Disclaimer: TF doesn't belong to me and I don't make profit out of it. :)

Very, very pre-war.

Beta'd by the amazing GraceSolo.

As usual Prowl was doing his rounds over his assigned sector in Praxus. It consisted doing three circuits around the city's square and two rounds around the gardens. It may not seem like much, but Praxus was a large city, with many Cybertronians. So rounding the aria, especially in the evening, when everyone was coming back from work, was quite lively.

His patrol partner, Clockwise was driving next to him, both in traditional Enforcer alt modes.

::HQ to Enforcer Prowl. Please respond.::

::Prowl here.::

::We've gotten a call from a couple of citizens, referring to pickpocketing incident in your area.:: Responded a smooth femme voice ::They couldn't get a good look at the mech but he's Praxian build. Be on the lookout. ::

::Understood. Prowl out.::

"Do you think that's the thief we've been after?" Clockwise asked as the two officers changed directions and headed for a more populated area to observe – mainly around the gates of the Gardens, where a lot of tourists lurked.

"It is possible. But I doubt he would come and do such a lowly job." They parked near the entrance, hidden by a stray branch of crystals. "If our intel is right, he probably has pawns scattered all around the city."

A little over a joor passed and nothing suspicious happened. Even as his partner started to became restless, Prowl remained as stoic as ever.

"Hey...um Prowl? I heard about your creators – sorry mech. They were good folks." The bigger framed Enforcer shifted so he could look more closely at Prowl. "I know I already sent my condolences but still...you could talk to me anytime you want."

The other Enforcer never turned his gaze from the passing flow of Praxian in front of him. "Clockwise. I appreciate the concern – I truly do, but when on work, please restrain yourself from crossing the personal boundaries."

"Look, your mourning. I get it. Just saying you don't have to do it alone."

Prowl shifted on in his alt mode so he could get a better look of the other. "And you need to understand that worring about our personal life only hinders the job we do. And in our line of work, we have no place for it."

"...Right. Sorry."

They were new partners, still learning about each other but Clockwise was quick to understand that Prowl worked with cold efficiency. And he was always, always right on any subject. He wasn't thrilled to work with the cold sparked enforcer but as a rookie, he had no choice in the matter.

"What is it?" Clockwise looked at the now transformed Prowl.

"I think I may have found our culprit." His wings flared as he increased his pace.

When said culprit spotted the enforcers, he made a dash for it, slightly surprising his persuaders with his speed.

::Prowl? Are you sure that's him? The pickpocket?::

::Yes, I have him recorded in action.::

::But he's a youngling!::

Prowl didn't answer and just increased his pace, dodging Praxians. It was far too populated to be in alt mode and the youngling couldn't transform -

::What in the - :: The two enforcers watched shocked as the youngling, youngling transformed and dashed ahead.

::It would appear that not only the youngling would need reprimanding.:: Clockwise could hear the barely noticeable growl in the usually lay back Prowl. There is a strict law prohibiting all sparkling and youngling from having subspaces and transformation cogs.

::Go around the corner. Block his path. I'll force him in a closed off street, where he can't run.::

There was an affirmative over the lines and Prowl transformed again. It was going to have to be a chase then. He flared his sirens.

The youngling was good, Prowl will give him credit. It swiftly maneuvered around other Praxians and the enforcer almost lost him a couple of times. On the other side of the rode Clockwise blocked the young one's path and the youngling dashed strait for the closed off alley like Prowl predicted.

"End of the line kid." The two enforcers closed in. "Come on, transform and we promise we'll give you a goodie if you comply." Clockwise bargained with the cornered youngling, both enforces not keened on the idea having to physically restrain the youngling, fearing causing him injury.

Unfortunately for Clockwise, the youngling not only did it not comply but it showed his colorful language.

"Why you little!"

"Listen to reason." Of course Prowl would take over the situation, "We will get you help. You are far too young to possess half of the modifications you have. You are exerting your systems." Prowl narrowed his optics and the very, very small vehicle in front of him, "If someone if forcing you, you could tell us."

The black and white enforcer did not miss the slight tremble of the young ones frame. Unfortunately the youngling gained back his confidence, released a plethora of curses at them both, making Prowl cringe mentally. The youngling revved his engine and dashed forward towards the ebforcers blocking his escape,(made Clockwise jump out of the way or risk colliding with the kid) and was able to get away.

::This is getting ridiculous! It's one slaggin' youngling! How are we not able to catch it?::

Prowl did not answer. He will not risk injuring the child unless absolutely necessary. Besides, he already had a plan.

::His modification will tire him out. It's only a matter of time.:: At the grumble he got from the other line Prowl cut the connection and focused of finding the pickpocket.

The said youngling hastily transformed and slumped against a huge crystal in the gardens. This area contained no citizens, due to dangerous crystals hanging above him. He paid no mind to them.

Warnings of low fuel flashed across his HUD as his pump was about to explode. The youngling trembled, refusing to let out a whimper that was so desperately trying to escape. He couldn't let the enforcers take him. He needed to take those credits back otherwise...otherwise...

"Are you alright?" A smooth voice startled him.

Prowl observed how the youngling pressed himself closer to the crystal, scraping his wings in the process, but the child made no complains.

The Enforcer decided on a different approach as he stepped closer and crouched in front of the frightened youth.

"My designation is Prowl. And you would be?"

"...W-Why the frag should I tell you?" The fear morphed in to something else as his survival instincts kicked in.

Prowl frowned. "Younglings should not use such language. Didn't your creators teach you that?"

"...If I give you back the credits, will you leave?" If he had to, he will bargain his way out. Getting back credit-less was better than not coming back at all.

"Honestly? No." Prowl was blunt as always, "How old are you?"

He just needed a couple of breems and his systems would be able to get him out of here. Just a few more breems...

"I'm fourteen vorns old. You?"

Prowls frown deepened. "Why should I tell you my true age when you lied about yours?"

The youngling's optics doubled their size. How did he...

"Your frame, albeit upgraded is still very small," Very, small indeed, "I give you ten vorns, if not less."

The child in front of him acted just like one as coolant slightly leaked from optics, "Please, leave me alone. I'll give you back the credits, I'll do anything. I won't even tell I gave them to you. Please, I just want to go back."

He curled around himself seeming even smaller. Prowl, who had never dealt with younglings and sparklings before seemed lost at what to do.

"I am an Enforcer. My job is to help. Let me help you." The child looked at him lost.

"I can help," Prowl insisted, trying to convince the youngling to confide in him.

"...No one can help me."

With systems finally cooled enough, the youngling tried the same tactic like before - dashing past Prowl, but this time the Enforcer was ready and caught him just in time. Prowl would have been surprised at how light the frame was if it wasn't for the younglings constant kicking and screaming, desperately trying to get away. Unfortunately, all of the noise caused the unstable crystals around them to tremble due to the vibrations of the high volume voices and pieces started to crumble.

Prowl barely had time to shield the small youngling as a piece fell over them, injuring his wings. Pain receptor overrode his CPU as pain flooded and the world turned black. Once the shock was over the youngling shakily stood up and still crying tried to wake up the downed mech.

"...P-Prowl?" He sniffed, "Prowl, please answer me?" The youngling just stood there fearing the worst.

"I-I killed him." He trembled as pure horror crept in his systems, "Please, please, please, please wake up!" Tears fell from his face.

Don't cry, bitlet. Ah'll protect ya.

Stop crying this instant or I will make you!

A groan made the youngling turn to look at the fallen mech so fast his CPU suffered from vertigo. He stood there, silent and unmoving, begging Primus that he herd what he thought he did.

Another groan and the child released the air he was holding. He was alive! He was alive!

He wiped away the tears from his eyes and looked around. No one in sight. He bit his lip while opening his subspace and pulling out a few items.

"A youngling did this to you?" Smokescreen asked, surprise clear in his voice as he watched the medic tend to his subordinates wings.

Prowl glared, "No, the crystals fell on me. There was a reason this section was off limits."

"Hey, boss. Check this out!" The blue Praxian turned to look at Clockwise who was holding a data pad along with a crummy looking bag.

"It's for Prowl." Prowl snapped his head up and looked at the other two standing figures. He opened the bag...that was full of credits.

"Well I'll be..." Muttered Smokescreen.

"Kid's good. Better than good, kid's great! There must over 5, 000 credits here..." Clockwise trailed off. "How did we miss this thief? If he could gather this much in just one Orn..."

But Prowl was more focused on the data pad in hand.

Thank you for saving me. I'm really sorry you got hurt.

I just reached nine vorns, by the way.

Bluestreak.

Bluestreak cowered on the floor, his cheek still painfully tingling where he was slapped.

"Did I not make myself clear not to come back empty handed?" A bulky frame loomed over him, making the Praxian youngling feel even smaller than he was.

He was lifted roughly by his chevron. "I asked a question. Speak."

"I..I-I'm sorry! T-The enforcers came...and.. and I panicked.. and..." Sobs muffled his words as his captor crew more aggravated.

"Why did you let yourself be spotted?" He was shaken roughly as his cries were no longer from fear but pain.

"Ah think that's quite enough." A voice echoed from behind Bluestreak's captor. A black hand, connected to a black frame was holding on tightly over the huge arm what was tugging Bluestreak.

"Topspin, frag off before I slaggin' change my mind and feed you to the petro-rats."

Topspin glared, "Let go of the younglin', Swindle," a threat left hanging in the air.

A clicking sound and Swindle didn't need to turn his head to know a gun was pointed at him.

"S-Stop!" Bluestreak was able to tug away from Swindle and stood right next to Topspin, his little gray frame not even reaching the middle of the black one. No wonder the black and white enforcer knelt during their encounter, knowing his height (that was even bigger that this one's) would intimidate the youngling even more.

The gray mechling whimpered more as he cling to his 'only friend'. Unfortunately, Topspin was off the thief's base more often than not and even when on base, Bluestreak had trouble seeing him. But still, this black mech was the only one who was kind to him.

"Did I give you permission to move, trash?" Swindle glared, but when Topspin let go of his arm, he motioned for his guard to step away. The two of them headed for the door.

"I want my credits back. Doubled." Swindle did not even turn when he addressed the retreating bots. "Otherwise, I will take measures. You don't what that, do you?"

There was no reply.

"Answer!"

"N-No." The mechling hiccuped. "I won't fail again. I promise. I won't! Just please, don't hurt them!"

The response Bluestreak got was that of the door closing. He stood there, wings almost flat on his back as he tried to stop his tears.

"Shhh, it's okay Blue. You're okay, bitlet..." The older mech soothed as he crouched in front of the child and placed his hand on the small shoulders, covering them completely.

"'S-Spin?" He couldn't calm down. "Did you check on them? Are they okay?" He finally looked at the mech in front of him.

"Yeah, they're fine. Worried 'bout you, but fine." He reassuringly smiled.

Bluestreak nodded, but at who, he didn't know. He just shifted, drinking in the rare comfort he got from being around Topspin.

"Come recharge at my place tonight." At Bluestreak's hesitant glance, he smirked, "I've got your favorite goodies, still fresh."

And just then, Bluestreak remembered how hungry from today's ordeal he was. His energy was very low.

"...The ones with Magnesium in them?" He timidly asked.

Topspin off lined his optics and patted the small chevron head. "Yeah kiddo, the ones with magnesium." He murmured and took Bluestreak's hand to lead him to his quarters in the thief's base, wanting at least tonight the child to recharge at peace.

Because no one can rest in a place where you don't feel safe.

TBC