Fandom: Transformers G1
Author: gatekat and starshield on LJ
Pairing: Jazz(Sirenis)/Prowl
Rating: PG-13
Codes: Slash
Summary:
Disclaimer: The authors are only playing with their own twisted muses. Transformers belong to Hasbro. Fandom-side, check the inspirations page (anhrefn-hyfryd .livejournal .com/22919 .html) We draw from a ton of amazing stories and authors you should read.
Notes: klik = 1 minute; breem = 8.3 minutes; joor = 1.2 hours; orn = day/32 joor; metacycle = 6 (5.9285) years; vorn = 83 years/14 metacycles
~text~ bond/hardline talk
::text:: comm chatter
All or Nothing 10: Dinner in Praxus
As was planned, the Lord, Lady and their other creations were seated at the intimate family dinning table before the youngest, Prowl, and his new lover, Lord Jazz of Protihex, arrive. The room is as tense since they'd heard of Lord Crisp Wing's deactivation in that crash and the feelings just as mixed. The youngest may be their least rebellious creation, but he does have a talent for creating turmoil without intending it.
When the pair entered, Jazz was behind Prowl, head turning just a bit to take in the unfamiliar room with apprehension flickering across his features at the sight of the entire family gathered in one place.
Without a twitch of warning Lord Springer stood and stalked towards them, the movement catching Jazz's attention and he hesitated, his steps faltering at the approach of the much larger and clearly angry mech. He took the hard cuff to the helm with good grace, even though it made him stumble two paces before he caught himself.
Prowl's scowl is enough to melt most mechs, but his target doesn't care. Springer knows his place and he knows he ranks Prowl and Jazz in every way.
"That is for not telling him you're Sirenis when he first mentioned it," Springer growled, his arm twitching, wanting to deliver a second blow that will not fall.
Jazz nodded in understanding, still not quite steady on his feet as he faces the angry triple-changer. At the table Lady Impact straightened, taking in the whole scene and was suddenly very focused on her large brother, her doorwings twitching minutely. As angry as they all were, there was a time and a place for violence, and it is not against a handicapped mech.
"Now sit," Springer growled and pointed to the table where two seats were open between Lord Crystal and his heir, Tracks.
Jazz gave Springer a wider distance than was probably necessary as he passed, leaning into Prowl slightly as they walk the rest of the way to the table. He only stopped to give a respectable bow to the ruling Lord and Lady. They nod acceptance and Prowl guided him to sit next to Lord Crystal while Prowl took the seat next to his more volatile eldest sibling to shield Jazz from any potential additional cuffs.
"While I disagree with the physical violence, the anger behind it is not unique to Springer," Lord Crystal spoke to his youngest creation's guest and lover. "While I understand the desire to keep a secret, given the affect your voice has at least Prowl and the physicians should have been told."
::I have already apologized to Prowl for keeping the fact that I am Sirenis from him. It was...wrong of me to do so. And not just to him but to all of you as well.:: The general comm carried all of the proper tone of apology, both in the wording as with what inflection could be conveyed through such a method of communication.
Springer was about to say something, but a glance from Impact silenced him.
"Why did you remain silent to them?" Whisper, the peacekeeper of the large family, spoke in the brief silence.
Jazz fidgeted for a moment before he caught himself, forcing himself to be still. The truth was not pretty, nor kind to anyone, and if anything perhaps proved him unworthy of the mech seated beside him.
But he was done with lies, and so when he answered Whisper he faced her, meeting her optics openly. ::I was selfish and scared.::
"Afraid of what?" Springer did ask this time, though he was audibly mollified by the admittance.
This time Jazz did cringe, and he forced himself to look at Springer only so he would not be looking at Prowl when he answered. ::That it wasn't real. That it was all talk and I would be forgotten once he returned home.::
"With what your voice does to me?" Prowl hissed, shocked beyond politeness. "With the tests, your own physician there? I am the one with a reputation to loose, shame to bring to my House and city."
Jazz quivered, knowing that he deserved all of this. He had explained to Prowl but he had not really explained. ::Why do you think I was afraid?:: He asked, pleading for understanding that he doubted he was going to receive.
Instead of anger, he was greeted with confusion all around.
It was Tracks who finally spoke. "That we'd bury it rather than deal with it."
"But if we were going to do that, you'd be in real danger," Springer scowled at Jazz. "You may have been dealt with by careful avoidance if we went that route, but Sirenis would go away."
Prowl's engine growled at the statement, but he didn't actually counter it. He knew the truth, even if it was rarely spoken of. If he hadn't been there, he would have suspected that Crisp Wing had suffered a similar fate, first generation Praxian noble or not.
Jazz looked at Prowl, a desperate request for a private comm sent despite the fact that they were surrounded by the mech's family. The words he needed to say were truth for Prowl, words that might still cause the mech to walk away from him.
It was opened, curiosity dominant on Prowl's end, along with distress that wasn't entirely about Jazz.
::I said I was being selfish and I was. I was fallin' in love with ya, but I didn't believe when ya said it was more than just a physical need. Not until just before ya left and then ... I came to tell ya the truth.::
There- it was out in the open. The fact that he had not trusted Prowl, not believed in the mech. What he had been afraid of, what he was still afraid, of was rejection from Prowl, not anything that his family might do to him.
Doorwings quivered, causing Prowl's family to pay sharp attention to the pair as Prowl processed the statement.
::Why?:: Prowl asked, a single word encompassing his own insecurities.
For a moment Jazz just stared at him, trying to figure out how to put into words everything he saw in the mech that he didn't want to give up. ::You're smart, funny, beautiful-:: And there was everything that Jazz couldn't find words for.
Passionate. There was more to Prowl than he let the outside world see. His family would not be so devoted to him otherwise. He was kind, forgiving- he had not held a youngling's mistake against her, twice, even though it was well within his right to have done so. Especially that second time when he'd actually been injured by her actions. Prowl had every right to dislike Serenity, yet he had thought to ask about her condition without prompting.
Yes, Prowl had his faults. But it was blatantly apparent that Jazz had his own. ::You asked me what I wanted in a sparkmate. I'm startin' to believe it's you.::
::Funny?:: Prowl locked onto the one that he hadn't heard before. He knew he was smart, smarter than was good for him on occasion, but it was a trait he recognized in himself. Beautiful ... it wasn't as easy, but he'd heard it enough, particularly from lovers, to accept the statement in context. But funny? Not even his close kin found him amusing. Not in any good ways at least.
::Yes.:: Jazz confirmed, sure of his assessment. Oh, it wasn't obvious humor, being dry and subtle in nature. But Jazz appreciated it for what it was. The quiet jabs and random comments delivered in an even tone and so easily missed. ::Humorous, witty, if ya prefer, but ya are.::
Prowl's doorwings flicked, twitching minutely, and the tension at the table broke.
::Thank you,.:: Prowl murmured, suddenly shy at the complement.
"If you are done speaking privately," Lord Crystal drew them back to where they were. While the private comm was rude at the table, given the subject matter he had tolerated it. "Prowl has publicly indicated his intent to court you. What do you say to his desire?"
::If he still wishes to pursue it,:: Jazz answered, opening the comm back up so everyone could hear, ::I would be honored.::
"I do," Prowl said firmly. "The courting is a time to learn, and we are learning. No one should expect it to be perfect." He cut himself off before he added 'especially with me'.
Jazz nodded in agreement and held out a hand. ::Forgive me?::
"Yes," Prowl placed his hand on Jazz's and closed his fingers lightly.
It was easy, for the most part, to pick out who was pleased and who thought this was a mistake. Fortunately those who could really do something about it, Prowl's creators and two most outspoken siblings, seemed to approve, or at least weren't displeased.
Jazz's slump was more than just a lessening of the fear that had been holding him upright, a fact that was not lost on Impact as she caught her creators optic and tilted her head subtly in the direction of the meal laid out before them.
She wanted fuel in the Protihexian, and as soon as the evening meal was over her bother's lover was going to be checked over and given a thorough talking to. They took the hint and sipped their energon, while the servants took the hint and made sure there was a selection of confections in front of Jazz.
"Refuel, before Impact decides subtlety isn't working," Prowl told his lover, an almost there smile on his lip plates. "She's not done being upset over your lack of refueling before recharge."
Jazz sighed but obediently went to work on the confections, feeling better after the first few. ::Seein' as I know better than to do what I did, if I promise to not do it again maybe she'll only be a little mad at me?:: He wasn't betting on it but he could always be hopeful.
"Unlikely," Prowl chuckled lightly.
"It only makes it worse," the medic-royal spoke up. "Now I know I have to watch you as close as I watch him."
Jazz's expression at the idea was comical, even if it was just one more thing to add to the list of things he had coming and deserved. Sideswipe would be delighted to know that he had a watchdog here in Praxus now.
"You didn't actually think you could escape a guardian just by leaving Protihex?" Prowl's tone was even, but his pale optics glittered with amusement. "You've only inherited mine as well as your own. Once Springer is done being grouchy about timing, he'll be watching too."
::Then at least you already know to watch out for Sideswipe and Sunstreaker.:: Jazz answered with equal humor as he polished off an entire cube of energon in an attempt to start appeasing Impact.
"Who do you think Springer and I spent three orns chatting up?" Impact chuckled. "And being chatted up by. They're quite the pair, really."
Jazz smiled easily, unconcerned since he was sure that Prowl's siblings had a good idea of what they were getting into where the twins were concerned. ::They are.::
"Now, the required creator questions," Lord Crystal smiled at the young royal that had captured his creation's spark in so many ways. "I trust you are a strong enough spark to carry or kindle?"
::So far as I know, and Callback has never indicated otherwise.:: Jazz answered attention respectfully shifting to Prowl's creators.
"Callback and First Aid did compare notes," Impact spoke up. "Their sparks are very compatible. As close to a perfect match as either has seen, though not the best recorded."
Lady Cloud hummed happily at that news, and her bonded looked pleased.
"Have either agreed on a likely solution?" Crystal focused on her.
Impact just shook her head. "Nothing beyond the obvious preliminary ideas of altering Prowl's spark chamber or Jazz's voice, both dangerous and neither guaranteed to work with what they know now."
"So more testing," Prowl vented.
Impact nodded sympathetically. "If we are going to find something to make this more manageable, little brother, I am afraid so. Though now that they can narrow the focus it might be easier to find a solution."
"Or harder, with a smaller sample size," he countered gloomily. "Much harder given I only want to control when, not stop it entirely."
"That good?" Pele and Pala, the second creation twins of Praxus asked in unison.
"Yes," Prowl nearly quivered from the memories.
Jazz twitched, proud and embarrassed at the same time. And hopeful that a compromise could be found that would make both of them happy.
Impact sighed, wanting to argue with her brother but knowing there was no way she was going to win an fight about this with him when he was in a mood like this and unwilling to destroy the peace that had settled over the table. Letting it drop she helped herself to an energon confection as the conversation moved on to other things.