Cassidy's P.O.V.

I honestly didn't think that would be as fun as it did.

Skillet is pretty cool.

And Miko is amazing on that guitar.

But being a band was still out of the question.

I smiled to myself, before having to scoot down the couch quickly so I wouldn't be sat on by Miko.

"Dude! That was awesome!" She said, practically breathless as she plopped down next to me.

"I pretty much did nothing," Raf shrugged. "It was pretty cool though."

Miko looked over at Jack, and chewed her lip in thought as she made a small 'box' with her two thumbs and index fingers, much like you would see artists do.

"Uh, Miko, what're you doing?"

"Trying to decide if you should wear a black vest against a white T-shirt with Dark blue jeans or a blue and black tie and a vest against a black T-shirt with black jeans," Miko muttered, squinting her eyes.

"Hey," Jack warned. "I'm not John Cooper."

Miko shrugged, taking her guitar and softly plucking another melody.

I smiled again, shaking my head as I reached for notebook.

You guys are hopeless.

"We know," Miko replied with a smile. I let out a sharp exhale, the closest thing to a laugh I could get.

When I looked around for Ratchet, I noticed he was staring at something. I turned to look, and realized Ratchet had been staring at Optimus, who in return had been staring at me. I got off the couch and over to the edge of the catwalk, notebook in hand.

Can I help you?

Optimus nodded, vaguely gesturing to his medical berth. I walked down the catwalk and over to said berth, and cautiously climbed up.

"How has Ratchet been treating you thus far?" Optimus asked quietly, and Ratchet raised an optic ridge. No one else seemed to really notice this; Bumblebee had gone over to Raf and the others to watch them play video games, and Arcee and Bulkhead were just talking in a corner.

I fumbled with my pencil for a few seconds before remembering I couldn't write with the eraser.

So far? Well, it's only been two and a half days, really...I can't say he's good or bad just by that. Why?

"He can be...difficult...sometimes," Optimus simply replied. I half-shrugged and half-nodded in agreement.

"Ratchet was a researcher and a doctor in Iacon before the war-"

"Okay, Optimus, I think it's time you take a break and rest for a while," Ratchet butted in, suddenly appearing next to him. Optimus frowned, giving Ratchet a look, which Ratchet retuned. The two started speaking in an unknown language, which I presumed was their own they used on Cybertron.

Eventually, Ratchet returned to English.

"Recharge, Optimus. You really shouldn't be sitting up right now. Megatron really did a number on you."

Optimus frowned, but did as he was told, lying down on the berth after I was back down on the ground. Ratchet's faceplate was emotionless as he watched Optimus power down, and he checked his vitals again before turning to the monitor. I went up to the catwalk next to him and got his attention once I wrote down something.

Is that all you do? Stand in front of a monitor all day?

I realized my question sounded snarky as soon as I showed it to him. I made sure my expression didn't "say" the same thing.

"No, energy restoration is important, and so are experiments. I occasionally go into the field, as you saw yesterday, and as your assigned guardian, I have to make sure the Decepticons don't kill you."

I rolled my eyes. I was starting to accept the fact Ratchet wasn't going to quit calling me charge, and he wasn't going to be all "warm and fuzzy," either.

Oh, by the way, Lillian is getting even more skeptical.

"First off, you don't start something important as that with 'by the way.' Second, Who's Lillian?"

My sister. And what was I supposed to start it with? 'Oh, hey, Ratchet, my sister is getting even more suspicious of you?'

"Yeah," Ratchet replied with a nod, going back to the monitor. I frowned, gaining his attention again.

You're not worried?

"It's not my problem."

Yeah, it is. You get to be the guardian of me AND my little sister. Fun!

"I wouldn't have to be the guardian of anyone if you hadn't been standing in the middle of the road," Ratchet replied with a scoff.

You're the one who ran me over.

"Jack's the one who invited you and the others out."

"What?" Jack called to us at hearing his own name.

You still went out of your way to check on the others.

"Primus. Why do you sound like a certain red-and-blue mech?" Ratchet muttered. "And to save your time, No, I don't care about the others."

I raised an eyebrow, but didn't write down anything. "Uh-huh" did not sound sarcastic on paper, as much as I wish it did at times like these.

I walked away, where Miko grabbed my arm and whispered in my ear.

"Y'know, arguing is perfectly normal...for a couple."

My jaw dropped in partial disbelief and in partial disgust. I fumbled with my pencil again, trying to write something down.

Remember, Miko? LOATHE.

"Aw, you don't really hate him, do you?" she asked in that falsely sweet innocent voice she used when trying to manipulate someone.

No, but I certainly don't like you at the moment.

"But I'm right. Ratchet likes you."

"-as an acquaintance, maybe even as a friend. But not...not like that," Jack added to Miko's statement, giving her a pointed look.

Drop it, Miko, before you drop another textbook on my foot.

She rolled her eyes, reaching for her guitar she left on the couch again.

Three days in, and you're convinced there's something between Ratchet and I.

"Yup," Miko replied, focusing more on her guitar pick than me after glancing at my notebook.

"Alright, I'm settling this," Jack muttered, getting up from the chair he was sitting in.

"What are you doing?" Miko asked, grabbing his arm.

"Asking him," Jack replied with a shrug as he escaped her grip and went to the edge of the catwalk.

"Jack, you do know you've just entered Miko's game?" Raf sighed at the same time Miko cried "You can't!"

"Watch me. Hey, Ratchet!" Jack called loudly.

This caused the other Autobots in the room, save for Optimus, to stop what they were doing and pay attention.

"What, Jack? I'm busy," Ratchet sighed.

You always seem busy, I thought to myself.

"Are you in love with Cassidy?" Jack smirked.

"Would you fall in love with a toaster?" Ratchet shot back. A few chuckles could be heard.

"How do you even know what a toaster is?" Miko muttered.

"Told you," Jack whispered to her, sitting back down in his chair.

"Well, he's in denial," Miko defended.

"That's one of the five stages of grief," Raf muttered, typing away at his laptop.

"Or it could just be denial," Miko replied, raising an eyebrow.

"Miko, drop it," Jack sighed.

Go date a toaster, Miko.

I gave her a smile so she knew I was joking.

~~~

Oh, goody. Let's all go date our toasters.

Miko is really hung up on this subject, it was actually annoying me. XD

As usual, I hope you enjoyed this chapter! :)

Oh, and Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! :D

My present to you was this chapter.

And maybe a one-shot, though I don't have any ideas for it. :P