Summary: Even after all this time, after all the indignities, there are still things that hurt.
A/N: Ok, so I think it's time for some honesty here. Broken was always meant to be a oneshot. Always. There is literally no way I can make that last bit the first chapter of a comprehensive story. Sorry. So what is that block of text down below you ask? That is another oneshot, taking place in the same universe as Broken and taking place sometime after. If this starts to resemble a comprehensive story, yay. If it continues to look like a bunch of unrelated oneshots all in the same place for your convenience, oh well, you're the one reading it.
Disclaimer: Once upon a time there was a fanfic author whose only possession was the computer with which she created her art.
Warnings for mature themes.
A/N: I'm using characters that showed up in the cartoon/comics (whichever ones I want) as well as those from Movies because frankly I needed more of them wandering around the base.
It was sad how quickly the human race fell to the invaders. It was less and less that Megatron was needed on the battlefield and after that first year, what world leaders were left stopped talking about "peaceful resolutions" and started begging for mercy for their people.
Sam heard nothing of Autobots leading the few revolts that still sprung up. Sam pretended this was a good thing; that it meant his friends were safe, making plans. But as the Decepticons fell into a routine and no counter attacks were forth coming, even Sam had to admit that the outlook was grim.
He sat, quiet, naked and cold on a cushion beside Megatron's throne. The leash was clearly just for show now, a physical representation of the bondage all the human race was in, because Sam had given the Decepticons no reason to believe he would try to escape.
Quite the opposite in fact. If anything, Sam had proven to be more loyal to Megatron than some of the Decepticons wandering around. Perhaps it was because Sam had more to lose.
"Another human outpost has been destroyed, Lord Megatron," Soundwave was bent on one knee, a difficult position for him, Sam noticed. Rumble and Frenzy peeked out from behind one of the larger robot's legs and Sam shivered as they nudged each other and jerked their heads at him.
"Excellent. What is the progress on the secondary base?" Megatron wasn't looking. Frenzy and Rumble knew that their leader wasn't paying attention. Sam knew that he wasn't paying attention.
"The humans work slowly, my lord," a common complaint that worked well as an excuse when things were moving slower than the robots would have liked. Frenzy scrambled across the floor with Rumble following closely. Sam knew better than to draw attention to himself without a very good reason, and stayed quiet.
"Threaten to decrease their rations, see if that doesn't hurry them up," Sam let out a sharp cry and both Soundwave and Megatron turned to look down at him. Rumble held him by the shoulders while Frenzy yanked at a lock of Sam's now well over grown hair. This wasn't the first time they'd attacked him, but it was the first time they'd tried to take the customary trophy lock of hair with witnesses so nearby. "Away from him!" The cassettes were destructive, not stupid, and obediently let Sam go. The two backed away, chattering as they went. Megatron turned to Soundwave. "Keep them locked up," the Decepticon leader growled. "Or I may find that they serve me better as scrap."
Typically, when Megatron got tired of carrying Sam around, he would either put the human in the four walled enclosure that served as a room or, if he was feeling unusually kind, put him in the cell that held Bumblebee. Today Sam was placed in the care of Hook.
Sam liked Hook in the same way you would like anyone that didn't go out of their way to cause you harm. The medic had the same self assurance that Ratchet had had and he wondered if it that was the only similarity that the two shared. Apparently yes, yes it was.
"Do not permanently harm him," Megatron's warning was a familiar one.
"He would not be so hard replace," Hook noted, looking Sam up and down. He was used to being looked at, used to being observed and didn't flinch or try to cover himself.
"But we owe him so much," Megatron answered mockingly. Hook made a thoughtful noise. "And I have him so well trained."
"May I examine him?" Hook was still staring and Sam was starting to feel uncomfortable with the way the robot was looking at him. Megatron might have looked surprised but Sam wasn't paying attention to him.
"You have had other humans to examine," Megatron is clearly concerned that the examination will damage his pet.
"Yes, but only dead ones, my lord," Hook's simpering tone is getting on Sam's nerves and he privately hopes that Megatron will decide this is too much work and try to hand Sam off to someone else. "A living subject is quite another thing. I only wish to know more about the way these creatures function."
"Hmm," Megatron seems to consider this for a moment before turning to leave. "If you damage him, be sure that you will suffer for it."
"Of course, Lord Megatron."
(Line Break)
Later, after Megatron and Starscream returned from snuffing out another small revolt and Starscream needs Hook to look at a damaged diode or wire or something, Megatron puts Sam in the cell with Bumblebee to keep him out of the way. Sam doesn't hesitate, doesn't greet his friend, and doesn't speak.
Shaking, he presses himself against the Autobot's side and buries his face in his knees.
What's wrong? asks a tentative brush against his side. What happened?
Sam shakes his head, sucking in breaths like he might never have air again. But he doesn't cry.
Are you alright? asks the thumb that brushes the top of his head. Sam presses closer and he's no longer shaking. Bumblebee makes a noise at him, soft and questioning, but Sam doesn't respond. The hand slowly withdraws.
No matter how long Sam spent wearing a collar, no matter how long he went without clothes or privacy, no matter how long it had been since he'd first been stripped of his humanity, there was just something in him that physically wouldn't let him say it out loud. There was still enough human left in him to feel ashamed of something he didn't need to be ashamed of.
Bumblebee didn't know a lot about humans, but he knew enough. He made a soft noise, meant to be comforting and rested his hand against Sam's back. Between the hand, Bee's side and the wall, Sam would be completely covered from view if anyone walked in. Bumblebee suspected that this was what his friend wanted.
A/N: You didn't like it? Ok, I didn't particularly like it either, but I'm not sending you a wordy message about it, am I?
