A/N: Woo! Took me a while to write this chapter for some reason. But I hope it came out well!

Thanks as usual to sidekicks-anonymous for her work on this chapter!

...

CHAPTER 2
Food For Thought

Prowl was tired by the end of the first week.

It wasn't that Jacob had been trouble, he really hadn't. Sure, he'd seemed to be a little rough, but at the same time, they had expected that. No, it was simply that so far, he and Jacob had yet to form any kind of connection. Jazz had formed an almost instant connection by being more open and used to younglings. After all, Jazz had three younger brothers he'd helped take care of. But Prowl was simply playing it by ear, and it was painfully showing.

Even if Jake wasn't like most younglings, he still responded to youngling things. He laughed at immature jokes, and liked to play video games, though Jazz had to show him how they worked. Whereas he hadn't responded with much enthusiasm to Prowl's attempts at teaching him how to read, or attempts at talking about rudimentary things. If there were ever a time that Prowl felt like a stiff, it was this week.

Even now, Jake was playing a video game, and there he was watching him blankly. He tapped the side of the Cybertronian chair quietly, and thought of what he could say. Without Jazz there, it was hard to really find a topic that he and Jake could discuss. "So... This game..." Jake looked over his shoulder. "Is it really a good idea to play a war game given the circumstances...?"

And there was the blank stare that Jake gave him every time. He looked down at the controller in his hands, then at Prowl. But for the first time, Prowl was surprised when he unloaded the game, and returned it to its place. "Well, you ruined that for me." Jake muttered in an almost angry tone. "Why can't you at least let me have fun?"

Prowl sighed. Of course he would act childish. But then again, he had to remind himself that Jake was, after all, a child. "I simply pointed out the point of you being in our care. You can be a child now, which means I want you away from too much violence. There are substitute games for such a violent one."

"What are you doing? Trying to be my dad?" Jake asked defiantly. "And what do you mean I can be a 'kid' now? What the heck does being a kid even mean?"

"I don't understand..."

"Right, because of the logic thing. Understand this, I'm screwed up, no game is gonna screw me up more. I was born screwed up. That's why my parents dumped me when I was born." Jake replied, his anger evident.

"What brought you to such a harsh conclusion?"

Jake looked at Prowl as if he'd just slapped him across the face. Was Prowl so daft? He threw down his controller in frustration, and stood. "Isn't it obvious? They literally gave me up when I was born... I must have had something wrong with me." Jake replied bluntly. "Same reason I never got adopted and had to run away."

"Perhaps they gave you up for a better life." Prowl replied.

Jake almost wanted to scoff at that. They'd done a bang-up job then after all. First he'd been made a child soldier, and now he was hiding out in an underground base from slavers. "Yeah, well, real good job they did there. Look at where I am now. I'd rather be dead."

"Jacob, never say something like that. What happened wasn't your fault." Prowl replied without even missing a breath. "No one should wish themselves to be dead."

Jake stared at him. Like this mech even knew. If he had any idea of how many beatings he'd suffered, how many nights he'd been starved, how many times he'd cried himself to sleep. And even now it almost felt worse. Here he was, being taken care of while all of his friends were still there. "You don't even know the first thing about me. You can't say that." Jake replied. "Hell, you didn't even want me. The only reason you even agreed was because Jazz volunteered you."

Prowl was taken aback. Where had he heard that? Sure, it was partially true, but the way he said it sounded so... Harsh. "I don't know where you heard that, but it's not because of what you think. I wanted to help you, but I'm not trained in raising children. I've only had experience around my younger brother." He explained honestly. "It was not because of some 'defect' you perceive yourself to have."

Jake didn't know how to respond to that, getting to his feet. This mech had some level of patience he didn't know how to comprehend. He'd thrown so much at him, trying to get him to admit he wanted Jake gone—yet nothing. This mech wouldn't leave him alone... And he didn't like it.

Sure, the Autobots were supposed to be the good guys, but for how long? The first few days, the Decepticons had treated them well too. It was only after they thought that it was getting no results that they began to beat and mistreat them. Maybe the Autobots would be the same way. Once they realized he really couldn't tell them where the other kids were, they'd try to torture it out of him. Yeah, that was it. They'd torture him until he gave up some false location in hopes of saving his life, and then they'd kill him. Or they'd lock him away forever as a war criminal.

Jake looked at him with the last bit of defiance he could muster up. No, he would not let himself be broken again. One group had already done that, he would not let another. "I give you three weeks, tops. Then you'll be begging the Decepticons to take me back." He told the tactical officer, who was bewildered by the statement. "There's a reason I even went through four handlers. Decepticons pretty much didn't want me around, why would you?"

Prowl didn't know how to respond to that, but he had an idea why. Jake might have been brainwashed, but the boy did not take things standing down. Bellow all of that, there was a strong will, and one who didn't want to be used. One who wanted to fight back, even if he didn't know how to. The Decepticons had managed to force him into compliance, but they had not taken away his ability to reason, or to fight back. It must have driven the Decepticon handlers insane to think they could not completely break the boy.

At least, until the one he'd been left with. From the drones that had seen them on the battlefield, he had not seemed to put up with any of it. "You'd be surprised the level of patience that I possess, Jacob Conners." Prowl explained, his voice firm. "I will not get rid of you. If anything, you'd be the one to get rid of me if you so wish. Now pick a new game, Jacob. There are plenty."

Jake wasn't sure how to respond.

...

"Man…he really gave ya slag, huh?"

Prowl looked at Jazz silently as he nodded his head. Though he kept an optic on the door to Jake's room to make sure the boy wasn't secretly listening. He seemed content that the boy was indeed asleep for the night given his scans, and finally nodded. "He's really defiant, it's easy to see how he survived this long. The Decepticons may have hated it. But they appreciate a soldier who won't back down." Prowl replied. "As disgusting as that sounds."

Jazz shuddered, turning his head to the door himself. The thought did sicken him too. The kid had thick skin, but it was probably because he had to in the Decepticons. But, given he had it here, it was clear to them both that Jake trusted no one. "Ah want to tear those 'Cons apart. Making kids feel so scared... He was only four, for Primus' sake. Do none of them have a conscious?"

"Unfortunately, even if they do... They are forced to follow orders. Or they'd be killed."

"So? Ah'd rather die protecting a kid then stealing his childhood away."

"And that's why you're in the Autobots." Prowl explained bluntly.

Jazz nodded. Now that was something they could agree on. He sighed quietly, and leaned his helm against his hand. "Do ya think it's true? He's really been rejected that many times?" Jazz asked. Prowl nodded his head. "No wonda he wants nothin' ta do with us. If Ah'd gone through that then been put into some psycho training program, I wouldn't, either."

"It also means more than ever we cannot back out of this. I'd rather not put this boy through more than he already has. No matter how difficult he is, the chip on his shoulder tells me something..." Prowl noted, his voice tense. "There's a scared youngling in there. And displacing him before his readjustment to life has been completed would cause great damage to his psyche."

Jazz shuddered, the thought scaring him. A lot of things that could happen during this time could do that, unfortunately. He looked towards their human charge's room, and let his thoughts run rampant. How did one get the trust of someone whose trust was destroyed time and time again? "Yeah, don't need ta tell me twice. We need to figure out how to get his trust though. Especially you." Jazz pointed out.

Prowl knew it was true, but he did feel a little offended by that. Why couldn't he be good with the kid? He had to take care of him now; should instincts come naturally? Even though that wasn't a logical question, he couldn't help but ask it all the same. "I think my problem is simply that I need more patience. I take the logical approach, but he doesn't seem to respond well to that. Perhaps I do need to let him be a child on his own time." He explained.

"That sounds like a logical conclusion if there ever was one." Jazz replied. "I mean come on, Prowl. We can't expect this kid not to be exploring the world around him. He fragging said that he lived in a cell most of the time."

Prowl knew that Jazz had him there. Jake probably wasn't going to be the poster child for children most people knew. He crossed his arms, his optics turning again to the bedroom. Jake wasn't sleeping any more, he noticed. He was in fact sitting up in bed, if what his scans indicated were true. "Jacob, you can come out. None of what we are saying is against you." He explained.

"What? He's up?"

"Yes, I just did a scan..."

"That's an invasion of privacy, y'know."

Prowl frowned as Jake exited the bedroom, his eyes looking up to glare at him. "I'm your guardian. Regardless of the situation, I do priority scans to make sure you're doing alright." Prowl told him rather calmly. "Also, as your guardian, I should inform you that you belong in bed."

"You're not the boss of me. I'll sleep when I want to sleep."

Jazz snorted. That was pretty funny if one asked him. Technically, Prowl was the main person in charge of him after all. But rather than remind the boy, he leaned back, his optics traveling to watch Prowl.

"I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but I am. Your recharge cycle started two hours ago." Prowl replied. "Please return to bed."

"Why, so you can keep talking about me behind my back?"

Prowl really could feel his patience being grated. This boy was doing whatever it took to test him, after all. What could he do? It was taking all the strength he could muster not to scream at the child. "We're discussing your well-being, Jacob. In case you've forgotten-."

"You're my guardian. Yeah, I get it. You beat it into me every day." Jake replied with a bit of frustration.

Prowl reminded himself for the millionth time that this boy was traumatized. Every act of defiance was either a cry for attention, or a defense mechanism. If he lost his patience with this boy and let him have it, he didn't even know how he'd react. "And as your guardian, I have to insist you get your recharge." Jake was surprised when Prowl took him into the palm of his hand upon saying that. "If you want to stay up and be exhausted, it's your choice. But a child like you needs a great deal of rest to get through the day."

"And if I don't go to sleep?"

Prowl was silent as he entered the bedroom, depositing the boy on his bed. He crossed his arms, and gave Jake an unwavering look that said he was not giving in. "Like I said, it's your choice. But I would consider the fact that I'm not forcing anything on you. So your defiance is unwarranted..." Prowl told him, watching as the boy seemingly was at a loss for a response. "You may not trust me. But one of these days, you should consider doing so. I'm not too bad when you get to know me. And I really am looking out for your best interests."

Jake was silent and he turned away from Prowl as if to respond to that. The tactician gave a frustrated sigh. Why did Jazz have to sign them up for this? He wouldn't even trust himself, with his penchant for rules and lack of experience with kids. "You may not think I get the defense you're putting up, but you'd be wrong." Prowl commented. "I may not have had the same experiences you did..."

"Not even close. I hear what people say. Your family was loaded, and they loved you. You haven't wanted for anything." Jake looked over his shoulder at Prowl, frowning a bit. "You can say you get it all you want. But you didn't grow up without a family. And you sure as pit didn't grow up with the Decepticons."

So the boy knew he was the son of nobles. Of course he did. Prowl frowned a little himself, knowing that he was right there. He hadn't wanted for very much in life. His family had given him everything, and he and Bluestreak had grown up happy. And yet... "I didn't, you're right. I had a lot in my life. But I knew those who didn't..." Prowl replied. "Do you know how I met Jazz?" Jake didn't respond. "He lived on the streets outside my home. At least until my family took him off the street, and helped him. Found him a family to take care of... He was about your age and he came from a life nightmares are made of."

Jake was silent. He... hadn't thought about that. He hadn't really considered what Jazz's life was like. Let alone how he and Prowl had become so close to each other. He didn't respond however, and after a moment, Prowl added. "I will only ever know what a life of hardship is like from him. And for that I'm truly thankful." He then added. "But much like with him, I sympathize with your plight. And I understand your right not to trust anyone. But perhaps, you can learn a thing or two from him about trusting people."

Again, there was silence, but then... "You'll have to do a lot better than that to make me trust anyone."

Prowl didn't push further, instead, he turned towards the door. "Goodnight, Jacob."

Closing the door, he looked at Jazz with a heavy sigh. For the first time, even Jazz looked a little flabbergasted. "I'm sorry for using your story... I simply thought he had a right to know one of us understands him." Prowl told the mech, putting his hands on his hips. "Because he's right, I have no idea what I am doing with him."

"Ah don't know, Prowler. Ya did pretty good in there."

Prowl regarded his friend, wondering if he was right. To be honest though, he truly doubted he had done anything to get the child thinking. "I doubt the boy is in there thinking anything over. He's far too angry at the world right now for that." He explained. "But perhaps the more I talk to him, the more I can do to get through to him."

Jazz was silent, allowing Prowl to leave the conversation at that. He knew that the mech would undoubtedly not want to continue the subject and upset Jake further of course. But all the same, for a few minutes, Jazz watched Jake's door as if to wait for the boy to come out again. And when the boy never left, he couldn't help but wonder... Had Prowl's words, on some level, resonated with their charge?

But as he got ready to turn in himself, he didn't get any form of answer.

...

Jake debated whether to leave his room or not.

What did Prowl think he was doing? Trying to be understanding and compassionate? It was so fake, he thought. No one was like that; no one was that nice. He turned over onto his other side for the fifth time, trying to process everything in his mind. Jazz was a street kid too? How had he moved past a life like that? How was he not angry? How were they both not in the same place in life right now?

He shifted the covers over himself, and tried not to go to sleep. No, he wasn't going to give into these people... If he was free of the Decepticons, he refused to follow any orders anymore. He was his own man now. He didn't need to be taken care of. He didn't need to be cared about...

Even if it did feel a little good to know someone wasn't giving up on him...

No, he wasn't going to think that way. He wasn't going to be weak. Because even if he tried to trust these mechs. Even if he reached out and actually tried... The Decepticons would find him one day. Underground base or not, he was sure they were searching for him now.

And no matter what these Autobots did, the 'Cons wouldn't stop until they had him.