A/N: This one, unlike the previous story in this universe, could be considered a "sequel" of sorts to Torn Sparks. So it is recommend that if you haven't yet read the last one, you read this one. Being that some things with Breakdown won't make much sense otherwise. :) If you'd rather just jump right in, just keep in mind that Breakdown has turn coated, Knock Out is offline, and Autobots and humans live side-by-side.

Disclaimer: I own nothing with the exception of my OC.

Pairings: None as of yet, this may change later, but there, as always, will be no slash featured.

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CHAPTER 1
The Boy

Not every story of a human adopted by Autobots had been a good one. Some people learned this the easy way, through stories, and others, like Lucas Blithe, had learned all too late that this was the case. Over the years, Luke had heard plenty of the "good" stories, the loving homes, the happy times, the cool rides you got to be in. But Luke, whom had been adopted at birth, had never experienced any of it, and if he had he'd long forgotten it. At ten years old, his life with an Autobot family had been hell, the very definition of it.

It was the only reason why, of all things, he had allowed his social worker to drag him to the after-school "Autobot Kids" Program. It was probably the dumbest thing he'd ever heard of otherwise, the thought that all the kids who had been adopted by Autobots needed to get together like that. Every story they told them of their homes were happy, extremely so even. It forced the boy to lie, and to be frank, he was just plain sick of it. "You know what scares me most though?" Luke hardly paid attention to the "When my Mom is fighting Decepticons. And she's gone for DAYS man, it just-"

At that point, Luke had zoned out again, watching the clock closely. It wasn't that it wasn't riveting, which it wasn't anyway, but rather that he knew if he was late getting out again, Ridgeway was going to tan his hide. He had to correct himself there as well, he was going to tan his hide harder than usual, because as usual, he'd find some reason to tan it anyway. "Lucas..." Luke jumped as the sound of a voice broke the silence "Is there anything you'd like to share with the group today?" He questioned.

Luke shifted as all eyes fell upon him, he hated it when they did that. He really did, after all, who liked being the center of attention? Definitely not Luke. No one liked to be the center of attention when they were in his shoes. Yet the mech who ran the program, Ultra Magnus, always seemed to pick him out of the group. He bit his lip tentatively, and shrugged. "Not really, sir." He replied softly "Not much to tell, not to mention my..." He paused "Parents." He then finished "Are retired, I don't have a lot of experiences with Decepticons." He noted.

Not for the first time in a while, Ultra Magnus's blue optics bore down on the dirty blonde haired boy. There were some days that he could only wonder if the mech saw right through his green eyes and into the wall he'd built up. It often worried him to even think about that, to think of anyone finding out the truth, if for no other reason other than he knew he'd be dead by the time it hit his guardians. "Yes, well... Alright then." Magnus nodded his head a little "I think that'll do it for today then, children. Same time next week?" He questioned.

As usual, Luke was the first to collect his worn, old backpack, and rush for the front door. He didn't even look at anyone as he did, he just had to get home, get his work done, and stay out of his "parents" way. It was the daily routine, it always was, go to school, go to the program, go home, do the housework, and try and sleep before two in the morning. And frankly, that was a good day in his household. That day, however, he hadn't taken into account running into the dark blue leg in front of him.

To most kids, the feeling of metal hurt, but to Luke, it was rather normal. For a moment, he took a second to recognize the fact he'd even been knocked on his butt to begin with. "Oh jeez, Luke. Be careful, will you?" He heard.

Luke sighed in relief as he pulled himself to his feet, brushing himself off slightly. If nothing else, Luke knew that the mech in front of him wouldn't burst into a panic or dote over him like many others would. The former Decepticon, Breakdown, wasn't like that, he definitely didn't baby him. "Sorry Mr. Breakdown." Luke replied, collecting his supplies "I'm just in a hurry to get outside." He noted.

"I think your parents won't mind it if you're a millisecond late, kid." The young former Decepticon volunteer told him calmly, raising his one good optic ridge a bit "Maybe slow down and watch where you're gong once in a while." He noted.

Inside, Breakdown nearly chastised himself for how harsh those words had come out. But in his defense, he still wasn't used to his job as a volunteer at what many would call the "Boys and Girls Club" for Autobot kids. It hadn't even really been his idea, it had been that of his human friend, Riley's and frankly he still didn't believe he was the right person for the job. "My parents are just a little strict, Breakdown, they... Worry." He took a deep breath, looking up at the mech.

"Yeah, I can tell." Breakdown said with heavy sarcasm "Are these the same parents that left you waiting for five hours and then told you to walk home last week?" Luke was silent, he shook his head a little bit "I don't get you sometimes kid." He noted.

"No one really seems to get me." Luke shrugged.

A loud honk got his attention quickly as Luke stared out the window. He knew Ridgeway was already getting restless, not that he was ever calm to begin with. Shifting his backpack over his shoulder a bit. "I take it he's out there?" Luke nodded his head slightly "You'd better get going then, kid. Before he takes off without you. I gotta get back to work anyway." He sighed a bit "See you monday?" He questioned.

"Yeah, see you Monday."

Luke caught another smile from the mech as he ran out the door quickly. Breakdown was silent as he watched the boy rush out to the large, garbage truck formed Autobot, and disappeared into his cab quietly. "Did Lucas leave yet?" The mech turned his head moments after the truck had pulled away to face Magnus "He forgot his glasses again." He sighed.

"Kid would forget his own head if it wasn't attached to him, eh?" Breakdown chuckled a little "Want me to drive it by his place on my way home?" He questioned.

Magnus nodded his head slowly as Breakdown took the small case, and put it inside his subspace compartment. There was silence for a moment, and then Magnus took a deep breath, looking him in the optics silently. "Maybe keep an eye on him while you're at it?" Breakdown raised an optic ridge slightly "Luke's been quieter than usual." He noted.

"Really? Because he's been his usual chatterbox self with me."

Magnus frowned a bit, allowing Breakdown to realize that he was, without a doubt, serious. Magnus shook his head slightly, staring his young friend down a bit. "It's true, Breakdown. Luke doesn't talk to a lot of people, but he's very open with you." Magnus told him firmly "I'm genuinely worried that there may be a problem at home, and well..." He looked at Breakdown calmly "Maybe he'd-" He began.

"Listen, Magnus. I'll bring him his glasses." Breakdown shook his head "But if the little guy and his parents are fighting, it isn't exactly my place to butt in." He shrugged his shoulders a little "And before you go there, I'd know if something was wrong with him. Did you ever think he just doesn't want to be here?" He questioned, shaking his head "It was his social worker's idea after all, not his." He explained.

Magnus put his hands on his hips slightly, taking a deep breath. "Would it hurt you to make sure that there's nothing wrong in there?" Magnus questioned "You care about him, don't you?" He questioned.

Breakdown took a deep breath, rubbing his foreplate slightly. He didn't like butting into people's lives, he'd done plenty of that during his days in the Decepticons, and it was exactly what he wanted to avoid as an Autobot. Yet at the same time, Magnus did make an honest point, he did care about Luke, he cared about him a lot. "Fine..." Breakdown told him calmly "I'll go and check on him too, but I can pretty much tell you that there's nothing wrong in his home." He explained, shrugging his shoulders.

"I hope you're right. But it doesn't hurt to be sure anyway." Magnus replied "I've never really trusted that Father of his. And I don't think I've ever seen the Mother." Breakdown shook his head slowly "I just think that there's a little more in that home than he's telling us. Because let's face it..." He sighed "Not all Autobots are saints." He added.

"I said I'd check already, just don't have a conniption, Magnus."

Magnus rolled his optics silently as Breakdown moved past him. If nothing else, he could only hope that Breakdown was right, but as they would learn before the week was up. He was wrong, dead wrong, whether they liked it or not. Even so, Magnus could feel in his circuits that he was right, and beyond nothing else, it sickened him to think of what may have been taking place.