In which Raf tries to get his ship to sail.

And perhaps succeeds.

~~~

"So, how was your past year?" Miko asked. The three humans were just chilling on the couch, not doing anything exciting. Jack lurched forward from his place in between the two suddenly.

"Holy scrap, it's gone by that fast?"

"Well, yeah, I mean what do you expect once Christmas ends? A never-ending year? Blech," Miko replied, making a disgusted face as she added a few more details to a drawing of Bulkhead. She was sitting on the arm of the couch with her sketch pad, though she had the common sense to take her boots off so they wouldn't be on the couch and ruin it even further than it was already.

"Well no, obviously...I guess it just kinda...snuck up on me. Everything has been so crazy...it just...went by so quickly. That's all," Jack replied, rubbing the back of his head.

"Sometimes I think it doesn't go by fast enough," Miko muttered. "But I actually really enjoyed this year."

"Yeah? Well, I mean, it should be a given. We met the Autobots this year."

"Not only that...I met you this year too."

Jack's cheeks quickly turned red at Miko's comment.

"Oh, yeah, same."

"O-oh, I met Raf too, of course, who could forget the two-year-old hacker?"

"Nice save," Raf replied unamusedly, looking up from his laptop. Those two obviously like each other...they need to do something to kick it off.

"And I'm not two!" the twelve-and-a-quarter year old defended himself.

Miko rolled her eyes and smiled in amusement. "But really, this has got to be the best year of my life."

Jack smiled a bit. "Yeah. What are you doing for the countdown?"

"Nothing much, I thought I'd just stay in the base and scream happy new year when the time comes and annoy Ratchet. You?"

Jack chuckled. "I'll probably join you, minus the whole annoying Ratchet part. My mom needs to work tonight. Raf, you?"

"I need to go home pretty soon, we're having family over."

"That's nice," Jack replied with a small smile.

"So you'll just stay at the base, huh?" Raf asked, giving them something of a mischievous look.

"Well, yeah."

"Are you gonna do the midnight kiss thing then?"

"W-what? Raf why would you even suggest that?" Jack replied, and Raf wanted to facepalm.

"Because it's tradition." Because it's obvious. Raf sighed and checked his laptop's clock.

"I should go. Have fun guys."

Raf left the two teens staring at each other awkwardly and he had no idea what would come of it.

***

Miko got over the awkwardness pretty quick, softly playing her guitar as if it were any other day as Jack busied himself with the game controller. Not that they would let the other know it, but the two had liked each other shortly after they first met the 'bots. It was 11:57, and the two had already explained why they were staying at the base so late and why this tradition happened. They were fine with it, as long as Miko didn't disturb their recharge, which was why Miko was playing quietly in the first place. Optimus was up late on the monitors Ratchet usually occupied, tuning out Miko's music. He turned to look to see what had happened, only to see Miko setting her guitar back on it's case before dragging Jack out to the lift by his arm. Optimus raised an optic ridge but decided not to follow.

"Miko, what-"

"Eleven Fifty-Eight!" she interrupted in excitement as the lift closed and they started ascending to the roof. Jack chuckled, and soon they walked out onto the roof of the base, staring over the city of Jasper.

"Miko..."

"Yeah?"

"I just wanted to know. Was meeting me-and Raf of course-" he smiled. "One of the reasons why you loved this year so much?"

Miko stared at Jack for a few seconds before punching him in the arm lightly.

"You think about things too much, Jack." she grinned. Jack rolled his eyes, but he was smiling.

"I know." He checked his phone's clock. "Ten."

"Nine." Miko smiled. So are we gonna follow Raf's suggestion or what?

"Eight." Jack responded. Why did you ask that question?

"Seven." Does Jack actually-

"Six." Does Miko actually-

"Five." He probably doesn't it's fine.

"Four." So...

"Three." Make up your mind, Miko! You gonna do it or not?

"Two." I-

"One." They both said at the same time. Fireworks could be heard coming from Jasper, and they could see them too.

"Happy new year, Jack."

"Merry Christmas, Miko."

"Wait, what?"

"What? Oh," Jack replied, blushing profusely. Luckily it was dark and Miko couldn't see, otherwise she'd never let Jack live it down. Not that she probably won't anyway.

"I-I mean, Happy new year, Miko."

"Right," Miko replied with a smile, making up her mind then and there, lifting the heels of her feet and making out Jack's features in the dark. She rested her hands on his shoulders and gently pressed her lips to his. Jack's eyes widened in surprise, but he kissed her back. Miko broke off after a few seconds, and the two were smiling at each other.

"Merry Christmas Jack," she joked.

~~~

I need more Jiko in my life