They stayed in the bushes and the shadows, not wanting a scout to see them from a far and to add protection from predators as they traveled. But they soon came to a wide open field surrounded by barbed wire and fencing. They made sure to be careful as they slipped under the wire not wanting to get cut or leave any fur behind to be found later.

Optimus stood up on his hind legs, checking for danger before giving the ok and making a dash for safety.

Bulkhead bolted after him, his heart racing as he recognized his surroundings. They were near the Autobot warren and he could hardly wait! Soon they would be safe and sound in their real home and burrows. That is, if the Elites would let them back in, even if they did smell like Decepticon.

They just needed to pass the other side of the fields fencing and they were home. Optimus and Bulkhead picked up their pace, excitement and over joy racing through them and forcing them on. But before they could reach the fencing a large dark figure dash across in between the two fence posts they were heading to.

Bulkhead gasped and came to a halt, ears back and trembling some.

"Optimus wait." He called out to stop his leader from going any further.

Optimus didn't seem to hear nor even notice the figure as he ran even faster. The thought of being home was the only thing on his mind and it excited him more once he saw the first glimpse of the familiar warren up ahead.

Just as he was about to joyfully laugh, a strong force crashed into him.

Optimus cried out and screeched, thinking a predator had just ambushed him. He looked up expecting to see sharp fangs and claws coming at him but gasped when he saw Megatron standing over.

Behind them, he could hear Bulkhead shriek in fear when he too was attacked. Optimus looked over to see Lugnut scuffing at Bulkhead, who was wiggling against the ground in terror, pleading for his larger mate to stop.

"Bulkhead!" Optimus gasped and tried to get to his friend to help him but Megatron growled and stepped in his way.

Bulkhead screamed in agony as Lugnut scratched at his body and nipped at sensitive areas until they bled. Neither of the two bucks showed their mates any mercy until the two smaller rabbits laid half limp on the ground, watching as the small dripping of blood trickled down their furs.

Megatron picked up Optimus and carried him over to Bulkhead. Once they were next to each other they curled up close to each other, seeking comfort and protection.

"Lord Megatron...I think we should complete the next step, just so that they won't do this ever again," Lugnut said. "Bulkhead never dared to stray away from the warren ever since I mated with him. He only escaped now because of the Prime's encouragement. You know how the Autobots get once they are reunited with their leaders…"

Megatron glanced down at Optimus who was staring up at him, fearing what they were planning.

"You may be right." Megatron said as he leaned down and picked Optimus up and started heading back to the Con burrow.

Lugnut looked down at his mate, seeing a bit of blood trickling from his head. He leaned down and licked it away for him before picking him up and followed after his leader.

Optimus looked back and watched as the Autobot warren disappeared from view. He sobbed quietly all the way back. Megatron and Lugnut ran until they made it back to the burrow. They slipped in and placed the two smaller rabbits down in the soft dirt.

Bulkhead sniffled, scooting over to nuzzle Optimus. "…Optimus?"

"I'm ok Bulkhead, you?" Optimus asked, checking his friend over for any serious injury from Lugnut.

"A...A little," Bulkhead looked at his left leg to see a bite mark. He licked at it so it wouldn't get infected quickly.

Optimus frowned at this and then glared up at Megatron who stood nearby.

"You want to know why Bulkhead left?" Optimus questioned, glanced over at Lugnut.

Both cocked their heads and raised an ear, showing they were curious. Optimus snorted and looked back at Bulkhead and tried to comfort him.

"He left, he ran because he has been dealing with abuse, abuse that you two both refuse to see to and stop it." Optimus snarled, glaring back at them.

"Optimus..," Bulkhead warned. Lugnut growled over at his mate and glared back at the Prime, "You dare question my love for Bulkhead? I've given him a home, provided him food and shelter, and even let him roam around the warren! And yet you think I am doing a terrible job?"

"Yes. I. Do." Optimus challenged back.

"You are allowing your mate to suffer from content abuse from your fellow comrades. Yes you're caring for him but once you leave him he's open for attack. If you really care about him, you either end the bullying or let him go because if you don't he may end up in a way that may scar him for life or worse."

"And why is it that you only care about this 'abuse' he is suffering from?," Lugnut glanced back at Bulkhead.

Bulkhead's ears dropped as a rather large blush covered his face. He only just hopped closer to Lugnut, wishing he would just forget it and move on.

"Because he's my friend and I will not sit by and let him suffer any longer. And…He wants to stay with you." Optimus said, looking at Bulkhead who gasped and stared at his friend.

Optimus smirked at Bulkhead.

"He may not say it but I can tell but…" Optimus glared at Lugnut.

"He's being tortured and frightened every day he stays here, making him want to leave. "

Bulkhead slowly looked up at Lugnut, who's whiskers began to twitch. The larger buck glanced back at him with an intense look on his face. "..Bulkhead, is this true?"

The youngling let out a sigh, lifted his head, and nodded, "…Yes, Lugnut. I admit I like being with you, but I just can't stand the abuse the other Decepticons are giving me! The only time I ever do feel safe is when I am in our-your burrow."

Lugnut's anger melted and he leaned down and pulled Bulkhead closer, laying his large head across his shoulders so he was pressed against his chest.

"Oh Bulkhead, I'm so sorry, I didn't know it was 'that' bad." Lugnut whispered as he rubbed his cheek against Bulkheads.

Bulkhead showed no fear as he cuddled closer to Lugnut. "...I know…but I was still getting use to you...and because I've seen you angry before, I just didn't want you to..." He shook his head and leaned up to lick under his chin gently.

Lugnut purred and returned it by licking his lips, making Bulkhead blush more. Lugnut looked over at Megatron.

"Sir, is there anything we can do?" He asked, wanting to keep his mate happy…and safe.

"I suppose we can announce the others to end this sort of...abuse..," Megatron said.

Optimus stood up, proudly, for his accomplishment.

"In the mean time, Lugnut, you may take your mate to your burrow for whatever punishment you wish to give him, as I will do the same with mine." He glared down at the Prime.

Optimus snorted and looked away.

"Could you blame us."

"No...but I do find it foolish," Megatron grabbed Optimus by his scruff and dragged him all the way to his burrow.

Megatron pulled Optimus to the entrance and then let him go, making him tumble the rest of the way down into the bedding below.

"Omff." Optimus gasped as he landed before sitting up and clearing his head before glaring up at a smirked Megatron.

Megatron shook his head as he hopped down after him.

"Now for a punishment..."

Optimus growled as he backed himself away from Megatron but Megatron followed him until he had backed himself up into the burrow's wall, trapping himself. Megatron let out a low chuckle as he stepped closer to the younger buck, his whiskers almost touching his own.

Optimus gave a groan, almost sounding like a pissed feline before swiping at Megatron's ears. But Megatron easy ducked and chuckled at his useless attempts. He slowly hopped over to the Autobots back, leaning his head over to begin licking at the soft fur.

Optimus hissed but then his ears flicked up when he heard a loud yelp and squeal coming from the burrow tunnels. Optimus then whimpered and let his ears fall, knowing those yells were from Bulkhead being punished. He looked up at Megatron.

"Please call off Bulkheads punishment. It wasn't his fault or disunion, it was mine. Please the one who should be punished is me not Bulkhead." Optimus said, hoping to reason with Megatron.

"Bulkhead is none of my responsibility. Whatever Lugnut does to him never concerns me," Megatron said.

Optimus frowned and looked away, thinking very hard before looking back up and shyly hopped closer to Megatron. He snuggled himself up against Megatron's chest and tucked his head under his chin.

"Please." Optimus whispered.

Megatron's eyes widened in such surprise at the Prime's sudden motion but soon softening as he let out another sigh, but this time in defeat. "I'll...I'll see what I can do," he turned and leaped out of the burrow.

Optimus sat there in the burrow, watching and waiting for Megatron to come back. After a few minutes Megatron slipped back into the burrow.

"W-well? Is Bulkhead alright?," Optimus asked in complete concern. "What was Lugnut doing to him exactly?"

Megatron hopped over and sat down next to him.

"Do you really want to know?" Megatron said with a sly and naughty look in his eye.

Optimus shivered as he forced himself to nod, "...I only want to make sure he was safe...in whatever Lugnut felt as the right punishment…"

Megatron chuckled and leaned down and nuzzled Optimus's ears.

"Don't worry, I don't believe Lugnut was punishing Bulkhead. In fact when I checked in on him he looked like he was pure bliss with Lugnut on top of him." Megatron purred.

Optimus nearly yelled in horror and in disgust as he scrambled back. "W…what? That's…that's disgusting!" he snapped.

Megatron chuckled and followed Optimus.

"Maybe through your eyes but when you get use to it you can find it to be quite…pleasurable." Megatron explained.

Optimus growled, "Don't you even think about it!"

"Too late." Megatron purred before pouncing.

Optimus shrieked and ran another direction. He slammed into a wall right near the entrance, finally noticing his opportunity to escape.

But before he could Megatron called out to him.

"Even try it and Bulkhead and the rest or your friends will suffer your punishment." Megatron said firmly.

Optimus froze in place and sighed stiffly, going back over to the warlord. Megatron smiled at this and waited till Optimus was next to him to lean down and started to groom his face.

"Let's just get this over with," Optimus laid down.

Megatron frowned at this but laid down over Optimus, tucking him under his larger body and laid his head down next to his.

"Not yet, I want your permission. It may take a while for it but I can wait." Megatron replied, rubbing the side of his head against Optimus's.

"No. If all of my friends have already gone through this, then don't let me be the only one. I don't want to see them all be tortured when I might be the only one who has nothing to worry about...," the Autobot glared up at him, his voice harsh and angry.

Chuckling Megatron sat up.

"You'd be surprised by how wrong you are."

"What?" Optimus gave him a questioning look.

Megatron sat up and lifted up his hind leg to scratch an itch behind his ear.

"Why do you think I went to check on the others?" Megatron questioned.

When he didn't get an answer he continued.

"My men wanted to mate and claim their mates but I've ordered them to wait for them to be more comfortable around them and want to mate."

"Really? Then what about Lugnut and Bulkhead? Lugnut didn't wait..," Optimus pointed out. "Bulkhead said that he claimed him while he was in heat without letting him even protest!"

"And that is why I am giving this order, to keep it from happening again. You see Bulkhead was the first ever Autobot mate here. At first I was displeased by this but I soon accepted it and the next thing I knew I was looking at my own Autobot mate." Megatron explained.

Optimus felt his heart sank by just the thought of poor Bulkhead, having to be here the whole time when he had gone missing. Others had feared that a predator had gotten to him, or worse, the Decepticons. Of course, the Decepticons was the right answer, but it was the total opposite of what the Autobots back home were thinking.

Leaning down again Megatron nudged Optimus's shoulder with his nose.

"Don't worry, everything will be ok, you'll see." Megatron said sweetly to Optimus before hopping to the entrance.

Optimus sat up quickly, "Where are you going?"

Megatron stopped at the entrance and looked back at Optimus.

"To get you something to eat, you must be famished." He said before leaving.

Optimus sat up and waited for a bit before Megatron hopped back in, carrying two nice sized carrots in his mouth.

"How?" Optimus frowned. "I've seen no carrots like that unless we're in a human's yard."

Setting the carrots down Megatron sat up, chest out proudly.

"Only the best for my mate." Megatron said before nudging one of the carrots towards Optimus.

Optimus blushes as he sniffed at them before beginning to feast.

Megatron smiled and started eating his own.

Optimus ate like never before, the foreign feeling of being so full that his belly began to become even more rounder and plump.

Megatron glanced over at Optimus every now and then during their meal and smirked at how much his mate was enjoying his carrot. He finished his carrot and started grooming off his face of any leftover pieces of carrot he might had missed.

Optimus let out a cute yawn. Smirking Megatron got up and hopped over to Optimus's side and settled down next to him, sharing his warmth with him.

"Get some sleep my sweet." Megatron purred and nuzzled Optimus's cheek.

Optimus whined a little but he didn't disobey and drifted to sleep, cuddling closer to Megatron. Megatron smiled and laid his head across Optimus's shoulders, falling into the most relaxing and restless sleep he's had in years.

oOo

A/N_ Please review if you want me to continue. I thrive off my reviews. If I don't get any I die.

oOo