[Trusting someone completely and totally always leads to unnecessary pain. That's why one should always keep even their friends at a certain distance. It's important to care, but to not care too much.]

You're lucky I asked.

[He says quietly as he walks behind the couch. He gently places a hand on the back of Prowl's head and prepares his other hand for injection.]

I've done this a couple thousand times, and most of the time I've never needed anyone's consent to do it.

[With that chilling comment, he flexes his fingers and slides his needles carefully into the back of his neck.

From there it's a simple matter of flowing from his own mind into Prowl's, pulling himself into the other's consciousness until he's fully inside. Prowl's mind is cold and orderly, but Chromedome instantly notices a difference to it. There's a little bit of chaos here and emotions floating around. That, and there are 4 million years less memories than his old Prowl had.

That's all the proof he needs. There's no need to look further.

He does anyway.

But not for long.

The moment he comes across that emotion. That feeling that he yearns so much for, he withdraws. He doesn't need this.

He pulls out and takes a step back.]

I see. That's all I need to know.

[He's tired now. Tired and bitter and sad and just about every other emotion there is.]

Prowl... you're better off as you are now. Without me. As I said before, it's better if we stay apart.

I think you should leave now.