Chapter 62 – If at First you Don't succeed
Jazz P.O.V
As we opened the hanger door in search of Prime and Phoenix, I caught a glimpse of them both standing rather close to each other. /Were they embracing?/. I couldn't be sure as the moment the door slid further open there was a flash of movement and the two subjects of our search party, were now standing decidedly apart. I felt a mischievous grin spread across my dermas as I approached with Rachet and Dino.
Prime spoke up, clearly trying to hide the fact he was almost caught out doing something he felt was ''inappropriate''. ''Rachet, Jazz, Dino. To what do we owe the pleasure? I can see you have been repaired already Jazz, swift work Rachet.''
Prime's greeting seemed pleasant enough, but I could tell my friend and my leader was less than impressed with our timing. /Oh, I am going to have some fun with him again. He is too easy to wind up! For the love of Primus, I wish he would just get on with it and tell Phoenix how he felt about her/.
Rachet returned his greeting, ''Nothing swift about it, it looked worse than it was, and you have been absent for some time Prime. I had thought you may have come to the Med Bay yourself, but I see you have been otherwise – engaged.'' It was all I could do not to laugh out loud at the none too subtle inference Rachet made.
I turned briefly to Rachet and gave him a knowing smile as we continued our advance. We both ''knew'' about Prime and Phoenix's unspoken love for each other. Rachet had even had the gumption to approach them both about it, separately of course, over two years ago. When he found out I also had my suspicions about them both, we become partners in our own ''under cover'' operation to bring our two friends we cared for, together.
At Rachet's comment I watched Phoenix take a sudden interest in the scorch mark she left from earlier today. My grin spread. Prime did not seem perturbed by the comment, though I bet inwardly he was squirming, he didn't miss a beat as he responded, ''Yes, I have been. I was talking to Phoenix about her training session earlier today and the mishap that led to said injury and her seeming loss of control. I have been impressing upon her the importance of being able to control one's feelings and not let them consume you as they can impair your judgement.''
/Oh, no – he did not just say that! He couldn't have set me up better if he tried! Does he even hear himself speak sometimes?/. I was barely able to supress a smirk and a laugh at the ''choice'' in his words.
I sauntered towards them with a funny grin on my face. I couldn't help but look between Rachet and Prime before I selected my words carefully, ''Oh I don't know Prime, sometimes I think it is very important to lose control of your feelings and let everyone know exactly how you feel.'' I shot both Prime and Phoenix a very pointed look as if somehow, my words might make it through their thick helms and the light globe of realisation might ''click'' on.
I stood before them, folding my arms across my chest, silently challenging them both to really listen to my words, ''Bottling up your emotions and feelings, especially deep feelings,'' /stir the pot Jazz/, I turned to Phoenix and gave her a wink which I know makes Prime bristle, ''can actually impair your judgement even more as you can't think straight.'' I turned to face Rachet, time to tag in, ''Wouldn't you agree Doc?''
Rachet had since come to stand before Prime and Phoenix along with Dino, who, unfortunately had no idea what this exchange was really about. Rachet took up where I left off, ''You might have a point there Jazz. In humans the release of the chemical serotonin produces a feeling of….''. But he was unable to say much before Prime, whose irritation was seeping through his usually tough façade, interjected.
''THANK YOU Rachet and Jazz for your – opinions – is there a point to your visit or are you merely here to bestow your wisdom upon us?'' Prime had folded his arms over his chest and stood authoritatively before us. /Nice try Optimus, you don't scare us/.
Rachet and I shot each other a quick look. /Touched a nerve I'd say/. I spoke again, ''Well actually, there is Prime. I await ya orders regarding the sortie with Bumblebee and the others to the illegal nuclear facility. We are ready to roll out following final briefing. Also, Que patched in a call from NASA base. Seems the Wreckers, in particular Roadbuster, and that Director of National Intelligence, ya know tha one who now oversees tha plans executed by the fighting NEST Autobots?'' I couldn't quite recall that chick's name.
''You mean Ms Charlotte Mearing? Optimus supplied the name.
Recognition flooded my processor, and I clicked my metallic digits, ''Yeah, that's her! Well, they seem ta be clashing pretty bad at the moment over the Xanthium and certain base regulations and rules. I'll let ya fill in the blanks regarding Roadbuster's comments,'' My visor flashed with humour and my smile spread across my dermas as I prepared to tease Prime, ''Ya might need to go ''do your thang'' and diffuse tha ticking timebomb with ya abilities as the ''Royal Primeness.''
Prime, as suspected, was not amused by my comment and simply stood there. Phoenix however, she burst out laughing, quickly covering her dermas with a servo when Prime shot her a slightly disapproving glare. I thought she might have quailed at Prime's silent rebuke but, damn, that ''lil' lady had some gumption, removing her servo and speaking back to him, ''Oh, come on Prime! That was pretty funny! Lighten up.''
Like Rachet and I, Phoenix was not intimated by Prime, she knew him very well, and while, like us, she respected him, she knew him well enough to call him out when needed. /Another reason why they would be so good together and need one another. Two halves of a spark - one to make the other whole/.
Everyone knew about Phoenix's previous life as OC and how she had lost her boyfriend in the Shangahi attack over two years ago now. It was less common knowledge that Chase was going to propose to her when he returned, though sadly he never got the chance. She had found the ring when going through his things and had been devastated.
Prime, who was pretty close to OC as she had been known then, was the one who helped pull her through. Perhaps it was because he too had suffered a huge loss with the death of his spark mate, Elita 1. They had a shared grief. Pretty well since Prime and Phoenix, OC back then, had met, they had shared some ''connection''. A connection that had only seemed to deepen and grow as time passed into something much more than mere friendship. Unfortunately, as I stood here watching them both neither one knew how, or was willing, to admit it. /Well, that's where ol'' Jazz steps in! I am gonna keep needling Prime and stirring him until he finally steps up and acknowledges his feelings/.
I walked over to Phoenix and placed an arm about her waist, pulling her close for a moment. Prime radiated irritation and jealousy. /Good!/, I smirked as I addressed him, ''See, Phoenix here appreciates a sense of humour.'' I squeezed her tight again which earned me a withering glare from Prime who had tensed up at the site of me with my arm around her waist. I noticed it alright but there was no way I was going to do anything to alleviate my leader's apparent upset. In fact, I wanted to encourage it. Make him confront his feelings of jealousy and annoyance for what they were – fear that someone else might steal Phoenix away from him. That he was indeed in love with her and wanted her.
I could tell Phoenix was becoming suspicious of my actions. We had always gotten along well. Hell, lil' lady had saved my life from Megatron in Mission City. Least I could do was help her find love. I wanted her ta be happy. However, Phoenix, seeming ta be aware of my tauntin' and not wantin' to antagonise Prime any further, stepped outta my arm and went ta stand beside Prime. At Phoenix's actions Prime visibly relaxed and shot me a ''gloating'' smirk, shifting his weight, so he could be that little bit closer ta her. It was actually quite heart-warming and endearing ta watch these two dance about the issue.
Rachet and I once again gave each other a fleeting look before Rachet spoke up, ''And while you are attending to that issue, Phoenix needs to accompany me back to the Med Bay so I can assess any minor damage to her and check her vitals to ensure she is 100% fit for duty.'' I almost heard Phoenix's groan.
I continued to watch the exchange between Dino and Phoenix and then Prime as he gave his final briefing for my upcoming mission, ''Jazz, as for your mission, Lennox and I'll transmit exact coordinates of the site once you are airborne. Essentially, you and the others are there to assist in ensuring the facility ceases operation. Discretion is essential as is minimal damage and loss of life. Exercise extreme caution and diplomacy in assisting with our human allies on this mission. Report back to me when complete.'' I gave a small nod but did not want to leave just yet, I had another secret agenda ta attend to. Prime seemed ta ignore my choice ta stay put for tha time being.
I watched as Prime gave his final orders to everyone, including Phoenix, ''Phoenix, have fun at the doctors and the firing range.'' He gave her a small smile.
She raised an optical ridge at him, ''What? You don't want me to report on that for you?'' I almost laughed out loud at her comment. /Oh, how I love the way she sass's him and teases him. He needs someone to help him lighten up. Primus knows how much stress and strain he has been under. He needs her mischievous spark to brighten his darkness/.
Prime gave her a dead pan stare, ''If you feel the need, then by all means, report away Phoenix. I would look forward to reading it.'' There was a teasing tone to his voice. /A light in his darkness for sure. Phoenix was aptly named for a variety of reasons. One of which was the fact, whether he knew it or not, that she was helping Prime to rise from the ashes of heart break and open his spark to love again. If he would only give in and stop fighting it!/.
Prime then gave his final dismissal to everyone, his optics lingering on Phoenix's for a brief moment. /I love how they think they are fooling everyone, including each other!/. With Prime gone, it was just Phoenix and Dino to get rid of before Rachet and I could have our ''chat''. Thankfully Rachet spoke up and told Phoenix to head to the Med Bay with Dino and he would catch up shortly, citing checking my injuries as a ruse. /Brilliant!/.
We didn't even wait until Phoenix and Dino were out the door before we began our chat. I had a feeling Phoenix, heard some of our discussion though she did not turn around or refuse to leave. ''Could Prime and Phoenix be more obliviously unaware of their feelings?'' I all but whisper shouted to Rachet. ''Can you believe he said what he said about ''not letting feelings get in tha way lest they impair judgement or some such scrap?'' I asked incredulously.
Rachet snorted, ''I swear he does not even hear himself speak sometimes or he has deluded himself that much about his feelings towards Phoenix he just doesn't make the connection.'' Rachet shook his helm.
''I know right! Man, we are gonna have ta step it up Ratch. I all but told them both ta tell each other how they felt and they both still didn't get the message!'' I couldn't help keeping the frustration out of my tone. ''For two intelligent individuals, they are awfully dense on this topic.''
Rachet sighed, ''Well, think about it Jazz. This is Prime we are talking about. He is notoriously slow to deliberate on serious and important matters, wanting to ensure he makes the best choice for all parties involved. I admit I may have impeded things a little.'' Rachet looked a little chagrined. ''remember how I told you after Prime was brought online again after his operation, how he nearly told Phoenix then how he felt but I interrupted them?'' I nodded. ''Well, I did it because I was concerned it was the wrong time for them. I wanted to make sure they had the best chance, so I wanted them to get to know each other with this change in their dynamic. Phoenix alone had so much she had to sort through emotionally, mentally, physically. Adding a new relationship to that could have been disastrous for them both!''
''I know Ratch, it was tha best choice at the time. However, I feel Prime may have taken your advice on waiting and getting ta know each other all over again a little too seriously! I mean, two years already for frag's sake.'' I threw my servos up in the air in mock defeat. ''I have made that many suggestive comments t'wards Phoenix in Prime's presence that Sideswipe asked me if I needed to talk about my repressed feelings towards her!'' I gave a frustrated groan. ''I mean I care about her and all, but she is like a little sister or something, I'm jus' tryin' to make Prime jealous and spur him into action, which I know has been working ta an extent, but he is too scrapping hard to crack.''
Rachet gave a little laugh, ''Did you see the look he gave you when you put your arm around her waist? Man, if looks could kill Jazz, you'd be a gonner! I thought he was going to go over and deck you.'' Rachet grew reflective for a moment, ''however, Phoenix showed some insight. I swear she knows what we are up to. Plus, she also proved how much she cares for Prime by choosing to go over and stand by his side when she noticed his reaction. It was almost as if…''
''She was saying ta him, ''Don't worry, I'm yours.'' I finished for him.
''Yeah! And did you see the smug look Prime gave you and the way he subtly, or so he thought, stood closer to her?'' Rachet shook his helm again, ''Those two could write the data pad on ''denial''.
I laughed out loud at that, ''Absofraggin' lutely Rachet! De-nile ain't just some river in Egypt!'' Rachet burst out laughing at my pathetic pun and I joined him for a moment before I quietened down. ''I jus' hope one of them works it out or is brave enough ta take tha first step soon cause I don't know how much longer I can convince 'Sides there is nothing going on between Phoenix and I''.
Rachet put a servo up to his chin and the other on his hip, deep in thought for a moment. ''Perhaps… perhaps I could say something to Phoenix this afternoon when I see her, you know, stoke the flames a little?''
A wicked glint flashed across my visor. ''Oh Rachet, I do love how ya mind works. Do it! I'm gonna be unable ta do anything for a few days with this mission, but when I get back, full steam ahead! So help me, if those two have not confessed their love for each other by the end of the year I'll….''
''You'll what?'' Rachet challenged.
A devious look crossed my features, ''I'll publicly declare my love for Prime! THAT ought ta light a fire under his aft and make him confess to all and sundry that his affections lie elsewhere with a particular femme.''
Rachet's look of shock gave way to utter amusement, ''Oh, I bet you would do something like that Jazz!'' Rachet patted me on the shoulder struts. ''Come on, we best be moving on. Good luck with your mission, come back in one piece.''
''Thanks Doc, 'Course I will.''
We walked towards the exit of the hanger in good natured silence until Rachet half turned to me and spoke with a slight smirk in his voice, ''You know. I would LOVE to see you do that Jazz. I kind of hope they don't admit their feelings just yet so I can witness you tell Prime, our stoic, straight as an arrow leader, that YOU love him!''
I gave a low, wicked laugh, ''Oh I do love a challenge Rachet, you know that. I might jus' do it anyway,'' and I clapped my friend and co-conspirator on the back as we walked out of the hanger.
