Disclaimer: The Transformers aren't mine; I just enjoy writing about them.

But when you're lost.

Chapter 1

He had realised that things were getting bad when he started making a habit of stopping to listen at the door before he entered his home. When he had been a youngling he wouldn't have been able to wait another micron to see his guardians again but in the last few vorns something had changed.

The war had taken it's toll on all of them especially Prowl as his job as security chief for Sentinel Prime required him to know all of the worst things that had happened and that knowledge had somehow drained him and made him worry a lot more and Jazz' stubbornness wasn't helping matters. Bluestreak had understood for a long time that Jazz' determination to do everything despite his blindness was one of the reasons he admired the mech so much but he also knew how difficult that could make things.

So there he was standing just outside his home again, listening to yet another argument and trying to work out when the right time to walk in would be.

"Jazz I don't want you playing there it's too dangerous." Prowl shouted. "That place isn't what it used to be, there are fights all the time and Primus knows what else."

"I've already said that I'll do it." Jazz' tone was completely even and calm but Bluestreak knew better than to cross his guardian than when that voice was used. In his processors optic he could see Jazz standing ridged and ready to spring at any sign of weakness.

"We don't need the credits that badly, why don't you wait and see if anything better comes up?" Prowl asked, there was still a lot of tension in his voice and involuntarily Bluestreak moved his hand away from the keypad.

"Since when did I play for the currency, I play because I love it Prowl and because it gets me out of here…"

"That's a joke right? In the last vorn you've been away more than I have. Bluestreak…" The young mech jumped back as if he had been burned. He hated it when they fought but when they brought him into it he felt as if he couldn't stand it anymore.

"It ain't my fault that you've had a bad day at work so don't you dare take it out on me." Jazz yelled and Bluestreak realised that if Jazz was back in his audio range then he must be headed for the door after all it wasn't all that uncommon for him to walk out when he felt that he was too furious to continue.

With no time for thought Bluestreak turned and ran out into the oncoming night. The bleak, cold streets of Iacon flashed by him as he sprinted away from his home and he paid them no attention until his over heated systems forced him to stop. It wasn't until then that he realised that he had no idea where he was or how he was going to get back. He had only ever felt so lost and alone once in his life and in utter despair he curled himself up in a shadowy doorway and rocked himself until he slipped into an uneasy recharge.

He on-lined again knowing that he was in trouble, a bunch of street mechs were not far from him, talking boisterously and squabbling amongst themselves. "I've got to get out of here." He whispered to himself, keeping his optics down he moved slowly away from the gang, he'd lived with Jazz for long enough to pick up some of the mechs grace and all he could do was pray to Primus that it would be enough.

"Hey you!" Bawled a rough voice. "Who are you?"

Apparently it wasn't. "No one." Bluestreak answered shyly.

"Well you ain't a figment of his imagination." Another shouted.

"I'm just passing through. I don't want any trouble." To his surprise Bluestreak managed to speak without stumbling over the words as he so often did when he was around strangers.

"Nice paint job you got there." A third mech sneered. "The mech must have a few credits to spare. I say we jump him."

Bluestreak started backing off a little faster, he wasn't completely untrained when it came to fighting but he was a long way off being any good especially against a lot of opponents.

"I…I haven't got a s…slagging thing on me honest." He stammered trying not to let his vocaliser run off with him as it so often did.

"You know the one thing I really hate?" The largest mech among them asked lazily before he answered his own question. "Liars. Get him."

The only thought that passed through Bluestreaks processor as he crouched slightly and braced himself for the attack was. "How the slag did I get into this mess?" He didn't find the answer before the first mech reached him. He couldn't help feeling slightly proud of himself as he flipped the mech over his shoulder then kicked out high for the next mechs chest plate and sent him sprawling onto his aft.

The third was a little better prepared for him and managed to get a couple of punches in before Bluestreak brought a sweeping blow down onto the sensitive area between neck and shoulder protectors but the last and largest moved differently to the others. He had an air about him that told Bluestreak that he knew what he was doing and it wasn't long before he was being pushed back to where the first mech was waiting for him. Suddenly the cold burn of a laser knife was against his throat and he knew he could do nothing but freeze.

"We've got you now." The big mech growled. "Now I'd like you to give me a good reason why I shouldn't have your internals ripped out here and now."

"I got five of 'em." A smooth, new voice snarled and before anyone knew what was happening a heavy golden fist slammed into the big mechs face plate and crushed most of his features.

"Hey Sunny save some for me?" A similar voice called and the strangle hold on Bluestreaks throat disappeared an instant later. With his movements no longer restricted Bluestreak spun quickly grabbed one mech by the shoulders and launched him at another.

"Looks like you asked the wrong mech Sides." The one who the other had called Sunny grinned at his companion.

Drawing himself up and unconsciously doing a very accurate impression of Jazz in one of his worst moods Bluestreak looked down at the mech who had been the first to fall. "Do you know what I really hate?" He asked calmly. "Slaggers who think they can take things that aren't theirs by force."

He didn't look back as he walked away but footsteps told him that the other two were following him. "I…I don't know w…who you mech are or w…what you were d…doing back there but thanks… for stepping in." He stammered once he was sure that they were safe.

"I'm Sideswipe and that's my twin Sunstreaker. Sunny thought it would be fun to check out some of the nightlife here in Iacon but fortunately for you he's also got the directional sense of a sparkling." The mech to his left answered.

"Bluestreak. Anyone else need a couple of shots of high-grade?" The shock of what had happened was starting to get to him and he knew that he could he couldn't have stood still if his life had depended on it.

"At least." Sideswipe smiled.

"Then it's a good job that I know where I am now then isn't it?" Bluestreak said cheerfully as he recognised a few of the buildings around him. He led them into a noisy bar and using hand signals ordered drinks for the three of them from a mech he knew vaguely but couldn't remember the name of.

"Hey Blue." The mech greeted him a few moments later as he handed out the shots.

"I'll put these on the tab shall I?"

"Thanks." Bluestreak grinned. "You know I'll settle up when I get the chance."

"No problem."

Bluestreak picked up his glass with a still trembling hand and sipped the liquid as he looked over the twins. Sideswipe was the slighter of the two with a dark red paint job and what seemed to be a permanent grin while Sunstreaker was golden-yellow and was watching the crowd around them almost suspiciously.

"No one is going to trouble us here." He said reassuringly. "Most of them know me through Jazz and everybody likes him."

"Jazz?" Sunstreaker asked suddenly focusing his attention on Bluestreak. "You mean the musician?"

Bluestreak nodded feeling slightly uncomfortable at being the centre of the yellow mechs interest.

"Our creator took us to see him play once, before the war, is he your creator?" Sideswipe said excitedly.

"The closest I have to one, he and Prowl took me in after my city was destroyed."

"Uraya?" Sunstreaker asked softly.

Again Bluestreak nodded. "I don't really like talking about it much."

"Understood."

"So can we go back to Jazz?" Sideswipe asked. "I'd love to see him play again. Do you know when he'll be visiting Perihex? That's where we live."

"He rarely goes that far anymore, Prowl says it's not safe for him to travel and although Jazz would never admit it he knows that he's right." Bluestreak explained. "But I know he'll be doing something soon 'cause I heard them arguing about it…" Realising that he was heading for something else he didn't wish to discuss he stopped himself short and once again he found himself being watched carefully by Sunstreaker.

"Well how about I give you my call code and when you know where the shows are you can drop me an info?" Sunstreaker suggested offering him a small chip.

"Yeah." Bluestreak nodded. "I can do that." He sub-spaced the chip somewhere safe and signalled for the barmech to bring over some more shots.

The three mechs talked, laughed and drank for a while longer before the twins offered to walk him home. By then Bluestreak was feeling so much better that he didn't even think about what could be waiting for him and accepted.

It was a long walk but none of them cared. If anything Bluestreak was disappointed when they turned the last corner. "Thanks again for helping me out." Bluestreak smiled.

"Hey no problem. Thanks for the drinks." Sideswipe waved and moved away.

"Don't forget to give me that call." Sunstreaker reminded him with a friendly smile. "See you again?"

"I hope so." Bluestreak said honestly. Sunstreaker touched his shoulder briefly and followed his twin but he looked back before they disappeared from Bluestreaks line of sight and the young mech grinned before he turned and entered the code for his door humming softly to himself.

The main room was dimly lit and Jazz was sat at the table with a couple of data pads and a cup of high-grade for company. "Hey Blue, where've you been?" Jazz asked warmly before his expression changed slightly. "How'd ya get those dents?"

"I got into a bit of trouble but a couple of mechs helped me out and we got to talking which is why I'm so late. Turns out they're fans of yours and they've asked me to let them know when you're playing again so they can come and watch." Bluestreak said quickly.

"Gotta see a mech about that tomorrow so I'll let you know when you get home." Jazz grinned. Bluestreak was sure that he hadn't said anything to amuse the older mech but Jazz often noticed things that anyone else would miss and for some reason that unnerved him.

"Goodnight Jazz." He excused himself.

"Happy recharging." Jazz returned cheerfully.

Alone in his room Bluestreak stood infront of his mirror and repaired the few scratches and dings he had picked up during the fight before he touched the spot on his shoulder where Sunstreaker had rested his hand. It didn't look or feel any different from any other part of him but somehow it was. Bluestreak didn't really understand it but he wanted to.