CHAPTER 2
OPENING UP

It was amazing how much some food, a shower, and new clothes made a guy feel rejuvenated.

Aside from riding inside a giant alien robot fugitive, Ben was feeling pretty good for the first time in months. And even that vague sense of danger admittedly added a little bit to the experience. But in the three days since their first meeting, this whole thing had admittedly just felt like any other cross-country road trip. Minus the amount of sightseeing you normally did, anyway.

"So we're just planning to roll up to this guy Sam in Tranquility?" Ben finally brought up somewhere near the California boarder. His head resting against Optimus' window. "Y'know I'm going to be the first to say this. The whole plan is relying on him even buying this Bumblebee dude... And that's even if he still has the glasses."

He thought a moment. "Why not just buy the glasses?"

Optimus' hologram turned to him with a skeptical look. As if this should have been a foregone conclusion. "Our team on Earth is constantly mobile. A fact which also keeps us as under the radar as possible," Optimus pointed out. "For a while, we had some human allies. Which is why I have the card you often use... But using them as a go-between has been far too dangerous."

Oh. Right. Ben reminded himself that his father wasn't even technically an ally - yet, he'd been killed for just associating with Optimus. Ben nodded. "I guess it makes sense. I just hope things don't go sideways," He admitted honestly. "I kind of like you so I don't exactly want you to end up in Area 51."

Ben was surprised when Optimus gave an amused chuckle. Though it was an honest point in his opinion. Optimus was very concerned with his safety, but in reality Optimus was in just as much danger. Decepticons, and the human government could easily be on their tail, not to mention... "I'm serious, what happens if the government catches on? They find me, a missing kid with you. They're going to shoot first and ask questions later," Ben decided to be plain and simple about that. "Taking me along was a big risk. Because you become an alien abductor."

Optimus looked thoughtfully out the window, clearly having a debate with himself. "With any luck, Samuel will be the only one to see you with us. We have no reason to believe the government knows much of our species," Optimus explained to him calmly. "They know of our species, but not of specific members. It is, how does your kind put it? Like finding a needle in a haystack."

Well, that was comforting. At least a little. Ben wondered if there was anything Optimus hadn't thought through. "You sure did a lot of thinking to help some human you never even met," He decided to voice. Not knowing is he should be disturbed or flattered by the notion. "Got a reason for that?"

Optimus was again silent, but this time for far longer. Ben could almost hear the literal gears that must have turned in his head at that moment. "I... Never knew my own family. They died many eons ago," Optimus replied after he had thought on it for a moment. "Orphans have always been a soft spot for me... It's simply in my nature, I would say. Especially as I consider you were orphaned by my war."

That one made Ben go silent. He hadn't even considered... Well, he guess he should have. He rubbed the back of his neck quietly and debated his own response. "I'm sorry," He finally managed. "I didn't mean to... I mean, I just kind of thought maybe it got lonely out on the road like this or something. I didn't think -."

"It's more than alright. I made peace with my past long ago, Benjamin."

Ben swallowed a little, then tapped his knees quietly. "I was OK with being alone, for what it's worth," Optimus turned his head. Surprised by Ben's own sharing. "The alternative was worse... You know my "dad" was my stepfather. Well there's a reason for that... My old man is an abusive prick."

Optimus said nothing after several minutes, so Ben continued to talk. After all, sometimes it did help to talk about it. And this was an alien robot who wouldn't probably be around long. "Yeah, he got out of prison like... A year ago? But he used to beat my mom and I pretty bad. So bad she finally ran away when I was five," He admitted as he leaned against the seats. "He lives somewhere on the East coast now I guess. And my dad adopted me.. So he doesn't really have rights. But I had to run - if I didn't... If I ended up in foster care... He might have tried to get me back."

The silence that hung over them spoke volumes. Ben had a feeling that like most people, Optimus was uncomfortable for a moment. But instead, his response surprised him as the mech turned to face him. "Benjamin, if I can make one promise to you, let it be this," Optimus told him, his holomatter avatar's eyes were steely. Making clear just how serious he was. "I will do everything in my power to see to it that does not happen."

"What can you do?" Ben asked. "You'll go back home after all of this is over."

Optimus' expression didn't waver, instead it got even firmer. As he spoke again, his voice had lowered to one of someone who was holding back his own anger. "I will do what I must even if it means leaving you with my aforementioned friends," The mech turned back to face the road. "You're not the only one who knows how it feels to feel helpless in such a way. And I will never willingly allow myself to stand by when there is absolutely something I can do."

Ben knew he was serious, and simply nodded in understanding. "You're a good man, Optimus," He noted as he returned his own gaze to the road outside his window. "I just hope we both last that long."

Optimus was thankful when Ben fell asleep that night.

He watched him quietly, and let his mind stray as he did. He had told himself not to get too close, but it was becoming increasingly clear that would not be an option. While their lives were hardly the same, Ben's own plights and hardships spoke true to Optimus' spark. A part of him wished he hadn't picked him up, not needing such a distraction. While the other was thankful that it was him, and not one of the many scummy types who he'd encountered in his childhood who had come upon him.

Sure, he didn't yet know Ben well enough to say much on him. But he seemed to be a genuinely good kid thus far, and that made him worried for his future should he decide not to turn himself in when all of this was over. The streets were hard on Cybertron, just as he imagined they were on Earth. "Prime, I have an ETA of one week in reaching Tranquility," Optimus' com blared to life in his helm as Ironhide's voice echoed. "How're things on your end?"

Optimus was sure to turn on his internal com link as he spoke, rather than wake Ben up. "Right on schedule, same as yours," Optimus replied. Checking his internal co-ordinates. "Bumblebee informs me this should be around the time he plans to edge his way into Samuel's life. Something about a "first car"."

"Good, I knew he'd come through," Ironhide grunted. Then after a moment asked. "How's the other kid on our team doing? Tired of babysitting yet?"

Optimus' avatar turned his gaze back to Ben. The boy had hardly stirred, the only signs of life being both his vitals and the quiet rise and fall of his chest. He'd of course told his team of his passenger by now, and both Ratchet and Ironhide went out of their way to often check on him. Not that Optimus blamed them, both were parents with grown sparklings of their own and it was very likely they were reminded of both.

"Benjamin is doing well all things considered," Optimus replied. "And I must say, I rather enjoy the company. It's been a long time since I've had a youngling to keep an eye on."

Ironhide chuckled on the other end. "What? Missing Bumblebee's troublemaking already?" He playfully teased. "But I guess he hasn't exactly been a "youngling" for a long time. And even then he was what... In his first adult frame?"

Optimus hmmmed in response. Though they always joked Bumblebee might as well have been raised by him, he did concur. The mechling had been young when he joined their ranks, and Optimus had definitely been like a father to him - this was... Admittedly his first time really having the care of a full-fledged child rested on his shoulders. "He's a little less wily than Bumblebee too," He mused to his old friend. "He makes a good travel companion."

"Thinking of keeping him?"

Optimus nearly stopped on the highway. Almost stunned Ironhide would insinuate that, and very thankful the com was in his helm, rather than coming out of his radio. "I hardly believe the boy's life could be sustained on our planet," Optimus explained - giving the logical answer. "I have grown fond of the boy, but -."

"I'm busting your afterburners, Prime," Ironhide snorted. "Even if that wasn't an issue. I can't imagine you rushing into parenthood.. Especially with Elita still out with her sisters."

Optimus mused upon his mate, wondering what she was doing now. If he were being honest, he and Elita had discussed parenthood many times before they'd shot the Allspark off-planet. There had never been the right time, and the less dangerous means of procreation: with the help of the Allspark was of course... Well... "I'll figure out what to do with him before all of this is over," Optimus decided as his answer. "We have several dependable allies who I'm sure would take him."

"Send him to that Burton dude in England," Ironhide again chided jokingly. "He would probably love to have him. Can't imagine Cogman makes great company for long."

That time, Optimus couldn't help but give a low chuckle. "Perhaps if we make a "pit stop" in England we can consider it," He simply joked back. "I will make contact when we've reached Tranquility. Until then stay safe, old friend. 'Til all are one."

"Later, Prime."

And then, Optimus was left with silence again. His processor running through the conversation as he continued to peer over at Ben. He'd made his point to Ironhide, he was not going to get attached in such a way. Humans could not survive Cybertron, and he was here to save his home. Even if he felt responsible for the boy's situation he would not let himself be moved to any rash action by his own thoughts on the matter.

He drove for several hours as he convinced himself of this, though he peered at Ben every so often. Just as the sun peeked over the horizon, a sign passed him: "WELCOME TO CALIFORNIA". Processor focused on the task at hand, he watched as Ben's eyes slowly opened to look back at him. It was only then that Optimus noticed he hadn't made his avatar avert its gaze in time. "Everything alright, Optimus?" The boy asked.

Silently, Optimus simply heaved a sigh. Who was he kidding? Like it or not, every time the boy looked at him - he could only see himself. And that was going to be a problem... Even he knew that. But one they'd have to fix when the bigger mission was out of the way. "We've entered California," He announced, playing off his gaze. He only smiled a little. "Pit stop in five minutes."

Yeah, they could figure it out after they'd reached Tranquility.

A/N: Next chapter will move to Tranquility - just before the movie starts. So we'll get a bit more action between developing Optimus and Ben's relationship along! Hope everyone is enjoying the read. Burton is of course a TLK Easter Egg though I definitely don't plan on adapting that any time soon, if ever.