CHAPTER 35
Enter: Peter Felton

The day had not started very well for Peter Felton in the least. For the most part, no day started any good really, in fact, most of them started out on the couch in some woman's home with a bottle of Jack Daniels gripped firmly in his hand. That morning, it happened to be his own couch however, having finished his business "out-of-town", which was code for several weeks worth of unprotected sex with whomever he was dating at the time. He sighed quietly, stretching and standing to his feet as he kicked some trash to the side. His apartment looked like shit, but at the same time, working in the mail room of a law firm didn't exactly pay well.

He made his way towards the answering machine of his phone, pressing the button. There wasn't much to it, a few calls from various flings, deleted within seconds. He barely even paid attention to the call from his adoptive parents, he'd had nothing to do with them for years and was happy to still have their nagging nature out of his life. The last message however, caught the forty year old's attention quickly. "Mr. Felton, my name is Optimus Prime. I've been attempting to get in touch with you for several weeks in regards to the custody of your biological nephew." Peter raised an eyebrow at that "As of right now, social services is still requesting I find him a living relative while he stays on our base."

That got his attention, social services- payments - that was what that meant. They paid better than the mail room if his time in the foster care system had taught him anything. And money was a thing he was desperately low on at the moment, between his many debts and the rent. Grabbing a grungy piece of paper off of the table he quickly grabbed a pencil as well and set them down to write again. "You can reach myself, or his current guardian, Prowl, at this same number. But for security purposes, please simply redial."

Peter grabbed the phone off the hook, looking through it for the number. At once, he quickly redialed, and waited for the answer as he silently only had one word in his mind: ka-ching!

...

"I must admit, Mr. Felton, at this point I believed I would never hear from you."

Optimus took in the man that sat before him and Prowl for a long moment. Though Optimus tried to remain calm, Prowl was already scowling at the man. Perhaps it was his dissolved demeanor, or the fact that the faintest stench of booze lingered around him. Or perhaps, it was just the fact that he already was determined to dislike the man, but he didn't, he didn't like him even a little. "Yes well, I was very concerned when you told me about his living conditions." Peter replied, shifting a bit in his seat "I don't have a lot of family, and I was a foster kid myself. So if I had known that I had a nephew suffering in it-" He began.

Prowl scoffed, his optics baring down on him as he interrupted the man. "You speak as if you never knew he existed. Yet if we could find you, I'm sure social services could have tried in the past. Perhaps forgotten, but I doubt they didn't find you." Prowl leaned forward to stare the man down "Give me one reason to believe your clearly flawed claim otherwise." He began.

"Prowl." Prowl turned to look at Optimus "Easy..." The second-in-command leaned back cautiously "Forgive Prowl. He has been your nephew's guardian on-base. And as of late, Jeff has voiced his wish to be adopted by him, and Prowl likewise." He commented "You must understand that the boy you wish to take away from here has been in our care nearly half a year. It is almost cruel to take him away." He noted "I would like to ask if you could find it within your heart to sign off your rights to him so that we may honor his wishes."

Inwardly, Peter was grimacing at the thought of signing away a potential meal ticket. But on the outside, he was all smiles, attempting to keep up the facade that he was nothing but a kind hearted man who wanted his nephew. "While I appreciate how much you care about Jeffrey, I'm going to have to decline." Peter held up a hand "No offense meant, but I'd feel much better if my nephew was raised away from you and your war." He explained.

Prowl nearly wanted to launch himself at the man, but kept his cool as best he could. Inwardly reminding himself that he could and would get Jeff back, even if this man took him away from him now. "Your prejudice attitude toward our race is not helping your case." Prowl grunted "And I want to make one thing perfectly clear, he may leave with you today." He leered "But if I hear you mistreated or harmed that child in any way I will personally see to your incarceration myself." He stated coldly.

"Are you threatening me?"

"Absolutely."

Optimus didn't say anything to this, as he knew it would fall on deaf ears, and many if not all the Autobots on-base felt the same way. Peter merely stared at him, his mouth agape, he shifted a little bit, but stood to his feet. "Good thing I have nothing but good intentions." Peter lied through his teeth "I'd feel better if you ceased communication with him after today though. You sure seem to have a bad temper." He smirked.

Prowl leaned forward again, baring his metal teeth. "If I have my way, between the smell of alcohol lingering on you, and your attitude. I'll have Jeff out of your presence before the month is over." He stated coldly "I know people like you, Peter Felton. You talk a big game, you act like a big shot. But I also know that at some point or another people like you slip up." He then added "So I would tread carefully if I were you." He added.

"That's enough, Prowl." Optimus stated quietly "Please go and get Jeffrey ready."

The apologetic look on Optimus's face told him he didn't want to do this either, but neither of them had much of a choice. Prowl moved from the wall he lingered against, and slowly made his way past Peter with yet another low growl before he left, slamming the door behind him.

...

"Prowl, I don't want to go."

Jeff stood there with his bags at his sides and a look of utter defeat plastered on his face. Prowl was moving as slow as he could, savoring the time with the teenager he had, as he knew it could be the last time he saw him in a while. "And I don't want you to go." Prowl replied softly "But don't worry, Jeff, this is only very temporary thing." He paused a moment "I promise." He noted.

Jeff was shaky, and it easily showed, his body was tense, and his hands shook the slightest bit. Prowl knew he was scared, but he also knew that neither of them had a choice or say in the matter, not yet at least. "What if he treats me like the other homes did?" Jeff questioned "I've told you guys, even the one's that weren't abusive mostly sucked." He explained "I don't want to go back to that." He added.

"You have my com link number." Prowl explained "If you have any reason to believe yourself to be in immediate danger, you'll call me."

"You're not going to be part of my protection detail then?"

Prowl was silent at this, knowing that he couldn't do it. It would kill him to be around Jeff but not be able to hold him, or take him home. It was too much torture, for now they had to part ways both for Jeff's sanity, and his own. "My duties are too pressing, Jeff. I'm needed in far too many places." Prowl explained "But I will visit, as much as I am allowed to. Granted your uncle dislikes me, so we will have to do so discreetly." He commented.

Jeff nodded his head slowly as Prowl gently put a finger to his cheek. The boy looked extremely defeated still, but Prowl's smile did comfort him, even the slightest bit. "I love you, Jeff." Prowl spoke softly "Please do not forget that, or that I will fight for you." He stood a bit, and took a deep breath "Now come on, we need to get you out there." He stated "Before your uncle grows impatient."

As Jeff shifted his bags a bit, and followed Prowl out, he took one look back at his home with Prowl. Inside, he swore that it would not be the last look he'd take, he'd be back, he knew he would. Or at least, he hoped.

...

Jeff had been wrong about it being like the other homes, this was much worse. A piece of pizza squished underneath his foot as he entered, his eyes moving towards the floor, he carefully kicked it away. The whole apartment was a mess, clothes strewn around, empty beer bottles everywhere, and a stench that made Jeff contemplate whether someone had actually died in there. "Yeah, I have cleaning up to do before social services shows up." Peter grunted "You want a beer?" He questioned.

"I don't drink." Jeff stiffened a bit.

"Whatever, kid, your loss." Peter grabbed a half-finished bottle off of the counter "You can get yourself settled as soon as you clean up the guest bedroom. Be careful though, there may be a few tacks and crap." Jeff stared at him a moment "What? You think I'm going to pick up the mess that belongs to you now?" He shook his head "Better get your ass moving unless you want to sleep on the couch tonight."

Jeff stared at the stained and dust-covered couch in disgust moments before Peter settled himself on it. Jeff stood there a long moment, looking both sick and terrified all at once. Home sweet home. He thought bitterly as he made his way towards the room Peter now pointed at.

He couldn't help but feel he'd just stepped into the third circle of hell.