Talk about cutting it close! Challenge - Love - complete fo' reals
Title: All Sparks
Rating: R
Pairings: Prowl x Jazz, Ironhide x Ratchet, Hound x Mirage, Inferno x Red Alert, Twins x Bluestreak. Hinted Trailbreaker x Wheeljack.
Summary: It's not the material value what makes a real present but the love behind it.
Notes: Second part of Sacrifice, that explains This Picture. Some of the hinted/ implied couples were included as a little 'homage'/dedication to some of you wonderful people of the community. The twins scene is a homage to xaefryl's fic. This is the R version of the fic, if you wish to read the NC-17 version you can do so at my work journal.
Thanks to nkfloofiepoof for beta reading this for me.
"Aw c'mon! Let's hurry already!" Sideswipe was practically pushing or dragging every single Autobot in the Ark towards the recreation room to finally open the presents.
"Shut your trap already, Sideswipe. We're moving as fast as we can." Ironhide sighed as he dragged his weight towards the recreation room. He had been up pretty early and would love nothing more than a few hours of extra recharge after last night's party.
"Don't complain; at least ya got more rest than Prowl did." Jazz chuckled playfully as he nudged the red van's side, his own mate walking next to him. the only sign of his exhaustion was reflected in the slight droop of his door-wings which were usually held higher up and straight on his back.
"Yeah, yeah, I know."
The Autobots made their way to the recreation room, sitting on the various available seats while others sat around the tree. Sideswipe took the 'job' of fetching the presents from under the tree and announcing who it was for and from who. "Alright, all ready?" He wiggled his fingers in a rather cartoon-esque fashion and rubbed his palms together before he fetched a present from the pile, reading the name of the Autobot it was meant for. "Let's see, this is for Bumblebee from Prime!" The red Lamborghini handed the present down to the yellow Beetle.
It had become a tradition among them to watch the presents be opened one by one, making comments or jokes about the present in turn and its recipient. Sideswipe kept passing around the presents. A large amount of the gifts in the pile were addressed to Optimus Prime while everyone else received presents usually from their closer friends or mates.
"I wonder. Oh, I wonder~" Sideswipe sung as he shook the present Sunstreaker had handed to him. "I wonder what Santastreaker left in my sock this year~"
"Call me that again, and next year I'm leaving a grenade ready to explode in that proverbial sock of yours." Sunstreaker crossed his arms and huffed at his brother's cackles of amusement. After he opened his gift and paraded around the whole new season of his favorite TV show, the red twin dug under the tree to retrieve the gift he and his brother had for Bluestreak. "Merry Christmas, Blue!"
"Thank you, guys." The gunner smiled as he accepted the present and began to unwrap it, blinking in confusion when he found a wreath inside. "Huh?" He picked it up and held it to look at it better. His optics widened when he noticed the mistletoe that was hanging from it right above his head. He dared to glance back to the Lamborghini twins who were giving each other a rather predatory look. "Oh, Slag!" Before he could do anything, the twins pounced him, kissing him soundly wherever they could lay their lip components on the flailing Datsun's frame.
"Get a room, you three!" Ironhide laughed as the twins took his advice and proceeded to drag Bluestreak away amidst his cries of protest. "Primus, it's too early for this."
"It's never too early for those three," Ratchet chuckled as he made his way to the tree, picking up his gifts for Wheeljack and Ironhide since Sideswipe had gone Missing-In-Action now. "Merry Christmas, you two." He handed the presents to his best friend and lover respectively, making himself comfortable on the couch with Ironhide as the weapons specialist and engineer opened their presents.
"Woah! You corrected these blueprints!" Wheeljack, being the inventor he was, found great pleasure in engaging in new inventions, especially when Ratchet took it upon himself to help to correct the flaws he could pinpoint in previously failed experiments. "That's awesome, thank you Ratchet."
The medic nodded and smiled to his friend, watching him show off the blueprints to Trailbreaker. The mainly black 'bot merely nodded in acknowledgement as Wheeljack explained things about the blueprints to him. Anyone could tell Trailbreaker had no idea what the engineer was talking about, but he encouraged his ranting nonetheless.
"Like your present?" Ratchet asked as he looked to Ironhide, grinning playfully as the red van unwrapped his gift, revealing a new gun. Ironhide made a soft sound of appreciation as he held the weapon up a little to inspect it.
"Pretty nice!" Ironhide grinned and took aim randomly though he made sure to keep his finger off the trigger, feeling the weight of the gun and testing how it felt in his hands. "A railgun I take it?"
"Mmhmm. I thought you'd find it of your liking."
"Oh, yes. I fully intend to use this beauty the next time Megatron shows his ugly mug around here." The weapons specialist subspaced the gun before he pulled Ratchet to sit in his lap. "Thanks for the gift."
"Let's hope that'll help to keep you out of the med bay more often." The medic laughed softly at the death glare his lover gave him.
"Okay, enough with the guns!" Inferno removed several presents from the pile, looking for his own gift for Red Alert. After muttering a few curses and other foul words, he finally retrieved the small box containing his gift, offering it to the Security Officer. "Hope you like it, Red."
"Thank you, Inferno." The white and red Lamborghini shook the box for a moment, trying to identify what the present could be before he opened the box containing what seemed like an auto alarm system. Inferno's chuckles confirmed his suspicious about the gift being a joke. "Well, I can always install it in the Ark."
"Look underneath."
Red Alert did as he was told and removed the box containing the alarm system, revealing a photograph of Inferno and himself 'high five-ing' to the camera, evidently overcharged bearing the widest smiles their faceplates could allow them. The security officer smiled fondly and brushed his fingertips over the protective cover of the photograph before he literally threw himself at Inferno in an affectionate embrace. The fire truck smiled and returned the affection before he picked up Red Alert and carried him to one of the couches to allow others to retrieve their presents.
Mirage took the opportunity and moved around a few boxes and packages until he found the one he was looking for. The Ligier smiled to his lover as he moved to the table Hound was sitting by and offered the neatly wrapped package to him. "I hope you'll like it."
"I'm sure I will." Hound smiled and gave his lover a quick peck on his cheek before he proceeded to undo the package's wrapping, gasping in pleasant surprise as an Autobot-sized teddy bear was revealed. The plush toy was soft and rather fluffy and colored green with bright blue eyes and silvery embroided stars over the chest and shoulders, intending to match the Jeep. "You made this?"
Mirage's smug grin was all the reply he needed. The scout placed the teddy bear on the table carefully before he wrapped his arms around the spy's midsection and pulled him down to his lap, capturing his lips in a loud, playful kiss.
"Love is in the air~" Blaster sung playfully as he made his way to the tree. "Everywhere I look around~"
"Love is in the air~" Jazz grinned as he joined in, swaying his head a little as he did. "Every sight and every sound~"
"And I don't know if I'm being foolish~" Trailbreaker added his contribution, keeping the playful tone used by the other two Autobots as he smiled down to Wheeljack. "Don't know if I'm being wise~"
"But it's something that I must believe in~" Red Alert surprisingly joined the chorus, forcing an amused chuckle from his lover as they both began to sway their heads just like Jazz and Blaster were. "And it's there when I look in your eyes~"
"Love is in the air~" Hound piped in, holding Mirage against him with a wide smile. "In the whisper of the trees~"
"Love is in the air~" Bumblebee sung along, with a wide smile across his face, swaying his upper body, "In the thunder of the sea~"
Soon enough, all Autobots in the room but Prowl were singing along while Blaster retrieved and handed out presents from the three. Even Optimus Prime was singing and swaying, filling the expanse of the room with an aura of happiness and true love. Love for a mate and love for friends alike. Presents had been forgotten for a few moments while the singing filled the room. The best gift each other could receive that Christmas was each other's company and well being.
"That was unexpected, huh?" Jazz chuckled as he leaned against Prowl's frame, feeling the gentle and protective yet almost possessive hold of the tactician around his middle.
"It was quite interesting to watch." Prowl admitted as he rested his chin on Jazz's shoulder -the saboteur was currently sitting on his mate's lap.
"I believe this one must be from Prowl for Jazz," Blaster handed the box wrapped with the black paper and white ribbon to the Porsche. "And this one should be from Jazz to Prowl." The communications officer handed the box wrapped in bright red and golden metallic foil with a white ribbon to the tactician. Both Autobots nodded their thanks to the large orange mech.
"Merry Christmas, babe." Jazz smiled to his mate before he began to unwrap his present, wondering what could it be since the box's shape was different from what the tactician used in the previous Christmases.
"Merry Christmas, Jazz." Prowl nodded and watched his lover unwrap his present, a little smile crept to his lips when the saboteur gasped in surprise, retrieving a box containing a brand new auto stereo.
"Woah! Prowl, man, this is... This had to cost ya a fortune!" Jazz stared in awe at the picture of the fancy, expensive stereo. The player's design screamed 'Jazz' in any way and shape, for it wasn't just up to play the latest available technology but also had a sleek, stylish design crowned with matching blue lights that flickered in synchrony with the music being played.
"You like it?" Prowl rested his chin back on his mate's shoulder, ignoring the sounds of appreciation Blaster made about the player.
"Yeah... But now I feel bad 'bout my present to ya. There's just no comparison with this." Jazz smiled sheepishly, rubbing the back of his head.
"Jazz," Prowl frowned and lifted his mate's face towards his own. "Your gifts don't have to be fancy or expensive for me to like them. You're the greatest gift in my life." Before Jazz could reply, the Datsun held him closer in a comforting, loving embrace, ignoring the 'awws' Gears, Brawn and Huffer cooed on the background.
"Ya're the best gift I could ever get, too, Prowler." Jazz grinned and nudged the tactician to open his own present. Prowl did so and retrieved a large framed object he recognized as the plaque he received from the police department when he was promoted to the Corporal rank. The plaque was flanked by a series of pictures of him and Jazz. Two of them in particular brought a content little smile to his lips. A photograph of Jazz glomping onto him from behind and one of the moment before when he was saluting his superiors after he received his plaque.
The frame that kept all the items together was embossed on the top and the bottom with a line of text. The lettering on the top read 'To protect and serve' while the bottom read 'You're my other half - Jazz'. Prowl remained silent as he brushed his fingertips along the embossed lettering on the bottom with an unreadable expression. Jazz, however, just needed a glance to his mate's face to know he was overwhelmed with his gift, making his spark swell with happiness and relief.
Prowl wrapped an arm back around Jazz and held him close, whispering something against his audio receptor. Jazz made a soft sound before he whispered something back to Prowl, low enough so nobody else in the room could hear it.
More presents were exchanged and after a while Optimus Prime appointed the crew to their respective duties. Prowl insisted on working on his assignments as usual despite being the one who had rested the least in the past twenty-four hours. Prime knew arguing with Prowl would lead him nowhere and allowed him to conduct his duties but ordered him to remove himself from the patrolling roster for the next two days.
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Prowl tapped his finger against his chin while he read a data pad, correcting some information before he set it aside and picked up a new one. He didn't bother to turn around when he heard the door of his office cycling open. "What is it, Jazz?"
"How'd ya know it was me?"
"You're the only one who never knocks or asks permission to come inside," Prowl replied with a slight hint of amusement on his voice.
"Oh, dear me! Where're my manners?!" Jazz said dramatically before he stepped outside once more and knocked the door. "Can I come in?"
The tactician shook his head and set his data pad on the pile of reports read before he picked up another. "Yes, you may come in."
"Why, thank ya, kind sir!" The Porsche grinned and made his way to his mate's desk, carefully moving aside the pile of data pads that hadn't been reviewed yet before he plopped to sit on the surface, crossing his legs.
The Datsun identified his mate's body language. Whenever Jazz did that it meant he demanded his immediate attention lest he wanted his data pad forcefully removed from his hand. Prowl tore his gaze from the pad and looked up to his lover, raising an optic ridge as he took notice of the tray Jazz held in one hand in his best impersonation of a waitress.
"Had your stereo installed already?" he asked as he leaned back in his chair.
"Aye! Ratchet just got done with it. As humans would say, 'it's the shit, man'!" Jazz grinned and demonstrated his point by turning his player on and selecting a song from the item currently loaded in. "Also, Ratchet told me t'get ya some energon, or he'll have ta force ya into medical leave with the aid of his new wrench." The saboteur lowered the tray, offering his mate one of the energon cubes sitting on it.
"Thank you." Prowl nodded and accepted the cube, smiling inwardly as he recognized the song currently playing as one of the 'hits' of one of Jazz's favorite Earth bands.
"'Nything for ya, babe." The saboteur took the remaining cube and sipped its contents as he swayed his torso gently to the beat of the song currently playing. "Seems ya're almost done with this. What do ya say if I help ya finish these, and then we go t'our quarters so ya can recharge some more?"
Prowl knew that wasn't as much a suggestion as it was a statement. He didn't really feel like arguing with his mate about it; besides, he would need that recharge to be up and running at optimal condition later that night to give Jazz the real Christmas present he had prepared for him. "Alright. Thank you."
Jazz nodded and smiled happily as he subspaced the tray and picked one of the unread data pads to help his lover. By the time they were done, the saboteur was practically carting his Datsun to their shared quarters.
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When Prowl came online once more, he looked around his and Jazz's quarters, smiling a bit to himself as he heard the Porsche typing away at the terminal of his desk, his back turned to him.
Honoring his designation, Prowl stalked his way silently towards his mate, subspacing the neatly wrapped bundle decorated with the blue ribbon. Jazz jumped a little when he felt a pair of familiar arms wrap around his shoulders and a white hand presented him with an orange bundle. "Sneaky, aren't ya?" Jazz turned his face a bit to look at his lover, grinning in amusement at Prowl's rather smug look.
"I'm not called Prowl for nothing."
"An' ya live up t'that designation alright, love." Jazz chuckled and looked back to the pretty bundle on Prowl's hand. "What' that?"
"I think the proper thing to say in this case would be 'Merry Christmas'." The tactician lowered his hand a little to make the present more accessible for his mate.
"What? But I thought t'stereo was my present?" The Porsche reached for the small bundle, observing it for a moment as he realized the ribbon matched his racing stripes and the paper had Autobot sigils imprinted all over it. He chuckled softly and began to undo the ribbon carefully. He gasped softly when the paper parted naturally to reveal a beautiful snowglobe. It was a pretty large snowglobe by human standards but still small for an Autobot's hand.
Sitting inside the snowglobe were two scale reproductions of a Porsche and a Datsun, painted exactly to match their paintjobs, sitting nose to nose with a hand painted wintery scene behind them. Over the plastic base of the snowglobe Jazz recognized a line written in Cybertronian language. The saboteur couldn't help but smile fondly before he tilted his head to look at his lover, kissing his cheek softly. "Ya know, ya're spolin' me."
"We're even, then." Prowl pointed to two diminutive objects left at the bottom of the bundle. The saboteur picked up the pieces of paper carefully to give them a look. By the time he realized what they were, a gasp had already left his vocal modules. "Prowl, are these...?"
"Tickets for a concert? Yes, that's what they are." Despite Jazz's evident jealousy at Blaster's chance to attend several concerts, often as guest or through Carly and Spike paying for his ticket, the saboteur hadn't made many attempts to attend concerts, mainly because of his inability to exactly fit a seat.
Luck had it to have one of Jazz's favorite bands coming to play in the new concert hall built bellow a lush hill near the city. The place was huge, and it was an open hall permitted for creatures as large as Autobots to sit outside comfortably and enjoy the show thoroughly.
"I suggest you get ready if we want to make it there in time." The tactician patted the Porsche's shoulder as he headed for their private wash rack.
Jazz shook his head with a smile and subspaced the tickets for safe keeping before he stood and arranged the snowglobe on what he called his 'treasure display' before he followed to join his mate.
Jazz found it both amusing and amazing that his and Prowl's presence could be 'ignored' so easily by the massive crowd of spectators in the concert hall. They sat comfortably on the top of the hill that had been cleared of snow before the show.
Prowl watched the show with mild interest. His thoughts, instead, were on Jazz and the cheerful aura he exuded. A happy saboteur made a happy tactician.
What Jazz didn't know was what influence Prowl had on the selection of songs to be played that night. After a few of their newest songs were performed, the band's vocalist announced a particular song, dedicated to a 'sneaky Porsche'.
The sneaky Porsche in question glared playfully to his companion, elbowing him gently before familiar accords began to play. Jazz knew that song all too well. He sung it for Prowl several times in the past, specifically the very night they bonded.
"You came on your own. That's how you'll leave~" Jazz sung softly as the song played, leaning his head to rest on Prowl's shoulder. "With hope in your hands. And air to breathe~"
"You lose everything by the end..." Prowl sung so softly only Jazz could hear him. "Still my broken limbs you choose to mend..."
The Porsche offlined his optics and brushed his fingers over his chest plate. Prowl had indeed mended something in him - not broken limbs, but a broken spark. Likewise, Jazz had mended his lover's own soul as they were now one full being split in two parts that complimented each other perfectly. They gave each other hope, peace, joy, and love. A love larger than life.
"Even an end has a start. An' you're the beginnin' of my life, Prowl," Jazz whispered against his beloved's shoulder, wrapping his arms around his middle section.
Prowl looked down to his mate, wrapping an arm around him while the other stroked the slightly cold plating of Jazz's face before he answered to his mate's words with the only way he knew he could express his feelings, kissing him deeply.
I hope you all had wonderful holidays!
Rating: R
Pairings: Prowl x Jazz, Ironhide x Ratchet, Hound x Mirage, Inferno x Red Alert, Twins x Bluestreak. Hinted Trailbreaker x Wheeljack.
Summary: It's not the material value what makes a real present but the love behind it.
Notes: Second part of Sacrifice, that explains This Picture. Some of the hinted/ implied couples were included as a little 'homage'/dedication to some of you wonderful people of the community. The twins scene is a homage to xaefryl's fic. This is the R version of the fic, if you wish to read the NC-17 version you can do so at my work journal.
Thanks to nkfloofiepoof for beta reading this for me.
"Aw c'mon! Let's hurry already!" Sideswipe was practically pushing or dragging every single Autobot in the Ark towards the recreation room to finally open the presents.
"Shut your trap already, Sideswipe. We're moving as fast as we can." Ironhide sighed as he dragged his weight towards the recreation room. He had been up pretty early and would love nothing more than a few hours of extra recharge after last night's party.
"Don't complain; at least ya got more rest than Prowl did." Jazz chuckled playfully as he nudged the red van's side, his own mate walking next to him. the only sign of his exhaustion was reflected in the slight droop of his door-wings which were usually held higher up and straight on his back.
"Yeah, yeah, I know."
The Autobots made their way to the recreation room, sitting on the various available seats while others sat around the tree. Sideswipe took the 'job' of fetching the presents from under the tree and announcing who it was for and from who. "Alright, all ready?" He wiggled his fingers in a rather cartoon-esque fashion and rubbed his palms together before he fetched a present from the pile, reading the name of the Autobot it was meant for. "Let's see, this is for Bumblebee from Prime!" The red Lamborghini handed the present down to the yellow Beetle.
It had become a tradition among them to watch the presents be opened one by one, making comments or jokes about the present in turn and its recipient. Sideswipe kept passing around the presents. A large amount of the gifts in the pile were addressed to Optimus Prime while everyone else received presents usually from their closer friends or mates.
"I wonder. Oh, I wonder~" Sideswipe sung as he shook the present Sunstreaker had handed to him. "I wonder what Santastreaker left in my sock this year~"
"Call me that again, and next year I'm leaving a grenade ready to explode in that proverbial sock of yours." Sunstreaker crossed his arms and huffed at his brother's cackles of amusement. After he opened his gift and paraded around the whole new season of his favorite TV show, the red twin dug under the tree to retrieve the gift he and his brother had for Bluestreak. "Merry Christmas, Blue!"
"Thank you, guys." The gunner smiled as he accepted the present and began to unwrap it, blinking in confusion when he found a wreath inside. "Huh?" He picked it up and held it to look at it better. His optics widened when he noticed the mistletoe that was hanging from it right above his head. He dared to glance back to the Lamborghini twins who were giving each other a rather predatory look. "Oh, Slag!" Before he could do anything, the twins pounced him, kissing him soundly wherever they could lay their lip components on the flailing Datsun's frame.
"Get a room, you three!" Ironhide laughed as the twins took his advice and proceeded to drag Bluestreak away amidst his cries of protest. "Primus, it's too early for this."
"It's never too early for those three," Ratchet chuckled as he made his way to the tree, picking up his gifts for Wheeljack and Ironhide since Sideswipe had gone Missing-In-Action now. "Merry Christmas, you two." He handed the presents to his best friend and lover respectively, making himself comfortable on the couch with Ironhide as the weapons specialist and engineer opened their presents.
"Woah! You corrected these blueprints!" Wheeljack, being the inventor he was, found great pleasure in engaging in new inventions, especially when Ratchet took it upon himself to help to correct the flaws he could pinpoint in previously failed experiments. "That's awesome, thank you Ratchet."
The medic nodded and smiled to his friend, watching him show off the blueprints to Trailbreaker. The mainly black 'bot merely nodded in acknowledgement as Wheeljack explained things about the blueprints to him. Anyone could tell Trailbreaker had no idea what the engineer was talking about, but he encouraged his ranting nonetheless.
"Like your present?" Ratchet asked as he looked to Ironhide, grinning playfully as the red van unwrapped his gift, revealing a new gun. Ironhide made a soft sound of appreciation as he held the weapon up a little to inspect it.
"Pretty nice!" Ironhide grinned and took aim randomly though he made sure to keep his finger off the trigger, feeling the weight of the gun and testing how it felt in his hands. "A railgun I take it?"
"Mmhmm. I thought you'd find it of your liking."
"Oh, yes. I fully intend to use this beauty the next time Megatron shows his ugly mug around here." The weapons specialist subspaced the gun before he pulled Ratchet to sit in his lap. "Thanks for the gift."
"Let's hope that'll help to keep you out of the med bay more often." The medic laughed softly at the death glare his lover gave him.
"Okay, enough with the guns!" Inferno removed several presents from the pile, looking for his own gift for Red Alert. After muttering a few curses and other foul words, he finally retrieved the small box containing his gift, offering it to the Security Officer. "Hope you like it, Red."
"Thank you, Inferno." The white and red Lamborghini shook the box for a moment, trying to identify what the present could be before he opened the box containing what seemed like an auto alarm system. Inferno's chuckles confirmed his suspicious about the gift being a joke. "Well, I can always install it in the Ark."
"Look underneath."
Red Alert did as he was told and removed the box containing the alarm system, revealing a photograph of Inferno and himself 'high five-ing' to the camera, evidently overcharged bearing the widest smiles their faceplates could allow them. The security officer smiled fondly and brushed his fingertips over the protective cover of the photograph before he literally threw himself at Inferno in an affectionate embrace. The fire truck smiled and returned the affection before he picked up Red Alert and carried him to one of the couches to allow others to retrieve their presents.
Mirage took the opportunity and moved around a few boxes and packages until he found the one he was looking for. The Ligier smiled to his lover as he moved to the table Hound was sitting by and offered the neatly wrapped package to him. "I hope you'll like it."
"I'm sure I will." Hound smiled and gave his lover a quick peck on his cheek before he proceeded to undo the package's wrapping, gasping in pleasant surprise as an Autobot-sized teddy bear was revealed. The plush toy was soft and rather fluffy and colored green with bright blue eyes and silvery embroided stars over the chest and shoulders, intending to match the Jeep. "You made this?"
Mirage's smug grin was all the reply he needed. The scout placed the teddy bear on the table carefully before he wrapped his arms around the spy's midsection and pulled him down to his lap, capturing his lips in a loud, playful kiss.
"Love is in the air~" Blaster sung playfully as he made his way to the tree. "Everywhere I look around~"
"Love is in the air~" Jazz grinned as he joined in, swaying his head a little as he did. "Every sight and every sound~"
"And I don't know if I'm being foolish~" Trailbreaker added his contribution, keeping the playful tone used by the other two Autobots as he smiled down to Wheeljack. "Don't know if I'm being wise~"
"But it's something that I must believe in~" Red Alert surprisingly joined the chorus, forcing an amused chuckle from his lover as they both began to sway their heads just like Jazz and Blaster were. "And it's there when I look in your eyes~"
"Love is in the air~" Hound piped in, holding Mirage against him with a wide smile. "In the whisper of the trees~"
"Love is in the air~" Bumblebee sung along, with a wide smile across his face, swaying his upper body, "In the thunder of the sea~"
Soon enough, all Autobots in the room but Prowl were singing along while Blaster retrieved and handed out presents from the three. Even Optimus Prime was singing and swaying, filling the expanse of the room with an aura of happiness and true love. Love for a mate and love for friends alike. Presents had been forgotten for a few moments while the singing filled the room. The best gift each other could receive that Christmas was each other's company and well being.
"That was unexpected, huh?" Jazz chuckled as he leaned against Prowl's frame, feeling the gentle and protective yet almost possessive hold of the tactician around his middle.
"It was quite interesting to watch." Prowl admitted as he rested his chin on Jazz's shoulder -the saboteur was currently sitting on his mate's lap.
"I believe this one must be from Prowl for Jazz," Blaster handed the box wrapped with the black paper and white ribbon to the Porsche. "And this one should be from Jazz to Prowl." The communications officer handed the box wrapped in bright red and golden metallic foil with a white ribbon to the tactician. Both Autobots nodded their thanks to the large orange mech.
"Merry Christmas, babe." Jazz smiled to his mate before he began to unwrap his present, wondering what could it be since the box's shape was different from what the tactician used in the previous Christmases.
"Merry Christmas, Jazz." Prowl nodded and watched his lover unwrap his present, a little smile crept to his lips when the saboteur gasped in surprise, retrieving a box containing a brand new auto stereo.
"Woah! Prowl, man, this is... This had to cost ya a fortune!" Jazz stared in awe at the picture of the fancy, expensive stereo. The player's design screamed 'Jazz' in any way and shape, for it wasn't just up to play the latest available technology but also had a sleek, stylish design crowned with matching blue lights that flickered in synchrony with the music being played.
"You like it?" Prowl rested his chin back on his mate's shoulder, ignoring the sounds of appreciation Blaster made about the player.
"Yeah... But now I feel bad 'bout my present to ya. There's just no comparison with this." Jazz smiled sheepishly, rubbing the back of his head.
"Jazz," Prowl frowned and lifted his mate's face towards his own. "Your gifts don't have to be fancy or expensive for me to like them. You're the greatest gift in my life." Before Jazz could reply, the Datsun held him closer in a comforting, loving embrace, ignoring the 'awws' Gears, Brawn and Huffer cooed on the background.
"Ya're the best gift I could ever get, too, Prowler." Jazz grinned and nudged the tactician to open his own present. Prowl did so and retrieved a large framed object he recognized as the plaque he received from the police department when he was promoted to the Corporal rank. The plaque was flanked by a series of pictures of him and Jazz. Two of them in particular brought a content little smile to his lips. A photograph of Jazz glomping onto him from behind and one of the moment before when he was saluting his superiors after he received his plaque.
The frame that kept all the items together was embossed on the top and the bottom with a line of text. The lettering on the top read 'To protect and serve' while the bottom read 'You're my other half - Jazz'. Prowl remained silent as he brushed his fingertips along the embossed lettering on the bottom with an unreadable expression. Jazz, however, just needed a glance to his mate's face to know he was overwhelmed with his gift, making his spark swell with happiness and relief.
Prowl wrapped an arm back around Jazz and held him close, whispering something against his audio receptor. Jazz made a soft sound before he whispered something back to Prowl, low enough so nobody else in the room could hear it.
More presents were exchanged and after a while Optimus Prime appointed the crew to their respective duties. Prowl insisted on working on his assignments as usual despite being the one who had rested the least in the past twenty-four hours. Prime knew arguing with Prowl would lead him nowhere and allowed him to conduct his duties but ordered him to remove himself from the patrolling roster for the next two days.
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Prowl tapped his finger against his chin while he read a data pad, correcting some information before he set it aside and picked up a new one. He didn't bother to turn around when he heard the door of his office cycling open. "What is it, Jazz?"
"How'd ya know it was me?"
"You're the only one who never knocks or asks permission to come inside," Prowl replied with a slight hint of amusement on his voice.
"Oh, dear me! Where're my manners?!" Jazz said dramatically before he stepped outside once more and knocked the door. "Can I come in?"
The tactician shook his head and set his data pad on the pile of reports read before he picked up another. "Yes, you may come in."
"Why, thank ya, kind sir!" The Porsche grinned and made his way to his mate's desk, carefully moving aside the pile of data pads that hadn't been reviewed yet before he plopped to sit on the surface, crossing his legs.
The Datsun identified his mate's body language. Whenever Jazz did that it meant he demanded his immediate attention lest he wanted his data pad forcefully removed from his hand. Prowl tore his gaze from the pad and looked up to his lover, raising an optic ridge as he took notice of the tray Jazz held in one hand in his best impersonation of a waitress.
"Had your stereo installed already?" he asked as he leaned back in his chair.
"Aye! Ratchet just got done with it. As humans would say, 'it's the shit, man'!" Jazz grinned and demonstrated his point by turning his player on and selecting a song from the item currently loaded in. "Also, Ratchet told me t'get ya some energon, or he'll have ta force ya into medical leave with the aid of his new wrench." The saboteur lowered the tray, offering his mate one of the energon cubes sitting on it.
"Thank you." Prowl nodded and accepted the cube, smiling inwardly as he recognized the song currently playing as one of the 'hits' of one of Jazz's favorite Earth bands.
"'Nything for ya, babe." The saboteur took the remaining cube and sipped its contents as he swayed his torso gently to the beat of the song currently playing. "Seems ya're almost done with this. What do ya say if I help ya finish these, and then we go t'our quarters so ya can recharge some more?"
Prowl knew that wasn't as much a suggestion as it was a statement. He didn't really feel like arguing with his mate about it; besides, he would need that recharge to be up and running at optimal condition later that night to give Jazz the real Christmas present he had prepared for him. "Alright. Thank you."
Jazz nodded and smiled happily as he subspaced the tray and picked one of the unread data pads to help his lover. By the time they were done, the saboteur was practically carting his Datsun to their shared quarters.
-----------------
When Prowl came online once more, he looked around his and Jazz's quarters, smiling a bit to himself as he heard the Porsche typing away at the terminal of his desk, his back turned to him.
Honoring his designation, Prowl stalked his way silently towards his mate, subspacing the neatly wrapped bundle decorated with the blue ribbon. Jazz jumped a little when he felt a pair of familiar arms wrap around his shoulders and a white hand presented him with an orange bundle. "Sneaky, aren't ya?" Jazz turned his face a bit to look at his lover, grinning in amusement at Prowl's rather smug look.
"I'm not called Prowl for nothing."
"An' ya live up t'that designation alright, love." Jazz chuckled and looked back to the pretty bundle on Prowl's hand. "What' that?"
"I think the proper thing to say in this case would be 'Merry Christmas'." The tactician lowered his hand a little to make the present more accessible for his mate.
"What? But I thought t'stereo was my present?" The Porsche reached for the small bundle, observing it for a moment as he realized the ribbon matched his racing stripes and the paper had Autobot sigils imprinted all over it. He chuckled softly and began to undo the ribbon carefully. He gasped softly when the paper parted naturally to reveal a beautiful snowglobe. It was a pretty large snowglobe by human standards but still small for an Autobot's hand.
Sitting inside the snowglobe were two scale reproductions of a Porsche and a Datsun, painted exactly to match their paintjobs, sitting nose to nose with a hand painted wintery scene behind them. Over the plastic base of the snowglobe Jazz recognized a line written in Cybertronian language. The saboteur couldn't help but smile fondly before he tilted his head to look at his lover, kissing his cheek softly. "Ya know, ya're spolin' me."
"We're even, then." Prowl pointed to two diminutive objects left at the bottom of the bundle. The saboteur picked up the pieces of paper carefully to give them a look. By the time he realized what they were, a gasp had already left his vocal modules. "Prowl, are these...?"
"Tickets for a concert? Yes, that's what they are." Despite Jazz's evident jealousy at Blaster's chance to attend several concerts, often as guest or through Carly and Spike paying for his ticket, the saboteur hadn't made many attempts to attend concerts, mainly because of his inability to exactly fit a seat.
Luck had it to have one of Jazz's favorite bands coming to play in the new concert hall built bellow a lush hill near the city. The place was huge, and it was an open hall permitted for creatures as large as Autobots to sit outside comfortably and enjoy the show thoroughly.
"I suggest you get ready if we want to make it there in time." The tactician patted the Porsche's shoulder as he headed for their private wash rack.
Jazz shook his head with a smile and subspaced the tickets for safe keeping before he stood and arranged the snowglobe on what he called his 'treasure display' before he followed to join his mate.
Jazz found it both amusing and amazing that his and Prowl's presence could be 'ignored' so easily by the massive crowd of spectators in the concert hall. They sat comfortably on the top of the hill that had been cleared of snow before the show.
Prowl watched the show with mild interest. His thoughts, instead, were on Jazz and the cheerful aura he exuded. A happy saboteur made a happy tactician.
What Jazz didn't know was what influence Prowl had on the selection of songs to be played that night. After a few of their newest songs were performed, the band's vocalist announced a particular song, dedicated to a 'sneaky Porsche'.
The sneaky Porsche in question glared playfully to his companion, elbowing him gently before familiar accords began to play. Jazz knew that song all too well. He sung it for Prowl several times in the past, specifically the very night they bonded.
"You came on your own. That's how you'll leave~" Jazz sung softly as the song played, leaning his head to rest on Prowl's shoulder. "With hope in your hands. And air to breathe~"
"You lose everything by the end..." Prowl sung so softly only Jazz could hear him. "Still my broken limbs you choose to mend..."
The Porsche offlined his optics and brushed his fingers over his chest plate. Prowl had indeed mended something in him - not broken limbs, but a broken spark. Likewise, Jazz had mended his lover's own soul as they were now one full being split in two parts that complimented each other perfectly. They gave each other hope, peace, joy, and love. A love larger than life.
"Even an end has a start. An' you're the beginnin' of my life, Prowl," Jazz whispered against his beloved's shoulder, wrapping his arms around his middle section.
Prowl looked down to his mate, wrapping an arm around him while the other stroked the slightly cold plating of Jazz's face before he answered to his mate's words with the only way he knew he could express his feelings, kissing him deeply.
I hope you all had wonderful holidays!