TRIGGER WARNING: Some more abuse chatter.

CHAPTER 3

PARTNERS

Shane was disoriented when he woke up.

First of all, he was rested against something soft and comfortable. Neither of those words could be used to describe his "bed", and secondly, there was light. Not just the small glimmer of one from the windows of the basement. With one hand he reached forward and rested his palm on... Fur. Dark fur.

He was surprised to find that he had fallen asleep against Primal... That's right he reminded himself. The Maximal had taken him out of the basement... Had he carried him out so far? He looked thoughtful, but pain and weakness overtook him some more. And he simply moaned and turned slightly.

"Take it easy," Primal murmured, his optics shuttering open as he did. "You're still hurt... Those wounds need rest."

Shane turned his head in shame. Now Primal knew everything, he knew what a weak person he was. Knew things that could get him in trouble... What was he going to do? Shane's thoughts were interrupted as the gentle giant ran circles around his back with one digit. "He's going to kill me," Shane muttered. "If he finds out I left..."

"Don't even say such a thing. No harm will come to you," Primal assured him. "You're safe here with me. No one can hurt you."

After several moments of silence, Primal spoke again. "How long has he been hurting you like this?" It was a simple question laden with concern and a hint of anger. "And why haven't you told anyone?"

Shane had prepared for this question from someone for a long time. But in the end, he wasn't sure even he had the answer as to why he'd not told anyone. Part of it was, of course, the fact that he'd been threatened by the man. But the other part felt like he was afraid - afraid to leave again. Afraid of what he might do to keep him if he had the chance.

Still, in the arms of someone like Primal, he felt a certain safety to speak. "Just when he's really drunk, or angry. He just... He tells me it's stress relief," Shane managed. "I'm fine, Optimus... I'm sorry to give you trouble."

Fine? Primal wanted to pummel the man for making someone so small even consider this to be fine. The mech tried to hold in his disdain but could already feel the anger mounted on his face. Primal had already made his decision before this. But now? His resolve strengthened, as he settled Shane down onto the ground. "Well, I will not sit by idly and allow it to go on any longer. It is my creed to protect all life on this planet. If I left you there I would never forgive myself," Shane was a little surprised. "You will come with me, far away from this place."

Shane's eyes bulged. Was Primal kidnapping him? That was a bad idea, he thought. Even though he was a giant alien robot - and no one could really say no to him. What happened when Ted came looking for him? Or when there was an inevitable missing children's report? "Primal, you can't just like... Kidnap me. Ted will come looking," Shane insisted. "You're supposed to be a secret, right? I could get you in trouble."

Primal snorted. "You overestimate my fear of the man you call, Ted," He simply replied. "Do you have anything you will need in preparation for the journey ahead?"

Shane looked thoughtful over at Primal. What was he getting at? He really was just going to kidnap him was he? Was this giant ape insane? On one hand, he could argue, but on the other... He'd just saved him from a cold and damp basement... Clearly he wasn't afraid like Shane was. "... I guess just some clothes.." Shane managed slowly, his nerves twisted. "But if I go back there..."

Primal didn't say much beyond a... "You're with me now, but we must make it quick."

He didn't have time for arguments.

Primal felt tense just returning to the scene.

While it seemed to him that Ted had yet to return, or find that his foster son was gone, he could come back at any time. The Maximal wasn't one for confrontation, but at that point, he was definitely ready for it. So he waited in silence, some distance from the human home, scanners on full alert as Shane worked to stuff as much as he could in his "backpack". There was an intensity in the air long before his audio receptors heard the faint rumble of an engine.

Primal scanned the area again - and noticed the truck quickly... Ted. The man who had beaten a child senseless, and likely left him to die. As the leader scrambled forward a little, he was able to get a better look... At a husk of a man. Tall, lanky, and covered in beer stains that showed the low level of class he was dealing with. He'd been too drunk to even notice the damage to his home, let alone keep himself walking a straight line up the path.

The child had made a good point, if Ted said something... Well, Shane would be in danger.

Again, the Maximal wasn't concerned over secrecy. He'd deal with the government later, being so deep in the hole already. Right now, he had to make sure this man knew to never dark in either of their lives again. He kept his steps loud, and steady, after all, he wanted the man to be acutely aware of the fact he wasn't alone. About the third stumble, Primal spoke, mere feet away from the man. "You look worse than what I imagined," The man straightened, but didn't turn yet. "... I hear you like picking on children."

When the man turned at last, he was quite literally on his ass. Primal reveled in the fact he seemed to soil himself, while he didn't like scaring people... He'd definitely enjoy putting the fear of Primus into this one. "What... What the hell?" Ted stuttered, as Primal approached him slowly, methodically. "What are you!? Leave me alone!"

Primal slammed a fist in the direction he attempted to run to. "Don't worry, Ted. I don't hurt people without provocation. It is not my way, nor has it ever been," His voice was even - but the tone reflected his anger. "I just want to talk to you about Shane... You remember Shane? The boy you left to starve and bleed out in your basement?"

He caught hold of the back of the man's shirt as he tried again to run away. A tiny YELP escaped his lips. "Please! STOP! I'm sorry! I'm really sorry! I don't know what he is to you, but please! Don't hurt me!" Primal rolled his optics. He wasn't a good listener, was he? "What do you want from me!? I'll give you anything you want! Just put me down!"

Anything he wanted? That would make this easy then. The gorilla pulled him up right to his face, green optics narrowed in anger. "I've already taken what I want. The child. The one you have squandered the life of so pathetically," He replied with more intensity now. "In a few minutes, he will exit that door. And you will never see us again. You will pretend you never saw me. If you don't? I'll know, and I'll make sure my friends in the government have their choice of words with you."

"P-Please, I can't go to prison!" Ted sobbed. "I need the money from that kid!"

Money? MONEY? Monterey value drove him to take Shane in and treat him this way? Primal would never understand the thoughts or actions of certain humans. The young were their future, and men like this... Well, his nostrils flared. "You have two weeks before I reach my friends in high places. I have taken evidence of your crimes already... Your "income" is over," Ted's face fell, but Primal didn't back down. "Be glad I am a merciful member of my species. On my planet, you'd find yourself before a court pleading for your life."

"Please... Please..." Ted babbled.

Primal snapped a final time. "You saw nothing. He disappeared in the night. Are we clear?" Primal explained. Growing tired of his groveling like the coward he was. "Are we CLEAR?"

The way he roared the last "clear" in Ted's face seemed to finally break the man. "Fine! Fine! Just don't hurt me! Please! Take the kid, turn me in, whatever you want!" That was more like it, Primal thought. Even if he wouldn't stoop so low as to hurt the man. "You can have it all! Take my car too! And my money! Do you like money?"

Primal was sure to drop him to the ground rather than set the man down. "I have no desire for money, or your car. You will leave in your vehicle now. And never speak of this again," Primal explained. "And do know - I will keep tabs on you. If I hear you have ever harmed another child again... You will answer to people far less kind than I."

He slammed his fist down once and watched as Ted scrambled like a bat out of hell toward his car. Satisfied that he'd never hear the man's name again as he peeled out in a panic. He'd definitely answer for exposing himself... But given the man was intoxicated, any attempts to speak on the subject would likely fall on deaf ears. Ted had been gone a few minutes when Shane stepped outside, a small backpack over his shoulder and fresh clothes on his back.

As if he knew the look in Primal's eyes, Shane would simply ask. "Is he... Gone?"

Primal gave a triumphant, but comforting smile back. "He will never cross paths with you again. Nor do I believe he will ever do this to another child," His response was clear - but didn't give away how he'd done it. After all, he rarely condoned the actions he'd taken. "Climb aboard, we have much ground to cover... We should make a hasty retreat from this state."

As he lowered his palm on the ground, he waited for Shane to climb aboard. Perhaps he didn't fully trust him, Primal didn't know. But there were a few moments of hesitation before he was able to deposit Shane on his shoulder. As he started his trek away from the home, he caught sight of Shane taking one final glance at it. There was a fear, and sadness in his eyes, but Primal only offered his own comfort once again.

"You will never be treated that way again. I promise."

And then they were off.

Shane was scared.

Why he was scared when he had a giant robot, well, maybe he was just a bit of a scaredy cat. But he had no idea what he'd done to scare his foster father off, but what would happen next because of that? Would Primal get in trouble? He'd never meant to drag anyone into this mess - and now he'd dragged a giant robot into it. For his part, the mech didn't seem to mind, with all of his anger directed at Ted and his mistreatment of him.

Shane had to wonder why he felt so strongly about it as he laid in the grass, a blanket he'd stolen from Ted wrapped around him. Primal had made a small fire for their stop for the night, some miles from where Shane had lived, but he wasn't sure how far. For the moment, he just focused on waiting for Primal to return from his perimeter check. Shane didn't ask what he was keeping an eye out for, but he was sure it wasn't just Ted or other humans... After all, Primal had mentioned others.

He'd fallen asleep sometime while he was gone but awakened when his large footsteps finally returned. Primal looked relaxed as he returned, and only noted: "We haven't been followed. You can rest easy knowing that you are now safe, and far away from the place that did you harm," Shane felt himself relax. "Did you eat the food you pilfered from the home?"

Shane nodded, though not all of it. He had a feeling he'd have to make it last at least until they reached somewhere near civilization. "Optimus, can I ask you a question?" Primal merely nodded. "Why did it bother you so much...? I mean, I get what he did was wrong. But most people wouldn't jump in. Especially not ones that have big secrets..."

Oh. Primal frowned, and his optics softened considerably. Had Shane hit a sore spot? He didn't know as Primal added some more wood to their fire and seated himself across from Shane. He scratched his chin as if he was trying to figure out how to best respond to this. Was there some sort of dark secret behind it? Did Primal have his own dark purpose to use Shane for? Thankfully, no. As he was about to find out...

"So many humans squander their young. Many millennia ago, my species lost everything... To a dark being we call Unicron. You're too young to hear the method. But know that millions of lives were lost," Shane's face fell. They'd lost everything? What could this being do to literally wipe out a planet? "I would give anything to have saved the generations upon generations we lost. And have never understood how humans take their young for granted."

Shane felt his stomach drop, and he supposed he understood now. At ten years old, Shane didn't know what to properly say. His mouth opening once, to silence. Then again, to more silence. "So, what are you going to do about me then?" Primal looked thoughtful. "Take me back with you? You could get in a lot of trouble."

Primal looked stone-faced, but completely unsure of himself. Had he not considered what he was actually going to do and only had made it this far? The leader stood up and crossed back over to where Shane laid. With a hand, he carefully tucked the boy's blankets over him, and ran a finger down his side. "You let me worry about what I am going to do to procure your safety. Enjoy the adventure," Primal offered. "I have been on this planet many years. And made many friends."

Shane looked at him silently, then rested his head back on his backpack. Primal was satisfied, it seemed, to leave it at that for the night, as he walked back to his spot and seated himself for his own recharge. "Get some rest, Shane," Primal managed. "We still have much farther to go."

The boy simply got ready to rest then, having decided to put his trust in the robot, for now. After all, he'd been kind to and protected him thus far, why would he not? As he did, however, his eyes flicked to the woods behind them. Had he been seeing things? Or had he noticed red lights in the trees? He blinked and on second glance, found nothing. "Goodnight, Optimus." He muttered as his eyelids lowered.

Neither would notice that the red glow came back. Optics perked with interest. Nor as a large figure scurried off into the night.