CHAPTER 10
Have Your Back

"Lookie here boys, it's the Autobot pet."

Riley cringed at the new nickname his peers had given him. If he had thought that the old nickname he'd been given "orphan" wasn't degrading enough, that was all he was now, "The Autobot Pet". He peered up from his locker at Devon, his continual tormenter, with a meek expression on his face. "I'm not his pet." He muttered, closing the locker door "I'm his son." He added.

"Son?" Devon scoffed at him "Who got you the new threads, huh?"

Riley looked down at his new clothes. Before, most of his clothes had been donations, but Optimus had taken him shopping over the last few weeks. He'd gotten himself new clothes, a new look. "Most of my clothes were big on me." Riley muttered "Optimus took me shopping so I could get one's that fit me and weren't ripped and y'know." He shifted the weight of his backpack a bit "Can I go now?" He added.

Of course, the bulky bully didn't let him by, merely stepping into his path. "Say I don't believe ye?" Devon stepped forward, intimidatingly as possible "I mean come on, loser. What kind of desperate Autobot wants trash like you in their home?" Riley's eyes hit the floor at those words "Well? How desperate is he?" He questioned.

That's when Devon made the mistake of shoving him. Riley was not normally a violent kid, but when provoked to the right point, he could be. Grabbing hold of Devon's collar, he threw him against the lockers, hard. "Leave. Me. Alone." His voice was low and serious, even a bit vicious "You don't know me or Optimus, so you have NOWHERE to talk." He stated, flatly.

Devon's own fierceness faltered, Riley wasn't the strongest kid in their grade, not even close. But he had been known to hold his own in a fight, on more than one occasion. "Chill, man. Chill." Devon replied.

Riley scoffed a bit at the fear in Devon's eyes, it was the same look they all gave him when he stood up for himself. A lot of kids from the home got it when they did, thanks to the "horror" movies about orphans it was a given. He had no intention of hurting Devon, scaring him was one story, actually beating the crap out of him would have been a waste of his own energy. The only time he ever fought was when he had no other choice, and here, he had another, to walk away. "Just back off." Riley muttered, releasing Devon.

"That's it?" Devon questioned, looking as though he had punched him.

"You think I'm gonna risk suspension over a jerk like you?" Riley questioned "No thanks, I'm gonna go home and watch a movie."

The look on Devon's face was so priceless that Riley almost wished he'd had a camera on him. Putting his hands in his jacket pockets, he had just about made his way to the double doors when he heard it. "Figures he's a pussy." Devon's voice carried down the hallway "I mean hell, his Uncle's the town drunk, the laughing stock." There was a chuckle "Might as well be the same way."

It was those words that sent Riley over the edge, big time. He could take all the teasing about him they wanted to give, but his uncle was another story. Dropping his backpack off his shoulder, he stormed down the hallway. He didn't have time to catch himself before he had flung himself onto Devon, and punched him so hard in the face that he could nearly feel the bone. He landed another, and another, and another, not even giving Devon a chance to fight back before he felt two arms drag him off of the boy.

"That's enough!"

Riley turned his head in horror to see not one of the teachers, no, that would have been welcomed compared to this face. The fact he was looking at Ratchet chilled him to the bone more than that ever would have. While Riley had only known Ratchet for less than a week, he knew one thing for sure. He didn't approve of unneeded violence, and he was sure to tan his hide. "Ratchet, I can explain." Riley muttered.

"Don't." The holoform's blue eyes locked with his "Optimus will not be happy to hear about this." He then turned to Devon "You, make yourself scarce, don't think I didn't hear what you said." He added.

Devon was on his feet and running with his tail between his legs within moments. Riley could feel Ratchet's disapproving eyes on him, and to be quite honest, he wasn't happy with himself either. "Where's Prime?" Riley questioned.

"Held up at work. He asked me to pick you up." Ratchet grunted "You're lucky I wondered what was keeping you too." He shook his head a bit as they exited the school, Riley kept his head down, grabbing his backpack as they went "I thought Optimus had taught you that violence wasn't the answer in these situations by now." He noted.

"He insulted my uncle." Riley said firmly "And Optimus."

Ratchet took a deep breath, he stopped slowly, turning to the boy. Though he hadn't known Riley long, he did sympathize and care about the boy. And for that reason, he was worried about the anger he was more than afraid Riley might be hiding. "Does Prime even know that you're going through this?" Riley shook his head "How often does it happen?" He questioned.

"When they make fun of me?" Riley questioned, Ratchet nodded "Every day."

Ratchet almost wanted to clock the boy over the head. "You're going through that every day and you haven't told him?" Riley didn't seem to have an answer for that one "Kid, do you want me to go in there and handle this?" He asked, Riley didn't even hesitate to shake his head "Then talk to him, tell him. Because someone needs to put an end to that." He added.

"It's not Optimus's problem, it's mine." Riley sighed, staring over at Ratchet "I can take care of myself, been doing it long enough."

"Not his problem? Optimus is your legal guardian, Riley." Ratchet turned to him, making sure he was staring him in the eyes "It's his job to make sure you're safe. I don't care how long you've been taking care of yourself." He noted.

Riley took a deep breath, he knew that Ratchet was right. Optimus wasn't just his Foster Parent anymore, he was working to legally adopt him. And if he couldn't put his trust in him at this point, how would he be able to then? "I'm sorry." Riley muttered "I'm just not used to it, you should know... You grew up in an orphanage too, right?" Ratchet nodded his head "How long did it take you to learn you could rely on anyone other than yourself?" He questioned.

Ratchet paused, his young friend had him there, it had been a very long time. And even then, he hadn't ever had what Riley now was being given the chance to have, a family. He'd been thrown back out onto the streets of Iacon, hardly making a decent pay before he'd secured a job as a medic. Trust had been an issue for a very long time, and sometimes, it still was. "Centuries of your time." Ratchet admitted "Sometimes it's still hard." He noted.

"Then you understand."

Ratchet scoffed as Riley said that, though not in a mean way, by far. Simply because he said that as if his life had turned out to be anything special. Ratchet had found a peace with his life, but on some days he wished he had gotten what Riley had. "Trust me, Riley. You don't want to end up like me. I like my life, but even I get tired of my own bitter nature." He noted "After all, if I didn't have Casey, I wouldn't have any family." He noted.

"I'm sorry." Riley stared him in the eyes "I didn't mean to insult you or anything."

Ratchet took a deep breath, shaking his head. "It's fine. I just want to see you open up a bit more, if you don't go to Optimus I will go in and talk to them." Riley was silent "You may not be my child, but you are a part of Team Prime. We look out for our own." He noted.

Riley shifted the strap of his backpack calmly, knowing that Ratchet wasn't joking just by his tone. He nodded his head a bit, a smile tugging at his lips. The feeling that someone cared that much, especially outside of Optimus, meant a lot. "Alright, Ratchet, I'll tell him." Riley replied finally "I just hope he isn't too mad or anything. I mean I kinda beat the crap out of that kid." He added.

"Optimus won't be mad, he hardly, if ever, gets mad." Ratchet snorted "But if even he can't get them off your back, you just tell ole Ratchet. I'll set 'em straight." He winked.

Riley smirked a bit at the medic, crossing his arms. "When did you decide to go all soft on me?" He questioned.

Ratchet snorted yet again, even if it did come off as "soft". Taking out a wrench from his holoform's pocket, he grinned. "I still have one of these, y'know?" He said rather snarky "Make no mistake, I'm still far from the fluffy, soft type." He chuckled.

Riley smirked, knowing underneath it all, he probably was a softie. But he'd keep that to himself, just like Casey probably did. Ratchet popped his side door open, and Riley stared up at him. "Come on, now. I need to get you home so I can pick my own kid up. Ain't got all day." He nodded "Optimus is probably back and worried by this point." He noted.

"He does that a lot doesn't he?"

Ratchet chuckled lowly. "Oh just wait until you tell him about the bullies."

Riley had a feeling he didn't want to know how worried he would be then.

...

A/N: Thought it was about time we got a little interaction between Riley and another member of the former Team Prime.