Hi everyone, that was a very hard chapter to write.
It does contain a recall of a sexual assault, but nothing graphic. I apologise if this disturbs you. i would like also to clarify that I don't condone any non consensual act.

Chapter Text

"I'm the only one bothered by the way Bumblebee said that the tenant of the flat doesn't need it?" Agent Fowler asked from the perch.

The watch through the screen Optimus snooping around in the flat as Bee took a shower.
He wandered in the kitchen and opened the fridge and the cupboards "You could make dinner, if you find something in there" June suggested, ignoring the FBI agent.

"Mm..." Was the quiet answer of the leader, assessing the situation.
" maybe in the big chest freezer you'll find somethings " Raf added.

Ratchet observed them, but his processor was still on Fowler question. Yes, somethings was definitely off in the way the youngling dismiss the question Optimus had posed before going for his shower, the way those big blue eyes avoided the leader.

As Prime started removing the boxes and the books from the top of the chest freezer, Ratchet re-examined, in his mind, the comportment of the kid since Optimus met him today.

He was deciding if voice his concerns with the others, when Prime surprised exclamation, "Oh good Primus!", dragged his attention back on the screen.

And indeed he could understand his leader reaction, as well all the surprised remarks and rapid breath intakes of the population of the HQ.

Also Bumblebee ran on the scene in response. And probably that one was the most surprising reaction.
The youngling, indeed, instead of being surprised of the dead boy of an unidentified human male in his late forty, appeared scared. He rushed to close the lid, and stacked hastily the books and boxes back in places. He added even more books and then, back-pedalling and dragging Optimus by the wrist, he put as much distance he could between them and the chest freezer.

For the whole time, the boy's breathe was fast and wheezing. "his hyperventilating!" Ratchet and June said as one.

When Prime kneeled in front of the boy, the teary blue eyes filled the screen. "Hush, little one, you are safe"
Took a while to coax the blonde to breath normally, and when he finally did it, he looked exhausted. "I'm sorry" he said with the smallest of the voices.
"No harm done, little one" Optimus replied shooting.

"No, I meant..." Bee started unsure "I'm sorry I killed him, and that I occupied his house and used his internet, and ate hisfood and sleepon h-h-hi-hiscoachand..." His words merged together as the boy re-started hyperventilating.

"Hush, hush my scout... Everything is fine..." Optimus said as his hands cupped the younger one cheeks and started rubbing away the tears. Then, when the boy seemed to have regain some control, he manoeuvred Bee on the sofa, and sitting close to him, half hugging him, he asked softly: "what happened? How did you kill him?"

"Are... Are the others still listening to us?" Bee started slowly
"Can you... Can you send the children away" the boy added shyly when his older man nodded.
"Ratchet?" The leader asked out loud
"On it Optimus" Arcee answered first, before commanding Smokescreen to take the children away. She had to tacit four querying and complying voices, but when June added her command, a subdued Smokey drives three subdued children home.

"Ok, go on little one"

"... I... The first week after ... After falling out of the ground bridge... That was the scariest week of my life. I had no idea were I was and were all of you were and... And I had to sleep on the dirty and under the bridges and in the sewers... At the end I finally arrived to Jasper high school... And then Raf wasn't aware of who I was and ... and... And I have no food and no place were to go... No hope thought... And.. And this man, he offer me a shelter for a night... Raf's mum always insist that he doesn't have to ever think of going with a stranger somewhere but.. I guess I was desperate... And... I... He... He drugged me, you know? I guess with the orange juice... I.. I was fine a moment, and I woke up the moment later, on his bed... And ... And I was, you know? without my clothes... And, and he touched me, like.. There where my spike used to be... Where my valve used to be... He put his hand in there... And ... And my hands were bided to the bed header... With a rope, you know?... But... but my legs were free... So, I... I mean, he was touching me, and I didn't want, and I begged him to stop but... But he didn't, and my legs were free, so... So I ... I kicked him, hard, on his rib cage... And then he was holding his chest and he collapsed on me... And I couldn't shake him off, and... And I couldn't breath, and I begged him to move away...but he... He just.. he became colder and colder and ... And... Took me all night and all the next day to free my first hand... I had to scratch myself with the rope enough to have the blood coating my hand, you know? so that I could slide out with less friction... You see, it's not healed yet... I just want to run away, but I was even more terrified of leaving this four walls. I hid him in there, and I started to used this place... You know? he doesn't need it anymore, and I cannot... I'm sorry... I cannot sleep outside again, I... He... He is dead and I'm safe now, you know? I... Him... And... And you are here now... I'm sorry I killed him... I know we have rules about killing human beings... I..." Whatever he was going to say next was muffled by Optimus shirt when the older man hugged the little boy, whispering reassurances and rubbing shooting circles on his back with one hand, as with the others he cupped the boy neck and leaded his head in the crock of his own neck.

A loud bang redirected Ratchet attention form the screen to the wall of the HQ were Arcee first left a big indent. As he looked, she kicked the same spot twice, releasing more debris and enlarging the hole in the mountain wall.

A deep breath from the perch turned his main focus on the humans. Agent Fowler's hands were wrapped around the handrail so thighs that the metal started to bend and June was covering her face with her hands. When she lowered her extremities, though, she looked stoic and collected. She was also the first to speak "Optimus, be aware he could be not too fond of physical interaction, right now. Also, can you take a close look to that nasty scab on his wrist? I want to make sure is healing properly"

Optimus nodded and started to pull out of the hug, only to have the boy following him, grabbing at the man's shirt like he was trying to melt in Optimus chest. "Hush little one, I'm not going anywhere." He promised softly.

He held the small frame all night, silently watching his little broken youngling.