Temerity

Part 33-Assent

Disclaimer: I don't own Transformers. They belong to Hasbro and Takara. I am merely taking them for a short spin.

"Sometimes solutions aren't so simple,

Sometimes good bye's the only way."

--Shadow of the Day, Linkin Park

Temerity-Unreasonable contempt of danger; extreme venturesomeness; rashness.

"He really doesn't remember? Nothing?" Bluestreak said.

"I played back the audio of him singing, so he couldn't deny that," Jazz said.

"No one had video of Prowl's. . .exhibition?" Optimus asked.

"No," Ratchet said. "Surprisingly. Usually the twins get blackmail material on everyone, but not last night. They were conspicuously absent from the gathering."

Just where the twins went and with who Optimus chose not to mention. Blue met his optics, grinning.

"Yeah. . ." the young gunner said, earning himself an elbow from Jazz. He tried to keep a straight face but it was hard. "Yeah. Strange."

"Not as strange as Prowl's. . .oh by the Allspark I cannot believe I am saying this," Ratchet said. "What did he call it? 'Sexy Prowl dance?'"

"I believe that is correct," Optimus said. "Although I was not there for the beginning of it."

"Didn't miss much," Ratchet said. "Believe me. And did you see the list of songs that should be added to the banned list?"

"Yes," Optimus said. "Although don't you think you were a bit overzealous?"

"I'm trying to keep Prowl from getting anymore ideas," Ratchet said.

"I don't think he needs any help," Optimus said. The look Blue and Jazz gave him said otherwise. "Ratchet, I'll give your list ample consideration."

The medic nodded, left Prime's office.

"Can I have that data pad?" Jazz said. "I just wanna take a peek, see Prowler's taste in music."

Optimus handed it over, had to hide his smile behind his hand as his third in command and sniper suddenly were shoulder to shoulder, going over the list, which contained more than a hundred human songs that were 'inappropriately suggestive,' according to Ratchet. In Ratchet speak, that meant giving the normally cool, collected, logical Prowl bad ideas when he was drunk off his aft. And if Ratchet was using words like 'inappropriately suggestive' in the same sentence in relation to Prowl, it meant the medic could stand an evening of his own drunk off his aft. Which, come to think of it, Optimus couldn't remember the last time Ratchet had any fun, because the night before he'd been present, like his leader, but didn't take part in the festivities. At least not until they'd gone down hill and ended with the chase and trip to the med bay.

"Can we keep this?" Blue said suddenly, looking up.

"Be my guest," Optimus said, watching the two exit his office.

-----

Sam yawned. Only third period and he was already fighting trying to fall asleep. Mrs. Yamaguchi was on fire today, he reflected, as she enthusiastically described the chemical bonds of calcium carbonate. Normally he enjoyed chemistry, but not today. He was tired, but still more than amused with everything from the night before. He knew he'd never again be able to hear "Sexy Back" without thinking of Prowl and his dancing. He'd heard about Prowl's dancing prowess but was glad for the chance to witness it himself. And oh yes indeed there was video of it. He just hadn't had a chance to get if off his phone and around to the usual suspects. Wonder what I can get out of 'Sides for it? He grinned at that thought. And he knew exactly where the twins had went. And with who. Poor Springer. No one had seen that one coming. He figured the thought should bother him, just a little, but it didn't. Giant alien robots from another planet were bound to have different customs and all that. He grinned bigger. And he got to know about giant alien robots from another planet. He was the luckiest guy alive--having one as his best friend and everything.

SMACK. Sam's head snapped forward and his momentum knocked his book off his desk.

He turned around, glaring at Miles, who glared back.

"Teacher's calling your name," Miles said.

"Miles, I think you should go to the office," Mrs. Yamaguchi said. And she kept going, never missing a beat.

Sam groaned. Five more hours. . .

-----

Lennox decided it was time for another heart-to-heart talk, or, in this case, heart-to-spark talk with Ironhide. The big weapons specialist was avoiding almost everyone since his confrontation with Prime, and according to scuttlebutt, the two had nearly had it out again that morning. The Ranger sighed as he made his way to ops, hoping to find the big mech so he could corner him. His talk with Hot Rod the day before had shed a little light on Ironhide's ire toward the younger Autobot, but it still didn't explain everything. Luckily, Ironhide was on monitor duty in ops, and thanks to Jazz, who was keeping Epps occupied over lunch, he'd have the time he needed to hopefully knock some proverbial sense into Ironhide.

The weapons specialist gave his human friend a sidelong glance as he heard him walking up.

"C'mon. You're giving me a ride into town for lunch," Lennox said. "And you're not getting out of it, so don't even try to complain."

Ironhide stood, raised an optic ridge, following the human outside.

And Lennox didn't wait long to lay into Ironhide. Frankly, his friend's behavior lately was driving him nuts. Ironhide could be gruff, cranky, sarcastic and more, but he could be depended on when it came right down to it. He was loyal, trustworthy, a good friend, but not so much recently. And if Prime's efforts to deal with the weapons specialist were failing, Lennox wondered what good a small, insignificant human could do. So he decided to cut to the chase as they drove into town.

"What is your problem?" Lennox asked.

Ironhide chose to ignore the question.

"C'mon Ironhide, answer the question. I know you've got a burr under your saddle," Lennox said. "But why? Got a problem with the fact Prime isn't spending as much time with you?"

Again, Ironhide stayed silent.

And again, the Ranger chose the direct approach. He was letting Ironhide do the driving but he decided to try getting the Autobot's attention in another way. He slammed his foot down on the brake, bringing the big Autobot sliding to a stop.

"Kindly remove your foot," Ironhide said.

"Not until you talk," Lennox said.

"What if I don't want to? I could let you walk into town. . ."

"Try it," Lennox said. "And I'll make sure Ratchet gets involved. So, gonna answer my last question?"

"If I must, it does not bother me that Optimus is spending less time with me, but with who," Ironhide admitted.

"Let me get this straight--it's bugging you he's spending so much time with Hot Rod?" Lennox asked. "Seems to me that's Prime's business."

"Yes, but you do not understand. . ." Ironhide started, but he stopped.

"Don't understand what?"

"Hot Rod has a questionable past," Ironhide said.

"And that means what?" Lennox asked, getting annoyed.

"If you're talking about what happened with his unit, I know all about that," Lennox said. "I know they were ambushed. It was his first mission. It happens. When you're in command, sometimes the people, or in his case, the mechs you're responsible for get hurt or even die. It goes with the territory. Doesn't make it any easier to accept, but I can understand what he's been through."

"There was some question as to where his true loyalties lay," Ironhide said.

"You think he. . .that's crap. I don't believe that for a second. And I can't believe you're bringing it up. He's doing better, lot's better. Hasn't pulled anything erratic or stupid in a while. . ." Lennox said. Then he started to think. And it clicked. Somehow, it made sense. Sort of. He was grasping at straws, but it was worth a try.

"I know you were. . .close. . .to this Ultra Magnus. And you lost him," Lennox said. "You're just angry and upset that Hot Rod was the last one to see him alive. . .and he doesn't remember. . ."

Ironhide didn't speak for several moments and Lennox half-expected to find himself ejected forcefully from the Topkick's cab, but instead, Ironhide began to speak.

"Partly. But also, I have wondered. . .if the possibility existed. . .that they were involved. . ." Ironhide said.

"Wait. . .like involved involved?" Lennox said.

"Yes," Ironhide said. "But though I know that is probably not the case, I know there was something going on, something Magnus only hinted at. At the end. . .he changed, became more secretive, and then there was the matter of his betrayal. . .so I walked away."

"I'm sorry," Lennox said.

"The past cannot be changed," Ironhide said. "We can only move forward, and I have tried, but no matter how hard I try, I cannot put Magnus behind me. Hot Rod is a constant reminder. . ."

-----

Late afternoon. Kup sat in his office, going over the list of completed security upgrades. Things on his side were going well, for once, barring the early morning chase with Prowl. And the list of songs Ratchet dropped off, suggesting they be considered base contraband. I'll give him contraband. . .Kup thought. The ancient Autobot agreed with Prime that Ratchet needed a little fun, but just how and when and to ambush the medic he was still going over. The last time he and Prime had assisted with such an endeavor had earned them both a trip to the med bay, although getting Prowl hammered always had an outcome they could predict somewhat. Ratchet, on the other hand. . .just depended on his mood before the high grade started flowing. For example, after a battle, he was a sullen, morose drunk, which was expected. But harder to pin down were the times when the medic got smashed just for the fun of it. And Kup couldn't remember the last time Ratchet had had any fun, and that stretched back to before they left Cybertron. Maybe it was time to raid the twins' stash again and do something about it.

Kup set down his data pad, stood, stretched. No time like the present to get things rolling, he thought. Except he was greeted by the sight of the medic standing outside his office.

"I know that look," Ratchet said, optics narrowed, suspicious.

"What look?" Kup said, feigning innocence.

"Whatever it is you're thinking, it better not involve Prowl or high grade," Ratchet said.

"Ratch, doesn't involve either," Kup said, grinning. "Just gonna go take a short break, check on how Prowl's doing. Want to come?"

He threw an arm across the medic's shoulders, dragging him along, toward the brig, to see their recharging second in command.

-----

Sam could hardly wait to show Sideswipe the footage he had from Prowl's exhibition the night before. He would've been at the base earlier, but a stay in detention had made him late, although it had helped him sort out a few things with Miles. He grinned at the thought of his friend and what it would mean to finally share with him his knowledge of an alien race. He still hadn't gotten permission from Secretary of Defense Keller, and Miles wasn't quite ready for that reveal. But at some point, he would let him in on the secret his Camaro wasn't really a Camaro at all. Sam pushed it from his mind as he entered the rec room, hoping the red twin was there. And he wasn't disappointed. Sideswipe was sharing a table with Springer.

"Hey guys," Sam said. "'Sides, I have something you're gonna want to see, but not here. . ."

Springer and Sideswipe exchanged a glance. "What is it?" Sideswipe asked.

"Do the words 'sexy back' mean anything to you?" Sam asked.

-----

Optimus stood at the lookout, watching the sun go down. He was alone, but for once, he didn't mind. Things at the base, at the moment, were satisfactory. Prowl was out of the brig with Blue fawning over him, much to his second in command's annoyance, and Blue's display of affection was a pleasant change from the gunner's recent ire toward Prowl. Kup and Skywarp were planning something involving high grade, that he was sure of, and the less he knew, the better. Jazz was in charge at the moment, and patrols were running smoothly, as was ops, much to Prime's relief. And Jazz had decided that morning to delegate some of his own special ops responsibilities to Hot Rod, just to give him a test run. So far, so good, Optimus reflected.

Hearing an engine, he turned away from the setting sun, saw Bumblebee tearing down the road. He smiled as he watched the scout transform.

"It's good to see you, my friend," Optimus said, placing a hand on Bumblebee's shoulder when he was close enough.

"It's good to have a few moments to myself," Bumblebee said. "And to see you as well."

"You are missed," Optimus said.

"Being Sam's guardian is important to me," Bumblebee said. "There is no place I would rather be, although I do miss being around my fellow Autobots sometimes."

"Even during nights like last night?" Optimus said, optic ridge raised.

Bumblebee laughed, Optimus joined him.

"Prowl still has not realized?" Bumblebee asked.

"No," Optimus said. "Except there were a few more suggestions last night. . ."

"My favorite was when Smokescreen suggested Ratchet give Prowl 'the talk' again," Bumblebee said.

"I did not hear that," Optimus said.

"It was after Prowl took off," Bumblebee said. "And speaking of such matters. . ."

Oh dear, Optimus thought. Bumblebee was going to lecture his leader?

"Yes?" he asked.

"Jazz said you've been spending much of your spare time with Hot Rod," Bumblebee said. He met Prime's optics, gaze intent.

"Yes," Prime answered, wondering where the conversation was heading.

"I am very happy to hear it," Bumblebee said. "Hot Rod waited a very long time for you to come to your senses."