Mirage can't take the tension and distrust at the base. As hard as he knows (Y/N) also hates the Autobots and even quit N.E.S.T. Mirage feels trapped on a human-filled planet.

Mirage's P.O.V.
After the battle in Chicago, I've felt like humans don't like us, even soldiers who work with us. I've heard soldiers question if we're just as bad as the Decepticons, or will there be another ear like Chicago? I've noticed every Autobot has felt uneasy, even distancing themselves from humans at times. Then there's some who, I swear, wish we did die when our ship blew up.

Ratchet and I got into a debate with some soldiers saying some N.E.S.T. rules should be changed. A mix of suggesting when Autobots and humans work together and Autobots need more strict rules. I walk away feeling angry, even though we agreed to drop the subject. As I walk to the hanger, I feel so much tension from both Autobots and humans. I need to get out of here and be left alone for a while.

Four hours later

Ratchet's P.O.V.
Usually, I don't worry about not seeing Mirage for four hours, but after the debate we had with a few soldiers, it is a little concerning. Add he's hiding his signal. Sideswipe is with me; as much as I'd rather have another mech join me, I don't want everybot to know what happened that might have led Mirage to drive off. I doubt Mirage would hide in an alleyway, so we know to drive out of the city.

Another hour passes before we find Mirage in the middle of an open field. However, it doesn't matter if humans see us now.
"What the hell is wrong with you?!" I ask while kicking him, "turning off your signal! There are still cons around!"
"What's wrong with you?!" He asks, "do you not feel the tension at the base? I barely recharge while feeling all the tension!" He asks while jabbing a digit on my chassis.
I sit next to him, "I'm sorry, you're right, the atmosphere is scrap."
"I feel like they look it as we're the problem cause the cons attack us," Sideswipe says as he sits down.
"Yeah, we screwed up. Maybe not intentionally, but we're paying the price with humans who work with us either afraid or distrusting," I add.
"I can't deal with this," Mirage tells them, "a planet full of humans who hate, fear, or distrust us."
"What about (Y/N)?" I ask.
"I haven't spoken to her since before the battle."
I get up with Sideswipe, "you should find her and talk to her."
"Why do you think we haven't talked?! She probably hates us... and If I find out for sure..."
Sideswipe nods, transforms, and drives off.
"Come on, let's go back," I insist.
"No, I can't handle the scrap back at base; I'm going solo, and don't bother looking for me in a few days."
I don't agree with this, Prime will be pissed I'm not forcing Mirage to come back, but I nod, transform and drive off.

Mirage's P.O.V.
The last I saw (Y/N), she asked me to help fix some things in her house. I didn't finish before the scrap with the cons. After that, she stopped coming to the base. It's been a month; I think she quit and wants nothing to do with us.

To be continued...