Title: A Bond of Convenience (Chapter 10 of ?) written for the April 2011 challenge
Verse: G1 AU
Rating: PG
Characters: Jazz, Prowl, mentions of Optimus and Trailblazer
Warnings: none
Summary: Jazz and Prowl have an actual conversation

A/N: Looks like this will be a total of 18 chapters. That is unless Prowl and Jazz give me any more grief and stretch it out a bit more. Yes, I realize this is chapter 10 so things need to get moving.

(I do not own Transformers.)

Jazz had spent most of the previous cycle in Iacon. Jazz realized that he really did have a friend in Optimus. After talking about Prowl for quite a while, they talked about a wide range of topics. Jazz still was not happy about his current situation with Prowl but at least he understood why Prowl behaved the way he did. Jazz was also not happy that Optimus had not been able to warn him prior to the bonding ceremony of what he was in for but Jazz had understood that as well. Jazz was encouraged that Optimus really did believe that he and Prowl could have a meaningful relationship.

Now Jazz stood outside of Prowl's office balancing two cubes of energon in one servo and holding his newest book file in the other and carefully tapped on the door. When he heard Prowl say, "Come in," Jazz took a deep sigh and entered the room. He shut the door behind him with his elbow. Prowl stared at Jazz and then ever so slightly raised an optic ridge as Jazz strode across the room toward the desk. Jazz set down one of the cubes on the desk in front of Prow. He then gracefully flopped into one of the chairs opposite Prowl on the other side of the desk and opened his book file while sipping at his energon.

Jazz read in silence for several klicks before Prowl finally spoke. "What are you doing, Jazz?" he asked with a slightly irritated tone.

Jazz paused in his reading and looked over at Prowl. "Ah brought ya some energon and Ah'm reading a book file."

Prowl continued to stare at Jazz. "That much is obvious, Jazz. Why did you bring energon to me and why are you reading in my office?"

Jazz sat up in his chair and looked over at Prowl. He took a swallow of his energon before answering. "Trailblazer said ya skipped yer energon this morning. Ah figured ya were busy so Ah brought some to ya." Jazz looked over at the untouched cube. "It isn't poisoned if that's what yer thinking."

Prowl looked down at the cube before him. It was true that he had skipped his morning energon so he lifted the cube and took a cautious sip.

Jazz grinned and made himself comfortable again in the chair and continued to read. He again read for several klicks before another question made him look up at Prowl.

"Why are you reading in my office?" Prowl asked.

Jazz answered, "Ah like the view."

Prowl glanced out the window. He appeared to be slightly confused. He looked again at Jazz. "There is nothing remarkable about the view."

Jazz couldn't help chuckling softly before saying, "It is from where Ah'm sitting." Prowl's confusion was adorable.

Prowl said nothing and finished his energon in silence. Once he had set the empty cube aside, Prowl spoke again. "What is this all about Jazz?"

Jazz looked Prowl straight in the optics and calmly replied, "Ah'm courting ya."

Prowl was really confused now. "Courting me? Why? We are already bonded."

"Yep," Jazz replied, "but ya need ta be courted. Ah'm not going ta go through life being bonded ta ya and not have any romance or interfacing." Jazz then looked hard at Prowl and used a tone of voice which was kind but firm, "It's not subject ta debate."

Prowl sat back and stared at Jazz. His expression was unreadable. After several long klicks, he picked up a data pad and went back to work.

Jazz hid his emotions well. He was relieved that Prowl had not argued. Jazz stayed put for several joors. He did spend part of the time reading. The rest of the time he spent watching Prowl from behind his visor. He carefully observed Prowl and studied him.

Prowl was very attractive. With time to look at him Jazz was again captivated by the thought that he was bonded to a Praxian. Prowl's red chevron begged to be kissed. His paint was simple black and white but elegant. Jazz's optics were constantly drawn to the regal doorwings which adorned Prowl's back. The few times prior to this that Jazz had seen them they were held high and stiff. They still were high and stiff but they were not still. They would move ever so slightly and appeared to reflect to some degree what Prowl was thinking. Jazz had no idea at this point how to interpret the meaning of those movements but they were interesting to watch. Jazz began to wonder what it would be like to touch those doorwings. Could Prowl be driven wild if Jazz caressed those appendages?

Setting that thought aside for the moment, Jazz watched Prowl as he worked. He had a sharp focus when it came to getting his work done. He was thorough and careful. Jazz's processor began to wander again as he wondered if Prowl could be that thorough and careful in the berth. From what Optimus had said, Jazz would have to teach Prowl but that was okay.

Eventually Jazz excused himself from the office since he was scheduled to visit the medical facility. Prowl looked up when Jazz left and gave a brief nod when Jazz collected his empty cube from earlier. Once Jazz left the room, he smiled to himself. Jazz considered the time successful because not once did Prowl ask about creating an heir.

Jazz followed the same routine for two full orns. Optimus had said that Jazz had to be very patient and take his time with Prowl. Since Jazz now knew what he was up against, he was determined to work at it. If his carrier had been right about the coldest armor hiding the hottest spark then Jazz wanted to discover the passionate side of Prowl that had to hidden somewhere under that armor. During those orns Jazz discovered that he liked to read in Prowl's office. The chair was comfortable and he enjoyed the view. Jazz enjoyed watching Prowl. It also appeared that Prowl was growing used to Jazz's presence. Over time, his doorwings began to relax and moved a bit more. Jazz noticed Prowl's right doorwing would flick ever so slightly when Jazz entered the office and when Jazz left the office it seemed that Prowl's doorwings would sag a tiny bit. Prowl never did ask Jazz about an heir again.