Part 4: New Experiences
Sunstreaker and Sideswipe were their names, and from what Prowl could tell they were trouble waiting to happen. Jazz properly introduced them to him when Prowl came back to the dorm after his classes were done for the day; it turned out they lived just a few rooms down the hall from his and Jazz's. Prowl was about to give the twins an angry lecturing about how much trouble they had caused him during his law class, until Jazz cut in.
"Hey, what are we all doin' standing around here for? Sunstreaker, lead us to that place you were talking about earlier!"
"Yeah bro! Show us!" Sideswipe enthusiastically added. With that the twins and Jazz raced down the dorm building's stairs, with a still angry Prowl following and determined to not get left behind. When he exited the building, Prowl saw that the trio had already transformed and was on the move. He sighed through his vents, transformed and revved his engine to catch up.
"Jazz, where's this place Sunstreaker's talking about?" He asked once he caught up. "Why are we hanging out with them anyway?"
"Aww, common Prowl! These two are buddies of mine, we go way back! I'm sure you'll learn to like 'em," Jazz said to Prowl as the group of four drove along the highway.
Prowl silently doubted Jazz's comment and asked, "So, where exactly are they leading us?"
"Not sure, but Sideswipe and Sunstreaker always know where the best places to hang out are. I'm sure we're going to be in for a fun night of partying!"
Prowl's insides lurched when Jazz mentioned the dreaded "p" word: party. He had never enjoyed attending big social gatherings; he just wasn't the extremely social type. His engine revved low in annoyance. He would have turned around and went back to the dorm to start writing his report, if that would not make him look so stand-offish. Despite the fact that Prowl knew he wasn't good at social gatherings, he had made a deal with himself before the school year began to try and make a friend or two, and if he ditched Jazz and his friends now he may lose that opportunity. Maybe this could turn out to be a good thing…
After a while Sunstreaker exited the highway and took a series of turns, leading them to a rather sub-par looking building on the edge of the city. Neon lights of all colors rimmed the doors and blockishly spelled out "The Dancing Turbofox." The building appeared to have once been a much better kept place, but was now degrading and looking in need of some aesthetic maintenance. Loud music could be heard from within, and numerous mechs and femmes went into and came out of the dance club. Right away Prowl could tell they were not the type he usually associated with.
They all transformed and headed toward the building, Prowl following reluctantly behind. Jazz saw his look of hesitance and wrapped an enthusiastic arm around his shoulders, pulling him up between himself and Sideswipe. "Relax Prowler, we're here to have fun!"
"Yeah, and I'm sure you need to relax after that boring two hour law class today!" Sideswipe poked at Prowl's side.
Prowl felt like barring his dental plating at the obnoxious mech and growling at him. He didn't, of course, but the image flashed briefly in his processor before disappearing, being replaced by his usual cool and collected demeanor.
They entered the building and went straight for the bar. Prowl was the only one to order regular energon instead of high-grade, but it didn't bother him. He took pride in the fact that he didn't find getting over-energized as possible an enjoyable activity; the last thing he wanted was to lose his situational awareness and possibly make a fool of himself.
The group eventually found an empty table and sat down. Music pulsed around them and bots danced to the rhythm, their figures made shadowy by the low lighting, metal glinting and reflecting when hit at the right angles. Prowl looked around the room, took a slow drink from his cube, stared at his energon for a while, then surveyed the room again as Jazz and Sideswipe chatted beside him. Sunstreaker had already gotten up from their table and found a dance partner for the night; a rather hansom indigo-blue mech with a red face and an intricate symbol of flames painted on his chest plating. Even from a distance it was clear the two were flirting with each other.
"Hey Prowler," Jazz gently elbowed Prowl to get his attention, "That attractive white mech over there has been checkin' you out for a while now. Why don't 'cha go talk to 'em! I think he likes you!"
Prowl nervously glanced to where Jazz was indicating. The white mech was casually leaning on the bar, loosely holding a cube in his hand and swirling its contents. He was obviously a foreigner. His frame was different than any Prowl had seen before; angular but sleek, giving an impression of swift strength. He was mostly white, with some red accents. Indeed, he was very attractive and unique looking, and was staring straight at Prowl with intense blue optics.
Prowl was struck with apprehension and looked back at Jazz. "No way. There's no way I can just to talk to him. He's so…"
"Exotically delicious," Sideswipe finished his sentence for him and gulped down the remainder of his high-grade. "If you won't go talk to him, I gladly will," he continued, his optics transfixed on the frame of the white mech as he spoke.
"No you won't Sides! Common Prowl, I'll go with you," and before he could protest Prowl was being dragged by the arm over to his mysterious admirer.
"No Jazz! Stop!" Prowl mumbled his protests to Jazz as he tried to escape his grip. "I really think that this is a bad-"
Prowl was cut off as they approached the stranger and Jazz introduced them. Of course, Jazz had to introduce them in a way Prowl found most embarrassing.
"Hey there! I couldn't help but notice you noticing my friend Prowl here, and since he's kinda shy I thought I'd bring him over to meet ya."
Any other mech would have given some reaction – a nervous laugh, a frown, a big grin, anything – but the white and red mech seemed so unfazed by Jazz's introduction that Prowl wondered if he had even heard.
As Jazz left he looked back and smiled at his buddy, and Prowl was fairly certain that even though he couldn't see Jazz's optics through his visor, Jazz had winked at him. Prowl sighed. Now that he was here, he might as well talk to this mysterious admirer of his.
"So…what's your name?"
Now that Jazz was gone the mech did let a tiny smirk appear on his faceplates, although Prowl wasn't sure if it was meant to be friendly or intimidating. "Name's Drift," the mech said and took a sip from his cube, then set it down on the bar as he took a seat.
Prowl sat on the empty bar stool next to him. "You don't look like you're from around here. Are you a student at the Academy?"
He shook his head slightly. "No. I'm studying under the supervision of the Academy's director of the martial arts department, but not as an official student." Drift seemed laid back enough in the conversation that Prowl was put at ease a bit.
"That's interesting. I've never heard of a teacher doing that before."
"Yeah, well…" he gave a shallow shrug. "I guess he thinks I have potential, so he offered to teach me. What about you? "
"First year student, studying to be a law enforcement officer."
This small talk wasn't so bad. Prowl was starting to like this Drift, he seemed to just want to chat after all. Prowl had assumed that all the mechs in a place like this would only talk to him if they had ulterior motives in their processors; using distasteful pick up lines and flattery to try reeling him into their scheme. Such an occurrence had happened to him before, and Prowl never needed to make a mistake more than once to learn from it. He was pleasantly surprised by the charisma of this mech. They chatted together for quite a while, and Prowl was gaining confidence.
…Until he suddenly felt the foreigner's hand start to gently caress his lower back.
Prowl's whole frame tensed at the touch. He seemed frozen in place, not able to calculate what to do next. Although he didn't mind talking to Drift, he hadn't come here tonight to meet a romantic partner, and he certainly didn't want to be tricked into anything. The hand continued its slow ascending and descending movements, making his sensors tingle with anxiety, worry, and….excitement? Yes, Prowl had to admit to himself – no matter how much he didn't want to – that having such an attractive mech as Drift touching him and giving him attention was rather…stimulating, to say the least.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable," Drift obviously saw Prowl freeze up at his touch and removed his hand. "I guess you're friend was right, you really are shy," he added in a slightly amused tone.
Prowl inwardly scoffed. Shy? He was not shy, bots who are shy are not cut out to become law enforcement officers. He was just…not a touchy-feely super-social kind of bot.
"It's okay," Drift continued when Prowl did not respond, "I think it's nice being around someone who's not constantly begging for attention."
Prowl's processor was straining to find a way to gently let Drift know he wasn't looking for a relationship right now. Although, Drift did seem nice enough, maybe he should give it a try. It wasn't every day he had someone as… charming as Drift aiming for his attention. He had barely thought of the possibility when suddenly it seemed like every bot in the place rushed to the center of the dance floor.
"Fight! Fight! Fight!" The mostly over-energized crowd began chanting in unison.
Things started happening faster than Prowl could comprehend after that. He was roughly pushed off his seat by someone, and for a brief time could only see peds of all different sizes and colors running by. By the time he got back up the place was so crowded he could no longer see Drift; he had probably been shoved away from the bar as well. It seemed bots were pouring in from outside the dance club to see the fight that broke out on the dance floor. In that instant he decided that he had had enough excitement for one night. Prowl did the best he could to make it to the exit.
Once outside he quickly transformed and squealed his tires as he sped away. Bots were still rushing into the building from the street to see what all the commotion was about.
"Hey Prowl! Wait up!" Jazz's voice rang out from behind him. When Prowl slowed down and turned to look, he saw Jazz and the twins catching up to him.
"Let's boogie outa' here!" Sideswipe said just as law enforcement sirens could be heard in the distance. The group of four sped along until they reached the highway, then slowed their pace to normal.
"Wow, that was a close one hu!" Sunstreaker said.
"Almost a little too close if ya ask me! Good thing we got out of there when we did," Jazz added.
Sunstreaker, Sideswipe, and Jazz bantered back and forth all the way back to the dorm about different subjects; who danced with the hottest bot, how good the drinks were, how they should go back sometime for more fun, and so on.
Prowl had too much on his processor to join in the conversation, nor did he have very much to say for the rest of the night.