Title: It's More than a Feeling - Musica Fantasia (17/30)
Day: Sept 17
Prompt: "The start of something special"
Verse: G1 AU.
Rating: PG
Words: 2511
Other Characters: Ironhide, Sunstreaker, Sideswipe, Bluestreak. Mentions of Ratchet, Wheeljack, Smokescreen and Chromia.
Warnings: Sparklings and AU to the 10th?
Summary: We've lived the life that we could live, we see the truth magic that begins...
Notes: For the Sexy September challenge @
prowlxjazz. Happy Anniversary to all in the pxj community, here's to many more to come. Not beta read so feel free to correct me. I had to make at least one post based on
Imperium Cybertronium AU of cracktastic doom. This might not make much sense if you are not familiar with the verse, but to simplify it, Prowl is a noble and Jazz is a slave owned by his family.
For Ironhide, to watch his nephew open up to someone else and accept another sparkling so readily, had been a blessing that eased his spark and gave him the hope that eventually Prowl would become a happier mechling.
When he bought Jazz he did it more as a charitable act than because he wanted the sparkling as a slave to serve him. He needed so many cares, so much attention, the ridiculously sub par quality of his very frame and upgrades had been subject of several diatribes from Ratchet, and even the soft spoken Wheeljack had sprout a handful of choice words for the condition of Jazz’s body. His spark did not deserve to be trapped in such uncomfortable, nearly unlivable body.
By now Jazz had reached his youngling stage, when he was growing and developing further, he would get his first Alternate mode soon and take his first transformation lessons. He had been so excited when Prowl got his own, Prowl had been happy to oblige his friend and allowed him to ride on top of his alt mode, doing some laps around the ample gardens of Ironhide’s state.
Prowl was most happy and open around Jazz, and they were the best of friends, Prowl’s closeness with Jazz was by far much stronger than it was with his own sibling, Bluestreak. Prowl rarely chose to interact with his brother or his brother’s friends, and he’d sooner run to spend the day with Ironhide and Ratchet than be dragged by his parents to whatever function or party Smokescreen and Chromia were attending. Bluestreak was just too charismatic even as a sparkling and his personality was so lively that Prowl’s dour and serious attitude clashed with Bluestreak’s, shifting the interest of other mechlets to the youngest sibling.
It saddened Ironhide that the breach between Prowl and his direct family kept growing rather than diminishing, and he knew that despite his best attempts and intentions, Prowl’s emotional growth had been stunned and without Smokescreen’s or Chromia’s direct involvement, it was unlikely it’d get much better. Specially with the plans young Prowl was already making for his future to attend the prestigious academy in Iacon’s Tower. Ironhide himself had been part of the alumni, along with Ratchet and Wheeljack, and he couldn’t say he disagreed at all with his nephew’s choices. What Prowl lacked in emotional development he made up with his maturity, which went beyond that of a mechling of his age. He was a little gentlemech, polite and versed in enough topics to sustain a long conversation with adult mechs in a myriad of topics if prompted or if he felt he had something to say about something even when not invited.
Ironhide could remember the time Jazz asked him, only a few decacycles after he was brought over to his estate, why Prowl called father that mech with the funny grin that Jazz found so amusing. Jazz didn’t fully understand back then that Prowl wasn’t close to his parents and instead his creation-creator relationship was with Ironhide and Ratchet, even though they were just his uncles. Only as he grew up he realized his dear friend was almost estranged of his direct family, feeling that since Jazz didn’t even remember his own parents, Prowl should be closer to his own, though he couldn’t blame him.
“Uncle Ironhide, will you be taking Jazz along to your trip to the commercial district?” Prowl’s voice brought the red mech out of his musings and he nodded down at the developing mechlet, stroking his helm.
“Yeah, I am. You needed him fer somethin’, Prowl?”
Prowl shook his head, though he smiled a little for his uncle. “Oh, no. I wanted to ask if it would be alright with you to pass by the library and pick up the newest volume of a series I favor. Jazz knows which one is it, he can tell you which to pick up. It is already paid for.”
Ironhide shook his head, even prowl’s usual speech was much more ‘mature and proper’ now when he was still so fresh out of his upgrades for his first alt mode. “Of course, Prowl. Do ya need anythin’ else from there?”
Prowl shook his head. “Not that I can think of at this moment. Thank you, uncle Ironhide.”
“Alright. I better get goin’ then. Tell yer uncle Ratchet I’ll be home a little later, need to lay an order fer some made to order parts.”
“I will. Have a pleasant trip, uncle.” Prowl turned around and ran back inside. Not long after Prowl entered the mansion, his brother, Bluestreak came out running excitedly up to the gates and waiting just barely inside, looking around with excitement.
“What’re you up to, now?” Ironhide asked with a smile as he followed after his youngest nephew, waiting until Jazz readied himself to go out.
“Waiting for my friends.” Bluestreak answered excitedly, bouncing on his feet and giggling when his uncle stroked his helm. “Sunstreaker and Sideswipe are coming to visit finally!”
“Oh? Their parents finally let them out of their little glass house?” Ironhide grinned.
“Yep!”
“Okay, well, you be good an’ have fun with ‘em. I’ll bring some treats fer ya and yer friends when I’m back.” The tall red mech looked over his shoulder, smiling as he watched Jazz approaching after a good wash.
“Okay, uncle Ironhide. Have fun!” Bluestreak waved at Ironhide and Jazz as the they left, soon resuming his bouncing in impatient wait.
Before Jazz was bought by Ironhide, he had never visited any of the city-states’ commercial districts and marketplaces, and even now after his first few trips there he still found the districts to be so full of many fascinating things. He loved the scents, the colors, the energy he could feel about the places. The people together, the sparklings like him running about. Unlike the Praxus’ marketplace, that usually had smaller vendors supplying more colorful and every day items in their stands, the commercial district was a more expensive kind of place with bigger and proper shops with specialty items that could not be found in the marketplace.
Jazz was always thrilled when they visited the commercial district for that reason, there were so many unusual sights depending always of where Ironhide or Ratchet needed to shop. Blocks upon blocks of shops and other similar business peppered with places to stop for refreshments. Today’s trip took them to a place that was like Jazz’s dreams taking form and substance around him. He’d always been a very music inclined mechling, his most prized possession was the holographic display he’d owned since he was a very young sparkling, and he learned to wiggle to the beat of the rhythm before he could even take a step.
For some reason he was too preoccupied to ponder about, Ironhide’s search for whatever items he wanted to purchase took them through the arts’ sector of the commercial district, chokful of stores displaying and selling different kinds of music and artistic goods. Musical instruments and posters of said instruments decorated the windows of the stores, tempting him, calling to him to come and take a look. One in particular seemed to call his attention the most. It was a big instrument, so big Jazz could probably hide inside with enough room for him and Prowl to have a picnic under. Somehow that object triggered a memory within his processors, he could not recall the faces of his own creators, but somehow he could recall himself so tiny and frail, trotting slowly towards a similar construct in an old, dark room and pilling around whatever objects he could use to reach the seat. His tiny fingers poking parts of it to produce a sound, and another, and another.
“Jazz?”
Jazz’s visor flickered and he looked up at his master, shaking his head. “Sorry, got distracted.” He smiled at Ironhide who held his still small hand in his massive dark gray one.
“S’alright. It’s just down this street, then we can go pick up Prowl’s book.” Ironhide smiled down to the child as they walked away, not noticing that Jazz kept looking back at the store where that instrument was on display.
After purchasing what Ironhide needed and stopping to get Prowl’s book file, Ironhide took Jazz for some refreshments and picked some goodies for Bluestreak and some for Prowl. For all the maturity the youngster displayed, Prowl was still very fond of goodies and treats so Ironhide always made sure to take some back for him.
When they returned, Ironhide asked Jazz to take the goodies to Bluestreak and the book file to Prowl. Jazz decided to look for Bluestreak first, knowing he was likely in the gardens with his friends. He found Prowl was there, too, tending to his tree.
Prowl looked up from what he was doing and curved the corner of his lips in a faint smile for Jazz while he busied himself changing the nurturing fluid that helped his cluster of crystals to grow up. Jazz delivered the candy to Bluestreak and trotted up to Prowl to inform him he got his book.
“Thank you, Jazz. I’ll be done with this soon.” Prowl smiled more openly to Jazz now and continued his work. Jazz sat next to him and began to chat about whatever he saw during the trip to the commercial district.
“Hey Blue, want to hear a song? It’s what we learnin’ with our instructor.” Sideswipe beamed happily, pulling something out of his wrist compartment that was, literally, a flash of light that materialized in his hands.
Sunstreaker made a low sound of mild annoyance, he wasn’t ready to play in ‘public’ yet, but since it was their friend Bluestreak, he could make an exception. He reached for his own instrument, tapping onto a compartment around his wrist’s armor paneling to eject his own instrument.
Jazz looked up when he heard the first accords of music and his mouth hung open on a little ‘o’ at the sight. “Prowl? What are those?” He asked, pointing at the constructs of glowing blue light on the twins’ hands.
“Holomatter instruments.” Prowl replied without looking up from his work. “It’s what performers use to produce their music, I think there used to be instruments made of other materials before, but they broke often and needed too much maintenance, so holomatter is what’s been in use for a long time.”
“Ohhh...they’re pretty.” Jazz drew his knees to his chest and wrapped his arms around it, resting his chin on his knees to watch the twins play for Bluestreak. He couldn’t help but feel a little tug of envy, wanting to play as well. The twins were definitely talented for their age and Jazz wished badly he could join them. His fingers followed the movements of Sunstreaker’s unconsciously as he played.
This did not go unnoticed by Prowl, who had looked up to see his friend lost in admiration of their music. The praxian noblemech hummed to himself for a moment and reached for a rag to clean his hands. “Excuse me, Sunstreaker,” Prowl stood and took a few steps towards his brother and his friends.
“What is it?”
“I was wondering if you would be so kind to allow me to see your instrument for a moment?”
Sunstreaker raised an optic ridge but held the instrument out. “Just don’t break it.”
“I will try not to.” Prowl bowed his head in thanks and then took the instrument to Jazz, offering it to him. “Want to try it?”
“Hey! You didn’t say anything about letting the slave play it!” Sunstreaker protested.
“C’mon, Sun, let him try it.” Sideswipe jabbed at his brother’s side.
“Hmph!”
Jazz looked up surprised at Prowl, his hands almost instinctively reached for the instrument but stopped a few inches away from it. “Y-ya sure I can play it?”
Prowl nodded. “If it breaks, I’ll just have it repaired.”
“Okay...” Jazz reached for the instrument a tad timidly, cradling it in his hands as if he was holding a newly sparked. “So pretty.” Jazz almost crooned as he ran his fingers along the glowing body of the instrument. Tentatively, he began to play a simple melody that came to his mind.
Soon the simple melody became a little more elaborated, and even Sunstreaker was showing his shock at the skill Jazz demonstrated playing the instrument. Sideswipe, whose mouth was hanging open quickly tried to add something else to the melody, his instrument being able to change its tones at his discretion so he added as much accompaniment as he could provide.
Soon Jazz was smiling and swaying as he played and even Sunstreaker humming along while Bluestreak swayed along, all marveled at Jazz’s seemingly inherent ability to play music. Prowl, though, was not only enjoying the music but was already plotting in his processors about something.
Several orns after that, Prowl called Jazz to his room and presented the mechlet with a holomatter instrument. “I thought you’d like to have your own.”
“Ya got this fer me?” Jazz asked aghast, while Prowl closed a bracelet around Jazz’s writst and pressed a panel on it to eject the instrument. “Why?” Jazz asked softly, feeling overwhelmed by Prowl’s gift but no less grateful about it.
“I told you I thought you would like one. And I think you have talent, you should hone it.” Prowl smiled at his friend.
“But this had t’be expensive.” Jazz hugged the instrument to him gently, smiling at Prowl.
“Don’t worry about that.” Prowl patted Jazz’s arm. “If you want to repay me, you can always play for me?”
“Alright!” jazz nodded vigorously and positioned the instrument so he’d be comfortable to play it. He played the same song for Prowl adding his own hum where Sunstreaker’s was not available.
Prowl dimmed his optics and watched his friend play, enjoying the beautiful melody that now filled his room. Jazz was definitely talented and it was true he believed it would be a shame to let that talent remain untrained and unused. He knew Jazz could attain an even better status if he became a Performer and now Prowl was determined to see to it that Jazz would get properly trained to become one.
This music was too beautiful and Jazz too talented, and it was obvious he loved the music he was playing, it was perhaps his purpose in life. Jazz was created to bring the beauty of sound to everyone’s audio receptors, Prowl was certain of this. If only he could join him and experience the joy of playing with his friend... But Prowl knew his talents and skills did not lie in the arts and he did not possess the personality or the desire to be a performer. So, he contented himself with watching and listening, plotting in silence how to bring his friend to fulfill what anyone could tell, just looking at the happiness in Jazz’s face as he played, what was his desire, his true call in life.
This was just the beginning.