Lyric walked slowly next to Prowl, the elder mech letting her set their pace, which was a little bit too slow, but he didn't mind. She was weary and didn't recognize anything, so he let her sink things in slowly.
What felt incredibly good however was the fact that she never let go of his arm, clinging to it like a persistent need. Better than that, her words still echoed inside of his soul. It was one thing to call him 'daddy' or 'sire' in her dreams, where she wasn't fully aware of what she was doing, but it was another entirely to do it when she was awake and conscious.
That being said, her lack of memory also affected her personality a bit, but Prowl couldn't help but enjoy that tiny little side effect.
"Do you wish to fuel before we return to our quarters?" He suggested, stopping by one of the electronic windows so she could fully observe the cave outside.
"Some fuel would be nice" she admitted, lowering her head a little in embarrassment.
"This way" he informed, petting her atop the helmet before redirecting their path to the rec room.
She didn't say a word the whole way there, and in general would keep her helm low and her optics on the ground whenever someone passed by them, giving him a casual greeting.
When arriving to the rec room however, things were very different.
All too suddenly she was aware of the many bots around, going about their daily business, but sneaking glances their way when they thought she wasn't looking, or outright smiling at Prowl and congratulating him for something.
Some even directed some words at her, saying they were happy she felt better, and wishing for a full recovery.
She nodded shyly, ducking her head in embarrassment and half hiding behind Prowl's legs, thanking them for their kind words in a barely heard volume.
It felt horrible to not remember these mechs, even if Prowl was politely telling her their names and professions and their connections to their family unit.
"I must apologize everyone" Prowl said to yet another group sitting at a round table near the dispensers. "But it is taking a little too long and we just came to get Lyric some energon, I have to take her back to her berth for rest."
A yellow minibot, by the name of Bumblebee waved him off carelessly as if he were an old friend and not a high ranked officer.
"Go on ahead Prowl, we shouldn't keep you waiting. Don't forget to tell Jazz the news! He'll be flying across the ship as soon as he hears."
"I am restraining from telling him until after his meeting with Optimus. Then I have no doubt that he will." Prowl responded easily.
A red minibot, almost exactly like Bumblebee, by the name of Cliffjumper snickered, grabbing at his brightly colored cube.
"You're just making it harder on yourself mech. Well go on, before he finds out everyone but him knows already."
Prowl nodded, barely giving them a semblance of a smile.
"I shall, enjoy the rest of your break" He said, before turning and walking the rest of the way to the dispenser.
There, Lyric waited as closely to him as she could, observing the room nervously, feeling watched and judged. She didn't like those feelings, it made her feel guilty for some reason, like she'd done something wrong, that was usually the reason for getting so much attention wasn't it? But everyone seemed so nice...
It didn't take Prowl more than a few kliks, but even that wouldn't have prevented what was to come.
Halfway through the second cube filling the door to the recroom opened, an uncybertronian like screech filled the air, making her jump and dash behind her sire again.
"Lyyyyyyy!"
A young cybertronian femme, carrying three strange organics came running from the door as soon as they spotted her.
They slowed down as they got closer, noticing that something was off.
"Ly?" the cybertronian asked uncertainly, the other three she held growing quiet.
Prowl looked between he group and his creation, feeling a tinge of pity, he pat her on the helm, trying to give her some reassurance.
"Its all right Lyric, these are your friends." He said gently, staying as her shield while she slowly gained the courage to peek back at the femmes with widened and bright optics, uncertainty written all over her.
"Friends?" she repeated in a small voice.
"Yes, your friends, they have been worrying about you, so you should at least say hi don't you think?"
Lyric looked between him and the femmes uncertainly, before lowering her head in a nod and in the lowest volume she could say "hi".
"What happened to her? Why does she look so different?" Dj, or Fusion as she was now known by her original name, asked looking confused and curious at the same time.
"Lyric has had some...memory issues ever since her return" Prowl informed, stroking a hand behind his creation's back, trying to comfort her. "It is nothing permanent, but for the time being we are taking things slowly. As for her looks, its a reflection of her state of mind, a...side effect if you will."
"I didn't know we could do that" The cybetronian femme spoke, looking a bit taken aback by the news.
"Normally you cannot, it is a very special skill of Lyric's." he explained. "I apologize for not having informed you of her release, but we just came from the medbay and we were about to return to our quarters for some rest. There will be another time for you to chat."
"But-!" one of the organics spoke up, the more rounded one, looking like she was in conflict with herself, tears were on the verge of streaming down her eyes. "But I-!"
"Another time perhaps" Prowl interrupted easily "It is too soon to speak about what happened. Say goodbye Lyric." He told her politely, giving her a light push to start walking with him.
She stayed glued to his legs, watching the group as they passed by them "Bye..." she muttered, waving slightly with her hand as she and Prowl made their way out.
The group stared after them, none of them saying anything, or even gesturing, the last look she saw on their faces, was still of shock and sadness.
Once outside, Lyric waited for them to have walked a bit further away from the recroom before relaxing a little and asking.
"Why did they look so sad? You said they were my friends, shouldn't they have been happy?"
"Indeed, but they must be feeling responsible about what happened to you, and it saddens them that you do not remember them I suppose." he said easily. "they were very anxious to see you well again, I suppose it was a bit disappointing."
"Oh..."she thought for a moment "is there anything I can do to make it better?"
"Once your memories start returning to you everything will sort itself out, but you should be patient and not rush it."
She nodded at this, stopping behind him as he reached for a door's lock, inserting a quick code.
The door slid open, revealing the living quarters inside. She was gently pushed in, the door locking behind her sire.
She took it all in with time, feeling like the place was familiar, but not quite remembering it.
"These are our quarters" Prowl spoke leading her further in. "you can walk around freely here without fear." Despite this she stuck to him like glue, feeling uncomfortable with wandering around. "Hmmm...or just stay with me if you wish I suppose..." he mused on the problem, she couldn't be stuck to him all the time... "Why don't we take the time we have left to wash you up? You've been in the medbay for so long you probably need one."
"T-that would be nice" she agreed, letting herself be directed to the washrack.
Had Lyric her old memories, she would have never allowed Prowl to be there while she washed, but as she was, she wouldn't stay in that room if he left. Thankfully, when it came to cybertronians, they didn't always have to take their armor off to wash, most of the time they washed with their armor on, unless they fell in a mud pit or something of the sort.
He sat her down on a small stool, and grabbed his usual one, the one she sat one usually being Jazz's.
He turned on the solvent, checking the temperature, not that he needed to very much as his creation was already under the water, enjoying the cool spray.
He then grabbed a sponge and went to his own stool, rejoicing in her giggles when the water bounced off of his own armor and onto her face, this was going to last as much time as she enjoyed it.
Jazz was in a sour mood, he was tired, he had just come out of a very exhausting meeting with Optimus, Red Alert and Ironhide, taking over his and Prowl's duties was more than a bot should handle, especially Prowl's duties. How his mate managed was still a mystery most of the time to him.
All he wanted now was to take a nice warm cube of energon, lie down on the couch next to Prowl and watch the dullest program it could possibly have until he fell to recharge.
He was headed towards the recroom for his cube when he received an incoming message from Prowl.
He inwardly groaned, that's right... it was his turn to go to the medbay and have a check on Lyric's firewalls. Primus he was getting too tired to do these...
Reluctantly he opened the message, and scanned it quickly, only to stop and read it again when its meaning finally registered.
In less than a klik he did a 180ยบ degree turn and started a mad dash for their quarters, scaring anyone in his way into jumping against the wall, lest they wanted to be run over by the saboteur.
He nearly pounced into the panel next to their door, punching in the code with the speed he only used when desperately trying to hack an enemy door.
The door couldn't have slid open any slower, and he slid through the small opening as soon as he could, not even waiting for it to open fully.
He was met with a sight that nearly made his spark stop, giggling was filling the air, mixed in with Prowl's baritone chuckles as he tried to grab his creation from fleeing the couch, wrapping her in a towel, trying to dry her off as she mock tried to escape his clutches.
She looked different...again...he really would have to get that sorcelling program under control, but that was one of the least of his worries right now. His visor was glued to the sight of his mate and their creation playing, something he never thought he'd get to see.
Young blue optics caught sight of him and widened, a big smile growing so much more it was a miracle it didn't split her face in two.
"Papa!" To his surprise, she managed to squirm out of Prowl's grip and ran towards him with the towel still on her head flowing behind her as she tackled him, nearly throwing him off in his surprise.
"Ooof! Heya baby girl!" he greeted, wrapping his own arms around her small form, smelling the fresh scent of a nice polish, her black armor was shinning and clean, evidence of Prowl's perfectionist work.
"How ya doin'? Yer daddy jus' told me ya were out, Ah would've come sooner if Ah had known"
Her intoxicating giggles made him nearly melt and lean down to pick her off the floor.
"He wanted me to look pretty for when you came back" she explained, wrapping her limbs around him for better support, comfortable with where she was.
"Did he now? Well he did a mighty fine job, ya look gorgeous" he teased, moving closer to his mate and sinking into the couch next to him.
"I apologize, I did not wish to interrupt your meeting." Prowl spoke honestly, reaching to pet his creation's helm as she purred and nested in Jazz's lap, her new doorwings giving small flaps of contentment.
"S'all righ'. 'Least ya got ta have some time togetha, cuz now she's all mine!" he teased, tightening his arms around her a little and pretending to eat her as they rolled on their side to the rest of the couch, the femmeling squealing and giggling as she struggled to get loose.
Prowl shook his head with a smile, reaching for his subspace, taking out the cubes he had brought with him and setting them on the small table in front of the couch.
"Jazz..." he called, but the other mech didn't stop his attack on the small femme, tickling her and torturing her into more fits of giggles. "Jazz... she needs to fuel" He reminded him, and that was the only thing that made the mech slow down, sitting back up with her as they both tried to recover their breath.
"All righ', all righ'!" he said in good humor. "Come on girly, ya heard the boss." he teased, setting her between the two as Prowl gave her her cube.
She hungrily accepted it and began taking its contents immediately, barely taking breaks to vent, her pedes bounced back and forth as she did so.
She was so immersed in her meal that she wasn't even paying attention to her creators, who watched with curiosity to her new personality.
' Didn't exactly expect this when ya said she woke up' Jazz pointed out, drinking from his own cube at a more leisurely pace. Seems he got his evening in the couch after all.
' I apologize, there was a lot to tell and I knew you would have wanted to know and run here before I could give you any more details. Ratchet said we should unlock her memories slowly, I suggest we start tomorrow.'
' All righ'...so we get ta work like normal now?'
' I will try to fit our schedules so that at least one of us can watch over her, if we both cannot, then I am sure we can find someone to sit her.'
'Yeah... she can't be trusted on 'er own.'
'I do not believe she would enjoy that, our trip back here was eventful enough as it was, she would refuse to let go of my hand at any time.'
Lyric decided then to finish her meal and set down her cube before leaning back against the couch and making herself comfortable between them.
"Time for recharge Lyric, you've been up for too long" Prowl announced, pushing her a little out of the nesting place she was about to set for herself. "Say goodnight."
"Aw...fine..." she rolled her optics, before climbing to Jazz's lap, hugging him again and kissing his cheeplate lightly. "'Night Papa"
Jazz's spark tightened, he gently wrapped his arms around her, careful with his cube, and giving her a kiss of her on in the crest between her chevron. "Night girly, we'll talk more tomorrow k?"
"Kay." she yawned, climbing out of his lap to follow after Prowl to her room.
Jazz relaxed further into the couch, feeling like would melt into a hot bubbling puddle. Never since they brought Lyric with them all those months ago had he ever expected to have spent even a few minutes like that, just enjoying some time with his creation, as an actual creator and creation.
Her laughter still run in his audios like music notes long memorized for him to play again.
When Prowl finally came back from the room, he sank on the sofa next to him, looking as exhausted as he, and just as satisfied.
Without even thinking he snuggled up against his mate, purring in contentment.
"Wish that could last forevah..."
"So do I...perhaps..." he hesitated " perhaps Lyric will act differently to us once she recovers and realizes how she just acted with us. I t is good to enjoy her like this, but I still feel guilty of the conditions it comes under."
"Yeah... we'll work on it."
"Speaking of work." Prowl said, his processor already trying to make a clear plan for them "I have been thinking-"
"Mech, when do ya ever NOT think?" Jazz snorted playfully, getting a light slap from that comment.
"I was thinking that maybe, even with how things are, we should have Lyric start some training."
Jazz sat up stiffly, uncomfortable with the subject.
"Ah dun' know... Ah dun like the thought o' her fightin'"
"Sooner or later she will have to be taught. I assumed the recent events were proof enough of this."
"Yeh well, Ah still dun like it, maybe we jus' need ta tighten security."
"You know very well that if we do that, we will be making her life very intolerable, and she will rebel."
Prowl insisted, pulling his mate back against him, sending him some feelings of understanding and comfort. It was hard on him as well, but he would rather have this than take the risks.
"Ah still dun like it." Jazz said with a frown, crossing his arms over his chassis. "Its easy ta get hurt, an' it all depends on who teaches 'er. Even a good teacher might not be good enough-"
"Which is why I was hoping that you would take the job."
"Wha? Meh?" He rose his brow ridges, looking back at his mate suspiciously.
Prowl merely shrugged his shoulders, looking indifferent to the subject like he did whenever it was related to work.
"You are more than adequate for the job, you are one of our very best fighters, with experience in many fighting styles and skilled at various different types of weaponry, not only that but you do have the experience of teaching mechs for your division. And very successfully I might add."
"Well yeah but that's for special ops! She ain't gonna go into mah department if Ah have any say in it!"
"I was not suggesting that, I was merely hoping you could teach her and the other femme, Siren some basics. My own classes are too advanced at the moment and I cannot fit a new class into my schedule. You however are currently not training anyone and Mirage is more than capable of handling training sessions for your mechs."
"Ah guess..." Jazz began to relent.
"And also, you would be able to monitor and make sure that Lyric would get the best training available to her."
"Ah see where yer goin'..." The smaller mech said, leaning closer to his mate with a purr. "Ah always loved the way ya think..."
Prowl leaned back himself, trying to get some distance between himself and Jazz to no avail.
"I am glad that you approve of my plan then."
Jazz's hands snuck their way around Prowl's sides, and over his doorwings, tickling them with the lightest of touches.
"Ah approve of everythin' comin' from ya love" Jazz whispered, indulging his mate in a light and sensual kiss, relishing on the quivering doorwings under his skilled hands. "But yer gonna have ta pay the price fer trappin' meh in that plan o'yours."
Prowl gasped against his lips when he felt fingers sneaking into the circuitry of the joints of his doorwings.
"I shall gladly pay my due." he whispered back, wrapping himself around his mate.