The Things We Do For Love
The Things We Do For Love
Chapter 6
Author: Thalanee
Verse: pre-Movie (AU)
Rating: pg-13
Word Count: about 4000 words
Warnings: creative use of handcuffs… Jazz is being Jazz XD ; music-heavy
Disclaimer: Still not mine, sorry. The song “You May Be Right” belongs to Billy Joel (thanks to sakon76), “Layla” is from Derrick and the Dominoes (a cover from the original by Eric Clapton, thanks to Xenophobic Doll) and “So She Danced” is Josh Groban’s (thanks to wicked3659). The concept of Sorcelling belongs to Taralynden
Summary: Once you’re sure, you have your love interest’s attention, invite them to a dance. And being truthful never hurts… or does it?
Author’s Notes: I don’t know where the idea of Jazz cuffing them to each other with Prowl’s own handcuffs came from, but it just wouldn’t go away…
I can’t thank you all enough for your wonderful suggestions! I now have a music folder full of all your wonderful songs titled “Things We Do For Love- The Score” XD . Because much of what I didn’t use here, will appear in the next few chapters, which will also be rather music heavy.
XXXXX
The enforcers had expected to be called at some point of the festivities, the expected worst case scenario having to take care of overcharged and rowdy mechs or pick up the occasional pickpocket, hence the presence of a few enforcers at the once a vorn street fair in the centre of Praxus.
Prowl carefully made his way past merchants selling energon goodies and shakes, cakes and large rust sticks. Others offered carved crystals as a remembrance of the evening, painters offered to portrait bots right there on the spot, other works were on display. Poets and musicians stood on every corner and plaza to entertain the celebrating bots with their verses and notes. Dancers, alone or in groups, professional or just for amusement, moved to them.
The winged forms of Praxians intermingled with bots from other parts of Cybertron who made image captures of a glorious city decked out in vibrant colours to show their friends and family at home.
This time of the year the whole of Praxus celebrated the mythical date of birth of their beloved city (which might just be the historical date, no one could say for sure) with relish and toasted the old vorn with all its good and bad times and the new vorn to come with all its promises. The only bots on duty were the medics and the enforcers and a skeleton staff in the administrative centre, and those worked in shifts so that everyone would have the opportunity to participate and enjoy some time off with family and friends.
Officially Prowl was off duty right now, wandering the streets and soaking up the atmosphere. Off duty or not, the black and white still kept on optic out as he would on patrol, making sure bots could enjoy their free time without disturbances.
Drawn by a fast upbeat tune Prowl drew nearer to one of the smaller stages. The Praxian loved music as much as every other mech, if not more so. Listening to it made him feel at peace with himself and the rest of the world. The right kind of song at the right moment let everything appear as if perfect happiness was right there in his grasp.
When he reached the stage he stopped and stared, for there in the lights stood a very familiar dark silver frame with a glowing azure visor sweeping the crowd and when it came to rest on him, it lit up even more.
Roguish grin in place, Failsafe started to sing to the tune, all the while fixing Prowl to the spot with his gaze as he drew nearer, the crowd parting for him, several mechs and femmes pairing up to dance.
“What will you do when you get lonely
and nobody's waiting by your side?
You've been running and hiding much too long
You know it's just your foolish pride.”
Without missing a beat, the mech took hold of Prowl and began spinning the mech around in a fast waltz he somehow managed to fit to the fast beat of the song. The enforcer was too stunned to resist the mech and let himself be swept up in the dance.
“Prowler.
You've got me on my knees, Prowler.
Begging darling please, Prowler.
Darling, won't you ease my worried mind?”
Prowl’s eyes widened when he recognized the text and the alterations Failsafe had made to it to fit in his name and couldn’t help the tiny blush across his face, especially when part of the crowd cheered realizing that the singer was courting the mech he was dancing with. Secretly Prowl was grateful that Smokescreen and Barricade had dragged him with them to participate in dancing lessons, something which he had come to enjoy greatly. Fluttering his wings Prowl concentrated on Failsafe’s voice and the music, dancing to them in a wonderfully elegant display. Failsafe himself watched mesmerized, not having expected Prowl to be able to dance this well.
Tried to give you consolation.
Your old man, he let you down.
But like a fool, I fell in love with you.
You turned my whole world upside down.
Prowler.
You've got me on my knees, Prowler.
Begging darling please, Prowler.
Darling, won't you ease my worried mind?
Make the best of the situation
Before I finally go insane
Please don't say we'll never find a way
Or tell me all my love's in vain”
Failsafe put on and equally impressive show. The mech was a natural dancer, moving to the music with a rare natural grace Prowl couldn’t help but admire, especially when the dark silver bot began to throw in complex moves he’d only ever seen in professional dancers’ performances, all the while grinning happily. They didn’t notice it but soon they were the only couple on the impromptu dance floor. Everyone else was watching them.
“Prowler.
You've got me on my knees, Prowler.
Begging darling please, Prowler.
Darling, won't you ease my worried mind?”
Failsafe’s voice crooned right next to his audios, making Prowl shiver slightly at the sound of it. In response Failsafe drew him in just a little closer than was usual for this kind of dance. Soon the fast tune morphed into a slower instrumental, their dance slowing.
Prowl’s spark was skipping happily at the other’s presence, so Prowl decided to distract himself. “I should have known I might find you here somewhere.”
Failsafe laughed. “Course Ah was gonna be here,” he answered, still holding on to Prowl “this is one of tha greatest musical festivals on tha planet, after all.”
Prowl couldn’t curb a little smile at that. “So you enjoy music?” At Failsafe’s pointed look, the enforcer laughed. “I know, the answer is obvious. But what is it you enjoy particularly?”
The other didn’t even stop to think, before delving into one of his favourite subjects. “Ah enjoy everything ‘bout it, singing, composing, playing instruments, dancing,” he performed another optic- catchingly complicated move that ended with him dipping a surprised Prowl down at the end of the song slowly.
They stayed like that for a moment, their gazes locked, before Failsafe helped Prowl up again.
“I can see that.” Prowl said, before he sighed regretfully his sense of duty kicking in against his will. “You do know I am supposed to arrest you on sight, don’t you.”
“Yep,” he answered shrugging and grinning even more broadly, “but Ah know ya’re not on duty right now.” He waggled his optic ridges suggestively. Prowl didn’t want to contemplate exactly how he knew the other was doing it, considering he was wearing a visor…
“I am always on duty, Failsafe,” he announced, pulling out his handcuffs and showing them to Failsafe, who pouted. It almost seemed like his sensor horns bent like a turbo puppy’s ears.
“Aw, come on, Sparkles, ya can’t be serious?!”
“I am, and please refrain from calling me by nicknames, I already have a perfectly adequate designation.” Prowl retorted reaching for Failsafe’s left. Too bad, the other danced out of the way, in tune to the new song that had started, a new singer having taken over the stage.
“Friday night I crashed your party
Saturday I said I'm sorry
Sunday came and trashed it out again
I was only having fun
Wasn't hurting anyone
And we all enjoyed the weekend for a change”
The dance moves he performed now were more silly than anything else, the thief teasing the enforcer who tried to come after him and ended up “dancing” out of the way of the other dancers who seemed to think their antics was some kind of performance, both weaving around each other with Prowl trying to grab a hold of Failsafe while the thief danced close to him, but always out of reach, singing along to the lyrics.
“I've been stranded in the combat zone
I walked through Bedford Stuy alone
Even rode my motorcycle in the rain
And you told me not to drive
But I made it home alive
So you said that only proves that I'm insane”
At first Prowl was irritated, but soon he saw the fun in the game and couldn’t help but laugh, as he decided to indulge both the other and himself and play along. Where was the harm in that, anyway? It didn’t take long until Prowl was laughing too.
When the refrain started, the thief danced closer and sang along loudly with relish:
“You may be right
I may be crazy
But it just might be a lunatic you're looking for
Turn out the light
Don't try to save me
You may be wrong for all I know
But you may be right”
Prowl giggled, in a way the lines were a perfect description of the other. Though he was not above taking advantage of the other’s closeness and with a triumphant cry he slapped one end of the cuffs on the Failsafe’s left wrist, only to have the other dance away again.
“Remember how I found you there
Alone in your electric chair
I told you dirty jokes until you smiled
You were lonely for a man
I said take me as I am
'Cause you might enjoy some madness for a while
Now think of all the years you tried to
Find someone to satisfy you
I might be as crazy as you say
If I'm crazy then it's true
That it's all because of you
And you wouldn't want me any other way”
Giddily they continued their game, oblivious to all around them, their full attention on each other’s laughs and smiles. Failsafe was beyond ecstatic that he had managed to make Prowl cut loose and simply enjoy their time together, the game they had made out of something that started out so seriously. The sight and sound of Prowl so playful send ripples of excitement through his spark.
“You may be right
I may be crazy
But it just may be a lunatic you're looking for
It's too late to fight
It's too late to change me
You may be wrong for all I know
But you may be right”
Mischievous as ever, Failsafe couldn’t help but resist and danced closer again, a very specific agenda on his mind. He reached for Prowl again, who didn’t let himself be drawn in, but reversed their roles, curious what his partner was up to and eager to continue their game. In a flurry of moves Failsafe danced closer, managed to grasp Prowl’s right wrist… and with an inaudible click, snapped the other end of the cuffs on said wrist. Before Prowl knew it he was surrounded by Failsafe’s arms again, while they danced to the last chorus of the song, the enforcer gaping at the audacious thief.
“You may be right
I may be crazy
But it just may be a lunatic you're looking for
Turn out the light
Don't try to save me
You may be wrong for all I know
You may be right
You may be wrong but you may be right”
When the song came to an end, Failsafe bowed (as well as he could anyway), while an astonished Prowl still stared at their wrists now attached to each other by his own cuffs. The absurdity of the situation, now that it caught up to him, was almost enough to shut his battle computer down. By all rights it should have shut down, but for some reason it simply didn’t.
Prowl was about to object, when Failsafe smiled at him gently.
“One last dance, please.” He requested softly, slowly stepping closer again. “Ah’ll come with ya after that, no antics, Ah promise. Ah’ll even give ya back the key to ya cuffs.” Said keys dangled in Failsafe’s other hand, still within Prowl’s reach. Somehow Prowl couldn’t bring himself to grab them, instead looking into the glowing azure visor, mulling over the other’s request.
“Please.” Failsafe repeated softly, his left taking Prowl’s right into his and carefully holding it, as if afraid that Prowl would vanish into thin air any moment or withdraw from him.
Nodding his consent, Prowl could almost hear his spark beating faster as he returned the touch to his hand. The slow, gentle tune of one of his favourite love songs started and Prowl stepped closer, his left coming to rest on Failsafe’s shoulder, while the dark silver mech wrapped his right arm around Prowl, hi hand coming to rest in the small of Prowl’s back.
“A waltz when she walks in the room
She pulls back the hair from her face
She turns to the window to sway in the moonlight
Even her shadow has grace”
If they hadn’t paid much attention to the world around them before, now they ignored it completely. Failsafe reveled in the feel of having a willing Prowl in his arms, in the feel of his spark almost trying to leap out of his chest plates in an attempt to reach Prowl’s, which was so close. Their chest plates were almost touching, hardly any space left between their frames. As he looked at Prowl’s face he found the lyrics and the ethereal quality of the song fit Prowl perfectly.
“A waltz for the girl out of reach
She lifts her hands up to the sky
She moves with the music
The song is her lover
The melody's making her cry
So she dances
In and out of the crowd like a glance
This romance is
From afar calling me silently”
Prowl found himself wishing the song would never end. He could have lost himself in the sensation of being held like he was the most precious being in the world, looking into that azure visor. The longer they danced the closer Prowl inched to the other, until there was no space left between them and the crest of his chevron rested on Failsafe’s forehead.
He smiled when he realized how well the lyrics of the song described them both, after all he had been drawn to Failsafe for some time now.
“A waltz for the chance I should take
But how will I know where to start?
She's spinning between constellations and dreams
Her rhythm is my beating heart
So she dances
In and out of the crowd like a glance
This romance is
From afar calling me silently”
As he continued to listen, and to dance with Prowl, the wish to reveal his identity, to be completely truthful with the bot he loved became overwhelming. He knew the longer he kept his silence, the more it would hurt his Prowl in the end. Yes, his Prowl. The other half to his spark. The thought of lying to Prowl became ever more unbearable.
“I can't keep on watching forever
I give up this view just to tell her”
Holding Prowl even closer and unconsciously nuzzling the doorwinger’s nose with his own he decided to toss the consequences out of the proverbial window. To the pit with the rules, and to the pit with his orders! It was more than likely that Prowl would be deeply hurt, by what Jazz was about to reveal, but he would tell him. But until then…
“When I close my eyes I can see
The spotlights are bright on you and me
We've got the floor
And you're in my arms
How could I ask for more?”
Prowl sighed in contentment. There was indeed little else he could ask for right now. He had come to the realization that he liked having Failsafe near him, the mech’s presence touched something in him he didn’t even realize was there. The thief was the only mech who’d ever showed an interest in him like that and meant it, he hadn’t given up when the enforcer rejected him earlier but kept going in his pursuit of Prowl, something he found himself grateful for.
He found he didn’t want Failsafe to leave him alone, anymore. He welcomed the other’s advances and jokes, even his nicknames. Maybe it was time to tell him so. After the dance.
“So she dances
In and out of the crowd like a glance
This romance is
From afar calling me silently
I can't keep on watching forever
And I'm givin' up this view just to tell her”
When the song came to an end, they stood there for a long time, memorizing the other’s features, reluctant to part. Jazz knew this would be difficult, but he couldn’t take the lie standing between them anymore. He had to tell Prowl. His spark clenched anxiously, but outwardly he struggled to show nothing yet.
“Prowl?” he asked, cursing himself for his hesitancy, when Prowl looked at him. “Is there somewhere quiet around here? Ah need ta tell ya something important.”
Prowl thought for a moment. “There is a small tower not far from here, a part of the Crystal Gardens. It is beautiful but it should not be too crowded right now. Some Praxians go there to watch the Crystal Hour.” Prowl smiled, remembering watching the display with Failsafe.
“Sounds good. Let’s go.” Taking Prowl by the hand (after they’d removed the cuffs almost as an afterthought) he let himself be lead to the roof of the small tower by the Praxian, trying to gather all of his courage.
Upon their arrival the tower was as good as empty, the only other bots around where a mech and femme who just left, when Jazz and Prowl arrived. Up in the top room Jazz was too nervous to appreciate the view and instead turned to an expectant Prowl.
“Please don’t freak at what Ah’m going ta show ya and wait until ya’ve heard meh out, promise?” Jazz sounded so serious, the doorwinger simply nodded, his battle computer trying to anticipate what was going to happen. There were several unpleasant predictions, but Prowl dismissed them on the spot, he trusted Failsafe.
Nothing though could have prepared him for what he was about to witness: while he looked on the plates in Failsafe’s armour changed colour to a light silver, closer to white than his previous darker paint, and the plates began to shift into a different configuration, making him somewhat taller, with broader shoulders than before. The armour looked stronger and at the same time more sleek. His sensor horns become thinner, sharper, his helm a little more angular. Only the form of the visor, which was now a blue so deep it was almost black, and the face remained the same.
The mech who stood before him now, was similar and different. Yet it was not the mech he knew as Failsafe. A nasty feeling took hold of his spark, making him feel sick to the point that he took a half step backwards. He didn’t like where this was going at all.
Jazz watched him carefully. “Ah apologize for not telling ya earlier, but Ah wasn’t allowed to. Technically ah still ain’t, but Ah don’t care.”
“Who are you?” The enforcer whispered apprehensively, his doorwings high and rigid on his back.
The silver mech sighed. “Ma name is Jazz, and Ah’m a Special Ops agent from Iacon. Ah was sent here by ma boss and the Prime on a mission.” Prowl listened with growing distress, hiding his discomfort behind his stoic expressionless mask. “Ah’m ta insert maself into tha local underworld ta find a mech we’ve been looking for a long time. Word’s he’s holed up here expanding his smuggling ring. Ma task is ta gather as much evidence as Ah can, maybe even as a temporary part of his group and arrest him soon as Ah got enough material.”
Jazz watched as Prowl’s doorwings quivered on his back, hands gripping each other tightly so as not to betray the black and white by shivering. His face was expressionless, but his golden optics had dimmed to a dull orange.
“So it was all a lie.” Prowl’s clipped tone was flat and completely emotionless.
“No,” Jazz protested, Ah-“
He was interrupted by the other’s cold voice. “As a part of perfecting your identity as the audacious thief you decided to toy with one of the Praxian enforcers to showcase your superiority as a criminal and get your mark’s attention, is that it?”
There was nothing to be seen on the outside, but Jazz knew how much this revelation had hurt Prowl. “Ah lied when Ah said ma name was Failsafe, but everything Ah did ta get yar attention Ah mean from the bottom of ma spark. When Ah was around ya, Failsafe acted the same as Ah would have.”
When Prowl showed no visible reaction, Jazz tried to step closer to him only for Prowl to retreat the exact same distance. “The charade is over, Jazz.” He hissed, his golden optics narrowed, finally showing some of the fury and the pain he felt at being betrayed like that. “Why should I trust you after you lied to me like that? How am I supposed to believe your courting was not just an act, a part of your performance? How am I supposed to know you are still the mech I was going to allow to court me openly? Tell me!”
Jazz flinched, not hiding from Prowl anymore. In a split second decision he activated a protocol he hadn’t touched in a long time and lifted his visor to show Prowl his optics, optics as dark as his visor. Without his visor every emotion he felt was clearly visible.
“Ah can only tell ya that Ah meant it all.” Blue-black optics met golden. “Ah swear to Primus and the Well of All Sparks that Ah love ya. What’s between us was never an act, Ah meant everything Ah said and did. That’s why ah told ya who Ah really am. Ah couldn’t bear ta lie ta ya anymore, Ah just wanted ya ta know me for who Ah am.”
The black and white Praxian listened to it all, his spark clenching in pain at the thought that what had become so important to him might be taken away again. It hurt deeply not to know what had been an act, a part of Failsafe, the mech he liked, and what was Jazz. How much of Failsafe was Jazz? He didn’t know.
It didn’t help that his logic centre and battle computer agreed with Jazz’s reasoning, it was the first time in his life he didn’t turn to his logic for comfort and advice, because he couldn’t, his spark and processor battling continuously, falling into an endless loop. He couldn’t break.
Jazz was waiting for an answer, but what answer could he give? That it was okay? His processor argued yes, yet his spark said both no, because he had been hurt, betrayed, and yes, this was the mech he loved, trusted, he should be forgiven, he should stay. These thoughts repeated endlessly, until Prowl’s systems couldn’t take the stress anymore and with a whine his battle computer and processor locked up, merciful blackness surrounding Prowl as he fell to the floor.
Never realizing that Jazz caught him before he reached the floor, that he was held securely to the broad silver chassis of the mech who wondered if he had just lost the mech he loved forever.
To Be Continued
Notes: Yes, I am evil stopping here… Too sappy? Not sappy enough? Review, please. They make me incredibly happy ;)
Chapter 6
Author: Thalanee
Verse: pre-Movie (AU)
Rating: pg-13
Word Count: about 4000 words
Warnings: creative use of handcuffs… Jazz is being Jazz XD ; music-heavy
Disclaimer: Still not mine, sorry. The song “You May Be Right” belongs to Billy Joel (thanks to sakon76), “Layla” is from Derrick and the Dominoes (a cover from the original by Eric Clapton, thanks to Xenophobic Doll) and “So She Danced” is Josh Groban’s (thanks to wicked3659). The concept of Sorcelling belongs to Taralynden
Summary: Once you’re sure, you have your love interest’s attention, invite them to a dance. And being truthful never hurts… or does it?
Author’s Notes: I don’t know where the idea of Jazz cuffing them to each other with Prowl’s own handcuffs came from, but it just wouldn’t go away…
I can’t thank you all enough for your wonderful suggestions! I now have a music folder full of all your wonderful songs titled “Things We Do For Love- The Score” XD . Because much of what I didn’t use here, will appear in the next few chapters, which will also be rather music heavy.
XXXXX
The enforcers had expected to be called at some point of the festivities, the expected worst case scenario having to take care of overcharged and rowdy mechs or pick up the occasional pickpocket, hence the presence of a few enforcers at the once a vorn street fair in the centre of Praxus.
Prowl carefully made his way past merchants selling energon goodies and shakes, cakes and large rust sticks. Others offered carved crystals as a remembrance of the evening, painters offered to portrait bots right there on the spot, other works were on display. Poets and musicians stood on every corner and plaza to entertain the celebrating bots with their verses and notes. Dancers, alone or in groups, professional or just for amusement, moved to them.
The winged forms of Praxians intermingled with bots from other parts of Cybertron who made image captures of a glorious city decked out in vibrant colours to show their friends and family at home.
This time of the year the whole of Praxus celebrated the mythical date of birth of their beloved city (which might just be the historical date, no one could say for sure) with relish and toasted the old vorn with all its good and bad times and the new vorn to come with all its promises. The only bots on duty were the medics and the enforcers and a skeleton staff in the administrative centre, and those worked in shifts so that everyone would have the opportunity to participate and enjoy some time off with family and friends.
Officially Prowl was off duty right now, wandering the streets and soaking up the atmosphere. Off duty or not, the black and white still kept on optic out as he would on patrol, making sure bots could enjoy their free time without disturbances.
Drawn by a fast upbeat tune Prowl drew nearer to one of the smaller stages. The Praxian loved music as much as every other mech, if not more so. Listening to it made him feel at peace with himself and the rest of the world. The right kind of song at the right moment let everything appear as if perfect happiness was right there in his grasp.
When he reached the stage he stopped and stared, for there in the lights stood a very familiar dark silver frame with a glowing azure visor sweeping the crowd and when it came to rest on him, it lit up even more.
Roguish grin in place, Failsafe started to sing to the tune, all the while fixing Prowl to the spot with his gaze as he drew nearer, the crowd parting for him, several mechs and femmes pairing up to dance.
“What will you do when you get lonely
and nobody's waiting by your side?
You've been running and hiding much too long
You know it's just your foolish pride.”
Without missing a beat, the mech took hold of Prowl and began spinning the mech around in a fast waltz he somehow managed to fit to the fast beat of the song. The enforcer was too stunned to resist the mech and let himself be swept up in the dance.
“Prowler.
You've got me on my knees, Prowler.
Begging darling please, Prowler.
Darling, won't you ease my worried mind?”
Prowl’s eyes widened when he recognized the text and the alterations Failsafe had made to it to fit in his name and couldn’t help the tiny blush across his face, especially when part of the crowd cheered realizing that the singer was courting the mech he was dancing with. Secretly Prowl was grateful that Smokescreen and Barricade had dragged him with them to participate in dancing lessons, something which he had come to enjoy greatly. Fluttering his wings Prowl concentrated on Failsafe’s voice and the music, dancing to them in a wonderfully elegant display. Failsafe himself watched mesmerized, not having expected Prowl to be able to dance this well.
Tried to give you consolation.
Your old man, he let you down.
But like a fool, I fell in love with you.
You turned my whole world upside down.
Prowler.
You've got me on my knees, Prowler.
Begging darling please, Prowler.
Darling, won't you ease my worried mind?
Make the best of the situation
Before I finally go insane
Please don't say we'll never find a way
Or tell me all my love's in vain”
Failsafe put on and equally impressive show. The mech was a natural dancer, moving to the music with a rare natural grace Prowl couldn’t help but admire, especially when the dark silver bot began to throw in complex moves he’d only ever seen in professional dancers’ performances, all the while grinning happily. They didn’t notice it but soon they were the only couple on the impromptu dance floor. Everyone else was watching them.
“Prowler.
You've got me on my knees, Prowler.
Begging darling please, Prowler.
Darling, won't you ease my worried mind?”
Failsafe’s voice crooned right next to his audios, making Prowl shiver slightly at the sound of it. In response Failsafe drew him in just a little closer than was usual for this kind of dance. Soon the fast tune morphed into a slower instrumental, their dance slowing.
Prowl’s spark was skipping happily at the other’s presence, so Prowl decided to distract himself. “I should have known I might find you here somewhere.”
Failsafe laughed. “Course Ah was gonna be here,” he answered, still holding on to Prowl “this is one of tha greatest musical festivals on tha planet, after all.”
Prowl couldn’t curb a little smile at that. “So you enjoy music?” At Failsafe’s pointed look, the enforcer laughed. “I know, the answer is obvious. But what is it you enjoy particularly?”
The other didn’t even stop to think, before delving into one of his favourite subjects. “Ah enjoy everything ‘bout it, singing, composing, playing instruments, dancing,” he performed another optic- catchingly complicated move that ended with him dipping a surprised Prowl down at the end of the song slowly.
They stayed like that for a moment, their gazes locked, before Failsafe helped Prowl up again.
“I can see that.” Prowl said, before he sighed regretfully his sense of duty kicking in against his will. “You do know I am supposed to arrest you on sight, don’t you.”
“Yep,” he answered shrugging and grinning even more broadly, “but Ah know ya’re not on duty right now.” He waggled his optic ridges suggestively. Prowl didn’t want to contemplate exactly how he knew the other was doing it, considering he was wearing a visor…
“I am always on duty, Failsafe,” he announced, pulling out his handcuffs and showing them to Failsafe, who pouted. It almost seemed like his sensor horns bent like a turbo puppy’s ears.
“Aw, come on, Sparkles, ya can’t be serious?!”
“I am, and please refrain from calling me by nicknames, I already have a perfectly adequate designation.” Prowl retorted reaching for Failsafe’s left. Too bad, the other danced out of the way, in tune to the new song that had started, a new singer having taken over the stage.
“Friday night I crashed your party
Saturday I said I'm sorry
Sunday came and trashed it out again
I was only having fun
Wasn't hurting anyone
And we all enjoyed the weekend for a change”
The dance moves he performed now were more silly than anything else, the thief teasing the enforcer who tried to come after him and ended up “dancing” out of the way of the other dancers who seemed to think their antics was some kind of performance, both weaving around each other with Prowl trying to grab a hold of Failsafe while the thief danced close to him, but always out of reach, singing along to the lyrics.
“I've been stranded in the combat zone
I walked through Bedford Stuy alone
Even rode my motorcycle in the rain
And you told me not to drive
But I made it home alive
So you said that only proves that I'm insane”
At first Prowl was irritated, but soon he saw the fun in the game and couldn’t help but laugh, as he decided to indulge both the other and himself and play along. Where was the harm in that, anyway? It didn’t take long until Prowl was laughing too.
When the refrain started, the thief danced closer and sang along loudly with relish:
“You may be right
I may be crazy
But it just might be a lunatic you're looking for
Turn out the light
Don't try to save me
You may be wrong for all I know
But you may be right”
Prowl giggled, in a way the lines were a perfect description of the other. Though he was not above taking advantage of the other’s closeness and with a triumphant cry he slapped one end of the cuffs on the Failsafe’s left wrist, only to have the other dance away again.
“Remember how I found you there
Alone in your electric chair
I told you dirty jokes until you smiled
You were lonely for a man
I said take me as I am
'Cause you might enjoy some madness for a while
Now think of all the years you tried to
Find someone to satisfy you
I might be as crazy as you say
If I'm crazy then it's true
That it's all because of you
And you wouldn't want me any other way”
Giddily they continued their game, oblivious to all around them, their full attention on each other’s laughs and smiles. Failsafe was beyond ecstatic that he had managed to make Prowl cut loose and simply enjoy their time together, the game they had made out of something that started out so seriously. The sight and sound of Prowl so playful send ripples of excitement through his spark.
“You may be right
I may be crazy
But it just may be a lunatic you're looking for
It's too late to fight
It's too late to change me
You may be wrong for all I know
But you may be right”
Mischievous as ever, Failsafe couldn’t help but resist and danced closer again, a very specific agenda on his mind. He reached for Prowl again, who didn’t let himself be drawn in, but reversed their roles, curious what his partner was up to and eager to continue their game. In a flurry of moves Failsafe danced closer, managed to grasp Prowl’s right wrist… and with an inaudible click, snapped the other end of the cuffs on said wrist. Before Prowl knew it he was surrounded by Failsafe’s arms again, while they danced to the last chorus of the song, the enforcer gaping at the audacious thief.
“You may be right
I may be crazy
But it just may be a lunatic you're looking for
Turn out the light
Don't try to save me
You may be wrong for all I know
You may be right
You may be wrong but you may be right”
When the song came to an end, Failsafe bowed (as well as he could anyway), while an astonished Prowl still stared at their wrists now attached to each other by his own cuffs. The absurdity of the situation, now that it caught up to him, was almost enough to shut his battle computer down. By all rights it should have shut down, but for some reason it simply didn’t.
Prowl was about to object, when Failsafe smiled at him gently.
“One last dance, please.” He requested softly, slowly stepping closer again. “Ah’ll come with ya after that, no antics, Ah promise. Ah’ll even give ya back the key to ya cuffs.” Said keys dangled in Failsafe’s other hand, still within Prowl’s reach. Somehow Prowl couldn’t bring himself to grab them, instead looking into the glowing azure visor, mulling over the other’s request.
“Please.” Failsafe repeated softly, his left taking Prowl’s right into his and carefully holding it, as if afraid that Prowl would vanish into thin air any moment or withdraw from him.
Nodding his consent, Prowl could almost hear his spark beating faster as he returned the touch to his hand. The slow, gentle tune of one of his favourite love songs started and Prowl stepped closer, his left coming to rest on Failsafe’s shoulder, while the dark silver mech wrapped his right arm around Prowl, hi hand coming to rest in the small of Prowl’s back.
“A waltz when she walks in the room
She pulls back the hair from her face
She turns to the window to sway in the moonlight
Even her shadow has grace”
If they hadn’t paid much attention to the world around them before, now they ignored it completely. Failsafe reveled in the feel of having a willing Prowl in his arms, in the feel of his spark almost trying to leap out of his chest plates in an attempt to reach Prowl’s, which was so close. Their chest plates were almost touching, hardly any space left between their frames. As he looked at Prowl’s face he found the lyrics and the ethereal quality of the song fit Prowl perfectly.
“A waltz for the girl out of reach
She lifts her hands up to the sky
She moves with the music
The song is her lover
The melody's making her cry
So she dances
In and out of the crowd like a glance
This romance is
From afar calling me silently”
Prowl found himself wishing the song would never end. He could have lost himself in the sensation of being held like he was the most precious being in the world, looking into that azure visor. The longer they danced the closer Prowl inched to the other, until there was no space left between them and the crest of his chevron rested on Failsafe’s forehead.
He smiled when he realized how well the lyrics of the song described them both, after all he had been drawn to Failsafe for some time now.
“A waltz for the chance I should take
But how will I know where to start?
She's spinning between constellations and dreams
Her rhythm is my beating heart
So she dances
In and out of the crowd like a glance
This romance is
From afar calling me silently”
As he continued to listen, and to dance with Prowl, the wish to reveal his identity, to be completely truthful with the bot he loved became overwhelming. He knew the longer he kept his silence, the more it would hurt his Prowl in the end. Yes, his Prowl. The other half to his spark. The thought of lying to Prowl became ever more unbearable.
“I can't keep on watching forever
I give up this view just to tell her”
Holding Prowl even closer and unconsciously nuzzling the doorwinger’s nose with his own he decided to toss the consequences out of the proverbial window. To the pit with the rules, and to the pit with his orders! It was more than likely that Prowl would be deeply hurt, by what Jazz was about to reveal, but he would tell him. But until then…
“When I close my eyes I can see
The spotlights are bright on you and me
We've got the floor
And you're in my arms
How could I ask for more?”
Prowl sighed in contentment. There was indeed little else he could ask for right now. He had come to the realization that he liked having Failsafe near him, the mech’s presence touched something in him he didn’t even realize was there. The thief was the only mech who’d ever showed an interest in him like that and meant it, he hadn’t given up when the enforcer rejected him earlier but kept going in his pursuit of Prowl, something he found himself grateful for.
He found he didn’t want Failsafe to leave him alone, anymore. He welcomed the other’s advances and jokes, even his nicknames. Maybe it was time to tell him so. After the dance.
“So she dances
In and out of the crowd like a glance
This romance is
From afar calling me silently
I can't keep on watching forever
And I'm givin' up this view just to tell her”
When the song came to an end, they stood there for a long time, memorizing the other’s features, reluctant to part. Jazz knew this would be difficult, but he couldn’t take the lie standing between them anymore. He had to tell Prowl. His spark clenched anxiously, but outwardly he struggled to show nothing yet.
“Prowl?” he asked, cursing himself for his hesitancy, when Prowl looked at him. “Is there somewhere quiet around here? Ah need ta tell ya something important.”
Prowl thought for a moment. “There is a small tower not far from here, a part of the Crystal Gardens. It is beautiful but it should not be too crowded right now. Some Praxians go there to watch the Crystal Hour.” Prowl smiled, remembering watching the display with Failsafe.
“Sounds good. Let’s go.” Taking Prowl by the hand (after they’d removed the cuffs almost as an afterthought) he let himself be lead to the roof of the small tower by the Praxian, trying to gather all of his courage.
Upon their arrival the tower was as good as empty, the only other bots around where a mech and femme who just left, when Jazz and Prowl arrived. Up in the top room Jazz was too nervous to appreciate the view and instead turned to an expectant Prowl.
“Please don’t freak at what Ah’m going ta show ya and wait until ya’ve heard meh out, promise?” Jazz sounded so serious, the doorwinger simply nodded, his battle computer trying to anticipate what was going to happen. There were several unpleasant predictions, but Prowl dismissed them on the spot, he trusted Failsafe.
Nothing though could have prepared him for what he was about to witness: while he looked on the plates in Failsafe’s armour changed colour to a light silver, closer to white than his previous darker paint, and the plates began to shift into a different configuration, making him somewhat taller, with broader shoulders than before. The armour looked stronger and at the same time more sleek. His sensor horns become thinner, sharper, his helm a little more angular. Only the form of the visor, which was now a blue so deep it was almost black, and the face remained the same.
The mech who stood before him now, was similar and different. Yet it was not the mech he knew as Failsafe. A nasty feeling took hold of his spark, making him feel sick to the point that he took a half step backwards. He didn’t like where this was going at all.
Jazz watched him carefully. “Ah apologize for not telling ya earlier, but Ah wasn’t allowed to. Technically ah still ain’t, but Ah don’t care.”
“Who are you?” The enforcer whispered apprehensively, his doorwings high and rigid on his back.
The silver mech sighed. “Ma name is Jazz, and Ah’m a Special Ops agent from Iacon. Ah was sent here by ma boss and the Prime on a mission.” Prowl listened with growing distress, hiding his discomfort behind his stoic expressionless mask. “Ah’m ta insert maself into tha local underworld ta find a mech we’ve been looking for a long time. Word’s he’s holed up here expanding his smuggling ring. Ma task is ta gather as much evidence as Ah can, maybe even as a temporary part of his group and arrest him soon as Ah got enough material.”
Jazz watched as Prowl’s doorwings quivered on his back, hands gripping each other tightly so as not to betray the black and white by shivering. His face was expressionless, but his golden optics had dimmed to a dull orange.
“So it was all a lie.” Prowl’s clipped tone was flat and completely emotionless.
“No,” Jazz protested, Ah-“
He was interrupted by the other’s cold voice. “As a part of perfecting your identity as the audacious thief you decided to toy with one of the Praxian enforcers to showcase your superiority as a criminal and get your mark’s attention, is that it?”
There was nothing to be seen on the outside, but Jazz knew how much this revelation had hurt Prowl. “Ah lied when Ah said ma name was Failsafe, but everything Ah did ta get yar attention Ah mean from the bottom of ma spark. When Ah was around ya, Failsafe acted the same as Ah would have.”
When Prowl showed no visible reaction, Jazz tried to step closer to him only for Prowl to retreat the exact same distance. “The charade is over, Jazz.” He hissed, his golden optics narrowed, finally showing some of the fury and the pain he felt at being betrayed like that. “Why should I trust you after you lied to me like that? How am I supposed to believe your courting was not just an act, a part of your performance? How am I supposed to know you are still the mech I was going to allow to court me openly? Tell me!”
Jazz flinched, not hiding from Prowl anymore. In a split second decision he activated a protocol he hadn’t touched in a long time and lifted his visor to show Prowl his optics, optics as dark as his visor. Without his visor every emotion he felt was clearly visible.
“Ah can only tell ya that Ah meant it all.” Blue-black optics met golden. “Ah swear to Primus and the Well of All Sparks that Ah love ya. What’s between us was never an act, Ah meant everything Ah said and did. That’s why ah told ya who Ah really am. Ah couldn’t bear ta lie ta ya anymore, Ah just wanted ya ta know me for who Ah am.”
The black and white Praxian listened to it all, his spark clenching in pain at the thought that what had become so important to him might be taken away again. It hurt deeply not to know what had been an act, a part of Failsafe, the mech he liked, and what was Jazz. How much of Failsafe was Jazz? He didn’t know.
It didn’t help that his logic centre and battle computer agreed with Jazz’s reasoning, it was the first time in his life he didn’t turn to his logic for comfort and advice, because he couldn’t, his spark and processor battling continuously, falling into an endless loop. He couldn’t break.
Jazz was waiting for an answer, but what answer could he give? That it was okay? His processor argued yes, yet his spark said both no, because he had been hurt, betrayed, and yes, this was the mech he loved, trusted, he should be forgiven, he should stay. These thoughts repeated endlessly, until Prowl’s systems couldn’t take the stress anymore and with a whine his battle computer and processor locked up, merciful blackness surrounding Prowl as he fell to the floor.
Never realizing that Jazz caught him before he reached the floor, that he was held securely to the broad silver chassis of the mech who wondered if he had just lost the mech he loved forever.
To Be Continued
Notes: Yes, I am evil stopping here… Too sappy? Not sappy enough? Review, please. They make me incredibly happy ;)