Take it easy
"Run!" he barked at himself silently, "run! Don't let him catch me!"
The teen's blonde hair flew around his face, partially obscuring his vision, and leaving him a little more vulnerable than he liked.
"Primus, don't let him catch me!" his panicked thoughts echoed and repeated, distracting him to failure.
Primus must not have been in a very kind mood when that prayer was sent, as the small, rather frail teen tripped on a miniscule pebble, and landing in a puddle, covering himself in mud. His hoodie was probably ruined; the yellow cloth stained with mud, and- was that his blood? He had a few cuts on his hands that he was staring at pathetically. A Decepticon would refuse to hurt him, but tripping made him bleed all over?
After a few seconds of confused contemplation, he got up, and had nearly launched into a sprint, when a big hand caught the scruff of his hoodie. Bumblebee flailed around, attempting to escape the grasp, even as he made it worse in his panic.
The adrenaline and panic surged as he freefell to the ground, having been lifted pretty high off the ground. The hand grabbed the front of his hoodie now, covering the pale skin of his attacker in mud. Bumblebee was lifted from the ground again, and slammed against the alley wall, near his pursuer's full strength.
Bumblebee couldn't catch a breath, and his pulse was painfully uneven. He hurt all over from lack of enough oxygen. The adrenaline was wearing off, and all of that added up to him being completely exhausted, his struggles weakening quickly.
His attacker finally spoke.
"Oh, my poor pet…" the voice was deceptively kind and loving. " I really did not want to do this. If you'd just take it easy, I wouldn't have to, and everyone would be happier."
"Not…" Bumblebee gasped for air, "a pet… ever."
"Ohh, pet." The low voice vibrated the air between them, and echoed in Bumblebee's chest quietly, making the smaller one's heart race a little quicker than he liked.
"Haven't you figured it out yet? The Decepticons have won. Autobots, like you, are our pets, or dead. Even the 'great' Optimus Prime had fallen under my lord Megatron's care." Barricade gently brushed his pet's muddy hair back.
Bumblebee just whimpered: he hadn't known that. But that evil Decepticon had to be lying! Optimus would never fall!
Barricade let his pet down onto his feet and led him out of the alley. He was surprised to see a certain master and pet pair walking docilely (the pet, at least, its master was happily chewing out some idiot who had bumped into him.), but it was perfect timing to finally break his pet.
"Look, Bee, see him? That's your great Autobot leader, Optimus Prime. He has fallen to pet status, and he has done so surprisingly gracefully, I'm told. Look how he obeys his master's commands so readily. Doesn't he look so much happier? Look at you, covered in filth, because you disobeyed and ran away." Barricade snarled softly, his hot breath playing at the skin on Bumblebee's neck.
"Perhaps another week in solitary could convince you?" he purred.
"No, oh, Primus, please no!" Bumblebee burst out in pathetic sobs. His restraint had broken, and he grabbed at Barricade's leather police jacket in a desperate attempt to convince the Decepticon.
Barricade was a little bit surprised to see how effective that mild threat had been, and yet, not so surprising, considering the little Bot's previous experience with a week of solitary had turned into a month because of his bad behavior.
"Come, pet. Let's go home. And if you can convince me that you'll behave from now on, I don't think solitary will be necessary for a while.
Several Autobots threw the wreck of a mech pet pitying looks. They had been like that at one point, and it was almost comforting that they weren't the only ones. They were shocked that the youngest would be the one to outlast them in denial, though. Most of them thought that he would be the first to break, and instead, only Ratchet and Prowl had yet to break, and not from lack of trying.
Barricade let go of his pet warily for brief moment to unlock the door. He need not have worried about him running off, as he was too preoccupied with keeping a grip on Barricade's leather jacket.
"Go take a shower. You're a mess. Come straight to the bedroom once you're done. I'll bring you clean clothes." Barricade ordered.
Bumblebee obeyed instantly. He was obviously hoping to gain favor with his master after his misbehavior. It made Barricade smile.
When he could hear water running, Barricade entered his pet's quarters and selected a pair of shorts, underclothes, and a shirt for his pet. He then went into the bathroom and placed them on the sink. Bumblebee had even put his dirty clothes in the hamper.
Barricade left for the bedroom.
Twenty minutes later, Bumblebee stumbled out of the bedroom and halted at the foot of Barricade's bed, where his master sat, swirling a cube of energon slowly.
It was excruciating, waiting for Barricade to acknowledge him. But he waited patiently, staring in anticipation. What kind of punishment would he have for him?
Finally, the Decepticon interrogator looked up at the frail-looking teen.
"Do you promise to never do something like this again, ever?"
"Yes. I promise!"
"You promise what?"
"I promise, master! I promise! I'll never disobey ever again!"
Barricade smirked triumphantly. He had won over his pet. Bumblebee had tried to pretend to obey, but he hadn't quite sounded sincere. This time, he was.
"Bring me the box on top of the dresser."
Bumblebee did so eagerly.
Barricade took his time opening the box, and made it difficult for Bumblebee to see what it was. After admiring it for another moment, he brought it up to eyelevel.
It was a collar, and it took Bumblebee's breath away.
"Come here. Kneel."
Bumblebee knelt next to his master, and looked up hopefully. Barricade leaned down and clicked the collar in place around Bumblebee's neck. It locked.
"See what happens when you take it easy?"