Okay, so this is my first venture into actually properly writing for Transformers: Animated. I'm going incredibly slow with this but it takes place after the end of the series, so if you haven't watched everything and want to avoid spoilers, I'd advise against reading. It will eventually have some proper LockdownProwl/ProwlLockdown as things progress. Beyond that...Pardon me for any failings on my writing. I'm still learning with the series. v_v;
Disclaimer: I own naught but the writing. Hasbro owns all of the characters.
---
Word spread quickly of the Autobots' return to Cybertron with Megatron and his two most loyal, the loss of Prowl with it. Even with how far out from the event itself he was, the news made it to Lockdown in just a few megacycles. The bounty hunter wasn't terribly surprised by the majority of the information and knew without thinking that his job would be affected, possibly even more interesting. While their leading officers had either been offlined or captured, there were still a lot of Decepticons out there that would be willing to pay to see the Autobots hurt or taken out. Beyond them, he may have to turn to the Elite Guard more often than he had been but he would still have a job.
The news about Prowl, on the other hand, elicited more of a reaction from the old mech. Even though the kid had turned him down and run off with the same modifications twice, he had held out on the hope that the uptight little ninja might change that decision. The sleek little thing had been the best partner he'd ever had along with being easy on the optics. When he heard about Prowl, actually saw the video feed, Lockdown had frozen for a good cycle before his processor actually came to grips with the image.
In all his stellar cycles as a bounty hunter, working for the highest bidder, he had never once considered taking on a partner before that job with the little ninja. It had been an experience that the green and black mech had relished and left him wanting more. His offer to let Prowl come with him as his partner, never before offered to anyone else, had been honest and the most vulnerable thing he'd done in his career. While he'd done the smart thing and left afterwards, Lockdown didn't take another job for several solar cycles. It took him that long just to get his processor under control and back into focus on what he was supposed to be doing.
He had managed well enough after the joint hunt to pull in a few more nice upgrades, personal trophies to add to his collection. Most jobs would take him only a dozen stellar cycles, if that. He had enough to keep everything running and still afford some relaxation, even the occasional interface that he got to craving after a while.
Then he'd run into Prowl again, while working for that one Elite Guard nut. He realized too late that he should have put Prowl in stasis before setting about his work but the temptation to watch that sleek, wonderful facial plating as it shifted had won out over sense. He didn't much mind aside from the fact that he had to run before getting turned in like just another Decepticon. At least he'd gotten to see that fierce little ninja spirit again.
Jobs had been harder to come by since then. Lockdown moved on from the little war to working for other odd races, most of them organic. While he didn't care for the strange creatures, they kept the bills paid, which was what mattered. Countless solar cycles went by, spent searching for another bounty that would be worth his time.
Now that he had seen the sparkless form of Prowl, still wearing the samurai modifications, something in him seemed to break, grinding all but his primary functions to a stop. Then that feeble little hope he'd had flickered out of its final moments and the old mech gave a grinding sound of frustration. Lockdown rose from his chair to his stabilizing servos and narrowed his optics, glaring at the monitor in front of him. His normal servo balled into a fist as he turned and struck to the side, slamming into the metal frame of the seat. "Slaggit all, kid. Ninja makes himself up into the best partner one could hope for then goes and does that. Prowl…"
Something in the bounty hunter's workings shifted and he latched onto an arm of the chair to keep upright. His optics flickered and he realized that the idea he'd been holding to for the past two stellar cycles hadn't been such a feeble hope. He had actually wanted the sleek little bot the entire time without fully realizing it. He was in for a long next stellar cycle if he didn't take any action to prevent the unwanted mourning process his old spark was about to send him through.
Forcing his processor to work through the haze that was slowing his functions, Lockdown scoured the console for a particular set of buttons and dialed them in, willing the other mech to be available. The signal stayed silent for several klicks before the screen lit to display a familiar arms dealer and his purple optics. "Why Lockdown, old pal, what can I get for you?" The Decepticon's vocals were as cheerful as ever, more proof that he was ever the opportunistic optimist.
The darker mech responded with a harsh grunt before grinding out, "Cut the act, Swindle. You know the news as well as I do and you just lost your biggest buyer. Looks like we're both hard pressed to keep a proper income now." He crossed his arms and glowered up at the screen. "Unless you've got a job, that is."
Swindle refreshed his optics then laughed. "You may be running low on credits but I still have plenty to do even with the old warmonger out of the picture." He watched the bounty hunter shift irritable before noting, "Something's eating at your core and you're hoping I can provide you with a client, right? If I do that for you, I still expect payment. Or…" The dealer paused, checking what he'd gathered from how the other was holding himself, telltale signs that he had learned to read. "Or I could offer you something better if you're willing to pay for a single drink."
Lockdown's red optics flashed off in a blink as he regarded the other mech. He knew Swindle would be benefiting somehow either way but it took him a good cycle to think through it properly after accepting the second offer and working out the details to understand just what the 'Con had in mind. Optics narrowed and the bounty hunter stated, "I'm not 'facin with some bot just because you need a steady contact."
The dealer laughed and held up his servos to ward off the accusation. "I wasn't implying anything of the sort. What's a good drink between business partners?" He gave that smile he was known for wearing when trying to sell something. "That's all I'm asking for right now, a simple bit of high grade."
With a reluctant, wary nod, Lockdown finalized the arrangement and ended the call.