Chapter Eight –Anguish in a Tortured Heart

Bumblebee's Point of View

I made sure my engine was as quiet as possible as we pulled up to Darren's home and onto the driveway. His house is a medium sized building made of this dark colored wood, some stones along its exterior and gray concrete base underneath all of that. Not metal, like the Adonis III.

I came to a silent halt before the garage door and killed my engine as quick as possible, making sure it didn't linger with a low hum. Darren opened my left door and climbed out, his eyes looking up at his home. He looked really nervous, almost scared. He turned and looked at me, gripping his backpack straps like he did when I first met him.

"Alright, Bee," he whispered. "Get into your human protoform."

I froze.

"I'd have to go into my robot mode, first…" I muttered. "But, but, I'll try to be quiet."

He sighed and took a step back.

"Please, Bee," he begged. "Don't wake the neighborhood."

Slowly, I poked my head out from the hood of the Camaro, easing out my hands last as the rest of my parts turned inside. Bolts and screws clicked and whirred as my legs formed, my armor plating sliding into place with a sharp shing. I stood at my feet and waited for my upper chassis to complete its progress before taking a deep breath. My metal skin melted into a human's and I felt myself shrink. My internal systems hummed as they transformed into organs, my energon becoming blood. I became human again.

I opened my eyes and noticed Darren staring wide-eyed. He turned his back suddenly, shutting his eyes. He chuckled weakly.

"You're naked again," he said lowly. "Open my backpack and get your clothes…Please."

I blushed and looked down, seeing that he was in fact telling the truth. I stepped forward and zipped open his backpack, reaching my hands in to take my clothes. They were still damp, but I didn't care. I slipped the shirt over my head and stepped into my jeans, ignoring the uncomfortable feeling I got between my legs when the denim pressed against my skin. I smoothed out the wrinkles on my front.

"All done," I whispered.

He turned and faced me, opening his eyes slowly. He sighed with a smile.

"Good," he patted my back, turning his head to the house. "Now, c'mon. They should be awake."

We walked side by side to the front door. I felt my heart pounding inside me. I prayed to Primus that this would work. I grabbed Darren's hand and he looked at me, frowning.

"Bee, it's alright," he cooed, walking onto the front steps with me. "Everything'll be fine."

I didn't reply. I watched his hand as it knocked on the door. I swallowed a lump in my throat, and tried to take in a deep breath.

The doorknob turned and a few latches clicked. My heart was furiously pulsing inside me. Darren gave my hand a reassuring squeeze. I was sure he could feel my pulse in my palm.

At the door appeared a human woman, her hair a mess of blonde pin curls that fell to her shoulders. Her eyes were a hunter green and oddly large, bigger than Darren's, with a dark ring of mascara around each one. She had wrinkles fixed around her mouth, and it was apparent that she was wearing some sort of makeup. Otherwise, she looked rather young. She was about only an inch taller than Darren.

Mrs. Lomeli, I thought.

She glared down at Darren, then at me. I squeezed Darren's hand hard, my heart jumping.

"Where have you been?!" She screeched, grabbing Darren's shoulder with one of her claws. I looked at my friend who nearly dropped to his knees as his mom dug her nails into his skin. He whimpered, closing his eyes. "Answer me, DARREN ELION LOMELI."

I looked away. I grimaced as Darren didn't respond. I heard him whimper again.

"DARREN!" She yelled, making me wince.

I glared angrily. "He was at my house!" I shot at her. Darren's mother slowly turned her head at me. Darren exhaled shakily, his knees shaking.

"…What was that?" She questioned me.

"He was at my house," I repeated in a lower tone, giving her a heated flash from my eyes. "Let him go. He's innocent. He did nothing wrong."

"HE RAN AWAY!" She yelled at me. "YOU SAY THAT'S NOTHIN' WRONG?!"

"He's back isn't he?"

She scoffed, pushing down Darren's shoulder. He cried out.

"Let him go." I said again.

"Who're you to tell me what to do?"

"Ma'am, please," I said in a small plea. "If you…"

"Explain yourself," she cut me off. "Who are you?"

I blinked. "I'm his friend," I put blankly.

"What's your name…?" I didn't like the way she said that. Evil like Lord Megatron himself.

"Bumblebee," I told her. I heard Darren breathing sharply, the pain in his shoulder growing.

"Bumblebee?!"

"Yes," I said, narrowing my eyes.

She twisted her lip. "I'm not going to ask how you got such a ridiculous name."

I didn't reply to her comment. "Release him."

Darren's hand, moist with sweat, grabbed mine again. He squeezed, and I squeezed back.

Hold on, Darren, I thought.

"Let him go!" I shot.

Stubbornly, Mrs. Lomeli lifted her claws from Darren's skin, her cold eyes still fixed on me. I glared back at her without hesitation. She didn't scare me.

"Darren, get inside," she ordered her son. He hesitated, then stepped into the house, darting past his mother in fear of being grabbed again. "You come in too," she told me lowly. "But, go upstairs while I have a word with him."

I looked away and walked past her, entering the house. I almost jumped when I saw her beside me, pointing a bony finger to a staircase.

"Upstairs, first door to your right," she said. "His room. You got that?"

Without a word, I strolled to the staircase, stepping up each stair quietly. When I reached the top, I moved behind the staircase's handrail and ducked, peeking through one of the holes between each individual beam. My antennae rose from my locks of hair and stood, straining to hear the conversation downstairs. My bangs fell in front of my eyes as I leaned down on all fours, turning my eyes to the floor.

"So, you decide to come home with a stranger?!" His mom screeched. "Have you forgotten everything we've taught you?!"

Darren didn't reply until a few seconds later. "N-No, Mom. H-He's my friend. I-I kn-know him," Darren's voice quivered. He was crying, and fighting back the urge to sob in choked hiccups.

"You've never told me about 'im!"

"I d-don't tell you about any of my friends!"

A moment of silence. I heard footsteps and ducked further.

"Why the hell did you bring him here?"

"He wanted to s-spend the night."

"SPEND THE NIGHT?!"

"Mom, he's not a b-bad guy! He's nice!"

"Strangers FAKE their personalities, you idiot. I thought you knew this!"

"He doesn't fake it! And he's not a stranger!"

I gulped, my fingers clutching the carpet floor.

"Where does this Bumblebee live?!"

"O-Only like…"

"No, I don't want a 'like.' GIVE ME THE FACTS, DARREN. For once in your life!"

"3-30 minutes away."

She sighed angrily.

"You didn't think to contact us? YOU HAVE A CELL PHONE, DARREN."

"I was fine with him…I would've called you if something bad happened."

Silence.

"C-Can he spend the night, Mom?"

"…I can't believe you, Darren. You ran away? Do you know how frightened we were?"

He whimpered. "N-No…"

"We called the police, our neighbors, your friends…Everyone."

"I thought you all wouldn't care."

"Wouldn't care?!"

"You act like I'm invisible! You think I'm a mistake!!"

"…"

"You know you do! And I'm tired of it, Mom!" Darren was screaming through sobs. "Dad never can tell me he loves me, and neither can you! I'm just a piece of shit in the corner."

"Don't say that."

"It's true!!"

"Don't say that!!"

"IT'S TRUE, MOM! YOU THINK I'M A MISTAKE! ADMIT IT!!" He screamed, crying roughly. "Admit it like you did to me three years ago…C'MON!"

Another pause. Darren's sobs are intensifying.

"Go to your room."

"N-No, Mom," Darren whined through a cough. "Don't send me there. Please."

"GO TO YOUR ROOM!"

"Mom, I want to talk to you! For once?! Please, let me talk to you…"

"GO!"

"MOM, LISTEN TO ME!"

"DARREN!"

"NO! LEAVE ME ALONE!"

SLAP

My eyes widened and I leaned back. Though I wasn't familiar with many concepts of the human culture, I clearly understood that one sound. My heart dropped inside me and I stood, still listening. It was silent, except for the whines and groans from Darren.

"…You get the fuck up in your room. And don't come down until I tell you."

My eyes flashed and I started for the stairs. Slowly, one foot at a time, I descended.

No one could talk to Darren that way.

"M-Mom, why…"

"YOU GET THE FUCK UP THERE!"

"STOP," I thundered. I didn't even recognize my own voice. I'd never felt so angry. Darren was on his knees, an arm wrapped around his stomach, and one hand tenderly holding his left cheek. His watery blue eyes turned up to me and he whimpered. I looked down at him, then looked away to his mother. I slowly stepped forward to her.

"How dare you talk to your own son that way," I droned angrily. "Have you no sense at all?"

She glared at me. "I told you to get upstairs while I talk to him!"

I stepped closer and leaned down, my face only inches away. My eyes slitted.

"Who're you to tell me what to do?" I growled.

She frowned back. "You best get away from me," she hissed. "I'm not afraid to hurt you, Bumblebee."

"Try me."

Her hand shot up to strike my face, but she was no match for my internal scanners that'd already detected her move the moment she started. I clutched her wrist without turning my eyes or my head the slightest, then chuckled at her.

"You're no match," I said, squeezing her wrist. She made a face of pain. I know I was not supposed to hurt humans, but I couldn't help myself. Darren was my love, and she was treating him like he deserved the lowest respect.

Giving her a glare, I let go of her hand and leaned back. I walked over to Darren and knelt beside him, wrapping an arm around his shoulders. I felt him tremble and he buried his head in a crook in my neck, his tears wetting my skin. I moved my other arm around his stomach, my hand stroking his back quickly. He cried roughly, shutting his eyes. I gave his mother another look.

"I hope you're ashamed of yourself," I snarled at her. Darren drew his arms around my middle. "You best think about what you've done to this poor soul." Darren coughed against me. I hugged him tightly.

His mother moved to us. I looked up, feeling Darren shiver. After glaring at us for many seconds, she stormed out of the family room, cursing under her breath, pounding up the stairs. A door slammed.

Darren cried out in a small cry and I swayed him against my body. Sitting on the ground, I eased him onto my lap. He pushed his head into my chest, and I moved my arms around his body.

"It's okay, Darren," I cooed, lying my head on top of his. "This'll never happen again…" My eyes watered with tears. I swallowed, fighting them away.

Darren's body trembled as he looked up at me, those pale blue eyes red and soaked with tears. I wiped them away with my thumb and leaned down.

"I'll keep you safe," I murmured in his ear. "Don't worry."

He jolted in my arms, sobbing.

In this darkness
Troubled water…

Lies a flicker of hope's water.

His head dug into my chest again. My eyes caught the red bruise his mom had given him. I grimaced and looked away. A fiery anger was building inside me. I'd never let this happen to him again. I promised to myself that I'd keep him safe for as long as possible. For as long as I could. To the very second.

Come to your senses,
Wager a risk.
I won't let go,
Waiting for this.
It's wonderful.
Reality.
I watch as this golden bird flies free.

Darren sniffled, his tender fingers brushing over my stomach.

"Bee, I hate my life," he stuttered. "I-I h-hate it…"

I closed my eyes, feeling his fingers squeeze my stomach gently.

"Things'll get better, Darren," I whispered. "I'm never letting this happen to you again." I leaned down and kissed his unbruised cheek. My hand ran down his side, patting him. "You'll be okay."

He whimpered.

"I hope…" He sighed. "Just promise never to leave me."

I swayed him gently, to and fro.

"I promise."

In this ash-vault,
A rose garden…
These walls will never see me just to save me…
Save me…
Save me…
Save me…