A/N: One final attempt at finishing Dylan's story I kept trying but honestly? The Animated fic didn't feel right. But after Rise of the Beasts - I felt how great him and Prime would be together. So I'm making this final attempt. Let's see how it goes!

TRIGGER WARNING: This story will contain mentions of childhood abuse: sexual, physical, and mental. As well as some depictions of physical and verbal abuse. It won't be graphic, but still be prepared.

WARNING: This takes place after Rise of the Beasts, spoilers abound!

PAIRINGS: OptimusxElita, OCxOC eventually, NoahxElena, CharliexMemo (Mentioned)

DISCLAIMER: I only own my OCs. Nothing Transformers, or inevitably GI JOE, or other Hasbro properties I decide to reference here.

CHAPTER 1

Dylan Logan was so done with everything.

It had been a year since he'd finally had the guts to run away from the damned foster care system. And he was finding that the longer he was on the streets of Brooklyn, the harder it was to keep it together. The cops? Always on his butt. CPS? Always asking questions to his friends.

The fourteen year old convinced himself he was fine on his own.

Still, he reminded himself that in four more years it wouldn't matter anyway. Four long years today, he reminded himself again. What a way to spend your birthday, right? Huddled under something that could barely be considered a roof in the middle of a rain storm.

He cursed under his breath as the sharp crack of thunder in the distance pulled him from his thoughts. He rubbed his hands together and cupping them, breathed into them. If anyone noticed him, the young kid with gangly brown hair and blue eyes; thinly dressed and alone... As usual they didn't say anything.

The story of Dylan's life... No one cared. Not unless you were causing trouble.

He stood to his feet, his sharp eyes scanned for any other form of shelter. That was when he'd seen it... A large, red flat nosed truck, parked in a nearby alley. No occupant, hidden... It was almost too much of a gamble; he told himself as he approached it. But anything was better than out there.

Relief fell over him when the door opened with a soft click. No picking required. The young teen tossed his backpack in first, then climbed in after it. While it was still cold, at least he was dry and comfortable. That was something for now, wasn't it?

Deciding he'd stay a while, he rested his head against his backpack. Yeah, a rest would do him good... Wouldn't it? At worst he'd hear whoever owned the truck coming back and split. He yawned, and snuggled into the seats deep in his thoughts.

He was only vaguely aware as the cab turned on... As the heat came with it... But decided it was all a trick of his mind.

Trucks didn't have minds of their own.

Optimus Prime was aware of two things: there was a human Youngling in his cab, and whoever took care of it should be arrested.

He'd been ready to lock him out when Dylan had first entered the cab, before the scans came back. Even in his short eight years on the planet, most of which he avoided the natives, he knew he was too thin... Let alone that a child of his age should not have been seeking shelter from the rain in strange trucks...

Despite the lateness of the hour, he considered calling Noah Diaz. As the human ally he trusted most in the area, it seemed the logical step. But his inner voice told him to hold off, at least for now. So he sat, silently, unable to move without stirring the human...

How long would he stay? Optimus hoped not long, as he had only been patrolling when he'd shown up.

But as an hour passed, then another... It was clear the boy had entered stasis and was far too tired to move. Just perfect. On one hand, Optimus felt for the boy, but on the other... He groaned quietly. No, he wasn't about to kick a Youngling out into a thunderstorm. Especially not one who might have needed help.

Damn it.

With only a few minutes of thought, Prime began to move. Navigating the streets was easy enough, but keeping an eye on the human was hard. He carefully considered his options. After all, the last thing he wanted was to startle him. But inevitably, he would be whether his holographic avatar or the empty, talking cab greeted him.

Damn it.

Still, relief washed over him as he arrived at their current base of operations without stirring his passenger. With Noah's help, they'd converted an old car garage into a suitable home. It was old, and in disrepair (or in Mirage's words "a fixer upper") but it would do for now.

Arcee and Bumblebee awaited as usual. Bumblebee at the video game system Kris Diaz had lent him, and Arcee at the computer going over the flight path of any new arrivals. When Optimus didn't transform, Arcee was the first of the two to speak up. "How'd patrol go?"

What a loaded question, Optimus noted. It took him a long moment to consider how he'd answer, long enough for Bumblebee to respond... "Cat got your tongue, boss?" From some clip he'd pulled.

"... I think it's best I show you how it went."

Arcee approached with great caution, and peered inside the cab. Her optics lit up with immediate shock, taking a step back. "Oh scrap," She muttered. "You brought a human other than the big three?"

That had been a nickname given to the three humans they'd trusted so far: Noah and Kris Diaz, and Elena Wallace. All were welcome in the base, but otherwise humans were typically forbidden. Despite one insistent friend of Noah's who he'd shown Mirage to. It seemed to go well... Until now at least.

"Not by my own choice, he sought shelter from the storm," Optimus simply replied as the femme crossed her arms. "I couldn't leave a Youngling in poor condition."

Bumblebee nudged Arcee aside for his own look at the human. A curious series of clicks and beeps erupted from his voice box, head tilted. After a moment, he chimed in. "We are gonna be in soooo much trouble." A little kid's voice announced over his speakers.

Arcee shook her head. "Relax. The young don't blab that much, right? Kris has been keeping our secret for the last year," Arcee pointed out. "So... Are you going to just wait for him to wake up or?"

Optimus thought for a minute, but carefully shifted his form to carefully deposit the boy on a nearby couch. Well, at least he'd still be comfortable and warm. "Still this should remain between us. Lest our new friends have something to say about it."

Those "new friends" were Noah Diaz's new employers, a group known as GI JOE. Optimus still found their alliance to be new and shaky at best. But their commander, General Hawk, was a commendable ally. That said, he did often check with the Autobots and would probably have some choice words about Prime dragging yet another civilian along for the ride.

"It was my actions. I will handle General Hawk," Optimus waved it off, after all it was not like they had any part of it. "Until then, make sure we keep an eye on the boy. Last thing we need is him going into a panic attack."

"Little late for that." Bumblebee joked, knowing full well he would.

Still, Optimus just sighed. Going into his quarters to handle some unnecessary paperwork - he'd cross that bridge when he came to it.

A/N: Next chapter will be far longer. But I hope you like the start!