Jack once got a school assignment to write a report on how social injustices lead to weaponized conflicts, revolutions, or wars. Due to the general chaos in the base and the importance of the project to his grade. Optimus offered Jack his quarters to work, interested in the education of another species.
Optimus took interest in Jacks assignment. Once Jack explained his project, Optimus offered advice and found himself in discussions about social structures, politics and their impact on personal lives. Both Jack and Optimus grew unknowingly closer.
When the day of his project’s presentation came Optimus cleared his entire day to pick up Jack and wait by the school as moral support.
Jack was the only one to get an A on his assignment. In his excitement he ran out to Optimus and told him “You won’t believe it I got an A. Thank you so much for the help, Dad.” Jack was so happy he didn’t even realise he called Optimus Dad, but Optimus did and it made him internally very happy that Jack saw him as a father figure.
Since then, Optimus had made it a priority to be more around the children especially Jack. Subconsciously he extends his EMP field around the kids whenever he is near them.