Disclaimer: All Transformers characters belong to Hasbro. Any made up characters were created by me.
Summery: (G1 fic) Jazz always wanted to know what it's like to fly. His intended bond-mate was a flyer until . . . .
"blah" – Normal human speck
blah – thinking
'blah' – Comm. Specking
Wind Beneath My Wings
By: Yami-Yugi3
Chapter 1
The next morning, Ratchet found Prowl asleep against the berth as Jazz slept peacefully. He sighed. He knew Jazz would get hurt again being near Prowl with the other flyers still not liking ground types. Jazz woke first. He slowly sat up and noticed Ratchet nearby. "It's...It's not what it looks like!" he defended.
"Really? I told you Jazz it's not safe hanging around with him."
"Prowl came in here himself. He chose to stay." Prowl had then slowly came out of recharge himself. "Prowl...tell Ratchet what you told me last night."
Prowl looked up at Ratchet. "Ratchet, Jazz can and will be with me. If he can't come to me I'll just come to him."
"Then I hold you responsible for anything that aft of a wingmate does to him."
"It will be alright." Prowl said.
"Alright then. I trust you, Prowl. Just keep an optic on your stupid wingmate." Prowl nodded. Ratchet sighed in relief. "I really didn't want to hurt either of you, I was just doing my job. Maybe you can show the other flyers not to be so elitist."
"I will try Ratchet." Prowl said.
"You're free to go, Jazz, just take it easy. I'm not letting you back to full duty yet."
"Okay Ratch." Prowl helped him up and the two left.
"Show me where your quarters are?" Prowl asked gently.
"...I don't know..." Jazz said as they walked down the hall.
"You're still worried about Jetstorm?"
"Yeah..."
"Don't worry about it."
"But he will hurt me again if he finds out..."
"I will deal with it." Prowl said "Not all flyers hate ground types."
"Like your creators?" Prowl nodded. "I like to meet them." Prowl looked sadly away. "What's wrong?"
"My father had been missing since I was a sparkling...my mother died in the first Decepticon attack just when I was just learning how to fly..."
"I'm...I'm sorry Prowl. I'm sure your father is still alive and out there some where." Prowl was still staring sadly at the floor. "Who took care of you?"
"Ironhide...he was friends with my father."
"I knew old Ironhide had a soft spot somewhere in there."
"...Yeah...my...my mom was his sister. He promised to look after me in case something happened..."
Jazz put an arm around him. "I'm glad he was there for ya... I'm sorry 'bout yer mom..."
"It's okay..." Prowl said.
Jazz just smiled solemnly. "Well, here we are." He keyed in the code. "Home sweet home." Prowl smiled as they walked in Jazz's quarters.
There was a shelf against one wall. There was a lot of music stored on it as well as some odds and ends. There was a picture of him as a sparkling among pictures of him and Blaster. There were some pictures of him with Bluestreak too. There were a lot of books and data pads on some shelves too. A few music players, including a portable one were on Jazz's desk. "Your quarters are very lived in." Prowl said with small smile.
"Yep... I like just chillin." Prowl smiled again. Jazz plopped down unceremoniously on his berth. He took the remote to the music player and turned it on. "Oh yeah...dig this beat," he smiled as he tossed the remote aside. Prowl blinks a bit. "Whatsa matter?"
"It's nothing." Prowl said.
"Is it the music?"
"No, it's not that really."
"Then what's up?"
"Just...how relaxed and carefree you can be."
"Worryin doesn't get anything done. Why go through life bein uptight and ready for a battle?"
"..."
"You should set aside some time for yerself, Prowl."
"It's hard..." Prowl said "Not with the others..."
"Well, if they really are yer friends, they'd understand. Just talk with 'em." Prowl looked down at the floor. Jazz turned the music off. He hopped off the berth and came over to him. "...Prowler..." Prowl slowly looked up at him. "Something's botherin' ya, I can tell."
"I just..." Prowl blushed a bit.
"Just what? You never thought of yourself, only about your position and everyone else?" Prowl nodded a bit. Jazz patted him on the shoulder. "Well how about right now?" he smiled. Prowl smiled a bit. Jazz smiled back. "Hey, let's go get some morning energon. I bet Blaster and Bluestreak are waiting for us."
"Okay." Jazz led Prowl out his room and down the hall.
In the Recreation Room, Blaster and Bluestreak happily waved the two over to their table. "Over here Jazz!"
Jazz brought Prowl over to them. "You sit tight and I'll get us two cubes."
"Are you sure Jazz?"
"Yeah, I'm sure." Jazz went over to the dispenser.
"Move ground pounder!" yelled Jetstorm, suffering a hangover from yesterday.
"Leave him alone," chastised one of Prowl's other wingmates. He held Jetstorm back. "Go ahead, Jazz."
"Thanks." Jazz said as he took two cubes. He went back over to the table. Jetstorm just grumbled and was too preoccupied with the other wingmates. "Here ya go, Prowler."
"...Thanks Jazz."
"So, Ratchet okay with everything?" Blaster asked.
"Yeah, he said I'm responsible for Jetstorm."
"That's good. So that means you and Jazz can hang out then. I'm so happy for you both. Now we can all be friends," smiled Bluestreak. Prowl smiled back.
Jazz smiled back as well. "So, I'm glad you're feelin better," smiled Blaster. "It's nice having a flyer around."
"Yeah." Jazz said, his smile getting bigger.
"So, I heard there was quite a scene yesterday. I heard your wing mate Jetstorm was badly drunk. Can you tell us about it?" asked Bluestreak, trying to make morning conversation as everyone drank.
"...Well..." Prowl started.
"I'll help fill in if you get stuck," smiled Blaster.
"Well, we just walked in and sat down. I met optics with Jazz as we sat down. SilverWind and I started talking, so I looked away. Jetstorm tried convincing me to get some high grade."
"Yeah, and you kept starin at my buddy Jazz here," smiled Blaster. "You two kept staring at each other."
"...Y-Yeah..." Prowl blushed. Jazz blushed too. Both friends smiled. "Jetstorm didn't like it at all..." sighed Prowl. "SilverWind kept telling him to back off."
"Things got interesting when that femme totally dismissed him," laughed Blaster.
"Yeah...that was pretty funny," laughed Jazz. "He was so far gone." Prowl laughed as well. It was amazing how Jetstorm got himself into such a state and such bad situations. "That...That dumb aft can't hold his high grade for anything!" laughed Jazz. Everyone laughed with him.
"You think that's funny, slagger?" growled a familiar voice. Prowl turned to him.
"What do you want, Jetstorm?"
"I came to find you so we could have morning energon like we always do and I find you here? You're sitting with these Pitspawn ground types?" he shouted.
"Jetstorm, one of them just happens to be my cousins." Prowl said.
"I don't care about that!" He turned to Jazz. He grabbed his arm and got in his face. "YOU! You put him up to this! You dragged him over to sit with you! I told you, you're not good enough for flyers! You don't have a chance with him!"
"Jetstorm, let go of him!" Prowl said, standing up from the table.
"Why should I? He needs to be put in his place!"
"No, it's you who have to be put in his place." Prowl said "You are giving flyers a bad name."
"He's turning you into a sympathizer." He pushed Jazz away using his arm to force him down.
"Hey! Not cool! We were just fine until you started causin trouble," warned Blaster.
"Jetstorm, get back to you table." Prowl said.
"Jetstorm!" whined SilverWind as he came over.
"Make me, Prowl. I'm your wing mate, you can't disrespect me."
"I can, and I will." Prowl said.
"Yeah right... That ground pounder's not worth our friendship."
"Jetstorm, stop this..." said SilverWind, reaching out a hand.
"Friendship? What friendship?" Prowl challenged. "You're an elitist that doesn't like ground transformers. Besides, you don't know much about me. You're always yelling or drunk and you force me into drinking. You don't respect me except when we're battling. Even then, you don't always."
"Oh ho! So I'm not your friend and HE is? You ARE a sympathizer! I guess dear old dad was too. Your father must have been some kind of idiot to bond with a ground pounder!" Jazz was too scared of Jetstorm to react. Everyone else gasped.
"That's too far!" SilverWind chastised.
Prowl looked very upset. He never cried, but a few silent tears fell. "H-How...How dare you...?" He growled and grabbed Jetstorm in a choke hold. "How DARE you disrespect my father! You've got your head up in the clouds so high all you see is yourself! Flyers and ground types can get along just fine! I've seen it! My father held no elitist ideals! He never held one type higher than the other! We're all Cybertronians and we're all equal! As for friendship, you were NEVER my friend! You never will be! You may be my wing mate, but that's all you'll ever be! You'll never be ANYTHING great like my father if you continue to be so racist!" He stomped off.
"Prowl!" Bluestreak called after him.
SilverWind put his hand up. "Let him be, Blue. He needs to calm down. As for you," he glared as he turned to Jetstorm. "Apologize to Jazz."
"What...?" he asked, still irked by Prowl's actions.
"Apologize to Jazz," SilverWind said as he pushed him over. Blaster was helping Jazz off the floor. Jetstorm looked at him, then over at Jazz. "Apologize to him for hurting him yesterday and just a little while ago."
"...But..."
"Should I bring Prowl back in here?"
"No... I'm fine... I'll...I'll do it..."
SilverWind pushed him over to Jazz. "Alright, go ahead."
"...Alright ground pounder...I mean... Jazz. I...I'm sorry..."
"A-a-apology...accepted..."
"I...I guess if Prowl says its okay, then its okay. I'll respect you, but I won't like you." With that, he walked away.
"Don't worry," said SilverWind. "That's good. That means he won't hurt you anymore."
"...Oh..." Jazz said, still recovering from what just happened.
"Not all of us flyers are like Jetstorm." SilverWind said.
"...Yeah..."
"Thanks Silver," said Blaster.
"I'd better get going." With that, SilverWind left.
"You sure you're alright, Jazz? I mean, you just released a little while ago. He seemed like he shoved you pretty hard."
"...I'm sure..."
"You don't sound sure," said Blaster.
"I'm gonna go after Prowl. He may be upset, but I'm his cousin. See you later, Jazz. Feel better, okay?"
"...Okay..." Jazz said. Bluestreak raced off.
"Maybe finishing your energon will help," Blaster said as he helped Jazz sit back down. "You gonna be okay?"
"Yeah..."
"Alright."
Bluestreak walked through the base until he found Prowl. "Prowl, you okay?" The flyer was sitting outside on one of the balconies of the great city. "Prowl?"
He was looking up towards the sky, coolant slowly falling from his optics. Father...where are you...?
Bluestreak came over and sat next to him. "Prowl...? At least say something..."
"...I-I...I really miss him Blue..."
He pulled him into a hug. "Me too... He's probably fighting hard on some distant planet." Prowl nodded a bit. "Jetstorm is foul mouthed with a short fuse. Don't take anything he says to spark."
"Is...is Jazz okay?"
"Yeah. He's a little shaken up, but he'll be alright."
"I'm glad..."
Bluestreak smiled. "Are YOU alright?"
"Yeah..."
Bluestreak hugged him tighter in the hug before letting go. "I'm gonna get going now. Let me know if you need anything. I'm sure Blaster and Jazz can help too." Prowl nods. Bluestreak smiled before turning away. "Later, cousin," he said as he walked off. Prowl watched his cousin head off.
"I thought I might find ya out here," said a familiar voice. Prowl looked over where the sound of the voice was coming from. Jazz walked over, he had a happy smirk on his face. His right arm was dented and scratched, but not badly injured. The glass on the canopy of his space cruiser alternate mode was scratched up from falling on his back.
"Are you okay Jazz...?"
"Yeah... No problem, Prowler. I'm more worried about how yer doin'."
"I'm okay..."
"You been cryin... I never knew you cried."
"...I try not to in front of others..."
"Why not?" Jazz asked as he sat down next to him. He wiped the trail of coolant off of Prowl's face.
"Because..." Prowl said sadly.
"That ain't no answer."
"Crying makes one not look strong..." Prowl said "I have to be strong..."
"That's a load of slag. Cryin' means ya got emotions, emotions means ya got a spark. Why you gotta be strong for?"
"...For my father..."
"...Oh..." Jazz said as he looked away. "I'm sure he told ya it was okay to cry, didn't 'e?"
"...Yes...but..."
"There's bein strong, and then there's bottling it all up and ACTIN' strong. You can be strong of spark, but that don't mean ya gotta be cold and emotionless." Prowl smiled a bit at him. Jazz smiled back. "Ready to head back inside?"
"Yeah..." Jazz smiled and stood. He offered his hand from his good arm. Prowl slowly takes it with his own. Jazz smiled as the two walked back inside.
"Are you sure you're okay?" Prowl said as they head back to the Rec Room.
"I'm fine. I was, just worried about you." said Jazz. Prowl smiled a bit. Jazz smiled back.
"It's nice to have a true friend. None of my wings mate really truly worry about me, at least not like you and Bluestreak.
"Then they aren't ya friends."
Prowl nodded. "...Maybe SilverWind...but I don't think we're close enough to be friends..."
"...Yeah..." They went inside and were greeted by Blaster. Bluestreak was with him as well.
"You okay Prowl?" Blaster asked as he came up.
"I'll be alright." Bluestreak gave him a big hug. Jazz smiled.
"Ya aren't gonna ask about me?" Jazz smirked. Bluestreak smiled and come hugs Jazz. Jazz smiled. "Thanks, Blue."
"Sorry, man," said Blaster. "You alright?"
"I'm fine Blaster."
"All Autobots report to the Recreation Room immediately," announced Optimus Prime. "I have an important announcement to make to all of you." The small group looked at each other.
"Wonder what it could be?" asked Prowl.
"I guess we will find out." said Jazz.
"Yeah," said Blaster.
"I hope it's nothing bad..." said Bluestreak. The group of friends headed back into the Recreation Room.
The whole base was gathered there. A few mechs, like Jetstorm, did not want to be there. "You all must be wondering why I call you all here." Optimus said "We have a new member of the Iacon base." It was then that everyone noticed a small yellow form hiding behind Optimus. He turned to the yellow form and smiled gently at it. "You can come on out, don't be afraid." A tiny yellow mech emerged from behind Optimus. The mech was not even a youngling yet. He clung tightly to Optimus's leg still.
"It's a little sparkling." Prowl said.
"A sparkling? But why introduce him to all of us."
"And where's the little mech's parents?" asked Blaster.
"Everyone, this young one is Bumblebee. He is an orphan from one of the cities that recently fell to the Decepticons. He has no one. I want you all to be careful around him and be good role models." A few femmes talked cutely about him.
Some mechs huffed and left. Jetstorm laughed. "What a wimp... He's not even a flyer..." Bumblebee hid behind Optimus at the noise of the crowd.
Prowl growled at Jetstorm before coming over. "Hello little one." he said. Bumblebee hid as much as he could.
"He's a bit shy," smiled Optimus. "It's alright, Bumblebee."
"S'up, little 'Bot," smiled Jazz. He slowly extended a hand. "What's yer name, little one?" he asked. Bumblebee slowly came out. He looked up at Optimus shyly.
"It's alright," he said as he pat him on the shoulder.
"...M-My name...B-Bumblebee... Wh-What yours?"
"The name's Jazz."
Bumblebee shyly extended his hand. Jazz took it slowly and gave it a shake. "You just made your first friend, Bumblebee," Optimus smiled.
"Friend? Jazz friend like you, Optie?" Optimus smiled with a nod.
"My name is Prowl," the flyer said as he knelt down a bit and extended his hand. Bumblebee hid. "I won't hurt you, little one."
Bumblebee slowly came back out. "...Y-You BIG...have big wings... Can you fly?"
"Of course." Prowl said with a smile.
"You Pwowl? I Bumblebee..."
"It's very nice to meet you." Prowl said with another smile.
Bumblebee smiled. Bluestreak went up to him. "Hi, Bumblebee. My name's Bluestreak. I'm a pretty good gunner. I can shoot 'em from a mile away. Prowl is my cousin because his mother was my father's sister. I'd like it a lot if we could be friends."
"You use lots and lotsa words."
"That's why our parents call him Bluestreak." Smokescreen said with a smile.
The crowd started dissipating. Bumblebee laughed. "That funny."
"Alright, Bumblebee. Time to go now. I have a lot of work to do."
"Do I has to stay with Ratcet?"
"I know he can be boring sometimes, but I know you're safe with him. He likes having the company, Bumblebee."
"...Optie...can I stay with new friends?" Optimus looked unsure. "PWEASE, Opimus?"
The Prime sighed. "That's up to them. I know Prowl has very important things to do."
Little Bumblebee turned to Prowl. "Pwease?"
"Aww, lookit that face..." said Jazz.
Prowl couldn't help but smile. "Okay, for a bit." he said. Bumblebee smiled happily and ran over to Prowl. Prowl picks him up into his arms. Bumblebee smiled and put his arms around him. Jazz smiled.
"Be careful and be good," said Optimus. Bumblebee waved good-bye with a smile on his face. Optimus Prime smiled as he watched the group leave.
"What should we do first?" asked Bluestreak.
"What does little Bee want to do?" Prowl asked as he looks towards the sparkling.
"O-side?"
Prowl smiled. "Okay." he said.
Bumblebee clapped. The group smiled. "The city's pretty ain't it, buddy? That why you want to go outside?" Bumblebee nodded. Jazz smiled. Once they arrive outside Bumblebee clapped happily.
Once outside, Bumblebee's little optics widened. His little optics widened at the pretty sight. "What you think?" Prowl asked.
"Pwetty," he smiled. "Lights, buildings and fings all pwetty." Prowl smiled.
Bluestreak smiled and looked at the city too. "Iacon's great," smiled Jazz.
"It's even more beautiful in the air." Prowl said.
"Air?" Bumblebee asked. Prowl nods with a smile. "But...I can't fwy..."
"Want me to show you?" Prowl asked.
"Pwowl...I can't fwy... How I see?"
"I can take you up."
"You fwy?"
"What did you think his wings were for?" smiled Jazz.
One of the Autobot jets flew past. Bumblebee's optics widened. "Pwowl...yous can take me up dere? I can fwy like those mechs?"
Prowl smiled. "Sure."
"Yay! Fwy! Fwy! Fwy!" he said as he clapped excitedly.
"Hold on tight." Prowl said. Bumblebee grabbed a tight hold of Prowl."Okay here we go." Bumblebee closed his optics tight as Prowl jumped into the air. "It's okay, you can open your optics."
Bumblebee slowly opened them. "WOW!" Prowl smiled. Jazz and Bluestreak smiled from below. Jazz watched in awe with a smile on his face. He wished he could be Bumblebee.
"Hey Prowl! Don't forget you said you'd take me too!"
Prowl just smiled. "Where do you want to go, Bee?" Bumblebee looked around.
"Over dere! Over dere! Pretty high tower!"
Prowl smiled again. "Okay." Bumblebee smiled. Prowl started to veer off.
Bumblebee smiled as they neared the main capitol building of Iacon. They landed on one of its beautiful balconies. "What you think of the view?" Prowl asked with a smile.
"Vewy pretty... Iacon pwetty..." He grew sad and held onto Prowl a bit more tightly. "Better than home...all alone..."
"What you mean? I thought Ratchet and Optimus watch over you."
"No..." he shivered. "Dat after... Before...I no remember good... M-mommy scream...den nofing... Everything dark...broken... I all alone..." He started to cry, burying himself against Prowl. "...Alone... Bumblebee all alone..."
"I know how you feel." Prowl said as he hug him.
"...Y-you do...?" he sniffled.
"Yes. I lost my mom when I was your age. My dad had been missing for even longer."
"...I sorry... Who save you when you wittle?"
"Ironhide."
"Big, wed scary mech?"
"He may look scary but he's a big spark."
"...Oh..." Bumblebee said as he looked out at the view. "Ooo, who dat?" Bumblebee said a jet flew across the sky. It was coming from the Decepticon side of Cybertron.
Prowl looked towards the sky. He couldn't believe his optics as the jet came towards them. He held Bumblebee closer to him. Jetstorm landed next to him and transformed. "Prowl? I can't believe this! First you befriend those groundpounders, now you're caring for that weakling sparkling? He's a ground type! He's weak and worthless!"
"Then I must be worthless as well since my mother was a ground type." Prowl said as he hold Bumblebee closer to him.
"That little yellow bug will never amount to anything. Flyers are superior fighters. Now you're letting sparklings alter your thinking. I thought you were more logical than that." He turned to Bumblebee. "You understand, groundpounder? Optimus should have left you there," he said as he got right in Bumblebee's face.
"Optimus never leave anyone behind," Prowl said "He's a ground type as well, do you think our Prime is worthless?"
"He has a few weakness, but no. He's a strong leader that recognizes power."
"Then what were you doing on the Decepticon side?" Prowl asked. "I thought you were an Autobot." Bumblebee hid and started to cry against Prowl. Prowl gently rub his back.
"Look at him! Such a weakling... To answer your question," he smirked. "I found a leader that will end this war."
"If you are talking about Megatron..."
"He promises peace and a strong rule. He has a seeker for his second in command."
"Megatron is promising nothing," Prowl said. "Decepticons destroyed Praxus, killed my own mother..."
"It must have been an accident. He was weeding out weaklings to gain territory. You survived, that makes you strong. You should come with me. Megatron is a great leader that promises peace. You could be part of a strong fighting force, Prowl. Forget about weak ground types like this yellow bug."
"Never." Prowl growled "My mother was never a weakling, nor are my cousins."
"I thought you were logical, Prowl. I'm disappointed in you." With that, he flew off. Prowl watch him flew off as he hugs Bumblebee.
Bumblebee cried and hid against him. "D-dat man scary..."
"It's okay now. Let's head back." Bumblebee nodded, sniffling. Prowl held on to Bumblebee tight and head back to base.