This was inspired by a plot bunny from Sakon. The irony of this is that I don't even LIKE TFA. But... sometimes- just sometimes -an idea lets you endure some surprising things...

Title: Can't Run Now
Fandom: Transformers: Animated
Rating: PG
Characters: Prowl, Sideswipe, Sunstreaker, ensemble
Summary: Two new 'bots arrive on Earth and they've got a bone to pick with someone.

The perimeter scans already announced it but Bulkhead still felt the need to shout at the top of his vocalizer, "Jazz is here!" The Autobots that weren't already in the main room ambled their way over as the white sports car pulled in with a drift as wickedly cool as any Smoothie. The Guard raised a hand in greeting, an overly amused and secretive smile on the sharp cut of his face.

"Autobots." He said with relish. His grin faltered just the slightest as he noticed Sari smiling cheekily back at him. "Sari." The grin came back twofold when he saw Prowl. "I've got some news for you all," he said, though his optics didn't leave the motorcycle, "we're getting two new additions to the crew. Ultra Magnus wants you to come meet them."

Prowl didn't so much as twitch under Jazz's gaze but Bumblebee piped up, "Two new guys? What, Ultra Magnus don't think all of us can take care of this?"

Jazz shrugged and still didn't look away. "They were very adamant about joining us here. Said it was exactly what they were looking for."

Prowl was still as motionless as ever, but that was fine as Bumblebee was still talking. "Man, is it really that boring everywhere else in the galaxy? I know Earth is a happening place and all, but sometimes it would be nice if we weren't so busy ourselves."

"They're good fighters." Jazz's grin continued to spread almost off his face. "In fact, I think they'd work pretty well with a couple of you guys."

"That so? So why two? They partners or something?"

"Brothers, actually. Twins."

Prowl's engine stuttered like a cat getting caught as a garage door opened. Everyone spun around to look at him. Jazz's grin nearly ate the entirety of his chin. "No." Prowl muttered, his expression a mess of the most terrified, petrified, and 'Oh-Primus-let-this-not-be-true' looks any of them had ever seen.

"Yes."

Prowl abruptly turned around and it was only Optimus Prime's hand on his shoulder that kept him from doing his ninja disappearing act on them. "Where are you going?"

"Away." Came the terse reply. "Far away."

"Aw, c'mon, Prowl!" Bumblebee teased. "You don't even know these guys! ...Wait- do you?"

A glare of 'why haven't you died yet?' was his only answer.

"It's like you don't want to see any of your old buddies. Especially when they went through such extremes tracking you down!"

That glare swerved over to pin Jazz in accusation.

Jazz spread his hands. "I did a little research."

"I'm not meeting them." Prowl said with finality. "I will not work with them. Period."

Optimus Prime frowned down at the black mech. "What's so bad about them that you can't even greet them?" Everyone watched silently as Prowl proceeded to not say a thing. Optimus Prime looked at Ratchet who merely shrugged right back at him. "If you won't tell me," the red and blue mech said, "I can't exactly let you get out of an order from Ultra Magnus. Everyone, transform and roll out." As the other Autobots transformed, Prowl stood still under Optimus Prime's hand and made no move to join the others. "That includes you, Prowl." He pushed the cycle into the center of the procession. "And I mean you're rolling with the rest of us. No attempting to run off."

Prowl gauged the possible success rate of his escaping. While he wasn't the fastest of the Autobots, Bumblebee would be easy enough to escape. Jazz, though, would be a different story. With a sigh and his shoulders dropping, Prowl transformed and sulked on his two wheels.

Despite the leisurely and uneventful drive, it was obvious the black cycle was as tense as an elephant on a tightrope. Jazz played himself some upbeat music- intent in enjoying the sense of impending doom –and as they approached Ultra Magnus's ship, Sari pressed her nose against Bumblebee's windshield, much to his disgust. He opened his passenger side window to let her lean out, peering at two figures that were waiting at the ramp. They were cars, she realized. In fact, they weren't just cars, they were-

"Oh, wow!" She cried out, eyes wide. "Are those Lamborghinis? You have some expensive tastes!"

Indeed they were. One a sun-gold yellow, the other a fire red. Both sat intently on their wheels.

"Hey, waitaminute." Ratchet grumbled to himself. "I think I know those two. Aren't they the slaggers- Prowl! Watch it ya crazy bolt-brain!"

Prowl didn't even deign to reply, just did his tight little U-turn and nearly slammed into Optimus Prime's grill.

"Oh no you don't!" The truck swerved, turning so his length blocked off Prowl's escape. "You're not going anywhere!"

"Hey, hey! Incoming- and fast!"

True to Bumblebee's word, the two Lamborghinis had shot forward, aiming straight for the distraught motorcycle.

"Bulkhead, Ratchet," Optimus Prime called out, "get in a defensive-"

Jazz cut in smoothly. "'Fraid not, Optimus. In fact, the lot of us will be wanting to sit this one out."

"What do you-"

The yellow car transformed, launching himself forward with a growling roar of "PRRRROOOOWLL!"

The smaller Autobot transformed, flipping away from swinging fists and almost right into the second car. He ducked under red arms and rolled away, coming up in a crouch. The first 'bot snarled, the second one grinned and both charged after Prowl again.

"What's going on here?"

"Shouldn't we be doing something?"

"Whadda we do?"

"Calm down, calm down." The white Guard said mildly. "Just let 'em get this outta their system. It'll make sense in a few, trust me."

The other Autobots said nothing, but with the way they all leaned on their axles towards Optimus Prime was telling enough. "…" said the Prime. "If Prowl needs us to step in, he'll let us know." Maybe.

As it was, it was soon apparent the rest of them would've be far outclassed in this fight. The red twin stayed back for the most part, coming in every now and again to keep Prowl from running off to far or to attempt to grab at him, but it was mainly between Prowl and the yellow one and Prowl was barely holding his own. He had yet to reach for his weapons, but he was only half a step ahead of the rampaging Lamborghini, growling and snarling and attacking like laying a hand on Prowl was the only thing that made being on this backwater mudball worth a damn.

A blow to the chest had Prowl staggering back and right into the red one's arms, capturing the motorcycle in a bear hug that pulled him flush against a strong, broad chestplate. The yellow brother came charging in, getting two feet to the midsection for his trouble. The second time, though, he wrapped his hands around Prowl's ankles and moved in between his legs. That snarl on his face twisted into a dark grin, mimicking his brother's as they pressed their captive tight between their bodies.

"Do you know," the red one purred, "how long we've been looking for you?"

"How much we practiced just to get you in this position?"

"How much we wanted to get you in this position?"

The yellow one nearly frowned again. "It's almost disappointing how lax you've gotten."

Prowl didn't move, just kept himself carefully still between them.

"Aw, don't be like that, Prowler. You saying you didn't miss us?"

"Everyone else would be dying for our kind of attention."

"Maybe you just need to remember," one red arm uncurled from that slender black chest and brushed down the gleaming armor, "what it is we can do."

Bulkhead jolted. "Hey wait- are they-"

Bumblebee nearly snapped his window shut on Sari's head as he spun around. "Okay, young lady! That's enough for you!"

"Hey!"

"Sideswipe! Sunstreaker! That's enough!"

Everyone froze, surprised at Ultra Magnus's sudden appearance. The Supreme Commander glared at the two and slowly- very slowly and with an abundance of trailing hands –they released Prowl and took a step back. Prowl was suddenly in the cluster of his own group so fast he could've teleported there. The other Autobots transformed under the pointed look of Ultra Magnus. Sari leapt out of Bumblebee, pulling a face at the small, yellow 'bot.

"You two," Ultra Magnus rumbled, Sentinel and Jazz flanking him, "what did I tell you about causing trouble?"

"Sorry, Commander." The red one said flippantly. "Won't happen again." The yellow merely grunted. Neither of them looked away from Prowl, eyeing him with every intention of getting their hands on him again.

Ultra Magnus wasn't convinced. "I'm sure."

"Geeze," Sari muttered, "what did Prowl do to make them so mad at him?"

An uncomfortable silence fell. The two newcomers smirked hard and hungry. Optimus Prime cleared his vocalizer before saying very slowly, very reluctantly, "They're not… mad at Prowl."

"They're not?"

"It's more they're… um…" uncertain how to phrase a relationship he wasn't even certain the details of, Optimus Prime looked at Prowl who was resolutely not looking at anyone.

"Let me guess," Ratchet groused, crossing his thick arms. "You beat the both of 'em in a fight. And they've been obsessed with you ever since."

Prowl's head sunk a little.

"Well what does that mean?" Sari cried.

Jazz, still as amused as he was when he first found out the twins were coming, asked, "Do you know what 'suitor' means?"

"Yeah."

"That's pretty much it. They're Prowl's suitors."

Her eyebrows knotted in confusion. "Oh." Then they jumped nearly to her hairline. "Oh. Oh… wow."

Prowl put a hand to his head as he felt two sets of optics roving over every curve of his new form. He wondered when the next time the Decepticons decided to attack. He could certainly use a good death right about now.