Chapter Text
“Section 4, subsection 3, article 4: A ranking officer should not fraternize with a subordinate. Prowl, what do you have to say for yourself?”
Prowl wasn’t sure what to say in all honesty. He had never broken a rule quite like this one. He wasn’t sure what his punishment would be or what Jazz’s punishment would be. Optimus and the rest of the head of the departments had only found out about Prowl and Jazz rendezvous a few weeks ago. They had been ordered to come into court, determine if any abuse of power had been performed or if favoritism had been displayed.
“Well Prowl?”
Prowl took a large intake before answering. Jazz either already had his meeting or he would soon after Prowls. Both of them had been pulled from active duty leaving Smokescreen and Tailbreaker in charge of Tactical and Spec Ops respectively. Prowl was curious to see how that was fairing, Prowl wasn’t sure if the Autobots could live without him or not. He knew for certain though that Jazz was much more of an asset to the Autobots.
“Prowl. Answer.” demanded Prime. Prowl wasn’t sure he had ever heard Prime use such a tone on him before.
“I have nothing to say to defend myself,” answered Prowl. The table of department heads gasped. He honestly didn’t have any way to defend himself nor did he believe he should defend himself. “We’ve been at war for millions of years,” added Prowl. “After millions of years 4-3-4 is obsolete, there is no good reason we should keep it.”
“Yes there is Prowl. That rule is there to ensure that none of the officers abuse their authority. You of all people should know this! You accuse me of abusing my authority at least once a week,” said Optimus as he leaned back in his chair, his digit tapping on the steel table.
“4-3-4 was also enacted with the assumption that there would be civilians to ‘play house’ with. Prime, that’s not the case any more. You, Jazz, Ratchet, and I are the top most ranked Autobots. In accordance with 4-3-4 you are allowed to fraternize with no one - Elita included. She’s an officer but she ranks lower the Ironhide.”
“We don't have to abide by 4-3-4 because we were dating before the war.”
“Except 4-3-4 doesn’t have any protections unless you two are bonded. Are you bonded Optimus Prime?”
“He ain't the one on trial here Prowl. You are,” stated Ironhide.
“It doesn’t matter if the rule is obsolete or not the rule is still in place and should be followed until the Autobot code committee can get together and review so long as you file a rule change request form with a valid reason and they’ll get back to you in 6 quartexes so you can make your case,” explained Ultra Magnus.
Prowl sighed annoyed by the sudden butt in of bureaucracy, even as a police officer Prowl found making or changing laws to be far too slow for a planet whose indigenous species changed as their most noticeable characteristic.
“When did you two start dating?” asked Optimus.
“A few weeks after I was rescued from CTI.”
“Did you ever receive special treatment as a result of your relationship with Jazz?”
“No, of course not” Prowl was a bit offended at the question. He had never received special treatment from Jazz while they were dating. Prowl is SIC, he out ranked Jazz, unless. “You think I got in as Second because of our relationship don't you.” Prowl didn’t phrase it as a question. It was a statement he already knew what was going through the Primes helm.
“Well it makes sense doesn’t it Prowl?” asked Optimus. “I mean Jazz has been with the Autobots much longer than you have. You were still a Captain when you were rescued from CTI, then you rise through the rank to General.” Optimus had started off calm but was slowly growing more agitated. Prowl had never seen him like this. “ I think that you’re lying. That you did receive special treatment from Jazz to get into your position and I also think you two were dating a lot longer than you said you were. I even think you two committed Bribery.”
The other department heads gasped. Prowls door wings shot up, his spark skipped a beat. “Those are serious allegations Optimus Prime. You realise that you are accusing me and Jazz of a felony .”
“I am aware these are serious allegations Prowl,” answered Prime. His tone harsh and unforgiving. “Are you aware?”
“I was a cop Optimus Prime, I know exactly what these kinds of charges mean.” Prowl crossed his arms over his chest plates, his door wings stiff posture signaling that he too meant business. “Are we going to bring these allegations to court? Have a jury of my peers? I don’t think we could find a jury that would be unbiased. I don’t even believe you all would be able to make an unbiased decision.”
The department heads all looked to the Prime, hoping he had an answer to Prowls legitimate point. They were 2 millions years into a civil war, everyone at this point knew everyone else. It would be hard if not impossible to find a truly unbiased jury and judge to preside over proceedings for such a misconduct. “While true we have options for you Prowl.”
“Options? What kind of options?”
“We’re looking to give you a deal. Like you said, its unlikely we will be able to find a jury that is unbiased. We have strong evidence that you’ve broken rule 4-3-4, and Bribed a superior officer in order to get into your position as SIC. Our deal to you is that you will not be dishonorably discharged if you step down as SIC, you will retain your position as head of Tactical, you will spend a night in the brig, and you will need to break things off with Jazz.”
Prowl was quiet for a while. There was a lot that had been said, he didn’t know what kind of evidence they had against him, he wasn’t sure how credible it was and he wasn’t sure he wanted to give up on him and Jazz. He was fine with being demoted to head of tactical rather than SIC & head of tactical. The two jobs were a nightmare to be run side to side with one another. Prowl was more than happy to give it up. “I want to speak with Jazz.”
“No. You need to make a decision Prowl.”
“I have a right to counsel Prime. I want to speak with Jazz, now.” He was demanding he wasn’t about to be bamboozled out of his position. He wanted to talk to Jazz, get his input on the situation. Prowl was well aware they needed Jazz a lot more than they needed Prowl. He wasn’t exactly expendable but they could afford to piss Prowl off.
Optimus looked to his fellow department heads. “Prowl, he’s already agreed to his terms in exchange for no dishonorable discharge, he’s agreed to terminate the relationship already. He will be keeping his position as TIC and Spec ops commander.”
Prowl was surprised to hear that Jazz was willing to sell out their relationship like that. But if it was what he wanted then who was Prowl to argue?
“I accept your proposal. My resignation as SIC is effective immediately.”
“Ironhide you will take Prowl to the Brig as he agreed,” ordered Optimus.
The large red van placed a firm hand on the black and white sports cars shoulder. Leading out of the room and to the brig. “Sorry Prowl.”
“Nothing to be sorry for,” answered Prowl. “I got myself into this mess and I should have known better. For the record though, I was never privy to any special treatment from Jazz when he out ranked me. We kept it clean. He had his second deal with me and I had my second deal with him. We stayed out of each other's way professionally.”
“Prowl-”
“I know Jazz nominated you for SIC when it came time, then after you denied Magnus was nominated, I don’t know who nominated me but I know for a fact it wasn’t Jazz.”
FInally they walked into the brig, Ironhide opening the cell before Prowl walked in, closing it and locking the tactician in. “Sorry Prowl. Again. Orders are orders.”
Prowl turned around in the cell and his door wings hung lower than they normally were. “Ironhide can I ask a favor? Ex-cop to ex-cop?” Prowl saw the red mech nod. “I need to speak with Jazz it’s important. Tell him Praxis. He’ll know what it means.”
Prowl watched as Ironhide walked away. He hoped that he would get to talk to Jazz sooner rather than later. They needed to talk - no matter what Optimus Prime and the others wanted out of him they had a complication that needed to me taken care of. He had hoped the comm blocking systems in the brig would have been down seeing as Prowl was the only one in there, but no. THis was supposed to be a punishment. He wasn’t allowed to chat with the few friends he had.
It would be a few moments before Jazz would come down to talk to him. He paced for a while, finally deciding on sitting on the berth. Then laying down, his hand rested over his abdominal plates and his door wings flat against the surface of the berth. His other hand running lightly over his abdominal plates. He wasn’t even sure if Jazz would be able to get into see him. He might have been sent on a mission immediately after his hearing.
Eventually moments turned into hours and hours turned into a day, Prowl woke to the sound of the cell bars opening, Jazz hadn’t come to visit him. Jazz hadn’t been by to talk. “First shift has started, sir.”
Prowl nodded and got up off the berth and out of the cell. GUess he’d have to wait for his break to try and catch Jazz. His frame was sore, the brig berths weren’t made for comfort and that was intentional but he might have to talk to ratchet about getting him some pain killers. But again it would have to wait for Prowl to be able to talk to Jazz. The complication was more important that Prowls aching frame.
THe morning went far too slow for Prowls liking. He couldn’t concentrate, not for long anyway. He had resigned as Second in command and a new one needed to be appointed, he had assumed that the voting for that had already begun, leaving out Jazz and Prowls votes as a punishment. There was another department head meeting at the end of the week. Jazz and Prowl had been on the forwarding list. Prowl tapped his digits against the desk in rhythm to a tune only Prowl could hear, some polyhexian melody Jazz had hummed at one point or another. FInally Prowl gathered up the courage to write something to get Jazz’s attention.
To: Jazz.
Subject: Code - Praxis
Jazz, we need to talk immediately. I know what we agreed to, but there is a complication in breaking things off. The next chance we get we have to talk privately.
Prowl hoped that some form of communication would work in getting Jazz’s attention. This issue was only going to get bigger over time, and depending on what they wanted to do they were in a time crunch.
He sighed letting some of the anxiety release from his frame before it would all pile back up. He tried to continue working but still couldn’t focus, the urgency of speaking to Jazz far too important than approving or denying tactical plans for different missions.
Eventually the day ended, it seemed like Prowl had been working for eons before his shift ended and he was walking to the rec room then to his own room. He wasn’t sure why he picked up a cube of energon the smell made him sick, he needed fuel but knew that as soon as he was able to he’s just purge it. His small quarters held very few furnishings. A desk, a bed, wash racks, a book shelf. He sat the cube down at the desk and grabbed a book only just sitting down when a knock sounded at his door.
He sat up on the bed his door wings fluttering a little, nervous almost that it would be Jazz on the side of the door. “Come in!”
The door slid open revealing the mech on the other side. Jazz. “Hey Prowl. You know we can’t-”
“I know but Jazz this is important, we have to figure out what we want to do.”
“Prowl its already been decided for us-”
“No Jazz-”
“Prowl we can’t.”
“I’m carrying.”
Jazz’s spark stopped in its casing for several seconds. He had to have heard wrong. “What?”
“I’m carrying. My Buffer must have malfunctioned.”
The blue and white mech walked to the berth he was familiar with. He sat down putting his head in his hands. Letting the information Prowl had just revealed wander into his frame. “So what should we do? What do you want to do?”
“I don’t know,” answered Prowl. “It seems wrong to abort, with our numbers so low. But it seems wrong to keep it too with a war going.”
“Maybe the war won't get too bad? We can send you back to Praxis? YOu can have the sparkling?”
“What about you? Would you go with me?” asked Prowl.
Jazz sighed. They had just has a huge misconduct hearing. “I-I can’t Prowl. I’m the best operative that we’ve got. I can’t leave. Look let's wait on this until after the officers meeting, we’ll decide what to do then?”
Prowl looked to Jazz, this was a lot that they had to decide on. Where their relationship would really go from here what would happen if they stayed with the Autobots, would this change the plea bargain they had taken? Would Prowl have to step down completely? There was a lot of things up in the air.
“Prowler?”
“Yeah. Lets wait until the officers meeting. But- uh. I’m going to see Ratchet, we can talk to him about our options.”
“Yeah Prowler I want to be there,” stated Jazz he pressed a kiss to the side of Prowls helm. “I still love you. You know that right?”
“Yeah Jazz I know,” replied Prowl. “Tomorrow medbay mid shift.”
“I’ll be there,” promised Jazz.
Prowl watched as Jazz left his quarters. Leaving for his own room. Prowl laid back on the berth and fell into a light recharge.
***
Mid second shift had come far too slowly. Prowl sat in the medical bay waiting room, Jazz standing next to him leaning against a bulkhead.
“Prowl?” asked Ratchet standing at the waiting room. Prowl stood and walked toward Ratchet Jazz walking with him. “Jazz?”
“You can make fun of me later, we need to talk,” stated Prowl. “ With Jazz.”
Ratchet lead the two into a private exam room. “So… Whats wrong? It’s got to be bad if you’re here with out me hounding you about it.”
“I’m carrying.”
Ratchet was silent for a good portion of time. “Is this why you asked to speak with Jazz in your meeting?” Prowl only nodded as Ratchet dug through the drawer of instruments, pulling on out. “Well I guess lets see what we have going on with you then we can talk about your options.”
Ratchet put the instrument to work and attached it to a portable screen. After a few minutes of Ratchet attempting to get a good picture he finally put the instrument away. “Well thats a sparkling alright. DO you guys know what you want to do? Do you want me to list your options?”
“What are our options if we keep it?” asked Prowl.
“Prowl you’d be placed on medical leave, possibly be medically discharged, re-labeled as a civillian here on Jazz’s request, if you two decide to stay together. You can be medically discharged and live your life back in Praxis have the sparkling, raise it or adopt it out. If you don’t wish to keep it we can terminate the gestation. Continue as you were in a way.” Ratchet went quiet once more, letting his words sink in.
Prowl glanced to Jazz both looking clueless as to what they wanted to do. “I’ll leave you two to discuss things over,” offered Ratchet. “Jazz, come get me when you’ve both made a decision.”
With that the two watched as Ratchet left for the two of them to decide on what they wanted to do.
Prowl sits up on the med berth, looking at Jazz. “I kind of want to keep it,” admitted Prowl.
“You’re sure?” asked Jazz. “You’re ready to give up your career in the Autobots for this?”
“Jazz, my career in the Autobots is already over. I’ve been demoted, no ones going to trust me again. The Autobots need you. Do you want to be apart of the sparklings life?”
“Of course I do Prowler, but this base - this war its not a place to raise a sparkling.”
“It can be, I won't be a soldier anymore, you heard Ratchet. I’ll be a civilian here by your family request. After that I’ll just be a stay-at-home creator.”
“You’d be safe in Praxis.”
“Would we ever see you?”
“Every chance at leave I get I’d come visit you. I’ll be there for the sparklings emergence I promise.”
“Okay.” Prowl rubbed the area where they sparkling was currently developing. “I’ll go to Praxis then.”
“I’ll go get Ratchet then,” stated Jazz.