Prowl/Lennox
Pairing wanted: Prowl/Lennox, mention of past Prowl/Ironhide and past Ironhide/Lennox
Rating wanted: R-NC17
Scenario wanted: "What if" when Prowl arrives on earth, his bondmate, Ironhide, is dead, leaving Prowl to guard Lennox and the two of them connect through grief over the loss of someone they both loved?
Three things you'd like to see in your story: Will having to be the one to tell Prowl about Hide, Prowl deciding on his own to become Will's guardian, maybe mild angst
Three things you don't want to see in your story: Can't think of anything right off hand
A/N: You have no idea how excited I was to get this challenge. There was something about it that just called to me and said nice things to me. Of course, after writing several pages of it, I went back to reread the actual challenge and realized I had gone so off course with it…Sooo, when I eventually toss this up on ff.net too, it will be a much longer version, including the back story mentioned at the beginning here.
Author: kurichai
Trusting Him, Trusting You
Will glanced at the clock and glanced through his paperwork one more time. Nearly six years since the events of Mission City proved to hold no resistance against change. And not just with the presence of the alien robots known as Autobots. Will caught himself toying with the ring around his finger again. An old tic of his that he couldn’t stop since Sarah’s death.
The months following her lost battle to cancer had proven more difficult than anything else he’d experienced. But through that entire time, Ironhide never left his side. Despite his determination not to, Will finally found joy again, thanks to the presence of said Autobot warrior. Even when Will wanted nothing more than to be left alone, ‘Hide would help around the house with the children.
He glanced at the photo on the desk of his two children, Annabelle and David. Sarah lost her battle only because she refused the chemotherapy, not wanting to sacrifice David’s life for her own. When Sarah brought forth the infant boy into the world, only a month would pass before she left them all. If it hadn’t been for Ironhide, Will didn’t think he and the kids would have made it.
Will smiled, remember that one morning, the first morning that ‘Hide played nursemaid…
He stood up. More important matters were at hand than a trip through bittersweet memories. A new Autobot landed the previous night, Prowl, as Optimus had informed him. As first in command for the military contingent assigned to the Autobot base, it was up to Will to meet each and every new Autobot that arrived. But this one especially.
Will was well aware of the previous relationship Ironhide had with Prowl; the Autobot sometimes would go on and on about him. Ironhide quickly assured Will that the relationship with his bonded, as he called it, was not being betrayed; that what he and Will had was both different and the same as what he shared with Prowl.
“We’ll have to revisit the situation if Prowl reaches us here,” he said one time, which Will interpreted as ‘this isn’t a permanent thing, what we have.’ Ironhide quickly chased away those fears without managing to give a straight answer as to what would happen.
But now that didn’t matter, Ironhide was dead and Will was the one who would break the news to Prowl.
********************
Prowl withheld his impatient sigh as Rachet checked over his protoform once more. Rachet heard him anyway.
“You had a pretty bad landing, Prowl,” he said from behind the newly arrived mech. “I want to be sure your system is running fine before you go running off for an earth form.”
Prowl didn’t bother hiding his sigh this time. “You of all mechs should know why I am eager to be going. Where is Ironhide? Where will I find him?”
There was a long pause. “That’s not for me to tell you.”
A cryptic response. Prowl frowned and turned his head to try and looked at Ratchet, to maybe read his expressions or give away some clue. Ratchet twisted out of sight and moved away from him.
“Our official liaison with the people of Earth will be here shortly. He will fill you in on the necessary information needed for getting around on the planet without raising too much alarm. You’ll need to report to Optimus after that,” he explained, still not looking directly at Prowl.
Report to Prime after conferring with the local? That didn’t meet any sort of logic. Prowl was about to inquire further when there was a quiet tapping sound at the entrance.
“Ah, there he is now,” said Rachet, moving to open the doorway for the human.
Prowl remained seated where he was and watched as the man approached them.
“Am I correct to assume you’re Prowl?” the human asked.
Prowl nodded.
The human stood there, quiet and fidgeting before finally glancing over at Rachet. The medic caught the look and immediately glanced at his wrist (for what reason, Prowl wasn’t sure) and exclaimed, “I’m suppose to be meeting with Bumblebee right now. I’ll just leave you two and be on my way.”
Rachet made a quick exit of the room as Prowl shot the human with a suspicious look, trying to calculate what he was up to. He appeared quite nervous which seemed odd to Prowl. If this was the liason for the Autobots, wouldn’t be more comfortable in their presence?
The human apparently managed to regain his composure and said, “I’m Lieutenant Colonel Will Lennox, head of the Earth Military Contingent here. I’m glad you were able to make it to Earth at last. I’ve heard a lot about you.”
Prowl tilted his head before shrugging and saying, “If you would be quick enough to tell me what I need to know so I can meet with Optimus and get myself acclimated to this place.” And so I can finally find out where Ironhide is.
The man, Will, fidgeted some more and ran a hand through his hair, not meeting Prowl’s gaze.
“I’ll…get to that eventually,” he said, almost reluctantly. He looked up now, catching Prowl’s optics and taking a deep breath. “Ironhide talked all the time about you. He said you two were as close as any of your kind can get.”
Warnings were going off in Prowl’s mind, but he didn’t listen.
Will continued, a ghost of a smile crossing his face. “I found myself envying you sometimes, the way ‘Hide would carry on about you…” His voice trailed off and a dark silence welled up between them.
“What…” Prowl’s voice finally broke through the silence. “What happened? Where’s Ironhide?”
“I’m sorry, Prowl,” he began, his voice weak, “He’s dead.”
Dead, not a word immediately recognized by the Autobot but after a quick search on the World Wide Web, Prowl’s spark tightened in shock. No…it wasn’t possible! Wouldn’t he have felt it? Wouldn’t he have known if his bonded were permanently offlined?
“It was suppose to be some time off for both of us and he’d accompanied my family and I to go camping,” Will continued, oblivious of the growing turmoil rolling off the Autobot.
Prowl shook his head. “What nonsense are you saying?” he asked even as he reached out through his bond to contact Ironhide.
Nothing.
Panic seized him now as he reached out into nothing. No response, no hint of another presence. The human took a couple steps back as Prowl stood up from the exam table, optics flaring. But not in anger, as Will quickly discovered when Prowl kneeled and brought his face to his level.
“What happened to him?” he asked in a strained voice.
*******************
Will gazed at the blazing optics, nearly at a loss for words at the sound of grief in Prowl’s voice.
“It was Starscream,” he began with a shaky voice, “and some others…We don’t know where they came from…”
Images of Ironhide being assaulted by the full force of Starscream and his Seekers still haunted Will. In fact, this was the first time in a very long time that he’d even let himself think about it. Oh, God! Will had wanted to go back to Ironhide, to find some way to save him, but he had to get his children out of there. A final shot from Starscream, directed at the center of ‘Hide’s chest, damaged the spark chamber beyond repair.
“’Hide!” Will scrambled across the rubble as the other Autobots chased away the Seekers. Climbing up onto the chest, he could see just how bad the damage. “Dammit…Rachet!”
He moved forward to see Ironhide’s faded optics. “’Hide?” He called out hoarsly.
Ironhide’s response sounded even worse. With voice crackling with static, he answered, “Will…you okay? The kids…where…”
“Shhh, it’s okay, I’m alright, the kids are safe,” he assured him. Sparks flared from Ironhide’s chest and Will’s vision blurred from tears. He couldn’t lose anyone else! He couldn’t! “Rachet!!”
Nothing could be done to save him. Rachet worked on him for hours, able to make some physical repairs, but Ironhide’s spark couldn’t be stabilized. Will locked himself in his room for a day when a knock came at the door. Optimus, in a rare occurrence of using his holoform, had come to visit him.
He would reveal Ironhide’s last transmission to Optimus, as his vocals had given up. Ironhide’s last request, last words, to Will, was a request that he be the one to tell Prowl what happened.
And now here he stood, doing that very thing. He blinked, trying to chase away the blurriness in his eyes. Prowl’s optics remained intent on him until he stood with amazing speed, turned, and walked away, without another word.
Will ran a shaky hand through his hair before turning and moving away in the opposite direction.
************************
Prowl studied the white and black of his new armor, his mind finally slowing to a more stable speed. Optimus had confirmed Will’s story and at last encouraged Prowl to take some time to himself before picking up his old duties. Prowl reluctantly obliged and now sat at an overlook just outside the base.
The sun’s fading glow reflected off the armor but he didn’t notice. His mind was in the past, dwelling on things no longer possible. In the darkest point in his life, it was Ironhide who rescued him, who brought him back into the light. But now the darkness surrounded him once more and there was no one to save him.
His optics dimmed as he pulled up images of Ironhide from his memory, but something unexpected happened. For a brief moment, the memory of the human filled his mind’s eye. Prowl started, optics brightening again as he glanced around him. Starting up a system diagnostic, Prowl found himself thinking about the earlier event, wondering at the emotion the human portrayed.
There were still unanswered questions as to how this Will became involved in Ironhide’s life. Prowl needed to know more and as his diagnostic came up clear, he transformed into his vehicle form and sped off down the highway.
He needed answers.
************************
Will rubbed a hand down his face, wishing away the tightness in his body. He knew he should have just gone home after speaking with Prowl, but there were too many reminders there of both Ironhide and Sarah. He just wasn’t sure he could handle that, but it was getting late now and he needed to get home to the children. Mikeala was being kind enough to help watch the children when needed but Will hated to use her more than necessary, especially with her and Sam’s first on the way.
He closed up his office and made his way to the car, resolving his self to the inevitable. The ride home was the same as always, but when he pulled onto the street leading to his home, his heart began to pound. Not due to apprehension of facing forever gone memories, but because of the black and white police cruiser sitting in front of his house.
Will didn’t remember getting out of the car or even if left it in park or not. He didn’t remember flinging the door open and shouting out his children’s names. He raced into the kitchen and upon a quick sweep of the room, saw the police uniform and charged the man. Will lifted him out of the chair and slammed him against the wall.
“Where are my kids?” he growled. “Where are they, Barricade?”
The other man stared at him, emotionless, not responding to the threatening mannerisms. This only irritated Will further and he pushed against him even harder.
“Tell me!”
“Will! Stop it!”
From the corner of his eye, Will could see Mikeala with David asleep in her arms. From his other side, he heard someone else moving and a quick glance showed him Sam.
“Will, it’s cool, put him down, it isn’t Barricade,” Sam said softly.
“He cannot hurt me.” Will started as the man he held spoke.
“Yeah, well, he can hurt himself, Prowl,” replied Sam.
Prowl? Will gave the man a hard look, blue eyes watching him with the same scrutiny.
“But…there’s a Saleen out front,” he protested weakly.
“I thought so too,” Mikeala answered. “But it’s a Dodge Charger. Prowl didn’t realize Barricade had used the same color scheme.”
“Besides,” Sam added, “I don’t think Barricade would have asked to come in and allowed us to enjoy a cup of coffee with him.”
He had a point there and Will knew it. And now, as Will studied the face before him, he knew they were both right. This wasn’t Barricade.
Almost against their will, his hands loosened their grip and let Prowl go. Will took a step back and looked around at Mikeala and Sam and Anna Belle. The little girl stared at him with wide, watery eyes. His chest went tight at the sight as he realized just how much control he’d lost right here in front of her.
He took a deep breath and ran a hand through his hair, his body flushed with embarrassment. How could he have lost himself so easily? Dammit. He turned and exited the kitchen, moving towards the stairs. A hand grabbed at his arm and he turned to meet the concerned eyes of Sam.
“Look, Will…do you want us to take the kids for a night or two?” He asked, worry creeping into his voice. “I think you and Prowl have some things to work out…”
Will slowly nodded. “Yeah, sure, I’ll, uh, go get their things.”
Sam shook his head. “Mikeala already did.”
Damn. These kids knew him too well.
“Alright…I’ll be back down in a few.” He said and retreated to his bedroom upstairs.
He stood in front of the mirror in the attached bathroom, staring at the pale face that stared back. What could he say? How the hell would Prowl react that he and Ironhide were lovers even though Prowl and Ironhide were bonded.
Will managed to calm himself before going back downstairs. He had to be strong for his kids. He didn’t want to lose it ever again like that with them present. He hugged Anna Belle, trading butterfly kisses and saying silly things to make her giggle and smile once again. David, still asleep in Mikeala’s arms, didn’t stir as Will kissed him on the head.
“Thanks guys.”
They nodded and left, leaving him alone with Prowl.
************************
Prowl gazed at the photos along the mantle of the fireplace. It was displayed almost like a timeline with Will and a woman together, smiling, then the children and then to Will with another man. Ironhide. His spark constricted with emotion. They looked so…happy. Not in the all out grinning way, but in more like in the sense of being content with life. Had Ironhide even missed him?
He heard footsteps behind him but didn’t wait for the human to speak.
“I think I know why Ironhide was drawn to you, Will Lennox,” he said, turning to face him.
Will frowned, confusion clear in his eyes.
“You seem to be a very passionate person and very drawn to protect what you care about.” He stopped. What else could he say? He really wasn’t sure what could be said to this man who was his lover’s lover.
Will didn’t meet his eyes but moved forward and picked up the photo of himself and his wife. “After Sarah died, he…I don’t know how else to phrase it. He saved me.” He put the photo back and looked over the others. “He was my anchor in a tumultuous time.”
Prowl didn’t respond, still at a loss of words. What could be possibly say to Will? Clearly they were both in grief but they were so radically different! Weren’t they?
“He saved me,” Will repeated and gave Prowl a sidelong glance. “Just like he saved you.”
Prowl started and looked directly at the human, making eye contact. “How -?”
“He told me about Barricade and how he betrayed you.”
For Ironhide to disclose that kind of information, Prowl knew he should feel more anger - but he didn’t. It felt more like…relief. There was someone here who still knew of the pain Prowl went through when his brother betrayed him and joined the Decepticons.
“I envy you, Prowl,” he continued. “I know I’ve said it before, but I do mean it. You had so much more time with him and I’m jealous, you are incredibly lucky to have known him for so much longer.”
Prowl looked away, knowing the truth of Will’s words and hearing the hurt so loud behind those words.
“I wish,” Will said as he voice cracked. “I wish I could have known him like you had and I wish he were here now.”
As his words faded, Prowl looked back at him. All the hurt and pain and grief he felt inside he could see on this man’s face. With fearful slowness, Prowl lifted up a hand and ever so gently caressed Will’s cheek.
“Perhaps,” he said quietly, “we have more in common than I first thought, Will Lennox.”
Prowl stared in surprise as the human gave a soft laugh.
“Sorry, it’s just…’Hide used to do that all the time.” A slight smile danced across his lips at Prowl’s continued confusion. “Use my full name. You can just call me Will. The Lennox part isn’t necessary.”
“I can do that,” Prowl said, his hand still unmoving, “Will.”
Will’s hand reached up to cover Prowl’s and both held the other’s eyes in a sudden fiery grip. The next moment, Prowl had warm lips pressed against own and hands holding him close. He wasn’t sure how to respond and tried doing a quick search on what was occurring but Will pulled away before he could finish the search, his eyes not meeting Prowl’s.
“I’m…I’m sorry,” he said quietly. “I shouldn’t have done that.”
Prowl ignored the apology and asked, “Is this how you and ‘Hide would interact?” The tingle on his lips was being slow to fade and he wasn’t sure he could say it was a bad thing. In fact, other parts of his holoform were reacting to this….ah, kiss is what the humans called it.
Will slowly turned his head back to Prowl. “Yeah, we did most of our…interactions with him using his human form.” A small laugh that fell flat. “We found it a bit easier for both of us that way.”
Prowl gave a quick nod and reached over to pull the human back. “Then I will trust in ‘Hide’s wisdom and do the same.”
Will didn’t have a chance to respond before Prowl closed his mouth over the human’s, continuing the extraordinary experience. After the moment surprise fled, Will wrapped his arms around Prowl and pulled him closer, the Autobot doing the same. Sensations never felt before flooded into Prowl and the instinctual part of the holoform programming kicked in as a low moan broke through his vocal cords.
Hands began to roam across his back, one traveling up over his shoulders and the other moving downwards, holding Prowl steady as Will pushed his hips against him.
Prowl broke the kiss, gasping, “Primus!” Pleasure rippled out from where their groins met. Was this how humans felt every time they kissed? It was…amazing!
Will pressed his forehead against Prowl’s, panting and chuckling. “Ironhide said the same thing the first time we did this.”
“Understandably so!” Prowl replied, finding the urge to push back against Will too hard to resist. Will’s answering gasp betrayed the human’s own arousal. Prowl couldn’t help but smile before moving in to begin this kissing thing once again.
The moved like this for what seemed like eternity before Will finally pulled away.
“I think,” he gasped, “We might want to move this to somewhere a bit more comfortable.”
Prowl didn’t understand exactly what Will meant as the Internet suggested that sexual encounters could occur anywhere with a great deal of pleasure. But if this was how ‘Hide and Will shared their love, he would follow in their footsteps. The moment Will had him on his back on the bed upstairs, he wholly agreed that this was much more comfortable. Especially when Will begin to grind his hips against Prowl’s.
Prowl arched up before pulling Will in for another kiss, but there was resistance now. He looked up Will wanting to ask Will about the smirk he was expressing.
“You do realize there’s more to this than just kissing, right?” He asked, his tone much light than earlier, though thick with arousal.
“Of course,” answered Prowl.
Will stared at him for a moment before shaking his head. “God…you looked it up, didn’t you? I don’t even want to know what the hell you found out there, just…trust me?”
With a slow caution, Prowl nodded. “I trust Ironhide. I trust you.”
Will’s eyes fluttered shut as grief flashed across his face. This time there was no resistance as Prowl pulled him down into another kiss. It wasn’t long before the two bodies writhed against each other, muffled moans escaping from them. Desperation crept into the movements as though both were striving to reach out to the lost third - to Ironhide.
Someone’s hand, it was difficult to say who’s, reached down and began to work at their pants. In the next moment, two pairs of hands worked at undoing the bindings and shoving down the bothersome material. In another moment, hot flesh met and glided against the other. Prowl arched again, the waves of pleasure so new and incomparable to what he knew.
It was Will’s hand that reached between them now, grabbing both shafts in his hand, holding them together as their hips continued to rub them together. Prowl’s breathing came in short gasps and moans, in between his panting. Will wasn’t much better though he was more of a growler than anything else.
For Prowl, he wasn’t sure how much longer he could go like this. Wasn’t there some kind release that should happen? Will’s calloused fingers gave their movements added friction and then suddenly Prowl was there, the orgasm ripped through him, turning him inside out. Time froze and he could feel a quiet peace chasing after the waves of pleasure, as though someone else were there, playing a third part to their duet.
Will jerked and yelped out in release, trapping his hand between their bodies as he ground his hips into Prowl’s again.
The peace found him as well.
When he awoke again, he was caught in a tangle of arms and warmth - an experience he sorely missed. The arms tightened around him and he found himself returning the movement.
“Sleep, Will, it is my turn to watch over you now.”
To hold back the tears that threatened seemed only like a sin now, so Will let them pour out and let his grief go. The arms tightened further.
“It will be okay, Will,” said Prowl. “Not today, not tomorrow, but we will make it together and we will be okay one day.”
Will pulled the Autobot close and whispered, “I know.”
Peace wrapped around them and held them close.
Rating wanted: R-NC17
Scenario wanted: "What if" when Prowl arrives on earth, his bondmate, Ironhide, is dead, leaving Prowl to guard Lennox and the two of them connect through grief over the loss of someone they both loved?
Three things you'd like to see in your story: Will having to be the one to tell Prowl about Hide, Prowl deciding on his own to become Will's guardian, maybe mild angst
Three things you don't want to see in your story: Can't think of anything right off hand
A/N: You have no idea how excited I was to get this challenge. There was something about it that just called to me and said nice things to me. Of course, after writing several pages of it, I went back to reread the actual challenge and realized I had gone so off course with it…Sooo, when I eventually toss this up on ff.net too, it will be a much longer version, including the back story mentioned at the beginning here.
Author: kurichai
Trusting Him, Trusting You
Will glanced at the clock and glanced through his paperwork one more time. Nearly six years since the events of Mission City proved to hold no resistance against change. And not just with the presence of the alien robots known as Autobots. Will caught himself toying with the ring around his finger again. An old tic of his that he couldn’t stop since Sarah’s death.
The months following her lost battle to cancer had proven more difficult than anything else he’d experienced. But through that entire time, Ironhide never left his side. Despite his determination not to, Will finally found joy again, thanks to the presence of said Autobot warrior. Even when Will wanted nothing more than to be left alone, ‘Hide would help around the house with the children.
He glanced at the photo on the desk of his two children, Annabelle and David. Sarah lost her battle only because she refused the chemotherapy, not wanting to sacrifice David’s life for her own. When Sarah brought forth the infant boy into the world, only a month would pass before she left them all. If it hadn’t been for Ironhide, Will didn’t think he and the kids would have made it.
Will smiled, remember that one morning, the first morning that ‘Hide played nursemaid…
He stood up. More important matters were at hand than a trip through bittersweet memories. A new Autobot landed the previous night, Prowl, as Optimus had informed him. As first in command for the military contingent assigned to the Autobot base, it was up to Will to meet each and every new Autobot that arrived. But this one especially.
Will was well aware of the previous relationship Ironhide had with Prowl; the Autobot sometimes would go on and on about him. Ironhide quickly assured Will that the relationship with his bonded, as he called it, was not being betrayed; that what he and Will had was both different and the same as what he shared with Prowl.
“We’ll have to revisit the situation if Prowl reaches us here,” he said one time, which Will interpreted as ‘this isn’t a permanent thing, what we have.’ Ironhide quickly chased away those fears without managing to give a straight answer as to what would happen.
But now that didn’t matter, Ironhide was dead and Will was the one who would break the news to Prowl.
********************
Prowl withheld his impatient sigh as Rachet checked over his protoform once more. Rachet heard him anyway.
“You had a pretty bad landing, Prowl,” he said from behind the newly arrived mech. “I want to be sure your system is running fine before you go running off for an earth form.”
Prowl didn’t bother hiding his sigh this time. “You of all mechs should know why I am eager to be going. Where is Ironhide? Where will I find him?”
There was a long pause. “That’s not for me to tell you.”
A cryptic response. Prowl frowned and turned his head to try and looked at Ratchet, to maybe read his expressions or give away some clue. Ratchet twisted out of sight and moved away from him.
“Our official liaison with the people of Earth will be here shortly. He will fill you in on the necessary information needed for getting around on the planet without raising too much alarm. You’ll need to report to Optimus after that,” he explained, still not looking directly at Prowl.
Report to Prime after conferring with the local? That didn’t meet any sort of logic. Prowl was about to inquire further when there was a quiet tapping sound at the entrance.
“Ah, there he is now,” said Rachet, moving to open the doorway for the human.
Prowl remained seated where he was and watched as the man approached them.
“Am I correct to assume you’re Prowl?” the human asked.
Prowl nodded.
The human stood there, quiet and fidgeting before finally glancing over at Rachet. The medic caught the look and immediately glanced at his wrist (for what reason, Prowl wasn’t sure) and exclaimed, “I’m suppose to be meeting with Bumblebee right now. I’ll just leave you two and be on my way.”
Rachet made a quick exit of the room as Prowl shot the human with a suspicious look, trying to calculate what he was up to. He appeared quite nervous which seemed odd to Prowl. If this was the liason for the Autobots, wouldn’t be more comfortable in their presence?
The human apparently managed to regain his composure and said, “I’m Lieutenant Colonel Will Lennox, head of the Earth Military Contingent here. I’m glad you were able to make it to Earth at last. I’ve heard a lot about you.”
Prowl tilted his head before shrugging and saying, “If you would be quick enough to tell me what I need to know so I can meet with Optimus and get myself acclimated to this place.” And so I can finally find out where Ironhide is.
The man, Will, fidgeted some more and ran a hand through his hair, not meeting Prowl’s gaze.
“I’ll…get to that eventually,” he said, almost reluctantly. He looked up now, catching Prowl’s optics and taking a deep breath. “Ironhide talked all the time about you. He said you two were as close as any of your kind can get.”
Warnings were going off in Prowl’s mind, but he didn’t listen.
Will continued, a ghost of a smile crossing his face. “I found myself envying you sometimes, the way ‘Hide would carry on about you…” His voice trailed off and a dark silence welled up between them.
“What…” Prowl’s voice finally broke through the silence. “What happened? Where’s Ironhide?”
“I’m sorry, Prowl,” he began, his voice weak, “He’s dead.”
Dead, not a word immediately recognized by the Autobot but after a quick search on the World Wide Web, Prowl’s spark tightened in shock. No…it wasn’t possible! Wouldn’t he have felt it? Wouldn’t he have known if his bonded were permanently offlined?
“It was suppose to be some time off for both of us and he’d accompanied my family and I to go camping,” Will continued, oblivious of the growing turmoil rolling off the Autobot.
Prowl shook his head. “What nonsense are you saying?” he asked even as he reached out through his bond to contact Ironhide.
Nothing.
Panic seized him now as he reached out into nothing. No response, no hint of another presence. The human took a couple steps back as Prowl stood up from the exam table, optics flaring. But not in anger, as Will quickly discovered when Prowl kneeled and brought his face to his level.
“What happened to him?” he asked in a strained voice.
*******************
Will gazed at the blazing optics, nearly at a loss for words at the sound of grief in Prowl’s voice.
“It was Starscream,” he began with a shaky voice, “and some others…We don’t know where they came from…”
Images of Ironhide being assaulted by the full force of Starscream and his Seekers still haunted Will. In fact, this was the first time in a very long time that he’d even let himself think about it. Oh, God! Will had wanted to go back to Ironhide, to find some way to save him, but he had to get his children out of there. A final shot from Starscream, directed at the center of ‘Hide’s chest, damaged the spark chamber beyond repair.
“’Hide!” Will scrambled across the rubble as the other Autobots chased away the Seekers. Climbing up onto the chest, he could see just how bad the damage. “Dammit…Rachet!”
He moved forward to see Ironhide’s faded optics. “’Hide?” He called out hoarsly.
Ironhide’s response sounded even worse. With voice crackling with static, he answered, “Will…you okay? The kids…where…”
“Shhh, it’s okay, I’m alright, the kids are safe,” he assured him. Sparks flared from Ironhide’s chest and Will’s vision blurred from tears. He couldn’t lose anyone else! He couldn’t! “Rachet!!”
Nothing could be done to save him. Rachet worked on him for hours, able to make some physical repairs, but Ironhide’s spark couldn’t be stabilized. Will locked himself in his room for a day when a knock came at the door. Optimus, in a rare occurrence of using his holoform, had come to visit him.
He would reveal Ironhide’s last transmission to Optimus, as his vocals had given up. Ironhide’s last request, last words, to Will, was a request that he be the one to tell Prowl what happened.
And now here he stood, doing that very thing. He blinked, trying to chase away the blurriness in his eyes. Prowl’s optics remained intent on him until he stood with amazing speed, turned, and walked away, without another word.
Will ran a shaky hand through his hair before turning and moving away in the opposite direction.
************************
Prowl studied the white and black of his new armor, his mind finally slowing to a more stable speed. Optimus had confirmed Will’s story and at last encouraged Prowl to take some time to himself before picking up his old duties. Prowl reluctantly obliged and now sat at an overlook just outside the base.
The sun’s fading glow reflected off the armor but he didn’t notice. His mind was in the past, dwelling on things no longer possible. In the darkest point in his life, it was Ironhide who rescued him, who brought him back into the light. But now the darkness surrounded him once more and there was no one to save him.
His optics dimmed as he pulled up images of Ironhide from his memory, but something unexpected happened. For a brief moment, the memory of the human filled his mind’s eye. Prowl started, optics brightening again as he glanced around him. Starting up a system diagnostic, Prowl found himself thinking about the earlier event, wondering at the emotion the human portrayed.
There were still unanswered questions as to how this Will became involved in Ironhide’s life. Prowl needed to know more and as his diagnostic came up clear, he transformed into his vehicle form and sped off down the highway.
He needed answers.
************************
Will rubbed a hand down his face, wishing away the tightness in his body. He knew he should have just gone home after speaking with Prowl, but there were too many reminders there of both Ironhide and Sarah. He just wasn’t sure he could handle that, but it was getting late now and he needed to get home to the children. Mikeala was being kind enough to help watch the children when needed but Will hated to use her more than necessary, especially with her and Sam’s first on the way.
He closed up his office and made his way to the car, resolving his self to the inevitable. The ride home was the same as always, but when he pulled onto the street leading to his home, his heart began to pound. Not due to apprehension of facing forever gone memories, but because of the black and white police cruiser sitting in front of his house.
Will didn’t remember getting out of the car or even if left it in park or not. He didn’t remember flinging the door open and shouting out his children’s names. He raced into the kitchen and upon a quick sweep of the room, saw the police uniform and charged the man. Will lifted him out of the chair and slammed him against the wall.
“Where are my kids?” he growled. “Where are they, Barricade?”
The other man stared at him, emotionless, not responding to the threatening mannerisms. This only irritated Will further and he pushed against him even harder.
“Tell me!”
“Will! Stop it!”
From the corner of his eye, Will could see Mikeala with David asleep in her arms. From his other side, he heard someone else moving and a quick glance showed him Sam.
“Will, it’s cool, put him down, it isn’t Barricade,” Sam said softly.
“He cannot hurt me.” Will started as the man he held spoke.
“Yeah, well, he can hurt himself, Prowl,” replied Sam.
Prowl? Will gave the man a hard look, blue eyes watching him with the same scrutiny.
“But…there’s a Saleen out front,” he protested weakly.
“I thought so too,” Mikeala answered. “But it’s a Dodge Charger. Prowl didn’t realize Barricade had used the same color scheme.”
“Besides,” Sam added, “I don’t think Barricade would have asked to come in and allowed us to enjoy a cup of coffee with him.”
He had a point there and Will knew it. And now, as Will studied the face before him, he knew they were both right. This wasn’t Barricade.
Almost against their will, his hands loosened their grip and let Prowl go. Will took a step back and looked around at Mikeala and Sam and Anna Belle. The little girl stared at him with wide, watery eyes. His chest went tight at the sight as he realized just how much control he’d lost right here in front of her.
He took a deep breath and ran a hand through his hair, his body flushed with embarrassment. How could he have lost himself so easily? Dammit. He turned and exited the kitchen, moving towards the stairs. A hand grabbed at his arm and he turned to meet the concerned eyes of Sam.
“Look, Will…do you want us to take the kids for a night or two?” He asked, worry creeping into his voice. “I think you and Prowl have some things to work out…”
Will slowly nodded. “Yeah, sure, I’ll, uh, go get their things.”
Sam shook his head. “Mikeala already did.”
Damn. These kids knew him too well.
“Alright…I’ll be back down in a few.” He said and retreated to his bedroom upstairs.
He stood in front of the mirror in the attached bathroom, staring at the pale face that stared back. What could he say? How the hell would Prowl react that he and Ironhide were lovers even though Prowl and Ironhide were bonded.
Will managed to calm himself before going back downstairs. He had to be strong for his kids. He didn’t want to lose it ever again like that with them present. He hugged Anna Belle, trading butterfly kisses and saying silly things to make her giggle and smile once again. David, still asleep in Mikeala’s arms, didn’t stir as Will kissed him on the head.
“Thanks guys.”
They nodded and left, leaving him alone with Prowl.
************************
Prowl gazed at the photos along the mantle of the fireplace. It was displayed almost like a timeline with Will and a woman together, smiling, then the children and then to Will with another man. Ironhide. His spark constricted with emotion. They looked so…happy. Not in the all out grinning way, but in more like in the sense of being content with life. Had Ironhide even missed him?
He heard footsteps behind him but didn’t wait for the human to speak.
“I think I know why Ironhide was drawn to you, Will Lennox,” he said, turning to face him.
Will frowned, confusion clear in his eyes.
“You seem to be a very passionate person and very drawn to protect what you care about.” He stopped. What else could he say? He really wasn’t sure what could be said to this man who was his lover’s lover.
Will didn’t meet his eyes but moved forward and picked up the photo of himself and his wife. “After Sarah died, he…I don’t know how else to phrase it. He saved me.” He put the photo back and looked over the others. “He was my anchor in a tumultuous time.”
Prowl didn’t respond, still at a loss of words. What could be possibly say to Will? Clearly they were both in grief but they were so radically different! Weren’t they?
“He saved me,” Will repeated and gave Prowl a sidelong glance. “Just like he saved you.”
Prowl started and looked directly at the human, making eye contact. “How -?”
“He told me about Barricade and how he betrayed you.”
For Ironhide to disclose that kind of information, Prowl knew he should feel more anger - but he didn’t. It felt more like…relief. There was someone here who still knew of the pain Prowl went through when his brother betrayed him and joined the Decepticons.
“I envy you, Prowl,” he continued. “I know I’ve said it before, but I do mean it. You had so much more time with him and I’m jealous, you are incredibly lucky to have known him for so much longer.”
Prowl looked away, knowing the truth of Will’s words and hearing the hurt so loud behind those words.
“I wish,” Will said as he voice cracked. “I wish I could have known him like you had and I wish he were here now.”
As his words faded, Prowl looked back at him. All the hurt and pain and grief he felt inside he could see on this man’s face. With fearful slowness, Prowl lifted up a hand and ever so gently caressed Will’s cheek.
“Perhaps,” he said quietly, “we have more in common than I first thought, Will Lennox.”
Prowl stared in surprise as the human gave a soft laugh.
“Sorry, it’s just…’Hide used to do that all the time.” A slight smile danced across his lips at Prowl’s continued confusion. “Use my full name. You can just call me Will. The Lennox part isn’t necessary.”
“I can do that,” Prowl said, his hand still unmoving, “Will.”
Will’s hand reached up to cover Prowl’s and both held the other’s eyes in a sudden fiery grip. The next moment, Prowl had warm lips pressed against own and hands holding him close. He wasn’t sure how to respond and tried doing a quick search on what was occurring but Will pulled away before he could finish the search, his eyes not meeting Prowl’s.
“I’m…I’m sorry,” he said quietly. “I shouldn’t have done that.”
Prowl ignored the apology and asked, “Is this how you and ‘Hide would interact?” The tingle on his lips was being slow to fade and he wasn’t sure he could say it was a bad thing. In fact, other parts of his holoform were reacting to this….ah, kiss is what the humans called it.
Will slowly turned his head back to Prowl. “Yeah, we did most of our…interactions with him using his human form.” A small laugh that fell flat. “We found it a bit easier for both of us that way.”
Prowl gave a quick nod and reached over to pull the human back. “Then I will trust in ‘Hide’s wisdom and do the same.”
Will didn’t have a chance to respond before Prowl closed his mouth over the human’s, continuing the extraordinary experience. After the moment surprise fled, Will wrapped his arms around Prowl and pulled him closer, the Autobot doing the same. Sensations never felt before flooded into Prowl and the instinctual part of the holoform programming kicked in as a low moan broke through his vocal cords.
Hands began to roam across his back, one traveling up over his shoulders and the other moving downwards, holding Prowl steady as Will pushed his hips against him.
Prowl broke the kiss, gasping, “Primus!” Pleasure rippled out from where their groins met. Was this how humans felt every time they kissed? It was…amazing!
Will pressed his forehead against Prowl’s, panting and chuckling. “Ironhide said the same thing the first time we did this.”
“Understandably so!” Prowl replied, finding the urge to push back against Will too hard to resist. Will’s answering gasp betrayed the human’s own arousal. Prowl couldn’t help but smile before moving in to begin this kissing thing once again.
The moved like this for what seemed like eternity before Will finally pulled away.
“I think,” he gasped, “We might want to move this to somewhere a bit more comfortable.”
Prowl didn’t understand exactly what Will meant as the Internet suggested that sexual encounters could occur anywhere with a great deal of pleasure. But if this was how ‘Hide and Will shared their love, he would follow in their footsteps. The moment Will had him on his back on the bed upstairs, he wholly agreed that this was much more comfortable. Especially when Will begin to grind his hips against Prowl’s.
Prowl arched up before pulling Will in for another kiss, but there was resistance now. He looked up Will wanting to ask Will about the smirk he was expressing.
“You do realize there’s more to this than just kissing, right?” He asked, his tone much light than earlier, though thick with arousal.
“Of course,” answered Prowl.
Will stared at him for a moment before shaking his head. “God…you looked it up, didn’t you? I don’t even want to know what the hell you found out there, just…trust me?”
With a slow caution, Prowl nodded. “I trust Ironhide. I trust you.”
Will’s eyes fluttered shut as grief flashed across his face. This time there was no resistance as Prowl pulled him down into another kiss. It wasn’t long before the two bodies writhed against each other, muffled moans escaping from them. Desperation crept into the movements as though both were striving to reach out to the lost third - to Ironhide.
Someone’s hand, it was difficult to say who’s, reached down and began to work at their pants. In the next moment, two pairs of hands worked at undoing the bindings and shoving down the bothersome material. In another moment, hot flesh met and glided against the other. Prowl arched again, the waves of pleasure so new and incomparable to what he knew.
It was Will’s hand that reached between them now, grabbing both shafts in his hand, holding them together as their hips continued to rub them together. Prowl’s breathing came in short gasps and moans, in between his panting. Will wasn’t much better though he was more of a growler than anything else.
For Prowl, he wasn’t sure how much longer he could go like this. Wasn’t there some kind release that should happen? Will’s calloused fingers gave their movements added friction and then suddenly Prowl was there, the orgasm ripped through him, turning him inside out. Time froze and he could feel a quiet peace chasing after the waves of pleasure, as though someone else were there, playing a third part to their duet.
Will jerked and yelped out in release, trapping his hand between their bodies as he ground his hips into Prowl’s again.
The peace found him as well.
When he awoke again, he was caught in a tangle of arms and warmth - an experience he sorely missed. The arms tightened around him and he found himself returning the movement.
“Sleep, Will, it is my turn to watch over you now.”
To hold back the tears that threatened seemed only like a sin now, so Will let them pour out and let his grief go. The arms tightened further.
“It will be okay, Will,” said Prowl. “Not today, not tomorrow, but we will make it together and we will be okay one day.”
Will pulled the Autobot close and whispered, “I know.”
Peace wrapped around them and held them close.