Prowl's focus was on the datapad in his hands as he made his way back to his office from the medbay. It detailed the rather disappointing reports that he had just witnessed first hand of the progress (or lack thereof) that Ratchet and Wheeljack had made on their synthetic energon. At least Ratchet was there to attend to their immediate first aid when Whelljack's attempt had blown up in his face yet again.
Needless to say, Prowl's mind was unaware of his surroundings as he finally made it back to his office. And when the door didn't immediately close behind him, jamming as though an invisible foot had wedged it open, he dismissed at yet another result of Jazz's recent tampering with his door.
That was until he sat down behind his desk only for Mirage to materialise on the seat opposite him.
Prowl's battle computer reacted automatically, pulling a gun from the drawer hidden beneath his desk and aiming it directly at the spy's face.
Mirage held his hands up in the universal sign of surrender.
"I'm not here to hurt you. I'm here to talk."
"Then speak." Prowl stated, giving him a chance to explain before he called Red Alert to come down here with the full force of their security team. He'd had very little interaction with Mirage since he had become head of tactics but from what he did know about the spy, he was inclined to agree with his battle computer's assessment that this was most likely an assassination attempt. On the other hand, thanks to his previous line of work, he had also learnt that it would be for the benefit of everyone involved to let Mirage explain himself first before shooting him in the face.
"I know you've read my file. So you know that I know what it's like to have everyone hate you." Mirage stated in that air of aristocracy that hadn't gone away even after all those years under Autobot command.
"I do not need friends." Prowl told him, keeping his hand steady.
Mirage scoffed.
"You can tell me that you don't need any friends. And that might be true. You might not need friends. That doesn't mean you can't want them. And that having them would make your life better."
Mirage leaned over the desk, seemingly unbothered that the barrel of the gun was now pressed against his forehead.
"Because when everybody else hated me due my invisibility or because I used to be Starscream's next door neighbour or because half the time I struggle to see the point in this godforsaken war, Jazz offered to be my friend. And now he's the best friend I've ever had. But more then that, he's the one of the greatest people I've ever met. Who always sees the good in people. Even in arseholes like you. So if you don't want to be his friend then fine, be an idiot. However that doesn't mean that you have the right to treat him like shit."
"I should report you." The list for possible offences including breaking and entering, threat and disrespect of a senior officer would outweigh what the spy had amassed in his entire career.
"Report who?" Mirage smiled before disappearing in front of his very own eyes. A moment later the door opened and shut despite no one visible being there.
Satisfied that the potential threat was now gone, Prowl finally put the gun away. Although that didn't mean that he wasn't still unsettled.
Whilst he did not appreciate Mirage barging into his office without an appointment, he could not deny that some of the spy's words had left him feelings as though he had been the one to be shot in the face.
Prowl had never been good at making friends. He had tried back in his days as an enforcer but his fellow officers hadn't been interested. Prowl knew that they hadn't appreciated how he often showed them up by actually doing his job and that they always found him to be odd for reasons that none of them could fully put into words. As the years had gone by, Prowl had told himself that he was glad that he hadn't made friends with the others as he eventually learnt how lazy or blatantly corrupt they were. Plus it gave him more time to focus solving cases and actually helping his community. Even if sometimes he would go home to his empty apartment after finishing his paperwork to realise that he hadn't spoken to someone all day.
Without giving his built in computer the time to talk himself out of it, Prowl marched himself out of his office, along the command corridor and knocked on Jazz's door.
The spy opened it a moment later, an expectant look on his face.
"Listen before you put me out of my misery I swear I am almost finished with my reports, just give me another hour and I'll-"
"I am not here to listen to your excuses. I am here to apologise for breaking your afghan electro base."
A look of surprise flashed across Jazz's face and Prowl couldn't help the sharp spike of satisfaction.
"Oh! Well thanks mech! I appreciate that." Jazz leant against the doorway, folding his arms over his large chassis and a neutral smile now covering his former surprise. "Although I'm guessing that's not the only reason you're down here huh?"
"No." Prowl stated before taking in a deep breathe. "I joined the Autobots to protect those who cannot protect themselves. I did not join up to mess around or make friends. I prefer to keep my personal life and my work life separate. Therefore I am willing to put my personal grievances about you aside so that we can work together for greater good of the Autobot causes if you are."
He watched as the corner of Jazz's mouth twitched into something softer.
"I am." Jazz unfolded his arms to rub the back of his neck. "And listen I'm sorry too. I may have come on a little strong. From now on I promise I'll back off. So are we cool?"
Jazz held out one hand in a fist.
"Yes. We are... cool." Prowl replied, awkwardly bumping the fist back.
Jazz closed the door with a smile almost as bright as his visor, leaving Prowl alone to his thoughts in the corridor.
What he had said to the spy was true. He valued the success of the Autobots above all else and their feud would only contribute negatively to that.
However, by having a working relationship with Jazz, he would be able keep an optic on him.
Because under all that charm and curves Prowl was possibly one of the few mechs on base that knew how dangerous he could be.
He had underestimated Jazz before.
For the safety of every mech in the Autobot army, he would not do so again.
A/N: Yeah sorry still dragging that slow burn out but at least they're not actively fighting each other anymore and both apologised! Xxxxxx