Just something that popped into my mind at 2:00 AM. My fingertips were tingling in anticipation. XD
Summary: I am Prowl, ex-enforcer and Autobot SIC. It never occurred to me that lives so young could teach so much. The small mech and femme took my war-worn servos and gave me determined looks. It was then I could feel a twinge in my spark as they whispered these words. "You were meant to be somebody."
Warning(s): Cussing, massive amounts of fluff, angst.
Continuity: AU, G1 Elements.
Disclaimer: I don't own Transformers, no matter how much I beg the government. Everything belongs to their respective owners.
Chapter 1 - Stuck With You
It was supposed to be a normal mission.
Get in, get the information, and get out. But it hadn't happened like that, and just as Bluestreak, Mirage, and Prowl returned to base, Optimus really couldn't have been more suprised.
"Is that...?"
Looking into the grim faces of each mech, the Autobot Leader was met with a nod of confirmation from the one in the middle.
One large doorwing flopped uselessly as a gaping hole in the back of said mech leaked energon, a hole where a second doorwing should have been; his posture was straight, rigid, giving a restrained air to the mech as his gleaming crimson-red chevron dipped in the lighting. Two strong, war-worn rough servos and arms held two small bundles curled into tight balls, miniscule-like trembles shuddering through the weak metal occasionally.
Lips were pressed tight, voice strained, as the ex-enforcer reined in his raging emotions, "Yes sir."
A breathless whisper slid through the air.
"Sparklings?"
Three Earth Hours Earlier...
It had been a long time since Prowl and Bluestreak have gone undercover in espionage and sabotage, with their frames being Praxian and the like. They were glad to be able to get out onto the field again.
Prowl flexed his doorwings, sensors feeding his battle computer different readings. Taking the course of action with the best outcome, he pointed to one wall of the current building the Decepticons were using as base. Mirage nodded at his signal, flickering out of existence and proceeding to scale said wall. Letting his optics drift upwards, the black and white Praxian could see Bluestreak hiding out somewhere higher and further into the forest that surrounded the clearing where the dull grey building was.
He commed the younger, ::Bluestreak? Are you in position?::
::Yes sir!:: Came the chirped reply from the sniper.
::Good, wait for Mirage's signal,:: Prowl got an affirmation ping in reply and lay in wait.
It was only 16 Earth minutes later when the SIC had received a blast of static from the blue and white noble through the comms; a cry of distress made it through before it went silent, empty.
What had happened?
Prowl's optics widened as this happened, immediately leaping into action. He dashed towards the entrance of the base just as he called for Bluestreak again - the sniper had heard it as well.
Then three things happened all at once.
Prime's Second could have sworn that all this happened in slow-motion. Mirage burst through the large double doors of the base, and by burst, he meant literally. The noble threw himself out and landed with and undignified grunt on his back with a sickening crunch that probably sounded worse than it was. Prowl could see his two arms were curled around something, shielding it almost, but he couldn't figure out what from this angle. At the same time, Starscream and his trine followed the smaller Ops 'bot, looking royally pissed off. Prowl was about to lend a hand before he was almost scorched by a blast from a certain red and grey Praxian's shot.
Turning around and glaring at Bluestreak, he received a sheepish smile in return.
"Hehe, sorry Prowl."
He sighed and his doorwings gave an aggravated flick before he turned back around and launched himself into the fray - right at Starscream to be exact.
The 'Con SIC gave a shriek of rage as they exchanged blows with each other. In the back of his mind, Prowl swore he could hear Bluestreak hitting Skywarp with his rifle and Mirage yelling at Thundercracker.
"Give him back Thundercracker!" He heard Mirage yell protectively.
There was a snort, "What? This?" And he could almost see the sneer on the blue seeker's faceplates, "Never!"
Hearing Bluestreak's horrified gasp and a weak wail of despair however, Prowl faltered, glancing out the corner of his optics to see what had happened. Bad choice, however, as that distraction allowed Starscream the advantage, and grasping the top corner of Prowl's left doorwing, he pulled. There was a terrible shriek of metal and the sound of wire popping from socket as the Praxian's door was torn completely off.
He couldn't help but give a muffled whimper as the tri-coloured Seeker ripped off his doorwing, but Prowl tuned down the broken sensors at that part of his chassis, especially the ones registering the most pain.
Prowl retreated slightly, letting Starscream stand from when he had been tackled, then charged at him once again. They both rolled as they grappled.
"Starscream! Desist!"
A snarl, "You aren't the commander of me, Autobrat!"
Landing a solid punch hard enough to put Screamer in a daze for just a second was all Prowl needed as he could hear Mirage and Bluestreak running back into the forest and back to base. The black and white took off, barely noticing TC tending to an injured Skywarp before meeting up with his teammates.
As he pushed through the large threatening trees, he made it to Mirage and Blue's location, but when he got there, he wasn't able to suppress his shocked gasp.
"Sparklings?" He couldn't help the surprise lacing his tone.
And as he said this, two pairs of crimson red optics stared up at him. He saw fear, desperation, and more importantly - Prowl could see they were scarred.
At that moment, Prowl could only help but feel even more hatred of the war, and more strength renewed for the Autobot cause.
He reached a dirty white servo to each helm, caressing them softly and murmuring his support. A hint of a smile tugged at a corner of his lips as he felt each helm lean into the touch and the traditional 'grabby hands' made towards him. He took the two sparklings, and in a rare display of affection, let them nuzzle his neck.
Staring back up at the shocked and amused expressions, he cleared his vocalizer of static. Was it in embarassment? Well, it could have been, but it's not like Prowl would ever admit that.
Yet, with his blank and cold expression back in place, he ordered them back to base. And they did just that - two packages in hand.
It was a little later when Optimus was left blinking after Prowl's report (the SIC had been at the med bay and repaired earlier; for his doorwing, however, he'd have to wait a week before getting a new one), "And do you know what the sparklings were doing on the Decepticon base?"
Prowl shook his head in the negative, "No sir, but based on the information I took with some advanced scans of the small bodies, I believe they used to have more siblings, ergo, would be something of interest to the 'Cons."
"Care to elaborate more?"
A sigh, "It seems that the two sparklings are spark-twins, sir, the bond similar to Sideswipe and Sunstreaker," A pause and a wince at the name of the terror duo, "But, there was also traces of a severed bond, all the symptoms were, there, and I'm sad to say, sir, that they probably had a third or fourth sibling. Triplets or quadruplets, possibly."
Prowl could see his superior's optics crinkle slightly and he just knew that there was a pained expression behind the blue and red's battle mask, "Had siblings, Prowl?"
And as if explaining that the first sparked triplets or quadruplets died at the hands of the 'Cons wasn't hard enough.
"I'm sorry to say, Optimus sir, but Mirage said he found a greyed shell beside the two sparklings upon first glance - they were presumably triplets before their sibling...passed."
A sigh as the Leader leaned back in his chair.
"Any suggestions, sir?"
"Please Prowl, just Optimus."
"Optimus then."
A nod. There was a pregnant pause, before the Prime leaned his elbows onto his desk and looked at his comrade. No, not comrade, right now, friend.
"What do you suggest we do, Prowl?"
Scenario after scenario ran through Prowl's battle computer, before, "I...can not say for sure, sir-Optimus. Perhaps we should give them an appropriate guardian for now before we can choose the best choice of action."
The leader smiled his affirmation, and standing up, Prowl took the cue as they both headed out of Prime's office and to the med bay where the twins were, hopefully, under Ratchet's 'tender care.'
As the two mechs walked into the bay, a wrench nearly collided with their helms.
"Whoever the slag you are, I don't care what you want, so unless you're on the verge of deactivation, GET OUT!"
Ahhh, there was their caring CMO.
Optimus' voice rumbled in amusement, "Good afternoon, Ratchet." Prowl also grunted a greeting.
"What do you want, Prime? Prowl?" Ratchet could be seen turning his chassis to look at the two, or, glare at the two is probably a better term for lack of proper words. He crossed two cherry red servos across his chest as his optics narrowed into slits.
"We just wanted to see how our little guests are doing."
Ratchet snorted before reporting, "They should be fine now. Though, it's good you rescued them when you did. I would have given them another 48 Earth hours until they would've offlined...permanently."
Prowl nodded, before, "Is there any proof of them having any other siblings?"
The medic sighed at the lack of emotion on the SIC's face, but replied nonetheless, "Yes, actually. I've confirmed of them having a sibling, more likely another mech, but if the severed bond is anything to go by," There was a small growl as optics dimmed murderously, "those blasted 'Cons got to 'im before we even had a chance."
There was a mourning silence in the med bay until they were interrupted by a delighted squeal.
The three mechs' heads turned simultaneously as they saw the little mechling (beside his recharging sister) making grabby hands at... Prowl?
Optimus' optics shuttered in surprise and Ratchet barked a laugh at Prowl's completely confused and flabbergasted look.
"I think he wants you to pick him up." Ratchet smirked.
Prowl glared. Ratch was going to have a field day with this.
"I knew that."
The black and white awkwardly held up the mechling with two servos. As the sparkling dangled, he whimpered. Why was the mech holding him like this? Grabby hands were once again made from the distressed sparkling.
Prowl frowned. He knew next to nothing about sparklings, never having any siblings and barely seeing any young ones during this wretched war. But here he was, holding one who was clearly upset. What was he supposed to do?
Optimus and Ratchet could be heard behind Prowl, failing miserably at stifling their laughter. "Hold him closer to your spark, Prowl."
Doing as told, two small servos made their way around the Praxian's neck and a small helm nuzzled under his chin. As awkwardly as before, Prowl patted the young one's back, soothing the tired soul.
Optimus looked to Ratchet as they watched the scene, "The sparklings are taking this whole thing rather well."
The medic nodded, "Unlike normal mature mechs and femmes, sparklings have automatic switches, almost, in their small CPU's that delete bad memories so that their emotional subroutines aren't messed up. These sparklings in particular are going to be able to feel the loss of their sibling, but probably aren't going to be able to understand why there's this emptiness in their spark."
Nodding in understanding, Optimus had to stifle more laughter as the femmling awoke and demanded to be picked up by Prowl as well. The white and black looked completely and utterly awkward and the CMO and Leader of the Autobots didn't think that the SIC could show any more emotion than he was now, publicly showing his inexperience with sparklings, albeit it being only Optimus and Ratchet with him here.
"Well I'll be, stick-up-his-aft SIC finally let go of that mask he's built up over the vorns. It's about fragging time." Ratchet snickered.
Optimus, however, felt his mood tone down slightly. If only everybot knew about Prowl...the chains that bound him, constricted him...poor 'bot. When would he be free? Yet, seeing him like this, Prime mused, maybe there was hope for him yet.
Clearing his throat, Optimus made his decision. "Alright then. Prowl?"
Said 'bot looked up at him, arms full with happily trilling bundles of metal, "Yes, erm, Optimus sir?"
A smile behind that blasted battle mask, "I've decided, with Ratchet's approval of course, I believe that it would be best if you were the sparklings' guardian for now."
Ratchet nodded with a sadistic glee-filled grin, "Of course. It would only be natural with the way the sparklings seem to have become attached to you like that."
Prowl gaped, completely unlike himself, and Optimus and Ratchet let their laughter fill the bay as the black and white spluttered.
"Wait, what!"
Would anyone like to see this continued? If so, leave a review please! Reviews are bliss! Flames will be dealt with by an overcharged Ratchet.
