I know I said this fic was a series of one shots. But I wanted to finish off what was in my head. So the first one shot is 3 chapters! Writer's prerogative. :P I have two requests so far. I'll be working on them in order received so flamingmarsh's request will be done next then DitzyMusicLover's. So come on, don't be shy. You can PM me your request. Only rule is that Prowl and Jazz must be younglings.
Please, enjoy.
Author's notes: Tissue alert!
"Jazz, wake up! We're going to be late!"
"Just a few more klicks," Jazz mumbled into his pillow pulling the blanket over his head.
"No, Ironhide's waiting for us already since we have to finish the weapons inventory today!" Prowl insisted and then yanked the blanket off Jazz.
"Hey!" Jazz exclaimed sitting up. "I'm gonna get you for that!"
"Catch me if you can!" Prowl snickered, stuck his tongue out then ran.
"It's on Prowlie!" Jazz shouted, leaping off his bed and chasing after his friend.
The two youngling mechs raced down through the hall of the personnel living quarters of the base. It was the time of day when most Autobots were just now getting up to start their day.
"HEY! You two need to slow down!" Ratchet shouted when the little mechs ran right in front of him make him jump back. "It's too early for that slag!"
Of course it fell upon deaf audio receptors as the two continued to run and giggle their way down the hall. A few more alert Autobots simply moved out of the way shaking their heads smiling at the display of youthful enthusiasm.
At one point, Prowl glanced back to see Jazz still hadn't gotten any closer. With his attention turned he didn't see the big mech emerge from his quarters and slammed into his thick leg, knocking Prowl to the ground.
Jazz gasped, almost skidding to a stop. Then he cringed as the big mech reached for Prowl.
"The two of you have no business playing in the hallways," Megatron growled, lifting Prowl up by the back of his neck. "Do I make myself clear?"
"Yes, Sir," Prowl's voice trembled. Jazz simply nodded. "I'm sorry, Sir."
"Megatron, put him down. They're only younglings and there are playing in the proper sector."
"As you wish brother," the mech said, setting Prowl down a bit roughly. Then the big mech stormed off.
"You need to be more mindful of your surroundings," Optimus said to them in a kind of serious tone.
"Yes, Sir. I'll make sure to keep a better optic on things," Prowl said.
"Of course you will," he smiled, rubbing Prowl on the head. "Be sure to remind Ironhide I want the inventory report by midday on my desk."
"We will!" Jazz smiled.
"Good. Now off you go," Optimus smiled and watched as the two friends ran around him.
"I thought you were a goner!" Jazz exclaimed.
"Me too! Thank Primus Optimus was there!"
Jazz nodded in agreement then asked, "Do you think we'll finish up the inventory in time?"
"There isn't much left. So as long as Ironhide doesn't get too distracted we should be able to."
"Oh I know," Jazz groaned, rolling his optics. "It's enough to know about the weapons but we don't need to know when and where he used each one or which femmes he impressed the most with them."
"I don't mind his stories that much. They're educational…somewhat. But honestly, we're far too young to hear about his femme conquests!"
"I hear he may be finally settling down with one femme."
"Oh yeah, Chromia. They're perfect for each other. She's as crazy as he is when it comes to weapons!"
"So, where did we leave off?" Jazz asked when they stopped inside the door to the weapons depot.
"Shh, do you hear that?"
Jazz strained to listen.
"I think I hear him. Is that a femme…giggling?"
"Presumably which means no weapon's inventory," Prowl frowned. "I hope Optimus doesn't get mad at us."
"Well, he did order us to remind Ironhide. And he could just be talking to her."
"And they could be doing other things."
"Only one way to know for sure, Prowler. We'll be real quiet and just take a peak. If he's busy getting it on then we leave. If they're talk then you tell him what Optimus told us to do."
Prowl nodded. Jazz started moving stealthily along with Prowl mimicking his movements. They'd only traveled a short distance when Prowl's audio receptors picked up on some noises he'd never heard before.
"What's that noise?" Prowl asked quietly as they quickly ducked behind a large crate.
"I don't know," Jazz shrugged, whispering back. "I guess you moan like that when you interface?"
"We shouldn't be doing this now, Chromia," Ironhide said, sounding a bit winded. "Those little mechs will be here at any moment. That Prowl is one prompt little fragger."
"You're going to deny your femme a quick interface?"
"Ah, don't make that face…you know I can't resist that face, Mia."
"Good, now…where were we?"
"Hey, wanna see how they do it?" Jazz whispered, giggling.
"Not really."
"Come on, it will be educational," Jazz smirked. "We need to learn some day. Unless you're going to be such tight aft and never get some loving from a femme!"
"As if! I'll want to interface as much as the next mech!"
"Then let's see how it's done."
Ever so slowly both mechs poked their heads up. Of course neither of them had a clue about how mechs and femmes interface. But what they saw wasn't what they were expecting. Both stood there, jaws dropped and optics as wide as they could be.
"What's she doing to him?" Jazz managed to asked, the initial shock still numbing his processor.
There was the sound of a light thud beside him and when he looked, Prowl was lying on the floor, not moving with his optic covers closed.
"Prowl!" Jazz exclaimed, quietly, kneeling down and shaking his friend. "Prowl!"
Jazz panicked. Something was wrong with Prowl. But he couldn't ask for Ironhide's help. Frag no! Even Jazz knew rule number one when a mech's interfacing with his femme – no one interferes! Besides, he didn't even want to look that way again. So Jazz did the only thing he could think of. He lifted Prowl up as best as he could and dragged him. He would have dragged him all the way to the Med Bay if Ultra Magnus hadn't been walking by.
"What happened to him?" the mech asked, cradling Prowl as they rushed towards the med bay.
"I don't know. One astrosecond he was fine and the next he was just laying there on the ground. Is he going to be ok?"
"We'll have to see what Ratchet says."
Jazz nodded. He was really worried for Prowl. He was so worried that he didn't hesitate to follow Magnus into the med bay, a place Jazz dreads going. Magnus told him not to worry so much just before he left but Jazz couldn't help it. He sat there clutching his ball tight and didn't even make a peep while watching Ratchet tend to Prowl. It only took a few klicks for the CMO to determine the malfunction but those klicks felt like an eternity for Jazz.
"He's fine, Jazz," he said, beckoning Jazz to come over. "Something caused his CPU's logic circuits to crash. Mind telling me what he saw."
"I'd rather not talk about," Jazz answered, looking at his feet. "It was…well, it was kind of traumatic."
"If you tell me, I might be able to help Prowl better."
Jazz looked up at Ratchet then glanced over at Prowl. Well, if it was to help his friend.
"We…we kind of saw Ironhide and Chromia…interfacing," Jazz shuddered, trying to erase the images from his processor.
"Oh, my…that is traumatizing."
"Tell me about it. I don't think I'll ever interface with a femme!"
Ratchet laughed and patted him on the head.
"It's not all that bad," Ratchet said. "Not all femmes are as…aggressive as Chromia."
Prowl groaned, reaching to grab his head.
"Welcome back Prowl," Ratchet smiled. "I'll give you something for that processor ache, ok?"
He nodded and watched the CMO walk towards his medical supply cabinet.
"You ok?" Jazz asked.
"I guess so," he answered, sitting up. Jazz climbed up on the medical bed and sat beside him. "What happened?"
"Ratchet says your CPU's logic circuits crashed. I told him what we saw. I had to, he said it could help."
"There you little mechs are!" Ironhide exclaimed, walking into the med bay.
Just like earlier, Prowl's logic circuits locked up and crashed when his processor recalled the brief but impressionable images he'd witnessed earlier. Jazz managed to grab his friend before he fell off the bed.
"Primus almighty!" Ratchet exclaimed, rushing across the room.
"What's wrong with him?" Ironhide concernedly asked.
"You are what's wrong with him!" Ratchet snarled, laying Prowl down. He quickly helped Jazz down before turning on Ironhide. "Next time I suggest interfacing in your quarters and not a place where younglings can see!"
"They saw?"
Jazz felt guilty and cast his optics downward. Not only did he see something he wasn't supposed to see but he hurt is friend doing it.
"Jazz…I'm sorry," Hide said, picking Jazz up.
"Make it up to him elsewhere," Ratchet grumbled. "I need to figure out this glitch that caused Prowl's logic circuits to lock up. I've never seen anything like it before."
"Can't I stay? He's my friend."
"It's best to let Ratchet do his job," Hide answered. "You can comeback later and check on him."
"Ratchet…can I give this to Prowl…for luck?" Jazz asked, holding out the ball he'd parents had given to him before they were killed. "Prowl needs it more than me."
"Sure," the CMO smiled, taking the ball and placing it in Prowl's hand.
From that point on the day dragged by slowly for Jazz. It wasn't any fun without his friend. He did his best to stay busy, even doing finishing the homework assignment his teacher gave him. The happiest time of the day came when he was called to the Med Bay because Ratchet was to release Prowl.
At least it was supposed to be a happy time. Jazz noticed right away how depressed Prowl was. It wasn't the first time he'd gotten depressed so Jazz made small talk like he always did, cracking jokes, doing what he normally did to pull Prowl out of his depression.
Nothing worked.
Prowl went to his quarters with Jazz in tow. There he finally broke down and cried as he lay on his recharge bed. He felt Jazz climb on the bed and wrap his arms around him.
"Here's your ball back," he sniffled.
"Keep it…until you're better."
"I'm not going to get better. I'm a glitch Jazz. My life is over. I'll never be an Autobot now."
"Ratchet can fix ya."
"No, he can't. I overheard him talking to Wheeljack. They can't figure out why my logic circuits crash or even how to fix it so that they don't freeze up."
"So you're not going to be an Autobot. You can still be a civilian that helps them."
"We were supposed to be officers…together. Remember, we promised we'd help each other out. Being an officer in the Autobot army is all I've ever wanted."
Jazz had nothing to say which only made Prowl cry even harder than before. It took some time but eventually Prowl's systems gave way and he fell into recharge in Jazz's arms. The entire time Jazz tried to think of a way to help Prowl. This was his best friend. He loved him like a brother. And he did recall the promise they made to each other.
Then a thought occurred to him. Carefully, he got up and left Prowl alone. Then he headed to the one bot on base he knew might be able to help.
"Jazz, it is late and way past your recharge. And you're in a restricted part of the base."
"I know, Optimus…Sir."
"Then I suggest you hurry along and get back to your room. I have important work to do."
"What I have to say is important too, Sir. Please."
Optimus gazed upon the troubled youngling. He had an idea of what this might be about having read Ratchet's report on the glitch in Prowl's CPU. A glitch that the youngling mech was going to have to live with his entire life.
"Very well," Optimus said, putting down the datapad and giving Jazz his undivided attentions. "I'm listening."
"It's Prowl, Sir. He was in his room crying his optics out earlier. He cried himself right into recharge. He's got this glitch and now thinks he can never be an officer or even an Autobot."
"That's rather ambitious of him. It is most difficult to become an officer in my ranks."
"We know, Sir. That's why we were going to do it together. You see Prowl's really smart and good at planning things. I'm good at being sneaky and getting into places unnoticed. We figured you could really use mechs like us…when we've matured."
"And now?"
"We made a promise to each other. I want to be an Autobot, Optimus Sir. But…I…I want Prowl to be one too. If he can't…Sir…I don't know what to do. It's going to kill him that he can't be an officer. And he'd make a good one too. I just know it. Please, Optimus, Sir, can you do anything to help?"
Optimus was touched by Jazz's spark wrenching concern for his friend. The poor little mech was nearly in tears.
"Ratchet, this is Optimus," he said, pressing the comlink button on his desk.
"What do you want now? It's late!"
"I need you to meet me at Prowl's quarters. I'll be there in a klick."
"Understood," the CMO replied sounding far less cranky.
Jazz's optics brightened as Optimus rose to his feet, making the big mech smile. He very rarely got to play the role of guardian with Prowl or Jazz. The two younglings were very self reliant, a little mischievous from time to time but nothing too out of hand, and were disciplined enough to attend their studies on time and do well. Still, this was something Optimus had been looking forward to since both little mechs arrived on the base.
"Thank you Optimus, Sir," Jazz smiled kindly up at the Autobot leader as they arrived at Prowl's quarters.
"I can only promise to do my best to help Prowl. Some of it is up to him."
Jazz sighed, shoulders sagging, "I think I understand."
"I arrived just in time," Ratchet said, coming out of Prowl's quarters. He leaned closer and whispered something to Optimus so that Jazz couldn't hear. But whatever it was made Optimus look very worried.
"Ratchet and I are going to go talk to Prowl alone, first, ok Jazz?"
Jazz nodded, biting his bottom lip component. Then watched helplessly as they went in and closed the door behind them.
Prowl lay curled up, not even acknowledging that he had visitors, even after he felt a heavy weight sit on the bed. Large hands then lifted him up and he recognized Optimus' armor as the leader held him close, almost like a sparkling.
"Ratchet told me you were thinking of jumping out your window," he spoke softly.
"I saw no other option," Prowl replied softly, the tears filling his optics once again. "I'm a glitch…I'm useless now."
Optimus sighed, heavily, giving Prowl a gentle squeeze for comfort.
"Prowl, do you understand the Autobot way?"
"To work as a team because as a team you're all stronger."
"That's right. But that is only part of it," Optimus said, the warmly smiled at Prowl as he lifted the young mech's face up so he could see his teary optics. "We Autobots do not shun you for your weakness. We stick together. Because as you said, in being together we are all stronger. When one of us falls, there is always someone there to help him or her back up. Always. And for the record, you are not a glitch Prowl. You and Jazz already demonstrate the qualities of an Autobot. And I have never thought of you as anything but young Autobots."
Prowl broke down, clinging to Optimus' chest armor. Prowl had been so devastated that he was willing to take his own life. And to hear the Autobot Commander tell him that he was already an Autobot came as such a tremendous relief.
"Ratchet…"
The CMO cleared his throat and moved over into Prowl's view.
"Optimus is right. And while I cannot fix the glitch in your CPU there are ways to help you cope with it. I see no reason why you cannot live a normal mech's life…and Autobot's life."
"Besides, you already have friends who will help look after you. Ratchet and I will help. And you know Jazz will help. He's the reason I'm here," Optimus said.
Prowl blinked in surprise.
"He's very worried about you. In fact, he's right outside the door waiting to see that you're ok."
"Really?" Prowl asked.
"I'll go get him," Ratchet smiled.
Prowl sniffled, wiping his optics. It was all so much his systems could barely handled it. But he vowed right there that no matter what he'd always be there for his friends…always.
"Can you put me down, Sir? Please."
"Certainly," Optimus smiled then gently set Prowl on his feet.
The young mech walked across the room to his friend, Jazz. Prowl said nothing but handed the ball to Jazz and embraced his friend. Jazz hugged him back. There was no need to say thank you and you're welcome. The two always seemed to understand one another. And by some unspoken bond they were and would always be there for one another.
