Hi, it's been a while. I hope you will like this chapter because I've been working on a lot of stories during the lockdown.

Cruel, cruel world, must I go on?

Cruel, cruel world, I'm moving on

I've been living too fast

And I've been living too long

Cruel, cruel world, I'm gone

After his fight with Starscream, Alex still doesn't feel like he has changed anything about him.

He returned to the makeshift bed that the Decepticons provided for him in the cage. It wasn't as comfortable as his room in the Autobot clan but it's still a nest of a bed nonetheless. He had a prey to eat but he felt like some of those Eradicons needed it more than him.

He's used to not eating for a period of time.

Right now, he's exhausted and wanted some sleep. He wanted to see Arcee and the Autobots again but after his outburst, he's ashamed to show himself again. Arcee might not like him or even be his friend anymore.

All because of Scarface!

"Hey, are you okay?" a concern voiced asked which made Alex jumped back. It was a hulking figure of a drake at the entrance. His muscles were big enough to rip him in half despite the bright colours of navy blue and grey with an orange face and underbelly. His tail's tip was shaped like a hammer, best used for wrecking. Alex was shaking because when he looked up-

"Y-your eye!" he managed to blurt out before covering his face with his tail.

The drake blinked his single yellow left eye. He was used to others staring at him but that never stopped him from being the muscles to the clan. He heard someone whimpering and found the new prisoner shaking in his temporary den.

"It's alright," he reassured him with a wave of his hammer tail. "I heard sounds and found you. Gotta say, you're different than most prisoners Megatron has captured. No one and I mean NO ONE is alive after being captured."

That made Alex feel afraid of Megatron. After all, he saw him and his mate having a makeout session a few days ago!

"You look like you could use some herbs to calm your nerves before tomorrow. Let me take you to Knockout."

Alex felt like there's no escape so with a drooping tail, he followed the bulky drake into a den that had a spicy aroma when he entered. This must be the medic's den similar to Ratchet's. Only difference is that the scent of herbs is stronger here and Alex could see some berries which he assumed were poisonous.

A sleek-looking red dragon with crimson eyes was preening his wings before he lifted up his head.

"Breakdown, you know my shift isn't over," his voice purred before he sniffed the air. "Why is the crippled with you? I haven't got a time to get my claws sharpened or my wings a groom."

Alex was baffled. Shouldn't a medic be more empathetic? Then again, Ratchet has a bad temper especially towards the Wreckers. The medic here seemed to be full of himself.

"He's almost having a nervous breakdown, Knockout," Breakdown explained while nudging Alex close to the red drake. Alex was still trying to hide the shakiness of his body.

"I've heard all about you," Knockout snorted. "Even I am not that deviant to watch our leader and his...session. But by your scent, I don't see anything intimidating or impressive about you. Then again, you must be the runt of the litter, am I right?"

Alex shook his head. "N-no I'm not! I-I-I am all a-alone!"

Knockout raised an eye ridge. A stutterer! Oh he bet that Starscream would love to use him as a plaything. It's rare to find drakes that have stutters as a speech problem in them. He sniffed Alex again and then grinned.

Oh my...

He knew what Alex had been doing before he was captured. Gotta say, no one has ever caught that dragoness' attention. As far as he knew, that dragoness was a tough one to crack open.

"Alright, I'll mix you a herbal concoction to drink," Knockout sighed before shooing Breakdown out of his den. He would like a little chat with this stutterer. "Come on, my roar's worst than my bite. At least I'm not Megatron."

It's not like Alex has a choice in this.

Drinking the concoction was a mistake as it was so bitter that Alex almost darted his tongue out like an adder. But if it helps, then he will have to bear with it. He felt a bit uneasy with the medic grinning at him. He wished his wings were grown so that he could cover his face again.

"I see that you're from the Autobot's clan. And I gotta say that was impressive of you to sweep their fiery dragoness off her feet~"

'Wait, how does he know about Arcee?'

"Ah, I know what you are thinking," Knockout silenced Alex from speaking. "But I can tell. Let's say it's an old charm. Yeah, I still got it."

"A-a-are you going to tell anyone?"

"I would," the medic nodded. "But where's the fun in that? But hey, I've seen how you act. Even in your sleep I kinda saw you having a seizure."

Alex was quiet. He wasn't sure what to make of him. He was weirder than Ratchet and the rumours about him having different wrenches to hit his misbehave patients. A tap on his shoulder from Knockout's tail jolted him.

"Tell you what, I might let you out of here unnoticed if..."

"If w-w-what?" Alex stammered.

Knockout winked at him before pulling him close. "If you give me a little juicy detail on how you met Arcee. Just that for the price of your freedom from moi."

Alex was hesitant. He was thinking back unto all the things that had happened to him. Knockout seemed alright so he only gave the brief details minus the prison violation he had from Scarface and the other inmates.

"I'm surprised, really," the medic tutted. "She might as well pity you because of your state of being. Oh well, a deal's a deal I guessed."

Knockout showed Alex the way without having anyone spot him. Alex's heart was thumping not just out of fear but the doubts he had were slowly crawling up his spine.

What if Arcee has given up on him?

Poor Alex! He can't catch a break, can he? Oh well, at least this chapter is done.

Stay safe and please review!