- Scratch my back, and I'll scratch yours. -

~~|||~~

[Chloe's Third P.O.V]

Warmth.

The unusual squeeze was really what woke the young adult up, she noticing how someone carried her. By looking up Chloe's eyes narrowed for darker shade of green ones, a throat clearing snapping the man to look down at her.

"What time is it?" Chloe questioned her Uncle, rubbing her eyes as well yawning at same time. Had she seriosly fell asleep?

"Not much, but I'm concerned the lack of your sleep." Joe grumbled for her, unsatiafied that he had to get her from her smithy. The man walked their front stairs up, until opened the door with his back and entered the warm hallway greeting them. "And that you fall asleep into your smithy-- did something explode since your roof was gone?" He settled her down on her own feet, but soon grabbed her shoulders once noticing how her right leg ached. Chloe froze little by it, feeling the marks of that robot's digits still pressing her skin. It all swormed again deep into her brain as she groaned, cupping her face in frustration. "Did you hurt yourself?"

"I- tremped on a metal part that's all," Chloe lied, settling down with her Uncle's help to sit the end of the stairs. "And I've got gym today..." Small hint of growl was notified in her tone. "Argh, and I forgot that stupid essay!" Frustration begun to storm over as well anxiety, but a manly hand grabbed her shoulder. She peeked to see her Uncle all knelt down, a sigh leaving him but yet he smiled gently.

"This day, only this day I will allow you to stay home and take it easy." Uncle Joe warned her, finger up as he saw how shocked and surprised the girl turned. More over how happy she got. "But you have no permission to go near that lab no matter what, am I understood?" His brows shot up seriosly, but his niece smiled very excitedly as shook her head.

"Alright, alright." Chloe chuckled, but brought him into a squeezing hug afterwards. She loved this man as her parent, like he had taken care of her since her parents' sudden death. "No matter what." She rolled her eyes a bit, hearing Joe chuckle deeply. Until they parted up, the man raising his pinky-finger up.

"Pinky-promise?" The Uncle required, seeing the girl grin innocently.

"Pinky promise." She wrapped her smaller one around his, they squeezing it to seal the deal. Until the man cupped the girl's face and placed a kiss on her forehead, standing up.

"I will help you to patch your leg and inform your teachers, but then I'm afraid I have to leave." Joe said, rushing to get a medical-kit from their master bathroom. Chloe frowned a bit, sitting down comfortably while wrapping her trousers up to show the injured leg. There were three clear bruices each resembling one digit which got the girl flinch little.

Will he be back...?

"... To whom you're going this time?" Chloe asked when he came back, kneeling down as well taking some tape and bandadges.

"-- To Mrs. And Mr. Lawrence, their backs are in need of some scretching so I'll give them tips, also I need to pick up some food on the way back as well visit the nursing home by 3... so I'll be the whole day off." Her Uncle kept speaking, getting all exhausted by even talking. Chloe giggled bit, relieved that Joe didn't notice the marks on her leg -or just didn't question them, so she lent little back to let him work.

"Hard day, huh? But you don't need to worry that I'd disappear anywhere anyway, right?" Chloe tried to cheer him up a bit, seeing it had some progress once his eyebrow rose.

"One worry listed off." Uncle Joe confirmed, finished with wrapping as he now taped it up and handed her a sack of cold peas. "But if something comes up, I'll be just one phone call away, okay?"

"Okay." Chloe sighed, not wanting to know what could possibly go wrong on this day too. Why wasn't she telling anyone anything-- especially her guardian!? Maybe it was just one thing, that she really wanted to forget or a secret she really wanted to keep to herself. "Bring back some chocolate and chips, I need sugar."

"And you need to rest, come on," For the girl's surprise her Uncle knelt down his back towards her, offering a piggy-back ride. The girl accepted as she got on, still shocked how strong he was of getting up and walking all the way to their living room, as he settled her gently down too. "If I don't find you sitting nor sleeping on this couch when I come back--"

"I'll be in trouble... got it." Chloe knew the consequences afterwards, flinching of the memory how her Uncle tickled her almost to death.

"You're allowed to move around but with care, food's in the fridge and... ohh, here's a blanket for ya." Reaching, Joe handed her niece a nice pink blanket until grabbed his phone and dialated a number. "But I'm already late-- I'll call your teachers along the way." He started rushing towards the front door.

"Have a nice day!" Chloe chuckled after, his face was priceless just now!

"Be nice!"

And the door shut close. Chloe got comfortable on the couch, taking a remote from the table infront as well she put the TV on, 'Mutant Ninja Turtles' were going. She heard how her Uncle left the yard then, listening until no longer was motor hearable.

"Guess I have no other choice..." The girl changed the channels till came a show from national geograbhic about safari's life and lions, which she desided to watch. She opened the small fridge right beside the couch and took there a small coca cola bottle, opening it up and taking a drink.

Heavenly.

"-- The lion mother known as 'Maba' takes care of her three young cubs, raising them to become their pack's future."

"Cuties..." Chloe got interested, leaning her chin onto her palm to watch how the cubs played on each other, biting the lion King's ears too. "Awww."

Like this the whole day.

~ Time skip ~

"No, no, no, no, NO!"

Chloe screamed, squeezing her pillow in brief terror. Her eyes were tiery, her lungs airless for all the anxiety as she kept watching that horrowful sceen.

"Run Danny! It can't get you!" Chloe pleaded out loud, watching a small white-tailed deer been chased by a very fast cheetah. It made tight turns and circles, while the baby deer's mom just ran with the group which broke the poor girl's heart too. "Don't leave him-- no!"

The baby tremped on some sticks, while the predator jumped to reach him.

"NOO!" Chloe immediately shut the TV up, curled into a tight ball on the couch as well sobbed to the pillow. Uhh, four hours like this? Piece of cake for her. That series was very hooking and you got very known for the animals-- especially for the smaller ones. But that was too cruel to watch, and that baby deer was her favorite one. "Fuck. That cheetah..." Chloe gritt her teeth, one last time wiping her tears until looking up at the roof. She had to forget that, knowing it was the way of life.

Fuck, fuck, fuck!

It took sometime for her to regain for her stomach's rumbling.

The girl groaned, picking herself up carefully for her leg still hurt as she limped to their kitchen. Damn that red Bot had done some proper damage. But despite first heading for the fridge Chloe took from their clothes basket-- which laid on the kitchen table in it some new clothes, desiding to take a shower later. She picked up her night short's colored black and small stars covered them up, her grey tank top as well to her other leg one bobby sock. Yup of course new underwear and bra too, as she got to change them up.

After small time Chloe opened their fridge up, taking from there the yesterday's dinner; spagetti bolognese. She took also some milk and salad until closed the door using her injured leg, and got her food into the microwave. She poured some milk on the mug, seeing the can get empty by it. But as she was ready to throw it to the garbage she saw it was already full, annoyed groan leaving her knowing she had to take the trash.

"Thank you so much Uncle Joe..." The girl groaned while tied the sack close, taking the other full one while limped towards their back door. That man owed her a big burger tomorrow.

Chloe opened the door same way her Uncle carried her inside; by her back, got out and picked up nice sandals from their porch as headed towards the trash-dish. She was usually the one taking them anyway, suspecting her Uncle planned it for her job's today.

That man.

Throwing them into the big container Chloe smacked the cover close, hiss leaving her once she put too much weight on her patched leg. She had to crouch down a bit and lift the leg up to regain her state.

"It would seem Knockout wasn't as useless as I thought."

Frozing, feeling breathless, the girl felt her heart start pounding abnormally fast for the tone of that voice. It got her very anxious. By slowly turning around fully Chloe cringed little of the sight of that familiar silver plating, big, masculine robot creation who formed into the bright sun light's shine, showing his true identity from hiding behind their house.

The human trembled a bit, taking small step back but her glare was on point. Why someone like him made her feel that way-- was it because he was the Devil?

"For making you unable to move normally." Megatron's sharp teeth were visible for the girl who felt frightened but pissed off for a moment, her mind desiding to act first. That didn't mean she couldn't try anything. So at that Chloe launched towards their house's back door which felt like calling out for her, but her injured limb clearly was a burden. And once a heavy ped was slammed infront of her blocking her way she backed up, raising her gaze to meet again the crimson red optics. "Not so fast."

"Can't you just leave me be!?" Chloe growled out loud, startled to death for a servo to punch the dead ground now beside her, sending her back on her ass to sit. Just like last time they met. Only that Megatron didn't look as pleasent. "What did I even do anyway-- you were the one trying to kill that other robot!"

"For ever in my entire life-cycle no one has spit such insults for me, for a person who doesn't know me." The silver mech growled, waking the girl up from her all confusion. She did prefer for naming him all kinds of things... and if this was the Leader of the evil side--

I'm dead.

"... So you got finally the guts to come by yourself and kill me, right?" Chloe spat, clearly asking for death as she came closer for his face too. The mech was all knelt up, fist next to her while his cannon waited to be used. Yet this girl-- human, tried to get away with this. "Because that Bot yesterday failed to do so."

Out of nowhere, Megatron lent up, removing his fist as well retrieving a bit. Chloe sat up properly, staring like he had went nuts.

"Don't get me wrong." Until his hand reached forward and tightly grasped Chloe's tiny body within a second, not giving much time for her to argue. But while been lifted up she did squirm, punch and even bite if she only could, but found it all useless for his metal cover. The mech also stood up fully. "I will enjoy for seeing you drown to your own blood, but first I require some answers."

"Like I'd tell." Chloe spat pretty rudely, Megatron immediately crushing his palm getting the girl gasp out desperately for air. She found herself brought closer for the Titan's faceplate, near very angered faceplate.

"But I tend to get most of the entertainment for torturing my prisoners." Then Megatron begun to walk towards their front yard, smally gapping his palm to let Chloe have the air she only needed. And believe it or not; her eyes couldn't get any deadlier.

"-- I'm a- prisoner?" The girl laughed a bit for not believing that, feeling some hope rose within as she saw him heading towards her smithy. Towards her invention. "Where's my cage then?"

"Don't take me for a fool, human." Megatron warned, squeezing again a bit just so startle the girl up. "I doubt for you to escape from me. And I don't plan to leave if I don't have what I'm here for."

"Then... what are you here for?" Chloe asked between coughs, desiding to save her strenght if she needed it for her escape. She saw the robot stop by her 'lab', his tall figure glancing in for the creation Chloe had made. If this guy was over 30 feet high-- then that small guy was half of it. And Chloe was terrified to realize what he was actually here for. Why had the robot left in such a hurry yesterday.

"Is this what my medic was startled yesterday?" Megatron said in amusement tone, shocked to hear Chloe's small chuckle. She. Actually chuckled for his faceplate even though been tried to kill twice, now she was a prisoner and the head-guy was going to kill her! "Answer." But he was impatient as ever.

"Depends on what you're looking." Chloe didn't want to give a straight answer, her mind proved to be wrong as Megatron's palm changed deadly squeezing again. "-- Alright- alright!" She gasped trying to break free, the robot allowing her to catch her breath while she looked down. "... Yeah. He left in a hurry."

"Why isn't it operating?" Megatron snarled a bit, demanding clearly the info.

"I don't know, okay?" The human girl defended quickly, glaring up at his angered face with glare. Actually she did but found herself still questioning how did her stone even get it to operate. Was it the powersource she needed? "Besides, I'm still working on it. It's not complete, but... it's able to protect if anything."

"... You have bonded with it," That came out of the bushes, which was the reason Chloe looked up in deep confusion. All she saw was a grin cover now the Giant's faceplate. "Haven't you?"

"Bonded? With what?" All the questions took over the girl, as she saw Megatron move. "Oi, what're you doing?"

"Confirming my expectation-"

... Ha?

Chloe flew through the air. And that wasn't just slight throw-- but really really powerful one. Even been send to her trip immediate scream left her throat, which only continued to notice how her speed ended. And how she prepared to hit the ground very soon. Eyes shutting close, she knew one thing-- that animal of hers wasn't coming for her rescue without the crystal working as a powersource, as Megatron couldn't care less would she die or not during his freaking 'confirming expectation'- test.

"PLEASE--!" Was the last thing known, until the sound of transformation was heard. Something metallic did wrap around her as well impact to the ground for a second, but was regained surprisingly quick. Chloe knew who it was, it proving her other thought wrong dearly. A tight grib consumed her as the Bot got back up, Megatron's crimson red optics deadly looking down at her. "You-but-- you tried to kill me!"

"I have already warned that I will when I'm done with you. It would be a fine time for you to start talking before it will come sooner than either of us expected." Megatron raised his tone, very irritated and clearly he was loosing his patience.

Chloe saw no way out of this, not ready to leave her Uncle just yet.

"... You clearly aren't leaving if you don't get something, huh?" She lowered her gaze, hating to admit that she had no other choice but to show him something. If her Uncle would come back, Megatron didn't seem like sparing his life. And her answer was been answered by annoyed grunt. "If I'll show you how I did it, will that be enough for today?"

It's not like he wouldn't come back for what he's seeking.

"... Only if what I want to see satisfies me enough, human." Megatron's answer was strict, not very approval. But Chloe nodded knowing it was fine to her, the Bot walking towards their yard again. As they came to the smithy Chloe motioned him to lower her down, seeing him not trusting her one bit.

"In order for me to show you anything I don't want to show my trick, if it doesn't work the same way it last time did." Chloe reasoned with rolling her eyes, slowly getting the robot lower her down with small growl. Once close enough the girl quickly took her necklace off and dropped it to the same gapp it last time fell, until like reaction Megatron pulled her back for hearing small noice. His eyes glowed of suspicion. "It's supposed to sound like that-- you know what nevermind." She sighed but retrieved back on her word, eyes looking back.

Small worry begun to creep over when nothing happened.

"Are you making a fool of me again?" Megatron dearly disliked this, glaring at the human in his grasp. Chloe tensed as he squeezed a bit, trying to think what was she doing wrong.

"Patience." Chloe groaned, but small time of watching small idea filled her. "Put me down beside it."

"And why would I do that?" The silver mech required, very pissed off. Did he have any sunshining day when he wasn't like this?

"Because yesterday I was standing right there, when it protected me from your stupid subordinate." Chloe pointed annoidly forward, feeling her own self started getting angry. "Now put me down."

Megatron moved her closer, tight squeeze back on the game. The girl bit her lip the best she could to restrain herself from pleading this time, been occupied by his opening mouth.

"Watch your tone." He warned, slowly but surely placing her onto the railing she wanted, where she yesterday stood. Now Chloe glared hintly back at him, turning for her creation which didn't even flinch. So she desided to go with physically touching the surface of it. "What are you doing?" Although Megatron wasn't agreeing to it.

"Trying to get this done with." Chloe snapped, jumping down. But by doing that she saw how she had avoided a large metal hand from getting her, the girl's eyes looked shocked back up. "I said I'm trying to show you!"

"Enough with lies." Megatron completely ignored her, tearing the railing off his way to get the now cringing human girl. Chloe was betrified of his sudden mood change, knowing now will become something far worse than his small intend to crush her.

"No, stop!"

Then was heard the second most loudest roar of all time. It had the tense situation interrupted totally once the Warmonger had to back down completely from the human, his optics wide to witness the only thing he was there for. Chloe on the other hand was little jumpy of her protector again, having the time to carefully get up and limp to see all about it. It was almost like space-wolf. Indeed. It was so beautiful-- it was mostly grey and down below black but he had these beautiful blue lines covering his body up, as well his bright blue optics held the deep capacity to keep the enemy off.

"By Primus..." Megatron mumbled by himself, optics turning ice cold for the human. "You," Hearing clearly who was he talking about Chloe glanced up at him hesitantly, her robot wolf snarling little of him speaking anyway. "What did you mean when you said it isn't complete?"

"I have builted it... with some help," Like hell Chloe would ever tell him anything about her own personal life. Especially her parents were the most sacred in her life, mention them; you need to explain yourself. "I don't think it's capable of moving itself yet..." Until she turned for the bigger creature, gently and carefully running her hand along his metal to give a pat. What she got was a happy rumble somewhere deep inside. How long is he going to operate this time? But by hearing her last statement Megatron came closer again with determined expression, but what he received was an angered bite which in narrow time missed his arm. "But I'm not certain."

If Megatron only would've seen that smirk on her face...

"Then finish it." Turning, Chloe no longer saw Megatron anywhere in sight. Even her wolf looked out from one window, giving worried howl but Chloe patted his side with bright smile.

... That's definitely creepy.

"He kept our deal, don't worry..." Or that's at least what Chloe hoped. Why was Megatron so keen on her creation-- what was he going to use him to? If that's the way that silver mech was going to treat her he could only kiss her butt and bug off, but it wasn't up to her. "I ain't giving you to anyone."

We can't be separated.

《~~|||~~》

Helloo, How's it doing? It really bug's me to write from human's view who doesn't know basic elements of Cybertronians and rightful namings, but Chloe will... as soon as she gets the chance to start asking ;)

~ keep reading