"We must get this boy to safety immediately. Explanations can come later...from all of you."

It was then that the strange teen in Optimus' servo stirred, and worse, opened his eyes.

"Wha...?" he muttered, reaching to try and place a hand to his slightly hurting head, but finding it pinned to his side, though not forcefully. Optimus was only holding him gently enough that he wouldn't fall from his grip. Unfortunately, Vince didn't know that.

"What the heck?" he screeched, looking into the eyes of his "captor". "What do you want with me?" he kept shouting as he tried wiggling free from his grasp. Optimus honestly wasn't sure what to do at that moment; if he set him down he could run and tell others what he had seen. But holding him this way definitely wasn't going to work either.

He knelt to the ground and gently set the young man on the floor, but kept a gentle hold on him.

"Please, know that I nor my team wish to do you harm."

Something in the large mechanical being's voice alone made Vince stop squirming. Besides, he was touching solid ground. Unbeknownst to anyone else, he was afraid of heights, and it would be something he would never admit. Optimus nodded once when Vince went still.

"I ask that you do not run; our presence here must be explained to you."

Vince nodded hesitantly, having fallen silent since Optimus spoke. Optimus let go of Vince, who remained stationary as he looked up at him.

"We are autonomous robotic organisms from the planet Cybertron, also known as Autobots. We come in peace, with no intentions to hurt any human being on this planet."

"Then...then who was-"

"A Decepticon, our enemy. He most likely mistook you as one of our human allies."

"Why would I-" he stopped when a car door slammed behind him and turned to see two other robots behind him that he hadn't noticed-correction-three, one...transformed? He saw Jack walking over.

"You okay?" He asked, and Vince's jaw dropped.

"You? You're working with...with these...robots?"

"Autobots," Jack replied. "And I'd show them a bit more respect after the lengths they went through to keep you from harm."

Vince was at a loss of words, and Jack frowned a little, realizing that he actually now knew of the Autobots. He looked up at Optimus, asking a silent question, to which Optimus nodded, making Jack sigh.

"Well, you're going to have to get used to seeing them around. The 'con that grabbed you thought you were with us, and now you're in danger of being taken again."

"Uh, no. No way, Darby. You're not going to drag me into this."

"No offence Vince, but you were already dragged in as soon as you insulted Arcee."

"Jack," Arcee warned, and Vince recognized the two-wheeler as Jack's motorcycle.

"Holy-"

Jack facepalmed. "I feel bad for the 'bot who becomes your guardian," he muttered into his hand, and Vince luckily hadn't heard his remark.

"There is no way I'm going with you," Vince replied. Jack sighed. "If you want your car back, you'll have to."

Vince didn't argue after that, and Jack glanced over at Arcee, who was still giving him the "we'll talk later" face before looking over to Bee, who transformed. Jack got in like it was nothing, Vince hesitated for a minute before getting in the passenger's seat. He was silent during the ride, not knowing what to say.

"Vince," Jack started. "After school you need to come with us."

"Us?"

"I'm not the only human that works with them, you know," Jack replied, looking at him.

"Darby?"

"What?"

"Could you put your hands on the steering wheel, please?"

Jack was surprised at his question but complied, and he could see Vince noticeably more at ease.

"Bumblebee can drive, you know," he pointed out.

"Still trying to wrap my mind around it."

Jack nodded, but said nothing else until they reached the bridge.

"I'll see you at school tomorrow," Jack stated. Vince nodded once and got out, going down to his car. "See you, Darby."

Jack nodded.

"Vince," he called.

"Yeah?"

"One more thing. You can't tell anyone."

***

It was finally the end of school. When Jack told Miko and Raf what had happened last night they were less than pleased.

"Vince? At the base? " Miko had asked. Raf was silent, he had had his share of Vince's taunts and harassments and he was not looking forward to any further ones.

The three were now currently standing in front of their respective guardians, and Vince finally walked out and locked eyes with Jack immediately.

"I'm following you, Darby," he muttered. He had no intentions of getting on the wrong side with giant alien robots by not listening to them. Jack nodded once before they got in or on their rides and were off. Bulkhead stayed behind Vince and soon they were on the road leading to the base.

Arcee still had some sort of bitter thoughts against Vince and didn't let Jack give the boy fair warning about not stopping at the stop sign and only accelerated. Jack couldn't blame her, and Vince got over his scare immediately after the rock split apart to reveal a door. He slowed and came to a stop inside the base, getting out cautiously and immediately spotting an...Autobot that he hadn't seen yesterday. The Autobot didn't look so pleased to see him.

"I was hoping Optimus was joking," he muttered as he rolled his optics. Vince scowled.

"I'm not exactly happy to be here either but it's just how it is."

"Oh, so you're another Miko. Understood," he muttered. Vince looked half confused and half offended, Miko just rolled her eyes.

"Don't be like that, Ratchet."

Ratchet ignored her and continued working on whatever he'd been doing. It was then that the proximity alarm went off and Ratchet dismissed it once they saw who had triggered it. The lift came down and a guy in a grey suit walked out.

"I'm not happy, Prime. Not. Happy." He said as soon as Optimus walked into view.

"Agent Fowler, If you will allow me to-"

"Street racing? " he screeched, interrupting Optimus, who decided to just be quiet. "Luckily nobody was hurt, but it led us to another civilian knowing you exist!"

"At least we didn't go around 'pancaking a mini mall', as you like to say," Arcee deadpanned. Agent Fowler sent her a death glare.

"Team Prime better get its act together soon or who knows what my superiors will do."

He turned on his heel and walked back into the lift, quickly leaving the base.

"Is he always like that?" Vince asked.

"Pretty much," Jack muttered. "You get used to it eventually."

"Like how I'm going to get used to giant alien robots?"

"Pretty much," Jack repeated, smiling at him a little. Surprisingly, Vince smiled back.

Maybe this wouldn't be so bad.

"Well, we should address the elephant in the room," Miko muttered, and Bee looked around, probably for the "elephant".

"Not literally, Bee." Raf chuckled.

"Does Vince get his own guardian or what?" Miko continued, to which everyone in the room became silent as they realized this. Somehow every head or helm in the room turned to look at Ratchet.

"Absolutely not," the medic snapped, and everyone chuckled, save for Optimus, Ratchet, and Vince, for obvious reasons.

"But seriously, who is it?" Miko replied. Everyone turned to look at the only other possible Autobot, who was looking at Vince seriously. Vince stared at Optimus intently, before the Autobot nodded.

How was this going to even work?

~~~

SO!

Here's a oneshot that could possibly become a book just because I was bored and watched "Speed Metal" yesterday

I WANT OPINIONS!

I have so many ideas on places I could take this book but I want to know what you all think! I've always wondered what would happen in this scenario and I'm sure some of you have too. Vince may seem a little out-of-character but that's because I don't play him too often and if this became an actual book I'd obviously clean his character up a bit. Let me know what you think so far, don't be afraid! I won't take anything personally.

Thanks :>