Cold Spark - Chapter 3
Title: Cold Spark (Chapter 3 of ?)
Verse: G1 with references to WFC later
Rating: PG
Other Characters: Ratchet, Optimus, and a surprise at the end
Warnings: none
Summary/Notes: Prowl and Jazz refuse to attempt to work out their differences. Intervention is required.
(I do not own Transformers.)
Ratchet had been unable to find anything truly wrong with either Prowl or Jazz. He still had no explanation for the unusual readings from his scans. Ratchet ran complete scans on both of the officers and stored the results in their medical files. So far, he could only deduce that their personality subroutines had somehow been altered. Jazz made himself scarce. When he could be found, he tended to be extremely volatile. The crew was afraid of Jazz like this. Prowl tended to exhibit tendencies which exaggerated his analytical abilities. For the most part, the crew just found this annoying. More than usual. Optimus was very concerned.
Jazz was never seen in the rec room anymore and there hadn’t been any parties lately, planned or spontaneous. The crew as a whole was suffering along with Prowl and Jazz. As the time lengthened over their continuing disagreement, the crew began to wonder if the rumors were true. They wondered if Jazz really had left Prowl for good.
***
Two orns went by with no word from Jazz beyond their entirely professional interactions. Prowl needed help. He needed Jazz back. Yes, he realized, he needed Jazz not just wanting him back. Prowl was nearly despondent over Jazz’s absence from his daily life. His efficiency continued to drop.
Again Prowl thought back to their argument. True, Jazz had over-reacted but Prowl was responsible, too. Calling Jazz an unpredictable variable was probably not the kindest thing he could have said. Prowl couldn’t ignore that the cold spark comment hurt, too. Prowl thought how he could possibly make this right but so far the answer had eluded him.
***
Prowl sat in his office. He tried to work on reports but he couldn’t. He swiveled his chair to look at the picture of Jazz that hung on his wall. It was the picture he had drawn himself and was displayed at the ark gallery showing after Prowl had recovered from his near-fatal injuries caused by the seekers. The picture hung on the wall above the spot where Jazz had first overloaded Prowl strictly by stimulating his doorwings. Prowl hadn’t had an overloaded since the awful argument with Jazz. His doorwings drooped low. He didn’t know what to do. He didn’t hear someone request to enter his office. He jumped when he heard his name.
“Prowl?”
Prowl quickly swung around and stood to greet his commanding officer.
“Relax Prowl,” Optimus said gently. He approached and sat in one of the chairs across from Prowl and indicated for Prowl to resume his seat. He retracted his battle mask.
“Prowl, how long are you going to allow this to continue?” he asked kindly looking up at the picture of Jazz.
“Sir?” Prowl questioned. “Jazz won’t respond to me. He shuts me out. Every time I try to explain…”
Optimus raised a servo to halt the tactician. He regarded Prowl for a bit. “You two are so alike,” he chuckled.
Prowl flicked a doorwing in irritation. Optimus was getting personal. It was also clear he did not understand what had happened between Jazz and himself. Prowl didn’t even understand it.
“We are not alike,” Prowl said coolly.
“You are both stubborn pains in the aft,” Optimus said candidly.
“But Jazz won’t listen to me,” Prowl protested petulantly.
Optimus sighed. Being in command certainly had its challenges. He was responsible for everyone under his command. The logistics of running an army were daunting. He was thankful for the exceptional staff he headed. Unfortunately, sometimes being a leader was more like being a human parent trying to resolve disputes between children. This was certainly one of those times. By this point, Optimus was quite tired of the argument between his officers. While it had been one thing to watch them dance around each other for vorns before they decided to acknowledge their feelings for each other, it was quite another to see them fighting. He was good friends with Jazz and had spoken to him often since the argument. Jazz was being stubborn and moody and Optimus was tired of it. He was good friends with Prowl as well and had to put up with Prowl’s sullen silence. While Prowl was often silent, the sullen aspect grated on Optimus and he finally decided he had had enough. He had interfered before and he was going to interfere again. Optimus was inclined to lock Prowl and Jazz together in the brig until they settled this. True, he didn’t understand what was going on between them but he did know they had to talk to each other and that was something he had not seen them do.
“Do you trust me?” Optimus asked the tactician.
“Of course, Optimus,” Prowl responded.
“Then come with me. I’m going to take you to talk to someone who is the best at giving advice in this type of situation,” he said as he stood and his battle mask returned to its place.
“You don’t have advice for me?” Prowl questioned as he stood.
“I have advice but in this case you need to talk to someone with more experience in matters such as this,” Optimus replied.
They left Prowl’s office and took a short walk down the hall stopping at another door. Prowl stared at Optimus. “You can’t be serious.”
Optimus looked down at Prowl. “Go. I’ve called ahead on a private comm link. He’s expecting you.”
“You can’t be serious,” Prowl said again.
“Do I have to make it an order?” Optimus asked, threatening to pull rank.
Prowl sighed and requested entry. When it was granted, he stepped inside. He heard Optimus walk away as the door shut.
“Prowl,” the mech seated at his desk greeted him. “Have a seat. We have much to discuss.”
Prowl was mystified as to how Ironhide could help him with respect to Jazz.