Fallen Angels

Academy

Starscream had been watching him.

Which sounded a lot creepier than it actually was, but considering Prowl was his trine mate, he figured he could get away with watching him whenever he wanted to. After all, he was doing it to keep him safe. Hot Rod had apparently forgotten about the smack-down that Screamer had given him after his fight with Prowl. The slagger was once again mocking Prowl, harassing the shy, reclusive mech, and unfortunately he would never take it that one step farther that would allow Starscream to rip his arms off, and Prowl refused to let him do it otherwise.

Well, maybe Hot Rod had learned something.

Right now, though, Starscream watched Prowl as he recharged. He had fallen asleep over his notes – some class that Star didn't share with him, but Prowl thought it was important – and Star had walked in without waking him.

Prowl liked to sleep on his stomach or his back, but never his side. Seekers could adjust their wings to accommodate such actions, but doorwingers – or more accurately Prowl – couldn't. Doorwings were just too sensitive. Prowl was currently passed out on his stomach, doorwings fluttering on occasion, and Starscream simply watched him.

Something was changing. Star just couldn't figure out what.

"Star."

He refocused his optics and realized that Prowl was no longer recharging, but rather was watching him without ever leaving his comfortable position. Star smiled at him. "I didn't mean to wake you." he said softly, feeling the need to stay quiet. "If you want, I can go."

"No. I'd rather you stay." Prowl said immediately. He didn't bother to sit up, or even really to move, and Star frowned. That wasn't like Prowl at all. He walked over to Prowl's berth and sat down next to him.

"What's wrong?" he asked.

"Nothing."

Star scowled. "You're lying to me." he growled. Prowl looked away, burying his face in his berth mat. Star grabbed his shoulder. "How am I supposed to protect you if you lie to me?" he demanded, unable to fully keep the hurt from his voice.

Prowl looked up at him and smiled slightly. "This is me protecting you." he said gently. "Trust me when I say – I'm fine."

"But it's not true." Star protested. Prowl shrugged slightly, and Star didn't miss the wince of pain as he did so. He scowled again. "Is it Hot Rod? Is he messing with you again?"

"No – not Hot Rod." Prowl assured him with a snort. "The last time he tried anything, I hit him in the helm with a ruler. He stopped messing with me." Star chuckled at that. He abruptly grew serious. Prowl merely smiled at him. "I'm fine, Star."

"No." Star shook his head. "You're hurt. I can tell." Now that he was back in contact with his trine mate, the protocols were active once again. He knew Prowl was hurt, somewhere in his upper back. Prowl watched him for a moment before slowly lowering his doorwings just enough for Star to see the damage done to his upper back and the back of his neck. He cursed. "Slag it, Prowl – how did this happen?" Prowl didn't react, not even as Star gently traced his fingers across the dented metal. If anything, that scared Star more. "Prowl, tell me!"

"I can't." he said softly.

"Why the slag not?"

"I'm protecting you." Prowl smiled an honest smile, and Star felt his spark clench. "Just do me a favor and don't try to get involved. It'll get better in a few days." He reached up and touched Star's hand. Star gave him a hard look.

"You can't fool me." he said darkly. "I know something's wrong. So if you won't tell me, I'm going to have to make you."

Prowl's smile turned into a slow grin. "Go ahead and try." he teased. "I'm trained to withstand all manners of torture."

Star smirked at him. "I'll bet I can break you." he teased back, reaching out and tickling Prowl's sides. Prowl squealed in a rather undignified manner and tried to squirm away, but Star had an advantage over him. Prowl's laughter rang out through the room, and after a moment Star started to laugh as well. For a moment, Star forgot clean about getting information out of the reclusive doorwinger – they were simply having fun. It felt good to laugh like this again.

Suddenly Prowl managed to flip himself over, making Star lose his balance and land sprawled on top of him.

Both froze.

Star could feel his circuits starting to heat up. Prowl was staring at him, optics dim and lips slightly parted. There was something between them; the air was getting charged. Star could feel Prowl's energy field fluctuating, reaching out and brushing across Star's sensors then withdrawing, again and again. He shivered, struggling to think of something that would break the sudden tension, but nothing came to mind.

Prowl shivered, his body practically vibrating against Star's, and that was all it took to make the Seeker's control break.

In the rec room, TC was only mildly surprised when Warp appeared beside him and started bouncing on his feet. "TC! You wanna see something really sweet and totally overdue?" he asked, a wicked grin crossing his face.

TC smirked, humoring his trine mate. "Okay – what?"

"Promise you won't say a word when we get there? You'll ruin the moment if you do."

"I promise, Warp."

Warp grinned again and grabbed TC's arm, teleporting them to just inside their own quarters. TC was about to ask just what was so interesting in their quarters when he saw Screamer and Prowl. Both on Prowl's berth.

Kissing.

Not just regular kissing either, judging from the fact that neither had registered their trine mates' arrival and Screamer didn't look like he was about to give up his position on top of Prowl anytime soon. Neither seemed inclined to take it any father, but still – TC felt a little strange being there. He tugged on Warp's arm to let him know he'd seen enough. Warp teleported them to just outside of their quarters, grinning audio to audio.

"Well?" he whispered.

TC grinned. "I completely agree – it's about bloody well time."