ch 7
Optimus knocked on the outside of Prowl's office door before walking inside. "Are you sure you should be working?" he asked, taking a seat across from Prowl on the other side of his desk. Prowl merely smiled faintly at him.
"Ratchet has cleared me for light duty." he said evenly. "The paperwork has piled up in my absence."
Optimus nodded. "Ratchet also told me you had something to say regarding Barricade." he commented. "You know he's still in the brig."
"I'm aware of it." Prowl said flatly. "I make it a point to visit him when I get off duty." He set down his data pad and leaned back in his seat. Ratchet had procured a specially padded chair for him to take the strain off his back and doorwings while his self-repair systems finished healing him. He met Optimus's optics with an even gaze. "I don't believe imprisoning him is the best way to thank him for saving my life."
"He's still a Decepticon, and an assassin at that." Optimus pointed out. "I do not believe he acted on purely altruistic terms."
"I do not believe he did not." Prowl countered. "He could have let me die. Or better yet, he could have killed me himself. Why would he defy Megatron and let me live?"
"How do you know he defied Megatron?" Optimus asked quietly. "Prowl, for all we know, Megatron and Barricade planned the whole thing."
Prowl highly doubted that Megatron had planned on almost getting his processor melted when he tried to jack his prisoner. He refrained from mentioning that. Ratchet knew about Prowl's firewalls, but no one else. "I simply do not believe that." Prowl replied instead. "Perhaps the attachment I formed to Barricade while I was in captivity is clouding my judgment, but I do not find it likely that Megatron orchestrated anything of the like."
Optimus leaned back in his chair. "As my Second, I respect your opinion." he said calmly. "As your friend, however, I'm worried what that attachment will bring. So, work with me here – say you weren't the one in captivity. Say it was Jazz. What would you recommend?"
"Sic Mirage on him and see what he comes up with." Prowl said immediately.
Optimus threw his helm back and laughed. "Nice."
"It's the truth." Prowl sighed. "Logically, I would still say to release Barricade."
"Logically, why?"
"By releasing him, we're showing him a measure of trust. Perhaps we can win him over to our side. It would mean one less warrior in the Decepticon army, but we can't do that if we keep him in the brig." Prowl tilted his head to the side. "Besides, if we give him enough rope, he might just hang himself for us." Optimus shuttered his optics, considering. Prowl returned his gaze to his desk.
Simply speaking those words hurt.
He felt a gentle nudge at the back of his mind. /What's wrong?/ Barricade asked. The assassin's mental voice was always strange to Prowl – an intrusion, and yet it felt much like a part of himself. He responded with a slight touch.
/I'll explain later. My shift is almost over./
/Okay./
Barricade withdrew as Optimus spoke again. Prowl had to force himself to pay attention again. "We'll have to keep a close watch on him, then." the Prime said seriously. "He may just hang us instead."
"Have Mirage and Jazz do it." Prowl replied. "The spybots will keep Barricade in line. Let me keep his trust."
Optimus nodded. "Follow me. We'll tell Barricade together. Your shift is over anyway."
"Thankfully." Prowl slowly stood, refusing Optimus's silent offer of help. "I find sitting in that chair most uncomfortable." he commented. Optimus merely smiled.
"I can tell. It must hurt less than your other one."
"It does. It's still not as comfortable as my berth."
"Very true."
They walked the rest of the way to the brig in silence. Prowl reached out, searching for Barricade inside his spark. He found the 'Con easily enough. /You don't hide very well./ he pointed out mildly.
Barricade laughed at that. /I'm an assassin – you'd think I'd be excellent at hiding./
/Not in here./ Optimus and Prowl entered the brig, and Prowl pulled away gently. He didn't want to give away their secret just yet. Barricade scrambled quickly to his feet, crimson optics flickering between Prowl and Optimus, as if not sure who to address. Optimus spared him the decision.
"I have come to a decision regarding your stay with us, Barricade."
"Does it count as a stay if I'm forced in a cell?" Barricade asked mildly. There was no trace of anger or fear in his voice. Optimus continued as if he hadn't spoken.
"I would like to remove you from the cells. You will be under surveillance from my spybots, and you will share a room with Prowl, since we do not have the space for you to have your own quarters. In addition, Ratchet will disable your weapons. Do these terms sound fair?"
"More than fair." Barricade's optics flickered from Optimus to Prowl and back. Prowl could feel the barely contained energy buzzing through his bondmate, and he knew the same energy was singing in his own lines, begging for release. "I appreciate the offer, Prime."
"Good." Optimus turned to leave, then paused. "Barricade – you seemed to have earned the trust of my SIC. Don't betray that trust." With that he left.
Almost as soon as he was gone, Barricade had reached out and grabbed Prowl's arm. Prowl couldn't stop the small gasp at the contact. Barricade's optics were bright. /It's getting worse./
/I know./ Prowl said softly.
/Simply syncing isn't working any more./
/I know that too./ Prowl sighed through his vents. He wanted – no, he needed to take Barricade, to do more than sync energy fields and merge sparks fully like they had done when they bonded. He hesitated a moment. /Tonight. My quarters are yours now. We'll have time and privacy./
/Good./ Barricade trailed his claws down Prowl's arm, drawing another shudder from his mate.
It wasn't wise to interface with a 'Con.
Prowl couldn't wait until nightfall.
/-/
AN: Yeah, insanely short. Oh well. Knight Rider plot bunnies up and bit my aft again. (headdesk) Oh well. Enjoy!