OOOOOH PRIMUS HERE IT COMES! THE MOMENT ALL YOU ARCEEXJACK FANS HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR! Hehehehehehehehehehe. Enjoy. ;)
Ch. 9
Jack was lying in the medical berth in the Med Bay. He had waited until Arcee had left and opened his eyes as he thought about the day's events as well as the latest development that was going through his mind. 'Why do I have these feelings for Arcee?' Jack couldn't for the life of him figure out why he had begun to see Arcee as something more than just a partner, so he tried to reason with himself.
'Well, she's an amazing fighter; she looks nice considering that she's an extraterrestrial advanced robot, she cares about the team…" Jack kept trying to avoid the one reason for his new feelings for Arcee that would cement them into place, but he couldn't stop thinking about it and it soon rang clear and true in his head. 'She knows what it's like to lose someone close…'
Optimus had told him about Arcee's first partner, Tailgate, who had been killed by Airachnid. 'That explains all the rage on Arcee's part when Airachnid showed up.' Jack had thought when Optimus told him how Airachnid had tortured Arcee for information and then killed Tailgate right in front of her.
But then Optimus spoke of Arcee's late partner, Cliffjumper, who had saved Arcee from Airachnid and helped the blue femme to overcome the emotional pain that came with the whole ordeal. "Hey partner." Jack looked over to see Arcee walk through the entrance to the Med Bay with a smile on her face, he smiled as he heard the blue femme's voice; it was smooth like silk and seemed to give him a feeling of complete peace.
Jack couldn't help the smile that crossed his face. "Hey Arcee, anything new happening?" After that, Arcee suddenly seemed to become quiet and closed off. She looked away and had a conflicted look on her face. Jack wasn't going to push the issue if he could help it because he too was having some conflicting thoughts; thoughts about the very robot standing across from him.
Jack knew he would have to address these feelings sooner or later so he decided to take a gamble. "You okay partner?" Arcee suddenly looked up and spoke up in a nervous voice. "Jack, can I ask you something? It's a bit personal and kind of odd." Jack then sat himself up in his berth as he gave Arcee his undivided attention. "What's up Arcee?"
Arcee walked over to Jack's berth and sat on the edge near Jack's legs and looked down with a neutral expression present on her face plates. Jack could feel the tension growing suddenly when she spoke up. "Have you ever had someone special in your' life?" Jack lowered his head a bit as he spoke up in a low tone. "I've never wanted to be in a relationship. I've had offers but I never took any of them."
"Why, surely someone in your' school must have caught your' eye?" Arcee's voice held a shocked tone. Jack was suddenly a bit amused at how Arcee was behaving, even for a seasoned warrior; but as soon as he felt this, he suddenly found it rather endearing. The idea that Arcee in her own way was actually more innocent then young Rafael showed off a whole new side of Arcee that Jack suddenly felt was a fragile side of the blue femme.
Jack then realized something, he suddenly didn't care that he and Arcee were so vastly different, that he was human and she was a Cybertronian warrior. 'I'm in love with Arcee.' The realization hit Jack hard and rocked him to his very core. While Jack had been caught up in his thoughts, he didn't realize Arcee had been looking right at him for several seconds now. "Jack?"
Jack finally snapped out of his thoughts and looked at Arcee with a neutral expression. "Most girls from my school are so self-centered and obsessed with how they look that I lose interest in them the moment I meet them... that and I don't want to be with any normal girl anymore…." Jack mumbled the last bit, but Jack didn't realize that Arcee could hear even the minutest sounds when she was focused and Arcee heard Jack's mumbling as clear as ever.
Arcee could feel the hope growing inside her; she was practically vibrating with wonder at what Jack might have meant by that. Jack suddenly looked up at her and spoke once more. "What about you partner, anyone ever been lucky enough to be with you?" The words had already left Jack's mouth by the time he realized what he had said and he suddenly was very nervous he might have just revealed himself to her.
Arcee couldn't have been more shocked at what Jack had just asked her and how he asked the question. 'He just complemented me…' Arcee's spark was practically pulsing out of her chest cavity and it was taking all of her wheel power to keep herself from pinning Jack down and taking him as her spark mate right then and there. 'Is it even possible for a human to do that with a cybertronian?' Arcee took a few steady breaths before speaking up.
"No, I've never been interested in being with someone else… until now…" Jack looked up at Arcee who was currently looking down at the floor with a look he was quite familiar with on her face plates…shame. Jack hated seeing Arcee like this, it made him think of the way she acted when she was facing off with Airachnid and how pained she seemed every time the sick spiderbot reminded her that she had lost both her previous partners.
Suddenly Jack's entire mind set changed. "Arcee, I know that look on your' face so you better wipe it off right now." At this Arcee looked up in utter shock at how Jack had just ordered her to do something, she was going to speak up but once again, as usual, Jack beat her to it. "Arcee, I know that look all too well; every time someone mentions Airachnid, Tailgate, or Cliffjumper, that face shows up. You have no reason to be ashamed of what happened in the past."
Arcee was frozen on the spot as she listened to what Jack was saying. "What happened to Tailgate and Cliff was completely out of your' hands; there was nothing you could have said to Airachnid to keep her from killing Tailgate, you didn't know the information she wanted and she loves making people suffer as it is. And Cliffjumper was ambushed while you were both on separate missions. So stop blaming yourself for what happened, because I know that if it had been me in their positions, I sure as hell wouldn't have; and that's why I know they didn't blame you then and they don't blame you now."
Arcee didn't notice the Energon tears that were going down her face; Jack had spoken up for her, saying that she had done everything she could to save her partners and that she had nothing to blame herself for. 'He sounds like Wolf…' Jack carried the confidence and wisdom that was worthy of a Prime, and at this point, Arcee couldn't stop her next move.
Arcee suddenly lunged right at Jack and in the next second, Jack found his lips connected with Arcee's Silver, polymer ones. Jack was surprised to say the least but in a few seconds he found himself accepting, as well as returning the tender kiss. Jack placed a bandaged hand on Arcee's face and gave a gentle caress that sent shockwaves through her spark chamber.
Arcee wrapped her hand gently around Jack's back and pulled him in to deepen the kiss. They stayed that way for a few moments before pulling their lips apart but keeping their foreheads touching as they caught their breath. Jack sat there for a moment, catching his breath before a thought entered his head. 'If Michael found out about this, I'd never hear the end of it.'
Jack suddenly huffed out a light laugh before he locked eyes with Arcee as they simply held each other's gaze. Arcee actually let a few Energon tears fall from her optics as she closed them and held a smile on her face. She had finally found someone that she could be with, and not only that but Jack had accepted her as well. Arcee felt as though her spark would explode in the next moment as suddenly, she opened her eyes just in time to see Jack lunge back in for another kiss; this time, the kiss lasted for almost five minutes as Jack and Arcee entered a fierce make out session.
They pulled apart once more and at last Arcee spoke up. "So, what happens now?" Jack could hear the slight uncertainty in her voice, but he was so at peace right now, he didn't want her to worry; so he tried to ease her mind. "What do you want to happen?" Arcee thought for a moment, but before she could make a decision, an older voice split the air. "Jack, Agent Fowler would like to speak with you if you have the strength."
Jack looked over at Arcee who gave a slight smirk and answered for the young human. "He definitely has the strength Optimus." Optimus could hear the happiness in Arcee's voice and looked at her and Jack before a large smile arose on his face plates. "Arcee, let us give Jack and Agent Fowler some time to speak in private."
With that Arcee looked over at Jack and gave him another simple smile before walking out of the Med Bay with her commander. Once Optimus and Arcee had left, Agent Fowler walked in and up to Jack's berths side. "How're you holdin' up son?" Jack gave a snicker and a simple smile before answering. "Aside from some new scars, I'll be fine." With this, Fowler looked Jack in the eyes and got down to the business at hand.
"Alright now, I'm sure you want to work with the Autobots, and I've been making some calls and getting some info on you." At this, Jack sat up straight knowing that this demanded extreme attention. 'This is either really good or really bad.' Jack's thought was ended as Agent Fowler spoke up once more. "I've spoken with your' teachers and counselors at school; they all say you are dead set on enlisting in the Army after High School?"
Jack could tell Fowler was asking a question instead of making a statement, so he decided to be straight forward with the agent. "Yes sir, I started out wanting to be a soldier when I was younger and my dad was still alive; but as I got older, and after he died, my motives changed. I wanted to enlist because I thought…" Jack paused at this; he wasn't used to showing emotions.
Agent Fowler seemed to understand as he spoke up once more in a soft tone. "You thought you could be closer to him even though he was gone." Jack looked up with a nod as he spoke up. "Call it what you want now but aside from that I don't have any real ambition." At this, Agent Fowler gave a small smirk before his serious face returned and he spoke up.
"Well, I've spoken with your' mother as well, and I've also had a talk with General Thomas Bryce and the Joint Chiefs of Staff; and we're all in agreement, from what I understand, you've already obtained enough credits to graduate and you've also got excellent grades right now." Jack was suddenly getting interested in what was being said at the moment and sat up and turned fully to the agent in front of him.
"What are you trying to say Agent?" At this, Agent Fowler took on a more solemn tone. "The decision has been left to you; if you would like to, you can have an early graduation and enlist before the end of this year. And in five years, you would be able to work fully with the Autobots." Jack pondered over this in his mind, 'I have a chance to actually work with the Autobots, to follow the path my dad took.'
As Jack thought about this, his thoughts drifted to Arcee and the incident with Airachnid; Jack knew that if he did this, he would be able to defend himself and the rest of the team better should another incident like that ever happen. He knew it would be hard to leave Arcee being that he just found out that he cared so deeply about her and she cared about him as well.
But if it meant that he would be stronger for the both of them, then it seemed like a necessary sacrifice. "Alright, I'll do it. But I'll need to tell Arcee about this and take care of a few things before leaving." Fowler gave Jack an understanding nod and walked out of the Med Bay.
Arcee had followed Optimus to allow Fowler to speak with Jack and she soon found herself moving towards Optimus' quarters. Suddenly, Arcee was a bit worried. Optimus only brought one of the team to his quarters when he was giving very bad news or giving an extreme reprimand to the individual. Never the less, she followed her commander with a smile on her face.
She had confessed her feelings to Jack and he had returned them just as strongly, she had found something that made her truly happy. A few seconds later, she was walking into Optimus' quarters and when they were both inside; Optimus locked the door and spoke up. "Take a seat Arcee." With that, Arcee sat down on the large chair Optimus sometimes used when reading the old Iacon files and histories he had managed to save during the war.
Optimus sat down on his berth before looking at Arcee. "It would seem that things went well between you and Jack." Optimus had a smile on his face and Arcee couldn't help but wear one of her own. "Optimus, Jack and I might not be able to be spark mates, but I know I love him more than any Autobot I've ever met in my life." Optimus looked Arcee in the eyes and his smile seemed to grow even larger as his optics took on a soft look that only a father could hold.
"I am happy you have found someone who cares for you." Arcee could hear the sincerity in the Prime's voice but she knew that Optimus hadn't simply brought her to his quarters for a happy chat. "Optimus, is there something you need to tell me?" Optimus' face suddenly became serious and his voice also regained its commanding tone.
"You are correct on that account Arcee; I spoke with Agent Fowler while you were with Jack. He has informed me of what he is speaking to Jack about and I believe you should know as well." Arcee was suddenly very curious as to what Fowler might have in store for her human and so she leaned in to better listen to her commander.
"Jack has informed his teachers at his school as well as his mother that he intends to join the human military after his graduation and that he plans to follow in his father's footsteps and become a member of what the humans call the Army Rangers." Arcee could understand this, she could see that Jack would want to be like his father and serve his country.
Arcee actually found it rather endearing that Jack was so much like 'Wolf' in that Jack wanted to fight for others; however, her thoughts were cut off when Optimus continued. "Agent Fowler has spoken to his superiors as well as Jack's mother and they are all in agreement that should Jack wish to, he will be able to join the military within this month and after five years, Jack would be able to become an official member of our unit."
Arcee was floored at what she had just heard. Jack had the chance to become a member of the team, but it would mean being away from him longer than she really cared to be. "If Jack wants to do it, I'll support him completely. It's just…" Optimus could see the look in Arcee's eyes and knew that she desperately wanted to be with Jack. "I understand Arcee; but remember Jack will come back; it will just take time."
Arcee perked up a bit at this, one thing about Optimus was that he always found the good in a difficult situation. With that Arcee smiled and nodded at her leader and with that, they left Optimus' quarters and returned to the control center to await Jack's response to Agent Fowler's proposal.
Back in the Med Bay:
Jack was waiting in his berth thinking about the coming years of being in the military and about the day when he would return as an official member of Team Prime. Jack had begun to dose off a bit when he heard metallic footsteps entering the room. He opened his eyes to see his blue Autobot guardian and now girlfriend enter the room. 'God it sounds weird calling her my girlfriend.'
Jack looked up as Arcee once again sat on the edge of the berth Jack was on and leaned in close to Jack's face. Jack knew what was coming and gladly accepted the kiss from his beautiful blue Autobot. They pulled apart and Arcee lied down on her side so she could stay close to Jack. "So, have you decided on Fowler's offer?" Jack couldn't resist the smile that appeared on his face.
He wasn't surprised that Optimus likely informed Arcee of what was happening and it made it easier on Jack knowing that Arcee wasn't overreacting. "Arcee…" Before Jack could continue, Arcee silenced Jack with another passionate kiss before parting their lips and holding their foreheads against each other as she spoke up. "Whatever decision you make, I'll support you the entire way Jack."
Jack suddenly felt his heart beat faster as he felt the love he had for Arcee flare up all over again. He continued to smile as Arcee pulled away and looked Jack in the eyes waiting for his response, which Jack didn't keep secret for very long. "I accepted the offer, but… he says I'll be leaving for boot camp as soon as I'm medically cleared, which according to my mom will be the end of this month…"
Jack hated that he would have to leave so soon, March ended in two weeks and then it was five years of training and military service. "Then we'll just have to spend the time we have together before you have to leave." Arcee gave Jack a smile and with that, Jack felt a wave of relief fill him; Arcee would wait for him, he could see it in her eyes.
Jack held Arcee's gaze for a few moments before snagging a glance at the large monitor in the room which had the time on it. "It's almost 10 p.m., I don't know about you Arcee, but I think it's time we grabbed some sleep." Arcee gave an understanding smile and went to stand up when Jack suddenly spoke up. "Arcee?" Arcee looked back at Jack to see what her human lover needed. "Would you mind staying the night here?"
Jack's voice was low as he was nearly asleep but Arcee understood every word. "Sure." Arcee's voice was soft and tender, which was all the help Jack needed to drift off to sleep. Arcee lied back down beside Jack on the berth and entered stasis beside her young love. Outside of the Med Bay, standing by the doorway, Optimus stood with Ratchet at his side.
After Arcee had left to return to Jack, Optimus assembled the rest of the team and informed them of the new bond between Arcee and Jack. Miko had squealed and jumped around; talking about getting a picture of Arcee and Jack "smooching." Rafael had simply smiled as he said he was happy Jack had found someone to be with.
Bumblebee and Bulkhead had been a bit shocked as they had never expected something like this, but Ratchet on the other hand gave a warm smile as he continued his work in the control center and explained to Bumblebee and Bulkhead how love was a strange emotion that could transcend anything and everything. Optimus and Ratchet walked away to allow Arcee and Jack to rest for the night.
They had just entered the control center and were about to go to their individual quarters when Ratchet spoke up. "Optimus, I'm guessing you never told Arcee that she and Jack were capable of spark bonding did you?" Optimus and Ratchet had known of Cybertronians who had in the past bonded with humans and had become spark mates before disappearing.
Optimus had decided to let Arcee discover this as a surprise, should she and Jack ever be alone together in a setting where they could bond in a way they would never forget. "She'll find out soon enough. For now, let Jack mature a bit, he is still young for a human." With this, Ratchet gave a nod and a smile to his commander and oldest living friend before going off to his quarters for a little stasis time.
Oh... my... PRIMUS OR GOD OR WHATEVER! Finally got the big point in on this story! Well, one big point anyways. Things are just beginning now. Hehehehehehe. ;) Anywho, will get the next chapter up here soon. ROLL OUT!