TRIGGER WARNING: No depictions. But mentions of physical abuse.

CHAPTER 5

If anyone asked, Dylan wasn't breaking the rules - he'd left the base with someone. It was just with Mirage.

First off, he'd gotten to ride in the Porsche, which was a big win for him. But secondly, it gave him time to slowly take in the events of the last two days - and all the insanity. He was being hunted by giant robots from Outer Space, what on Earth did that mean? What had the mother he'd never met done? He considered all of this as he sat on Mirage's hood, eating a hoagie and looking out at the Hudson River. "Awfully quiet up there, kid. Did you forget your boy's here? I thought you wanted to talk when you took me out," Dylan smirked. "C'mon, if we're gonna be living together, we gotta make this fun! What kind of fun do you like to have, eh?"

Dylan chuckled, looking up at the sky. "The kind of fun that would definitely get me chewed out by your boss," He explained, point blank. "I'm sure you've seen my favorite activity all over the city."

For emphasis, he rustled through his backpack at his side, and brought up a can of spray paint. The Porsche underneath him shifted, then transformed when he was sure no one was around. Careful to catch Dylan and deposit him onto his feet. "Oh slag, you're a tagger!" He announced, loudly enough Dylan shushed him. "My guy, you got some real balls on you. If you're caught - oohhh man."

Dylan shrugged and returned the spray paint to his bag. Like he hadn't heard that one before... About a dozen or so times. "It's whatever, it's my idea of creative representation. And besides, they're cheaper than actual art supplies," He admitted. It was half the reason, after all, art supplies were hard to afford when you were homeless. "Besides, I have other... More legal interests too. Like skateboarding and pranking..."

"What's a skateboard?" Mirage questioned curiously.

What was... What was a SKATEBOARD? Dylan couldn't help but be baffled, these guys had been on Earth eight years and this guy was just finding out about that? "What's a skateboard!? Only the greatest sport ever invented! Haven't you ever heard of Tony Hawk?" Mirage shook his head, even more confused. "Man you guys really don't get out of the base much, do you? I'm gonna have to start your education immediately."

Mirage seemed to take offense to that. "I get out of the base a lot! And I can do my research on all of this... When I feel like it," He crossed his arms and huffed. "And we make our own fun too! Bee and I like to sneak out to the drive-in theater and prank the humans there all the time!"

Ohhhh. So he and Bee were the party guys, he figured. Now Dylan knew exactly where he'd find his fun, at least when the two of them were around. "Sounds like we need to go tonight to break in this new "friendship"," He explained with a big, goofy grin on his face. "Optimus' only rule was I needed escorts. So technically, he can't even say anything."

Speak of the devil... "Mirage, do I understand correctly that you left with Dylan early this morning?"

Well, Mirage decided, he had at least gotten to get out for a bit with the new guy without having to report in. Mirage rolled his optics a little, took a deep breath and reported right back. "Yeah, Prime. We're fine. Dylan just wanted to get out of the base for a while. Can you blame the kid?" He replied as he put his hands on his hips. "We'll be back in... A few hours? Maybe days..." He joked.

"As long as he is safe and you are being discreet, you may stay out," Oh, there was that word again, discreet. Mirage hated it. "Please be home at a reasonable hour. I understand humans need a regular recharge cycle."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah mom, we get it," Dylan snorted to his right even though he couldn't hear the other side of Mirage's conversation. But Mirage had already cut off the com, he turned to Dylan with a smirk. "Hey, kid, you wanna see something really cool? You just gotta promise me you'll never say a word about this to the boss. Or he'll crush my spark."

Dylan raised his eyebrows, very curious now. "What kind of "really cool" are we talking about?"

Mirage smirked, and transformed back into the sleek Porsche that Dylan was still mesmerized by. "The kind of fun we can probably get in real trouble for. 60/40 chance... I like our odds though, I'm a speed machine," He revved his engines as if to make a point. And Dylan already had a few ideas what he meant. "So what do you think tough guy, you in?"

Dylan was already in the door by the time Mirage had finished his sentence. "Now we're talking."

Dylan had never been to a street race.

After they'd killed time most of the day by arcade-hopping, and trading stories, that's exactly where Mirage took him though. Even though he'd only known him for a day, Dylan already felt like Optimus wouldn't just have a cow - but the whole barn. Not that Dylan cared much, he felt like the coolest kid on the block on the block as he hung out by the Porsche. Girl's were already ogling Mirage, having taken pictures and asked a million questions. But they were all interrupted by another arrival, this one - the yellow and black Comaro. What had Mirage called him? Bee?

"You have a death wish!" Was the first recording that came from Bee's speaker. Quickly followed by: "If dad finds out you're soooo dead."

Mirage for his part scoffed, clearly unbothered by the fact he'd just brought a fourteen-year-old to a street race. But a new thought occured to Dylan as he spoke: he'd never used his own voice, what was with that? "Wait, can Bee not talk?" He asked, curious. "This is my second time meeting him and he's always using those audio clips..."

A pregnant silence hung over the two Autobots - but it was Mirage who spoke up. "When Bumblebee first came to Earth, he was attacked by a 'Con named Blitzwing. Psycho ripped out his voice box and rendered 'im mute," He explained, leaving out the gorier details. "Some human named Charlie helped him learn to talk through the radio. Kind of annoying, kind of cute. I approve."

Bumblebee responded by popping his passengers side door and being clear. "You'll ride with me, kid!"

Mirage for his part, didn't like that at all. "Oh come on, Bee! I can handle him while on the road. I'm a great driver!" Dylan had only been with him a day, but he could already confirm that part was a lie. "Let the kid ride in the Porsche. No one's into Comaro's anymore, they're last decade's thing. Didn't you know?" He asked.

Bumblebee seemed to flare with annoyance. Clearly, he didn't like the idea of Dylan getting into the car with Mirage for this race. "You drive like a maniac! I'm not going to jail for you!" The way the two audio clips came out almost made Dylan cackle. "Come with me if you want to live."

Dylan shrugged, not wanting to argue or get ratted out he got inside Bumblebee instead. The mech wrapped his seatbelt over him almost instantly. "Psh! You two are no fun! I'm going to make you eat my stardust," Mirage decided to shout back.

When the race started, Dylan quickly learned just how much talk Mirage was. To say that they smoked him at the start? May have been an understatement. Because Bee was FAST - unnaturally so. As they sped past one racer after the other, Dylan couldn't help but feel like he'd hit the jackpot. At this rate, they may even win a cash prize that could get them some nice swag. If he was lucky... "OK, we are so entering you in more of these!" Dylan explained. "You're a speed demon, I didn't know Comaro's could go this fast!"

"I have the need - the need for speed!"

Dylan grinned ear to ear, chancing a glance back he found that Mirage was gaining unlike the others. This sure was an easy one for them wasn't it? "You're such a show-off, Bee! Are you fragging kidding me? You just wanted to show off for the kid yourself!" Dylan couldn't help but giggle as the pronouncement came over Mirage's radio. "Don't worry - I'll be sure to at least share some of the winnings with you, kid."

Dylan side-eyed Mirage's boast. And almost wondered how Bumblebee would respond when Mirage decided to make things interesting. Far enough away from the other racers, he activated his holograms and caused Dylan's eyes to widen. "No way!" Dylan shouted. "What the heck? He can do that?"

Bumblebee just turned his radio all the way up with some hardcore rock song to set the tone. And without even so much as a tremble began to maneuver through each of his constructions. Much to Mirage's seeming dismay, as they passed him again. "No fair! At least let me show off too! You know me too well," Mirage commented, annoyed. "I am giving you a mouthful when we're back at base!"

"It was a neat parlor trick though!" Dylan replied, hoping he could be heard. "Wanna teach me?"

Mirage laughed, though in the most sarcastic manner possible. "Sure, get yourself a T-Cog and about a century of practice. Maybe then I'll share the trade secrets," He jested back. "Yo, Bee, think fast!"

This time, he used what must have been a nitrogen boost. Doing a u-turn to drive backwards in front of Bee in an attempt to show off some more. "Now who's the show off?" Bumblebee declared, reversing and attempting to pass the cocky younger Autobot. "OK, time for something real fun!"

Dylan didn't have the chance to answer Bumblebee when they were coming up on one of those folding bridges. One that was starting to already move up - Dylan's eyes widened, definitely nervous. "Uhhhh... Bee, the road?"

"Roads? Where we're going we don't need roads!"

Dylan held on tight as the mech decided to go over the still bending bridge. Panic set in as they flew for a few seconds, then hit the ground with ease. A move that left Dylan with the adrenaline rush of his life. Lord, they were definitely NEVER talking about this night, not if they wanted to live to see tomorrow. That was all he could think as he heard Mirage's expletives over the comm link. "It's OK, Mirage, maybe you'll get us next time!" Dylan announced. "You snooze you los -."

CRASH!

Dylan jolted forward at the sound of something hitting the road behind them. He turned his head, and noticed what appeared to be a large.. Bird? No, not a bird, it was too flat and metal to be a bird. "Slag it all, get Dylan out of here!" Mirage shouted over the comm link suddenly. "What the hell is Laserbeak doing here? Is Soundwave on Earth!?"

A shot nearly missed them as Bumblebee made a sharp turn and pushed his speed even harder. Dylan immediately knew it had to be a Decepticon... What the heck? How did they find him this fast? Bumblebee turned into an abandoned warehouse and shot the teen out of his passenger's side. Without a single audio clip, Bumblebee motioned for him to keep quiet and hide. Something Dylan didn't argue with for a second. He sprinted behind a few boxes, and ducked, but watched as Bumblebee put down his face mask and brought out his gun.

For a moment - there was silence before Laserbeak came diving into Bumblebee. Talons out, digging into his chestplate. Bumblebee screeched but grabbed firm hold of the cassette's wings. They struggled, as the bird attempted to break free, but Bumblebee was quick. With a violent tug he threw Laserbeak violently against a wall and slammed a single fist into him. It would be enough to take the mech out of commission for a bit, but if Soundwave wasn't far behind... "C'mon, let's go!" Bumblebee announced, throwing open his door.

Dylan didn't hesitate then either, he instead threw himself inside. And as they took off, stole a glance back. For the first time, having realized no mistake had been made, the threat was real.

"Reckless. Irresponsible. I told you to have him back at a decent hour!"

Dylan and Mirage both winced at Optimus' anger when they'd arrived and reported back. Dylan was surprised that it was Mirage he directed his anger at, when it had been Dylan who had insisted on going out. But then again, he wasn't going to argue. Mirage, for his part, looked like he was used to this. While Bumblebee looked a fair bit ashamed, and probably knew Optimus thought he knew better. "Oh come on, Prime! No kid wants to be cooped up in here 24/7," Mirage insisted. "I didn't think a race like that would be dangerous!"

Optimus glowered at him, then turned to Dylan. "Do you see this boy? He turned fourteen... How long ago?"

Dylan counted the time in his head. "A couple of weeks?"

Optimus facepalmed, definitely frustrated now. "A few weeks ago! He's barely old enough to ride in the front seat of a human vehicle! Let alone be involved in racing with one!" He explained. Rather annoyed at the notion. "If you hadn't been attacked by Laserbeak, any number of things could have happened. Things that compromise why we brought him here in the first place."

Bumblebee decided to chime in. "I'm sorry, boss. I knew better."

Optimus took a deep intake, trying to keep himself calm. "I will talk to you both later. And expect a full report on Laserbeak's appearance when I do," As the two mech's took it as their time to get out of the situation. He stopped Dylan. "And where are you going?" Dylan stopped dead in his tracks - and gulped. "I thought I made it very clear what my rules were yesterday."

Dylan smirked. "And I made it clear I bent the rules."

Optimus was not impressed. Angrier but tried to keep his cool as he looked at his young charge. "You could have been captured tonight, or worse, killed. I will ask you to be more careful with your choices for "fun" in the future," He explained. "Now, I am not your creator. I cannot ground you... But you will be confined to this base, with my supervision over the next week. In order to ensure you were not followed."

Damn. One day in and he already was under "house arrest." That must have been a new record, Dylan noted. But a part of him did still feel a pang of guilt, and fear. Now that he'd seen a Decepticon actually come for him, the danger felt more real. More... Palpable. "I'm sorry," He managed. "I know I screwed up, and I'll accept it if you need to discipline me."

Optimus frowned, surprised by the sentiment. "Discipline you?"

Dylan's eyes lowered to the ground. "Yeah, I mean... I'm used to it. Except in a couple of homes... Everyone disciplines differently," He managed, a wince falling over his face. "Some physically... Sometimes getting put in a corner or told off..."

Optimus looked startled by the assumption, not the verbal discipline... Nor the childish one. But at the first mention of physical discipline Dylan swore he'd seen the mech's eyes dim. A notion he confirmed when the Autobot simply asked: "Were you often... Physically disciplined by caretakers?"

Caretakers? No. Most would say he'd been lucky and only had a few perpetrators of physical abuse in foster care. But as he asked, his mind traveled back to his time with his dad, his biological one. The ways he suffered... The ways the man disciplined him. "I... Sometimes. Not a lot in care. But my dad..." His voice trailed off, but even as he turned his gaze he felt Optimus' gaze on him. "Look... Let's just get it over with OK?"

Optimus was silent for a long time. As if he wanted to consider how exactly to respond to this newfound information. But after a minute, his voice lowered, and became softer. "Your discipline is being stuck on-base for the next week," Dylan looked up, surprised. That was it? No withholding of food? No belt? Nothing? "Now, have a seat - and think about the consequences of your actions. I have a far sterner talk to have with my men."

Dylan watched as Optimus left the room, confused. Why had he reacted like that? Why had he felt some pain behind Optimus' voice? Why was he so damn nice to him? All of them were and it just... Confused him. All these thoughts circled his mind as he thought back to Laserbeak, to the attempt to take him.. Kill him, whatever it was. If the Decepticons could strike like that, without any warning... Did he really have a chance at all? He laid back on the couch and tried to keep his mind calm and at ease.

But it didn't change how all over the place it would be that night.