A few vorns passed and soon enough the pair had grown into younglings still keeping their friendship a secret. Jazz was even better at giving the Praxian forces the slip as they tried numerous times and ways to capture him and somewhere along the line Jazz had even roped Prowl into helping him steal the odd cube of energon he needed to function.

Thankfully as they had grown so had the crystals so their hideaway was still usable to them. Prowl snuck in making sure no one saw him enter "Jazz you in?"

Jazz called back "Hey Prowler!"

Prowl was soon inside finding a comfortable place to sit next to Jazz. "So wha's on the agenda taday?"

Prowl feigned shock "My goodness are you saying your not running near empty? Who are you and where is Jazz?"

Jazz grinned "Funny Prowler! 'M not always starvin' jus' most of the time."

Prowl smiled back wondering what these strange new sensations were in his spark.

They had started just after he officially became classed as a youngling. Every time he was around Jazz his spark would pulse happily and whenever he wasn't his spark would ache. He couldn't explain it but the warmth he felt any time he was around Jazz made him never bother questioning it since he was so content, just for a few precious moments escaping the reality that someday he'd have to leave his dear friend to bond to Greystorm.

Greystorm wasn't quite a youngling yet and so to Prowl he was even more exasperating and annoying. Still for his Creator he did his best to please, even if he felt like he was dying inside missing Jazz.

"Since you love music Jazz I might have something for you."

Jazz lit up "Might Prowler or do?"

Prowl smirked "Why don't you find out?"

Taking the invitation Jazz started one of their many play fights they had started quite a while ago, Jazz was always mindful of Prowl's doorwings and in return Prowl took care not to knock Jazz's visor. Jazz easily pinned Prowl and mercilessly started to tickle his sensitive wires getting laughter out of the Praxian. "Say it!"

Prowl laughed harder "No!"

Jazz continued his tickle onslaught "Say uncle!"

Prowl shifted knocking Jazz forward so he was practically nose to nose with him.

They stilled staring at each other, Prowl's faceplates heated up and his spark pulsed faster, quietly he said "Uncle."

Jazz snapped out of it helping him sit up, still a bit jumpy Prowl pulled out a chip from subspace "I know how you love music and all so I got this chip as a present for you and I hope you like it because I wasn't sure what you'd like an-"

In his fumbling Prowl dropped the chip, he reached to pick it up when his hand touched another. Jazz looked at him again surprise still etched on his face Jazz slowly lifted up his visor showing Prowl golden optics looking directly into his own. Gently Jazz placed a hand cupping Prowl's cheek and slowly giving the other plenty of time to move away he placed a soft unsure kiss on Prowl's lips. As he went to pull away again Prowl responded to the kiss, when they pulled away they rested their foreheads against each other, blue optics meeting gold. Prowl's internal chronometer pinged reminding him of the time breaking the spell, he scrambled up "I'm sorry Jazz I have to go."

He paused looking at the golden optics watching him, giving into his impulse he kissed him again before running out to get home.

Prowl stared into his energon cube confusion swirling around his processor like a violent storm. Why had Jazz kissed him? More importantly why had he kissed him back? And why on earth did it fill him with joy when he did? He sighed wishing the answers would magically appear before him, then again maybe not as his logic processor would crash. "Prowl."

His head shot up looking into the concerned optics of his Creator "Is something wrong?"

Prowl dipped his helm again "No Creator. I am just thinking."

Pressing on Sharpshot continued "Thinking about what?"

Prowl sipped some his cube "About the future."

The older mech nodded "I see. Well you should not trouble yourself with such things. Your future is already planned out for you."

"That's what bothers me."

"Creator did you ever wonder who you would have chosen for a bonded if you had a choice?"

To his surprise Sharpshot laughed "Choose a bonded? Do not be silly Prowl you know every Praxian has their bonded picked for them."

Prowl pushed his half full cube away "I know Creator but if you could have chosen who would you have chosen?"

Sharpshot raised an optic at the his younglings seriousness "If you must know if I could have chosen I would have still picked your carrier Starstalker."

Prowl's whole frame sagged "Oh."

Sharpshot finished his energon "Prowl there is something I have been meaning to talk to you about. I do not think you should go to crystal park any more."

Prowl sat up straight "What? Why!"

His Creator raised an optic "Because Prowl every time you come home you are more miserable each orn."

Prowl's spark dropped "Only because I'm missing Jazz."

"Also Greystorm is nearly a youngling as well and it is your place to be attentive to your future bonded."

Prowl nodded "Creator what does it mean to be bonded?"

Sharpshot clasped his hands "Why do you ask?" Prowl shrugged, Sharpshot continued "Well you are nearing the age where you will soon be bonded... Being bonded to another is when you bear your sparks to each other in private after the ceremony that is hosted at the higher family's home. The sparks merge linking you to the other so that you are able to feel the other's emotions at all times and be able to communicate to each other across the bond, once the bond is made it is permanent even though I have had rumours of newer bonds being dissolved. Also newly bonded are nearly always in constant company of each other for solid decacycles afterwards."

Prowl's spark dropped further "Permanent..."

Sharpshot nodded "That is correct. Now I think it is time you got some recharge. Goodnight Prowl."

Prowl stood up "Goodnight Creator."

He slumped onto his recharge berth wallowing in misery, he was running out of time. He didn't want to bond to Greystorm, it was so unfair. He got up and walked out towards his balcony that gave him a good view crystal park. He overlooked the dark city for what seemed like hours wishing that things were different.