being reminded of it.
"It's still my fault, just let me apologize." Jack said pleadingly and the sincere tone caught Smokescreen off guard. It was all it took though for him to say what was on his mind. "What do you have to apologize for? I was careless with bringing you with me, that's all there is to it."
Jack's response had surprised him, especially with how heartfelt he sounded when he said he liked having fun with him. "You… you were?"
Jack nodded. "Yes, I had fun that's what I wanted to ask you before."
The idea of hanging out with Jack could have repercussions, and it made Smokescreen wary of immediately replying. He'd eventually replied though that he'd think about, and Jack accepted the answer with a reply that he would be waiting and moved to the side. Smokescreen paused and smiled slightly, if they were going to try and strike something up, he might as well extend some courtesy. "Walk with me?"
Jack smiled back at him. "Sure."
"Am I really that boring?" Jack questioned after his tour had failed to catch Smokescreen's interest.
Smokescreen decided to alleviate those fears. "You're not boring, you can be very fun when you're bad," he said slyly and it got a flush out of Jack "It's just that this is boring. More of that not being able to do things for myself."
Jack's tone turned dry. "If you did things for yourself then we'd have more giant robot sightings than we already do." Smokescreen snorted as took Jack home. "I'll see you tomorrow."
Jack smiled at him and nodded. "Yeah, later."
Smokescreen felt guilty as Jack gently broke up with the redheaded girl. "Jack, whatever I did, I didn't mean for this to happen."
"You never mean for anything to happen, do you?" Jack asked, but Smokescreen had a feeling he wasn't supposed to answer as Jack shook his head. "It wasn't because of you; it was because of me…and my relation to you."
Smokescreen's guilty gave way to confusion. "I…I don't understand what you're saying."
Jack had sighed before he replied and he blushed. "I have what is called a 'crush' on you; it means that I'm interested in you…romantically."
This confession caught Smokescreen off guard. Jack had feelings for him? He didn't know this, but in his haste to brush past the awkwardness, Jack ended up looking like he'd just gotten his spark broken and it made Smokescreen feel like slag. The feel only worsened as Jack directed him to drop him off at the corner.
"If you don't feel the same way I do about you, then what am I to do?" Jack asked, but though his tone was uncaring, there was something underneath.
This was something Smokescreen had no problems with answering. "You're still my friend, and you were accepting of me."
Jack had glanced down at him, looking worried. "I just thought I couldn't keep this to myself, which you should know before you all found the Omega Keys and left. We'd never see each other after that, and there'd be nothing significant about me to stay in your processor."
Smokescreen couldn't help but disagree with that. "That's not true, you've managed to surprise me a few times, including tonight."
Jack's slightly smile made Smokescreen feel a little less awful for brushing off his confession. "This isn't exactly a good thing to be remembered for, that I'm only important to you because we broke the rules together."
Smokescreen's tone became sincere. "You're important to me for other reasons."
After Jack had gotten out, he'd explained how much he liked him, and that he respected the fact Smokescreen didn't feel the same way about him. He'd further elaborated that the mech made him feel normal and alive with a gently pat on the hood, and thanked him for being his friend.
Smokescreen couldn't help but be stunned, so much that he couldn't let out anything other than a 'You're welcome.' It gave him a lot to think about.
Smokescreen remembered the feel of Jack's warm hand on his cheek, and his soft lips on the same spot after they had spoken of how much they cared for each other and were willing to give this, whatever 'this' was at least, a chance. He remembered the phantom feeling of Jack lying on his chest, so close to his spark, and so warm under his digits. It had been nice.
That was why he was startled when that pleasant dream abruptly shifted to him stand with the other Autobots in front of Optimus as he explained the use of the Omega Keys and how it could restore Cybertron.
Smokescreen was brought of the cortical patch when Knock Out pulled the pull out of his helm and he felt defeated when he saw that Megatron now knew what the keys could do.
Knock Out brought Megatron back online and the silver mech's words chilled Smokescreen. "The power to remake Cybertron, as I see fit." He said and got off the slab. "I will pry the other two keys from Optimus Prime's lifeless fingers." He said to Knock Out. "We must find the exact location of the Autobot base. Patch in and tear apart Smokescreen's mind if you must."
"Me?" Knock Out asked.
"Who else?" Megatron retorted and turned around. "Do you think I would intrust you to see this key safely to the vault containing the other one?" he questioned as he held up the Omega Key that Knock Out had pulled out of Smokescreen's body with the phase shifter.
Knock Out didn't reply as Megatron left and sighed in exasperation as the doors slid shut. "Once more into the brain pane."
Smokescreen started struggling despite how tired he felt. He couldn't let the Decepticons know the bases' location. "No, not again! Stay out of my head!"
Knock Out chuckled. "Now, now, you'll only make things worse for yourself." He said. "Though maybe when I tear apart your mind, I'll leave those memories you have of that human just so I can tear him apart in front of you."
Smokescreen struggled even more, but he also felt humiliated that his memories with Jack weren't his own anymore. "He has nothing to do with this!"
"Oh, that's where you're wrong, you see; Megatron doesn't really like that human," Knock Out scowled and rubbed his jaw, "and neither do I actually." He continued and smirked. "But maybe I can have him as an experiment of some kind. If he likes having fun with you, then he's going to love the fun we'd have together."
Smokescreen scowled fiercely at him. "You'd better not lay a hand on him!"
Knock Out looked down at him haughtily. "You're in no position to be making demands." He said and leered as he tapped a digit on Smokescreen's chest plating. "In fact, you're in no position to stop me, period. I wonder if I could get the information out of you another way." He added and raked his claws down the stomach plating.
Smokescreen felt disgust curl inside him at the touch, but he noticed that the phase shifter was within reach and he grabbed onto it. "I don't think so." He retorted and slid off the slab. He struggled with Knock Out over the shifter until he pulled it free from the red mech's grip as they went through a wall on the other side of a hall. Smokescreen held the shifter up triumphantly as he saw that Knock Out was stuck in the wall.
"Well, aren't you the clever one?" The red mech hissed and struggled before he glared at Smokescreen. "This ship is miles in the sky and swarming with Decepticons, do you really think you can escape?"
Smokescreen put the phase shifter on his wrist and turned in on. "Who says I'm looking to escape?" retorted and mockingly gave him a two-fingered salute as he ran down the hall, turning the corner in the process.
He smirked as he heard Knock Out yell in frustration; now, where were those keys?
All through the day, Jack had wanted to call Arcee and see if Smokescreen was back yet, but he didn't want to seem like a bother when they were working on trying to figure out a way to find him. He didn't want to tell Miko and Raf what happened, but Miko eventually wheedled it out of him when she saw he was starting to looked someone had kicked him in the gut.
So when Jack saw Arcee, Bulkhead, and Bumblebee out at the front of the school, he rushed over. "Is he okay?" he asked immediately.
"Yes, a little cocky, but what else is new?" Arcee replied and Jack sighed in relief.
"Can I see him?" he asked.
"Yeah, the funny thing was, he said he wanted to see you too when I left." Arcee relayed and Jack put on his helmet before getting on the seat.
"I can't wait to see the look on your face when you see your boyfriend." Miko teased.
"Sorry, Miko, you can't go to the base today." Bulkhead said and Miko crossed her arms indignantly.
"How come Jack gets to then?" she demanded.
"Jack won't be staying long, Smokescreen offered to do inventory to get Optimus to clear it." Arcee explained.
Miko's scowl fell into a smirk. "Seems someone's in love." She said elbowing Jack in the ribs.
The dark-haired teen scowled at her. "No we're not." He retorted and let Arcee drive him away before Miko could continue her teasing. "I didn't expect Smokescreen to come back like you said, honestly."
"He got the Omega Keys the Decepticons had, but something seemed to rattle him." Arcee said. "He told us that Megaton used a cortical psychic patch on him, but all he got was what the Omega Keys did."
"He came close to almost having the co-ordinates of the Autobot base being plucked out of his head, that'd rattle me too." Jack replied as Arcee came to the road leading toward the silo and watched the rock wall slid up to let them go in. Once she stopped, Jack took his helmet off and got off the seat, though once he caught sight of Smokescreen, he broke into a run. "Smokescreen!"
The mech looked down at him, and it was followed by him kneeling down as he scooped Jack up once he was in reach. "Jack."
"You're okay." The boy said relieved as he felt his relief reach its peak.
"Of course I'm ok-" Smokescreen was cut off when he felt something soft press against his lips, and he was stunned to realize it was Jack kissing him. He closed his optics as he enjoyed the feel of it, and leaned his head forward as Jack pulled away, which made him open his optics to Jack's bright red face. "I thought you said no kissing in front of everyone?"
"Just this once." Jack replied as he steadfastly kept from looking at everyone else.
Smokescreen half-lidded his optics. "You've said that before." He replied and Jacks' face practically glowed in embarrassment.
"You said you needed to talk to me?" Jack reminded him and Smokescreen's expression became serious.
"Yeah, it's kinda important." He said and stood up with Jack held securely in his servos and turned to walk away.
"Smokescreen…" Optimus said and Smokescreen looked back, his optics widening innocently.
"Oh, right, the rule." He muttered like he just noticed they were standing there. "Arcee, if anyone has to hear this," he said and grimaced, "I think you should." He said before he continued walking off.
Arcee raised an optic ridge before she followed after them, though she kept a watchful optic on where Smokescreen's servos were on Jack. She leaned against the wall as Smokescreen came to a halt.
"Jack, you know I care about you, right?" he questioned and Jack nodded. "Well, I promise I'll make sure they never hurt you."
Arcee straightened up as Jack looked confused. "Who hurts him?" she asked hastily.
"Are you talking about Vince? You didn't do anything lately, so I don't think you need to worry." Jack said and smiled, but Smokescreen's expression remained dead serious.
"I'm not talking about him; I'm talking about Knock Out and Megatron." He said and Jack looked surprised.
"Smokescreen, it's not your duty to protect Jack, I'm his guardian." Arcee replied. "I can make sure nothing happens to him."
Smokescreen looked uneasy, but Jack had to wonder if this abrupt declaration had something to do with his capture. "Smokescreen, what exactly happened?"
The mech tried hard to focus on Jack and not on Arcee standing to the side. "Knock Out was about to go into my head like Megatron, but he taunted me with the fact he saw my memories of us together." He said and Jack looked concerned, but he wasn't finished yet. "He said he was going to show you how much more fun he was than me, and then he got even creepier before I took the phase shifter away from him."
Jack didn't even want to know how 'creepier' Knock Out got, but it rattled him as well to know about this development. "Well, I'm okay, and you're okay, that's all that should matter."
Smokescreen's uneasy expression lightened to a small smirk. "You're right, that's all that should matter. That and the fact I got the Omega Keys."
Jack rolled his eyes as he saw Arcee do the same. "I should be going now since it seems you're fine." He said and the three of them walked back into the main room, but Optimus, Ratchet and Bulkhead were standing at the portal. "What's going on?" he asked.
"It's Starscream; he wants to exchange the Omega Keys he has for medical aid." Ratchet explained and Jack's brows shot up in surprise.
"Arcee, prepare to close the ground bridge should something go array, Smokescreen, stand on guard with Bumblebee." Optimus instructed as the three mechs went through the green portal.
Smokescreen set Jack a top the nearest platform. "Don't move." He said winking.
Jack snorted. "Not like I can." He retorted and they waited for the mechs to come back through.
A sudden explosion in the back caused them all to look around before the sprinklers came on and Jack put his arms over his head to shield himself from the water.
"Arcee, close the ground bridge now!" Optimus sent through the intercom and Arcee pulled the lever.
She saw a gray blur go speeding into the ground bridge seconds before it shut off. "Go find out what that explosion was about." She said and Smokescreen turned to leave, when he stopped dead in his tracks at the sight of an empty perch.
"I cannot allow Optimus Prime to be the one who revives Cybertron." Megatron said as he and Dreadwing came onto the bridge of the Nemesis. "We will locate the Autobot base, invade it, and retrieve the Omega Keys."
"Been there," Another voice said smugly and the two of them saw Starscream leaning against a console, "done that." He said and bowed. "Pardon the unannounced visit," he continued and Dreadwing took out his blaster, but Megatron stopped him from shooting Starscream, "but I come bearing a peace offering." He said and held up the three Omega Keys with a smirk. "And a bargaining chip." He said and in the other servo he held up Jack's still form.