Part two of this odd fic...
Dec. 31st, 2008 06:12 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ante_luceWell, 2 am hit and again I give in to the bunny. This one took longer to write though...
Title: Burattinaio (part 2)
'Verse: Transformers. G1, 2007 and TFA.
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: Cussing.
It was inevitable, he supposed. The time would come where he’d have to choose between the one he cared so much about, and the greater good. He cradled the mech in his arms, unable to say anything as his processors whirled; spark fighting what his tactical programming stated was the only outcome that would be advantageous.
“Prowler.”
He glanced down in shock at the dim visor and the pained, weak smile. There was no way Jazz could have recognised him. ‘Prowl’ had died. He’d shed that form and taken on a new one, leaving a copy for the Autobots to find in the downed shuttle. It’d hurt to watch their reactions to the discovery, to know that he’d been part cause of their pain, but he had to leave them, and the time had come for the other mechs on that shuttle, no matter how much he wanted to deny it.
“Wish you told me outright you survived. For a while I kinda lost it, had a bit of a death-wish, as the humans say.”
“… I know. Just… how?”
“Prowler, I’m not stupid. Someone’s been looking out for me, been too many fragging coincidences, and I worked and lived with you too long not to pick up on your style of doing things. So I stopped. This wasn’t intentional, swear to Primus.”
His grip on Jazz tightened, and the mech’s air intakes sputtered briefly, his systems already starting to fail.
“S’alright Prowl. I didn’t tell anyone else. And, I’m kinda glad you’re here, so I can tell you something I should have told you a long time ago.”
“I love you.” The dim visor looked up once he choked the words out, and the Porsche’s weak little smile widened.
“Mech, I figured that out as well. Wasn’t hard once I realised who kept saving my aft. Love you too.”
“I’m sorry.”
“For what? This? You ain’t Primus. I just got in trouble one time too many. For not telling us? Yeah, was fragged about that for a while, but you must’ve got some big fancy plan in your CPU, and plenty of good reasons to lay low and work behind the scenes.”
“For this.” Prowl cupped Jazz’s cheek. The dying mech’s visor flickered, stabilised, then brightened in shock. A soft cry of denial, and the once SIC bowed his helm, stifling the urge to let Jazz forget again, take away the pain his actions had caused the saboteur.
“I am so sorry, Jazz.”
= = =
He didn’t know how long he sat there, staring unseeing at the grey chassis, now limp in his hold.
Actually, he did. But to think about it seemed to cheapen things. Boil it down to cold seconds and minutes and bare fact. And he’d come a long way from seeing everything simply and dispassionately, as things that happened and had to be factored into his calculations, like he had in the beginning.
He had Jazz to thank for a lot of that. And curse. But eventually, thanking usually won out.
Eventually.
For now he rose, gently laying the frame on the ground, and left the battlefield.
= = =
He went about his work, dutiful as always. Just because his spark wanted to go out, didn’t mean the rest of the multiverse had to suffer the same fate. And Primus had lost too many of the Thirteen for him to just up and quit.
And there were other Jazzes to watch over, though he took pains not to become attached.
Not that he succeeded.
Each was a facet of the first Jazz he met, an extension of the same spark. Each different, moulded according to circumstances in their respective dimensions. But all shared certain key attributes, and all called to him, like a flame to his metaphorical moth.
Then the next Jazz fell.
And Prowl couldn’t even be there for him when he died, torn in two on that universe’s Earth. To be there as a mech would have evoked suspicion. To take on an organic form, even a holomatter one, would have done the same.
If he were a more superstitious mech, he’d wonder if the human notion about the number thirteen had any truth to it. As it was, he just discarded the thought as irrational, even as he felt that he couldn’t do this much longer.
= = =
A third Jazz. The same, ubiquitous visor that all of them seemed to wear (he found a particular comfort in that bit of similarity, a modification so minor and inconsequential that it had to be a personal choice), the same love for music and new experiences, the same… style (and wouldn’t Jazz blow a circuit laughing at him if the saboteur ever heard him say that?).
He thanked Primus that this Jazz didn’t know him, and would only be in his life for a few cycles at most, soon to be on his way with Ultra Magnus and the rest of the Elite Guard, while he stayed on Earth with Prime (he would probably never rid himself of the habit of referring to his commander by his rank, though at least he’d so far managed not to do so out loud).
He heard his name being called, and turned to see the Jazz of this dimension approach. Schooling his features into a somewhat more open expression, he returned the greeting, and accepted the offer of a little training assistance.
In keeping with his background as a lesser skilled Cyber Ninja in this universe, he accepted. In keeping with his persona (not that it was much of a stretch, he found it easier to adopt personalities identical or at least similar to his real one. It helped him stay ‘in character’), he did so with the barest flicker of reluctance, as if finding the need for help distasteful.
They sparred, away from the prying optics of this dimension’s Bumblebee and his human friend, Sari. Then, Jazz said something that made him stall.
“Hey Prowler. Long time no see, huh. Love the visor.”
The mech then took advantage of his surprise to pin him to the ground, and when he didn’t respond, kissed him thoroughly, as if making up for several lifetimes of denied chances. Stunned, he could only stare up at the Cyber Ninja smirking at him.
“Yeah, don’t fry a logic circuit, mech. Primus knows, y’did that often enough before. Was it an affectation, or for real?”
He found his voice then, responding almost automatically. “The incidents were mostly real, but not the severity. The tactical programs I required for my task were processor intensive.”
“Mmm. And with you having to run them 24/7, guess dealing with illogical things just pushed them a little too far, huh.”
“A little. Jazz?”
The naked confusion and hope in his tone prompted the mech above him to dip down again for another kiss, one that Prowl responded to with more fervour this time. When they broke apart, Jazz wiggled to make himself more comfortable on the black and gold mech, and grinned at him.
“You got a nice boss.”
Prowl just stared at him.
“Yeah, I remember everything. Primus helped. He thought you needed a hand with the job he handed you, ‘specially with so many of the other Thirteen already gone. So, he got me fixed up to be the same as your lot, and let me tell you, merging all of the ‘me’s was CPU twisting. I started doing my bit in this ‘verse. And not too badly for my first gig, if I do say so myself.”
At his horrified look, Jazz quickly spoke again. “Hey, s’not so bad. So many things to see and experience, to learn. And now I have all the time in the multiverse to do it in. And…” The black and white mech traced a gentle fingertip over his face.
“Now I better understand what you’ve been going through all this while. Primus showed me everything, all the choices, all the decisions,” One forehead rested against another, as Jazz shuttered his optics and curled in closer. “and how much it all affected you.”
“Jazz, I’m sor-” The fingertip landed on his lips, prompting him to fall silent again.
“You already apologised. I forgive you. And I still love you. We both got forever now, and when I’m done being mad at you for what you did to my memories, I’ll be back to share that forever with you.”
A quiet sob escaped his vocaliser, and he pulled Jazz closer, burying his helm in the other’s shoulder plating. For his part, Jazz held him tight, murmuring softly into his audio. When he’d pulled himself together again, the black and white mech stood, offering him a hand up, which he took.
“Welp, time to head in, before Afthead Prime decides to send out a search party.”
“Jazz.”
“Hey, he is an afthead.”
“That is still no way to talk about a Prime.” The faint smile on his faceplates drew a laugh from Jazz.
“Hah. Looks like some things never change. C’mon, we gotta hurry.”
= = =
They parted on good terms, though the other bots in this dimension would probably never realise just how good.
//Seeya, Prowler.//
//Good bye, Jazz.// He couldn’t stop the wistful quality from creeping into his comm., and Jazz, picking up on it, teased him briefly.
//We got eternity, mech, you can be patient for a while, can’t you?//
//If I recall, you’re the impatient one.// Hiding his smile (wouldn’t want to scare Bumblebee now, would we?) Prowl sent back a short databurst, a memory file of their last (and also first) night together.
//Heh, well, if that isn’t an incentive to hurry back, I don’t know what is.//
//Exactly why I reminded you of it.//
//I get the message, Prowler. Now, don’t forget what we worked out for that ‘verse with me still in two pieces.//
//I won’t. We’ll get back to it once we’re done here.//
Jazz smiled at him one last time, and soon the Elite Guards’ ship was out of Earth’s space and on its way back to Cybertron. Prowl escaped his fellow Autobots, concealing himself in the large tree in the centre of his quarters.
‘Primus, thank you.’
A tender pulse answered him, carrying with it faint overtones of gentle amusement.
You’re welcome, child.
Title: Burattinaio (part 2)
'Verse: Transformers. G1, 2007 and TFA.
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: Cussing.
It was inevitable, he supposed. The time would come where he’d have to choose between the one he cared so much about, and the greater good. He cradled the mech in his arms, unable to say anything as his processors whirled; spark fighting what his tactical programming stated was the only outcome that would be advantageous.
“Prowler.”
He glanced down in shock at the dim visor and the pained, weak smile. There was no way Jazz could have recognised him. ‘Prowl’ had died. He’d shed that form and taken on a new one, leaving a copy for the Autobots to find in the downed shuttle. It’d hurt to watch their reactions to the discovery, to know that he’d been part cause of their pain, but he had to leave them, and the time had come for the other mechs on that shuttle, no matter how much he wanted to deny it.
“Wish you told me outright you survived. For a while I kinda lost it, had a bit of a death-wish, as the humans say.”
“… I know. Just… how?”
“Prowler, I’m not stupid. Someone’s been looking out for me, been too many fragging coincidences, and I worked and lived with you too long not to pick up on your style of doing things. So I stopped. This wasn’t intentional, swear to Primus.”
His grip on Jazz tightened, and the mech’s air intakes sputtered briefly, his systems already starting to fail.
“S’alright Prowl. I didn’t tell anyone else. And, I’m kinda glad you’re here, so I can tell you something I should have told you a long time ago.”
“I love you.” The dim visor looked up once he choked the words out, and the Porsche’s weak little smile widened.
“Mech, I figured that out as well. Wasn’t hard once I realised who kept saving my aft. Love you too.”
“I’m sorry.”
“For what? This? You ain’t Primus. I just got in trouble one time too many. For not telling us? Yeah, was fragged about that for a while, but you must’ve got some big fancy plan in your CPU, and plenty of good reasons to lay low and work behind the scenes.”
“For this.” Prowl cupped Jazz’s cheek. The dying mech’s visor flickered, stabilised, then brightened in shock. A soft cry of denial, and the once SIC bowed his helm, stifling the urge to let Jazz forget again, take away the pain his actions had caused the saboteur.
“I am so sorry, Jazz.”
= = =
He didn’t know how long he sat there, staring unseeing at the grey chassis, now limp in his hold.
Actually, he did. But to think about it seemed to cheapen things. Boil it down to cold seconds and minutes and bare fact. And he’d come a long way from seeing everything simply and dispassionately, as things that happened and had to be factored into his calculations, like he had in the beginning.
He had Jazz to thank for a lot of that. And curse. But eventually, thanking usually won out.
Eventually.
For now he rose, gently laying the frame on the ground, and left the battlefield.
= = =
He went about his work, dutiful as always. Just because his spark wanted to go out, didn’t mean the rest of the multiverse had to suffer the same fate. And Primus had lost too many of the Thirteen for him to just up and quit.
And there were other Jazzes to watch over, though he took pains not to become attached.
Not that he succeeded.
Each was a facet of the first Jazz he met, an extension of the same spark. Each different, moulded according to circumstances in their respective dimensions. But all shared certain key attributes, and all called to him, like a flame to his metaphorical moth.
Then the next Jazz fell.
And Prowl couldn’t even be there for him when he died, torn in two on that universe’s Earth. To be there as a mech would have evoked suspicion. To take on an organic form, even a holomatter one, would have done the same.
If he were a more superstitious mech, he’d wonder if the human notion about the number thirteen had any truth to it. As it was, he just discarded the thought as irrational, even as he felt that he couldn’t do this much longer.
= = =
A third Jazz. The same, ubiquitous visor that all of them seemed to wear (he found a particular comfort in that bit of similarity, a modification so minor and inconsequential that it had to be a personal choice), the same love for music and new experiences, the same… style (and wouldn’t Jazz blow a circuit laughing at him if the saboteur ever heard him say that?).
He thanked Primus that this Jazz didn’t know him, and would only be in his life for a few cycles at most, soon to be on his way with Ultra Magnus and the rest of the Elite Guard, while he stayed on Earth with Prime (he would probably never rid himself of the habit of referring to his commander by his rank, though at least he’d so far managed not to do so out loud).
He heard his name being called, and turned to see the Jazz of this dimension approach. Schooling his features into a somewhat more open expression, he returned the greeting, and accepted the offer of a little training assistance.
In keeping with his background as a lesser skilled Cyber Ninja in this universe, he accepted. In keeping with his persona (not that it was much of a stretch, he found it easier to adopt personalities identical or at least similar to his real one. It helped him stay ‘in character’), he did so with the barest flicker of reluctance, as if finding the need for help distasteful.
They sparred, away from the prying optics of this dimension’s Bumblebee and his human friend, Sari. Then, Jazz said something that made him stall.
“Hey Prowler. Long time no see, huh. Love the visor.”
The mech then took advantage of his surprise to pin him to the ground, and when he didn’t respond, kissed him thoroughly, as if making up for several lifetimes of denied chances. Stunned, he could only stare up at the Cyber Ninja smirking at him.
“Yeah, don’t fry a logic circuit, mech. Primus knows, y’did that often enough before. Was it an affectation, or for real?”
He found his voice then, responding almost automatically. “The incidents were mostly real, but not the severity. The tactical programs I required for my task were processor intensive.”
“Mmm. And with you having to run them 24/7, guess dealing with illogical things just pushed them a little too far, huh.”
“A little. Jazz?”
The naked confusion and hope in his tone prompted the mech above him to dip down again for another kiss, one that Prowl responded to with more fervour this time. When they broke apart, Jazz wiggled to make himself more comfortable on the black and gold mech, and grinned at him.
“You got a nice boss.”
Prowl just stared at him.
“Yeah, I remember everything. Primus helped. He thought you needed a hand with the job he handed you, ‘specially with so many of the other Thirteen already gone. So, he got me fixed up to be the same as your lot, and let me tell you, merging all of the ‘me’s was CPU twisting. I started doing my bit in this ‘verse. And not too badly for my first gig, if I do say so myself.”
At his horrified look, Jazz quickly spoke again. “Hey, s’not so bad. So many things to see and experience, to learn. And now I have all the time in the multiverse to do it in. And…” The black and white mech traced a gentle fingertip over his face.
“Now I better understand what you’ve been going through all this while. Primus showed me everything, all the choices, all the decisions,” One forehead rested against another, as Jazz shuttered his optics and curled in closer. “and how much it all affected you.”
“Jazz, I’m sor-” The fingertip landed on his lips, prompting him to fall silent again.
“You already apologised. I forgive you. And I still love you. We both got forever now, and when I’m done being mad at you for what you did to my memories, I’ll be back to share that forever with you.”
A quiet sob escaped his vocaliser, and he pulled Jazz closer, burying his helm in the other’s shoulder plating. For his part, Jazz held him tight, murmuring softly into his audio. When he’d pulled himself together again, the black and white mech stood, offering him a hand up, which he took.
“Welp, time to head in, before Afthead Prime decides to send out a search party.”
“Jazz.”
“Hey, he is an afthead.”
“That is still no way to talk about a Prime.” The faint smile on his faceplates drew a laugh from Jazz.
“Hah. Looks like some things never change. C’mon, we gotta hurry.”
= = =
They parted on good terms, though the other bots in this dimension would probably never realise just how good.
//Seeya, Prowler.//
//Good bye, Jazz.// He couldn’t stop the wistful quality from creeping into his comm., and Jazz, picking up on it, teased him briefly.
//We got eternity, mech, you can be patient for a while, can’t you?//
//If I recall, you’re the impatient one.// Hiding his smile (wouldn’t want to scare Bumblebee now, would we?) Prowl sent back a short databurst, a memory file of their last (and also first) night together.
//Heh, well, if that isn’t an incentive to hurry back, I don’t know what is.//
//Exactly why I reminded you of it.//
//I get the message, Prowler. Now, don’t forget what we worked out for that ‘verse with me still in two pieces.//
//I won’t. We’ll get back to it once we’re done here.//
Jazz smiled at him one last time, and soon the Elite Guards’ ship was out of Earth’s space and on its way back to Cybertron. Prowl escaped his fellow Autobots, concealing himself in the large tree in the centre of his quarters.
‘Primus, thank you.’
A tender pulse answered him, carrying with it faint overtones of gentle amusement.
You’re welcome, child.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
(no subject)
Date: 2008-12-31 02:22 am (UTC)Also? YAY for happy endings ♥!
(no subject)
Date: 2008-12-31 04:46 am (UTC)It's the happy ending bunny. It's scary persistent. I may never be able to write a true sad ending, ever.
(no subject)
Date: 2008-12-31 05:09 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2008-12-31 02:22 am (UTC)You have me so happy, I am crying tears of joy. This was a wonderful way to end a superb bunny. Thank you so much for posting and sharing it! XD
(no subject)
Date: 2008-12-31 05:05 am (UTC)*offers tissues*
(no subject)
Date: 2008-12-31 04:09 am (UTC)also, "afthead prime" was a phrase made of complete an utter WIN.
(no subject)
Date: 2008-12-31 05:10 am (UTC)*snickers* I couldn't resist. Sentinel was an aft in the show, even if he did have some reason to be.
(no subject)
Date: 2008-12-31 05:32 am (UTC)and yes, he was. it was just so perfect. i may have to borrow the line sometime for an animated fic of my own.
(no subject)
Date: 2008-12-31 05:34 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2008-12-31 05:36 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2008-12-31 05:27 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2008-12-31 05:33 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2008-12-31 05:55 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2008-12-31 06:10 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2008-12-31 06:18 am (UTC)Very nice work. Thank you for sharing!
(no subject)
Date: 2008-12-31 07:22 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2008-12-31 08:28 am (UTC)Happy New Year sweets, looking forward to what next year brings XD
(no subject)
Date: 2008-12-31 08:49 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2008-12-31 02:28 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2008-12-31 05:57 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2009-01-01 03:19 am (UTC)I have so much love for your interpretation of Jazz and Prowl.
So, um, what's the plan for the movie 'verse where Jazz is in two pieces, hm?
(no subject)
Date: 2009-01-01 04:36 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2009-01-01 05:17 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2009-01-01 09:18 pm (UTC)Eep?