Evident
Jack refused to believe Miko and Raf were right, but the evidence was just as big as the couple of cybertronians in his garage.
Disclaimer - I don't own Transformers Prime, which is property of its rightful owner.
Evident byCobaltNightSky
Part 15 of the Dangerous Ride Series
14~02~2023
Just wondering. ;)
Enjoy!
Evident
Jackson Darby stared at the infinite in utter boredom. He had his head rested on his right hand, his elbow and his left forearm on the counter and his left foot crossed behind his right ankle. He sighed.
It was a Saturday morning like any other, the only difference was Mr. Bob had asked him to come to work. So, instead of spending time with his friends at base, there he was, wearing that ridiculous hat and the uncomfortable apron at match.
He checked his analog watch. 7:58. Soon doors would be opened and perhaps few early-raising people would come in, as usual, he thought. He sighed again. Looking at the bright side, he had to admit he would have an easy morning. There wouldn't be all that hustle and bustle he lived in his usual shifts. Best of all, by the time people flooded the local, he would be already leaving.
He had to admit he preferred this time of the day than working in the afternoon, but school didn't allow such luxury to happen… And, since he was one of the youngest staff members, he had no choice but to accept timetables others didn't want. Today it had been just an exception.
Loreen, a couple years older girl who with he got along pretty well, couldn't have come that Saturday morning. Apparently, she had traveled abroad for an university entrance test. It had been thus he had been asked to come cover for her during her absence. Jack was glad for her, though. Perhaps in few years he could be doing the same thing. Who knew!
His blue eyes moved then towards the chestnut haired boy that was passing the mop. He was Dylan, Loreen's boyfriend, also older than him. Despite his big aquiline nose, he was quite handsome and also an agreeable person Jack liked to work with. He tended to coup well both his personal life with his job and he never seemed to complain about it at all. He preferred to solve thing with a simple smile.
Dylan's watch began beeping. It was eight o'clock. Opening time.
"Hey, Jack, ready for the day?" He animatedly asked, putting the mop inside the cleaning room.
"Gotta be, I guess." Jack shrugged, side smiling.
"Don't worry, man, it'll go well. It's Saturday!" He exclaimed, extending his arms wide in the air. Said that, he adjusted his cap and walked up to the entrance. He unlocked the door and pushed it open.
Jack heard him welcoming the first clients and he prepared. Usually, morning people didn't begin to truly show up until nine past quarter, but it seemed there was someone far too excited for having fast-food breakfast. His gaze was lowered down to the backside of the counter, where he checked the computer properly worked and the cashier's money amount for changes. By the time he was done, someone was already awaiting in front of him.
"Welcome to K.O. restaurant. May I take your order?" He automatically recited, slowly bringing his look up.
"Good morning, Jackrabbit!" The strident voice of the Japanese girl puzzled the boy. He certainly wasn't expecting her. Neither Raf, who waved his hand at him, happily.
"Hey, what you doing here so early?" He managed to reply, still not believing his friends had come visit him. Miko and Rafael interchanged gazes.
"Ah… Bumblebee told us Knockout had commented him Arcee had yesterday talked with your mom, who had said you had shift at work this morning." The younger one tried to shorten the story, although it ended up sounding more like a tongue-twister rather than a summary. He shrugged confusedly. "So, we asked 'Bee to bring us here."
"Wow!" The dark haired boy raised his eyebrows and slowly blinked in pure bewilderment. His blue eyes fixed onto the window at the far end of the local and noticed the yellow Urbana parked on the outside. "I wasn't expecting it at all."
"Exactly. That's why we decided to drop by to say hi!" Miko remarked, extracting her cellphone. Raf nodded supportively.
"Thank you, guys, but I think you're gonna get bored here." Jack admitted, leaning on the counter. Without warning, the pink haired girl shoot her camera at him, surprising him further.
"Now I have proofs you actually worked at K.O. drive-in. For the team's photo album." She grinned. Jack shook his head, but grinned too.
"Alright, you got me." He surrendered, raising his hands up. "May I get you something?" He offered, signaling the panel showing the products in offer.
"I want some hot cocoa and a chocolate croissant, please." Rafael politely asked, taking his walled out from his pocket.
"Better pick the simple croissant, Raf." Jack suggested coming closer and lowering his voice. "The chocolate ones taste truly awful, barely have any chocolate in it and they are twice more expensive. On the other hand, the simple ones turn out quite tender and much softer."
"Simple one then." The young one nodded, accepting his friend's advice.
"What will it be for you, Miko?" Jack turned to look at her. She remained silent for a moment as she inspected the menu and then grinned.
"Pancakes and milk tea." Miko firmly declared, never hesitating in her decision.
"Good choice." The boy behind the counter admitted. "Hot cocoa with simple croissant and milk tea with pancakes." He repeated, introducing the corresponding numbers onto the tactile screen. "Anything else?" They both shook their heads a no. The order was sent to kitchen. "Alright, that should be 4,50$ for you Raf and 5,37$ for you Miko."
Both kids searched in their wallets the asked amount, while the older boy prepared the plastic tray with their order. Within minutes, their breakfast was served.
"Enjoy it." Jack smiled, adjusting his hat over his head.
"You're not joining us?" Miko invited him. "We do have something important we need to discuss with you."
"I can't." He denied, sadly. "I've gotta tend clients."
"Which clients are you talking about?" The young Wrecker laughed, spreading her arms wide while having a look around. She was right, the place was deserted. "I don't think people likes to weak up early to have breakfast on an fast-food restaurant."
"Go on, Jackson. Pick something and have some time with your friends." Dylan, who had heard them, encouraged the boy, leaning on the kitchen's doorway. "Saturday mornings are nothing like midweek. Mr. Bob never comes around on weekends and we rarely have people flooding the local till ten o'clock. David, Loreen and I usually have breakfast during that time." He explained. "So, don't worry. If someone comes in, I'll let you know."
"Sure?" The boy inquired.
"Sure." He affirmed. "If you allow me the suggestion, the egg-roll it's quite good. David is a maestro with the spatula."
"Thanks, Dylan."
The dark haired boy prepared some coffee for himself and then picked the dish the cook had tended him. He placed it on the tray and carried it to the nearest table to the counter. He wanted to be ready in case he was needed.
They began eating, at first without interchanging any word. Jack gave a peek around and then spoke.
"So, what was that thing you wanted to discuss with me?" He wondered, cutting a piece of his egg-roll and taking it to his mouth.
"Arcee." The girl went straight to the point, pouring some syrup on her pancakes. She left the jar and picked a spoon. "There's something odd going on with her." She added, stirring her tea.
"What you mean?" The dark haired teen inquired, worries rising within him as he darted his gaze between his friends.
"Miko and I have realized that she tends to spend much less time with us than she used to, and sometimes disappears from sight. We are not sure what is it due to, but she seems to be somehow acting… Elusively." Raf put him on the known before taking a sip from his hot cocoa. "We were wondering, since she's your guardian, if you have noticed a different behavior in her."
The dark haired boy diverted his eyes for an instant, pondering his words, before he slowly nodded.
"Now you say it, yeah, I've noticed something has changed lately." He slightly frowned, unsure. "I mean, it's not a big deal, but she gives me the feeling she is more… Animated. In fact, yesterday, when I walked past the garage I heard her actually laughing. A short lived laugh. I think she was talking to someone on the comm. link."
"Arcee laughing?" The young Wrecker opened her mouth agape, her mug tight in her grasp. She couldn't believe his words. "Are you sure she's not a 'Con impersonating her?"
"Couldn't be. She's far too tough to be captured." Jack chuckled, proudly denying it. He paused for a moment to drink from his coffee and then continued. "The thing is, I do see her happier, what makes me feel glad for her. But, at the same time, I feel we don't get to be with each other as much as we used to. She seems busier and, sometimes, even … Distant."
"Yeah, we've noticed your bike parked on the outside." The Japanese girl pointed her thumb over her shoulder. She carried a piece of pancake to her mouth and spoke full mouthed. "Dude, she's totally ditching you. That's sad."
"No, I hardly believe she would ditch me after everything we went through as partners. There must be an explanation for all this." The teen affirmed without hesitation. He introduced another piece of his egg-roll in his mouth and chewed for a moment before he swallowed it. "Arcee probably needs some space and might be spending some time on her own." He made a guess, taking his cup to his lips. "It's not the first time she has done it."
"Or she's probably spending it with someone else…" The younger boy posed another possibility as he dunked his croissant in the hot cocoa. Jack almost choked. Miko's face, instead, illuminated in excitement.
"I was wondering how long would it take Arcee to finally hook up with someone…" She grinned further, drinking from her tea cup. "The question now is, who among our 'Bots?" She flashed her eyebrows, a playful snicker leaving her.
"The cybertronian she was yesterday talking to on the comm. link." Raf concluded, never parting his eyes from his breakfast. "But doesn't necessarily need to be an Autobot in essence." He added, biting the now chocolate-covered croissant.
The young Wrecker's expression showed well her surprise, while Jack stared at him in utter shock.
"You think she's having secret rendezvous with a Decepticon?" The pink haired girl warily brought the tricky question up.
"Or perhaps the Decepticon that's already with us…" The Hacker voiced his conclusions, gesturing serene.
Those words fell on the dark haired boy like a bucket of icy cold water, as it made him lower his gaze to his dish. Silence settled at the table.
"Oh, how couldn't I see it before…?" The teen rubbed his face with his hands as realization hit him hard. "It was so evident…!"
"What was it so evident, Jack?" Rafael wondered, fixing his brown eyes on his.
"The reason why Knockout offers himself to drive my mom home." The dark haired boy explained. "He knows Arcee tends to stay for the night and he also knows Mom won't let him outside having space for him in the garage."
"So, you're saying your garage has become some kind of secret dating point?" Miko tried to assimilate his words, not yet believing them.
"I don't know." He shook his head, unsure about what to answer, his scowl accentuating. "To be honest, I cannot see Arcee falling for Knockout. I mean, knowing her, I'm skeptical to think she'd push their battlefield past aside."
"Why not?" Raf tilted his head. "He indeed was a Decepticon, but Knockout has proven himself and has gained the Team's trust. He is a full-fledged Autobot now."
"And he is a handsome guy too." The Japanese girl added, snickering at the face their elder friend gave them.
"Don't get your expectations too high, Miko." Jack briskly moved his hands in dismissal. "It doesn't mean they are dating. They're probably just… Maybe they are just… Good teammates and that's it!" He resolved defensively. His attitude had suddenly changed from serene into a concerned one, making him jitter. It was obvious he was deterred by the idea of the young medic courting his guardian.
Rafael and Miko exchanged unsure gazes.
"Jack, …" The youngest kid spoke, staring right into him. "… I think you should talk to Arcee. If Knockout getting close to her makes you uneasy, you should discuss the matter with her, try see the situation from her optics." He calmly exposed his idea. "You might get to understand her reasons, or at least acknowledge them."
The dark haired boy rested his head on his hands, covering his mouth as he tried to assimilate the wise words his young friend had given him, but there was something else to it. Jack heavily sighed, shaking his head.
"It's not him what bothers me, Raf." He admitted, slowly lowering his hands to his mug. "Knockout is part of the Team now and I'm fine with it. If Arcee wants to spend time with him, that's okay, it's her decision. She's a strong femme capable of standing up for herself if needed." He paused for a moment, trying to figure out how to word his feelings. "It's the idea I might lose a family member I'll never be able to replace." He muttered quietly.
Miko immediately understood what he meant to say. It was by all known how close the dark haired boy was to his partner, and just the thought they could be growing apart only made her feel sorrow. Empathetic, she reached her hand out until it was over his, letting him know he still had them both by his side, no matter what. The older boy weakly smiled at the gesture and shortly nodded in gratitude.
"I'll try talking to Arcee." The honorary Prime finally broke the silence. "She may shade some light over the matter. I'll be better than taking guesses." He added, finishing his coffee.
It was then when an unexpected hand on his shoulder made Jack turn his head to look at the person next to him. It was Dylan.
"Jackson, I'm sorry to interrupt." He said, friendly. "It's ten to ten. People will begin showing up soon."
"I'll be there in a moment." The dark haired boy nodded. Dylan gently smiled in understanding and left back to the kitchen. The boy turned to his friends. "Duty call. I need to get back to the counter." He excused himself, waving the hat in his hand. "See you."
Jack greeted his companions and stood up, putting his uniform back on. He gave one last gaze over his shoulder to his friends and disappeared into the staff area ready to continue his work, his mind though wasn't at it anymore.
Midday sun came to greet him the moment he had stepped outside the fast-food restaurant. He had let his head tilt backwards as he breathed deep just to feel the peaceful moment. His blue eyes opened and met the breathtaking infinite indigo sky above him. He stared up for some time, getting lost in it, until his phone ringed, bringing him back to reality.
Jack picked it up and answered the call.
"Hey Mom."
"Hi, honey." The sweet lively voice of the woman at the other end greeted him. "Are you out? How was the shift?"
The teen snorted, smiling.
"How do I envy Loreen! It was an easy morning. We barely had any people." He summarized. "How was yours?"
"Incredibly chaotic." She admitted, sounding slightly tired. "There was a traffic accident involving multiple vehicles outside Jasper and we are overwhelmed. Fortunately, none of the implicated were seriously injured. We're almost done tending them, but I might be late for lunch." She let him know. "There's a glass tapper in the fridge containing stew. Don't wait for me."
"I think I'll wait for you anyway." He decided. "I had breakfast with Miko and Raf earlier, and I'm still not hungry at all… But I can get everything ready for your arrival." He offered.
"Did they come to pay you visit?" June's genuine smile could be felt by her son. "I thought they would be at base with our 'Bots. How is it they showed up?"
"Apparently everyone in the Team knew I had a shift today." He chuckled. "I'll tell you all about later."
"I'm glad you had a good time with them." She softly answered. There was a short pause. "You're heading home now?"
"Yeah, I'm about to pick the bike." He replied, directing a disillusioned look at the grey bicycle parked by his right. He walked up to it, knelt down and, holding his phone against his cheek with his shoulder, he unlocked the padlock.
"Arcee didn't come pick you up?" The woman's surprise made the boy shrug for himself. "Have you called her?"
"No." He admitted, pushing the bike off the parking. "It's kinda odd, but I guess she might have things to attend to. Whatever the case, I think pedaling will be good for me."
"Take care and be careful on the way home." She had immediately reminded him, her motherly instincts taking over her. "I worry when you are not with her, specifically knowing people in this town tend to forget about traffic signs."
Jack couldn't blame her for her reaction. Every time she came across traffic incidents at the emergency room, what was quite often in her job, she feared something wrong could happen to him too.
"Don't worry about me. You know I'm always watchful about what happens around me." He reassured her. "I'm leaving now. I'll give you a call when I get home."
"Alright." June desisted. "I love you, honey."
"I love you too, Mom."
The boy closed the lid of his cellphone, he put it away in his pocket and, climbing onto his bike, he set on the move.
The way home was calm. He didn't rush. He simply took his time to, for once in a while, admire the small town in which he lived. He had so many times traced that route and yet, it felt like he was discovering it for the first time. That didn't happen with Arcee. When he was with her, he was usually so immersed in their conversation he barely registered what was around him. Perhaps he needed her absence to connect back to his previous lifestyle… And probably his future one too.
He came to a stop by a zebra crossing and rested a foot on the sidewalk, partly descending from his bicycle. He watched the vehicles come and go before him as he waited for the light to stop the traffic. An odd bitter-sweet sensation crawled within him.
Not long ago he had just been a normal boy, like any other. He had had a quite flavorless life, with its good moments and its own problems, but it had been nothing special. Then, Arcee came and, with her, his new family. He had a place where he felt complete and a place where he could be himself, a place he could call home. He was part of something bigger.
Along the way new integrants had joined the up-growing Team Prime, enriching it in many wonderful ways. He was happy the way it was, but changes was something he wasn't very fond of… And important changes were about to happen. He still didn't know their magnitude, or wether they would be for better, but he hoped with all his being things didn't go for worse.
The pedestrian crossing's light turned green. Jack crossed the street and turned right, continuing his way home. He traveled for ten minutes, until his house came into view. He reduced his speed and stopped in front of the garage's gate. As he searched for the remote in his pocket, his gaze momentarily fell upon their family car, which was parked outside. He sighed, displeasured. Another day Knockout would be driving his mother home.
The boy pushed the thought aside and extracted the remote. He pressed the upper button and the gate began slowly sliding up, gradually revealing its interior. The boy remained in place, surprised at the sight of the azure motorcycle standing on a corner. It took him few seconds to react before he finally entered in, carrying the bicycle along.
"Nice bike." The alien playfully teased, as the gate closed to isolate them form outer world.
"Hey, Arcee." Jack greeted, walking past her to place his bike at the opposite wall. "Have you been here for long?" He wondered, kneeling down to make a quick check on the pinions.
"Nah, just ground bridged." She answered, not giving it much importance. "How was the shift?"
"It was fine, not much work. If only my regular shifts were all that easy…" He smiled, becoming animated as he engaged in the conversation. Satisfied, the teen stood up and dusted his hands together, turning to lay his gaze on the cybertronian. "… Although I would not trade any Saturday morning at base with the Team for quieter shifts at the K.O. restaurant."
Arcee snickered.
"If that becomes a custom, I'll hound you down." She warned moving her handlebars in his direction, still maintaining her friendly tone. "And you know I will." She remarked.
Jack snorted, shaking his head.
"Then, I will have to come up with a better excuse for my supervisor other than 'I was abducted by my motorcycle'." He vividly replied, resting his weight onto the wardrobe behind him. His guardian chuckled, finally deciding to reveal her real form.
"It would be a witty argument, although I highly doubt it would make the trick." The azure warrior raised an opticbrow to emphasize her words as she played along. The boy laughed, holding a hand to his abs.
"That would get me fired." He replied, still grinning. He then raised his hand and, daydreaming, he gestured around."No more patties, no more picky clients, no more Knockout asking me to repeat the 'Welcome to K.O. drive in, where every patty is a knock out' line…"
"Wait, does he?" The femme's optics couldn't go wider in disbelief.
"Yep, from time to time." Jack admitted, humorously. "He says he feels glad of having a place in his honor, not the kind he had expected, but a place nonetheless. So, if it has his name on it, it's worth hearing the line on repeat."
Arcee diverted her gaze, momentarily frowning as she thought, before locking it back with her protégée.
"I'll make sure he doesn't bother you with that again." She assured, confidently winking at him. Jack smiled.
The cybertronian took a seat on the floor and made herself comfortable, resting her back on the wall behind her. Her cerulean optics, rimmed with magenta shades, never parted from her human partner, to whom she rendered that caring gaze she almost exclusively shared with him.
Jack leaned into the stare, swaying in the comfortable feeling of safety. The tender look in her optics invited him to share the sudden doubts that once again hovered in his mind, but he did not dare to ask. Something was withholding him from doing so. It was the fear of discovering a truth he wasn't sure he wanted to face just yet.
The boy did his best to remain at ease, however, it didn't take long for the femme to become aware of his inner struggle. She could clearly see it in her protégé's eyes.
"What is it?" She calmly asked, encouraging him to open up to her. The question had taken Jack by surprise, making him hum. "Whatever's bugging you. What is it?" She repeated, gently.
"I'm fine, Arcee. There's nothing to worry about. Really." He hurried to assure, parting his eyes from her. His statement did not convince his guardian, she didn't insist though.
Her huge servo was rested then on his tiny shoulder, obtaining a confounded look from the boy, who unconsciously tensed under the touch.
"Jack, if you need it, don't hesitate to come to me." She kept her offering up. "You can always count on me, partner." The teen nodded in gratitude, resting a hand on her thumb and giving her a distant smile. They remained like that for few seconds, until he broke the silence.
"I just remembered I promised Mom I would give her a call when I got home." The human excused himself. The femme removed her servo from his shoulder, setting him free. "I should make it before she worries." He added, pushing himself off the wardrobe. "I'll see you later, Arcee."
Said that, the boy greeted her and disappeared into the house, leaving a pensive guardian behind.
The table was set and he was placing the hot stew platter on a trivet at the center of it when the sound of a horn got to him. The teen straightened and walked up to the window, looking through it to try determine its origin. His gaze was in no time fixed onto the decalled crimson sports car that had stopped by the garage's gate, awaiting for it to grant them access. Jack could once again feel his uneasiness surfacing.
The boy left the kitchen rag on the countertop and made his way to the garage. He pulled the door open and leaned out to receive the newcomers. The muscle car smoothly drove in and parked by the azure motorcycle's side. His powerful engine died out and the copilot's door effortlessly opened to allow the dark haired woman to descend.
"Hello sweetie! I'm finally home." June animatedly greeted with a big grin in her lips, cutting the distance to him. She hugged her son tight and lovingly kissed his cheek. He did return the gesture, but his unusual apathetic attitude made her look into his eyes and ask. "Is everything alright, Jack?"
"Yeah." He distantly replied, nodding his head. "Just… Tired."
The nurse tenderly smiled and caressed his hair.
"Let's get in and have lunch. After that, we will have a power nap. We both deserve it." She softly proposed, staring into his eyes for a moment. She then parted her gaze from him to rest it onto those two special vehicles that now occupied her garage. "We will spend some time here before heading base. You don't have to wait for us if you don't feel like it."
"We'll be fine, June." Arcee replied, her handlebars moving the front tire in her direction. "We might even join in your nap initiative."
"Feel at home then." She gestured around.
It was the former 'Con who responded to her this time.
"Appreciated."
The woman smiled once again and directed her steps towards the door. The boy followed her with heavier steps, but, when he reached the doorway, he made one last stop. He turned his head over his shoulder and directed a distrustful look at the crimson sports car before disappearing after his mother.
Afternoon light already slipped through the window and the warmth it brought with it caressed his face. Jack blinked for an instant, until he was able to open his eyes. He idly yawned and grinned for himself. The nap had worked some magic for him.
The boy stretched, pushed the bedsheets aside and strolled down the hallway in his way to the kitchen. As he went on, he noticed her mother was still asleep. He wasn't surprised though. After the long shift she had had she deserved to have some decent rest. He smiled and silently closed the door of her room.
He continued on his way, daydreaming of the snacks he was about to have just when he walked past the garage. He never minded it, until something came to his mind. He slowly retraced his steps backwards and planted himself before the wooden door.
Jack stood there debating himself whether he should go into the stance or just dismiss it, but every time he thought he had reached a conclusion, something made him change his mind. He gave few minutes with his eyes closed, breathing deep as he told himself around. He finally shook his head, dispelling all those thoughts away, and turned to leave.
Anyway, he should not worry about Knockout staying at home with Arcee.
The teen had taken few steps away from the door when he stopped again. Doubts crept up back on him. What if, as Miko and Raf had suspected, there was really something going on between the former Decepticon and his guardian?
He soon found himself before the wooden door he had so hardly, and yet so unsuccessfully, tried to ignore. His trembling fingers dared to reach out for the handle. The surface was cold against his sweating palm. His heart raced. He wasn't sure what was he supposed to do, neither of what would he find inside. He hesitated. Should he?
Jack grabbed a firmer hold onto the knob and he decidedly turned it, pulling the door open. The astonished teen's eyes couldn't go any wider at what he was witnessing. Right there, in the middle of the garage, both cybertronians laid together, comfortably snuggled next to each other.
The way the crimson medic's shielding forearms embraced the azure warrior in a protective, yet caring, hug denoted how much this former Decepticon, known for minding no one but himself, really loved her. It neither went unnoticed for Jack how the femme held the dangerously sharp-clawed servos of her once enemy between her smaller ones, their digits intertwined.
One of Arcee's winglets momentarily twitched in her recharge, leaving a light scratch onto the mech's hood. The human held his breath, expectant to see the self-centered cybertronian's wrathful reaction to it. Knockout, instead, tenderly nuzzled her arm and brought her closer against his chest before resting his helm back on her right shoulder. He never bothered opening his optics, as if nothing had happened at all.
The dark haired boy couldn't believe his eyes and took him a while to overcome his surprise. When he finally did it, he could only follow the impulse to approach them. He did his best not to disturb the couple and silently sat by their side, where he remained, studying them.
Behind the gentle expressions of those metallic faces, the teen could perceive much more. He could descry love. The medic's kind one, brightened by the subtle smile on his lips, reflected how fortunate he felt for having someone in his arms. However, it was his guardian's expression which surprised him the most. No trace of her usual wariness shadowed her features. It was the feeling of someone she could hold onto what made her joyful.
Jack was deep in thought when, suddenly, his guardian's optics halfway opened, dragging him back to the garage. The comforting cerulean gaze came to meet his blue uncertain one, into which she stared for a moment before she rendered her protégé the most genuine warm smile she had ever given him. She accommodated her helm back onto the mech's left arm and placidly shut her optics, drifting back into the pleasant recharge.
Their silent conversation had lasted only few seconds, but it had been enough for the teenager to understand what the azure warrior had meant to tell him. Everything would be fine. That pure blissfulness deep within her look had made him realize he had no right to interfere with her happiness and, despite how much he feared things might change between them, he had to respect her decision.
Jack wasn't certain how much time had he spent there, but when he sensed he had been long enough, he slowly stood up and took few steps away from the cybertronians. It would be better to let them on their own. He gave them one last glance at them before turning towards the doorway, only to stop on his feet.
Standing by the door frame, his mother smiled at him, empathic. Reading through her son, the dark haired woman extended her arms to him, welcoming him into a hug. The boy did not make her wait. He walked up to her and let her hands hold him against her chest, resting his forehead on her shoulder.
"Come." Her words came in a reassuring whisper, carefully motioning him towards the kitchen. "Let's have a word."
The dark haired woman placed a water pod on the cooktop and, while it heated to boil, she fetched a pair of mugs from the draining rack. She then opened a cupboard, extracted a couple of linden blossom tea bags and placed them inside the cups. Water had already reached the desired temperature, so she switched the cooktop off and poured it until she filled the recipients.
While she prepared the infusion, the boy hadn't muttered a single word. He simply stood motionless by the table, his gaze lost in the infinite. Only when his mother had tended a cup to him did he react. The boy looked at her for an instant, pensive, before lethargically picking the mug up to hold it in his hands. He muttered a quiet thank you.
June sat by his side and rested her hand on his, a warm grin in her caring expression.
"Take a sip. It will do you good." She encouraged him, gracing her thumb over his knuckles.
"You knew it?" He silently asked, still staring at the herbal tea.
She calmly nodded.
"Yes." She admitted. "Arcee and I talked some time ago, when she began suspecting Knockout had an interest in her." She paused, letting the information sink into him.
Jack heavily sighed, lowering his head.
"She sure doesn't need to share everything with me, but I thought she would, at least, let me know about it." The teen rubbed the back of his neck, crossing a glance with her. Insecurity soon surfaced in his blue eyes. "I thought partners trusted each other… Why didn't she tell me anything?"
The woman remained serene as she replied to his question as sincere as she could.
"Arcee appreciates you over anything else, and trusts you more than you thing, Jack. Never doubt her." June assured, leaning closer to him. "She just wasn't certain how would you take the news, that's why she was waiting for the right moment to deliver them to you."
The boy stared into her eyes for a moment, before he diverted his gaze away, thoughtful.
"I see…" He muttered, becoming quiet. June decided to give her son some time, unhurriedly drinking from her tea mug while he tried to make his mind about the new situation.
Jack had no clue of how was he supposed to feel about it. A part of him still couldn't believe it went for real; yet, the other part of him, despite his unsureness, knew all he could do was trust his guardian. If the former 'Con was the one who made her happy, he could only support her decision and stay by her side, as partners did.
It took him few more minutes to finally speak up again. When he did it, he sounded much more composed.
"Arcee and Knockout…" Jack slowly nodded, beginning to assimilate the idea. He met his mother's look again. "Miko's gonna be hyped about this."