CHAPTER 2
The Challenge

"You got us into what?"

And there was the anger that Sideswipe had come to know, and often, fear from the pink femme. His optics traced towards the young human, who seemed to be examining his new surroundings in their small apartment in the Autobot stronghold. "You know how this goes, 'Cee." Sideswipe rubbed the back of his helm "Kids need to be placed with family units, and we're the only ones they have." He took a deep breath "If it helps, I'm not too thrilled either." He added as he sat himself at an Autobot-sized table.

Arcee rested her helm against the wall, staring at Sideswipe with a stare that was somewhere between "I'm going to strangle you" and "This couldn't be so bad", though it was teetering on the edge of the former. "So, basically we're stuck playing babysitter for several months." Arcee sighed quietly "When is Prime going to learn that we're the furthest from the "stand-in parenting" type?" She questioned "I could barely handle my two younger siblings back on Cybertron and they were my own species." She added.

"At least you're better at kids than I am. The most I have is my twin." Sideswipe took a sip of energon slowly "But what was I supposed to tell him? The kid hasn't got anyone, and you should have seen how determined that Decepticon was." He eyed the boy slightly "Whatever his father or mother has done, this "Waspinator" sure was pissed." He added.

Arcee crossed her arms, chewing her lip plate silently, looking Sideswipe in the optics, she shrugged. "How bad can it be, I guess." She peered over at him "You do realize we're going to have to go shopping, right? We've got nothing to house a human long term and his clothes look a few sizes too small on him." She then added "This is not going to be cheap in the least." She added.

"Not to mention a schooling schedule." He patted Arcee on the shoulder "That way when we can take a breather while he's out learning whatever it is the humans pound into their head." He shook his head a little bit "But good luck getting him to agree to do any of it. He hasn't said more than a couple of sentences since I saved him." He then added "Up until then I thought he was a mute." He added.

"I can hear you, you know." Sideswipe tilted his head as Jeff stared over at him "I'm not going to school either. I haven't needed it for the last few years, don't need it now." He then added rather bluntly "And for the last time I don't need your protection. I hope you know that the second you two aren't watching me I'm out of here." He then added "So you may as well just set me free now." He added.

"What a charmer." Arcee scoffed.

Sideswipe had never been the authoritative type, so trying was without a doubt a difficult task. But all the same, he straightened up a bit, and bore his optics down upon his newly appointed charge. "First of all, you'd be smart to show us a little respect before I kick your aft out the nearest window." Sideswipe barked, seeming to make Jeff cringe "And secondly, you do need our protection, whether you like it or not." He then added "So get whatever pole is stuck up your little butt out, and deal with it." He added.

"Who do you think you are, my old man?" Jeff snapped back.

"Closest thing you have to one at the moment, ain't I?" Sideswipe grunted, this seemed to make the boy falter back a bit "And I'm not the type to put up with your crap like this, kid. So you're going to start shaping up-" He began.

"You're one to be giving this lecture." Arcee snarked.

"Because we are all saddled together for the next several months. You don't like it, we don't like it. So let's grin and bare the pain." Sideswipe ignored his bond mate's snark as best he could "Now, what do you say we all cool off a little before we really get off on the wrong foot." He then added under his breath "More than we already have." He then added "Your stomach's been growling for the past hour. What do you say I take you down to the mess hall and grab you some human grub." He added.

Jeff held his stomach slightly, in all the "excitement", he'd nearly forgotten the fact he hadn't eaten in a few days. Staring at the silver mech, who seemed to be trying to calm down and even attempt being "nice", he grimaced slightly. Though he couldn't be too sure about his new guardians yet, it couldn't overall hurt to give them half a chance, even if he had no plans to stick around. "That... Couldn't hurt." Jeff half-muttered to the Autobot.

...

Jeff had never eaten as big a meal as he did that evening. Food practically was sent flying at Sideswipe, who watched with both disgust and a form of sympathy rarely seen by him. Jeff stared up at Sideswipe, a hard look on his face, definitely trying to read whether or not Sideswipe really cared if he ate or just was doing a "job". "So, how much of a background check did that Optimus guy do?" Jeff questioned, his eyes focused on the table "He tell you all about my trips to juvenile hall? Shoplifting? Fights?" He questioned.

Sideswipe snorted a bit at the boy's attempts to get him out of the current situation, frowning a bit. "You think that's bad? I did worse before I was even half your age in Cybertronian years." Sideswipe leaned forward across the table staring him dead in the eyes "You won't get out of this situation that easily, or easily at all." He then added "Why can't you just accept the fact that you're getting help?" He grunted.

"Because I don't need it. I've been on my own the last four years and I've done just fine." Jeff replied with a grunt "And you're getting forced into doing this in the first place, you don't want me around, I don't want to be around." He then added coldly "You're just like the fifteen foster families I was in before juvie, I bet you're getting the same paycheck too." He added.

Sideswipe shook his head silently, grimacing a little bit at that. This kid was starting to get on his nerves, to the highest degree, and he didn't quite like it at all. Taking a deep breath, and reminding himself he had no choice but to put up with it, he sighed. "I'm not getting paid anything, we're your guardians, if we were getting paid we'd be your foster parents." He looked the boy down a bit "Not to mention, no matter WHAT you think of yourself, if that Decepticon had grabbed you today, you could very well no longer be breathing." He added.

"How would you know? You didn't know he existed until today."

"Did he seem sane to you?"

For the first time, Jeff felt as though the Autobot was actually making some semblance of sense. Looking down at his hands, he stared up at Sideswipe silently, and sighed a bit. "Fine, if it'll make you feel better, I'll stay until that freak is finished." Jeff leaned forward "But the second that's over, I'm gone. I have no intention of staying here, not with you, and not with any other so-called "family"." He commented, taking a deep breath "So, your names Sideswipe, right? Isn't that a fighting move or something?" He asked.

"Yeah, it is. Awesome right?"

"Not really, I find it a little corny." Jeff replied.

It was only when Jeff chuckled that Sideswipe realized it was the boy's (albeit poor) attempt at humor. "Listen, I'll make you a deal." Sideswipe commented, looking down at him with a smirk "If you'll cut the attitude and at least make an attempt to treat Arcee and I with respect." He paused a moment "I'll see what I can do about letting you go free from the system after this is over." He added.

Jeff eyed the Autobot silently, trying to read his features. The offer was a good one, but Jeff didn't yet know how much he could trust the Autobot, whom he had only known for a short time. "Alright, I'll tone it down a bit, if you'll keep to your word." Jeff commented "I can't promise I'm going to like the arrangement either way though." He then added "I don't do good with rules, school, or lectures." He added.

"That's good, 'cause neither do I." Sideswipe replied honestly "You're still going to school though, I don't think any of us can deal with each other twenty-four-seven." He explained.

"Better be ready to be called to my school at least twice a month."

Sideswipe frowned a bit, noting how Jeff still seemed to be testing him. Silently he reminded himself how he'd once done the same thing when he'd been in a similar situation as well. "You're not going to intimidate me either kid. I used to be exactly like you." He put his legs up on the table "I know exactly what you're going to do before you do it. Which just makes this that much easier." He added.

"Oh you have no idea what I'm capable of." Jeff replied.

"Nor you, I."

Sideswipe could only smirk at the look on Jeff's face at that comment, he most certainly was intimidated by the thought of it. Leaning back a bit, he simply stared Sideswipe down, his arms crossed and lip pursed. "I'll accept that challenge." Jeff smirked finally, shaking his head "I enjoy a good challenge." He then added "I just hope your "bonded" is up for the challenge too." He smirked.

The boy mockingly put his own legs up, and leaned back with a snarky grin his way. Deep inside, it didn't take Sideswipe long to realize that Jeff was, without a doubt, some sort of punishment from Primus for the trouble he gave his own caretakers. "This is going to be a long couple of months." Sideswipe muttered to himself quietly.

...

A/N: Figured I'd get the first two chapters out there, because these are honestly what set the story up, not just the first chapter. Hope you guys have enjoyed them both. :)