Secret Santa delivery Part 1
Happy Christmas to all of who celebrate it, we have some awesome fills for our secret santas. Without further delay, let us deliver the goodies!
I had to split this in two parts, first because we have some posts that due to technical issues couldn't be posted and we're waiting for a re-send.
Part 2 will hopefully be posted tomorrow!
From shiome to gilded_orchid
------------
from wicked3659 to vesryn
It had all started with a smile. Don't these things always start with a smile? It wasn't however, a smile directed at him but it was a smile nonetheless. It had only been a subtle one, barely a smile really but it had been enough to grab his attention. Then the mech had spoken and he knew he was done for. Addicted.
"Jazz, are you listening?"
"Huh?"
Prowl rolled his optics at his project partner and sighed as he followed his gaze. It was always the same mech, every time he walked into the classroom Jazz would turn into an incoherent jibbering mess. "I really don't know what the appeal is but you staring isn't going to get our class project done in time," Prowl stood in the way of Jazz's line of sight and folded his arms, levelling a pointed glare at the mech.
Pulling a face, Jazz huffed and turned away putting his feet up on the desk before their professor walked past and swatted them back down with barely a passing glance.
"Don't know what your issue is, you're going to do all the work anyway," Jazz retorted petulantly.
"Actually we have to show equal participation for this or we both fail," Prowl leaned closer with a disgruntled pout. "And I refuse to fail the academy finals because of you."
"Fine whatever, just tell me what to do and I'll--"
"--hi Jazz," he mech that Jazz had been staring at appeared beside Prowl, completely ignoring the annoyed flick of the young Praxian's doorwings. "You coming to the party tonight?"
Jazz’s intakes hitched and he grinned stupidly at the mech and gave him a quick nod. "Yeah, course, you know me," he managed to spit out.
Prowl cleared his intakes and met Jazz's death glare. "We have a project to finish in case you'd forgotten."
Jazz bristled and swore before turning back to the first mech. "I'll be there, mech, will be a tad late is all, save me some high grade and a dance?"
"Sure thing, jazzy," The mech flashed his brilliant smile and moved back to his crowd giving Jazz a wave.
"I have no idea what you see in him, he's only playing you you do know that right? Just like last time," Prowl glanced at the mech, starting in surprise when Jazz suddenly grabbed his collar fairing and got in his
face.
"What the frag is your problem?"
"My problem?" Prowl repeated incredulously. "You're the one fawning over a mech who spurned you once after leading you on and here you are again doing exactly the same thing."
Jazz growled and shoved Prowl back as he stepped past him. "What do you fraggin know?" He shot back. "At least I have mechs interested in me, what do you have apart from your grades huh?" He smirked at Prowl's faint scowl. "Yeah thought so, you and that stick up your aft have a nice time together while I'm enjoying myself with real mechs."
Prowl watched Jazz saunter off, instantly mingling with others in their classroom. Prowl schooled his expression into one that gave nothing away and gathered up his things to go work on their project. It was easier to pretend that Jazz's words didn't sting.
****
Much later in the cycle when most responsible bots were recharging Prowl was finally leaving the library with his and Jazz's project. Much to his relief, Jazz had shown up and contributed his part in his usual blaze fashion as though nothing had ever been said between them. Then he'd slinked away to his party, leaving Prowl to work on it without him.
Feeling satisfied that he'd done enough for one cycle, Prowl was on his way back to his dorm. He was quite glad that he had his own room in such instances. Coming from a well off background did have its good points even if it did set him apart from most of the mechs at the academy with him. Neither a noble nor a commoner, Prowl didn't really fit in anywhere. That suited him fine.
Suddenly something caught his attention a sound or movement and he stopped. There it was again someway ahead. Cautiously Prowl made his way towards the soft sound and stopped in surprise when his optics fell on Jazz. The mech was sat on a bench along the path, knees tucked against his chest, arms wrapped around himself protectively as he stared up at the dark Cybertronian sky littered with glittering stars. After a klik's hesitation, Prowl started to turn away before a soft sob stopped him once more. Frowning and glancing back at Jazz, Prowl sighed and headed closer. "Jazz?"
Jazz instantly sat up, his visor bright and stared at Prowl as their optics met. "Prowl, what are you doing here?" He frowned, looking annoyed at the unexpected company.
"I was on my way back from the library," Prowl explained simply, not wanting to embarrass Jazz further by pointing out what he'd heard.
Jazz snorted and shook his helm. "Figures you'd be working late," he muttered, actually surprised at just how late Prowl was working.
"How was your party?" Prowl asked quickly before the awkward silence between them had a chance to settle.
"What do you care?" Jazz retorted sharply.
Doorwings twitching, Prowl looked down at the floor momentarily. "I simply hoped you had a nice time. Contrary to what you think of me, Jazz, I don't wish you any ill will," Prowl paused as Jazz scowled silently at him. "I can see you'd rather be alone so I'll say goodnight," Prowl added, walking past the bench and continuing on his way.
Jazz glared after him both embarrassed and feeling guilty at being so harsh. Prowl wasn't a bad mech just a little odd and difficult to relax around. "It was great if you must know, had a blast. Guess you're not always right!" He called out after the Praxian. He watched as Prowl halted in his tracks and couldn't stop the words spilling from his lips. "Better than hanging out with you here any vorn," Jazz felt the guilt sweep over him as Prowl’s doorwings noticeably dropped and the mech continued on his way without a word.
Burying his face in his hands Jazz flopped onto his side on the bench with a soft curse. "Great Jazz, excellently delivered like a complete slaggin aft," he groaned in dismay. "I'm such a fragger."
****
Prowl didn't look up when book files were placed in front of him with a loud clatter and barely spared a glance when the chair opposite was pulled out and filled with a familiar black and white presence. Without a word he handed over what he'd done so far and waited patiently while Jazz caught up. He was mildly surprised Jazz had joined him for study as normally after a party he would be otherwise occupied with whoever he'd snuck into his dorm room. He wasn't however complaining and he did feel somewhat sorry for the mech that looked like he hadn't recharged.
“Project looks good, Prowler,” Jazz stated as he fiddled with the datapad.
Raising an optic ridge, Prowl hummed in response. “Didn’t know attention to detail was your thing,” he answered dryly.
Jazz laughed shortly and pushed the datapad back towards Prowl. “I’m full of surprises.”
“Indeed,” Prowl murmured, looking back down at his datapad. “Like how you can barely stand to be in the same room as me one klik and then friendly the next,” he glanced up, meeting Jazz’s gaze, “as though nothing ever happened.”
Jazz’s smirk faded and he averted his gaze from Prowl’s. “Guess I deserved that,” he muttered.
“You deserve worse,” came the quick response. “But I need a project partner,” Prowl stated, placing a pile of datapads in front of Jazz with a small smile. “Shall we?”
Jazz stared at the pile before staring at Prowl and a grateful grin broke across his face. “You’re the boss,” he replied, picking up the top datapad.
Together they worked through the datapads efficiently, noting down anything they needed for their project. “I think we got a lot to work on, what do you reckon, Prowl?”
“I think that’s the first time I’ve heard you be excited about work,” Prowl answered good naturedly, a small smile pulling at his lips.
“Like I said, I’m full of surprises,” Jazz grinned, tucking a couple of extra datapads into his subspace. He opened his mouth to say something more only to be distracted by a couple of mechs walking past and quietly snickering as they glanced over.
Catching the hesitation and ensuing subtle growl, Prowl frowned slightly. He wouldn’t in any circumstance say that he and Jazz were friends but even he could tell something was wrong and Jazz looked like he was about to murder somebot.
“I was wondering if you would like to grab some energon,” Prowl spoke up quickly as Jazz turned, his fists clenched ready to beat the slag out of the chuckling mechs. He glared at Prowl, momentarily confused.
“What?”
“Come get some energon with me, we can discuss the next steps of our project some more,” Prowl insisted, taking a step closer, ignoring the wary looks the two mechs were giving them, especially Jazz and adding softly. “Whatever it is, it’s not worth getting expelled for,” he gazed at Jazz in earnest.
Bristling and shooting a dark look to the other two mechs, Jazz turned back to Prowl and gave him a short nod, marching past him and out of the library, much to Prowl’s relief as he quickly followed after him.
****
“I’m going to hazard a guess that the party wasn’t all you made it out to be,” Prowl stated mildly as he handed Jazz a cube and slid into the seat opposite him with his own cube.
Jazz remained stonily silent and idly swirled his cube.
Watching him, Prowl sighed and took a sip of his energon. “Look I know you don’t really like me but if you need to talk then--”
“--then what, mech?” Jazz asked sharply, glancing up at Prowl. “You’ll make it all better?”
Prowl gave him a wry smile. “Then I’m a willing audio,” he answered, unfazed by Jazz’s sullen demeanour.
Jazz’s face twisted and he took a gulp of his high grade. “Thanks,” he muttered somewhat graciously. “It’s a long boring story, honestly, let’s talk about something else.”
Prowl obliged and the two mechs that had been unwilling project partners since the start of their final vorn at the academy, finally talked, until Jazz let slip what had happened at the party. Prowl didn’t say much and simply listened as Jazz spoke of his humiliation, how he’d hoped the mech had changed, how he’d been a fool.
Looking down at his cube with a frown, Prowl pursed his lip components. “I’m sorry,” he started.
Jazz didn’t give him chance to finish. “Whatever. You were right, Prowl, should be telling me I told you so,” shaking his helm, he downed his fourth cube of high grade and pushed up from the table. “Just forget I said anythin’ yeah?”
Not given chance to respond as Jazz swiftly exited the quiet establishment, Prowl just sat and watched him leave. He did feel guilty for his earlier words but more than that, he felt angry. Angry that someone could treat Jazz that way. The mech had his flaws but as far as Prowl could see he went out of his way for so many mechs at the academy with them. He always had a smile, no matter what was going on with him. Prowl had always admired that energy in him. That ability to be positive even when he was feeling low himself. Jazz had always been rather frosty with him, ever since Prowl spurned his playful advances at the start of the vorn. Prowl had acted on what he knew of Jazz’s reputation and it was only after that, that they were forced to work together. In that time he had learned more about Jazz and that appearances certainly were deceiving. Sure the mech was shy when it came to actual studying and working in a team but he had an astute processor and thought on his feet. Something Prowl wasn’t particularly adept at. Despite maintaining a distance with Prowl, Prowl had grown to like Jazz for the glimpses of the mech away from the crowds, away from the attention. The mech he wished Jazz showed more. Not that it mattered, Jazz would never look at him as more than his stick up the aft project partner. Finishing his drink, Prowl got up and headed for the exit, resolved that no matter what he was going to cheer Jazz up and bring back that genuine smile of his.
****
Over the next coming cycles, Jazz’s smile returned and Prowl appeared to have gained a friend. Jazz had found something left for him outside of his dorm room on the cycle of Cybertron’s planetwide solar celebration. His favourite goodies with a little note attached. ‘From your secret admirer’, he’d told Prowl animatedly. He’d even graciously shared a goodie or two with him. Even after the special holiday festival was over, the gifts had kept coming.
Prowl for one was pleased just to see Jazz happy and pleasantly surprised that he was talking to him about it. In fact Jazz was spending a lot more time with him, outside of their project. With each gift, Jazz would discuss brightly about who the secret admirer could be.
His smile and mood only grew brighter, until a particular mech caught wind of what was going on and immediately swooped in to take advantage of the situation.
“You can’t be serious?”
Jazz shrugged and smiled coyly down at his latest gift. “He seemed really genuine, even apologised you know for what happened, he’s never done that before.”
“But, Jazz after everything you’ve told me, you really think he’ll have gone to all this effort, given you all these gifts after publicly humiliating you?” Prowl couldn’t quite believe what he was hearing.
“Maybe, mechs do change, Prowl,” Jazz nudged him with a playfully teasing grin. “I’m not a youngling, Prowler, I can take care of myself you know?”
“I am aware of this, I just think you should be careful with him is all, and maybe get proof that he’s your admirer…”
“Is it so hard to believe a mech could be that interested in me?”
Prowl looked away, hearing the indignation in Jazz’s tone. “No, I think there are plenty of mechs who would be that interested in you,” he replied quietly.
Jazz laughed and playfully tweaked the edge of a doorwing. “You getting soft on me, Prowler? Careful I might start to think you actually like having me around,” he chuckled and stood up. “I gotta run, meeting up with some friends, I’ll catch you later, yeah?”
Prowl nodded and let him go, watching with a twinge in his spark as the object of their conversation showed up and waved to Jazz, both of them heading off together with big smiles.
****
This would be the last one, Prowl promised himself. His plan had worked and Jazz was back to his usual self once more. Especially now a certain mech had taken advantage of the anonymous gifts and had schmoozed his way back into Jazz’s affections. He carefully wrapped up the crystal, making sure there wasn’t a crease out of place and finished writing his note with a small sad smile. His role was redundant, there was no more need for his gifts, no matter how well intentioned or thoughtful they were.
“I might’ve known,” the haughty voice caught Prowl’s attention and the crystal was suddenly swiped from his grasp. “You really think a mech like you can buy Jazz’s affections with trinkets?”
Prowl pushed to his feet, doorwings rising sharply on his back. “Hand it over,” he demanded succinctly.
“You’re deluded if you think he’d ever be interested in the likes of you,” the mech shoved the crystal into Prowl’s chest, making sure the corner of the container scratched his otherwise perfect white plating. “Jazz is my toy and I don’t like other mechs thinking they get to have a play, no matter how unlikely it is for him to even notice you.”
Prowl growled softly in warning and stepped into the mech’s space, causing him to look briefly uncertain. “Jazz is no toy, not for you nor anyone. He is his own mech and a he is too good for the likes of you.”
“So you think you’re good enough?” the mech shoved Prowl back, into the edge of the table. “You think you’re going to take what I’ve already claimed, hm?” he jabbed Prowl hard in the chest. “You’re a fraggin’ drone, Jazz is no better than a pleasure bot when he’s in the berth, or hadn’t you noticed how he flaunts himself for everyone? Course you have, that’s probably all you’re after isn’t it, cold-spark?” the mech grinned as his friends snickered around him. “He sure is a toy, and Primus does he play naughty in my berth,” the mech drawled.
“Liar!” Prowl snarled and shoved the mech back into a large bookshelf, causing it to whine on its bolts in protest at the force. Lunging for the mech and grabbing his collar fairing, Prowl raised his fist for the punch only for someone to grab his arm and forcefully pull him back.
“Prowl, it’s not worth it!”
Letting Jazz pull him back somewhat, Prowl continued to glare at the mech who looked somewhat stunned at the ferocity of his attack. “Jazz I couldn’t stand by and let him say those things about you, he’s a liar, I know what you told me and I believe you and--”
“--Prowl it’s alright, I heard, I know everything, please let’s just go, yeah?” Jazz urged, tugging on Prowl’s arm.
Meeting Jazz’s gaze, Prowl relented and let him pull him away. They made it out onto the academy grounds and Jazz finally let go of Prowl’s arm, turning to face him. The Praxian was still tense, still bristling with anger and avoiding Jazz’s gaze.
“So you’re the secret admirer?”
Prowl stopped pacing and bowed his helm. “It was only supposed to cheer you up and it worked better than I expected and so I continued, I never expected you to think it was him,” he ended with a snarl, looking back at the academy building, his fists clenching.
“Did you mean everything you wrote in the little notes?” Jazz asked, taking a hesitant step closer.
“Of course, despite appearances, Jazz, I do not dislike you and I wouldn’t have done it if I didn’t care and as for what happened in the library, I couldn’t just stand by and let him say those lies about you, thinking he has some claim to you as though you’re some sort of object, I won’t have it! I will not umpff--”
Silence fell over the two mechs after Prowl’s undignified squeak, until Jazz slowly pulled away, breaking their impromptu kiss.
“What why, I don’t… what…?”
Jazz smiled and placed a finger over Prowl’s lip components. “Had to shut you up from babbling awkwardly somehow, didn’t I?” his smile grew wider. “Have to admit, never had anyone fighting for me before,” he pressed closer to Prowl and gazed up at him with a glittering visor. “It’s kinda hot…”
Still recovering from their kiss, Prowl awkwardly placed his hands on Jazz’s waist. “You’re not… angry about the gifts?”
“Are you kidding me?” Jazz laughed. “Prowler you saw how happy I was, nobody has ever really made an attempt at getting to know me before… you knew just what to get me…”
Prowl ducked his helm and retrieved his latest gift he had been in the process of wrapping. “This was going to be my last,” he gave Jazz a shy smile, holding up the deep blue crystal.
Taking it carefully, Jazz whistled appreciatively. “This is beautiful, Prowl,” he smiled, examining it before tucking it into his own subspace.
“I’m glad you like it.”
“There’s something else I think I like,” Jazz replied demurely before leaning closer, brushing his lip components ever so lightly over Prowl’s in an open invitation. One which Prowl grabbed with both hands, letting everything fall away as their lips locked in a second much more tender and spark-felt kiss.
****
“We killed, our project was definitely up there,” Jazz enthused cheerfully, flopping in Prowl’s chair as they reached his dorm.
“It was rather well received I thought,” Prowl agreed with a subtle smile, perching on the edge of his berth.
Jazz hummed thoughtfully for a few kliks. “So that’s it then? We just need to wait for results and we’re done, academy over,” he commented absently.
Prowl nodded. “It would appear so,” he replied softly.
Jazz looked up and held Prowl’s gaze for a while as silence fell over them.
“What?” Prowl asked, somewhat flustered by Jazz’s intense gaze.
“There’s something I wanted to ask you,” Jazz started coyly, fiddling with part of the chair.
Prowl chuckled warmly. “Well don’t be shy on my account, we’ve been together a good while now, Jazz.”
“Well that’s just it, I wondered if you’d like to, you know… with me… would really mean a lot if you’d be my… you know…” Jazz frowned and looked away, visor dim. He didn’t even hear Prowl move before his hand was gently touching his face and lifting it up for another kiss.
Without a word, Prowl took Jazz’s hand and insistently pulling him over to the berth with an inviting smile and a squeeze of his hand as he scooted back, gently tugging a smiling Jazz with him.
----------------
From anonymous to shiome
Optimus Prime was dead.
Megatron was dead.
The Matrix of Leadership was destroyed, vaporized in the same explosion that had destroyed the faction leaders. They were leaderless and without the guidance that would choose a new mech to become Prime. It had seemed unreal, completely unbelievable, until Soundwave had crumpled to the ground with a wail.
The war ended on that long, sorrowful note as Prowl attempted to figure out what should happen next.
-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-
"Director Prowl, Lord Starscream is demanding an audience."
"Again?" Prowl sighed and shook his head at his aid. "What problem must we resolve immediately this time?"
"He didn't say, sir. All he would say was that it was of dire importance and that the future of the treaty would rest on it."
Prowl sighed again, knowing that Starscream was manipulating him neatly into meeting his demands. The Autobot leader--and how he wished Elita-1 or Ultra Magnus had stepped up to fill the position--knew he didn't dare disturb the delicate balance between his faction and the Decepticons so soon after the war.
"Very well. Advise Lord Starscream that I will be with him in one joor."
"Yes, sir."
"And, Index?"
"Sir?" The former neutral paused, half-turned to the door.
"Call Jazz to handle him is Starscream gets unmanageable. I need this joor to finish the trade documents in time for Carly's return to Earth."
"With pleasure, sir." Index smiled, genuinely pleased to be relieved from Starscream-sitting duty.
-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-
"This is intolerable!" Starscream raged. "I refuse to be granted an audience at his convenience!"
"With all due respect, Screamer--"
"Lord Starscream!"
"Lord Starscream," Jazz dropped down into an overstuffed lounge chair and propped his feet up on the sitting room's serving table. "But you are the one who dropped in without an appointment and demanded an audience."
"And then Prowl--"
"Director Prowl," the visored mech corrected, knowing that he shouldn't antagonize Starscream any further but unable to help himself.
The Seeker narrowed his optics dangerously. "Director Prowl expects me to be placated by you, like I am a hatchling who can be entertained by bouncy pop music and pretty dance moves."
"Well, past experiences would imply--"
"Do not finish that sentence. Anything that happened in our very distant youth can stay there."
"Whatever you say, Screamer. But you're still not seeing him until he's finished those trade agreements, so you might as well sit down and put your feet up."
-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-
"So what'd he want this time?" Jazz asked, setting up their game board.
"Apparently, one of the Human diplomats was found inside the royal quarters, inside the palace in Vos." Prowl filled a pair of energon cubes and carried them to the table. "Starscream might have let such a breech of protocol pass, as most of the Humans are still learning to read Cybertronian glyphs, but the diplomat wqlked in on the trine as they were renewing their bond."
"And I suppose Screamer flipped his lid."
"It was Thundercracker who made the death threats, actually. Starscream felt that we should be made aware before his trinemate created an intergalactic incident."
"Huh. Guess he really is serious about this alliance." Jazz took a drink from his cube and gestured fo Prowl to make the opening move in their game.
"Perhaps." The tactician set his first piece down. "Unfortunately, in order to deal with this problem, I must mediate between the trine and the human deligation and leave several other important projects waiting."
"I know you'll get things smoothed out quick enough, my mech." The former saboteur set down a playing piece as well. "In the mean time, I can take over the public works projects and keep them on track."
"What about setting up the datanets? And the new hall of records?"
"Blaster and Mirage can handle that for a week or two. We've got your back while you work on keeping us from going back to war."
Prowl's face softened. Jazz thought the corners of his lip components quirked up slightly, as well. "Thank you. It's a relief to know that i have support."
"You didn't come to this gig without your backups," the visored mech replied. "We've got this."
------------
anonymous to eerian_sadow
Snow, the cold water that was just not solidified enough to become ice to hail down on everything without mercy. Humans loved snow for reasons he still didn't quite understand but they seemed to have fun playing with it, molding it into something he also had trouble understanding as a representation of a man; or brushing it aside to create the silhouette of emissaries of a divine being some humans believed in.
He knew of someone who would enjoy playing in the snow, something they would likely find amusing and fun to do, and this character in particular was fond of trying anything that was fun. Sadly, it was not to be, not this solar cycle at least.
Ratchet had worked some miracles where he could, and although much damage still remaining, at least one more Autobot would get to see what an earth winter was like. This world was surprisingly well provided with energon and their small numbers helped to keep the resource self sustaining. They likely would need very little of what the planet had to offer so medical grade could be produced and used in their injured and ailing.
Just then, he heard a small beeping, alerting him it was time to change a drip. He left his place by the window where he watched the snow fall and took a few steps to the medical table that was moved into the hangar he'd claimed for himself. He changed the empty drip with a fresh new one, injecting the different chemicals and additives needed to help the recovering mech to regain full mobility and health.
The berth's occupant was still powered down, his body and spark still too weak to maintain a high level of activity, even being awake for a few minutes taxed the mech's systems. It was a slow process which required a painstaking amount of dedication and dutifulness to help this ailing one to recover. The silvery visor which was drown down to cover the otherwise offlined optics. This was his one selfish whim as he did not want to see those optics devoid of light--they reminded him of the fact a mere two earth months ago, those optics were also devoid of light.
He drew a thermal blanket down to the mech's knees and carefully began to apply a coat of grease between joints and transformation seems with a brush. He needed to keep the body lubricated and mobile, so when the time came the sleeping mech would be able to move around and do those acrobatics he was so fond of. He'd always find them to be too flashy and more than once thought that kind of showing off was really unnecessary and a waste of energy, but now he'd give anything to see the mech dance, and roll and twirl around with that smile of his on his dark face.
It would take time, he knew, but he would keep on tending to him even in his sleep, so one day the love of his life would dance, and roll and twirl around again. Once every seam and joint was taken care of, he set the pot down on the rolling table next to the mech's slab and unfurled the blanket over the immobile body once again.
A brush of white fingers over that dark cheek and he moved back to his place by the window, watching the humans and some fellow Autobots play in the snow.
"Sounds like they're havin' fun..."
The whisper broke the almost deafening silence of the room. He stood and looked back to see the mech on the medical berth had turned his face to him, a faint, weak glow lit the visor.
"They're playing in the snow. A snowball fight, I believe."
"Who's winnin'?"
"Lennox's team, thirty four impacts versus twenty one from Samuel's team."
There was a brief silence and the dim light disappeared, he believed the mech had gone back to sleep.
"I'd love t'watch. Wish I could join..."
"You will...I promise."
He slid his arms under the body on the table, mindful of the smaller frame and the blanket covering it. Normally, he wouldn't do something like this, but today he wanted nothing more than to oblige the simple wish of the recovering mech. Dragging along the energon drip, he sat by the window, cradling the other mech on his lap, the weak head rested on his shoulder at just the right angle to watch the snowball fight. The mech smiled even in his weakened state.
"Thank you."
----------------
"It's freakin' cold out here!" Jazz protested as he was dragged by the arm outside of the hangar he shared with Prowl.
"It is winter, cold is a reasonable expectation for the weather." Prowl dragged Jazz out, waiting until they were right in the middle of the field where a year ago comrades and friends were playing in the snow.
"Why ya bringin' me here? I'd rather be inside where it's warm and my joints don't feel stiff."
"Wait and you will see."
Jazz huffed. "See wha--huh?" Just as he spoke, a tiny white flurry drifted down to stick into his visor, melting away almost immediately. "Snow? It's snowin'?"
"The first of the year in this location. I stalked weather forecasters for days to get a good grasp of when we could expect it."
Jazz smiled and looked up, more and more flurries of frozen water kept drifting softly down from the skies. "You never forget a promise, huh?"
"No," Prowl unfurled a thermal blanket around Jazz's shoulders, reaching down to hold his hand while he looked up to watch the snow falling. "I don't."
"Not enough for a snowball fight, tho."
"That's alright. We have all night."
Jazz's fingers entwined with Prowl's. "We do."
-------------------
I had to split this in two parts, first because we have some posts that due to technical issues couldn't be posted and we're waiting for a re-send.
Part 2 will hopefully be posted tomorrow!
From shiome to gilded_orchid
------------
from wicked3659 to vesryn
It had all started with a smile. Don't these things always start with a smile? It wasn't however, a smile directed at him but it was a smile nonetheless. It had only been a subtle one, barely a smile really but it had been enough to grab his attention. Then the mech had spoken and he knew he was done for. Addicted.
"Jazz, are you listening?"
"Huh?"
Prowl rolled his optics at his project partner and sighed as he followed his gaze. It was always the same mech, every time he walked into the classroom Jazz would turn into an incoherent jibbering mess. "I really don't know what the appeal is but you staring isn't going to get our class project done in time," Prowl stood in the way of Jazz's line of sight and folded his arms, levelling a pointed glare at the mech.
Pulling a face, Jazz huffed and turned away putting his feet up on the desk before their professor walked past and swatted them back down with barely a passing glance.
"Don't know what your issue is, you're going to do all the work anyway," Jazz retorted petulantly.
"Actually we have to show equal participation for this or we both fail," Prowl leaned closer with a disgruntled pout. "And I refuse to fail the academy finals because of you."
"Fine whatever, just tell me what to do and I'll--"
"--hi Jazz," he mech that Jazz had been staring at appeared beside Prowl, completely ignoring the annoyed flick of the young Praxian's doorwings. "You coming to the party tonight?"
Jazz’s intakes hitched and he grinned stupidly at the mech and gave him a quick nod. "Yeah, course, you know me," he managed to spit out.
Prowl cleared his intakes and met Jazz's death glare. "We have a project to finish in case you'd forgotten."
Jazz bristled and swore before turning back to the first mech. "I'll be there, mech, will be a tad late is all, save me some high grade and a dance?"
"Sure thing, jazzy," The mech flashed his brilliant smile and moved back to his crowd giving Jazz a wave.
"I have no idea what you see in him, he's only playing you you do know that right? Just like last time," Prowl glanced at the mech, starting in surprise when Jazz suddenly grabbed his collar fairing and got in his
face.
"What the frag is your problem?"
"My problem?" Prowl repeated incredulously. "You're the one fawning over a mech who spurned you once after leading you on and here you are again doing exactly the same thing."
Jazz growled and shoved Prowl back as he stepped past him. "What do you fraggin know?" He shot back. "At least I have mechs interested in me, what do you have apart from your grades huh?" He smirked at Prowl's faint scowl. "Yeah thought so, you and that stick up your aft have a nice time together while I'm enjoying myself with real mechs."
Prowl watched Jazz saunter off, instantly mingling with others in their classroom. Prowl schooled his expression into one that gave nothing away and gathered up his things to go work on their project. It was easier to pretend that Jazz's words didn't sting.
****
Much later in the cycle when most responsible bots were recharging Prowl was finally leaving the library with his and Jazz's project. Much to his relief, Jazz had shown up and contributed his part in his usual blaze fashion as though nothing had ever been said between them. Then he'd slinked away to his party, leaving Prowl to work on it without him.
Feeling satisfied that he'd done enough for one cycle, Prowl was on his way back to his dorm. He was quite glad that he had his own room in such instances. Coming from a well off background did have its good points even if it did set him apart from most of the mechs at the academy with him. Neither a noble nor a commoner, Prowl didn't really fit in anywhere. That suited him fine.
Suddenly something caught his attention a sound or movement and he stopped. There it was again someway ahead. Cautiously Prowl made his way towards the soft sound and stopped in surprise when his optics fell on Jazz. The mech was sat on a bench along the path, knees tucked against his chest, arms wrapped around himself protectively as he stared up at the dark Cybertronian sky littered with glittering stars. After a klik's hesitation, Prowl started to turn away before a soft sob stopped him once more. Frowning and glancing back at Jazz, Prowl sighed and headed closer. "Jazz?"
Jazz instantly sat up, his visor bright and stared at Prowl as their optics met. "Prowl, what are you doing here?" He frowned, looking annoyed at the unexpected company.
"I was on my way back from the library," Prowl explained simply, not wanting to embarrass Jazz further by pointing out what he'd heard.
Jazz snorted and shook his helm. "Figures you'd be working late," he muttered, actually surprised at just how late Prowl was working.
"How was your party?" Prowl asked quickly before the awkward silence between them had a chance to settle.
"What do you care?" Jazz retorted sharply.
Doorwings twitching, Prowl looked down at the floor momentarily. "I simply hoped you had a nice time. Contrary to what you think of me, Jazz, I don't wish you any ill will," Prowl paused as Jazz scowled silently at him. "I can see you'd rather be alone so I'll say goodnight," Prowl added, walking past the bench and continuing on his way.
Jazz glared after him both embarrassed and feeling guilty at being so harsh. Prowl wasn't a bad mech just a little odd and difficult to relax around. "It was great if you must know, had a blast. Guess you're not always right!" He called out after the Praxian. He watched as Prowl halted in his tracks and couldn't stop the words spilling from his lips. "Better than hanging out with you here any vorn," Jazz felt the guilt sweep over him as Prowl’s doorwings noticeably dropped and the mech continued on his way without a word.
Burying his face in his hands Jazz flopped onto his side on the bench with a soft curse. "Great Jazz, excellently delivered like a complete slaggin aft," he groaned in dismay. "I'm such a fragger."
****
Prowl didn't look up when book files were placed in front of him with a loud clatter and barely spared a glance when the chair opposite was pulled out and filled with a familiar black and white presence. Without a word he handed over what he'd done so far and waited patiently while Jazz caught up. He was mildly surprised Jazz had joined him for study as normally after a party he would be otherwise occupied with whoever he'd snuck into his dorm room. He wasn't however complaining and he did feel somewhat sorry for the mech that looked like he hadn't recharged.
“Project looks good, Prowler,” Jazz stated as he fiddled with the datapad.
Raising an optic ridge, Prowl hummed in response. “Didn’t know attention to detail was your thing,” he answered dryly.
Jazz laughed shortly and pushed the datapad back towards Prowl. “I’m full of surprises.”
“Indeed,” Prowl murmured, looking back down at his datapad. “Like how you can barely stand to be in the same room as me one klik and then friendly the next,” he glanced up, meeting Jazz’s gaze, “as though nothing ever happened.”
Jazz’s smirk faded and he averted his gaze from Prowl’s. “Guess I deserved that,” he muttered.
“You deserve worse,” came the quick response. “But I need a project partner,” Prowl stated, placing a pile of datapads in front of Jazz with a small smile. “Shall we?”
Jazz stared at the pile before staring at Prowl and a grateful grin broke across his face. “You’re the boss,” he replied, picking up the top datapad.
Together they worked through the datapads efficiently, noting down anything they needed for their project. “I think we got a lot to work on, what do you reckon, Prowl?”
“I think that’s the first time I’ve heard you be excited about work,” Prowl answered good naturedly, a small smile pulling at his lips.
“Like I said, I’m full of surprises,” Jazz grinned, tucking a couple of extra datapads into his subspace. He opened his mouth to say something more only to be distracted by a couple of mechs walking past and quietly snickering as they glanced over.
Catching the hesitation and ensuing subtle growl, Prowl frowned slightly. He wouldn’t in any circumstance say that he and Jazz were friends but even he could tell something was wrong and Jazz looked like he was about to murder somebot.
“I was wondering if you would like to grab some energon,” Prowl spoke up quickly as Jazz turned, his fists clenched ready to beat the slag out of the chuckling mechs. He glared at Prowl, momentarily confused.
“What?”
“Come get some energon with me, we can discuss the next steps of our project some more,” Prowl insisted, taking a step closer, ignoring the wary looks the two mechs were giving them, especially Jazz and adding softly. “Whatever it is, it’s not worth getting expelled for,” he gazed at Jazz in earnest.
Bristling and shooting a dark look to the other two mechs, Jazz turned back to Prowl and gave him a short nod, marching past him and out of the library, much to Prowl’s relief as he quickly followed after him.
****
“I’m going to hazard a guess that the party wasn’t all you made it out to be,” Prowl stated mildly as he handed Jazz a cube and slid into the seat opposite him with his own cube.
Jazz remained stonily silent and idly swirled his cube.
Watching him, Prowl sighed and took a sip of his energon. “Look I know you don’t really like me but if you need to talk then--”
“--then what, mech?” Jazz asked sharply, glancing up at Prowl. “You’ll make it all better?”
Prowl gave him a wry smile. “Then I’m a willing audio,” he answered, unfazed by Jazz’s sullen demeanour.
Jazz’s face twisted and he took a gulp of his high grade. “Thanks,” he muttered somewhat graciously. “It’s a long boring story, honestly, let’s talk about something else.”
Prowl obliged and the two mechs that had been unwilling project partners since the start of their final vorn at the academy, finally talked, until Jazz let slip what had happened at the party. Prowl didn’t say much and simply listened as Jazz spoke of his humiliation, how he’d hoped the mech had changed, how he’d been a fool.
Looking down at his cube with a frown, Prowl pursed his lip components. “I’m sorry,” he started.
Jazz didn’t give him chance to finish. “Whatever. You were right, Prowl, should be telling me I told you so,” shaking his helm, he downed his fourth cube of high grade and pushed up from the table. “Just forget I said anythin’ yeah?”
Not given chance to respond as Jazz swiftly exited the quiet establishment, Prowl just sat and watched him leave. He did feel guilty for his earlier words but more than that, he felt angry. Angry that someone could treat Jazz that way. The mech had his flaws but as far as Prowl could see he went out of his way for so many mechs at the academy with them. He always had a smile, no matter what was going on with him. Prowl had always admired that energy in him. That ability to be positive even when he was feeling low himself. Jazz had always been rather frosty with him, ever since Prowl spurned his playful advances at the start of the vorn. Prowl had acted on what he knew of Jazz’s reputation and it was only after that, that they were forced to work together. In that time he had learned more about Jazz and that appearances certainly were deceiving. Sure the mech was shy when it came to actual studying and working in a team but he had an astute processor and thought on his feet. Something Prowl wasn’t particularly adept at. Despite maintaining a distance with Prowl, Prowl had grown to like Jazz for the glimpses of the mech away from the crowds, away from the attention. The mech he wished Jazz showed more. Not that it mattered, Jazz would never look at him as more than his stick up the aft project partner. Finishing his drink, Prowl got up and headed for the exit, resolved that no matter what he was going to cheer Jazz up and bring back that genuine smile of his.
****
Over the next coming cycles, Jazz’s smile returned and Prowl appeared to have gained a friend. Jazz had found something left for him outside of his dorm room on the cycle of Cybertron’s planetwide solar celebration. His favourite goodies with a little note attached. ‘From your secret admirer’, he’d told Prowl animatedly. He’d even graciously shared a goodie or two with him. Even after the special holiday festival was over, the gifts had kept coming.
Prowl for one was pleased just to see Jazz happy and pleasantly surprised that he was talking to him about it. In fact Jazz was spending a lot more time with him, outside of their project. With each gift, Jazz would discuss brightly about who the secret admirer could be.
His smile and mood only grew brighter, until a particular mech caught wind of what was going on and immediately swooped in to take advantage of the situation.
“You can’t be serious?”
Jazz shrugged and smiled coyly down at his latest gift. “He seemed really genuine, even apologised you know for what happened, he’s never done that before.”
“But, Jazz after everything you’ve told me, you really think he’ll have gone to all this effort, given you all these gifts after publicly humiliating you?” Prowl couldn’t quite believe what he was hearing.
“Maybe, mechs do change, Prowl,” Jazz nudged him with a playfully teasing grin. “I’m not a youngling, Prowler, I can take care of myself you know?”
“I am aware of this, I just think you should be careful with him is all, and maybe get proof that he’s your admirer…”
“Is it so hard to believe a mech could be that interested in me?”
Prowl looked away, hearing the indignation in Jazz’s tone. “No, I think there are plenty of mechs who would be that interested in you,” he replied quietly.
Jazz laughed and playfully tweaked the edge of a doorwing. “You getting soft on me, Prowler? Careful I might start to think you actually like having me around,” he chuckled and stood up. “I gotta run, meeting up with some friends, I’ll catch you later, yeah?”
Prowl nodded and let him go, watching with a twinge in his spark as the object of their conversation showed up and waved to Jazz, both of them heading off together with big smiles.
****
This would be the last one, Prowl promised himself. His plan had worked and Jazz was back to his usual self once more. Especially now a certain mech had taken advantage of the anonymous gifts and had schmoozed his way back into Jazz’s affections. He carefully wrapped up the crystal, making sure there wasn’t a crease out of place and finished writing his note with a small sad smile. His role was redundant, there was no more need for his gifts, no matter how well intentioned or thoughtful they were.
“I might’ve known,” the haughty voice caught Prowl’s attention and the crystal was suddenly swiped from his grasp. “You really think a mech like you can buy Jazz’s affections with trinkets?”
Prowl pushed to his feet, doorwings rising sharply on his back. “Hand it over,” he demanded succinctly.
“You’re deluded if you think he’d ever be interested in the likes of you,” the mech shoved the crystal into Prowl’s chest, making sure the corner of the container scratched his otherwise perfect white plating. “Jazz is my toy and I don’t like other mechs thinking they get to have a play, no matter how unlikely it is for him to even notice you.”
Prowl growled softly in warning and stepped into the mech’s space, causing him to look briefly uncertain. “Jazz is no toy, not for you nor anyone. He is his own mech and a he is too good for the likes of you.”
“So you think you’re good enough?” the mech shoved Prowl back, into the edge of the table. “You think you’re going to take what I’ve already claimed, hm?” he jabbed Prowl hard in the chest. “You’re a fraggin’ drone, Jazz is no better than a pleasure bot when he’s in the berth, or hadn’t you noticed how he flaunts himself for everyone? Course you have, that’s probably all you’re after isn’t it, cold-spark?” the mech grinned as his friends snickered around him. “He sure is a toy, and Primus does he play naughty in my berth,” the mech drawled.
“Liar!” Prowl snarled and shoved the mech back into a large bookshelf, causing it to whine on its bolts in protest at the force. Lunging for the mech and grabbing his collar fairing, Prowl raised his fist for the punch only for someone to grab his arm and forcefully pull him back.
“Prowl, it’s not worth it!”
Letting Jazz pull him back somewhat, Prowl continued to glare at the mech who looked somewhat stunned at the ferocity of his attack. “Jazz I couldn’t stand by and let him say those things about you, he’s a liar, I know what you told me and I believe you and--”
“--Prowl it’s alright, I heard, I know everything, please let’s just go, yeah?” Jazz urged, tugging on Prowl’s arm.
Meeting Jazz’s gaze, Prowl relented and let him pull him away. They made it out onto the academy grounds and Jazz finally let go of Prowl’s arm, turning to face him. The Praxian was still tense, still bristling with anger and avoiding Jazz’s gaze.
“So you’re the secret admirer?”
Prowl stopped pacing and bowed his helm. “It was only supposed to cheer you up and it worked better than I expected and so I continued, I never expected you to think it was him,” he ended with a snarl, looking back at the academy building, his fists clenching.
“Did you mean everything you wrote in the little notes?” Jazz asked, taking a hesitant step closer.
“Of course, despite appearances, Jazz, I do not dislike you and I wouldn’t have done it if I didn’t care and as for what happened in the library, I couldn’t just stand by and let him say those lies about you, thinking he has some claim to you as though you’re some sort of object, I won’t have it! I will not umpff--”
Silence fell over the two mechs after Prowl’s undignified squeak, until Jazz slowly pulled away, breaking their impromptu kiss.
“What why, I don’t… what…?”
Jazz smiled and placed a finger over Prowl’s lip components. “Had to shut you up from babbling awkwardly somehow, didn’t I?” his smile grew wider. “Have to admit, never had anyone fighting for me before,” he pressed closer to Prowl and gazed up at him with a glittering visor. “It’s kinda hot…”
Still recovering from their kiss, Prowl awkwardly placed his hands on Jazz’s waist. “You’re not… angry about the gifts?”
“Are you kidding me?” Jazz laughed. “Prowler you saw how happy I was, nobody has ever really made an attempt at getting to know me before… you knew just what to get me…”
Prowl ducked his helm and retrieved his latest gift he had been in the process of wrapping. “This was going to be my last,” he gave Jazz a shy smile, holding up the deep blue crystal.
Taking it carefully, Jazz whistled appreciatively. “This is beautiful, Prowl,” he smiled, examining it before tucking it into his own subspace.
“I’m glad you like it.”
“There’s something else I think I like,” Jazz replied demurely before leaning closer, brushing his lip components ever so lightly over Prowl’s in an open invitation. One which Prowl grabbed with both hands, letting everything fall away as their lips locked in a second much more tender and spark-felt kiss.
****
“We killed, our project was definitely up there,” Jazz enthused cheerfully, flopping in Prowl’s chair as they reached his dorm.
“It was rather well received I thought,” Prowl agreed with a subtle smile, perching on the edge of his berth.
Jazz hummed thoughtfully for a few kliks. “So that’s it then? We just need to wait for results and we’re done, academy over,” he commented absently.
Prowl nodded. “It would appear so,” he replied softly.
Jazz looked up and held Prowl’s gaze for a while as silence fell over them.
“What?” Prowl asked, somewhat flustered by Jazz’s intense gaze.
“There’s something I wanted to ask you,” Jazz started coyly, fiddling with part of the chair.
Prowl chuckled warmly. “Well don’t be shy on my account, we’ve been together a good while now, Jazz.”
“Well that’s just it, I wondered if you’d like to, you know… with me… would really mean a lot if you’d be my… you know…” Jazz frowned and looked away, visor dim. He didn’t even hear Prowl move before his hand was gently touching his face and lifting it up for another kiss.
Without a word, Prowl took Jazz’s hand and insistently pulling him over to the berth with an inviting smile and a squeeze of his hand as he scooted back, gently tugging a smiling Jazz with him.
----------------
From anonymous to shiome
Optimus Prime was dead.
Megatron was dead.
The Matrix of Leadership was destroyed, vaporized in the same explosion that had destroyed the faction leaders. They were leaderless and without the guidance that would choose a new mech to become Prime. It had seemed unreal, completely unbelievable, until Soundwave had crumpled to the ground with a wail.
The war ended on that long, sorrowful note as Prowl attempted to figure out what should happen next.
-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-
"Director Prowl, Lord Starscream is demanding an audience."
"Again?" Prowl sighed and shook his head at his aid. "What problem must we resolve immediately this time?"
"He didn't say, sir. All he would say was that it was of dire importance and that the future of the treaty would rest on it."
Prowl sighed again, knowing that Starscream was manipulating him neatly into meeting his demands. The Autobot leader--and how he wished Elita-1 or Ultra Magnus had stepped up to fill the position--knew he didn't dare disturb the delicate balance between his faction and the Decepticons so soon after the war.
"Very well. Advise Lord Starscream that I will be with him in one joor."
"Yes, sir."
"And, Index?"
"Sir?" The former neutral paused, half-turned to the door.
"Call Jazz to handle him is Starscream gets unmanageable. I need this joor to finish the trade documents in time for Carly's return to Earth."
"With pleasure, sir." Index smiled, genuinely pleased to be relieved from Starscream-sitting duty.
-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-
"This is intolerable!" Starscream raged. "I refuse to be granted an audience at his convenience!"
"With all due respect, Screamer--"
"Lord Starscream!"
"Lord Starscream," Jazz dropped down into an overstuffed lounge chair and propped his feet up on the sitting room's serving table. "But you are the one who dropped in without an appointment and demanded an audience."
"And then Prowl--"
"Director Prowl," the visored mech corrected, knowing that he shouldn't antagonize Starscream any further but unable to help himself.
The Seeker narrowed his optics dangerously. "Director Prowl expects me to be placated by you, like I am a hatchling who can be entertained by bouncy pop music and pretty dance moves."
"Well, past experiences would imply--"
"Do not finish that sentence. Anything that happened in our very distant youth can stay there."
"Whatever you say, Screamer. But you're still not seeing him until he's finished those trade agreements, so you might as well sit down and put your feet up."
-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-
"So what'd he want this time?" Jazz asked, setting up their game board.
"Apparently, one of the Human diplomats was found inside the royal quarters, inside the palace in Vos." Prowl filled a pair of energon cubes and carried them to the table. "Starscream might have let such a breech of protocol pass, as most of the Humans are still learning to read Cybertronian glyphs, but the diplomat wqlked in on the trine as they were renewing their bond."
"And I suppose Screamer flipped his lid."
"It was Thundercracker who made the death threats, actually. Starscream felt that we should be made aware before his trinemate created an intergalactic incident."
"Huh. Guess he really is serious about this alliance." Jazz took a drink from his cube and gestured fo Prowl to make the opening move in their game.
"Perhaps." The tactician set his first piece down. "Unfortunately, in order to deal with this problem, I must mediate between the trine and the human deligation and leave several other important projects waiting."
"I know you'll get things smoothed out quick enough, my mech." The former saboteur set down a playing piece as well. "In the mean time, I can take over the public works projects and keep them on track."
"What about setting up the datanets? And the new hall of records?"
"Blaster and Mirage can handle that for a week or two. We've got your back while you work on keeping us from going back to war."
Prowl's face softened. Jazz thought the corners of his lip components quirked up slightly, as well. "Thank you. It's a relief to know that i have support."
"You didn't come to this gig without your backups," the visored mech replied. "We've got this."
------------
anonymous to eerian_sadow
Snow, the cold water that was just not solidified enough to become ice to hail down on everything without mercy. Humans loved snow for reasons he still didn't quite understand but they seemed to have fun playing with it, molding it into something he also had trouble understanding as a representation of a man; or brushing it aside to create the silhouette of emissaries of a divine being some humans believed in.
He knew of someone who would enjoy playing in the snow, something they would likely find amusing and fun to do, and this character in particular was fond of trying anything that was fun. Sadly, it was not to be, not this solar cycle at least.
Ratchet had worked some miracles where he could, and although much damage still remaining, at least one more Autobot would get to see what an earth winter was like. This world was surprisingly well provided with energon and their small numbers helped to keep the resource self sustaining. They likely would need very little of what the planet had to offer so medical grade could be produced and used in their injured and ailing.
Just then, he heard a small beeping, alerting him it was time to change a drip. He left his place by the window where he watched the snow fall and took a few steps to the medical table that was moved into the hangar he'd claimed for himself. He changed the empty drip with a fresh new one, injecting the different chemicals and additives needed to help the recovering mech to regain full mobility and health.
The berth's occupant was still powered down, his body and spark still too weak to maintain a high level of activity, even being awake for a few minutes taxed the mech's systems. It was a slow process which required a painstaking amount of dedication and dutifulness to help this ailing one to recover. The silvery visor which was drown down to cover the otherwise offlined optics. This was his one selfish whim as he did not want to see those optics devoid of light--they reminded him of the fact a mere two earth months ago, those optics were also devoid of light.
He drew a thermal blanket down to the mech's knees and carefully began to apply a coat of grease between joints and transformation seems with a brush. He needed to keep the body lubricated and mobile, so when the time came the sleeping mech would be able to move around and do those acrobatics he was so fond of. He'd always find them to be too flashy and more than once thought that kind of showing off was really unnecessary and a waste of energy, but now he'd give anything to see the mech dance, and roll and twirl around with that smile of his on his dark face.
It would take time, he knew, but he would keep on tending to him even in his sleep, so one day the love of his life would dance, and roll and twirl around again. Once every seam and joint was taken care of, he set the pot down on the rolling table next to the mech's slab and unfurled the blanket over the immobile body once again.
A brush of white fingers over that dark cheek and he moved back to his place by the window, watching the humans and some fellow Autobots play in the snow.
"Sounds like they're havin' fun..."
The whisper broke the almost deafening silence of the room. He stood and looked back to see the mech on the medical berth had turned his face to him, a faint, weak glow lit the visor.
"They're playing in the snow. A snowball fight, I believe."
"Who's winnin'?"
"Lennox's team, thirty four impacts versus twenty one from Samuel's team."
There was a brief silence and the dim light disappeared, he believed the mech had gone back to sleep.
"I'd love t'watch. Wish I could join..."
"You will...I promise."
He slid his arms under the body on the table, mindful of the smaller frame and the blanket covering it. Normally, he wouldn't do something like this, but today he wanted nothing more than to oblige the simple wish of the recovering mech. Dragging along the energon drip, he sat by the window, cradling the other mech on his lap, the weak head rested on his shoulder at just the right angle to watch the snowball fight. The mech smiled even in his weakened state.
"Thank you."
----------------
"It's freakin' cold out here!" Jazz protested as he was dragged by the arm outside of the hangar he shared with Prowl.
"It is winter, cold is a reasonable expectation for the weather." Prowl dragged Jazz out, waiting until they were right in the middle of the field where a year ago comrades and friends were playing in the snow.
"Why ya bringin' me here? I'd rather be inside where it's warm and my joints don't feel stiff."
"Wait and you will see."
Jazz huffed. "See wha--huh?" Just as he spoke, a tiny white flurry drifted down to stick into his visor, melting away almost immediately. "Snow? It's snowin'?"
"The first of the year in this location. I stalked weather forecasters for days to get a good grasp of when we could expect it."
Jazz smiled and looked up, more and more flurries of frozen water kept drifting softly down from the skies. "You never forget a promise, huh?"
"No," Prowl unfurled a thermal blanket around Jazz's shoulders, reaching down to hold his hand while he looked up to watch the snow falling. "I don't."
"Not enough for a snowball fight, tho."
"That's alright. We have all night."
Jazz's fingers entwined with Prowl's. "We do."
-------------------