A/N: It's my birthday and I'll write if I want to. Here's my present to you. I hope you enjoy my sickly fluffiness. Merry Christmas!
//internal comm.//
Christmas Challenge
Litha
Part 2 – Christmas on Summer
The water was frigid and unforgiving. Prowl struggled to remain above the surface as the seas raged around them. The man released his pack, inflating the yellow dinghy, Prowl gently placed him inside ensuring that the dinghy remained safe on the stormy waters.
Casting his optics up into the black sky Prowl scanned for the tell tale energy signatures of the 'con seekers. They were still up there, somewhere and if there were seekers then there would be more 'cons on the way.
Prowl activated his comm. //Prowl to base, someone come in please.//
//Prowl! Are you ok, you're not due to check in for 6 more cycles.// Red Alert already sounded panicked at the unexpected call.
//Been attacked it's the seekers. I require assistance.//
//Oh Primus, what are you coordinates?//
Prowl transmitted the sequence of numbers. Red Alert immediately alerted the base.
//Skyfire returned from his mission to Cybertron, Prime's sending him out now, should reach you in a few cycles. Hang on Prowl.//
//Acknowledged.// Prowl cut the comm. wearily.
Fighting to stay above the strong current was draining his depleted energy reserves. He pushed forward his internal compass pointing him in the right direction. Keeping a tight hold of the man's dinghy he swam on. Determined to reach the island. No 'cons were going to stop him now. Their efforts only proved to him that he was getting closer, now he had to be careful that he didn't inadvertently lead them to Jazz's location.
****
Prowl came to on the soft gritty sand, wincing as the tiny grains stuck to him wheedling their way into his joints, painfully grating along his circuits. The yellow dinghy was resting beside his out stretched hand and the hot sun was beaming down on his face.
Prowl stood gingerly, the man who had helped him had gone. He looked around the island, apart from the odd hut and old abandoned boat, the white sands looked deserted.
Prowl itched everywhere, sand had gotten into the joints of his door wings, beneath his armour. Cursing softly in pain as he moved, Prowl dipped himself back into the warm shallow waters. The sand was washed away from his armour; only in the stubborn hard to reach places it remained. Satisfied that, that was all he could do for now Prowl headed onto the Island to try and find the next obscure clue.
He didn't get far before he heard a noise above him, Skyfire dropped from the sky landing on a smoother part of the beach with less sand. Prowl headed over, surprised at himself for wanting the familiar company.
"Prowl you're ok?!" Bluestreak raced off the large jet embracing the tactician tightly.
Prowl gently peeled the mech off him. "Thank you, yes I'm fine. Does anyone know what happened to the man I was with?"
Bluestreak eyed the yellow dinghy as Cliffjumper and the twins filed off the jet. Skyfire himself transformed and took in the surroundings with awe. "Huh?"
"Bumblebee is with him, they went to get help last I heard. The human was injured in the crash." Cliffjumper answered.
"So where to next?"
Prowl's brow creased. "I don't know. I haven't found the next clue and I am not entirely sure where to look."
Bumblebee came racing out of the trees. "Hi Prowl! I'm glad you're alright."
Prowl remained stoic, there was still the problem of Decepticons. "What's the status on the 'cons."
"We gave them a pounding." Skyfire boomed smugly.
"Yeah but they're going to be back. They're looking for something. They want it bad." The twins interrupted.
"I fear that something maybe Jazz."
"Ooooh that explains the cryptic clues."
"Indeed." Prowl frowned. "We had better find the local population, maybe they know something."
The 'bots unable to transform easily on the sand, walked towards the only populated area of the island. It wasn't a great deal more populated than the beach. Prowl was getting frustrated, why would Jazz lead them here just to drop off the radar.
The mechs explored the paradise island, Prowl stood and watched his brow furrowed, his processor running at high speed, in case he might have missed anything in the previous clues.
"Excuse me..."
Prowl didn't register the young boy standing at his feet, too wrapped up in his own thoughts.
"EXCUSE ME!" The small boy shouted up at the black and white robot that towered above him.
Looking down in vague surprise Prowl dropped to a crouch to address the child. The child grinned at him his long grubby, orange t-shirt decorated with a single cactus motif fell to his knees. The child gently reached out to touch a white finger.
"You're a police car, robot?"
Prowl nodded once. "I am."
"What's your name?"
"Prowl."
The child's eyes widened in excitement and he jumped up and down rapidly before squealing and running off, disappearing into a small hut. He appeared again clutching a tiny card in his hand.
"The musical robot told me that Prowl would want this." He grinned up at Prowl wide eyed and innocent.
"To only give it to Prowl." He shook the card at Prowl's stunned face.
"Thank you." Prowl took the tiny postcard in his hand. Looking back to the boy he smiled at the boy's apparent glee.
"Mr Prowl Sir?"
"Hmm?"
"Can I have a ride in the police car...with..." He dug his toes into the sand shyly. "With the sirens?"
Prowl almost laughed out loud. He crouched low again, his voice soft as to not scare the child. "If you can tell me how long ago the robot gave you this card then yes you can."
The child hummed to himself, finger poking at his lip. "When the storm hit. He was here." The boy looked down sadly. "He had to leave, bad robots found him."
Prowl's tanks lurched at the words. "Did he leave with them?"
"No I helped him escape. Father flies planes." The boy grinned, folding his arms victoriously.
"You're very brave." Prowl transformed into his alt mode and popped open his passenger door. The boy squealed in delight as the tactician proceeded to drive around the island with his sirens blaring much to the astonishment of the other 'bots.
Shrieks of delight could be heard from the small boy and shouts to go faster. Prowl laughed pleasantly at the boy's exuberance of such a simple act.
****
The mechs gathered around Prowl as he read the card the boy had given him. "What's it say?" The jostled into him impatiently until Prowl cast them a stern glare.
"There are no winds that can blow it away, on the air. When they try to blow it away is when you know it will always be there. Hop over the sea to the marsh where beauty is born out of the fallout. Listen to the girl."
"What the frag does that mean?" Sideswipe swore. The other mechs shrugged. Prowl flipped the postcard over, the image was one of a girl in a bikini on a beautiful serene beach a small sign in the background that read; 'Bikini'.
"Hop over the sea to the marsh" Prowl repeated.
He looked down at the yellow scout. "Bumblebee is there an airport nearby?"
"Yeah one in the centre of town, not very big though. Why?"
Prowl was already heading over to the small hut where the small boy lived. He knocked lightly. "You said your father can fly planes"
The boy nodded eagerly. "Big ones too, does a lot of cargo."
"Would he be willing to take me somewhere?"
The boy nodded and ran off down the beach. The 'bots had no choice but to run after him. They soon came to a stop at a quiet airstrip. Different sized planes dotted throughout the small airport.
Prowl glanced down at the boy who was pointing at a solid looking man beside a large plane. His optics scanned over the plane, it was indeed a small cargo transport, personalised with an emblem on its tail fin. The black image of a kangaroo with the words 'Kangaroo Jack Air' painted on the underneath.
'Hop over the sea.' Prowl murmured softly. The man greeted his bouncy son with a tight embrace, his eyes looking warily at the robots.
"He's the one that the robot told us about. He said he'd come. Said he'd find him."
"Your friend protected my son when those other robots attacked the island. Also saved him from the typhoon we had two weeks ago."
"Two weeks?" Prowl repeated, had it really been that long?
"I'll take you to wherever you want to go, as long as you give me your word not to come back here. Been nothing but trouble since you robots turned up."
"I understand, thank you for agreeing to help."
"Where you flyin'?"
"Well we're not sure." He handed the card to the man, who raised his brow and gave a short laugh.
"Beauty born out of fallout. Yeah only one place that means." He pointed to the girl on the front. "Bikini."
Quirking an orbital ridge Prowl failed to see the connection.
"The place where gov'ment did all their nuclear testing years ago?"
"I'm not familiar..."
"Bikini Atoll Marshall Islands. Beautiful place, some describe it as Eden on Earth. Quite a long flight though, gonna' have to give me chance to fuel up."
Prowl nodded. The others approached him.
"All right, so we got a location, where we going?"
"We're not going anywhere."
"What? But Prowl!" Bluestreak huffed as Prowl held up his hand.
"This isn't debatable. If we all suddenly charge over there, we're bound to be spotted by the Decepticons, which I believe Jazz has taken great steps to avoid. Skyfire do you have the coordinates of this Bikini Atoll?"
The large jet nodded. "I inputted the name as soon as I heard it. He's right it's quite a way."
"Can you detect anything unusual about the area, any reason why the 'cons can't find Jazz there?"
Skyfire's optics dimmed a little. "Huh, whole place is riddled with faint radiation signatures; I can't get a clear reading on anything. I know the island is there but everything else is just a chaos of mixed signals."
Prowl nodded. "The island hides Jazz's energy signature due to the left over latent radiation from the humans' atomic testing. If we all go the 'cons will follow us, it's too much risk. Skyfire I want you to maintain a patrol of the area. I will contact you once it's safe."
"You're going alone?!" Bluestreak looked pained, worried.
"I'll be alright Bluestreak." Prowl patted the hand that gripped his arm tightly. "I will contact you."
****
Prowl was in his robot mode on yet another plane. He couldn't deny his growing anxiety as they neared the island. Shortly after he'd left Sand Island the 'cons had attacked, they had barely gotten away unscathed. Prowl could only watch with helpless concern as Skyfire took on the seekers. He'd comm'd the base and Prime was on his way with help.
Prowl clasped his hands in his lap, unable to do anything more than just sit in the hanger of the large plane, he was weary, drained and wanted nothing more than to recharge. He could only hope that Jazz was still alive, still in hiding. Once the 'cons had been defeated the area would once again be safe. Once they had Jazz back safely whatever the 'cons were hunting him for would then be in their hands, giving them no further reason to continue their hunt.
The plane bucked and dropped altitude sharply. Metal creaked and groaned as the plane prepared for landing. Prowl braced himself as they touched down sharply with a bounce. He waited as the thrum of the engines slowed and they finally came to a halt. The cargo bay door opened slowly Prowl gasped at the serene beauty before him.
The island truly was a paradise. He thanked the man graciously before turning back to the island. Transforming Prowl proceeded to drive wherever makeshift roads would allow. He tried his comm. several times receiving only static.
Halting at cliff edge he transformed, his frustration and impatience combined with perpetual fatigue, was wearing thin. He looked at the postcard once more. The picture had a simple beach front, with a sign for Bikini partially hidden by the picture of the girl. Prowl's optics squinted as he read the tiny writing on the sign. 'Welcome to the island of Bikini.' Prowl had seen that sign, near the Airport.
He raced back as fast as he could. He found the sign on the empty beach. There was nothing here. He let out a frustrated moan of desperation, before sitting heavily on a concrete wall that seemed oddly out of place on a paradise island. His optics noticed faint scratching on the grey concrete.
'You are the reason we found ours, so thank you stars.'
Prowl stood frowning at the small human construction, its large doors led somewhere underground. He recalled the information of the island being an atomic test site. This was a bunker, probably shielded with many layers of lead. Tentatively Prowl opened the large door, he had to duck to fit into the narrow stairway. Taking a deep breath and switching on his head lights he ventured down the concrete steps.
The passageway opened up to a small space, filled with shelves of rations and supplies. He ran his fingers over the metal, wiping away years of dust that had built up. A small noise startled him into awareness.
"Who's there?"
A voice he had longed to hear for so long graced his audios. "Prowl is that you?"
"Jazz..." He gasped, as the black and white mech came into sight.
A wide grin spread over Jazz's face. "I knew you'd find me!" He limped over to Prowl as fast as he could and embraced him tightly; nuzzling his face into Prowl's neck he let out a sigh of relief. He took hold of Prowl's stunned face. "I missed you Prowl, I kept hopin' you'd get my messages that you'd come find me."
Prowl could barely speak from the wild rush of emotion, sinking to his knees taking Jazz with him, he let out a sob of relief.
"I will always... always find you." He kissed Jazz fiercely, not quite believing he was finally in his arms. Jazz returned the embrace.
"Why didn't you contact us?!" Prowl exclaimed still too caught up in the embrace to let Jazz go just yet.
"Comm. is down. I got some dirt on the 'cons they really don't want us to know about and they been hunting me ever since. Couldn't make the rendezvous. I would have gotten word t'yer if I could."
"How long have you been in hiding?"
"Been here three earth weeks now. It's a beautiful place. Don't worry I haven't been spending all my time in this bunker, this is just where I recharge." He took hold of Prowl's hand, intertwining their fingers, pulling Prowl to his feet and leading him back up the stairs.
"I got something to show you." He grinned, humming to himself. "Are the others coming?"
Prowl nodded, feeling somewhat light headed. "Yes they're fighting the 'cons off. You'll be safe now."
Jazz surprised him with quick kiss. "Now you're here."
They broke out into the bright sunlight, just in time to Skyfire drop out of the sky and land gracefully nearby. The 'bots filed out of the jet and raced over to Jazz. The twins launched themselves at him, sending them all crashing to the ground much to Jazz's amusement.
"I'm so happy to see you all again." He grinned at Bluestreak and Blaster. "How was the party?"
"Went off without a hitch." Blaster returned his grin.
"Did you go?" Jazz turned to Prowl hopefully. Prowl gave him a weak smile and nodded.
"Great are you all up for another party?"
"Jazz only you could be stranded on a desert island for almost a month and still arrange a party." Prowl rolled his optics, chiding the mech gently.
****
The rest of the 'bots arrived not too long after dealing with the 'con threat. They all gathered around the fire that the local population had built in celebration.
"What are they celebrating?" Bluestreak leaned in to Jazz who was playing out some music, watching the locals dance.
"Time called Litha. Midsummer celebration, of joy and life, work and a celebration of love and relationships."
"Sounds a bit like Christmas."
Jazz nodded appreciatively his visor focused on the black and white mech talking with Prime. The orange glow from the flames danced over his black and white paintwork, which was tarnished and in less than good condition than Jazz remembered. He pursed his lips noticing that Prowl also looked tired. How long had he tortured himself over his disappearance? Jazz sympathised, at the moment of his escape from the 'cons he truly believed he was done for.
The thought that he would never see Prowl again had shaken him, filled him with dread. Giving Bluestreak a friendly pat on the shoulder he stood and approached the two mechs, deep in conversation.
"Jazz." Optimus addressed him brightly. "It's good to have you back."
"Good to be back, I hope yer enjoyin' the party, locals have been waitin' for weeks to throw it for us."
"I must ask what's the occasion?"
"It's called Litha, time to celebrate the summer and life and new challenges. It's..." He gazed at Prowl intently, causing Prime to look in his direction. "It's also a time when two people can promise themselves to each other. I looked it up while I was here, a pagan tradition called handfastin' it's like gettin' married but different cultures you know."
He stepped closer to Prowl, noticing his air intakes had become more rapid, shallow, whether from nerves or something else. Jazz held his gaze, wrapping his arms around Prowl's waist.
"I never got a chance to ask you before I left."
"Ask me what"
Jazz brought his hand up to stroke Prowl's cheek not taking his optics off him. "Prime, would you mind awfully carrying out a bonding ceremony?"
Prowl's jaw dropped in astonishment, his face plates flushing with heat. "You... you mean you want to...?"
"Prowl...will you bond with me..? Nothin' would make me happier."
Prowl was uncharacteristically overcome with emotion as Jazz held his slightly trembling frame. "I...I... Yes Jazz. I would love to."
They lost each other in a passionate kiss, oblivious to the cheers and hollers that surrounded around the fire. Optimus clapped his hands together sharply.
"Looks like I've got a bonding ceremony to perform."
****
Prowl sighed deeply as he sank lower into the hot water. The water warmed his aching joints, finally removing the last bits of sand that had caused him severe irritation. He let out a soft moan as black hands stroked his door wings, kissing between his shoulder blades and up to the nape of his neck.
"You like it?" Jazz murmured.
"Mmmm... the hot springs is a nice touch I have to admit."
"Consider it a bonding present."
Prowl chuckled as he turned to face his soon to be bond mate. "So they give gifts for that now?"
The water swirled around them as Jazz simply pulled Prowl into a deep, longing kiss. "I got all I want right here."
"Well I have something to give you." Prowl dipped his head coyly. His hand clasped Jazz's tugging him to the edge of the hot springs, he lay back on the bank, letting Jazz fall flush to his frame. The hot water lapped at their waists as Jazz pressed into another kiss. He let out a moan as Prowl's fingers caressed the armour plating of his spark chamber; his spark pulsed hard in his chest he could already feel it reaching out for Prowl's.
Their chest plates retracted, bathing the two mechs in a bright, warm glow their sparks joining and merging together with delightful cries of bliss and pleasure from both as they consummated their bond.
Jazz ducked under the hot water once his chest had closed, leaving Prowl on the bank satiated and content, his optics lazily watching him. Jazz smiled at his bond mate thinking he looked so beautiful in the moonlight.
"Sing it for me..." Prowl murmured his optics shuttering as he relaxed in the water.
Jazz moved closer his gentle voice carrying on the soft breeze.
"To some it's the strength to be apart; to some it's the feeling in the heart. And when you're out there on your own, it's the way back home.