Four Letter Word

Chapter 2

Disclaimer: I don't own Transformers; I'm just prostituting it for my amusement.

Summary: How Jazz and Prowl came together.

Warning: Drunken robots, confusion, m/m robots

Pairings: Jazz/ Prowl

Most days Prowl met with Optimus and Ironhide and worked on tactics for dealing with Decepticon raids and skirmishes. Prowl was most at home with countless screens with countless pieces of data surrounding him, there he could think, and strategize and prepare. The most apt description for Prowl was that of a thinker. He was not so much a mech of action as he was one of thought.

The fact that Jazz had rendered him almost incapable of coherent thought was maddening. He had still been thinking, but he had not been able to act on his thoughts and that fact worried Prowl. Worse, on their first meeting, Prowl had been so completely shocked, he had been unable to contend with the creeper. The unexpected, that was what troubled Prowl. He just did not know how to cope with the unexpected. And Jazz was unexpected, wasn't he? The mech was one of the bubbliest Prowl had ever met and definitely the most forward. No one had been so open with him, and Prowl was certain no one had ever called him sweet.

He wasn't a cruel mech; he wasn't even rude, but sweet was a little far fetched. Prowl was absolutely certain he had not said or done anything that should have been seen as cute. Perhaps Jazz had a bit of a glitch. That must have been it.

Normally, he wouldn't have had the luxury of dwelling on an odd mech but Optimus and Ironhide were in Helix, and there was nothing for Prowl to do here but think. And the only thing he could think of, despite every attempt to the contrary, was Jazz.

Prowl has not an inexperienced mech. Sure, he wasn't as experienced as say Ironhide, but he was no blushing sparkling. Then again, Prowl doubted any mech had ever even tried to molest Ironhide on a dance floor. No, Ironhide would have been up on charges for murder.

Tonight, Prowl would not let himself get so flustered. There would be no nibbling on his neck, just the thought made his face hot all over again. He would be coherent, professional and he would find out more about Jazz than just his name.

It hadn't come up really at all, but Prowl did see the makings of an Autobot in Jazz, and he felt compelled to do everything in his power to bring the mech into the Autobot cause. Prowl hoped his circuits weren't scrambled, and that Jazz really did belong with them. Prowl hated self doubt, and rarely allowed himself to indulge in it. His instincts were excellent. If he thought a mech belonged with the Autobots, he was unfailingly correct.

Throughout the day his mind never strayed far from Jazz, so Prowl was actually rather relieved when evening came and he and Trailbreaker made their way to the bar. Trailbreaker said nothing of the night before, of which Prowl would be eternally grateful.

"I'm going to make sure Creeperbot isn't here tonight," Trailbreaker said as they entered the bar. Prowl nodded. With that, he was alone on the same stool as the night before. Anxiety hummed quietly in his circuits. What if Jazz didn't come?

It wouldn't matter. One wasted evening was hardly the end of the world. And yet the idea that Jazz would stand him up irritated Prowl more than he had expected. He shouldn't have worried.

"I'm glad you came, Sweetspark," Jazz said with his hands ghosting over Prowl's door wings. "Did you want to get a booth?"

"Yes," Prowl said instantly. He ignored the pleasant heat radiating from his door wings. It would be safer for them to talk with some semblance of privacy; a booth was a brilliant idea. All he needed to do was make certain Jazz didn't take it as an opportunity to feel him up more.

Jazz took Prowl's hand. He wouldn't let it go for the rest of the night.

"So tell me, Sweetspark," Jazz said as he took a seat across the small booth from Prowl. His fingers stroked gently against Prowl's palm. "What made you join the Autobots?"

"I didn't want to die," Prowl said simply.

"You think you'd die as a neutral?" Jazz asked; he was serious now, but the kindness and humour in his voice hadn't faded.

"Yes," Prowl replied. "Megatron is not going to allow anyone to stay neutral. Soon, too soon, I think, everyone will be forced to take a side."

"Do you think things should go back the way they were?" Jazz asked, thinking back to the class prejudice that had ruled Cybertron. The prejudice that still held power over mechs everywhere.

"No," Prowl replied. "Cybertron needs to change but I don't think Megatron wants to change it into anything other than his own personal kingdom."

"You're probably right," Jazz said. "I guess you know the Seekers have picked his side."

"Yes," Prowl said, there was a twinge of regret in his voice. "I don't blame them for feeling angry, for feeling like slaves or pawns, but all they've done is given themselves to a new master."

"Optimus is lucky to count you as his ally." Jazz said.

"What gives you that impression," Prowl asked curiously. "It's not that I am not flattered with your observation, I just want to know where you got it."

"I'm good at reading people," Jazz said. He looked at their joined hands and watched himself leisurely trace the joints of Prowl's fingers.. "And it's pretty obvious that you care. The fact that you care, alone, makes you a special mech."

"Most mechs cared," Prowl argued, a touch embarrassed and a little perturbed how good it felt to hold Jazz's hand.

"Most mechs try and hide it," Jazz replied. "You aren't even trying. You have a sweet spark, no question about it."

Prowl looked down at their hands. His face was too hot to let him look Jazz in the optics. His face grew even hotter as he let himself really feel the gentle strokes of Jazz's fingers against his. He shut his eyes in a vain attempt to cool his face. He only felt Jazz's optics and his touch that much more clearly.

"This is gonna get to be a bad habit," Jazz said after a few minutes. When Prowl looked at his face, he saw the strange mech was smiling.

"What?" Prowl asked, confusion painting his face.

"Embarrassing you," Jazz said. He grinned. "I like your reactions. You're far too sweet for words."

"I take it you want to stay neutral," Prowl said in a desperate attempt to change the subject.

"As long as I can," Jazz said. "War's depressing. If I can stay out of it, I want to."

"Even if I don't think it's possible," Prowl said. "I still hope you can."

"Thanks," Jazz said and smiled brightly. "I know you have a job to do. But I want to see you again sometime soon."

"You will," Prowl replied, knowing full well that he would, because he wanted to see Jazz again too. He wanted Jazz to be an Autobot where seeing him again would be as simple as coming home.

They parted only when the bar closed. Jazz stole a quick kiss to Prowl's neck before he left the booth. Trailbreaker found Prowl just as Jazz disappeared. Prowl took a moment to gather himself, and they headed for home.

"Do you think he's going to join up," Trailbreaker asked.

"When something happens to him," Prowl said. "As long as he feels safe, he'll stay neutral."

"Don't want to wish him harm but..." Trailbreaker trailed off.

"Yes," Prowl said. "That's what I'm thinking too."

"Well," Trailbreaker said. "Sometimes people join up to be with their friends. Given time, he may just join up out of friendship with you."

"Perhaps," Prowl said. He whispered, more to the empty street than to Trailbreaker: "I just hope he doesn't get hurt in the mean time."

Optimus looked grim when Prowl stepped in the door. He immediately wondered if Optimus was disappointed he hadn't brought Jazz back, or if he had found out about the other night and was angered by Prowl's deportment.

Ironhide was nowhere in sight but Prowl could hear the 'Bots angry muttering from behind the closed door that led to his office behind Prime's.

"Helix is falling under Decepticon influence," Optimus said grimly when he saw Prowl. "Hound isn't optimistic about our chances there. The Towers are following under Megatron now."

"No," Prowl groaned. "The Towers control the Academy. That's a lot of mechs..."

"A lot of decent mechs," Optimus said wearily. "A lot of decent mechs are going to suffer. A lot of young ones."

"We should build an escape route," Prowl said. "An underground group of 'Bots that can help mechs out from under Megatron if they want to break free."

"Good idea Prowl," Optimus said less grimly. "Any luck with your meeting today?"

"He wants to stay neutral," Prowl said, himself disheartened. "I don't know how to convince him to join."

"You're doing enough talking to him, I think," Optimus said. "By knowing you aren't going to try and bully him, he's more likely to turn to us if he feels threatened by the Decepticons."

"I hope you're right," Prowl said. "He's a good mech. I don't want to see him enslaved by Megatron."

"Keep in contact with him, and I don't think that will happen," Optimus said. "I meant it when I said I have absolute faith in your judgement. I think this mech of yours will be an Autobot. With you in his corner, he won't be enslaved by Megatron."

"Thank you," Prowl said. "I should go elsewhere tomorrow, to push for more mechs but I won't turn my back on Jazz."

"A wise plan," Optimus said with a nod. "Are you up to working on this underground rail road idea of yours?"

"Absolutely," Prowl said. "If I can have Hound's reports, I'll get on it immediately."

"Here," Optimus handed Prowl a stack of reports. "Take your time. Better a good plan than a quick ramshackle one."

"Yes sir," Prowl agreed. "I'll have a first draft as soon as I am able."

"Just remember to recharge," Optimus said, finally smiling again. "Which reminds me, I had better be certain Ironhide isn't arming himself for an open assault on the Towers."

"A good plan, Optimus," Prowl said; he knew how personally Ironhide took losses like this. Optimus took it personally too. It was a good thing that before Optimus would feel the need to bully Ironhide, the other mech would be there to make certain their leader was taking care of himself. "Good night."

It struck Prowl how acutely he felt involved with Jazz. He didn't want to lose him to the Decepticons, whether by becoming one or by being a random casualty. The second seemed more likely than the first but it was a real risk, Megatron had no concern for the innocent. They didn't exist in his optics. Hopefully Jazz was as clever as he seemed and could keep himself safe. As it was now, Prowl made a promise to himself to make contact with the bot at least once a week. He would admit later that it really wasn't the desire to recruit Jazz that kept him in contact with the mech.

Just as he was readying himself for recharge, Prowl wondered why it was he still hadn't corrected Jazz from calling him Sweetspark. He would have crashed for certain if anyone had been in his room to see him fall into his recharge with a smile on his face.

Seconds after entering his recharge, Prowl shot up, optics wide. He'd kissed him. Again. And he hadn't said anything, hadn't thought about it until right this second. Primus either he was losing his mind or he was mooning over that mech like a naive sparkling.

He dearly hoped it was the former.

End Chapter 2

A/N Do you want to know what would make me oh so very happy? Draw fanart for any of my fics. I am not much of an artist and Low Bridge is taking her sweet time.

The LJ community I've created for G1 Transformers is community. Livejournal. com/g1transformers/

I'd love to have anyone interested in mech x mech fics and art to join and share the fandom.

Also, there is a poll in my profile to help me decide which version of smut to write as I can't seem to decide.

Also, could someone explain to my muse that having five plots intertwining together, two of which will be long buggers, refusing to separate themselves makes it a little difficult to concentrate on one thing. Oh well. Muse has had a cookie, maybe she'll behave.