ch 17
Barricade waited for Prowl in their quarters. His doorwings were tense, his entire frame trembling. What frightened him more, he wondered blackly – his decision, or Prowl's reaction to it. He held himself tightly, trying to still his frame. It wasn't working.
Prowl walked into the room and froze. "I thought you were on patrol."
"I got back early." Barricade took in a shaky intake. "We need to talk."
Prowl frowned, but he shut the door behind him and locked it. "Talk, then."
Barricade hesitated. "I think – maybe it would be best if – we, well, if we did dissolve our bond." Shock and budding anger flashed through their bond. Barricade almost flinched, but he continued on regardless. "Optimus is right – it's only going to cause problems, and – "
Prowl didn't let him finish. He grabbed Barricade's arm and shoved him back into the room, pushing him down onto the berth. Suddenly Barricade found himself pinned beneath a very angry Prowl. Before Barricade could say anything, Prowl kissed him hard and pulled back abruptly.
/What is it going to take to make you understand?/ Prowl growled. His hands refused to stay still. Barricade gasped. /I want you. I want everything I can take from you. Do you think I can find that in anyone else? Do you think I want to give you up because of something that Optimus thinks is wrong?/
Barricade could barely think. /I thought if - /
/No. I don't care. You're mine, and I will do whatever it takes to keep you mine./
/Why?/
/Because./ Prowl pulled back enough to meet Barricade's optics. /I love you./
Then Prowl leaned in again, and Barricade had nothing else to say.
/-/
Prowl walked into Prime's office. Optimus sat behind his desk, watching his SIC intently. "Did I find you at a bad time?" he asked quietly.
The Praxian shrugged. "No worse than normal. The Twins have been in a rare state all day. I had just gotten them to stay in my quarters when you sent for me." He tilted his head to the side. "I don't suppose you know anything about that, do you?"
Optimus shook his helm. "I do not keep track of the Twins."
"Unless, of course, they're in trouble. Then you know exactly what happens, down to the very last detail." Prowl's tone was almost mocking. "It's amazing how selective you are about your soldiers, Prime. You don't know us half as well as you think you do."
"I'm beginning to understand that." Optimus said softly. "Ratchet seems to know all of you better than I ever have, and I'm sorry for that. However, that's not why I called you in here."
"No, but I suspect I know why." Prowl said flatly. "Barricade. Are you still determined to dissolve our bond?"
"My years as Prime says I should."
"Yet your instincts – or maybe your compassion – dictates otherwise." Prowl finished for him. "Do you know what Barricade did this morning, before the Twins needed me?" Optimus hesitated. Prowl did not. "He offered to dissolve our bond, as if that would change anything. He wanted to make it easier for me, so he willingly gave up the only thing that originally kept him here." Prowl's doorwings were trembling now, but Prowl's voice was steady and calm. "Do you know what that means?"
"Perhaps Barricade has seen the light." Optimus said softly. "Perhaps he knows that, as long as there is doubt about his loyalty, he will put you in danger with your bond."
Prowl laughed at that. "Hardly. You saw what Galvatron tried to pull on us. You saw how far he got. I hid one aspect of myself so completely when I became Prowl that even now, having seen it in action, you still can't accept it –
"I am a killer, Prime. Pure and simple. Do you really think that I would let something happen to us? Do you really think that I'm in danger?"
Optimus studied him for a moment. Finally, he sighed. "No. I don't believe you are in any danger at all." he admitted. "However, I do fear for you. You are my friend, Prowl, and I do not want you to get hurt. That is not based on any logic."
"I know." Prowl said softly. "I appreciate it, Prime, but you have to understand – "
Optimus held up a hand, cutting Prowl off. "I understand, Prowl. I really do. That's why I called you in here. I wanted to tell you that I changed my mind. I am not going to do anything to you and Barricade. My only request is that you keep this quiet until Barricade either defects formally or you feel enough time has passed that you can safely le the secret out."
Prowl smiled faintly. "You have my word."
Optimus returned the smile. "Good. I'd hate for the minis to get any bright ideas."
"Indeed."
"So – now that that's out of the way, tell me about the Twins. What has happened?"
Prowl sighed and relaxed a bit. "Apparently they've gotten it in their processors that you might kick them out. After all, they are defective."
Prime's optics darkened. "I am not that cruel."
"Then perhaps you could tell the Twins that." Prowl muttered. "They're convinced, and it's causing problems. There's only so much I can do."
Optimus nodded. "Leave it to me. I'll deal with the minis."
"Thank you." Prowl hesitated. "For everything." With that he turned and left the office.
/-/
AN: One more chapter left.