We should talk about how dad met Ratchet.

...

I don't think that's a good idea... his story isn't exactly... happy.

Not all stories are.

Well.... ya but it might make someone else upset while we tell it.

"Just put a warning on it."

A warning?

"Ya. Caution this next story may not be appropriate for certain people. Contains depression, abuse, bullying, and sad stuff."

...

That's..... ya okay.

I still don't want to tell it.

That's okay I wrote it down while he told us.

~~~~~~~

It was a dreary day as the young skinny boy shuffled his way to school. He kept his hood up and put his hands in his pockets. His back pack was heavier today and he knew it would be this last time. He didn't want to continue after today. The young man had no friends, his mother had abandoned him when he was six, and his father blamed him for it. He had tried hard to please him and make his mother come back. But it didn't work.

Ratchet rubbed the scar on his arm and made sure his sleeve covered it. He sighed shakily as he remembered how he got it. He'd never forget. It had been a month or two after his mother had left him and his father. They had waited for her to come back or to hear from her. His father finally got word that she wasn't going to come back. He had become angry with him and told him it was his fault his mother left. He remembered being afraid of him more than ever.

The man had taken his beer bottle and broke it, then struck him. The boy had raised his arm to defend himself only to get cut deeply. It took his father a while to realize what happened. After the hospital his father had left him at his uncles house and promised to be back. He never came back though. Not that living with his uncle was much better.

He quietly walked into the school and headed for his locker. He saw one of the bullies waiting for him and he quickly ducked into the bathroom. He stopped as he saw his reflection in the mirror. He had some bruises and a cut lip today. He wondered if he should just leave already. He just had to wait until after school and he wouldn't have to come back. He peeked out of the bathroom and saw the bully had left. He quickly darted to his locker and opened it. After a few minutes he stopped and wondered about something. He grabbed what books he needed and put his back pack into his locker. He quickly took off to class only to get shoved into the wall.

"Looks like someone beat us to pushing you around." Starscream sneered as his goons snickered. He didn't respond and moved away only to get pushed against the wall again.

"What's the matter Ratch? To cowardly to fight back?" He smirked.

"Don't call me that." He muttered and looked at the floor.

"Would you prefer I call you Rat?" He sneered and the two boys laughed.

"Shut up Ice cream." He said as he glared darkly. They stopped and glared at him. The goon grabbed him and tossed him to the floor. He quickly grabbed his things and got back up as the bell rang. He quickly took off to class as he glared at the floor.

"Ya keep running toothpick!" One goon yelled as he snickered. "Nobody wants you!" He said.

"Not even your own mother!" Starscream yelled as he smirked cockily and high fived the others.

Ratchet blinked back tears as their words cut him like a knife. He knew it was true but he refused to believe it. He had a small glimmer of hope that someone actually needed him.

Later that day, the skinny young man went to his locker again before lunch. He grabbed his lunch and homework then headed out. Starscream and his goons cornered him again and took his lunch. He tried to get it back but they wouldn't let him have it. The two goons picked him up and tried to shove him into the trash can. Starscream told him that's where rats went to eat. Ratchet just let them and they shoved him between the two trash cans outside. He zoned out their laughter and sighed quietly as he sat there for a while. He heard someone approaching and he looked up to see a young man a little younger than him. The newcomer smiled slightly and held out his hand.

"Do you need help friend?" He asked quietly. Ratchet stared at him then glanced at Megatron who stood by him. He hesitated then slowly gripped his hand. The young man pulled him up out of the filth and steadied him.

"What's your name?" Megatron asked as he grabbed the things he had dropped.

"It.... it doesn't matter." He mumbled and dusted himself off. "I... thank you." He muttered and started walking off. The two boys followed by his side.

"My name is Optimus." The boy he didn't recognize said. He stopped and looked at him for a moment.

"You're new.... aren't you?" Ratchet muttered as he stared at them. Optimus nodded slowly and smiled a little.

"I have only been here for a week now." He said seriously and held out his hand. "It's nice to meet you..." he trailed off. The skinnier boy hesitated then gripped his hand.

"Ratchet.... my name is Ratchet...." he mumbled and looked between the two of them. He let the corner of his mouth twitch upwards ever so slightly. Maybe he could do this after all.