The Things We Do For Love- Bonus Scene
The Things We Do For Love
Bonus Scene (aka Chapter 5.5)
Author: Thalanee
Verse: pre-Movie
Rating: pg-13
Word Count: ca. 2000 words
Warnings: mention of death
Disclaimer: Still not mine, sorry.
Summary: Jazz POV: In which Barricade confronts Failsafe, to make sure he won’t hurt Prowl. This is darker than the other chapters.
Author’s Notes: For renegadewriter, who asked me why the enforcers are so very protective about Prowl. Originally this was supposed to be a short bonus scene, now it’s more of a bonus chapter…
Upgrades: - first, sparkling, 1-15 vorns (1-3 human years)
XXXXX
Jazz looked around, feeling quite pleased with himself. Prowl really hadn’t exaggerated when he had told him about the additions to his cell (not that he had expected the enforcer to do so, it was entirely against Prowl’s nature). Yes, his cell.
Over the entrance was a metal plaque, engraved with his name and the date of his first arrest and subsequent stay in this very cell. Underneath that was a considerably larger one, inscribed with every date of arrest and the inevitable date of escape, complete with the method used during the breakout, at least in those cases where the enforcers had been able to divine the means used. As it was many of the dates were accompanied by a question mark in the relevant places.
The bars were state of the art, made of metal and equipped with various sensors. There were motion sensors trained on the area around the cell. If a speck of dust moved there by chance the security detail would know about it. Any movement by the sensor triggered a system of randomly moving lasers nothing could get past (they weren’t harmful, they just paralyzed whatever they touched as he had found out the hard way once… still he had been able to escape. Cameras were placed in the corridor leading to the cell (but not in the cell itself, so Failsafe would have a measure of privacy).
As a consequence of earlier escapes the entire interior of his temporary home was bolted down, since no one had been able to figure out how the thief had escaped using a spoon and a table leg on one occasion, or even his berth on another.
Lying on said berth, arms crossed underneath his head, Jazz quietly hummed to himself, a large grin adorning his face as his thoughts returned to Prowl unbidden, as they always seemed to do ever since he had first laid optics on the gorgeous enforcer. The grin turned sappy and a contented sigh escaped him as he remembered the previous evening and the feel of Prowl’s hand in his own.
Soon his happy musings were interrupted by the sound of steps coming closer every click, not the near soundless gait of Prowl, but the more heavy tread of his larger partner Barricade.
The day before the large enforcer had turned up some time after the Crystal Hour was over, and while mercilessly teasing Prowl about his predicament, he had still been quick to help them down from the crystal tree. The smaller doorwinger had been visibly mortified, especially considering that they’d been holding hands again when the other showed up, but if Barricade had noticed, he hadn’t mentioned anything. Still the glint in his optics had been telling.
Soon the steps ended in front of his cell and Jazz azure visor came to rest on the scowling visage of Barricade, his red optics virtually drilling holes into the thief in disguise. To be honest, Jazz had been expecting that visit.
For a few moments they just looked each other up and down, while Jazz waited for the other to speak.
“I’ll be frank with you,” Barricade began, “so far I’ve let you flirt with Prowl without interfering, because despite being a criminal you seem like a decent mech. Having you near makes Prowl happy in a way none of us has ever managed. Not for lack of trying mind you.”
He paused and studied the visored mech, he sat facing him and satisfied that “Failsafe” was paying attention, he continued. “But before I let you continue, we have to talk and you better be honest with me.” The underlying threat in his voice was obvious to Jazz, who nodded his consent.
Barricade’s optics narrowed. “What exactly are your intentions towards my partner?” he asked, leaning closer to the bar in expectation of an answer.
Jazz thought about the situation for a moment. He wanted nothing more than to be completely honest with Barricade, but he was under orders not to reveal his true identity to anyone. Still it was a hard thing to do, since he wanted nothing more than to tell Prowl everything, knowing the longer he took the more it might hurt the enforcer. Every time they met the thought became more and more tempting.
Now Barricade, who was obviously very protective of his partner, might demand answers to questions Jazz couldn’t give. If the tall black enforcer didn’t like what he heard or suspected “Failsafe” might be lying, he would do everything in his power to keep Jazz and Prowl apart to protect his smaller partner from harm, the motivation something Jazz actually approved of. This one question was easily answered though.
“Ah love him,” Jazz said, completely sincere. “Ah want ta court him, make him happy, and if he wants ta and the time’s right, Ah wanna ask him ta bond with meh.”
Barricade nodded, studying Jazz’s expression and mulling over the answer. “You’re a criminal. He is an enforcer. Don’t you think that might be a problem?”
“Ah don’t have ta be,” Jazz answered. It was true, once his mission was over he could go back to being a Special Operations agent. He would still have to go undercover, but he hoped Prowl would understand.
“You expect me to believe that you would become an honest, law- respecting citizen just like that?” Unconvinced, Barricade raised an optic ridge and regarded Jazz with his arms folded across his chassis.
Jazz shook his head. “Not just like that. For Prowl.”
Nothing showed on Barricade’s face (the stoic mien would have made Prowl proud of his partner), yet Jazz knew he had to do better. He sighed. “Look, Ah know ya have no reason ta trust me,” A snort from Barricade interrupted him, but the enforcer said nothing else, “but Ah would do anything for Prowl. Ah’d rip out ma own spark ta protect him, if that is what it takes. Ya have ma word on Primus and the Well of All Sparks, that no harm will come ta him and that Ah’ll do ma best ta make him the happiest bot on Cybertron.”
Apprehensively Jazz awaited Barricade’s reaction to his sparkfelt declaration. He had meant every word he had said from the bottom of his spark and he knew that Barricade’s (and with it the other enforcers’) approval meant the world to Prowl.
After long minutes of silence the enforcer gave his verdict. “I’ll allow you to continue this courtship of yours, for now,” he leaned closer and growled menacingly at the dark silver bot, “but if there is ever so much as an indication that you intend to hurt Prowl, if you ever make him cry I will have that sorry spark of yours and kick it to the pit, back up and down again. Understood?”
Jazz was impressed, the other actually managed to give him cold shivers down his back struts, so he nodded and answered with all the sincerity he could muster, “Yes, sir.”
Appeased for now Barricade smirked. “I should warn you now, you will have the whole precinct coming after you, if you break that promise. Let’s just say, we’re all very protective of Prowl.”
“Ah hadn’t noticed,” Jazz drawled dryly, “May Ah ask why?”
Blinking in surprise Barricade dipped his head to the side. “Failsafe, you surprise me. You hacked Prowl’s personal file and didn’t read it?”
“Ah want ta get ta know the mech for real, not by snoopin’ around in his file. That ain’t right.”
That seemed to be the right answer, because Barricade leaned against the wall and began to explain. “Prowl practically grew up in the precinct from the day his spark was put in his protoform. His sire, Safeguard, and his carrier, Starshine, were enforcers, and even when Prowl had been born and Starshine had creator leave to take care of Prowl, she would visit often and always bring Prowl with her. Even when Prowl was old enough to go to school in the youngling centre and Starshine went back to work, he would always show up after school and sit in one of his parent’s offices or in the hall with the other enforcers, reading or asking so many questions your audios nearly shut down.”
A small, wistful smile appeared on Barricade’s face and Jazz grinned to himself, imagining a tiny little black and white sparkling with huge golden optics happily exploring the precinct. The image made him want to squeal.
“When his parents both had to be on patrol there was always one of us willing to look after him.” His expression darkened and ruby optics dimmed. “One day Safeguard and his partner were called out to what was supposed to be a routine arrest of some minor smuggler. Only when they arrived and surprised him, the mech fritzed and started shooting at them and ran out. In the middle of a plaza Safeguard finally apprehended him, but not before catching one of the bullets in his chassis. At first the wound didn’t seem serious, but apparently the fragger of a smuggler used poisoned bullets.”
Jazz stiffened, not liking where this was going at all. Barricade gritted his denta before he continued, his voice regretful. “It was noticed to late and Safeguard died in the hospital. Starshine tried to hold on for Prowl’s sake, but she soon followed her bondmate to the Well and Prowl was left alone, orphaned, barely after his third upgrade.” Jazz was horrified, small wonders the enforcers were so protective of him, he was a child of one of their own, and as Barricade continued his tale, it turned out they had raised him from younglinghood to adulthood in a combined effort of the precinct, when Prowl had run away from the youngling shelter he had been placed in after his parents’ deaths and turned up in the precinct in tears, begging not to be sent away again.
From that moment on, every representative of the youngling shelters had been sent away with a polite but firm suggestion to go and mind their own business, while Prowl had stayed with them. Though they encouraged him to consider other professions, eventually Prowl enrolled in the Enforcer Academy of Iacon and returned to Praxus as a new member of the precinct.
“And now you know.” Barricade concluded, turning to leave the other to his thoughts.
“Wait!” Jazz called out. “Tha mech who shot his creator, what happened ta him?” Jazz had to know, because there was only one smuggler he knew of who used poisoned ammunition, and if his suspicions were correct, that would make his mission even more important.
Barricade regarded him thoughtfully for a moment, before answering. “He was put to trial and convicted for murder, but he broke out a while ago. They’ve been trying to catch him, but so far he eluded every attempt at arresting him and even resurrected his old smuggling ring.” At the door he paused and added.
“His name is Swindle.”
To Be Continued
Remember Jazz’s mission? See Chapter 2.
Next chapter will be more lighthearted again (Jazz and Prowl will be dancing). Any suggestions/wishes for songs I could use? Because frankly I have no idea what to pick…
Bonus Scene (aka Chapter 5.5)
Author: Thalanee
Verse: pre-Movie
Rating: pg-13
Word Count: ca. 2000 words
Warnings: mention of death
Disclaimer: Still not mine, sorry.
Summary: Jazz POV: In which Barricade confronts Failsafe, to make sure he won’t hurt Prowl. This is darker than the other chapters.
Author’s Notes: For renegadewriter, who asked me why the enforcers are so very protective about Prowl. Originally this was supposed to be a short bonus scene, now it’s more of a bonus chapter…
Upgrades: - first, sparkling, 1-15 vorns (1-3 human years)
- Second, toddler, 16- 40 vorns ( 2-8 human years)
- Third, youngling, 40- 75 vorns (8-12 human years)
- Fourth, adolescent, 75-125 vorns (12-between 18 and 21 human years)
- Last, adult, 125 vorns and older
XXXXX
Jazz looked around, feeling quite pleased with himself. Prowl really hadn’t exaggerated when he had told him about the additions to his cell (not that he had expected the enforcer to do so, it was entirely against Prowl’s nature). Yes, his cell.
Over the entrance was a metal plaque, engraved with his name and the date of his first arrest and subsequent stay in this very cell. Underneath that was a considerably larger one, inscribed with every date of arrest and the inevitable date of escape, complete with the method used during the breakout, at least in those cases where the enforcers had been able to divine the means used. As it was many of the dates were accompanied by a question mark in the relevant places.
The bars were state of the art, made of metal and equipped with various sensors. There were motion sensors trained on the area around the cell. If a speck of dust moved there by chance the security detail would know about it. Any movement by the sensor triggered a system of randomly moving lasers nothing could get past (they weren’t harmful, they just paralyzed whatever they touched as he had found out the hard way once… still he had been able to escape. Cameras were placed in the corridor leading to the cell (but not in the cell itself, so Failsafe would have a measure of privacy).
As a consequence of earlier escapes the entire interior of his temporary home was bolted down, since no one had been able to figure out how the thief had escaped using a spoon and a table leg on one occasion, or even his berth on another.
Lying on said berth, arms crossed underneath his head, Jazz quietly hummed to himself, a large grin adorning his face as his thoughts returned to Prowl unbidden, as they always seemed to do ever since he had first laid optics on the gorgeous enforcer. The grin turned sappy and a contented sigh escaped him as he remembered the previous evening and the feel of Prowl’s hand in his own.
Soon his happy musings were interrupted by the sound of steps coming closer every click, not the near soundless gait of Prowl, but the more heavy tread of his larger partner Barricade.
The day before the large enforcer had turned up some time after the Crystal Hour was over, and while mercilessly teasing Prowl about his predicament, he had still been quick to help them down from the crystal tree. The smaller doorwinger had been visibly mortified, especially considering that they’d been holding hands again when the other showed up, but if Barricade had noticed, he hadn’t mentioned anything. Still the glint in his optics had been telling.
Soon the steps ended in front of his cell and Jazz azure visor came to rest on the scowling visage of Barricade, his red optics virtually drilling holes into the thief in disguise. To be honest, Jazz had been expecting that visit.
For a few moments they just looked each other up and down, while Jazz waited for the other to speak.
“I’ll be frank with you,” Barricade began, “so far I’ve let you flirt with Prowl without interfering, because despite being a criminal you seem like a decent mech. Having you near makes Prowl happy in a way none of us has ever managed. Not for lack of trying mind you.”
He paused and studied the visored mech, he sat facing him and satisfied that “Failsafe” was paying attention, he continued. “But before I let you continue, we have to talk and you better be honest with me.” The underlying threat in his voice was obvious to Jazz, who nodded his consent.
Barricade’s optics narrowed. “What exactly are your intentions towards my partner?” he asked, leaning closer to the bar in expectation of an answer.
Jazz thought about the situation for a moment. He wanted nothing more than to be completely honest with Barricade, but he was under orders not to reveal his true identity to anyone. Still it was a hard thing to do, since he wanted nothing more than to tell Prowl everything, knowing the longer he took the more it might hurt the enforcer. Every time they met the thought became more and more tempting.
Now Barricade, who was obviously very protective of his partner, might demand answers to questions Jazz couldn’t give. If the tall black enforcer didn’t like what he heard or suspected “Failsafe” might be lying, he would do everything in his power to keep Jazz and Prowl apart to protect his smaller partner from harm, the motivation something Jazz actually approved of. This one question was easily answered though.
“Ah love him,” Jazz said, completely sincere. “Ah want ta court him, make him happy, and if he wants ta and the time’s right, Ah wanna ask him ta bond with meh.”
Barricade nodded, studying Jazz’s expression and mulling over the answer. “You’re a criminal. He is an enforcer. Don’t you think that might be a problem?”
“Ah don’t have ta be,” Jazz answered. It was true, once his mission was over he could go back to being a Special Operations agent. He would still have to go undercover, but he hoped Prowl would understand.
“You expect me to believe that you would become an honest, law- respecting citizen just like that?” Unconvinced, Barricade raised an optic ridge and regarded Jazz with his arms folded across his chassis.
Jazz shook his head. “Not just like that. For Prowl.”
Nothing showed on Barricade’s face (the stoic mien would have made Prowl proud of his partner), yet Jazz knew he had to do better. He sighed. “Look, Ah know ya have no reason ta trust me,” A snort from Barricade interrupted him, but the enforcer said nothing else, “but Ah would do anything for Prowl. Ah’d rip out ma own spark ta protect him, if that is what it takes. Ya have ma word on Primus and the Well of All Sparks, that no harm will come ta him and that Ah’ll do ma best ta make him the happiest bot on Cybertron.”
Apprehensively Jazz awaited Barricade’s reaction to his sparkfelt declaration. He had meant every word he had said from the bottom of his spark and he knew that Barricade’s (and with it the other enforcers’) approval meant the world to Prowl.
After long minutes of silence the enforcer gave his verdict. “I’ll allow you to continue this courtship of yours, for now,” he leaned closer and growled menacingly at the dark silver bot, “but if there is ever so much as an indication that you intend to hurt Prowl, if you ever make him cry I will have that sorry spark of yours and kick it to the pit, back up and down again. Understood?”
Jazz was impressed, the other actually managed to give him cold shivers down his back struts, so he nodded and answered with all the sincerity he could muster, “Yes, sir.”
Appeased for now Barricade smirked. “I should warn you now, you will have the whole precinct coming after you, if you break that promise. Let’s just say, we’re all very protective of Prowl.”
“Ah hadn’t noticed,” Jazz drawled dryly, “May Ah ask why?”
Blinking in surprise Barricade dipped his head to the side. “Failsafe, you surprise me. You hacked Prowl’s personal file and didn’t read it?”
“Ah want ta get ta know the mech for real, not by snoopin’ around in his file. That ain’t right.”
That seemed to be the right answer, because Barricade leaned against the wall and began to explain. “Prowl practically grew up in the precinct from the day his spark was put in his protoform. His sire, Safeguard, and his carrier, Starshine, were enforcers, and even when Prowl had been born and Starshine had creator leave to take care of Prowl, she would visit often and always bring Prowl with her. Even when Prowl was old enough to go to school in the youngling centre and Starshine went back to work, he would always show up after school and sit in one of his parent’s offices or in the hall with the other enforcers, reading or asking so many questions your audios nearly shut down.”
A small, wistful smile appeared on Barricade’s face and Jazz grinned to himself, imagining a tiny little black and white sparkling with huge golden optics happily exploring the precinct. The image made him want to squeal.
“When his parents both had to be on patrol there was always one of us willing to look after him.” His expression darkened and ruby optics dimmed. “One day Safeguard and his partner were called out to what was supposed to be a routine arrest of some minor smuggler. Only when they arrived and surprised him, the mech fritzed and started shooting at them and ran out. In the middle of a plaza Safeguard finally apprehended him, but not before catching one of the bullets in his chassis. At first the wound didn’t seem serious, but apparently the fragger of a smuggler used poisoned bullets.”
Jazz stiffened, not liking where this was going at all. Barricade gritted his denta before he continued, his voice regretful. “It was noticed to late and Safeguard died in the hospital. Starshine tried to hold on for Prowl’s sake, but she soon followed her bondmate to the Well and Prowl was left alone, orphaned, barely after his third upgrade.” Jazz was horrified, small wonders the enforcers were so protective of him, he was a child of one of their own, and as Barricade continued his tale, it turned out they had raised him from younglinghood to adulthood in a combined effort of the precinct, when Prowl had run away from the youngling shelter he had been placed in after his parents’ deaths and turned up in the precinct in tears, begging not to be sent away again.
From that moment on, every representative of the youngling shelters had been sent away with a polite but firm suggestion to go and mind their own business, while Prowl had stayed with them. Though they encouraged him to consider other professions, eventually Prowl enrolled in the Enforcer Academy of Iacon and returned to Praxus as a new member of the precinct.
“And now you know.” Barricade concluded, turning to leave the other to his thoughts.
“Wait!” Jazz called out. “Tha mech who shot his creator, what happened ta him?” Jazz had to know, because there was only one smuggler he knew of who used poisoned ammunition, and if his suspicions were correct, that would make his mission even more important.
Barricade regarded him thoughtfully for a moment, before answering. “He was put to trial and convicted for murder, but he broke out a while ago. They’ve been trying to catch him, but so far he eluded every attempt at arresting him and even resurrected his old smuggling ring.” At the door he paused and added.
“His name is Swindle.”
To Be Continued
Remember Jazz’s mission? See Chapter 2.
Next chapter will be more lighthearted again (Jazz and Prowl will be dancing). Any suggestions/wishes for songs I could use? Because frankly I have no idea what to pick…