Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Prowl had been brought online in a batch of mecha built to serve the Temple and had spent his entire life there. Prowl was a quiet, attentive, trusted mech who had been a lay monk for the past vorn. He rose early every morning, cleaned and prepared the chapel, and spent the day in meditation and prayer unless otherwise needed.

He was dutiful, meticulous, and very, very bored.

Prowl had little spare time, but what he did have he spent either in the gardens or the temple library. The gardens were separated from the highway only by a strip of bare metal and a high wall that muted their sound. Prowl liked to work near the wall, where he could listen to the mecha driving by and wonder what life would be like outside these walls.

One day, the word went through the Temple that the Prime would be their guest for five cycles, observing services and visiting the shrine to Adaptus that the Temple was built around. Prowl was given the task of preparing the shrine in advance of the Prime's visit, and while he knew it was an honour, all he could think was that it was more cleaning.

But, Prowl did as he'd been told and cleaned. He stripped the hangings from the walls and sent them to be cleaned and repaired if necessary. He programmed cleaning drones to wash the walls and floors, and he polished anything delicate himself. Prowl was left alone for this task because the shrine room was not so big it needed more than one mech to clean it. So he was surprised when he entered the morning before the Prime's visit and saw another mech in there. More than that, it was a mech he didn't know, although they wore the emblem of the Primal Vanguard.

"Don't mind me," the mech said, flashing Prowl a smile and transmitting his RFID: Jazz of Staniz, he/him, Primal Vanguard. "Just checking it out. Hey, you know if the door there is the only way in and out of this place?"

"Yes, it is," Prowl said, reflexively returning the RFID burst so that Jazz knew his information as well. "There are chambers on the remaining three sides, and there is no room for a passageway between them."

"Thanks, mech." Jazz looked at him consideringly. "Prowl, huh. Didn't take you any time at all to work out what I was asking, did it? You always figure things out that quick?"

"Yes."

"And they got you cleaning rooms for 'em?"

"It's an honour to serve the inner sanctum and the Temple," Prowl recited. "All higher positions must be worked for."

Jazz nodded. "Okay, that part's fair. Everyone drives the same road here, huh? Too bad it sounds like it's one lane. Ever find it kinda restrictive?"

"Dissatisfaction is merely a minor trial to be overcome," Prowl said though he felt compelled to add, "that's what the abbot says."

"D'you always do what the abbot says?" Jazz asked, sauntering a little closer to Prowl. Prowl knew he was being questioned, but he also knew he had nothing to hide. Besides, a quiet part of his mind did not object to the handsome mech coming closer.

"So far, the abbot has given me no reason to disobey. And I've been promised more intellectually stimulating work in time. I can be patient."

"Yeah, I know. Read up on all of the monks here, including you, and if you don't mind me saying – I think they're taking advantage of your patience. You really don't think this is a waste of time for a cleric?"

"If you read up on me," Prowl countered, "you know I'm not a cleric but a lay brother. I was created for the Temple, have taken many of the vows, but I've never taken holy orders." Prowl didn't like to be rude, but he was busy and had tasks to finish. "If there is any information I can provide, I'm afraid we'll have to meet later. I must finish preparing the shrine."

"Sure thing, mech. Got plenty of other people I gotta talk to." Jazz flashed him a smile. "See you around, though."

Prowl was sure he would and, while his work was as meticulous as always, he could not quite get Jazz out of his mind.

After evening prayers, even though it was getting late, Prowl slipped away to the gardens. The highway was quiet, but Prowl wasn't interested in listening to the outside world for once. He wanted to calm his thoughts. He'd almost succeeded when he came across Jazz again. The other mech was examining a statue of Autonomous Maximus.

"Hey there, Prowl."

"Forgive me," Prowl said with a polite bow of his head. "I didn't mean to disturb you."

"It's no problem," Jazz said. "I'd say something about it' never being a problem to be interrupted by a handsome mech, but you've got rules against flirtation and stuff. I mean, probably."

"Carnal – " Prowl stopped himself and answered simply, "yes, it's forbidden."

Jazz apparently could not resist flirtation enough not to say, "too bad. But, if you can't, you can't. How about you tell me about this statue, then? Haven't seen Autonomous portrayed this way very often."

Prowl was not sure if he were sorry Jazz would not flirt with him or not. It would be strange to be sorry since Jazz was only respecting the rules that governed Prowl's life. But, it was not the first time Prowl thought that perhaps bending the rules might be a harmless thing.

Prowl gave Jazz the background on the statue, commissioned by a long-forgotten sect, and then walked with him through the gardens. The Temple grew crystals to carve for votive holders and other decorative items and enjoy themselves. Some were ground up and used as energon additives or occasionally sent or traded to other Temples. Prowl had worked in the gardens when he was younger, and he could tell Jazz about their properties. They stayed out late enough that the chimes signalling it was time to retire for the night sounded.

"Guess that means we're done for now, huh?" Jazz said, sounding a little regretful.

"I'm afraid so." Prowl regretted it as well, but it would be noticed if he wasn't in his dormitory within the breem. "I realize you'll be busy with the Prime's visit tomorrow, but perhaps we'll see each other again before you leave?"

Jazz smiled. "If you want it? I'll make sure of it."

The Prime's entourage meant extra work for the whole Temple, especially the clerics, the monks who had taken holy orders. Prowl had taken on some of their tasks, and he only had time to finish some of them after dinner had finished. Evening fuel had also run late as there were more to fuel today. That number had included Jazz, and Prowl had found himself distracted by the other mech's presence. He kept sneaking glances at Jazz, and more than once found Jazz looking back at him.

They met by the statue of Autonomous Maximus again. Prowl thought Jazz looked a little tired, but he smiled at Prowl anyway.

"Hey, mech," Jazz said. "Figured you'd come out here. Good to see you again. Anything else you want to show me in the garden tonight?"

"It's good to see you, too," Prowl said, smiling back. "And, yes. There is an older building – a former chapel – that has been deconsecrated. It's used for storage these days, and while the fittings are largely gone, the building itself is intact. I thought since you seemed interested in history…."

"Yeah, and I haven't actually seen those. Some of my staff checked it out. Show the way. Any idea how old the building is?"

"I believe it dates back to the Second Age…."

Prowl told Jazz some of the history of the building as they walked. Many of the records had been lost or destroyed since the building had been deconsecrated, but enough remained. Prowl had spent an entire winter's worth of off-hours researching it several stellar cycles ago, gleaning everything he could. Jazz was an attentive audience, and Prowl couldn't remember the last time someone had paid so much attention to his interests.

"Can we go inside?" Jazz asked once they'd circled the exteriors. The pillars and windows were still intact, although the carvings were somewhat worn by acid rain. Maintenance was not always a priority with the lesser buildings.

"Yes." Prowl had access to the building, and Jazz, as one of the Prime's agents, was permitted access to the whole Temple. He unlocked a side door and led the mech inside. "It can be difficult to see behind the shelving, but the arches and pillars inside are still intact, and the dais for the altar. The altar itself was removed and is one of the interior chapels."

"This is still pretty cool," Jazz said appreciatively, wandering around. "Why'd they stop using it?"

"The monastery grew," Prowl explained, "and the chapel became too small. Even the current sanctuary has been expanded over the vorn."

"We've got a lot of places like this back home, too. People outgrew them, or times changed, and they got converted into something else."

"Home?"

"Iacon." Jazz sat on the steps that had once led up to the dais that held the altar. "Want to hear about it?"

"Yes, I would." Prowl had read about Iacon, and watched vids, but he'd never spoken extensively to someone who lived there. He joined Jazz on the steps.

Jazz told him about Iacon, not just the major landmarks and points of interest that were well-known across the planet but things only a resident would really know. He told Prowl about what it was like to live in Iacon and live outside the Temple. Prowl was fascinated, and not just by the stories Jazz told. Jazz was animated when he talked, and attentive, and – well, sitting quite close. Prowl knew he should have put distance between them. He didn't. He should have cared more about how late it was getting, but the nighttime bells seemed far away. Prowl knew about things like nightclubs, cafés, and galleries, had even made the very occasional trip into Petrex and seen the latter two from the outside. If Petrex had anything like nightlife, it had not been anywhere Prowl would have seen it. He certainly wouldn't have been permitted to go in. But Jazz's stories brought them to life for him so that he could practically see the crowds and the lights, and he could imagine the sounds.

"You enjoy living there, don't you?" Prowl said.

"Oh, yeah. I was brought online in Staniz, but I got outta there as soon as I could. Didn't like the way things worked there."

Prowl nodded and, for reasons he didn't understand, said, "I've sometimes wondered what it would be like to live outside the Temple."

"Just to visit, or to actually leave?"

"Sometimes I think about visiting. Sometimes I think about leaving, but – what would I do, outside?"

"What would you want to do?" Jazz asked.

"I don't know."

"It sounds like a tough one," Jazz said with a nod, and Prowl started slightly when he felt the mech's hand brush his own. "Gonna be forward here, considering we've only known each other for a couple of days, but if you do leave, I'll help you get settled."

Prowl could leave. He could be released from his vows. Not a simple process but not as complex as it would be if he were a full-fledged cleric. But the Temple was the only thing he'd ever known. Still, as a thought exercise, it did no harm.

"In Iacon?" Prowl asked.

"Wherever you wanted." Jazz smiled. "Sure would like it if it was Iacon, though."

Jazz's hand slid over Prowl's, and Prowl couldn't help taking it, leaning in a little closer.

Jazz didn't move, but he didn't pull back either. "Not that I'm not picking up what you're putting down, Prowl, but – I thought there were rules about that sort of thing?"

"I – " Prowl drew back, though only a little. "There are, yes."

"I want to," Jazz said, looking into Prowl's optics. "But I don't want you to do something you'll regret."

It didn't escape Prowl's attention that Jazz didn't seem to be terribly worried about breaking the rules. Not entirely, but he was more focused on the first sentence.

"I want to kiss you, Jazz," Prowl said, and it felt strange but not wrong to say it. "I think I will regret it if I don't."

Jazz optics darkened a little. "I know I will."

Prowl shut his optics off and managed not to startle when Jazz kissed him. The other mech's mouth was warm, gentle. Prowl kissed him back carefully, worried in the back of his mind that Jazz would find him clumsy. If he did, Jazz didn't let it show, lingering in the kiss, cupping the back of Prowl's helm in his hand.

"Yeah," Jazz said when they parted. "Definitely not going to regret that."

"Neither will I," Prowl said, very conscious of Jazz's nearness and the warmth of the mech's hand in his.

"This wasn't what I was looking for when I asked you if we could look inside the building."

Prowl frowned, puzzled. "Why would it have been?"

"Making up a reason to get someone into a secluded location so you can get physical is pretty common," Jazz explained.

"I wouldn't think you would need to make up reasons to get someone alone so you can get physical," Prowl said, and Jazz smiled.

"Well, pretty often, the other person knows what you mean, so it's just for fun."

"I see. I've not had an opportunity to learn such things."

"I'd teach you more, but," Jazz glanced in the direction of the Temple, "pretty sure the bedtime bells are going to sound soon. I don't know when I'll get to see you next. Tomorrow's supposed to be pretty busy, Prime's going into town for some stuff, and I'm going with him. Might run pretty late."

Prowl nodded; he was not ranked highly enough to have been given the Prime's itinerary, but there was no rule against harmless gossip. Things got around.  "I know. You are here for work."

"Well, yeah, but it's definitely been more fun than I expected." The evening bell sounded, and they reluctantly stood up. "Sure didn't have enough time this evening."

"No," Prowl agreed, still holding Jazz's hand as they walked to the door. "Will you kiss me again before we leave? In case we don't see each other tomorrow."

"I'd kiss you any time you asked," Jazz said quietly.

Jazz kissed him again, and they walked back to the Temple in easy silence. Prowl had to let go of Jazz's hand, but he could feel the ghost of the mech's touch until he fell asleep.

Prowl didn't see Jazz for most of the following day, or the next, apart from catching each other's optics across a room. Prowl couldn't stop thinking about Jazz, their kisses, or about what else the mech could show him. Prowl still performed his tasks and attended prayers and services but found it all even more boring than before. He was not under any illusions that Jazz would take him to Iacon or that he could walk away from his life. It was most probable that these few cycles would be their only  time together unless the Prime should visit again. Prowl tried not to think about that since it was irrational to feel a sense of loss over the departure of someone he'd known less than a deca-cycle. But, he wanted to learn more about Jazz and kiss him again. More than kiss, perhaps, although Prowl was a little hazy on what exactly he wanted.

The fourth day of the Prime's visit turned into one of those days where every chore was bogged down by minor difficulties, and he finished everything late. He'd also agreed to look after extra duties in the Temple library and the only time he was finally able to carve out for that was after evening fuel. Jazz would look for him in the garden, but would he think to look anywhere else? No matter: Prowl might be bored, but he was still dutiful. He couldn't seek Jazz out until he'd finished all his tasks.

At this joor, the library was largely empty, though it didn't matter because Prowl was in one of the storerooms, not the main hall. Prowl had been asked to sort through some crates of books, scrolls, and datapads that had been delivered recently. It was hardly an arduous task, and it gave Prowl plenty of time to think. He did not know what he would do if he managed to leave the Temple, but he pictured the rest of his life in it, stretching out like this, cycle after cycle, vorn after vorn. Prowl would eventually move into a different role, but only when another monk made space available by changing roles or going offline. Would there be more opportunities elsewhere? It seemed as if there could hardly be fewer.

Prowl was almost done when he heard a soft knock on the doorframe, and he turned to see Jazz. Prowl broke out into a smile and set down the book he had in his hands – carefully, in its allotted place.

"Jazz," Prowl said, taking two steps toward the mech, then suddenly feeling awkward. "Hello."

"Hey, Prowler," Jazz said, respectfully keeping his voice down even though the library was empty. "Sorry to bug you while you're working."

"I'm almost done," Prowl told him. "We can talk while I finish?" Although he was quite sure he'd like to do more than just talk to Jazz. But, later.

"Sure," Jazz said agreeably, coming further in but leaving the door open. "Been at this a while?"

"One point two joors."

"Efficient," Jazz praised. "Mind if I look at stuff?"

"So long as you're careful."

"'Course." Jazz examined the items on the tables, where Prowl had sorted them into groups for the librarians to put away tomorrow. "I used to be a Cultural Investigator before I started running security for the Prime. Always did like learning other stuff, stuff about people and places, history…."

"How did you move from Cultural Investigation to security?" Prowl asked.

"Well, I'd picked up a few things here and there, and I knew Optimus from way back, so when he wound up with the Matrix, he needed people he could trust. There I was."

"There's far more to that story," Prowl noted.

"Oh yeah. But, a whole lot of it's classified or not classified but easy enough to link to a lot of stuff that is, for a mech who's smart enough." Jazz smiled at him. "You're more than smart enough."

"Thank you," Prowl murmured. "Will you tell me more about yourself?"

"Sure."

Jazz told Prowl about coming online in Staniz, leaving, and how he'd travelled across Cybertron, falling into various jobs, or 'gigs,' and how he'd joined the Department of Cultural Investigations and met Orion Pax.

"And then we come back to where we started this," Jazz said cheerfully. "Me showing up in your shrine and thinking 'hey, that's one handsome mech.'"

Prowl smiled shyly and set the last datapad on its stack. "Did you?"

"Sure did. Been thinking about how a whole lot." Jazz glanced over at the open door and lowered his voice even more. "I know the other night should be a one-time thing, but I keep thinking about kissing you again. Can't seem to stop."

"I can't stop either," Prowl said and held out his hand. Jazz took it, and they backed into a corner, where it would be difficult to see them from the door. They should hear anyone approaching, though Prowl doubted someone would, given the hour. He was not sure he cared if they didn't.

"What happens to you if we're caught?" Jazz murmured.

"A lecture from the abbot," Prowl answered. "Penance – prayers, drudge work most likely. Nothing damaging. What will happen to you?"

"Me? Nothing. Optimus might be a little disappointed, but he won't fire me or anything. Besides, only got one more day where I can kiss you, and that's a maybe."

Prowl didn't like to think about that. "Please kiss me now, then."

Jazz didn't say anything more, pulling himself close to Prowl and kissing him. One hand came up to rest, lightly, on Prowl's waist. The other reached for Prowl's and threaded their fingers together. Jazz kissed him softly and sweetly, briefly separating from his mouth to dot kisses over his cheek and jaw.

"Jazz," Prowl whispered, and Jazz kissed him again. "More, please."

"More what?" Jazz asked, lightly stroking Prowl's side with his fingertips.

"I – " Prowl wasn't sure but – "Just, more."

"Okay." Jazz brushed his thumb over Prowl's lower lip. "Remember, though: if I do anything you don't like, you tell me to stop. You can always stay 'stop,' Prowl."

"I will if I need to," Prowl promised.

"'Kay." Jazz leaned in kissing-close again. "Open your mouth a little bit?"

Prowl obeyed as Jazz kissed him, gasping in surprise when Jazz's tongue touched his. It felt – he hadn't expected – but it was good, and Prowl tried not to be too clumsy when he responded. Jazz groaned softly and slid his hand up Prowl's back, holding him close. Prowl could feel the charge start to rise in his lines, shifted to try and bring himself closer to Jazz, who took it as an invitation and slotted a leg between Prowl's. The warmth of Jazz's thigh so close to his panels tempted Prowl to rock against it.

"Frag," Jazz muttered when Prowl gave in to temptation. "Oh, frag, the rules aren't just broken; they're smashed."

"Are we stopping?" Prowl asked, very much hoping Jazz would say 'no.'

"I sure don't want to. Maybe close the door, though?"

Jazz hadn't even finished the sentence before Prowl had accessed the door controls remotely and shut it. It didn't have a lock, but the monks were generally respectful of privacy.

"I don't know how long we'll have," Prowl confessed.

"Better not waste any of it, then."

Prowl had been delighted enough to have Jazz kiss him and hold him, but as their kisses started to heat up again, Jazz began to touch him as well. Just light strokes at first on Prowl's back or sides, then teasing along his hinges and the bottom edges of his doors, exploring Prowl's frame. Prowl moaned for more, and Jazz gave it to him, playing with the sensitive transformation seams under his bumper. His other hand moved lower, slowly, giving Prowl time to say 'stop' but only serving to raise his charge. Prowl did his best to keep his voice down, but it was hard with Jazz coaxing pleasure from him. He clutched at his lover and rocked his closed panel against the mech's thigh, wondering what it would feel like to open it.

"Primus, you're quick," Jazz muttered. "I can feel the static on your armour already. You ever had an overload before, handsome?"

"No. I've woken – oh! – charged but-but never overloaded."

"Let me give you one?" Jazz requested.

Prowl shivered. "Yes!"

"Just touch," Jazz cautioned. "If anyone shows up, easier to look innocent if everything's closed up."

"Yes," Prowl agreed, though he would have agreed to anything to get Jazz to touch him again. "Please, Jazz!"

Jazz kissed him again, tipped his head back to get at his throat and collar, and his hands – his hands! Prowl would never have thought he could be this aroused through simple touch, but his charge was building rapidly. He knew, distantly, that he should probably reciprocate, but he couldn't get his thoughts together enough to do that. He clutched at Jazz, pinned between his lover and the wall, struggling to muffle his moans.

"Gorgeous," Jazz whispered, watching him. "Primus, so gorgeous."

"Jazz," Prowl managed, and then – and then -!

Prowl slammed a hand over his mouth to muffle himself when he overloaded, optics shutting off and a full-body shudder running through him. Jazz held him and caressed him through the overload, cradling him close as he came down and murmuring praise to him.

"Beautiful," Jazz told him softly. "That was beautiful." He kissed Prowl's cheek. "How d'you feel?"

"I – it was – " Prowl nuzzled Jazz's cheek. "Amazing."

"Mm." Jazz cuddled him a little closer, stroked his helm. "Good."

A thought filtered through Prowl's pleasurable haze. "You didn't – should I - ?" He couldn't quite put the word 'reciprocate' together, but Jazz understood.

"Nah, this one was for you." Jazz kissed the corner of his mouth. "Don't need to worry about me this time."

"You only have one more cycle here," Prowl said quietly.

"I know. Wish we had more, but I will find a way to make time for you tomorrow," Jazz told him, looking into Prowl's optics. "I promise."

"How?" Prowl wanted to know. Hearing about how they could spend time together was far preferable to thinking about Jazz leaving.

"Any rules about you coming to the visitor's quarters to share a drink with a new friend?"

"A drink, no. The rest…"

Jazz cupped Prowl's face in his palm, still holding his gaze. "You say it's just a drink, then it's just a drink."

Prowl felt a flutter of excitement at the thought of having genuine privacy with Jazz. The rooms in the visitor's quarters did have locks. "It won't be just a drink."

"I was hoping you'd say that."

Prowl was not sure whether or not he wanted the last day of the Prime's visit to go by quickly or slowly. He was not sure what the end result of his dalliance with Jazz would be. It seemed as if it served to show Prowl how truly dissatisfied he was with life in the Temple, and not just because of the enforced chastity. He knew that life outside would not be easy, knew that he had been sheltered by being brought online for the Temple, but there would at least be more choice available to him. He did not know what would happen between them outside these walls, but he wanted to learn. But he didn't have time to decide what exactly he wanted to do before Jazz left. It was the last day. Soon enough, it was the last night.

Evening fuel went on a little longer than usual that night, and Prowl had to force himself not to watch Jazz the whole time. Near the end of the meal, he saw Jazz lean over and speak to the Prime, who nodded, and Prowl's spark spun a little faster in anticipation. It was no surprise when Jazz approached him as the others began to file out and asked him to come to share a drink with him and perhaps look over some items borrowed from the archives.

Prowl said 'yes,' hoping his voice was neutral and followed Jazz to the guest quarters.

Everything Jazz had said was true: they did share a drink, and they did look over some old datapads explaining the history of the Temple. But that didn't last long before he found himself in Jazz's arms again.

"How far d'you want this to go?" Jazz asked seriously once they'd indulged in a few kisses. "Anything from cuddling to full-out 'facing, just gotta let me know."

"I – " Prowl had to stop and reset his vocalizer. He'd wondered how far Jazz would be willing to indulge him and had not known if he'd want to go so far as interface. Prowl knew they should not, but the penance would be the same if they were caught, and he couldn't stop wondering what it would be like.

"Don't have to answer right away," Jazz told him, squeezing Prowl's hand. "Prowl, if you don't want to, it's okay."

"I want to," Prowl said after a moment's thought. "And, if I change my mind, I can always say 'no.'"

Jazz smiled gently. "Yeah, you can."

There was only one chair in Jazz's room, so they were already sitting on the bed. It was not long before Prowl found himself on his back below Jazz, their hands eagerly roaming over each other.

"Don't worry about your hands," Jazz had told him. "Don't worry about what you're doing. Just do your best, and the rest will come with practice."

Practice Prowl was not likely to get any time soon, but he put that thought out of his mind. It wasn't hard: Jazz's mouth was on his throat, and a hand was stroking his inner thigh, and Prowl couldn't care about anything else.

Jazz's mouth roved lower, and he gently nudged Prowl's legs apart to lie between them. Prowl spread them eagerly, arched up under Jazz's touch, gasped out 'yes!' each time Jazz did something new. He wanted Jazz to know how willing and eager he was, to have no doubt of Prowl's consent. Jazz's kisses trailed down his abdomen, nipped the edge of his pelvic plating.

"Will you open for me?" Jazz asked, pushing himself up to look at Prowl's face. "I want to go down on you – use my mouth on your node, your valve. I think you'll love it."

Oh, Primus, Prowl could not even imagine what that would feel like. "Yes," he said, fingers curling around the edges of the bed as he found the commands to open his armour. "Please."

"Tell me if it's too much," Jazz told him. "It can be, and if it is, it's okay."

Prowl watched Jazz while the mech kissed his way down to Prowl's open panels, shivering in anticipation when he felt the soft brush of lips against his valve. Jazz kissed his valve, nuzzled his thigh, probed shallowly inside him, licked slowly from Prowl's entrance to his node, not quite reaching it but getting closer each time. Prowl was almost ready to beg when Jazz finally dragged his tongue over Prowl's node.

"Jazz!" Prowl immediately put a hand over his mouth to muffle his cries. The other fluttered down to cup the back of Jazz's helm, petting shakily as if he couldn't believe Jazz was doing this for him.

Jazz traced a circle around Prowl's node, drawing a whimper from him, and then kissed his node, sucked it gently. Prowl's thighs clamped closed around his helm, and Prowl fell back on the bed, fumbled for the pillow and pressed it over his face to muffle himself. It was much more intense than anything they'd done before, much more than the rise of pleasure Prowl had experienced in the library. He writhed under Jazz's attention, optics wide, feeling the charge build in his lines, the static on his armour. Jazz's hands wrapped around his thighs, warm and steadying. Prowl whined into the pillow, racing toward his second overload, pressure, pleasure growing, centred on his node and valve. He was going to overload, he was going to overload so soon and harder than he had last night.

"Please!" Prowl gasped out, unable to help himself even if Jazz couldn't hear him. He needed to climax, he needed to! "Please, please!"

Jazz buried his face deeper between Prowl's thighs, sucked his node hard, and Prowl gave a sobbing cry as he climaxed. Jazz worked him through the overload, gentling as Prowl came down, became more sensitive. Prowl's thighs fell away from his helm, and Jazz nuzzled one gently, kissed it, then crawled up Prowl's body.

"Okay, sweetspark?" Jazz asked, tugging the pillow away from Prowl's face.

"Uh…uh-huh."

Jazz chuckled gently and rolled onto his side, urging Prowl into his arms. Prowl went, snuggling close and sighing happily when Jazz hugged him. It took a few kliks before Prowl could gather his scattered thoughts.

"What about you?" Prowl finally managed.

"If you're good for more, I'd love to feel your hand on my spike."

Prowl put his hand on Jazz's stomach, ran it down as far as his pelvic armour before a thought made it through his still-scattered processes. "Do you want to spike me?"

"Yeah," Jazz said, brushing his lips over Prowl's helm. "But, I'm guessing you don't have an implant? Any kind of contraceptive code running?"

"No."

"Maybe you should spike me, then. I've got an implant, almost certainly won't get sparked up. I don't wanna take that risk with you."

Prowl understood the rationale, and he agreed, though he would have liked to feel Jazz's spike in his valve. Not that he objected to spiking Jazz by any means. Perhaps, if Prowl left the Temple and they met up again, when there could be less risk.

"I would like to spike you," Prowl said, pressing a kiss to Jazz's chest. "But first, how should I touch you?"

"Like this," Jazz said, putting his hand over Prowl's and guiding it lower. "I like it when you go slow at first and just tease the edges."

"Like this?" Prowl asked, stroking the side of Jazz's codpiece the way he'd been told.

"That's good, yeah. Slow strokes, up and down, gradually get a little firmer… Won't take long to get me open," Jazz told him. "You've already got me running hot, lover. Just need to bring me out of idle." He hissed in pleasure, pushing up into Prowl's hand. "Like that, that's good…." Jazz pressed a kiss to Prowl's helm. "I'm gonna open up, okay?

Prowl pushed himself up on one arm a little so he could see, curious and eager. "Oh yes."

Jazz's armour transformed away, and his spike pressurized into Prowl's hand, hot and hard. Remembering what Jazz had said about his codpiece, Prowl stroked it lightly and felt Jazz shiver.

"Yeah," Jazz said, wrapping his arm more tightly around Prowl's shoulders, voice gone a little breathy. "Oh yeah, that's good, you can tighten your grip a little – like that, that's it…." A bead of liquid leaked from the tip of Jazz's spike, and, curious, Prowl ran his thumb over it, smearing slick fluid over the slit. "Frag!"

"Good?" Prowl asked, not entirely sure and pausing to check.

"So good, you're doing great, you can do that again!"

Prowl did, as soon as he got a chance, and Jazz groaned and wrapped his hand over Prowl's. Prowl turned his head to press kisses to Jazz's chest, stretched up to kiss his mouth. The delicate platelets wrapping the internal mechanisms of Jazz's spike flexed under Prowl's hand, and he could feel the spike growing harder. Jazz kissed him back, encouraging him between kisses, and Prowl understood why Jazz enjoyed pleasuring him so much.

"Getting close," Jazz managed to get out, holding Prowl close and rocking up into his touch. Prowl curled around, putting his head down on Jazz's bumper so he could watch the mech's climax. Jazz's spike thickened, stiffened even further, pushing hard against Prowl's fingers. "Oh…frag…Prowler!"

Jazz arched up, overloading, streaking his own plating with transfluid, and Prowl watched, still stroking his lover's spike until Jazz collapsed back onto the bed. Jazz's hand, still wrapped over Prowl's, stilled and Prowl followed his lead, feeling the spike begin to depressurize.

"Prowler," Jazz murmured, and Prowl couldn't pin down the tone but knew he wanted to hear it again. "S'good, babe. Gonna just cuddle for a bit, 'kay?"

Prowl was quite okay with that, happy to spend as much time as he could in Jazz's arms. He even dozed, warm and content, for a short while, woken after perhaps a breem by Jazz cleaning himself up with a damp cloth.

"Sorry," Jazz murmured. "Didn't need to wake you. Didn't want to. You looked so sweet."

No one had ever called Prowl sweet before, but then he'd never spent time with a lover before. "I wasn't really asleep."

"Me neither." Jazz tipped Prowl's chin up and kissed him. "Be right back." Jazz got up and crossed the room to toss the cloth into the cleaner. "Want a drink?" Jazz asked as he came back.

Prowl sat up on the bed, back against the headboard. "Yes, please."

Jazz handed him a cube before settling back on the bed next to him and putting an arm around Prowl's shoulders. "How're you feeling, Prowl?"

Prowl smiled, leaning against Jazz. "Good – very good. It isn't only the pleasure. You're taking excellent care of me."

"Remember that feeling. It's how a lover should make you feel."

"Do I make you feel that way?" Prowl asked.

"You do," Jazz assured him with a kiss. "You're doing really well."

Prowl kissed him back, carefully deepening it and feeling Jazz respond.

"Don't think we need these right now," Jazz said, setting their cubes aside on the low table by the bed.

"No," Prowl agreed and kissed him again. Jazz put a hand on his waist and slid it up, around to play with Prowl's hinges. "Do you still want me to spike you?"

"Yes," Jazz answered, shifting to lie back down on the bed and drawing Prowl down atop him. "I really do."

Prowl remembered what Jazz had done to him, and he mimicked it now, kissing his lover's throat, stroking a hand down his body to his leg, teasing his inner thigh with light fingertips. He nibbled down Jazz's chest, carefully making his way to his lover's panel, brushing over the edges. Prowl didn't have to wait long before Jazz opened for him.

"Can I - ?" Prowl asked, hand already so close he could feel the warmth of the mech's valve.

"Oh yeah," Jazz breathed, spreading his legs a little more. "Go on, touch me."

Prowl pushed himself up onto his knees and looked down at Jazz's valve, anterior node glowing an enticing blue and protomesh gleaming with lubricant. His memories of Jazz attending to his valve were hazed with pleasure and surprise, but he remembered to be gentle.

"Mmm!" Jazz pushed his hips up a little. "Yeah, that's good. You can be a little – a little firmer on my node – like that, yeah. Go on, explore, can put a couple fingers in me if you want to."

"Do you want me to?" Prowl asked, tracing a soft circle around Jazz's node and making the mech shiver.

"Like being fingered, sure. Not everyone does, not everyone likes doing it, 's all good."

Prowl couldn't know whether he liked it or not, not yet anyway, and he pressed a single finger inside of Jazz. His lover was wet inside and hot, and Prowl could hardly imagine what it would feel like around his spike.

"You're slick," Prowl murmured, adding a second finger. "Is this alright?"

"Oh yeah," Jazz said, reaching up to brush his fingers over Prowl's cheek. "Open up for me, babe? Love to see your spike."

Prowl nodded and activated the never-used command to open his spike cover. Jazz gave the rim of his housing a delicate stroke, ran a thumb over the recessed head, and that was all Prowl needed to pressurize. Perhaps it was quick, but Jazz didn't seem to mind, cupping it in his palm, curling his fingers around it.

"Oh!" Prowl felt shaky and leaned on one arm, fingers still inside Jazz. Jazz pumped his spike, and Prowl shivered and pressed his forehelm against his lover's chest.

"Okay, baby?" Jazz asked, thumbing the head of Prowl's spike. "Too much."

"I – I almost, I – " Prowl pushed himself up Jazz's body and kissed him. "Please. Please touch me. Please."

"So hard," Jazz breathed. "Oh, Primus, have you ever - ?"

"No," Prowl gasped. "No, never before. Please, can I – do you want - ?"

"Yeah," Jazz answered, reaching down to tug one of Prowl's legs between his. "Here, lie between my legs, weight on your arms and knees. That's it," he encouraged as Prowl reluctantly pulled his fingers free of Jazz's valve, "lower yourself down a little more, just – there, there, like that. Oh, Primus, you fragging belong there, lover! When you're – when you're ready, reach down and line yourself up."

Prowl started a little when he touched his own spike, something he'd never done before, and he did fumble a little trying to get lined up. Jazz murmured reassurance and rolled his hips up, and Prowl pushed forward, and then he was in and –

"Oh, holy Primus!" Prowl gasped.

"Keep going, keep going," Jazz urged. "Oh, Prowler!"

Prowl shuddered and pushed in deeper, sliding into that wet, tight heat, stunned by the sheer sensation. Jazz groaned, gripping Prowl's hips and pushing up to meet him, helping Prowl fill him.

"Jazz," Prowl breathed, face pressed against Jazz's chest. "Jazz."

Jazz pulled his legs up a little higher, wrapped his arms around Prowl. "Prowler, sweetspark, how d'you feel?"

"…so much," Prowl whispered. "It's so much."

"Yeah." Jazz stroked his helm. "Ready to move? I wanna feel you move inside me."

"Oh…" Prowl pushed himself up a little higher on his arms, and awkwardly, even he knew it was awkwardly, pulled out a little, thrust back in.

"Like that, yeah," Jazz murmured, skimming his hands down to Prowl's hips. "Again, baby, find the rhythm."

Prowl thrust again, and he did find the rhythm, helped by Jazz's hands and movement and his encouragement. It was like nothing Prowl had ever felt or imagined before. He looked down at Jazz, seeing his lover's visor dark with want, lips parted.

"Jazz," Prowl managed. Jazz cupped Prowl's face in his hand, and Prowl turned his head and kissed the mech's palm.

"S'okay, it's all good," Jazz told him. "You're doing so well, sweetspark."

"You're so slick," Prowl moaned. Slick and hot and getting even wetter, and Prowl couldn't stop pumping into him.

"For you, yeah," Jazz said, running his thumb over Prowl's cheek strut. "You did that to me, got me all hot and wet and ready for you." Jazz slipped a hand between them, his knuckles lightly bumping against Prowl and sending pleasurable little shocks through him. He touched Prowl where they were joined, tracing the curve of Prowl's spike. "Gonna remember this, the way I feel all full of your spike. Filled with you."

Prowl moaned again. "Oh…"

"Yeah," Jazz crooned, rubbing his own node. "Go on, wanna see it, wanna see you get off, beautiful."

Prowl's fingers dug into the bed as his charge rose even higher. He could feel the static on his armour, see it snapping between himself and Jazz. He could feel the overload building ever faster. He could feel Jazz's valve tightening around him, Jazz's legs wrapping more tightly over his hips. Prowl's visual feed filled with static, and he choked back his cry as he abruptly overloaded, burying himself in his lover and spending deep inside him. Jazz moaned his name, clutching him close, but Prowl was only distantly aware of this.

Prowl collapsed on top of his partner, visual feed still glitching and his audial processing resetting. Jazz moaned softly under him, hand still trapped between them. It took several kliks, but finally, Jazz managed to turn them over on their sides, Prowl's depressurizing spike slipping free. Prowl wriggled himself down so he could rest his head on Jazz's chest. Jazz wrapped him close, nuzzling him and kissing his helm. It took a full breem before either of them spoke.

"How long can you stay?" Jazz asked quietly.

Prowl was considering leaving the Temple, but he knew that getting caught in his lover's arms was not the best way to go about it.

"Until the bell," Prowl told him. That was not so far away as he would have liked it to be. "But I will stay here until the last moment."

"Right here?" Jazz asked hopefully, arms tightening around Prowl.

Prowl hugged him back. "Right here," he promised.

Prowl was among the gathering that saw the Prime and his entourage off the following morning after evening fuel. He didn't get to speak with Jazz at all, but they had known that would happen. They had not said much last night before Prowl had left, but Prowl did not feel a lack.

"If you're ever in Iacon," Jazz had said just before Prowl left, "I really hope you'll comm me, at the least."

"I will," Prowl promised, and they had kissed each other goodbye. Prowl had been back in his dormitory right on time, cleaned up and looking just like he'd been perusing datapads all evening. Prowl's secret was still his own.

Even though he could not speak to Jazz, their optics still met over the crowd. Jazz smiled and then transformed and joined the convoy as it left Temple grounds. The visit over, Jazz's comm code in his contacts, and a plan underway, Prowl went back to his regular, boring routine.

Chapter Text

Prowl's request for release from the service of the Temple was met with kindness and understanding by the abbot. It had also been met with a gentle refusal to let him go. It was expected, the abbot said, for young mecha sparked to the Temple to feel discontent. It was natural to be curious about the outside world. Perhaps, the abbot had allowed, some time spent in that world would help clear Prowl's head. And so, Prowl had been sent to a Temple-affiliated university in Iacon to study divinity.

Prowl was not sure if that were to encourage him to remain or not. But at least it could get him closer to his goal – and, because Prowl missed him, to Jazz. Prowl was under no illusion that what he had with Jazz would automatically be permanent. But, he would very much like to explore it. He would certainly like more overloads.

Prowl took little with him to Iacon because he owned little. Because he was a lay monk, he didn't even have vestments, but he brought his copy of the Covenant of Primus, the same one he'd received on taking his vows. Prowl did not want to be a monk, he had never been asked if he wanted to be one, but that didn't mean he didn't believe. While he was not entirely convinced of the more mystical aspects, he was confident a powerful entity resided in the Core of Cybertron and could actively affect the planet. Prowl also brought some small crystals, cut from the ones in the monastery garden, with him. Despite losing some lustre during the trip, they quickly recovered once Prowl had them in place in his room.

And it was his room. True, it was a room in the campus dormitory, but he had been granted a single occupancy room by pure chance. It was on the second floor, in a back corner of the building, giving Prowl two sets of windows. The room was plain and sparse but no more so than the lay monk's dormitory had been. He didn't spend much time there at first, busy registering for and finding his classes and still under the watchful optic of the other monks in that dorm. He couldn't get unobserved access to a public comm and call Jazz, the terminal in his room wasn't connected yet, and his onboard comm system wasn't powerful enough. It took nearly a deca-cycle before his observers relaxed and his in-room comm system was available. Even then, he still had to wait until after evening fuel before he could retreat to his room and finally make his call.

The code Jazz had given Prowl was for his onboard comms, which were powerful enough to make and accept calls, but meant Prowl didn't get a visual when his (former?) lover answered.

'You've got this code, so you should be someone I know, but I'm not sure I recognize your code. What's your name, mech?'

Just hearing Jazz's voice sent a slight shiver of arousal through Prowl. 'This is Prowl. Hello, Jazz.'

'Prowler!' Jazz's voice went from slightly suspicious to delighted immediately. 'Oh, am I happy to hear from you, handsome! I see you've got an Iacon-based comm code, so I'm guessing you're here. You at a hotel, or what?'

'I am in Iacon,' Prowl confirmed. 'I've been sent to study at Iacon Divinity.'

'Well, whatever the reason, I'm so glad you're here,' Jazz said, and Prowl could hear the smile in his voice. 'This time of night, you've probably fuelled already but d'you wanna grab something anyway? There's a little place between here and there I think you'll like.'

'I would like that,' Prowl said, and Jazz sent him the address of a restaurant called Induction. It wasn't too far from the dorms, and Prowl could get there easily, even through unfamiliar streets.

The dormitory had no official curfew, and while there was a time one was generally expected to be back by, student comings and goings weren't tracked. As long as Prowl was present for classes, there should be little fuss.

Prowl drove cautiously to Induction, never having driven much, and Jazz was already waiting for him. Prowl's spark seemed to surge a little, and he transformed as soon as possible.

"Wow," Jazz said quietly as they stood there under the light of the restaurant's sign. "You – I didn't think you'd make it here this soon. Not sorry to be wrong, though."

"I tried to leave," Prowl explained. "They think I'm only discontent, and living out in the world will convince me to stay."

"Think they're right?"

"No. I was sparked into that life, but it isn't the one I want."

"Do you know what you do want?"

"Not entirely, Prowl told him. "I want to explore first. The university doesn't seem like a bad place to do that."

"Uni's a place lotta people find out more about themselves," Jazz agreed. "I'll help you out, you know that, right?"

Prowl smiled. "I'd hoped you would. "

"Happy to." They stood there for a  moment, just looking at each other, and finally, Jazz broke the silence saying, "I guess we should get a table?"

"I suppose," Prowl said though neither of them moved.

"Or, we could go back to my place?" Jazz suggested, and Prowl knew immediately which one he wanted.

"Yes, please."

Prowl had no real experience by which to judge Jazz's apartment building. It was tall, well-kept, and not far from the Primal Palace. It seemed new, or at least newly refurbished since the décor seemed reasonably modern. Jazz led Prowl through the lobby, rode to the top floor on the lift, and brought him through the halls to an open, spacious apartment.

"I could make us some energon," Jazz offered, although his hand wrapped around Prowl's. "Got some treats here, somewhere, if you want."

"Do you want that?" Prowl asked.

"No," Jazz said quietly, looking into Prowl's optics. "I want to kiss you again and more, but if that's not what you want right now – "

"It is," Prowl said, spark spinning a little faster.

"Oh, thank Primus," Jazz muttered and pulled Prowl close to kiss him. Prowl moaned softly, pressing close and kissing him back. Prowl had missed this but hadn't known how much until this moment.

"I missed you," Prowl told him, gasping when Jazz's fingers slipped under his bumper. "I keep thinking about you."

"I think about you all the time," Jazz told him. "Wishing we'd had more time together. I haven't known you very long, but I damn sure want to know you better."

"Yes," Prowl agreed and oh, Jazz's knee was pushing between his legs, spreading them apart, just like he had in the library before giving Prowl his first overload. "But first, can we - ?"

"Frag?" Jazz finished. "Oh yeah!"

"Bedroom?"

"This way."

But they didn't make it to the bedroom. They wound up in the dining room, where the table was covered with datapads, stumbling and eagerly groping and kissing each other.

"Primus, can't wait," Jazz groaned, stroking Prowl's codpiece. "Just bend me over the table, babe, yeah?"

Prowl agreed, gasping with relief when his spike pressurized. Jazz's valve was wet, gleaming, and Prowl couldn't resist touching, stroking his fingers from node to opening.

"Yeah, feels good, baby, c'mon!"

Prowl didn't need more encouragement, steadying his spike with one hand and carefully lining up before sinking in.

"Primus," Prowl gasped. He hadn't intended it, but his hands came to grip Jazz's waist, and it felt so natural, as natural as moving in the tight heat surrounding his spike. "Jazz!"

"Oh, yeah," Jazz moaned into the table, reaching out to clutch at its sides. "Prowler, so good!"

Prowl had only interfaced once, and his thoughts were fuzzed with lust, but he could still remember the rhythm he'd used when he'd fragged Jazz before. He found it again, and Jazz gasped and groaned underneath him, asking him to go faster, harder. Prowl didn't keep him waiting, letting go of Jazz's waist only to brace himself on the tabletop with one hand. His focus narrowed entirely to this pace, to Jazz underneath him and the overloads they were both speeding towards. Prowl panted, vision starting to fritz and then his climax was on him, and he cried out sharply, burying himself deep inside Jazz. Jazz's valve gripped him tight, fluttering, and he moaned low and deep, shivering and going limp under Prowl.

"Oh, mech," Jazz mumbled, static lacing his voice. Prowl knew he wouldn't be much better if he could bring his voicebox online or queue up anything coherent. "Been wanting that since the last time."

"Mmm," Prowl managed, nuzzling. Jazz's hand wrapped around his.

"Yeah."

They slumped there in contented silence for a moment, and then Prowl managed to push himself upright, though he did stumble a little. Jazz straightened up, reaching out for Prowl's hand again.

"Glad you came back here with me," Jazz said. "I would've spent the whole time in the café thinking about exactly that."

Prowl smiled. "So would I." He glanced away from Jazz to take in a little more of the apartment. "What happens now?"

"We clean up, I get you an actual drink," Jazz replied, taking Prowl's other hand, "and we sit down and get to know each other a little better, talk about what we want out of this."

"'This?'"

"Yeah, whatever this will be between us, we have to talk about boundaries and expectations, all that good stuff."

Prowl had mostly come here expecting plenty of overloads, but he could see the value of what Jazz was saying. He agreed and let Jazz show him to the washracks. Once they'd both washed up, Prowl waited on Jazz's couch to be brought his drink and, for the first time, began to feel awkward.

"You okay?" Jazz asked, handing Prowl his drink.

"I am, I only – " He glanced away. "It's a little different now."

"Now that we've burned off the charge and we're not someplace familiar to you?" Jazz guessed, taking a seat next to Prowl. "That's okay. That makes sense." He squeezed Prowl's hand. "Is there anything I can do to help you feel better?"

"I think I only need time," Prowl replied, "but, thank you."

"Okay, but it's good you told me." Jazz squeezed Prowl's hand again. "You can always tell me how you feel. Communication is important in any kind of relationship."

"I don't know what kind of relationship I want," Prowl confessed because it was true.

"Okay, well, there's just friends – pretty sure we're already beyond that – or friends with benefits: people who frag, but there's no romance. There are casual frag relationships," Jazz continued, "where you just meet up for some stress relief. And, of course, there are romantic relationships. You don't have to decide on any of them right now. Don't even have to give it a name if you don't want. Not everyone does."

"How long do I have to decide?"

Jazz smiled. "There's no timeline. Besides, it's not like you're committed to one thing. Relationships can change from one to another over time."

Prowl nodded, processing that. "I see. You said there were things to discuss. What sort of things?"

"Well, sexual history, for one," Jazz began. "Should have done this before, actually, but – anyway, all my scans for interfacially transmitted infections are clean, past and future, got no creations, and there are no exes you need to worry about on my side."

"The same, though you know that."

"Well, you could've had someone between the last time I saw you and now," Jazz pointed out. "Not like you promised me anything."

"I had no opportunity to meet anyone else," Prowl said frankly. "I would have told you if I had."

"Okay. So, the next thing is expectations. Are you looking for monogamy, open relationship…?"

Prowl thought about it. "I think I would like monogamy, at least for now. All of this is so new. I-I want to keep things as simple as possible, for now."

Jazz nodded. "That's totally fair. Don't have to set everything in stone right now. We can change it up later if we both want."

"This is very big," Prowl murmured, looking into his drink. "At the monastery, it felt – like a singular interlude. Something I would look back on fondly but never repeated. I wanted to leave the monastic life – I still plan to – but you…I never expected someone like you to drop into my life."

"I didn't expect to find someone like you at a monastery," Jazz said, stroking the back of Prowl's hand with his thumb. "I mean, not like I thought all monks were ugly or boring, but you…Can't really explain it, just felt something the first time I saw you in person."

"Oh," Prowl said inadequately.

"S'okay, if you didn't feel the same," Jazz reassured him. "Goes that way sometimes, or so I hear."

Prowl had never heard anything of the sort, but that was hardly surprising. "I'm afraid I have very little frame of reference for any of this. I'm glad you're willing to be patient with me."

Jazz smiled and lifted Prowl's hand to kiss it. "Prowler, I know you'll be more than worth it."

Chapter Text

Jazz and Prowl talked a bit more, and soon it didn't feel strange to be in the other mech's home. Jazz put an arm around Prowl's shoulders and guided Prowl to lean into him, to cuddle. Prowl had only briefly experienced cuddling, but he knew he enjoyed it. After a while, they switch back to kissing, which Prowl found to be a more than acceptable trade for cuddling.

"So much I wanna show you, gorgeous," Jazz murmured, running his fingers down Prowl's arm. "How long can you stay?"

"I have classes in the morning, but until then, I can stay as long as you wish."

"Will you spend the night?" Jazz asked, pulling back to look into Prowl's optics. "Gotta admit, I liked the taste I got of resting up with you back at the Temple."

Prowl knew there might be questions about where he had been if anyone saw him and realized he hadn't been in his dorm all night. He also didn't particularly care, especially not with Jazz this close.

"I will spend the night," Prowl confirmed.

"Oh, babe," Jazz said softly, "can't tell you how great that sounds. Don't want to go to bed right away, though?"

"No," Prowl said, pressing a little closer. "I do not."

"Good," Jazz said, "because I don't want to either."

Their kisses were less frantic this time, and Prowl's charge rose more slowly than it had earlier. He let Jazz press him gently back into the couch cushions and parted his thighs, so Jazz could kneel between them.

"Want to go down on you again, babe," Jazz told him, tracing his fingers up the outside of Prowl's thighs, and Prowl felt a thrill of anticipation. He had not forgotten what Jazz's mouth felt like on his valve. "Your spike this time, if you want?"

Prowl could only imagine what that felt like, and he readily agreed. "Please!"

"You got it, gorgeous."

Remembering what Jazz had told him before, going down on his valve at the monastery, Prowl let Jazz work at coaxing his armour open. Jazz nuzzled his thighs, mouthed and teased at transformation seams, and soon Prowl's spike cover irised open. Jazz didn't have to do much work to bring Prowl to full pressurization. Prowl gasped softly but and his hands tightened on the couch cushions.

"Okay there, Prowler?" Jazz asked, looking up at Prowl.

"I-I feel…exposed," Prowl explained, which felt a little silly to say, given that he'd spiked Jazz before. Jazz wasn't seeing anything he hadn't seen before. Jazz rubbed his legs soothingly.

"Think that's normal," Jazz said. "Too exposed? Do you want to stop?"

Prowl shook his head. "No, I don't want to stop."

Jazz nodded. "Okay. If that changes, tell me."

"I will."

Jazz was gentle with him, kissing and licking Prowl's spike until Prowl relaxed and began to moan softly. "Going to take you in my mouth now. You can put your hands on my head if you like," Jazz offered. "Don't be rough, but it's okay."

Prowl nodded and breathlessly agreed, distracted by the idea of his spike inside Jazz's mouth. Jazz smiled at Prowl, then leaned forward and –

"Oh, Primus," Prowl moaned, head falling back as heat and tightness surrounded his spike. It was and wasn't like spiking Jazz, Jazz's valve had been tighter and wetter, but those lips sliding down and down… He put a shaking hand on Jazz's head, distantly glad he'd had permission because he didn't think he could have stopped himself otherwise. Jazz put a steadying hand on Prowl's hip, steadying Prowl's hips against the reflexive jerk they gave when Jazz began to draw back and when he plunged down again.

Prowl groaned and slumped against the back of the couch, legs spreading wider and both hands on Jazz's helm now. Jazz drew back and went down, repeatedly taking Prowl's spike deeper each time until Prowl's spike tip pushed into a narrower, tighter space, and Prowl couldn't think. It was too much!

"Jazz!" Prowl gasped, hand fumbling along the couch for a better grip because he was so close and he couldn't think, but he still knew not to hurt his partner. "Jazz, please, Jazz, please!"

'You're close, I know. I can feel it. Taste it.' Jazz caught Prowl's fumbling hand and grounded him just enough. 'S'okay. Overload, lover.'

Prowl couldn't have held back any longer if he'd wanted to, and his voice box locked, too many possible responses to sort through, as he climaxed. By the time the queue sorted itself out, Prowl could only lie there and moan softly as Jazz pulled off his softening, increasingly sensitive spike.

"Ah," Jazz sighed, leaning against Prowl's knee. "You like that, Prowler?"

"Uh…uh-huh…."

"Mm." Jazz kissed Prowl's knee. "Good. Me too."

Jazz stood up, not letting go of Prowl's hand, and Prowl saw his lover's spike was out and pressurized. Prowl had seen Jazz's spike before, but he had only used his hand on it, not his mouth. Prowl was sated but curious and wanted to offer Jazz pleasure in return.

"Should I?" Prowl asked, pushing himself upright.

"Do you want to?"

"I want to try," Prowl said, putting his hands on Jazz's thighs. "If you want me to."

"Ah, Prowler," Jazz sighed, brushing a thumb over Prowl's lower lip. "You have no idea how much I want you to. Just be careful, okay? Don't try to take too much, too fast, or you'll choke. Don't have to swallow, either: spitting's fine 'cause it isn't for everyone."

Prowl had been so dazed that he hadn't realized that Jazz must have done something with the transfluid. Swallowing it made sense, and Prowl had no idea if that was something he'd want to do or not. It seemed he'd need the experience to decide for himself what he wanted to do. Prowl nodded. "I'll try to remember."

Prowl leaned forward and cautiously kissed Jazz's spike, licked it gently. One of Jazz's hands cupped his helm, and Prowl felt reassured by the gesture. It did not feel confining or controlling. Prowl brought a hand up to steady his lover's spike, curling his fingers around it and remembering what it had felt like to jerk his lover off.

"You can use your hand and your mouth," Jazz murmured. "I keep thinking about you getting me off. Might've gotten off thinking about it a time or two; I hope you don't mind."

Prowl shook his head, certainly not minding, especially since he'd also climaxed thinking about Jazz. He didn't say anything, focused on pleasing his lover. Cautiously, he took the head of Jazz's spike into his mouth. Above him, Jazz whispered his name, stroking his helm with one hand and gently tracing the curve of Prowl's lip with the thumb of the other. Prowl slid a little further down Jazz's spike, tasting clean protoflesh as it slid across his tongue until he bumped into his own knuckles. He pulled off, looked at Jazz's spike glistening with his oral lubricants, and then did it again, a little faster this time.

"That's good, Prowl," Jazz encouraged. "Keep going. Oh…"

Prowl gradually grew a little faster, a little bolder. He worked Jazz's spike with hand and mouth and explored with his tongue, all while Jazz whispered to him and stroked his helm. Prowl put his free hand on Jazz's hip and applied a little more suction, flicked his tongue across the slit, and Jazz jerked and gasped.

"Oh, do that again!"

Prowl did, pleased to hear Jazz's moan. Prowl worked his hand a little faster, and Jazz's hips twitched as if he wanted to push deeper. Prowl did try to take him a little further in, but – no. Not yet. He would choke or gag, and he didn't want to. Later, he could learn all of that later.

Prowl wanted to bring Jazz to overload, but his jaw was starting to get sore, and he had to reluctantly pull away.

"Getting sore?" Jazz asked, taking a step back so he could look at Prowl. His visor was dark with desire, and Prowl could feel his spike pulsing in his hand: Jazz had to be close, and Prowl wanted to help him finish.

Prowl nodded, raising a hand to rub the hinge of his jaw. "Yes. I need to stop using my mouth. My wrist is getting a little sore too."

Jazz nodded. "Yeah, it takes some practice," he said, the idea giving Prowl a little thrill. "I can take care of myself if you're done. Want to watch? I can go to the wash racks just as easily."

Prowl certainly didn't mind the idea of watching, but – "I-I had wanted to taste – just to try."

"Alright." Jazz took himself in hand, and Prowl let his hand drop to his lap. "How about I tell you when I'm close, and you can open your mouth for me?"

"Oh, yes!"

Prowl sat there, unconsciously leaning forward as he watched Jazz stroke himself, knowing his lover was close when the mech suddenly braced a hand against the wall.

"Prowl," Jazz gritted out, spike visibly swelling, "I'm gonna – "

Prowl obediently opened his mouth, and Jazz pushed just the head of his spike inside, spurts of thick transfluid landing on Prowl's tongue. The taste, which Prowl barely noticed as he was distracted by the sheer novelty of a mech overloading in his mouth, was largely unobjectionable. Jazz groaned, thrusting shallowly, rubbing the sensitive spike head against Prowl's lips a few times before pulling out and collapsing on the couch next to Prowl.

"Oh, Prowler," Jazz groaned, tugging himself over to slump against Prowl. "Love being with you, gorgeous."

"I enjoy spending time with you as well," Prowl said, wrapping his arms around Jazz. "I – what happens now?"

"Well, I wanna snuggle a bit," Jazz said contentedly, nuzzling Prowl's chest plates. "Then we should get to know each other a little better. I mean, the 'facing's great, but I'd like us to have more, y'know?"

"I would like that," Prowl said, putting a kiss on one of Jazz's audial horns. "I'd like it if you told me more of the outside world, too."

"Sounds good to me, lover."

After Jazz had recovered a bit, he told Prowl more about life outside the monastery, and when Prowl expressed interest in a movie he mentioned, he put it on. Prowl had never seen a movie before, and he found it fascinating. He was familiar with fiction but had only ever read a handful of secular books. The monastery's library had a few secular volumes that had been donated, but the majority were nonfiction. Prowl enjoyed learning, but he'd always been curious about fiction and wanted to indulge more. Mysteries were his favourites, and the movie Jazz showed involved a specialized team of detectives searching for a lost, semi-mystical object. Prowl's experience to date with anything fantastical was myths and legends, and he was fascinated.

"You liked that, huh?" Jazz asked when it was over.

"Yes, very much," Prowl said. "Are there more like that?"

Jazz chuckled and sat up, stretching. "Oh yeah, tonnes. I think we have time for another short one if you're game?"

Prowl was, and even if he hadn't been interested in the movie, he would have been happy to spend the time cuddling with Jazz.

"This was good," Prowl murmured when the credits rolled. It was his turn to curl up with his head on someone's chest, and Jazz had gently rubbed his arm and occasionally kissed his helm.

"Yeah, it was," Jazz said gently and shut the entertainment system down. "Ready for bed, lover?"

"Yes." Prowl reluctantly pulled away so they could get up. "This feels – does this feel like dating?"

Jazz chuckled and helped Prowl to his feet. "It does, yeah. How's that feel for you?"

"I'm enjoying it," Prowl said honestly. Jazz held his hands and smiled at him.

"Me too."

Chapter Text

Prowl spent a restful night with Jazz and enjoyed breakfast at the little restaurant Jazz took him to. Prowl could have hummed when he walked to his first class, but he only knew hymns to Primus, which didn't feel appropriate. They had little to do with worldly or carnal enjoyment, after all. He would have to ask Jazz to teach him more music as well.

Prowl found his classes easy, though he supposed that was because it was the beginning of the semester. Perhaps they would become more difficult in time. Not that Prowl intended to stay in these classes: he had little interest in studying Divinity but could not switch programs. Not while the monastery was paying his tuition. Prowl would have to figure out a way to cover his educational costs. He would need a job once he left, which meant he needed a secular education.

Prowl wished he could have spent every night with Jazz, but that wasn't practical for either of them. Prowl couldn't disappear every night, and Jazz had prior commitments. He couldn't be expected to abandon them just because Prowl had suddenly dropped into his life.

Still, Prowl could wish.

They could at least talk to each other over comms, though, and they did. At least once a day, if not more, Prowl got to hear Jazz's voice, if not see his face on a screen.

"How are your classes so far?" Jazz asked a few cycles after they had met in person. "I know it's not what you're into, but I'm hoping you're not bored, at least. "

"I know much of the subject matter already," Prowl said. "I expect it will become more interesting later, but I hardly even need to attend classes right now."

"Yeah, but you're still going. What d'you do during the lectures?"

"I play a strategy game on my HUD," Prowl confessed. "It requires little extra processing power to simultaneously pay attention to the lecture."

"It's so sexy how smart you are," Jazz told him admiringly.

"Oh," Prowl said, unsure how to respond. He fell back on manners. "Thank you."

"Just telling the truth, Prowler," Jazz said with a smile in his voice, though his voice turned wistful with his following words. "Sure miss spending time with you in person, babe. I know it's only been a deca-cycle, but…."

"Yes." Prowl knew exactly what Jazz meant. He missed the other mech too.

"But it's almost the weekend," Jazz continued. "I was wondering if you'd like to get dinner with me on Wolsol?"

Prowl seized on the opportunity immediately. "I would, yes. I have no plans. Did you have a place and time in mind?"

"I was thinking of a place I know called Intermezzo. Nice place, semi-private booths, quiet background music. I think you'll like it."

Prowl agreed, which he was sure did not surprise Jazz, and spent the next cycle eagerly anticipating. He was asked if he had plans that weekend but could honestly say he was having dinner with a friend. The monks who had come with him from the monastery didn't react when he told them the friend was Jazz, a member of the Prime's entourage. It seemed no one had thought to question Prowl and Jazz's simultaneous absences or found anything unusual about the times they were seen together. Prowl had begun to put things into place so that he could leave the monastic life for a secular one, but he did not want to leave under a cloud. While he didn't like the life itself, he had no issue with his fellow monks and wanted to part with them on good terms.

But he wanted a secular life more. He had had the barest taste with Jazz, and it was already more appealing than what he'd known so far.

Jazz smiled brilliantly at Prowl when he pulled up to the restaurant, coming over to take his hands. "Hey there, handsome," Jazz said. Prowl wanted to kiss him but wasn't sure of the etiquette of doing so in public. "Think we can make it to a table this time?"

"I think so," Prowl said, although he quietly hoped it would not be too lengthy a dinner.

"C'mon then. I got us a reservation."

Dining in a restaurant differed from dining in the monastery's refectory and the university cafeteria, where he simply dispensed himself a cube. To start with, Prowl had never been seated at a table with just one other person. Nor had he chosen what to fuel with. There were choices at the cafeteria, but he'd bypassed them in favour of standard fuel for this reason. He had had treats when he'd spent the night with Jazz, but the other mech had simply presented him with them. This seemed almost excessive. Prowl stared at the menu with no idea what or how many things he was supposed to choose.

"Want a recommendation?" Jazz asked gently, likely seeing Prowl's confusion.

"Yes, please," Prowl said gratefully and listened as Jazz explained starters, mains, and dessert. He chose three options that sounded appealing, and then they just had to wait for their fuel to be delivered. "Do you eat at restaurants often?" Prowl asked.

"Depends on what I'm doing," Jazz said. "If I'm on the road with Prime or out of town on his business, it's pretty much something I've gotta do if I don't want to live on rations. But when I'm home, I like to prep my own fuel. I like to think I'm pretty good."

"Cooking was one of the few tasks I was never assigned while living at the monastery," Prowl told him.

"Want me to teach you?" Jazz offered. "Or give you links to some tutorials?"

Prowl pictured them together, in Jazz's small kitchen[1], spending time close together. "I'd like it if you taught me."

Jazz smiled at him. "Sounds good to me. Know anything you want to try?"

"I can't think of anything," Prowl admitted. "Perhaps you can give me a recommendation for those as well."

"You got it, babe. So, what've you been up to lately that you haven't told me about?"

There was not much Prowl hadn't told Jazz about, and the conversation soon turned to what Jazz had been doing. What he could tell Prowl about, anyway. It all sounded wonderfully interesting and new to Prowl, who listened intently, fascinated. Jazz told him about Iacon and other cities he'd travelled to. Jazz had even been off-planet, an experience almost unimaginably far outside anything Prowl had ever thought he might experience. Listening to Jazz, however, made it seem not so impossible. Prowl had no income and no way to purchase tickets on a moon shuttle, but he had every intention of finding employment at some point. He could save and indulge himself at some point in the not-so-distant future.

The items Jazz had suggested for Prowl's dinner were delicious, and Prowl enjoyed them very much, thanking Jazz again.

"Glad you enjoyed them," Jazz said, looking pleased. "Maybe next time you can try some of the others – or pick something on your own. What would you like to do next?"

Prowl had not just waited for Jazz to tell him interesting things about Iacon. He'd done some research and knew a nearby museum had an exhibition of light sculptures. Jazz looked delighted at the suggestion, and so they went. There were plenty of people there but not so many it was crowded. Prowl did not quite dare to take Jazz's hand in public while they walked, not yet, but he wanted to. He settled for occasionally linking their smallest fingers together when they stopped to look at and discuss some of the sculptures.

"Anything else you're curious about?" Jazz asked as they were leaving. "Or do you want to call it a night, or - ?"

"I would like to go back to your apartment," Prowl said shyly, "and see what develops from there."

Jazz smiled warmly at him. "Sounds very good to me."

The night was starting to get cold, and Jazz's apartment building was pleasantly warm by contrast. In the elevator, alone, Prowl did take Jazz's hand, and they stayed that way as Jazz led him through the door.

"C'mere," Jazz said when the door closed behind them and kissed Prowl gently. "I've wanted to do that since the last time you were here."

"I've missed you too," Prowl said, and they indulged in kisses for several more kliks. "Oh…"

"Want more?" Jazz asked.

"Yes," Prowl said with certainty. "What would you like to do?"

"Well," Jazz said, running the pad of his thumb over Prowl's lower lip. "Remember how I went down on you in Praxus, mouth on your valve?"

Prowl was unlikely to forget. "Oh yes."

"Would you be open to doing that to me?"

Prowl had imagined doing that to Jazz from time to time since they'd parted in Praxus and readily agreed.

"I don't really remember what you did on my valve," he confessed once they were in Jazz's room with Jazz leaning back on his pillows, legs spread. "I remember your mouth, the pleasure and the overload, but, uh – "

"You weren't paying attention to technique," Jazz finished for him. "S'okay. Like anything else, it has to be learned. Y'know what I already like about it so far?"

Prowl frowned, confused since he hadn't even begun foreplay yet. "What?"

Jazz smiled gently at him. "You wanting to do this for me."

Oh. Prowl couldn't quite say how that made him feel, but it was certainly not unpleasant. He ducked his head and began to press soft kisses to Jazz's jaw and throat, working his way down. He remembered Jazz doing that to him, certainly. Jazz talked to him the whole time, encouraging him gently and guiding him to places Jazz enjoyed. Prowl was enjoying his exploration and hadn't forgotten the heady feeling that getting Jazz wet and ready for him (perhaps Jazz would like to be spiked later?) had given him before. Jazz stroked Prowl's helm and shoulders, the top edges of his doors, and told him he was beautiful. Prowl nuzzled his stomach in response, sliding a hand down to stroke a sleek thigh. Prowl might have been on top, but he felt secure and wanted bracketed between Jazz's legs.

When Prowl put his first kiss on Jazz's valve panel, he felt a little thrill, knowing he was so close to bringing his lover the same pleasure Jazz had brought him. But, he remembered not to go too quickly, how Jazz had teased him open. Prowl kissed Jazz's armour, traced seams and curves with his tongue, and felt the heat rise below his lover's plating. Prowl did not know yet whether he would enjoy performing this particular activity as much as Jazz had, but he did know he loved pleasuring his partner.

"Yeah," Jazz groaned, hands on Prowl's helm. "Keep going, lover."

Prowl obeyed. When Jazz had done this to him, his panel had opened on its own. He wasn't sure if Jazz's did the same or if the mech had just gotten impatient, but soon, Jazz opened for him. Prowl had spiked Jazz before, but the first time had been too amazed at what he was about to do and the second too needful to really look. Jazz had white biolights highlighting his inner folds and an anterior node highlighted in blue. The lubricant slicking the silvery protoform glistened.

"You can go ahead and touch, too," Jazz told him. "Haven't stopped thinking about the way you finger me."

Prowl was more than happy to touch his lover, gently exploring, spreading the protective platelets opening, tracing the lines of biolights. He traced a circle around Jazz's node, then cautiously leaned in and kissed it softly.

"Yeah, good," Jazz encouraged. "Keep going. Oh, frag, your mouth is so warm. Use your tongue, go on…oh…!"

Prowl licked hesitantly at first, but Jazz's moans encouraged him, and he grew bolder. He pushed a finger inside Jazz, then two and carefully sucked on his anterior node.

"Prowl!" Jazz moaned, clutching at him. "That's good, oh yeah! Do that again?"

Prowl wanted to hear Jazz moan for him like that again. He wanted to hear Jazz overload, to make him overload!

"Oh, Primus, babe," Jazz panted once Prowl had worked him up to the point he was writhing. "Please, so close, just a little more, please!"

Prowl wasn't entirely sure how he could give him a little more and cautiously added a third finger. That did it, and Jazz's valve squeezed tight around his fingers, the mech moaning as he overloaded. Prowl pulled away – too soon? He couldn't be sure – and carefully crawled up the bed to lie next to Jazz.

"That was good," Jazz sighed, cuddling up against Prowl. "Gimme a klik; I'll help you out, okay?"

Prowl put his arm over Jazz and stroked his back gently. "I'm fine. I enjoyed pleasing you – although I certainly wouldn't say no to spiking you again later."

"Mhm. Sounds good to me, lover."

Prowl was perfectly happy to have Jazz nestled in his arms, but he was curious about one thing: "Jazz?"

"Mmm?"

"Do you want to spike me? Not right now," Prowl was quick to add because he was not sure he was ready for that yet. "But, eventually?"

"Oh, babe," Jazz said, stroking a hand down Prowl's side. "I'd love to spike you. The time comes you're ready, just let me know."

Prowl relaxed back into the pillows, hugging Jazz close. "I will."

Chapter Text

Jazz showed Prowl more of the city over the weekend, although Prowl did not spend the second night there. Spending his entire weekend out of the dorms would raise questions that Prowl was not quite ready to answer. He hoped he would be allowed to leave the monastic order without further difficulty, but if not, having taken a lover and not as a momentary lapse should be enough to have him evicted. Prowl didn't want that, but if necessary, he would do it. He didn't want to use his time with Jazz that way. Was he in love with Jazz? Prowl didn't think so, although he immensely enjoyed the mech's company and the interfacing.

"Is there anywhere else you want to see?" Jazz asked as they finished wandering through an outdoor market. Prowl had found it fascinating and had probably tripled the time of their trip by looking through absolutely everything. Jazz hadn't minded, though, seeming more than happy to indulge him.

"How much more is there?" Prowl, accustomed to the insular world of the monastery, asked.

"Plenty," Jazz answered. "I mean, we'd get further out from the city centre, but there's still lots of stuff to visit. Anything you want to see?"

"You've already shown me so much," Prowl said, not just meaning the city. "I think I would like some time to absorb it all. Unless there's something that you'd like to show me?"

"Well, wouldn't mind showing you some nightlife, but if you're already needing time to unwind, that might be too much?"

Prowl was curious, but Jazz was right: a nightclub probably would be too much on top of the rest of the day. "For now, yes. Perhaps another day." Something occurred to Prowl. "Did you want to go to a nightclub?"

"I like 'em, but I'm not jonesing to go to one tonight if that's what you're wondering," Jazz answered. "Been to plenty. I can wait until you're ready if it's a thing you want to check out."

"I think I do," Prowl said, "at least to see what it's like. I may not like it. I may prefer something different."

"Yeah, you might," Jazz agreed. "Won't be mad if you don't like it, don't gotta have all the same interests in a relationship."

Prowl smiled softly, still liking the sound of the word 'relationship.' He liked being with Jazz in general. "But I will try."

They drove back to Jazz's apartment shortly after that, having chosen to wander briefly through the shopping district near the outdoor market. Jazz was teaching Prowl how to cook, and while Prowl was not greatly skilled yet, he found the process fascinating.

"When I have a place of my own, I'll cook for you in return," Prowl promised as Jazz put the casserole into the oven.

"Yeah?"

"Yes. I expect I'll remain in the dorms as it's more economical if I can remain in school but I want to live on my own, at least for a while." Prowl wondered if Jazz would be upset that he didn't ask to move in with Jazz, but his lover just smiled at him.

"I think being on your own for a while after living communally your whole life's a good idea," Jazz told him. "Spend your whole life being told who you're supposed to be, how you're supposed to live and not fitting it, do you good to take some space and find out who you are without all that."

"That's very considerate of you, thank you."

"I want you to be happy," Jazz answered simply. "Sounds like you've got a plan for it – hope I'm part of it, but I know you've gotta find your own way."

"I would like you to be part of it," Prowl told him and leaned in to kiss him. Jazz kissed him back, hands coming up to cup Prowl's jaw. Prowl deepened the kiss and pressed Jazz back against the counter, heat rising between them.

"Got forty kliks to dinner," Jazz murmured as hands began to roam. "Just enough time."

"Do you want to spike me?" Prowl asked between kisses.

"Oh, frag yeah, but," Jazz kissed him gently, "still some things we gotta talk about. Contraception – don't mind wearing latex but a backup's nice – and what'll happen if it fails. Stuff like that. Plus, not always easy to take a spike the first time – the first few times, sometimes - so I want to make sure you're good and prepped. Not gonna hurt you, and I don't want to rush you either. Or get distracted, burn the casserole and set off the smoke alarms."

"That's – specific. Is that why you set the oven to shut off automatically?"

"Yeah, not fun to get interrupted by loud noises." Jazz trailed his fingers up Prowl's back, bringing them back on track. "Only noises I wanna hear are yours. But if you want my spike, there's a few things we can do."

Prowl was prepared to suck Jazz's spike again and certainly did not object to the idea, but Jazz guided him to the bedroom and him lie on it sideways.

"Open your cover," Jazz murmured, "and I'm just gonna get you a little messy, okay?"

"Okay," Prowl breathed and watched Jazz part his thighs, though not far enough to lie between them, which Prowl had been hoping for. Next, Jazz pulled a bottle of thin lubricant out of a drawer and poured a liberal amount into his palm. It certainly looked as if Jazz were going to ready him for interface.

"Gotta warm it up a little," Jazz explained, rubbing his hands together. "There's warming stuff you can get, but I'm out."

"What are you going to do?" Prowl asked curiously.

"It's called intercrural," Jazz told him and brushed his slick palms down Prowl's inner thighs. "That's the formal name, anyway. How it works is, I'm gonna slick these gorgeous thighs up, push 'em back together, and bury my spike between them. Then I'm gonna frag 'em. Gets my spike rubbing over your valve, node – think you're gonna love it."

Prowl had enjoyed everything Jazz had done with him so far, and he was sure he would also enjoy this. He watched with anticipation as Jazz, well, did exactly what he'd said he was going to do.

"Oh!" Prowl pushed himself up on his elbows to get a better view as Jazz's spike – also slicked – pushed between his snugly-held thighs and along the length of his valve, head bumping over his node. "Ah!"

"Yeah, good isn't it?" Jazz asked, pressing a kiss to Prowl's knee. "You need a moment?" Prowl shook his head. "Alright, let me – " Jazz thrust once, and Prowl gasped softly at the feeling of a spike sliding over his node and exterior valve. "Oh, frag, you're smooth. Warm, too."

Jazz's spike pressed hot and hard against Prowl's valve as he moved, stroking back and pushing forward.  

"Jazz!" Prowl moaned, falling back on the bed. Jazz's spike rubbed over his node, so different from a mouth.

"You love this, don't you?" Jazz groaned, watching Prowl intently, arms wrapped around Prowl's legs.

"Yes!" Prowl gasped, clutching at the bed. "I do! All of it, everything!"

"Just getting started," Jazz promised. "Gonna show you so much, lover."

Jazz leaned forward a little, spike pressing more firmly into Prowl's node, and whatever Prowl had been going to say scattered at the new burst of pleasure. His fingers scrabbled at the bed, seeking purchase, and finally he caught the edge of a pillow. It was soft, moveable, but it was something.

"Here, babe, here," Jazz said and reached down to grip Prowl's other hand, one arm still wrapped around Prowl's thighs. Prowl gripped Jazz's hand, lacing their fingers together while Jazz fragged his thighs. "Oh yeah, oh Prowler, gorgeous…!"

Prowl could only moan in response, beginning to squirm, and just that little extra bit of friction brought him so much closer to his overload. His valve contracted fitfully, and it wasn't just artificial lubricant slicking Jazz's spike now. Prowl imagined Jazz's spike inside his valve instead, filling him over and over and over…

"Oh, Primus!" Prowl moaned as he overloaded. He was still sprawled there in a haze when Jazz stiffened, overloading, streaking Prowl's abdomen with transfluid.

"Oh yeah," Jazz groaned, leaning briefly against Prowl's knee before carefully freeing himself and moving to sprawl on the bed. He snuggled up, putting his head on Prowl's shoulder. "Feel good, babe?"

"Yes," Prowl said and turned his head to put a kiss on Jazz's helm.

"Mmm, me too." Jazz sighed contentedly. "Gimme a moment, and I'll clean us up."

Prowl didn't mind being messy if it meant he got to feel the way he did when Jazz made love with him. Prowl dragged his fingers through the streaks of transfluid Jazz had left on his abdomen and rubbed the thin, slippery gel between his fingers. He wondered what it would feel like inside of him. He hoped he'd get to experience that soon.

Jazz did as he'd said and rested for only a few kliks before cleaning them up. Though narrowly, they hadn't needed to worry about the automatic timer on the oven. For a first attempt, Prowl thought, it wasn't bad. Perhaps learning to cook, at least enough to keep himself from constantly ordering out, would not be so difficult.

"You said there were still some things we needed to talk about," Prowl reminded Jazz, remembering what they'd started once they were finished with their fuel preparation.

Jazz nodded, swallowing. "Contraception, right. I've got an implant like I said back at the monastery. Have you gotten anything since you came to Iacon?"

Prowl shook his head. "No. I've not had the chance – and I'm unsure how to go about it. You said you would wear latex?"

"Condoms, yeah, 'course. They can break, so some people get a backup, just in case. Might want to play with those anyway; textures and stuff can be fun. "

Prowl put that aside to ask about later, although he was always curious to try something new in bed with Jazz. "What do you recommend?"

"These are really personal decisions," Jazz said, "so what works for me might not be what you want or what works for you. I can tell you about some options, though."

"Please." Unsurprisingly, Prowl's education had not covered this, as he was not supposed to interface at all.

"Okay, well, there are implants like the one I have that prevent your spark from getting enough charge to split off a sparklet," Jazz started. "You can get a medic to install contraceptive code to prevent uploading data from your partner, or a diaphragm you install at the back of your valve to prevent fluid from getting into the uptake. You can shut off the whole works, the entire repro system. That one's surgical 'cause it involves disconnecting stuff and making sure your repair systems don't hook it back up again. It's the most invasive, but it's also the one with the lowest chance of failure. And reversible, don't worry about that. Just might take some time for your systems to get back with the program, is all. Whichever one you choose is up to you, though."

"Where would I go to get one when I've decided which one I want?"

"D'you have a doctor in Iacon?"

"Not one I can go to for this." Prowl had access to the physicians for his order, but going to them for contraception would raise too many questions.

"There's a clinic on campus," Jazz told him, "and a walk-in clinic at the hospital specifically for this twice a deca-cycle. I'll lend you my terminal to do research if you're not comfy doing it back in your dorm."

Prowl smiled a little at that. "I don't think they're actively monitoring me, but thank you. And, I plan to revoke my vows shortly anyway. I only need to ensure I can maintain myself during the period between leaving and, hopefully, having my student funding approved."

"You'll figure it out," Jazz said confidently. "Mech as smart as you? No question. Ask me if there's anything you need help with – anything at all, Prowler. I know you wanna be independent, but we can all use some help sometimes."

"Thank you," Prowl said simply, feeling warmed by his lover's concern. He couldn't be entirely sure what the future would bring, but if it held more nights like this, he was sure it would be a good one.

Chapter Text

Prowl was confident that his terminal in his dorm room was not being monitored but had installed security programs Jazz had provided him anyway. If he was being monitored, these would prevent it, and if he wasn't, there was no harm in having them there. The programs were probably copies of the security programs Jazz used in his work, which Prowl thought might be a bit excessive, but at the very least, they made Jazz feel better.

Besides, Prowl was just as glad not to risk an audience for lots of what they talked about and did.

"Got a dorm room all to yourself, huh," Jazz said on one of their first video calls. "How'd you manage that?"

"Luck," Prowl responded because that was really what it had been. "But I'm certainly not disputing the result."

"Nah, me neither," Jazz said. "Good to talk to you privately even if we can't be together."

"Can't be together yet," Prowl corrected and rubbed his fingertips along the edge of the desk. "I resubmitted my petition for release from my vows to the abbot of the local chapter today. It's uncommon for a second request to be rejected or the applicant to be redirected again."

"What will you do if yours is?"

"Escalate my request to the next level," Prowl replied. "If that's unsuccessful – I'm not sure. The higher I go, the less likely a petition from a monk of my rank will be seen."

"You want us to 'accidentally' get caught? Just say the word."

"There would be fallout from that; being involuntarily removed is the layperson's version of being fired," Prowl cautioned and added, "but it might be necessary. Sending me here was meant to make me see how much better the quiet life in the monastery was. It's only made me want to leave more."

"Good luck, Prowler," Jazz said sincerely. "Hope you can get everything working out for you."

But a deca-cycle went by, and Prowl didn't have an update for his lover. Nor had he been able to see Jazz during that deca-cycle because the mech was busy with his job. Prowl was honestly surprised Jazz had as much time for him as he did, sometimes.

"I know I should give it time," Prowl said, and he did because the abbot would be concerned with his own monks first, but it was still frustrating, "but I would like it if we didn't have to pretend."

"Me too," Jazz said and smiled wistfully. "Sure do miss kissing you."

Prowl glanced away, but he was smiling. "It's only been a deca-cycle. You've gone longer without it."

"Yeah, and I missed it then, too. At least this time, I get to look at you when we're apart. Not that I didn't enjoy the memories, but the real thing?" Jazz looked Prowl over, making him feel warm inside. "So much better, lover."

"You make me feel," Prowl broke off and shook his head. "I don't know. But, it's good."

"Yeah," Jazz said softly, "yeah, it is."

"I – " Prowl felt a sudden burst of shyness and needed to change the subject. "I have made my appointment with the hospital clinic. I've decided to opt for the implant, at least for now. Opting for surgery, even day surgery, would raise too many questions, given that there would have to be some recovery time. However, there will still be several cycles afterward when I'm not permitted to overload."

"Oh, yeah?" Jazz asked, going along with Prowl's change of subject. "Looking to get a few out of the way before the dry spell?"

"I would like that," Prowl said. "Once the call is finished, or – perhaps I could come to visit you?"

"Or," Jazz said, drawing out the word, "we could try out comm sex instead of waiting. I tell you everything I wanna do to you, and you tell me everything you wanna do to me, and we each rub one out."

"Oh," Prowl said, unconsciously rubbing his hand along his thigh. "Yes. Yes, we could do that."

"You like to use your spike or your node and valve?" Jazz asked, pushing his chair back and opening his spike cover.

"I've only used my valve and node so far," Prowl told him, taking his cue from Jazz and pushing back so his array would be visible in the camera pickup. It felt delightfully forbidden to expose himself on camera. "Should I try my spike? Would you like to see that?"

Jazz stared. "Uh…are you meaning to sound so fragging hot, or was that a genuine question that just happened to sound so fragging hot?"

"It was a genuine question, but I don't mind the side effects."

"Mmm." Jazz was lightly circling his spike housing. "Me neither. And I mean it, lover, you are damn hot. Not just because of how you look, though I've definitely got no complaints there!"

Prowl slid a hand along his thigh, armour still closed, and moved closer to his panel as he stroked back up. "You like my structure?"

"I fragging adore it, Prowler. Wanna know what I'd do to it if I was there?"

"Yes," Prowl said, tracing his fingers along the edge of his panel, sure Jazz was tracking the movement. "I do."

"Would kiss you for starters," Jazz said, watching Prowl intently. "Because I can never get enough of that. Get my fingers on that pretty bumper of yours, trace all around that gorgeous curve. Kiss your neck and collar fairing, too, 'cause that always feels good. Sit you down on the couch, maybe the bed, and get between your thighs. Kiss you all over till you can't stand it anymore, and your panel snaps open."

Prowl was not sure if Jazz meant that to be a hint, but he was sure his lover would like it if he took it as one. He opened his armour, exposing his valve, and slouched a little more in the chair to show it off better. Going by Jazz's expression, it was undoubtedly something that held appeal.

"Yeah, like that," Jazz said, slowly teasing his spike into pressurization.

"What would you do next?" Prowl asked, still not quite touching his valve.

"Tease you a little. Wanna make you anticipate but not tease you too much. Kiss your thighs – you've got some fragging fine legs, Prowler – until you start to squirm a little. Get my mouth on your valve and hear that little gasp you make."

"Do you like that?"

"Love it."

"Mmm." Prowl slid his fingers over his node and didn't suppress his gasp. Jazz's visor darkened in desire. "Is that the sound?"

"Oh yeah."

"Will you give me more reasons to make it?"

"Better believe it, lover." Jazz's spike was in his hand now, though not yet fully pressurized. "Love to go down on you, spike or valve."

Prowl opened his legs wider, showing himself off to Jazz and wishing they were together in person. He could faintly hear people passing by in the hallway and knew he must keep his voice down. But even just knowing that other people were so close was titillating.

"What else would you do?" Prowl asked, watching Jazz's hand moving slowly along his spike.

"Oh, I'd eat you out for ages," Jazz said, lust in his voice. "Make you come twice, at least. At least. Get you so wet, my fingers just slip right into you."

"Oh," Prowl said, imagining it. "Yes." He carefully tested his entrance, but he wasn't quite wet enough to use his own fingers yet. It wouldn't take long with the way Jazz was describing what he wanted to do to him.

"When you're lying there all blissed out and soaking wet," Jazz continued, "I'm gonna cover you, kiss you slowly, ask you if you still want me inside you."

"I'll say yes," Prowl told him, rolling his node between his fingers. Oh!

"I'll push into you real slow," Jazz said, watching Prowl's reactions. Prowl knew he would watch Prowl just as carefully when this fantasy became a reality, make sure Prowl enjoyed his first spiking as much as he'd enjoyed everything else. "Work my way in while you gasp and cry out for more until I'm hilted, housing deep, inside you. When I stop, you'll maybe shake a little but need to pause because having a spike inside you feels so new and maybe a little strange. It'll feel bigger than fingers, that's for sure."

"Much bigger than fingers," Prowl agreed since he already knew what Jazz's spike felt like in his hand, in his mouth.

"Heh, flatterer," Jazz teased, even though he was now stroking himself a little faster. "Mmm…When I'm in you, and you're fluttering all around me 'cause your sweet tight valve doesn't know what to make of my spike, I'm gonna hold still. Give you all the time you need to get used to me, and when you're ready, when you tell me, I'm gonna start to move. I'll go slow, oh Prowler, I'm gonna make love to you slow and sweet. The way  you deserve, lover."

"Jazz…" Prowl was wet enough now: he slipped a finger inside himself, knowing it wasn't the same as a spike, but he just needed something inside himself. He didn't miss the way Jazz's gaze focused on his action.

"Oh, yeah, Prowler," Jazz murmured. 'Primus, you're gorgeous. I'm gonna make love to you, alright, watch you come apart on my spike and not just once, either."

"Yes," Prowl gasped, and the finger felt good, but he needed stimulation on his node, so he went back to that, circling and rolling it. He would come this way soon. "Oh!"

"Go on, Prowl," Jazz urged, voice thick. "Go on, get off for me."

Prowl moaned softly at Jazz's words, and it took less than two kliks before he overloaded, thighs closing hard around his hand as he bowed forward. He raised his head just far enough to watch Jazz climax with a groan.

"That was good," Prowl murmured when he saw Jazz's visor power back on. "Although, I would prefer to do that in person."

"Me too," Jazz agreed and smiled. "Soon, babe."

"Very soon." Prowl smiled softly at his lover. "I miss being with you."

"Miss you too. I'm gonna kiss you so many times the next time we meet up."

"Just kisses?"

"Just kisses to start. This weekend?"

"Only if I can stay the night," Prowl told him.

"Deal, babe!"

Chapter Text

Prowl's appointment at the clinic was with a soft-voiced doctor named First Aid, shadowed by a quiet nurse named Charter. Prowl's RFID still broadcast his status as a monk, but First Aid didn't ask why a monk wanted contraceptives. He just consulted Prowl's chart, scanned him, checked to make sure he wasn't already carrying or in the process of budding, and did a quick physical before asking Prowl if he had any questions about the implant.

"No," Prowl said. "I researched it thoroughly before deciding on it."

"Good. I just have to remind you that as good as the implant is, its effectiveness isn't a hundred percent. There's still a small chance you could conceive, even with the implant."

Prowl nodded. "I know. My partner and I have discussed it."

"Are you already interfacially active?"

"Yes."

"Okay. Prowl, I know you've probably done your research, and I hope you've had a good talk with your partner about health and expectations," First Aid said. "But I'm going to review some of the basics with you before we install your implant just to be sure you're properly informed."

First Aid gave Prowl more information on the implant and its efficiency, and his options if it failed and he became sparked. Prowl had expected this but listened anyway because First Aid might have information or suggestions Prowl hadn't found on his own. First Aid also asked Prowl a few questions that Prowl thought might be designed to ensure Prowl wasn't being coerced or in an otherwise abusive relationship. There was more discussion of the importance of consent, how to prevent interfacially transmitted diseases and how there was no shame in seeking treatment for one if you were infected.

"Remember," First Aid concluded, "anything you tell me, or any other medical professional, is completely confidential unless we have reason to believe you or someone else is in danger."

"I understand."

"Alright, good." First Aid's visor glowed warmly: a smile. "Let's go install your implant, Prowl."

Prowl had had exams before, but he'd never had a medical procedure unless you counted his spark being installed in his structure, and he didn't remember that, naturally. It was a little unnerving to lie back in a room with strangers, as nice as they were and as safe as he felt with First Aid and bare his spark. Having the device installed certainly felt odd and a little uncomfortable, but it was over fairly quickly.

"You can lie there for a while if you need to," First Aid told him as Prowl closed his chest plates. "There's software accompanying it, but it will install the next time you recharge. No overloads for three cycles, and schedule a follow-up appointment in a deca-cycle on your way out so we can ensure everything is in place and functioning correctly. If something doesn't feel right, come back here or visit any other clinic just to make sure. Rejection or malfunction is rare, but it can happen, so err on the side of caution."

Prowl said he would, accepted an upload on interfacial health, and made his follow-up appointment. When he left, there was no outward sign of the new component, but Prowl knew it was there. One more secret just for himself and Jazz – though Prowl hoped his time of having to keep such secrets would soon be over.

That hope was realized a few cycles after his appointment with First Aid. Prowl received notice that his petition had been granted, and he was released from his vows as a lay monk!

"Prowler!" Jazz exclaimed when Prowl told him, looking almost as delighted as Prowl felt. "That's fantastic! I know you wanted that real bad, lover."

"I did," Prowl replied, unable to stop smiling. "This semester of university is covered, and I can stay in the dorms. I'll need to apply to have any remaining education covered, but I've plenty of time to secure that and find employment if I need it."

"I'll help you out however I can," Jazz promised. "Just tell me what you need."

"I will," Prowl told him. He wasn't sure what he was qualified for outside of the monastery, but now he had the opportunity to find out.

"Want to go out to celebrate?" Jazz offered. "Anywhere you like, lover."

"I – " Prowl tried to think of something he and Jazz would enjoy, and he'd never done. "I've never been to a play."

"Yeah?" Jazz considered. "You said you like murder mysteries, right? Ever heard of The Glitch-Mouse Trap?"

Prowl hadn't, but a quick search of the DataNet took care of that. It certainly did look intriguing. "No, but I would like to."

"Alright. Any particular night?" Jazz asked. Prowl had no preference and said so. "Dinner and a show, then. A classic."

Jazz and Prowl went to the play on the weekend. Prowl was more comfortable in restaurants now than he had been and was even confident enough to order for himself. They went to the play together, and Prowl felt a happy little thrill run through them that he could hold Jazz's hand openly as they walked down the street.

The play was excellent: engaging and a mystery whose solution even Prowl didn't see coming. Jazz bought him a drink at intermission, and they wandered through the theatre lobby, looking at posters from past performances. Jazz had seen each of them, not necessarily here, and he told Prowl a little about them before they had to go back for the second act.

"I enjoyed that very much," Prowl told Jazz as they left the theatre hand-in-hand. "I think I'd like to see another one sometime."

"Sure thing, lover. But hey, I know this is your night, but there's something I wanna do."

"What?"

Jazz stopped them under a streetlight and gently turned Prowl's face toward him. "This."

Jazz leaned in to kiss him, telegraphing his intent so Prowl had time to pull away, to refuse if he wanted to. He didn't. They stood there and kissed softly under the streetlight with no worries at all. Anyone who knew who Prowl was would surely know he was no longer a monk and no longer under the restrictions of that life.

"What do you want to do now?" Jazz asked when they drew apart.

"Mmm." Prowl kissed him again, briefly. "Take me home?"

Jazz nodded, and he had to know what Prowl wanted. Prowl was sure Jazz wanted that too. "You got it, lover."

"I've had my follow-up appointment," Prowl said as they walked into Jazz's apartment. "My implant installed properly. I'm as safe from budding a spark as you are. If – when – you're willing, I want you to spike me."

"Oh, I'm willing, lover," Jazz said sincerely. "Question is, are you ready?"

"Yes," Prowl said with certainty. "I've been ready and willing since the monastery. I would have asked far earlier, but your points about both of us having contraceptives engaged were valid. Whether I want creations isn't something I've even thought about, but I know I certainly don't want them now."

Jazz nodded and let Prowl draw him toward the bedroom. "Alright. Something else to talk about later. For now – you know I've fantasized about spiking you, but is there anything you want from tonight? Any special setup you've always pictured?"

Prowl shook his head. "No. I don't need anything out of the ordinary."

"It doesn't have to be a need, Prowler. It can be something you want. Like, a glass of wine, soft lights, that kind of thing?"

Prowl hadn't thought about any of this before, but "soft lights do sound nice."

"Okay."

Jazz must have accessed the bedroom lights remotely, bringing them to a soft, warm glow. It was romantic, and Prowl understood why Jazz had suggested it.

"It's lovely," Prowl told Jazz. "Thank you." He kissed Jazz, soft and sweet, drawing it out, then sat on the bed and tugged Jazz down with him. They lay down on their sides, already tangled together, kissing eagerly.

"You're so gorgeous," Jazz murmured, running a hand down Prowl's thigh and pulling the mech's leg over his hip. "Always love being with you, y'know that? Not just for the interfacing, either – though it's fantastic, not gonna lie."

"I enjoy being with you, too," Prowl told him. "And it isn't just the interfacing for me, either. I miss you when we're not together."

Jazz brushed his fingers over Prowl's cheek. "Same here, Prowler. Hoping you not being a monk anymore means we can spend a whole lot more time together."

"So am I," Prowl said and kissed him again. They lay there for a while, kissing and caressing, and Prowl's temperature gradually rose.

"Oh, this is good," Jazz sighed between kisses.

"Yes," Prowl agreed, curling his fingers under Jazz's bumper. There were sensitive spots there when Jazz was in root mode, and Prowl ghosted gentle touches over them all, making Jazz shiver. "But, I would like more."

"Yeah?"

"Yes." Prowl shifted onto his back, and Jazz followed, pushing up on one arm and looking down at Prowl. "I want you to spike me. I want to know what it's like."

 "I'll be careful," Jazz promised with a kiss before working his way down Prowl's throat and dibbling gently.

"You always are," Prowl said, tipping his head back to give Jazz better access. "I trust you."

"I know." Jazz pressed his cheek against Prowl's briefly. "I won't break that trust, Prowl, I promise you. I'll make this good for you."

"You always do," Prowl told him.

"Been there for a lot of your firsts," Jazz said with a kiss to Prowl's shoulder before mouthing his collar fairing. "Glad to hear they were good ones. This one will be as well."

"Yes," Prowl agreed.

Jazz kissed him again and then kept kissing, down over his jaw and throat, down his chest. Prowl cupped Jazz's helm in his hands and gently teased his lover's audial horns, eagerly spreading his legs so Jazz could lie between them. Jazz took his time, not only kissing Prowl but caressing him, seeking out all Prowl's most sensitive spots. Prowl kept his armour closed because they both liked to make him open on his own.

Prowl had expected that Jazz would go down on his valve, especially since they planned for Prowl to be spiked tonight, but once Prowl's armour opened, Jazz began to mouth his spike housing instead. Prowl was certainly not about to complain! He moaned softly, still stroking Jazz's helm and encouraging him to coax Prowl's spike to full pressurization.

"Oh!" Prowl arched just a little when Jazz took his spike in his mouth. "Mmm!"

'Gonna eat you out a bit too. I just love how you get all relaxed after I suck you off,' Jazz told him. 'I'm gonna finger you after, stretch you out a bit, okay? Then I'll spike you, if you still want it, starting real slow.'

Prowl moaned again. "Yes!"

'You're so gorgeous,' Jazz sighed and then focussed on Prowl's pleasure with no more words, not that Prowl could have managed any coherent response. Jazz was taking him deep, enough so that Prowl could feel the mech's throat around the head of his spike. Prowl cupped Jazz's helm in his hands, gasping, crying out when Jazz's fingers wrapped around the very base of his spike. Prowl's valve was wet, too, though he barely noticed because it was too hard to pull his attention away from what Jazz's mouth was doing.

"Oh," Prowl whispered when he got close. "Oh, Jazz, oh, I'm going to come, I'm going – I'm - !"

Jazz didn't pull away, and Prowl overloaded with a low groan. Jazz mouthed his lover's spike to softness, only leaving off when Prowl started to squirm with sensitivity. Jazz's hand slid down Prowl's thigh, warm and strong, the fingertips slightly roughened from stringed instruments, so close to his valve. Prowl remembered the mech's promise to finger him and wondered how Jazz's fingers would feel compared to his own.

"Still good?" Jazz asked, pushing himself up to look at Prowl.

"Yes, yes," Prowl moaned. "Don't stop!"

Jazz crawled backward a little and lowered himself down between Prowl's thighs. "Anything you want, gorgeous."

Jazz nuzzled and kissed Prowl's thighs, caressed the sensitive spots on the back of his knees and then slowly slid one finger inside Prowl's valve.

"Mmm," Prowl sighed, tracing a circle around one of his headlights.

"Primus, you're wet," Jazz said and kissed the crease of Prowl's thigh, making him twitch. "Another?"

"Oh, yes, please!" Prowl had used two fingers on himself; he knew he could handle it. But he had been right; Jazz's fingers felt slightly different from his own. They were more slender, crooked differently within him. "Yes!"

"Let me know if this is uncomfortable," Jazz said, flexing his fingers inside Prowl, gently stretching him.

"Mm, no, it's good," Prowl told him, one hand caressing Jazz's helm and the other teasing under his own bumper. Jazz stretched him just a little more, then carefully began to work his fingers, still all three of them, in and out of Prowl's valve. "Oh! Mmm…"

"Primus, you're wet," Jazz murmured, watching Prowl. "You like this?"

"Yes," Prowl breathed. "It's good, different…"

Jazz kissed Prowl's hip, fingers still moving. "Been pleasing yourself like this, Prowler?"

"Yes," Prowl moaned, rocking his hips up to try and get Jazz's fingers deeper.

"Frag, just look at you!" Jazz kissed the crease of Prowl's thigh, making him twitch, then placed a line of gentle kisses over to just above his valve. He teased Prowl with light licks and kisses, still pumping his fingers in and out of Prowl, before moving down to first brush kisses over his node and then suck lightly on it.

"Oh, yes, Jazz, please, more!"

Jazz did what Prowl wanted, crooking his fingers and stroking the sensitive plexus on the front of Prowl's valve. Prowl cried out, arching up, valve squeezing Jazz's fingers tight and covering them with a fresh rush of slick. Jazz stopped pumping his fingers but didn't stop mouthing Prowl's valve, and Prowl was alright with that because even if he had just overloaded, he was still running hot and wanted more!

"Yes!" Prowl moaned. "Yes, yes!"

'I'll make you come again, lover,' Jazz promised. 'And again, until you're ready for my spike or done, whichever you want.'

"Spike!" Prowl moaned. "I want…I want your spike. I want…Ohhh!"

'Yeah,' Jazz crooned. 'Oh, Prowler, gorgeous, gonna make this so good for you!'

Prowl overloaded again, clutching at Jazz. He was wet and ready, and he needed…!

"I'm ready!" Prowl gasped. "Please, Jazz, I'm ready!"

"You got it, lover," Jazz said softly, pulling back and placing soft kisses on Prowl's thigh, his hip, up his whole body. "Tell me how you want me."

Chapter Text

"I'm ready!" Prowl gasped. "Please, Jazz, I'm ready!"

"You got it, lover," Jazz said softly, pulling back and placing soft kisses on Prowl's thigh, his hip, up his whole body. "Tell me how you want me."

Prowl reached for Jazz to pull him closer. "Here, like this."

"You want me above you, huh?" Jazz asked, shivering a little when Prowl slipped a hand between them to palm his spike, fully pressurized and hard as iron.

Prowl spread his legs, pulling his knees back so Jazz had more than enough space to cover him. "Yes, yes!"

Jazz kissed him. "Yeah, it's a good one. Feels so good, having a mech between your thighs like that. Love feeling a lover come down on me. Guide me in when you're ready."

Prowl, feeling vulnerable and yet safe, understood. And he certainly wasn't going to keep Jazz – or himself - waiting any longer. He wrapped his legs around Jazz and urged him forward, guiding the mech's spike to his valve.

"Yes!" Prowl said breathlessly, watching Jazz's face and feeling pleased and proud by the shiver of need that went through his lover's body when spike pressed against wet valve.

The head of Jazz's spike pressed at the entrance of his valve, and Prowl's entire body flooded with heat and anticipation. He framed Jazz's face in his hands and hitched his legs slightly higher over Jazz's hips.

"Ready, Prowler?" Jazz asked in a husky voice, clearly wanting to push in but needing to know Prowl was ready.

"Yes," Prowl answered, looking into his lover's visor. "I am. Please, Jazz."

Jazz nodded and turned his face to briefly kiss Prowl's palm. "Tell me if you need me to stop."

"I will," Prowl promised, hoping Jazz wouldn't delay further.

"Primus, you're so perfect," Jazz murmured, pushing carefully forward.

Prowl gasped softly, feeling Jazz's spike, anyone's spike, enter him for the first time. Jazz went slowly, watching Prowl the whole time. Prowl was so, so ready, relaxed from overloads, and soaking wet, but his valve fluttered and seized alternately, unsure what to make of this, different from fingers. Jazz was patient, stilling and waiting for the channel to relax each time and then pressing in a little further. But the tension was just reflex action, physiological, and certainly did not mean hesitation on Prowl's part. Prowl was as eager as ever, moaning as Jazz opened him up, filled him up, slowly and intently pushing his walls apart. Prowl moaned unsteadily, spreading his legs wider and clutching his lover, trying to pull the mech in deeper.

"Jazz!" Prowl cried out when Jazz stopped, housing deep in Prowl at last.

Jazz leaned his head on Prowl's chest, panting softly. "Oh, Prowler! Oh, lover, baby, you're so tight – you're okay? No pain?"

"None," Prowl told him, running his hands down Jazz's back. "None. Jazz, it's perfect, there's no pain, I want – I want –

"Want me to move?" Jazz asked.

"Please! Yes!"

There was a little resistance on Jazz's first few thrusts back in, but Jazz was still patient, and Prowl's valve soon welcomed him as willingly as Prowl did.

"Oh, you're gorgeous," Jazz breathed, pushing himself up to look at Prowl again. "Just gorgeous, look at you."

Stunned by the newness of it all, Prowl wasn't together enough to give a reply, but Jazz didn't seem to expect one. Prowl just – Prowl just clung and moaned and cried out, overloading around Jazz's spike in no time at all.

"Need to stop?" Jazz asked once Prowl's optics powered back on. Jazz wasn't moving, but he was still inside Prowl and still hard.

Prowl was still too blissed out to move much, but he smiled and brushed his fingers gently over Jazz's mouth. "Mmmm….no. More?"

"Yeah, baby," Jazz said gently and kissed him. "Love to give you more."

Jazz went more slowly this time, not that he'd been fast or rough before, and Prowl's next overload was softer, longer, drawing a low moan from him rather than a loud cry.

"Prowler," Jazz groaned. "Can I - ?"

Prowl could feel the mech's spike swelling in him and knew his lover was close. "Oh, yes!"

Jazz shuddered and bent down, pressing his cheek against Prowl's. Prowl held him, no longer aroused himself but enjoying the afterglow and wanting to feel his lover's climax. Before long, Jazz moaned and buried himself deep inside Prowl, who gasped softly to feel a mech spill inside him for the first time. Jazz stayed atop him, cooling systems running at maximum, for a few moments more, then carefully pulled out. He collapsed onto his side and tugged Prowl into his arms. Prowl nestled happily against his lover and twined their legs together. Jazz's systems hummed away under Prowl's audial, and his valve felt pleasantly stretched.

"That was wonderful," Prowl sighed, and Jazz kissed the top of his helm tenderly.

"Yeah, it was sweetspark," Jazz said softly. "Glad to know it was good for you. How are you feeling?"

"Mm." Prowl nuzzled Jazz's chest. "Extremely happy. That was…exactly what I wanted."

"I'm glad," Jazz said, hugging Prowl tightly. "Love seeing you enjoy yourself, babe."

"I always enjoy being with you," Prowl told him truthfully.

"I enjoy being with you, too." Jazz stroked his side. "Anything you want right now?"

"Will you spike me again? Soon?" Prowl asked hopefully, and Jazz laughed gently.

"Not tonight, lover, it'll make you sore, but – yeah. Definitely want to make love with you a whole lot more." He kissed Prowl's helm again. "Stay the night?"

"Mmm, yes. Don't want to move." Prowl didn't want to leave Jazz's arms or Jazz at all, but it felt too early to say that.

"Yeah," Jazz said softly and hugged Prowl tight. "Me neither."

Prowl felt just as good waking up the following day as he had falling asleep in Jazz's arms. Oh, there had been a break in their cuddling to clean up, but it had been short. There was no soreness, but if Prowl clenched his valve, he could still feel a faint ache in the tensors. It wasn't an unpleasant one, just the feeling of well-used muscles. Prowl rolled over and tucked himself up against Jazz, who put his arm around him.

"Morning, beautiful," Jazz said, fingers trailing idly up and down Prowl's arm. "How're you feeling?"

"Happy," Prowl answered simply. "Good morning, darling."

"Hey, 'darling,' I like the sound of that." Jazz kissed Prowl's temple. "Want some breakfast?"

"Yes, please." Prowl made to get up, but Jazz shook his head.

"I'll bring you breakfast in bed," Jazz promised and kissed him gently. "Be right back."

Jazz brought their breakfast back in just a few kliks, and Prowl leaned happily against Jazz, his lover's arm around his shoulders, while they fuelled. Jazz occasionally brushed a kiss over his helm.

"Want to have a lazy weekend in?" Jazz offered. "Got enough fuel, movies, streaming services if I don't own something we feel like watching. And I've got plenty of music I haven't played for you yet."

"That sounds like a perfect weekend," Prowl told him contentedly.

"Yeah, it does, doesn't it?" Jazz pressed a long kiss to Prowl's helm. "Glad I'm spending it with you, Prowl."

Prowl let his head rest on Jazz's shoulder. "So am I."

Chapter Text

They had finished their breakfasts, and Jazz had set the cubes aside and snuggled up with Prowl again. Prowl was content in Jazz's arms for a long time, but he was also very aware of his lover's body pressed against his, and he couldn't stop thinking about Jazz spiking him the previous night if he tried. Prowl hummed quietly, nuzzled Jazz's chest and shoulder, and ran a hand over his body.

"Thought you were looking forward to a lazy weekend, lover?" Jazz teased, clearly having discerned Prowl's intent – not that it would be terribly difficult. "Suppose we can go slow."

Prowl twisted to kiss his way up Jazz's chest to his throat. "I suppose we could."

"Won't say 'no' to that," Jazz said, cupping Prowl's waist as the mech straddled his thighs. "Definitely not. Oh, you look good there."

"Would you like to spike me like this?" Prowl asked, moving on to nibble the edge of Jazz's helm.

"Do you feel up to it?" Jazz wanted to know, fingers warm on Prowl's waist.

"I'm alright," Prowl promised. Jazz's hands were beginning to roam, which Prowl considered a positive development. "We can finish another way if I get sore."

"Yeah, we can, lover," Jazz agreed, caressing the curve of Prowl's bumper. He skimmed a hand down Prowl's body and slid it between Prowl's thighs, teasing the edges of his panel. Jazz's knuckles barely brushed against Prowl's inner thigh, and he sighed in pleasure. Prowl opened his armour and rocked down into Jazz's touch. "Oh yeah. Love to touch you; you make the sweetest sounds when you're getting turned on."

"I love the way you touch me," Prowl told him. Jazz rolled his node gently, and Prowl shivered a little. "Oh, yes! Mmm!"

"Sounds just like that, sweetspark," Jazz murmured. "Yeah. Lift up a little, let me – there you go."

Jazz had freed his spike, not yet at full pressurization but full enough to press deliciously into Prowl's valve folds and against his node. Prowl rubbed against it, and Jazz groaned softly, catching Prowl's hips in his hands.

"You're already a bit wet," Jazz said, guiding Prowl to rock back and forth, rubbing the ridge of his spike's head against Prowl's node repeatedly. "Make sure you're really slick before you take me in. Go slow at first, just like last night, don't rush and hurt yourself."

"I won't," Prowl promised, skimming eager fingers along Jazz's transformation seams, wishing the ones for his speakers weren't hidden behind Prowl's legs. Prowl could have gotten to them if he moved, but then the head of Jazz's spike wouldn't be doing that to his node; Prowl didn't want to get to the seams that badly. Instead, he leaned down to kiss and nibble his lover's neck again. Jazz never stopped touching him; Prowl never stopped rubbing against his spike. It got easier to slide as he got wetter, and finally, he shifted just a little, rocked forward and then back and caught the head of Jazz's spike in the entrance to his valve.

Jazz groaned. "Oh, frag!"

Prowl thought he was wet enough to take Jazz's spike, which was thick and hard against him, enticing him. "May I - ?"

"Please!"

Prowl pressed backward slowly, taking Jazz's spike inside himself. His valve tensed a few times, still not used to this, and he had to pause to let it relax again. But there was still no pain, and it was easier even than it had been for Jazz the previous night. It felt good, different, pressing on new places in his valve, opening him in new ways. The pressure against the front of his valve, behind his node, was more intense and the base of the heavy spike seemed to stretch him wider. Settled, unable to take any more, Prowl gave himself a moment to adjust before he started to move, putting Jazz's hands on his hips so the mech could guide him.

Prowl would have just moved up and down, but Jazz guided him into a rocking motion and – yes, that would be easier.

"That's it, that's so good!" Jazz told him, rolling his hips up as Prowl moved back on his spike. "Here, lean forward a little more, and you'll – yeah, like that."

Prowl's new position made his node rub gently against the rim of Jazz's spike housing, adding a little extra edge to his pleasure. Prowl gasped and braced his hands on Jazz's shoulders, rocking back and forth and watching his lover. Jazz kept his hands on Prowl's hips even once he had gotten his rhythm down, offering praise and encouragement.

"So good," Prowl moaned and experimentally circled his hips, making Jazz gasp sharply.

"Oh, do that again!"

Prowl didn't need any encouragement to do that again because it had felt so good, pressure against different places in his valve.

"Mmm, yeah!" Jazz groaned. "Oh, Prowler, keep going, don't stop!"

Prowl loved hearing his lover's sounds, loved feeling him inside just as much. It wasn't easy to keep from overloading, but Prowl was determined to ensure his lover came first. Prowl clenched his valve tighter and rode Jazz just a little faster, chasing his overload. Jazz's spike stiffened and swelled inside him, and Prowl ground down when Jazz bucked under him and came. Prowl stopped holding back after that, riding harder and harder until he followed his lover over the edge.

"Oh!" Prowl gasped, braced on his hands but still swaying. "Oh, Jazz!" He wrung out as much of an overload as he could until he was too shaky and drained to do any more. "Jazz…"

"C'mere, c'mere," Jazz murmured, still guiding Prowl but down this time, to snuggle on top of him. He pressed a kiss to Prowl's helm. "There you go. So good, lover. Mmm. You like that one, huh?"

Prowl sighed happily, blissed out from his overload. "Mhm."

"Me too." Jazz kissed Prowl's helm again. "Definitely worth a replay."

"Mm." Prowl nuzzled him. "Your turn next time."

"You got it, babe."

Chapter Text

Even new lovers couldn't stay in bed forever: they had to clean up and refuel. Eventually, they wound up on the couch in Jazz's living room, listening to music. Well, half listening and half making out, occasionally breaking off to listen and cuddle. They'd briefly fed each other goodies, and Prowl could still taste the sweetness in Jazz's kisses.

"Want to watch a movie?" Jazz asked when the last music track faded out.

"Yes, alright." Prowl was more interested in kissing Jazz's throat, but a movie could also be interesting.

"The one I'm thinking of has some 'facing scenes. That okay?"

"Mmhm." Prowl had found a spot on one of Jazz's throat tensors that made Jazz's voice box give the most fascinating little hitches and was exploring it thoroughly. "It's fine."

"Okay." Jazz ran a hand down his back. "It's not full-out porn or anything, but I didn't want you to be uncomfortable."

Unsurprisingly, Prowl had never watched pornography. He was curious, though. "Perhaps we can try some porn later."

Jazz laughed a little breathlessly because Prowl had added fingers under his bumper to the tender nibbles of that so-sensitive throat cable. "You bet, babe."

They spent most of the movie making out, meaning Prowl paid only partial attention to the movie, but he was vaguely aware it involved a mystery plot. He'd solved the plot with only a few clues given in the first third of the film and was now working his way down Jazz's chest. Prowl was paying even less attention to the romantic subplot, but he did recognize when the interfacing scene began by the sounds and turned his head to watch. The actors were simulating nothing he and Jazz hadn't done, and one of them was a sleek racing frame Prowl fairly sure played a dancer. He did like dancers, what he'd seen of them at least. Prowl slid a hand down Jazz's thigh, mimicking what he saw on the screen and his lover lightly teased the edge of his chevron.

"Like what you see, lover?" Jazz asked, glancing over at the screen. "Wanting a little more, huh?"

"Yes." Prowl saw nothing wrong with admitting what he felt to Jazz. It was freeing to be able to admit it at all. "Should we pause the movie?"

"Don't have to," Jazz said and tugged Prowl up for a kiss. "You up for being spiked? Or d'you want to do the spiking this time?"

Prowl was still quite happy to explore what it was like to be spiked. "I'm not sore. I want your spike."

"I'm not gonna say 'no,'" Jazz said, smiling. "Want to try a new position?" Prowl was very interested in a new position and agreed. "Okay. Will you get on your hands and knees on the floor for me?"

Prowl had bent Jazz over a table and could easily figure out where this was going. He was happy to get on all fours for Jazz, to feel his lover kneel behind him and gently nudge his knees further apart. Prowl didn't wait for his lover to ask or coax his panel open; he'd been experiencing a mid-level charge for a while now and was more than ready.

"Down a little further, babe," Jazz murmured with gentle pressure on Prowl's shoulder, and Prowl obeyed. "There we go." Fingers brushed over Prowl's valve, then slipped inside him, Jazz apparently finding Prowl satisfyingly wet. Prowl got a little thrill hearing the sound of his lover's panels transforming away. Jazz pushed inside, and Prowl's valve took him easily this time. Prowl moaned at how different and good it felt in this position. He pushed back a little more firmly against Jazz, wanting. Jazz held Prowl's hips in his hands and started to move, shallow, testing strokes at first and then Prowl moaned for more and his lover picked up the pace.

"Oh, babe," Jazz groaned and slid a hand up Prowl's back, caressing a door panel and then sweeping his fingers back to grip Prowl's shoulder. "You like this one too, huh?"

"Yes!" Prowl moaned, fingers curling on the floor. Jazz's spike felt like it was getting so deep! Every stroke dragged it over rich sensor beds, back and forth, and it didn't take long for Prowl to overload. "More!" Prowl pleaded, even though he was shaky and had to lower his head onto his folded arms. "Don't stop!"

"Gorgeous," Jazz murmured and leaned forward. He wrapped an arm underneath Prowl and found the mech's node; Prowl shivered. "Don't hold back. You're so hot when you come!"

Prowl didn't hold back, but, that first overload satisfied, the second built gradually, even with Jazz's fingers circling his node.

"Jazz!" Prowl moaned. "Jazz!" His node was sensitive after his second overload, and he twitched away from it. Jazz slowed down to give Prowl some time to recover, then sat back, tugging Prowl upright to straddle his lap.

"Here you go, lover," Jazz murmured, arms around Prowl. "You done?"

"Unh," Prowl's charge still hadn't dissipated, "no, I-I'm still charged, I – "

"Okay," Jazz soothed. "It's okay. Do you want to ride me? Finish us off?"

"Oh..yes…" Prowl clutched at Jazz's arms, lifting himself up and lowering himself slowly at first, unsure how steady he could be like this, but Jazz kept him stable.

"Oh yeah," Jazz said breathlessly. "Like that, keep going, go on! Got no idea how amazing you feel around me, fragging yourself on me."

"Yes!" Prowl gasped. His thoughts were unfocused. He was driven entirely by the need to overload yet again. The movie had ended, the credits were rolling, and he could see his and Jazz's reflections in the darkened sections of the screen. He could see Jazz was watching, too, watching Prowl intently. Prowl moaned and bore down on Jazz's spike; Jazz cursed and thrust up into Prowl as Prowl came down, faster and harder, and Prowl went over for the third and final time.

"Think that's one we're gonna try again, lover?" Jazz murmured a few kliks later as they cuddled together, still on the floor. Prowl didn't trust his legs to get him back on the couch, and Jazz probably felt the same.

"Yes," Prowl agreed, hugging Jazz's arm tightly around himself. "But switch."

"I can get down with that," Jazz said. "Got very fond memories of you fragging me over the table, Prowler."

Prowl did too. "We can try that again later too."

Jazz laughed and nuzzled him. "You're insatiable, sweetspark. Not that I'm complaining!"

"I enjoy interface," Prowl said reasonably and squeezed Jazz's hand. "And I enjoy being with you."

Jazz kissed his shoulder. "I enjoy being with you, too, babe. Glad you're here. 'Nother movie?"

"Yes, please."

"Want to get up and back on the couch?"

"Mmm. Soon." Prowl's legs felt less shaky but he was still comfortable.

Jazz chuckled. "Okay, lover, you just let me know when."

"When my knees work."

That took a while, but neither of them complained.

Chapter Text

Prowl knew that Jazz liked to be out and about, but his lover seemed more than happy to spend the weekend alone in the apartment with him. Prowl certainly wasn't about to object. Prowl still wanted to explore more of Iacon but exploring Jazz and sexuality was of more interest. Jazz got his wish, and Prowl fragged him over the table and over the arm of the couch. Prowl would have liked an encore of his own but Jazz had been right, and his valve was a little sore. Not terribly, little more than an ache, but Prowl saw sense in giving it a rest. There were plenty of other things they could do. His spike was certainly not sore, and neither were his fingers or his mouth.

"Oh! Oh, frag, oh Prowl, yeah!" Jazz was moaning loudly enough that Prowl could hear him reasonably clearly, even with the mech's thighs pressed against his helm. Prowl was happy to give Jazz as many overloads as possible, eating him out, fingers buried inside him, twisting and thrusting. Finally, Jazz squirmed away, and Prowl drew back, crawling up the bed to lie next to his lover and smile at him fondly.

"I like pleasuring you," Prowl told Jazz, settling comfortably on his pillow.

"Yeah, gotta say I'm a fan too," Jazz managed before rolling onto his side to face Prowl. "What about you, though? Need to get off?"

Prowl's spike had been hard for a while now, and if Jazz had been tired, he would have excused himself to the wash racks to take care of it. But if Jazz was offering….

Jazz wrapped a hand around Prowl's spike, squeezing just right. Prowl sighed appreciatively, resting a hand on Jazz's hips. Jazz stroked him slowly, almost lazily, and Prowl idly played with the transformation seams for his speakers, the join of hip and thigh.

"Feels good," Jazz murmured. "Gonna get me worked up again."

"Go ahead. I'll go down on you again."

"Mmm, I was thinking we could jerk each other off. Like watching you come."

Prowl let his hand drift downward, seeking Jazz's spike housing. "I like watching you overload too." Prowl skimmed his thumb along the edge of the housing. Jazz made a soft noise, getting louder as Prowl teased his spike out. Prowl ran gentle fingers along the shaft, still fascinated by the feel of Jazz's spike stiffening under his touch, wrapping his hand around it and stroking slowly.

"Ah," Jazz sighed. "Teasing me, lover."

"I don't mean to."

"Mmm." Jazz kissed him. "Not complaining, lover. A little teasing can be good. Just, no edging, okay?"

"Edging?"

"Bringing someone to the edge of overload and then stopping," Jazz rocked his hips a little to encourage Prowl to stroke him harder. "Not into it. Like my overloads. Try it on you if you want, though."

"Maybe later." Prowl liked his overloads, too, but always was curious to try a new aspect of interfacing. Like that little twist on the up-stroke and back down that Jazz had just done to him.

"Like that, huh? How about…"

Prowl gasped and mirrored the thumb swipe over the head of the spike he held.

"Primus, you're a fast learner." Jazz shifted a little closer, and Prowl kissed him, indulging in more kisses as they worked each other's spikes. "Oh yeah, babe," Jazz sighed. "Gonna get me there soon."

"I like getting you there," Prowl said through kisses. "Oh… Mmmm…."

"That's it, sweetspark," Jazz said, inching closer. "So good."

"Yes," Prowl agreed, throwing a leg over Jazz's to hook him closer still. Jazz sped up a little, and Prowl moaned.

"Gorgeous," Jazz managed through his own sounds of pleasure. "Wish you could see what you look like, lover. Gotta – gotta talk about linking up."

Prowl could only imagine that, being networked to Jazz while they interfaced. He was sure it would be nothing like the static data-transfers from non-sapient machines he'd experienced so far. But it was hard to think about that while Jazz was working his spike, and Jazz's spike was hard and leaking in his hand.

"So close," Jazz panted and pressed his forehelm to Prowl's. "Little harder – yeah, just – frag!"

Prowl watched Jazz's visor flicker as the mech overloaded, transfluid spilling over Prowl's hands. Prowl could feel heat pooling in his array and knew he was almost at his peak. Jazz was still coming down from his own climax, and Prowl would have been happy to finish himself off if his lover needed recovery time. Jazz's strokes slowed a little, but he managed to bring Prowl to overload before slumping into the pillows. Prowl followed him right into the same relaxed state, heedless of the mess, at least for the time.

"Gotta do that again," Jazz mumbled, wriggling around so he could press his face into Prowl's throat. "Mm. Gotta do all of this again."

Prowl brushed his lips over an audial horn. "Yes."

It was late at night when they rose and cleaned themselves up.

"Nice night out," Jazz commented as they returned to the bedroom from the wash racks, where they'd managed to keep their hands off each other apart from washing up and a little affectionate nuzzling. "Want to go see it from the roof? Got a great view of Iacon up there."

"I'd like that."

Jazz brought them up to the roof, where there was a landing pad for those residents who preferred to use their flight alt and a small terraced area where residents could sit and relax. Jazz brought them over to the high railing bordering the perimeter of the building and slipped an arm around Prowl's waist as they looked out over the city. There were taller buildings, but Jazz had been right: it was an impressive view, and Prowl said so.

"Are you liking the city so far?" Jazz asked.

"Oh yes," Prowl said. "Very much. It's much different from Petrex, so much more open. Brighter." He leaned against Jazz. "I should be worried about the future. I've no employment, no income and no experience living outside the confines of first the monastery and now university. It should be intimidating, but it isn't. It's – liberating."

"Were you unhappy at the monastery?" Jazz asked.

Prowl shook his head. "No, not really, but – I wasn't happy either."

Jazz nodded understandingly. "Got it. I felt that way back when I lived in Staniz before I split. I wasn't miserable, but it wasn't making me happy, either."

"And you're happier now?"

"Yeah," Jazz said and turned to kiss Prowl's cheek. "Much happier."

Prowl got a small, strange, light feeling in his spark and put his arm around Jazz. "So am I."

Chapter Text

Prowl also spent the next day with Jazz, exploring more of the entertainment he'd never had access to and learning to cook more dishes. Baking was particularly fascinating, especially making icing – a rare treat at the monastery.

"Got a sweet tooth on you, huh, Prowler?" Jazz teased gently, even as he held out a spoon coated in shining mercury icing for Prowl to try.

Prowl took the spoon and licked the icing from it before replying. "It seems I do."

"It's good to watch you learning about stuff you like," Jazz told him. "Really think the university is good for you."

Prowl smiled at him. "Not just the university."

Jazz chuckled. "Yeah, I'll take some of the credit, sure. But nowhere near all of it. I might be helping you a little, but it's mostly you. You got yourself out of the monastery, and you're planning to get your education and work and get your own place. It's not easy, I know that."

Yes, Prowl remembered, Jazz had mentioned leaving Staniz because he hadn't fit in. "Was it difficult for you?" Prowl asked.

"Yeah," Jazz said, nodding. "Ran off with a magna marching band, didn't have anything in the way of support. It's why I sighed up with the security services, y'know? Barracks weren't great, but they were a place to live, and I got paid, got to be in Iacon and started travelling some. Plus, it turns out I'm pretty good at it. Can't tell you much about that part, though."

"I understand." Prowl was not entirely clear on what Jazz did for a living, but he was close to the Prime and high up in the chain of command. It was reasonable that Jazz wouldn't be able to share much, if anything, about his employment.

"Thanks for that, babe. Speaking of work, are you still planning on changing your major?"

"Yes, though I don't know to what yet. I'm looking through the course catalogue, but there's so much to choose from." Prowl really hadn't anyone to talk to, but he trusted Jazz with this. "I was thinking – perhaps criminology? I did some research, and it looks very interesting."

"Brain like you've got, you'll be fantastic at anything you put your mind to, lover," Jazz told him matter-of-factly. Prowl could not possibly have mistaken it only for a lover's flattery. "I know some people who work in that field; I could introduce you. Talking to someone who's done it might help you decide if it's something you want or not."

"That would be very helpful," Prowl said. "Thank you."

"I want to help you," Jazz said simply, pausing to briefly grip Prowl's hand before loading used cooking tools into the dishwasher. "Speaking of, not saying we gotta know all the same people or anything, but I thought maybe next week we could hang with some friends of mine? I love spending time with you, but it's gonna be isolating for you just knowing me, and you haven't talked about meeting anyone."

"Oh," Prowl said in surprise. He had known Jazz had friends but had never expected to be introduced to them. Friends were – he had gotten along with the other monks but wasn't sure if he'd have called any of them friends.

Jazz closed the dishwasher and retook Prowl's hands. "Worried they won't like you?" Jazz asked gently. "'Cause I think you're likeable."

"I was thinking I'm not sure I know how to make friends," Prowl admitted. "I got along with the other monks, but there was no one I truly felt any kind of closeness to."

"Not saying you've got to have the same friends as me, but I think you'd like them, and it'd be a start," Jazz said. "Plus, ah, some of 'em are getting kinda curious about you."

"Me?"

"I told 'em a little about you, said we'd started seeing each other. Hope that's okay."

"Oh yes," Prowl assured him. He certainly hadn't changed his mind about a relationship with Jazz. "What did you tell them?"

"Not the whole thing, just because I didn't know how much you wanted me to tell people. Told them you're new in town, and we met while I was on tour with Prime recently."

"You can tell them we met at the monastery, and I've since left it," Prowl told him. "I don't want the whole thing to be public knowledge, not yet. I still feel…strange sometimes about breaking my vows. Not regret, but – "

Jazz nodded. "Never took a vow of celibacy myself, but if you always lived under it, I can see how it might seem weird to admit you'd ditched it. It's okay; I won't give them any details you don't want me to give."

"I know. I trust you."

Jazz smiled at him. "Thanks, mech."

They went to a movie in the evening, and Prowl, not entirely up to making out in the back of the theatre yet, was content to let Jazz put an arm around him and tug him close. Prowl was sure he saw a few university students in the audience, but if anyone saw him, no one said anything. And why should they? Prowl had been released from his vows, no longer a lay monk. He could do as he wished now, with whomever he liked.

Jazz knew a seemingly endless array of things to see and do in Iacon and had a firm grasp of the city's history. His stories were probably a little more colourful than Prowl would have heard in a history lecture and certainly contained more opinions, but Prowl enjoyed them. Jazz told him about a long-ago scandal that these days didn't seem so scandalous as they rode the lift back up to Jazz's apartment. He broke off suddenly and smiled at Prowl, warm and soft.

"You're really something when you smile, know that?" Jazz asked him rhetorically. ""I mean, you always look great, babe, but when you smile – wow!"

Prowl smiled shyly. "Thank you. You're very handsome as well."

Still smiling, Jazz squeezed his hand. They didn't say anything more and didn't need to until they were back in Jazz's apartment.

"It's so good to spend time with you," Prowl told his lover as the door closed behind them, following his words with a soft kiss. Jazz kissed him back, and they didn't stop there, spending a long few kliks sharing sweet kisses.

"Are you tired?" Jazz asked after a bit.

Prowl shook his head. "No."

"Want to take me to bed?"

"Very much."

Prowl brought Jazz into the bedroom and felt desire rise as his lover sprawled out provocatively, holding out a hand. Prowl accepted the invitation to join him, lying half-atop Jazz with a thigh slotted in between his lover's.

"Want you to make love to me," Jazz told him, running his thumb over Prowl's lip. "Love being with you, gorgeous."

Prowl also enjoyed pleasing his lover but didn't reply with words. Instead, he bent his head to kiss and nibble Jazz's throat, making the mech gasp and urge Prowl to do more. Prowl braced himself on one arm and used his free hand to caress and explore his lover. Jazz readily opened for him, valve already wet. Prowl still took his time getting him ready, tracing light circles around his node and pushing slowly inside with two fingers that Jazz took easily.

"Primus, that feels great!" Jazz moaned, teasing his fingers over the base of Prowl's hinges, under the curve of his bumper. "Prowler…"

Prowl withdrew his fingers and settled himself all the way between Jazz's thighs, hard spike pressing against Jazz's valve. Prowl shifted a little, rubbing his spike over Jazz's node and making the mech gasp.

Jazz rolled his hips up suggestively. "Please, lover?"

Prowl didn't want to wait any longer either and obligingly sank his spike into his lover's valve, gasping softly. He thought he would never get used to how amazing it felt to sink into Jazz, into wet, tight heat.

"That's it," Jazz murmured, hooking his legs over Prowl's hips and looking up into his face. "Oh, Primus, baby, love having you inside me!"

"Yes," Prowl agreed breathlessly. He resettled his weight atop his lover and began to move slowly and gently, scattering kisses over Jazz's face and chest. Jazz's hands moved on him, tantalizing caresses that sent little shivers of delight through Prowl.

Jazz was the one who overloaded first, gasping and arching up under Prowl. Prowl was so close himself and pressed his cheek to Jazz's chest, barely able to hear the thrum of his spark. Jazz was still coming down from his overload, quivering, and Prowl could hear him sighing in satisfaction. Close as he was, Prowl could have honestly stayed there forever, listening to his lover, feeling the mech surrounding him.

"M' sweetspark," Jazz said affectionately, which was enough to send Prowl over.

Prowl's overload seemed to strip him of command of his limbs, and he was content to let Jazz shift them around. Prowl was pleasantly tired, warm, and already enjoying the thought of time spent snuggling up with Jazz.

"That was good," Prowl mumbled, idly tracing the glyph on Jazz's hood.

Jazz kissed his helm. "Yeah, it was, lover. My lover."

"Yes," Prowl agreed and snuggled closer. He was not entirely sure how to categorize his feelings for Jazz yet, but – if this mech wanted to claim Prowl as his, Prowl was more than content for him to do so.

Chapter Text

The third and final day of their weekend together began with an overcast morning and the threat of acid rain sporadically throughout the day.

"Sounds like a great day to laze around in bed," Jazz said, and Prowl was hardly going to disagree. Especially since Jazz's fingers were slowly stroking up and down his side and the mech was shifting closer to Prowl with clear intent, one Prowl was more than happy to share.

"I hope lying around isn't all you intend to do," Prowl said.

Jazz chuckled and leaned in for a kiss. "Nope, sure isn't. Anything you'd like?"

"Teach me something new?" Prowl requested. He was sure they hadn't covered everything yet.

"Love to, babe," Jazz said. "Want to go down on each other?"

Prowl certainly enjoyed that and wasn't going to object, but – "That's not new, though?"

"It is if we do it to each other at the same time."

That sounded intriguing, and Prowl agreed, shifting and settling the way Jazz told him to. They wound up on their sides, heads pillowed on each other's thighs. Prowl wasn't sure how well he'd be able to focus while getting eaten out himself, but he didn't think Jazz would mind if Prowl asked for more practice later.

But, from the sounds Jazz made while he did, Prowl didn't have anything to worry about. Jazz was trembling faintly against his mouth. Hard as it was to focus, Prowl put his scattered thoughts together enough to add his fingers to his efforts, slipping two of them into Jazz. Jazz jerked then pulled back just long enough to gasp, "oh yeah, keep going!" before eating Prowl out even more enthusiastically than before. Jazz's fingers filled him in return, and Prowl moaned, valve clamping down tightly.

Prowl climaxed first, and he tried to pleasure Jazz through the overload, he really did, but it was too much. His fingers stilled, and he pressed his face against Jazz's thigh, crying out. It took nearly half a scattered klik for him to pull himself together enough to get back to work, making sure his lover got off as well. Jazz overloaded hard, and they lay there for a while, cooling systems running hard, before either tried to move.

"Aw yeah," Jazz sighed, rolling over onto his back. "That's the way to wake up. C'mere, lover."

Prowl changed positions, putting his head down on Jazz's chest and smiling contentedly when Jazz wrapped an arm around him, cuddling for a long while.

"We should have breakfast," Prowl said eventually, even though he was warm and comfortable and didn't want to get up.

"Probably," Jazz agreed, turning on his side to tip Prowl's chin up for a kiss. "Or we could go for seconds?"

Prowl hadn't wanted fuel that much anyway.

They used their spikes this time. Jazz put Prowl on his back and crouched above him, swallowing Prowl's spike and rocking back and forth, working himself in Prowl's mouth. All Prowl had to do was provide suction and tap Jazz's hip if it was too much. He wouldn't be able to pull back, but he had enough practice now, he thought, that he could swallow without choking or coughing.

Prowl spread his legs more and tugged Jazz a little further down. The sensitive seams around Jazz's speakers were within reach, and he toyed with them, teasing and stroking. Jazz moaned for him, and Prowl kept touching and lifted his head a little to take Jazz deeper.

Jazz's mouth felt amazing, and Prowl had to focus on keeping himself from overloading first. He wanted to make sure Jazz got his overload uninterrupted this time. Jazz might have been doing the same, but Prowl forced himself to be even more patient and won out, clutching Jazz close and swallowing – as best he could – when his lover came. He was able to give Jazz just enough time to pull free before overloading as well.

Jazz slumped to one side, resting his head on Prowl's thigh.

"Primus, I love sharing this with you," Jazz sighed. "Could feel you holding back, y'know. Do you want to try edging sometime? See how many times you can get close to the edge without going over?"

Prowl was still a little hazy from his overload, but that sounded intriguing. "Mmm. Yes."

"Alright then," Jazz said, shifting around to cuddle up with his head on Prowl's shoulder. "Let's see what you're up for next round, okay?"

Prowl wrapped his arms around Jazz a little more tightly, already looking forward to trying out a new aspect of interface. "Okay."

Chapter Text

Prowl wasn't sure if they really would spend the entire day in bed, but he certainly wouldn't object if they did. They lay there close together, occasionally idly touching but mostly talking about everything and nothing. He enjoyed the interfacing, yet there was more to enjoy in his relationship with Jazz.

"This is good," Prowl murmured, catching Jazz's hand in his and pressing a kiss to the backs of his fingers. "Just being here with you."

"Yeah," Jazz agreed softly. "It is. Gonna be sorry when the weekend's over, and we've gotta get back to real life."

"There's always next weekend," Prowl pointed out. "Although, I don't know that you'd want to stay inside all weekend with me every weekend. I know you enjoy being social."

"Yeah, I do," Jazz agreed, switching his grip to hold Prowl's hand and press it to his chest plates above his spark. "Maybe we can try going out for a bit next weekend, but I don't have to be out and about all the time. I enjoy being with you, too. A whole lot."

Prowl smiled, pleased, and nestled a little closer. "I enjoy being with you as well. It-it isn't just the interfacing."

"No, it's not," Jazz said and stroked Prowl's hip. "It's not. It's been a long time since I felt anything like this."

"I've never felt anything like this," Prowl told him, "though that shouldn't be surprising."

"It's not," Jazz said and tipped Prowl's chin up for a kiss. "First time I saw you, I sure didn't think any of this would happen. Figured the hot monk would be off-limits."

"I should have been," Prowl reminded him. "But I'm certainly not sorry I wasn't."

"Yeah," Jazz said with another kiss. "Me neither."

Prowl remembered that kiss, his very first, in the deconsecrated chapel in the monastery garden. The second had also taken place there, and even if he would never see the building again, Prowl treasured the memories. Then he hadn't quite known what to do. Now, he kissed Jazz back and readily let the other mech roll him onto his back.

"You're gorgeous, you know that?" Jazz asked him rhetorically, brushing kisses over his cheek and jaw. "Primus, just – so gorgeous. My Prowler."

"Yes," Prowl agreed. "All yours."

"Yeah," Jazz breathed and kissed him again and again...

Heat built slowly, and eventually, Jazz slid one hand down Prowl's body to dip between his legs. Prowl sighed in pleasure and pushed up into his touch.

"Still want to try edging, lover?" Jazz asked.

"Yes," Prowl answered.

"You got it. Spike or valve first? Like to alternate between them, it keeps you on the edge longer."

"Valve," Prowl decided. "And you?"

"Nah." Jazz shook his head. "This time around, it's just for you. You can give me a turn later, okay?"

Prowl had already opened his armour and spread his thighs for Jazz to slide fingers over his valve. "Okay. Oh…!"

"Love watching you get turned on, y'know?" Jazz murmured, pressing soft kisses to Prowl's face, the corner of his mouth. "Such a treat."

"Jazz – "

"Yeah, I gotcha, babe."

Prowl was still wet from their earlier play, and Jazz easily slipped two fingers into him, rubbing and stretching.

"Oh," Prowl breathed. "More!"

"Can't resist you, Prowler." Jazz obligingly added a third finger, and there it was, just the right amount of stretch as he spread them. Prowl arched his back and wrapped an arm tightly around Jazz. "Primus, love how wet you get."

"Jazz," Prowl moaned. "So good…"

"Always gonna make it good for you, sweets."

Jazz certainly kept his promise that day, fingering Prowl with steady, sure strokes and tenderly kissing his throat. Prowl's overload built and built, Jazz bringing him almost to the peak and then easing up.

"Jazz!" Prowl gasped, trying to push into Jazz's touch some more.

"S'okay, lover, just switching up," Jazz told him, palming his spike. "Idea's to get you to the point where you can't hold back unless you changed your mind?"

"No," Prowl told him, reaching down with his free hand to close Jazz's more firmly around his spike. "I want to try edging."

Jazz kissed him. "Let's keep going then, see how many times we can get you revved up."

But as they went on and Prowl got repeatedly close to his overload only to have it denied, he became uncomfortable. Perhaps others found this enjoyable, but Prowl was only unpleasantly frustrated.

"Stop," Prowl said after he was denied yet another overload. Jazz immediately stopped stroking Prowl's spike and looked at him. "I – this isn't something I like."

Jazz simply nodded. "That's okay, lover. Do you want to stop edging, or do you want to stop entirely?"

Prowl's charge was still high, but he wasn't sure he could get past his frustration. "I do want to overload, but I don't know if I'll be able to. Can we just…slow down a little and try again?"

Jazz kissed him again gently. "Of course we can."

Jazz let his hand drift from Prowl's spike down to his thighs, teasing at them gently and nibbling on Prowl's throat and collar fairing. Prowl's charge rocketed up once he relaxed, and after so many denied, the overload surged through him and sent static crackling over his armour. Climax often felt like a release, but this one more so than usual.

"Better, gorgeous?" Jazz asked.

Prowl sighed happily and rolled into Jazz's arms. "Much."

"Good." A little while later, when Prowl was more coherent, Jazz asked, "how're you feeling about saying 'stop'?"

Prowl, still a little fuzzy around the edges, tried to think if he'd ever said 'stop' to Jazz before and couldn't. "I feel fine. Why?"

"Just checking in. Sometimes people feel guilty for not being into what their partner's into," Jazz said. "But that's your absolute right, and I wanted to be sure you're okay with it."

"I wasn't comfortable with edging," Prowl told him. "It was just – getting close and being denied repeatedly was frustrating. I don't know if I could do it to you, either."

"It's not a dealbreaker," Jazz said, brushing a kiss over Prowl's temple. "If I really want it, I can always edge myself. There's lots of other stuff we can do we both like. Like lounging in bed all day."

Prowl smiled into Jazz's armour. "I'm certainly enjoying that. Shall we do some more of it?"

"Read my mind, lover."

Chapter Text

As fun as it was to lounge in bed with Jazz, doing so for the whole day was not practical. The lubricants smeared on them, and on the bed became itchy and uncomfortable, and Prowl started to want fuel.

"Yeah," Jazz said a little regretfully when Prowl said they should get up and take care of their other needs. "Fun idea in theory and mostly in practice, but not always. I mean, unless you're reading, listening to music, or playing something on your HUD. Not when getting sticky's involved." He stroked Prowl's hip as the mech stood. "Want to fuel first or grab a shower first?"

The dried lubricant was starting to itch. "A shower, please. Would you like to accompany me?"

"Absolutely." Jazz stretched and stood as well. "I'll start the cleaning cycle for the bed if you want to go start the shower."

At the monastery, Prowl had showered in a large room with multiple wash racks and virtually no privacy. The temperature for the cleanser had been set within a relatively narrow range, and there had been one type of polish available. Jazz's wash racks had a frosted glass door that would give a reasonable amount of privacy if desired, temperatures ranging from freezing to steaming hot, and several polishes were available. Prowl had no use at present for anything but an everyday polish, but he liked knowing others were available. One type of polish was of an impractically high gloss, and Prowl supposed it was for very formal events.

Jazz's shower also had higher pressure than the ones at the monastery, and Prowl was standing there simply enjoying the spray when Jazz slipped in behind him.

"Hey, lover," Jazz greeted him, wrapping his arms around Prowl's waist from behind. He nuzzled Prowl's back briefly. "Frag, it feels good to be with you. I know I keep saying it, but – not getting tired of hearing it, I hope."

Prowl put his hand over Jazz's. "No, not at all. I enjoy being with you as well. It's a shame we've only today left of the weekend. Perhaps we might be able to steal some time during the week?"

"Sure hope so." Jazz kissed his shoulder. "Let me wash you off, ok? Can't get enough of having my hands on you."

Prowl was more than happy to agree to that. "You like taking care of your lovers, don't you?" he asked as Jazz smoothed a soapy cloth over his armour.

"Yeah, I do," Jazz said. "Sometimes even instead of overloading. Overloads are great, but they're not all there is to being with someone."

"Do you want to be looked after in return?" Prowl asked.

"Yeah, sometimes," Jazz said thoughtfully, still slowly washing Prowl. "It's nice to be looked after, taken care of. Sometimes it's even good just to give yourself entirely over to your partner, let them have control."

"How do you do that?" Prowl asked. "What would you like?"

Jazz was washing Prowl's back, working carefully around his door articulations. "I know you've been doing some reading about 'facing on your own – which is great! – so, do you know about bondage?"

Prowl had encountered the term but had not done much research. "Not really? Apart from what's implied by the name."

Jazz chuckled softly. "Yeah, it is a bit of a giveaway. Anyway, not really into anything heavy but sometimes I like being handcuffed to the bed. Just…giving up control and letting myself be done to."

"That sounds like it would require a great deal of trust," Prowl noted.

"Sure does – and the cuffs have a safety latch, just in case." Jazz switched the cloth to his other hand. "Always make sure you're using proper fetish cuffs, don't just use a pair of, say, off-the-shelf Enforcer-style cuffs. Got to be safe – you can use it, or whoever you're with can use it too if stuff gets to be too much."

"Would you like me to handcuff you?" Prowl asked, trying to picture what that would look like and what Jazz might want him to do.

"I would if you're willing to try it." Jazz kissed Prowl's shoulder. "We can definitely talk about it." Jazz's hand dipped lower, working over Prowl's abdomen and hips. It felt good, and Prowl pressed into the touch. "Won't ask you for anything too intense, especially to start with. Maybe just some sensation play and some fragging."

"I'll talk about trying anything you want," Prowl said, already becoming distracted by Jazz's touch. "Oh…"

"Sounds like you might not want to wait until we talk to try something out," Jazz said, dotting more kisses over Prowl's back. His free hand trailed up the back of Prowl's thigh. "Haven't tried shower sex yet. I mean, it's pretty much standing sex in the shower, but we haven't done that either."

"Mmm," Prowl sighed. He put a hand over Jazz's, guiding it further down. "Do I turn around? Would you have me from behind?"

"Do you want to turn around?"

Prowl reached behind him to stroke Jazz's flanks. "I like it from behind."

"I like it that way too." Jazz tossed the washcloth to one side, now caressing Prowl with both hands. "Sure wouldn't mind having you frag me that way again sometime."

"Neither would I," Prowl said honestly. "Are you asking for me to frag you here?"

"Maybe later," Jazz said. "I'd rather frag you right now."

"I'd rather you did, too," Prowl said honestly.

"Think I can oblige you there," Jazz said, nudging Prowl's legs a little wider with his knee. "You're still wet from earlier, aren't you?"

"Yes." Jazz hadn't gotten around to washing between his thighs, and they were still slightly slick where the cleanser hadn't gotten a chance to rinse the lubricant away. Even through the cloth, Jazz's touch had kept him at a low level of arousal the entire shower.

"Thought you must be," Jazz said. "Won't mind if I make sure, though, right?"

Prowl laughed softly, then gasped as Jazz's fingers found his node. "Not at all!"

Jazz's other hand slid over Prowl's structure, teasing out pleasure. Prowl did his best to reciprocate, but his reach was limited. It didn't stop Jazz's spike from pressurizing, and Prowl shifted around until he could capture the mech's spike between his thighs.

"Oh, yeah, that's nice," Jazz sighed. "Slicking me up already."

"Feels good," Prowl murmured. But it could feel better, and he reached down between his thighs and pressed Jazz's spike more firmly against his node, cupping the spike's head in his palm. Jazz's hips jerked, rubbing his spike against Prowl's hand, smearing fluid over the palm.

"Yes!" Jazz moaned. "Feels good!"

"Please frag me," Prowl requested, glancing back over his shoulder. "Please, Jazz?"

Jazz pulled back and lined himself up with Prowl's valve. There was a little resistance at first, but Prowl willed himself to relax, and Jazz slid slowly inside with a groan.

"Oh yes!" Prowl canted his hips a little differently just to make Jazz's spike push more firmly against the front wall of his valve. "Oh…"

"Oh yeah," Jazz breathed, running his hands down Prowl's sides and brushing away drops of cleanser that were swiftly replaced. He caught one of Prowl's hands in his and twined their fingers together. With their hands joined, he pressed them against the tiled wall next to Prowl's head. "That's it, that's good, just like that."

Jazz wrapped his other arm around Prowl's waist and held him close while he moved. The cleanser pattering down on their armour felt like being covered in small random touches. Prowl let his cheek rest against the cool shower wall and shut his optics off. Jazz was pressed warmly against his back, dotting Prowl's shoulders with light kisses.

"Ah," Prowl sighed happily. "More?"

"Sure thing, babe," Jazz agreed. "Faster? Harder?"

"Faster," Prowl decided.

Jazz braced his free hand on Prowl's hip. "You got it, gorgeous."

"Ah!" Prowl gasped as Jazz picked up speed. "Yes!"

"Close your legs up a little," Jazz suggested. "Not so much you slip, but – yeah, there you go. Good?"

It made Jazz's spike feel bigger, and Prowl liked it. "Very. Please, Jazz."

Jazz's chuckle had a breathless edge to it. "Can't resist you, Prowler."

Jazz fragged him faster, still gripping his hand, and Prowl moaned into the tile. Unbidden, the thought of Jazz taking him in the showers at the monastery, which they could never have done, came to mind. They would have had to be careful and quiet, and they still might have risked getting caught, even if it was late at night. Would he have wanted to get caught? Prowl wasn't sure, but the thought was there that they might have.

Prowl pulled one hand from the wall and pressed his fingers against his node. He rubbed it in slow circles, not actively seeking to overload that way, just wanting to build extra charge.

"Touching yourself, lover?" Jazz asked. ""Yeah, I like that. Go on, get yourself off."

"Jazz," Prowl sighed. "Mmm."

It wasn't easy to focus on his node while Jazz was spiking him, and his valve felt different, stretched around a spike than it usually did while he pleasured himself. Cleanser from the shower trickled down his arm, jetting randomly over his valve as his hand moved. Jazz fragged him steadily, getting faster and Prowl overloaded in a rush that arched his back and left him gasping and weak in the knees.

"Oh, frag," Jazz gritted out behind him not long after. "Oh frag, oh Prowler…!"

"Yes," Prowl murmured and sighed in satisfaction when he felt Jazz spend inside him.

Jazz slumped against Prowl's back, sighing in satisfaction and nuzzling him gently, spike slowly going soft inside him. He was still holding Prowl's hand.

Several kliks later, they had finished cleaning up, and Prowl had finished under the automated polishers and was waiting for Jazz. Prowl could still feel a faint tremor in his legs, but it was only a pleasant reminder, not an impediment.

"You look good," Jazz said as soon as the buffers had transformed away. "Wouldn't mind polishing you by hand, but – well, maybe once we're done scuffing each other up, huh?"

Prowl smiled. "I'd like that. I've never polished anyone before."

"You might like it. It's not just for lovers, either: friends and family polish each other too," Jazz said. "Just maybe not as thoroughly." He took Prowl's hand. "Still want to spend the day lounging in bed?"

Prowl thought about that for a moment. He enjoyed the time spent close to his lover, but the thought of returning to it made him feel restless.

"I do like it," Prowl said. "But I think I want a break from interface. I think I'd like to move around some. I know the weather is poor but is there something we can do inside?"

"Sure thing, lover," Jazz said agreeably. "Wouldn't mind that myself." He considered Prowl for a moment. "Y'know, you're pretty graceful. How about I teach you to dance?"

Prowl was intrigued by the idea but couldn't help teasing his lover a little. "Your new activity keeps your hands on me, I can't help but notice."

Jazz smiled at him. "I don't think that's a complaint, though?"

"No," Prowl said, letting Jazz draw him into the living room. "It certainly is not."

Chapter Text

Prowl's dance lesson involved clumsiness, awkward collisions, tripping over his partner's feet, and plenty of laughter. Jazz didn't care that he was clumsy and taught him patiently. Prowl learned quickly, and while he didn't have Jazz's skill by the end of the lesson, he'd made progress.

"You did great, babe," Jazz assured him when they took a break to make dinner. In addition to genuinely enjoying cooking, Prowl knew it would be a practical, cash-saving skill once he lived alone. "Maybe you'd like to go dancing sometime?"

"I'm not sure," Prowl said, stirring copper to make sure it melted evenly. "It might depend on the type of dancing. I don't know if I would be comfortable with a nightclub, but I will visit one to see."

"Fair," Jazz said. "Same deal as 'facing: can say 'stop' if you want to."

Prowl smiled at him and leaned over to kiss him. "I know. I wouldn't want to cut your evening short; I would probably sit at a table while you danced with someone else."

"So long as you're okay with it, that'd be fine by me," Jazz said, carefully measuring out gelling powder to mix into the sweetened fuel for dessert so that it would be set by the time they were ready for it. "What about somewhere a little more sedate than a nightclub? I don't usually get to go to the fancy do's at work with a date, but there are a few."

Prowl paused briefly, then looked at his lover. "You just casually referred to a formal event at the Primal Palace as a 'fancy do at work.'"

Jazz briefly looked surprised, then chuckled. "Heh. Yeah, guess I did. I usually don't spend time in the swanky parts; I'm mostly back in the working areas. Which, okay yeah, can be more upscale than the standard office tower block but aren't like the formal areas, like the ballrooms."

"It would be interesting to visit the Primal Palace," Prowl admitted. "But it sounds intimidating as well. I'm not – yes, we had the Prime at the monastery, but that was a religious visit, not – " Prowl paused, struggling to find the right words. This was not even something he'd ever had to consider before.

"Not a formal party," Jazz finished. "It's a little intimidating, especially the first few times. I remember."

"What would I be expected to do?" Prowl asked. Surely being present with Jazz at a formal event was different than a regular date.

"Fair question," Jazz said with a nod. "You'd want to get a good-quality touch-up and a high-gloss polish beforehand. It can be pricey, but if you wanted to go, I'd cover it for you."

"Oh," Prowl murmured. He had only the vaguest idea of what such a formal event could entail, but it seemed somehow intimidating and fascinating. "Thank you. I'm not sure, but I'll think about it."

Jazz leaned over and kissed his cheek. "Only ever going to ask you to think about things, lover."

Prowl turned his head, and Jazz obliged him with a quick proper kiss. "I know."

The rain had lessened since the morning but still not enough to go outside. It was another cozy night spent in and it felt comfortably domestic as they ate dinner and shared in the cleanup afterwards. Even though Prowl had had plenty of chores at the monastery and worked alongside the other monks, it still felt unique doing household chores with Jazz.

He'd never spent his post-chores time at the monastery cuddling with anyone as he did here with Jazz. Jazz's furnishings were much finer than Prowl was used to, not being designed for use by dozens of people over as many vorn as possible.

"You like that, huh?" Jazz asked, noticing Prowl rubbing his fingers over one of the slick vinyl cushions.

"Yes," Prowl said, still idly touching the cushion. "The upholstery at the monastery was duller, more coarse. Except for a few things in the chapels or reserved for guests: I rarely saw those. I certainly never got to use them. I had the same furnishings as every other monk in the monastery. I suppose I shouldn't complain, but sometimes the sameness was – grating."

"Yeah, mass-produced stuff's not the greatest," Jazz said. "My stuff's not super high-end, but it's much nicer than I had back in Staniz. I was sparked as a courier with a whole bunch of other couriers and housed in the company barracks. It's not the biggest reason I got out of there, but it's definitely among them."

"The furnishings at the monastery on a regular rotation of repairs," Prowl remembered.

"Yeah, same thing in the barracks. Pretty sure some of it should've been recycled a long time ago, but," Jazz shrugged. "Company was cheap."

"Everything had the same textures; smooth vinyl and metals with a powdered finish. I never liked the powdered finish."

"It's on a lot of less-expensive furniture," Jazz warned. "You might have to save up or buy secondhand when you get your own place if you want to avoid it."

"Secondhand, I expect," Prowl said. "At least when I have my first apartment."

"Yeah, that's where I started, too," Jazz said. "Second-hand stuff, not-so-great job, same thing a lot of people go through. I used to walk through the furniture stores and daydream sometimes." He trailed his fingers along Prowl's arm, idly petting. "Ever feel anything organic?"

"No." Prowl was curious. "Do you have anything?"

Jazz did, as it turned out. His collection wasn't large, but it fascinated Prowl. There were different textures and drapes to each piece, and Jazz also had higher-end Cybertronian fabrics.

"These are amazing," Prowl said, running a length of organic fabric between his fingers. "You said this is made from a plant?"

"Yup."

"That seems so odd. But it's very soft."

"You like soft things, huh?"

"Yes." Prowl picked up a second piece of fabric, a smoother one, and let that run through his fingers as well. "The different textures are all so fascinating."

"I love watching you try new things," Jazz said warmly. "Even if it's stuff you decide you don't like." He picked up one of Prowl's hands and kissed the palm. "Ever read up on sensation play?"

"I've seen it mentioned, but I haven't actively researched it yet." Prowl picked up another piece of fabric, one covered in a long, soft fuzz. "Would it involve these?"

"It could, sure," Jazz said. "It's all about stimulating your senses; sometimes spiking or even overloads don't enter into it. There's plenty of different kinds, too: touch, playing with textures or temperatures, restraints, some stuff that's a little more intense, like impact play."

Prowl could guess what that was from context. "I don't know if I would like being hit. I'll have to think about it."

"For me, it's one of those things I'll do if my partner's into it," Jazz said. "So if you want to try it, we can."

"I want to try just textures to start," Prowl said. "Would you like to show me now?"

"'Course I would, babe. Just playing with textures for now, or would you like to try a blindfold, too?" Jazz offered. "Blocking off one sense can enhance the others."

Prowl hadn't considered blindfolds before, but removing one would be easy enough if he didn't like it. "I'll try the blindfold. Do people like restraints for this as well?" It seemed logical: if blindfolds were a form of giving up control, then restraints, like the handcuffs Jazz had mentioned enjoying, likely would be too.

"Yeah, they do – me included, but you'll have figured that out. Ready to try those, too?"

Prowl thought about it for a moment, then shook his head. He wasn't sure how he felt about losing that much control at once. "Not yet. I'll start with the blindfold and do my best to keep my hands still. I trust you, but I think a blindfold and restraints might be too much at once."

"Alright," Jazz said and took Prowl's hand. "C'mon, then, let's get you settled."

Before they started, Jazz sat down with Prowl and showed him the blindfold. It was a soft piece of vinyl, shaped to fit over his optics and mould to the shape of his face, just enough to prevent any light or sight.

"If you want me to stop, just say so like you did with edging," Jazz told him. "Safe words – code words you'd use to let me know if you're at or near one of your boundaries – we can talk about later, once we've got a better idea of what you like and don't and where your boundaries are. We'll stick with 'no' and 'stop' for now, okay?"

"Yes."

"Alright." Jazz smiled at him and squeezed his hand. "Really proud of you for being willing to try things and being comfortable telling me what you like and what you don't. It's not always easy for people, especially when they're new to 'facing."

"I trust you," Prowl told him simply. "You've never done anything to make me feel uncomfortable."

"Good," Jazz said with a nod.

"Will you blindfold me now?" Prowl asked.

"Sure thing, babe. Here, it slips on like this…."

Prowl automatically shut his optics off when the blindfold covered them. It felt somewhat strange to have it on his face, but it wasn't uncomfortable.

"How's it feel?" Jazz asked once Prowl was lying down. "Okay?"

"Yes. It's relaxing, actually."

"Yeah, some people find that," Jazz said. The mattress dipped slightly when Jazz sat down next to him; Prowl could feel his lover's warmth. "Okay if I kiss you?"

"Please," Prowl said and felt Jazz lean down.

It was a little strange to not see Jazz lean in and to already have his vision blocked. Prowl kissed him back, carefully finding and sliding a hand up Jazz's arm, over his shoulder until he could cup the mech's cheek.

"Touch can be part of this, too," Jazz reminded him. "D'you want to start with a little of that or go straight to textures?"

"Touch," Prowl decided. "I enjoy it when you touch me."

"Believe me, I enjoy touching you, too," Jazz said and claimed another kiss. "You want me to tell you where, or - ?"

Prowl stretched, resettling himself. "You don't need to tell me. Oh…! Mmm…."

Jazz's touch was gentle, just brushing his fingers over Prowl's armour at first, then moving on to firmer caresses, then alternating between pressures. Occasionally Jazz kissed him very gently, then went back to letting his fingers drift over Prowl's body. Prowl wouldn't have called it arousing the same way it was when he knew overloading was the end goal but it felt so good.

"Good?" Jazz asked softly as Prowl began to shift and press into Jazz's touches.

"Yes," Prowl sighed.

"You seem pretty into it. Want to try some textures?"

"Yes, please."

Jazz kissed the corner of his mouth gently. "You got it, babe. Want a head's-up before things get going, or do you want me just to start?"

"You can just start."

"Alright."

There was a very brief moment where Prowl could only hear Jazz moving around and was not entirely sure where in the room he was. He wouldn't have gone far, though. Prowl doubted he'd have to wait long, and the anticipation was certainly not unpleasant.

The first touch was light, and Prowl couldn't identify it beyond it being one of the alien fabrics, soft and smooth. It slithered slowly over his armour, and then Jazz added his own touch, letting a hand rest on Prowl's thigh, warm and grounding. Prowl felt as if he were in a trance, drifting, Jazz's touch and the slow brush of alien cloth the only things anchoring him to reality.

He didn't stay that way forever, gradually resurfacing, and while it still felt good, he was ready to stop.

"Jazz," he said, reaching towards his lover, the first time he could recall moving his hands. Prowl couldn't explain why he wanted to stop, just that he did.

"All done, babe?" Jazz asked, and Prowl nodded. "Okay, sweetspark. Can you tell me what you need now?"

Prowl's thoughts still felt like they were coming slowly, but he did know what he wanted. "The blindfold off."

"Sure thing, but bring your optics back up online slowly since you've gotten used to the dark, and I think you went under for a while." Jazz's fingers slipped underneath the blindfold. "Taking it off now."

Prowl briefly missed his blindfold but then powered his optics up and looked at Jazz, smiling gently down at him.

"Need anything else, Prowler?" Jazz asked, folding the blindfold and setting it to one side.

"Not sure." Was Jazz aroused? Should Prowl reciprocate? "Do you?"

Jazz kissed him again. "I'd like to hold you if you're up for that."

Prowl was, and he remembered how important looking after his lover was to Jazz. Jazz lay down with him, and Prowl happily tucked himself into the mech's arms.

"Glad to be with you, lover," Jazz said softly.

Prowl smiled and pressed a gentle kiss to Jazz's armour, warm, content, and happy. "I'm glad to be with you as well."

Chapter Text

Prowl's only regret about the weekend was that it had to end, and they had to return to their regular lives. He didn't have early classes on Dillesol, but Jazz had to work. Prowl had no idea how long it took his lover to get ready and make his commute, but he hoped it wasn't long. He hoped that not just because it would give them more time together but because it was already Dillesol morning and Prowl had woken up aroused. Jazz was wrapped around him, and Prowl wasn't sure he could get up to take care of his spike by himself without waking his lover. If Jazz woke up and touched him – when Jazz woke up and touched him – Prowl was sure his armour would open on its own.

A few uncomfortable kliks passed before Jazz stirred, thigh brushing against Prowl's codpiece, and Prowl barely hit the override in time.

"Morning, lover," Jazz murmured. He stretched and dotted sleepy kisses over Prowl's cheek before finding his mouth. "Mmm…woke up running a bit hot, huh? Want some help taking care of that?"

"Yes, please!" Prowl said gratefully.  Jazz cupped his panel, and Prowl's spike pressurized into his hand: Prowl moaned.

"Oh, yeah, you woke up hot, didn't you?" Jazz said appreciatively. "I wish I had more time to appreciate this, but we've only got time for a quickie."

"Quickie?"

"Mhm." Jazz kissed him again. "Nice fast frag. Interested?"

Jazz was stroking him now, making it hard for Prowl to think, but it was hardly a difficult question to answer. "Oh, yes!" He reached for Jazz's panels, intent on getting him wet.

"We can be faster than that," Jazz told him. "Hang on."

Jazz rolled over, and Prowl bit back a noise of protest when Jazz's hand left his spike. But Jazz wasn't gone long, only long enough to pull the lube from his nightstand. Prowl had fond memories of that lube from the time Jazz had fragged his thighs.

"I know foreplay is more fun," Jazz said, pumping the thick, clear gel into his hand, "but much as I want to frag right now, we don't have time for much foreplay. Here, let me get you slicked up."

The lube was cool and slick, making Prowl gasp as Jazz smoothed it over the length of his spike. He couldn't help thrusting into his lover's touch.

"Jazz, you — do you — ?"

"Oh, I want to," Jazz assured him, warming the lube up with a few strokes of Prowl's spike. "Gonna get on my hands and knees, and you're gonna frag me good and fast, aren't you?"

"I won't hurt you?" Prowl asked, watching Jazz get into position.

"No," Jazz said with a shake of his head and winked at Prowl. "Plenty turned on by waking up next to a hot mech ready to give me a good spiking. C'mon, lover."

Prowl didn't hesitate any longer, kneeling between Jazz's legs and gripping his hip with the hand not wrapped around his spike. He lined himself up and pressed in carefully, but the lube did his job, and even without foreplay, Jazz opened readily around him.

"Oh, that is good!" Jazz groaned. "Frag me, babe, go on!"

Prowl didn't move too quickly at first, but Jazz was moaning enthusiastically, and his valve was hot and tight. It didn't take long before Prowl took his lover hard and fast.

"Oh, yeah!" Jazz panted. "Oh yeah, oh frag, that's it!"

Prowl let go of Jazz's hips and leaned over him, bracing one hand on the bed and reaching under him to grasp his spike. Quick or not, his lover deserved an overload if he wanted one, and from the way Jazz was rocking back and gasping for more, he very much did.

"Frag!" Jazz bucked into Prowl's touch. "Oh, Prowler, Primus! Faster!"

Prowl picked up his pace, fragging Jazz faster and feeling himself grow tense with his approaching overload. Jazz was getting close too, spike stiffening and swelling in Prowl's hand, valve squeezing and slick with far more natural lubricant than artificial.

"Jazz," Prowl managed. "Jazz, I'm close, I'm — please, I — "

"More," Jazz urged. "Please, just a little — yes!" Prowl worked Jazz's spike a little faster, fragged him harder. "Fuck! Yes!"

Jazz's spike pulsed in Prowl's hand as he overloaded, and Prowl couldn't hold back any longer. He shouted as he came, hard, spending deep inside Jazz. Prowl's hips jerked even after Jazz slumped beneath him, his overload going on and on.

When Prowl's overload ended, he let go of Jazz and fell forward, bracing himself on his hands. He felt almost dizzy with the force of it.

"Oh, damn, Prowler," Jazz moaned below him. "That was…that was…wow!"

"Uh huh," Prowl agreed. "Mmm."

"Wish we didn't have to leave," Jazz sighed.

Prowl wasn't sure how well he could move, but he knew they risked running short on time and carefully pushed himself back up onto his wobbly knees. Jazz waited until he pulled out, then carefully stretched and got up, wobbling a little, turning to kiss Prowl.

"Made a mess outta me, babe," he said with a smile.

Prowl smiled back. "I don't think you want me to apologize."

"Nope," Jazz kissed him quickly again. "Definitely not. Let's clean up, and then we'll just have time for breakfast."

Their shower was quick, without play, and breakfast was pretty basic, but that was fine with Prowl. He'd had basic fuel for most of his life. He walked as far as the sidewalk with Jazz, where they had to part ways.

"Call you tonight?" Jazz offered. "And maybe later this week we can meet up?"

"I'd like that." Prowl remembered one of the things Jazz had mentioned earlier. "Perhaps later this week, we could try a nightclub?"

Jazz looked pleased. "Yeah, sure, babe. Do you want to go out just us or meet some of my friends?"

"I'd like to meet your friends," Prowl said. "I've nothing planned this week, so you can just send me a time."

"Will do, sweetspark," Jazz promised, smiling.

They parted ways with a kiss, and Prowl drove to his first class feeling warm inside. He was already looking forward to the next time he saw Jazz and curious about what the mech would show him next.

Chapter Text

Prowl planned to switch majors the following semester, but for now, he was mainly taking basic, foundational classes that would serve in any degree. The monks who had accompanied him to university still spoke to him, but it was often with a mix of regret and concern that made Prowl uncomfortable. Perhaps monastic life was appropriate for them, but now that he knew more of life outside it, Prowl was more confident than ever that it would have made him terribly unhappy if he'd stayed.

He didn't talk to the other monks much.

Even without Jazz, Prowl explored the city. Iacon was the centre of Cybertron's government, religion, and in many ways, culture. As a result, it was heavily oriented toward tourism. There were helpful signs indicating points of interest and providing direction. Plenty of things were free of charge, and Prowl became acquainted with the local museums. Prowl avoided the ones that required an entrance fee and bought no souvenirs since he was guarding his stipend carefully.

"Yeah, I like those too," Jazz said when they talked one night. Prowl had spent his afternoon and evening walking, not driving, around Iacon and was pleasantly tired, but not so much that he'd miss Jazz's daily call. "I try to visit a new one in every city when I'm on the road but can't always make it."

"Your job keeps you very busy," Prowl observed and smiled a little. "Sometimes I'm surprised you have time to call me every day."

"I try to keep work to, well, work time," Jazz said. "It's not good to work all the time. Got to have time to relax, have fun." His visor darkened ever so slightly in desire as he looked at Prowl. "Teach your gorgeous new lover all the ins and outs of 'facing."

Prowl smiled back at him, heat rising in his lines at the memory of those lessons. "That is certainly more entertaining than museums — and far more enjoyable 'classes' than I have in the lecture halls."

"I bet. Got anything in mind for the next lesson?"

Prowl thought back: Jazz had told him about or suggested many things, and Prowl was willing to at least think about them. He'd only disliked edging, though he had liked how Jazz looked after him, checking afterward to see how he was feeling.

"You've mentioned so many things I'm curious about," Prowl said. "I'm not sure where to start. Did you have anything in mind?"

Jazz seemed to think back. "I think I mentioned introducing you to condoms early on, still haven't done that. Oh, and we haven't talked about toys yet."

"I did some research on condoms, and ribbed ones certainly look interesting," Prowl offered. "But when I tried to research toys, there were so many options I didn't know what to look at first."

"Yeah, there's a lot of options. It can be a little confusing when you're first getting into them," Jazz acknowledged with a nod. "If you're comfortable with it, we can start with some of the ones I already have — the ones that are sterilizable anyway. So that'll be glass, silicone, metal… Toys that can't be sterilized should be replaced whenever you change partners. I started out with a basic vibrator with just a few settings, so we can try something similar for you to see if you like it, if you want. Sex toys are like anything else: you might like them, might not, or like some stuff and not others."

"It still sounds a little overwhelming when you describe it," Prowl admitted. "Maybe it will be easier if you show me instead of just telling me."

"Fair," Jazz said agreeably. "If you want one of your own, I'll help you out there, too."

"Thank you," Prowl said and looked away from the screen for a second. "Jazz, I appreciate your assisting me, but — I don't want to rely on you financially too much. I'm trying to find a job of some kind, but," he smiled ruefully, "that's overwhelming too."

Jazz nodded understandingly. "Maybe I can help you out there, too?"

"Yes, please," Prowl said gratefully. "I'm not looking for anything complex, just something to provide some income."

"First jobs are never complex unless you're sparked into them," Jazz said. "The student service centre on campus should have something to help you, maybe even some stuff you can do around campus. I haven't been looking for work for a while, but I can help you with a resume too,  though the student centre will probably be more up on newer techniques."

"You're already doing so much for me."

"I care about you, lover," Jazz told him simply. "I want you to be happy and successful. You're an amazing mech, Prowler. It's stressful at best to break free of everything you've ever known, and you just went ahead and did it. You're still doing it."

Prowl got that warm feeling inside again and smiled. "I care for you, too. It's a shame you're not here right now."

"It's not so late that I couldn't be," Jazz offered.

Prowl's dorm room was small, though it had been meant for two mid-sized mecha. But… "It's too close to the curfew for visitors. You'd have to leave too soon. Perhaps I could come to you?"

Jazz smiled at him. "Wouldn't mind that at all, gorgeous."

Prowl had always had a strict curfew when he lived at the monastery, and while he hadn't consciously been clinging to it, it did feel strange not to have one. There was only a curfew for visitors. Knowing he could leave the dorms and return any time he wished was still a strange and slightly thrilling feeling.

Jazz opened his door for Prowl so quickly that Prowl was sure he'd been waiting behind it.

"Glad you came over, gorgeous," Jazz said after Prowl had kissed him hello. "Even if it's only for a while — maybe the night?"

"I'll stay the night," Prowl promised and couldn't resist adding teasingly, "if you'll have me."

Jazz huffed a laugh at him and bumped their forehelms together affectionately. "'Course I'll have you, Prowler."

Prowl lay back with Jazz's head on his chest, over his spark, and forgot about anything outside the four walls of Jazz's living room. Despite what they'd discussed on their comm call, neither of them initiated interface or asked about toys. Instead, Jazz put on some music he'd been meaning to introduce Prowl to and they curled up on the couch.

"Gonna fall asleep here," Jazz murmured after listening to three albums. "That sounds nice, but my neck would be killing me in the morning."

"Mm, alright," Prowl agreed. Jazz pushed himself up, and Prowl could feel a chill on his armour at the loss of Jazz's warmth. "What would you like to do now?"

"Take some hot energon up to the roof, stargaze?" Jazz suggested. "Then come back and warm each other up?"

The stars were less evident in the centre of Iacon than they had been at the monastery on the outskirts of Petrex, but Prowl agreed. He had never seen the stars late at night, only in the joors before curfew during the winter.

It was not quite winter yet, and it wasn't as cold as Cybertron's nights would eventually become. The night was unusually clear, and Prowl felt almost like he was back in the monastery gardens. They leaned back against the high railing encircling the outside of the building and looked up. Jazz's arm wrapped around his waist, a warm counterpoint to the cool metal and air.

"Have you ever been off-planet?" Prowl asked.

"Yeah, once or twice. Not very far, though, just to the moons."

"Before coming to Iacon, I'd only ever been to Petrex. Iacon sounded as far as the moons."

"Yeah, I bet." Jazz kissed Prowl's shoulder. "You'll get to the moons eventually, babe."

"Will you go with me?" Prowl asked, leaning affectionately against his lover.

"Yeah, I will."

Once the energon was finished, they dispersed their cubes and stayed a few kliks longer, but it was getting late and much colder.

"Nights like this, I envy Mirage his skylights," Jazz said as they got back into the warmth of the building. "Well, his family's skylights, anyway. Mirage is one of the friends I want you to meet, but it's tough getting our schedules to match up. He's a Towers mech, and his family dumps a bunch of obligations on him every stellar-cycles around this time. Rich folk call it 'the Season,' which is a fancy term for a lot of races, balls, parties, and stuff that all happen over a few meta-cycles."

Prowl supposed he could consider attending services with his fellow monks as social events, as well as fuelling together each night. Balls and parties sounded less sedate and might not have the same people at them every time. He had little to go on for what they might actually be like outside of what he'd seen in movies and couldn't begin to imagine attending one. Prowl had no experience with Towers mecha beyond understanding that they sometimes made generous donations to the monastery in exchange for specific prayers.

"Have you ever been to any of these 'Season' events?" Prowl asked.

"For work, yeah," Jazz said, letting them into his apartment. "Prime gets invited to them as a formality, but he almost never accepts."

"To avoid giving the impression of favouritism?" Prowl guessed.

"Yup. But," Jazz turned around and pulled Prowl close to him, "think we've got better things to do with the rest of the night than talk about my job."

"Yes, we do," Prowl agreed and kissed Jazz back, sweet and lingering. It wasn't the sort of intimacy he'd come over for, but he was more than happy to indulge in it.

"You said you were staying the night?" Jazz murmured as things began to heat up.

"Yes."

"We talked about a couple of things earlier. Want to try out either of those?"

Prowl was interested in toys, but that sounded like it would require more of a pause for education and explanation than he wanted at the moment. Fortunately, there were alternatives.

"I would like to try something new, but not toys just yet," Prowl said because he always wanted to learn more about interfacing, even if he didn't put what he learned into practice.

"Condoms, then?" Jazz suggested. "I've got ribbed ones that'll make your vision fritz."

"I like it when you make my vision fritz," Prowl told him.

"It's not one way, believe me," Jazz said, his hands on Prowl's waist as he backed them toward the bedroom. "You've made my vision fritz plenty of times."

Prowl was pleased to hear it and would certainly like to do that for Jazz again. "Is there anything I should do again to make it fritz?"

"It's a little hard to narrow it down," Jazz told him. He kissed Prowl gently as he drew them through the bedroom door. "Especially as you get more practice."

"Is there anything you'd like me to practice tonight?" Prowl asked, reaching behind him to manually dim the lights that had automatically come on when they entered the room.

"Your mouth on my spike, if you're up for that."

"Yes," Prowl agreed. "I'd like to ride you, too."

"Oh yeah," Jazz murmured, sitting down on the bed and drawing Prowl down. "You look good on top of me, babe."

Prowl kissed him in response, letting his hands begin to wander. Jazz caressed him in return, lying down with Prowl next to him.

"Can feel your charge rising already," Jazz told him after only a few kliks of foreplay. "Primus, you really love this, don't you?"

"Yes," Prowl agreed, tipping Jazz onto his back and leaning over to kiss him more. He ran a hand down Jazz's body to his thigh, to his knee and Jazz spread his legs at the gentle pressure. "I want to go down on you."

Jazz groaned. "Please, Prowler! Been missing that."

Prowl, kissing his way down Jazz's body, laughed against his protometal. "It's only been a few cycles."

"Yeah, I know." Jazz's fingers brushed over Prowl's helm. "Still missed it. Missed you, can't get enough of you."

Oh. Prowl was not sure how to answer that, so he distracted Jazz by tracing the edges of his codpiece instead. The metal was warm, and Prowl knew his lover was very close to pressurizing. Seeing no reason to wait, Prowl kissed and nuzzled his lover's panels until they opened and Jazz's spike was revealed, already almost at full pressurization.

"Mm," Jazz sighed when Prowl kissed his spike. "Just like that."

Prowl was at an awkward angle, so he slid to his knees between Jazz's legs and took the spike head into his mouth. He had one hand on Jazz's thigh and the other on his own lap, brushing his thumb over the corner of his codpiece and slowly taking Jazz deeper. He couldn't quite deep throat, but he was getting closer. But Jazz, moaning and praising him and carefully cupping Prowl's helm in his hands, didn't seem to feel any lack. Prowl was already wet behind his armour, and to be sure he'd be ready for Jazz, he opened his armour and dipped a hand between his legs, stroking his valve, circling his node.

"Touching yourself, babe?" Jazz asked breathlessly when Prowl moaned around his spike.

"Uh-huh."

"That always looks so hot," Jazz told him. "Watching you get yourself wet, get yourself off. You gonna be ready for me?"

"Mm-hm," Prowl hummed.

"Oh yeah." Jazz gasped when Prowl sucked his spike just a little more firmly. "Oh, again!"

Prowl did it again, a little more firmly, taking Jazz a little deeper and making his lover groan.

"Primus, babe!" Jazz rocked his hips a little, then seemed to catch himself and stilled. "Ohh, Prowl…gotta stop if you wanna frag."

Prowl absolutely did want to frag and slowly pulled back, though he kept a hand wrapped around the base of Jazz's spike. "I still want to frag," he said, teasing his entrance with his other hand, feeling his valve flex eagerly.

"Still want to try a condom?" Jazz asked, and Prowl agreed. Jazz stretched and pulled a box out of his nightstand, shaking what had to be a wrapped condom into one hand. He put the box away and sat up. "Here we go. They're not all ribbed like this, there are different textures and thicknesses, but these are good to start with." Jazz tipped the packet toward him, so Prowl could see the date stamped on it. "Make sure it's not expired— they get fragile —and don't use them if the package isn't sealed." Jazz opened it and pulled out a glistening, compact vinyl circle. "To put it on, make sure it's upright, tip pointing up, and squeeze the air out of the tip, so it doesn't break when you come in it." Jazz was demonstrating as he spoke. "Put it on your spike, roll it down slowly and try to keep your grip steady, so you push any air bubbles out."

Prowl watched Jazz roll the condom down his spike, wondering what the ribbing would feel like in his valve. He didn't have long to wait.

Prowl climbed back onto the bed as Jazz settled himself, ready to be ridden. Not wanting to wait any longer, Prowl straddled him, reaching down between them to guide Jazz's spike into himself.

"Yeah, go on," Jazz urged him, hands settling lightly on Prowl's hips. "Primus, you look amazing there, babe!"

Prowl sank down a little, taking the spike into himself, and it wasn't long before he felt the ribbing.

"Oh!" he said in surprise at the extra stretch. Prowl lifted himself a little, sank down again just to feel it. The ribs hadn't looked very large, but he was surprised at the difference they made.

"Like that, huh?"

Prowl didn't stop slowly rocking himself down onto Jazz's spike. "Very much!"

"Yeah," Jazz said, voice hitching a little when his spike was hilted in his lover's valve. "Me too."

"I'll spike you with one sometime," Prowl promised. He experimented as he rode his lover, rocking his hips from side to side, circling them, and Jazz cursed and clutched at his waist. He rocked his hips from side to side a little, wondering how the ribbing would feel at different angles, shifted a little. Finally he found the right spot, sitting back a touch further and leaning forward and began to move.

"Frag, you feel good!" Jazz gasped out.

"So do you," Prowl told him, catching hold of Jazz's hands and guiding them to his bumper, to the sensitive components underneath. "Mmm…I want to feel you come in me."

"Won't have to wait long," Jazz managed, head falling back: Prowl had changed position slightly, and even that tiny change did a lot for him.

Prowl braced his hands on Jazz's chest and moved faster, clenching his valve tighter just to feel more of the ribbing, get more sensation. Jazz was praising him, moaning, hips rocking up to meet Prowl as he came down, falling back as he rose up. Prowl shut his optics off, the memory of the blindfold flickering briefly through his thoughts. What would it be like to be blindfolded, tied, to have Jazz fragging him instead…

"Oh," he said in a low voice, feeling his overload build and knowing it was about to break. "Oh, Jazz, oh Jazz, yes!"

"Babe," Jazz groaned, wrapping his hands around Prowl's waist and urging him to move faster, harder. "There you — yeah, that's — oh, frag, Prowl!"

Jazz bucked up, burying himself deep in Prowl, who ground down, coming apart, overloading hard with a sharp cry. His hips jerked, milking every last drop of pleasure until his valve became too sensitive, and he slumped over Jazz, doing his best not to simply collapse on his lover.

"So that's a hit, huh?" Jazz said a few kliks later, still slightly breathless.

Prowl nuzzled his cheek. "Uh-huh."

"Yeah." Jazz ran his hands down Prowl's back gently. "Glad you came over tonight. Not just for this, either."

Prowl kissed his lover's armour, a trio of soft, small kisses. "I wanted to be with you. Comms aren't the same."

"Sure aren't," Jazz agreed. "Kiss?"

As if Prowl had any intention of ever refusing Jazz a kiss.

Chapter Text

Prowl would have happily spent every night with Jazz, but with the Season came increased social obligations for everyone of a certain status, including the Prime. He might not attend many events, but the Primal Palace was obligated by tradition to hold a ball to officially open it. While Jazz never went into too many details about what he did, Prowl knew it was related to Primal security. That meant more obligations for Jazz, and with those came later nights and earlier mornings.

Jazz still had some time off, though, and he kept his promise to introduce Prowl to some of his friends: Sunstreaker, an artist who didn't talk much; Mirage, who had somehow managed to escape the demands of the Season; Hound, who also worked with Jazz; and Bluestreak, another Praxian.

"I've never been to Petrex," Bluestreak said once Prowl had told him where he was from and they were waiting for their orders. "I used to be an Enforcer in Praxus, the capital, but I got transferred to Iacon a vorn or so ago. Is Iacon a lot different from what you were used to?"

"Very much," Prowl replied. "I came online in a monastery. I was released from my vows only a short time ago after I came here for university."

"Jazz tells me you met at the monastery," Mirage said, looking at Prowl curiously. "He was a little short on details, however."

"Respecting the mech's privacy, Raj," Jazz said. "But I know I didn't do anything I don't mind other people hearing about. Go ahead and spill if you want to, Prowler."

Prowl was not about to go into great detail — Jazz's friends didn't need to know about Jazz overloading him in the library, but he cautiously revealed that they'd slept together before Jazz had left.

"Really?" Mirage said with a raised eyebrow. "Despite the risks, if you were found out?"

"I didn't care much about the risks," Prowl said honestly and admitted, "perhaps I was not a very good monk."

"Perhaps you weren't meant to be a monk," Mirage countered.

"I think not," Prowl agreed. Jazz held his hand.

"I used to be a gladiator," Sunstreaker said, staring at his drink. Prowl gathered from his tone that it was not something Prowl should ask about. "Got out because I hated it. Kept denting me, messing up my paint."

Prowl thought there was more to it than that but did not ask. "I hope you're happier in your current profession."

"Oh yeah." Sunstreaker's shoulders relaxed slightly though the conversation was clearly over. But he kept watching Prowl thoughtfully.

"Have you thought about what you would like to be?" Bluestreak asked Prowl.

"I'm not entirely certain," Prowl admitted. "But I have been strongly considering mechaforensics."

"Oh, so you're looking at law enforcement," Bluestreak said, looking pleased. "I don't have much to do with that division, but it looks interesting."

"What division do you work for?" Prowl asked.

"I'm on the SWAT team," Bluestreak said cheerfully. Before he took a drink, he added, "I'm a sniper."

That was surprising. Prowl didn't know much about snipers, but he imagined sniping required stillness and silence. Bluestreak was chatty, constantly looking around him, even fidgety. Across the table from him, Hound chuckled.

"You wouldn't expect it of him, would you?" he asked, wrapping a hand around Bluestreak's.

"I know, I know," Bluestreak said, smiling. "I'm a chatterbox, and I move around a lot. But I can focus and centre when I have to, like at work. I do alright as a sniper."

"You're too modest," Hound chided gently and leaned over to kiss Bluestreak's cheek. "Blue here is the best sniper on the force."

"Could be the best sniper in the Primal Guard," Jazz offered. It had the sound of something he'd brought up several times before. "Say the word, and I'll find a place for you. Good one, too."

Bluestreak shook his head. "Sorry, Jazz. Too restrictive."

"Yeah, so you tell me," Jazz said and shrugged. "Alright. Can't blame a mech for trying."

"I never do."

"Why is it that listening to the same conversations over and over at my creators' parties is wearing but listening to you two is entertaining?" Mirage asked, leaning against the high back of the bench seat.

"Well, Bluestreak might give in and say 'yes' one day," Jazz said cheerfully. "Right, Blue?"

"It doesn't seem very likely, but I suppose nothing's impossible."

The conversation drifted away from Jazz trying to recruit Bluestreak. It was clear that the five other mecha had known each other for some time, but they didn't make Prowl feel like an outsider. Of course, it wasn't without awkwardness since Prowl's seclusion at the monastery meant he didn't have the same frames of reference as the others. He hadn't heard the music, kept up with the news, or seen the vid-series. He was also unused to crowds, and the nightclub was filling up. But Jazz had seated them so Prowl was on the inside, which helped.

"You good, lover?" Jazz murmured as an aside when Bluestreak pulled Hound out onto the dance floor, and Mirage politely pretended to ignore them and examine the menu displayed in the table.

"Yes," Prowl reassured him. He glanced out at the dance floor. "Did you want to dance?"

"You know I'd love to, but are you comfortable with that?"

Prowl looked out at the dance floor. "I'm not entirely sure, but I think I could try?"

Jazz leaned over to kiss his cheek. "If you're not a hundred percent with it, even with just trying, it's okay, babe."

Prowl wasn't a hundred percent comfortable, but he did want to try. Although perhaps not to the song that was being played now. "Maybe a slower one?"

Jazz smiled at him. "Sure. There should be a slow one coming up soon."

There was, and Prowl let Jazz lead him onto the dance floor as a more sedate song began to play. Walking through the halls of the university had made Prowl a little more accustomed to crowds. Bluestreak and Hound were still on the dance floor, and Mirage and Sunstreaker stayed at the table. Prowl wasn't sure if they were seeing each other or not. Not that he spent much time wondering about other people while he focused on not stepping on Jazz's feet.

"You're doing great," Jazz murmured as they swayed together. "And you look great, too."

"I don't think I look any different than I normally do."

"Yeah, which means you look great."

"Oh," Prowl said inadequately, still sometimes taken off guard by Jazz's compliments. "Thank you."

"Always going to tell you how good you look," Jazz promised. His arm tightened a little more around Prowl's waist. "My Prowler."

"Yes."

There was a second slow song, though not quite as slow as the first, afterward, and they stayed on the dance floor for that one as well. Prowl was not confident enough to stay for the faster number that followed, so they returned to their table. Hound and Bluestreak were already back, and it didn't seem that Mirage and Sunstreaker had moved.

"Want another drink?" Jazz asked Prowl as they sat back down.

Prowl hesitated a little: he knew having something to drink was the socially acceptable thing to do, high-grade or not, but he was becoming uneasy with the amount of shanix was spending on him. Yes, his lover was willing to do it, but it still made Prowl uncomfortable. He would have preferred to pay his own way, but with the funding he would have next semester still uncertain, he wanted to save where he could.

'If you don't, it's okay,' Jazz reassured him over comms. 'It's okay if you do, too. I don't mind helping pay your way, though, Prowler.'

'It would feel strange to be the only one without a drink,' Prowl admitted. 'Just some coolant, then.' It was the least expensive item on the menu and seemed a good compromise.

'You got it, babe.'

Prowl noticed that Hound was paying for Bluestreak's drinks and Mirage for Sunstreaker's, so likely their companions would not think it odd Jazz paid for Prowl's. The others were also paying for their dates on this occasion. No one said anything about Prowl ordering only coolant either, which suggested he was not doing anything out of the ordinary.

The thought of being Jazz's date still gave Prowl a little thrill.

Eventually, the conversation moved back around to work, mainly because people started regretfully mentioning it as a reason for having to leave. Sunstreaker, who'd been watching Prowl carefully on and off through the night, abruptly made a suggestion that was far from anything Prowl had ever considered for employment.

"You've got a good profile, and you sit almost perfectly still," Sunstreaker said, looking at Prowl. "Ever thought about working as an artist's model?"

"I hadn't," Prowl answered, absolutely truthfully. He wasn't sure he'd ever even heard the term before.

"I know a mech who teaches figure drawing at Iacon College of Art and Design," Sunstreaker continued. "He's been looking for a new regular. It's two sessions a week, three joors long each, and starts at about twenty-five shanix a joor. I can give him your comm frequency if you're okay with that."

It was not a large sum of money to live on, Prowl knew, but it would supplement his student funding and make him less beholden to Jazz financially. His lover didn't mind, but things were far less financially equal than Prowl liked.

"I will try it for two sessions," Prowl decided after asking Sunstreaker a few more questions about it. Certainly, holding a pose for a set period didn't sound much different from sitting still during sermons, with the benefit of being paid. Sunstreaker didn't seem to find that unreasonable and told Prowl he could expect a call in a cycle or two.

"Good for you, babe," Jazz murmured, giving Prowl's hand an affectionate squeeze.

It was not much longer after that that the gathering broke up. Prowl went home with Jazz, hoping to at least spend the night with his lover. Jazz had been working hard, and it would be understandable if he wasn't in the mood to interface.

"Hope you had a good time tonight, lover," Jazz said as the door to his apartment closed behind him.

"I did," Prowl assured him. "I don't know if I would enjoy a louder environment, but I did like tonight."

"Good." Jazz kissed him briefly. "Mm. Think you had the right idea with that coolant. Want some more?"

"No, I'm fine, thank you." Prowl didn't need coolant, either to top up his tanks or as a social prop. "Why don't you sit down, and I'll get it for you?"

"Thanks, lover."

Prowl was now familiar enough with Jazz's kitchen that he didn't need to hunt for what he needed. It took only a klik to fill the cube, mix in Jazz's preferred additive, quartz, and bring it out to him. Jazz was waiting for him on the couch, music playing softly, and he accepted it gratefully.

"You know what I like, don't you, Prowler?" Jazz asked rhetorically and held out an arm to wrap around Prowl's shoulder when he sat down.

"I like making you happy," Prowl replied simply, leaning into Jazz.

"Mm." Jazz kissed his helm when Prowl put it down on his shoulder. "Like making you happy, too." He kissed Prowl's helm again. "Excited about the new job? I know you've been worried about money."

"I've not been hired yet, but if I am, it will be relieving to have some income, even a small amount."

"Good to hear. I know that's been bugging you. You won't get bored, though?"

"I expect sitting still for breems at a time won't be terribly stimulating," Prowl replied. "But perhaps not too different from meditation, and I can run some classwork internally while I'm sitting."

"One of the first things I noticed about you was how smart you are," Jazz said proudly. "Y'know, right after 'damn, he's hot, too bad he's a monk.'"

Prowl smiled against Jazz's armour. "I certainly noticed how handsome you are when we first met. I certainly didn't expect anything to come of it, though."

"Me neither. Didn't expect to get to kiss you, never mind anything more." Jazz hugged Prowl against him. "So glad you're here, though, lover."

Prowl nuzzled against him. "So am I. You've shown me so much."

"Still have more to show you, too." Jazz ran his fingers absently up and down along Prowl's arm. "Not sure I'm up for anything energetic tonight, but do you want to try networking?"

"I've never had anyone in my systems except for a medical check," Prowl said, already pulling up the relevant information on network interface. There had been new files included with the information First Aid had given them, and while Prowl had reviewed them at the time, he wanted to make sure he hadn't missed anything. It didn't seem terribly complicated, though it required much trust, possibly more than anything else they'd done as it meant your lover would gain access to your systems.

"It's way different than that," Jazz said, letting his hand fall to Prowl's hip. "It's not analytical at all. I mean, it's not as intimate as spark play, but you're together, feeling what your partner feels, maybe even exchanging memories. I like to save that one for later on; sometimes, I don't get there at all. Some people share memories right off the bat, or almost, but no matter how much I trust someone, it just takes me some time to come around to it. If it's something you want too, I think we can get there."

Prowl thought he'd like to share memories with Jazz, even though he wasn't sure he didn't have many exciting memories of his own. The interesting ones all seemed to involve Jazz, who could replay them on his own.

Though, that would not be from Prowl's perspective. Perhaps that was the appeal, seeing what your lover remembered, knowing exactly what they had felt. He had seen this mentioned in the information First Aid had given him but hadn't dwelt on it beyond thinking it might be something to bring up with Jazz at some point. It was just one of many things he wanted to try.

"I would like to try networking," Prowl said, putting his hand on Jazz's knee. "But if you don't have much energy, would you like me to take the lead? At least to start?"

"Babe, I love it when you take the lead," Jazz said sincerely.

Prowl sat up a little more and kissed his lover, trailing his fingers up Jazz's inner thigh.

"Yeah, that feels good," Jazz sighed. "You've got good hands, babe. I ever tell you that?"

"Yes," Prowl said, trailing kisses over Jazz's jaw and down to the spots on his throat he knew very well. There was a thrill in learning what pleased his lover but also in knowing what to do and where to touch. Being able to draw sighs and moans out of Jazz by showing how well he knew his lover was a pleasure all its own.

"You're good to me, babe," Jazz told him when Prowl straddled his lap. His hands settled on Prowl's waist. "Have I told you how good you look there?"

Prowl smiled at him. "Once or twice."

"Worth telling you again." Jazz slid his hands up to just underneath Prowl's bumper, simply holding him. "You're just all over amazing, Prowler."

Prowl leaned down and kissed him gently. "So are you."

"Want to feel exactly what I feel, lover?" Jazz offered, looking up at Prowl with desire and trust, which meant Prowl had to kiss him again.

"Yes. Show me?"

"Sure thing, gorgeous. Ever even had your port covers open?"

Prowl shook his head. "No." But he accessed the commands and slid back the panel for his left chest ports, exposing the components for the first time. He didn't want to open them all right away since, as with edging, there was a chance he might not like this. The air felt cool on his exposed ports and the tips of his jacks.

"Going to try and see if you like it first, huh?" Jazz asked approvingly. "Yeah, it's fun, but having someone run on your systems, at least partially, and vice versa is the kind of thing you want to ease into." He slid a hand up Prowl's hood, pausing just short of the open port. "Okay if I touch?"

Prowl had no idea what it would feel like to have his ports and jacks touched. Would they even be that sensitive? "Yes."

Jazz traced the edge of the open panel lightly, then ghosted over the jack tips with the same delicate touch. It did feel good, and Prowl made a surprised sound.

"That good?" Jazz asked.

"Yes," Prowl breathed, putting his hands on Jazz's shoulders. He had a feeling he'd have to steady himself soon. "I didn't know they'd be that sensitive!"

"Oh yeah," Jazz said, gently circling the tips of the jacks again. "Ends flare out into lots of tiny little connectors when you jack in — lets you configure yourself to someone who hasn't quite got the same equipment; maybe they've got a little wear and tear that makes 'em just different enough. So they're sensitive like any other transformation seams."

Prowl let a hand drift down to Jazz's chest, not quite touching his port cover. "What about you?"

Jazz smiled and let his armour transform away. "Help yourself, lover."

Jazz's ports and jacks were sleek and smooth under his fingertips, and Prowl liked how his touch made his lover shiver. He could only imagine what it would be like to feel Jazz connect with him.

"Good, yeah?" Jazz asked, looking up at him fondly. "Go on and connect with me whenever you're ready. Just be careful when you take out your jacks: cables might be stiff since you've never used them before."

Prowl didn't want to wait to connect with his lover, but Jazz's caution made sense, and Prowl heeded it. He went slowly, not missing the way Jazz watched him slowly draw out his cable or the soft little sigh of appreciation when Prowl did feel some resistance and rubbed the cable to warm and soften it.

"Oh, yeah, that's nice, babe," Jazz murmured, hands on Prowl's waist and fingers flexing gently against his protoform. "I'll let you make the connection. Take your time; it can be a little weird at first and awkward if you've never connected with someone before."

"It's never been awkward for long," Prowl reassured his lover. He had felt awkward at times, but the feeling had always quickly receded. "I won't hurt you?"

"Nah, you're not the rough type," Jazz told him. "Just line it up and slide it in. You'll know when it locks into place."

Prowl made sure his jack was correctly lined up with Jazz's corresponding port and pushed it in, shivering at the feel of smooth, warm metal closing around his hardware. Jazz hadn't been exaggerating when he said Prowl would know when he was locked into place: he felt the tiny prongs at the tip of his jack flare and connect right before he suddenly became aware of Jazz. They were not networked, not yet, because that was not automatic, but Prowl could feel the possibility of it.

"You're right there!" Prowl said in surprise. He'd known — but he couldn't have anticipated what it would feel like to connect to another person this way.

"Yeah," Jazz said quietly, rubbing gentle circles over Prowl's protoform with his fingertips. "I feel it too."

It could only be more intense with another connection, with the network open and running between them. "Another?" Prowl asked. "Is that alright?"

"Oh yeah!"

Prowl was a little less cautious with his second cable, having a better idea of what it would feel like, and he was less hesitant about plugging into his lover. His sense of Jazz grew stronger, would be even more so with all their connectors engaged, but Jazz was right about going slowly. Besides, it would just leave more novelty to experience in the future.

"D'you know how to request the network connection?" Jazz asked.

"I think so." Prowl accessed his datatrax and did a quick search for the information. "Yes, I have it. Should I send it?"

"When you're ready."

Prowl was ready; he wanted more. He carefully, cautiously, sent the request for a connection to his lover. Jazz accepted it and allowed the network to open between them fully.

"Oh!" Prowl gasped, curling forward around his lover. He could feel Jazz, knew what he felt, and had a sense of just how much Jazz enjoyed intimacy with Prowl.

"Babe!" Jazz groaned into Prowl's hood. "Oh, frag, you're — there's so much of you! How powerful are those processors of yours?"

"Very," Prowl said, unable to focus enough to access his specs just then, even if he wanted to.

"How do you just keep getting hotter?" Jazz wanted to know, but the question was rhetorical because he didn't wait for an answer. "Go on and touch me, lover. Networking works really well with tactile."

Naturally, Prowl was curious and didn't need any encouragement to touch Jazz. Their positions meant he couldn't touch everything, but Prowl knew they both enjoyed tactile. He enjoyed it even more when he could feel Jazz's reactions flickering across their connection.

Jazz was feeling Prowl's reactions, too. Prowl shivered and tipped his lover's face up for a kiss.

"Like this, don't you, babe?" Jazz asked softly, looking up at Prowl with softly lit optics. His fingers trailed gently up Prowl's back to tease his hinges.

"I adore it," Prowl answered, and he wasn't just talking about this experience. "Can you feel how much?"

"I sure can," Jazz said admiringly with an expression Prowl couldn't quite place but already knew he'd like to see more of. "Here, let me feel how you like this…."

Tactile took longer than a spike-and-valve interface, but Prowl hardly minded, especially with the pleasure he gave Jazz reflecting back at him. Not just Jazz's physical pleasure but his enjoyment of making love with Prowl. Prowl could have stayed here, sitting astride his lover, touching and revelling in touch, forever but eventually, he couldn't hold back anymore and let himself overload, clutching Jazz close.

"Baby," Jazz mumbled a little later, nuzzling Prowl's chest, not quite over his spark chamber. "M' Prowler."

Prowl kissed his helm. "My Jazz."

"You bet I am gorgeous."

Chapter Text

Sunstreaker's artist friend contacted Prowl about working as an artist's model a few cycles after the evening at the nightclub. The mech's name was Contour, and he readily agreed to Prowl's offer of two trial sessions. Prowl was nervous about sitting, not because mecha would be drawing him but because it would feel strange to have so many people looking directly at him. Spending time at the university and in Iacon had made Prowl more accustomed to crowds and unfamiliar people, but the thought of being actively watched for joors was unsettling. But he was still willing to try it.

Prowl met with Contour briefly before the class started, finding the mech friendly and personable.

"It can be a little intimidating at first," Contour admitted. "That's normal. But remember, once the students start drawing, they really only see you as a collection of shapes. Poses last for three breems, and you get a half-breem every three poses to stretch. Will that be a problem?"

Prowl shook his head. "No. I'm accustomed to sitting still while in meditation." No one had been watching him then, except perhaps the senior monk assigned to him and his batch mates when they were newbuilds. The monk hadn't had to watch Prowl very long. He'd always been patient.

Contour gave Prowl a file with the poses he expected, saying that if Prowl continued as a model they could discuss letting him choose his own in the future, depending on the class.

Prowl hung back while the students set up their easels and drawing pads, letting them settle before Contour gestured for him to come forward and take his place. Prowl could feel all optics on him as he did so, but the feeling disappeared as soon as he was in position and Contour started the timer. Prowl really was just a collection of shapes to them. Sitting still for an extended period wasn't difficult either: Prowl spent the time studying on his HUD, waiting for his cue from Contour to switch poses, take his break to stretch, start again, and, finally, stop for the evening.

"You did very well tonight, Prowl," Contour told him as the students packed up and began to file out. "You'll be back for the next session?"

"Yes," Prowl confirmed. "And more after that, if you'll have me and it goes as well as it did tonight."

"If you can continue as you did tonight, I'd be pleased to have you back. You've got a knack for staying still, and your poses are precise." Contour gave him a smile. "I'll see you in two cycles, Prowl, at the same time."

Prowl's payment had been deposited into his account before he'd left the building. It was only seventy-five shanix, but Prowl had never earned money from his work before. He knew that seventy-five shanix was not much, but knowing he had made it on his own merit gave him an accomplished feeling.

"How'd it go, Prowler?" Jazz asked during their evening comm call. His lover was still handling an increased workload but always made time for Prowl, even if it were only a few kliks.

"Very well," Prowl said, leaning back on his pillow. He'd synced his internal comm system with his terminal and didn't need to sit at his desk to talk to his lover. "I've been invited back, and payment was prompt."

"Knew they'd want you back, lover," Jazz said proudly. "How do you feel about it? I know you were nervous about having so many optics on you all at once."

"I was, but I didn't feel stared at. The students weren't there to-to ogle me. Contour said I would be just a collection of shapes to them, and he was right."

"Well, you're definitely more than a collection of shapes to me," Jazz promised.

Prowl smiled. "But you do like my shapes."

"A whole lot, lover. Sure wish I could get optics on you right now, too."

"I'll probably be in bed by the time you get home to your terminal," Prowl said regretfully. Jazz was only able to call him during a short break.  "I have an early class tomorrow."

"S'okay, definitely want you to get your rest, babe. Stuff's always worse at the start of the Season, so it should be easing up soon. Maybe we can spend the whole weekend together once I've got the time?"

"I'd certainly like that." They would already be unable to meet this weekend because Jazz was working, but Prowl expected to have plans. "I received a message from Bluestreak and Hound inviting me to try something called 'orienteering' in a wilderness preserve outside the city this weekend. I expect it will take all day, even using fast transport to get to and from the location."

"Yeah?" Jazz sounded genuinely pleased, but he always did like it when Prowl tried new things and met new people. Even if they weren't things Prowl wound up being interested in Jazz just liked seeing him try. "Been with them a few times. Kinda weird having to navigate without GPS but good practice — never know when you might need a skill."

"I can't imagine when I might need it," Prowl said, "but I-I like Bluestreak and Hound, and it sounded interesting."

"I think you'll like it. Without GPS, it's kind of a mystery, and I know that's your thing. And speaking of travelling," Jazz said reluctantly, "break's over, I gotta go. I'll talk to you tomorrow, beautiful."

"Tomorrow," Prowl echoed. "Goodnight."

Prowl was not ready to go to bed yet. He knew he had practical, necessary things to save for and that he should save his funds but that didn't mean he couldn't have something fun with his discretionary income. Instead of going to sleep immediately, he pulled up information on interface toys on his HUD and began researching.

The rest of Prowl's week was full, with classes, work, and finally, his weekend excursion with Bluestreak and Hound. There were also others there but hardly enough to qualify as a crowd. Once they began, Prowl found he did like it. He'd never followed a map before: whenever he'd driven, he'd been following someone or had his GPS. He'd travelled to Iacon on a train. Even now, he was still following a path someone else had laid out, but this felt different because he'd chosen to do it.

Unused to following maps and admittedly distracted by the terrain, Prowl was not the first to the end of the trail, though he wasn't the last, either.

"What did you think?" Bluestreak asked Prowl as they waited for the last few mecha to join them.

"I enjoyed it," Prowl said truthfully. "I've not done anything like it before." Impulsively, he asked, "do you ever come out here and  just explore or is it always structured?"

"Sure do, Prowl," Hound said, arm wrapped around Bluestreak's shoulders. "Would you like to come on a hike with us sometime? You and Jazz?"

"I'd like it," Prowl said. "I can ask Jazz."

"Okay," Hound said cheerfully. "Let us know, and we'll work out a date."

"It might not be soon," Bluestreak warned his lover. "You know how busy Jazz gets around this time of year."

"Well, maybe some winter camping, then."

Bluestreak just laughed. "You'd never come inside if you didn't have to, would you?"

Hound kissed his temple. "Nope."

Prowl had a moment of missing Jazz's casual affection, but it lasted only briefly. He would speak with his lover again soon and see him not long after that.

The rest of the party arrived, laughing at themselves for getting lost, and Prowl got caught up in post-trip plans, accepting the detour for hot, sweet energon on their way out of the park. He had to decline dinner, and Bluestreak and Hound didn't ask why, though Prowl wasn't particularly bothered if they knew he was low on funds. It was not uncommon for students to have very few shanix available. He was the earliest to part from the group but did so on good terms, with several people saying they hoped to see him again.

Prowl hoped so too.

It was the weekend after that Prowl finally got to meet up with Jazz again, and he couldn't help noticing his lover looked a little tired. Jazz still greeted him with a warm kiss when he walked into his lover's apartment.

"Is it okay if we don't go out this time, Prowl?" Jazz asked, leaning back to look at Prowl with arms still wrapped around his lover's waist. "I'm kinda social-ed out right now."

"I don't mind," Prowl assured him. "Have you fuelled yet?"

"No, been waiting for you. We can order in if you want."

Prowl studied Jazz briefly and considered: if Jazz had been at multiple social engagements, he might have had to fuel there, fuel that likely contained many additives or was concentrated into a gel. It would have been rich, and if Jazz were tired of events, he was likely tired of the accompanying fuel.

"We can fuel here," Prowl said. "I think you might prefer something simple?"

"Yeah, I would. Thanks, lover."

They got their fuel straight from the dispenser, and while Prowl added minerals to his, Jazz took his plain. Prowl had read up on a new mystery series he'd wanted to share with Jazz but was content for now to put on an old favourite they'd already seen. Jazz was obviously tired and wouldn't enjoy something new as much as he otherwise would, and Prowl wanted to watch it and discuss it with him. Jazz clearly wasn't up to that right now, and Prowl could wait until he felt better.

By the movie's end, Prowl thought Jazz was asleep, leaning against him, head on Prowl's chest. He'd been very still, systems humming evenly, and Prowl was surprised to feel him stir as the credits began to roll.

"Jazz?" Prowl asked softly, just in case he was wrong and Jazz was just moving in his sleep.

"I'm awake, lover," Jazz said, stretching and nuzzling Prowl's armour. "Feeling a bit better, too, thanks. I know you like to explore new stuff together, but I wasn't up to it when you got here. Needed some downtime."

"It's alright," Prowl said reassuringly. "I don't mind having a quiet evening."

"Yeah, but I thought there was that new series you were interested in?"

"There is," Prowl acknowledged. "But I wanted to share it with you, not just watch it. It will be there later."

Jazz smiled at him. "Thanks, babe. Maybe tomorrow?"

"Tomorrow is fine," Prowl said, shifting a little so Jazz could come and kiss him more easily, which his lover did, for several kliks, clearly indulging himself, not that Prowl minded.

"Missed this with you," Jazz murmured. "I know it hasn't been all that long, but I've missed kissing you. Missed making love with you too. Don't know how energetic I can be tonight, but —"

"Would you like me to take charge?" Prowl asked, knowing how much Jazz liked that.

"You know I love it when you take charge, babe."

Prowl remembered something else Jazz had told him about what he liked after stressful periods and tentatively asked, "would you like your handcuffs?"

"Oh," Jazz said, sounding surprised. He paused, then shut his optic off and pressed his forehelm to Prowl's. "Yeah," he said very softly. "Yeah, Prowl, I would. Thank you."

It went without saying that Prowl had never handcuffed anyone before. Even though Jazz needed to let go, the mech still took the time to explain what to expect and do to Prowl.

When Jazz opened the drawer to pull out the handcuffs, Prowl spotted the blindfold they'd used before lying next to it.

"Do you want the blindfold as well?" he asked.

Jazz smiled at him. "You're spoiling me, babe. Yeah, I'd like the blindfold too. First, let me show you how the safety catch on the cuffs works."

Jazz snapped a cuff closed around his wrist and showed Prowl how to work the release, then closed it on himself again and had Prowl check that he could release Jazz as well. The inner edges of the cuffs were smoothly enamelled to help stop damage to the wearer.

"I think I should be alright," Jazz said, folding Prowl's hand closed around the cuffs. "But sometimes, out of nowhere, you need out fast, and that's okay. Safe words, same as before: 'no' and 'stop,' at least until we're sure of each other's boundaries with handcuffs and bindings."

Prowl nodded in agreement and asked, "what else do I need to do if you have to be let out of the cuffs fast?" He remembered Jazz checking in after they determined he didn't like edging. It made sense Jazz would want him to do something similar.

"I don't like talking much afterwards when that happens," Jazz told him, "so check that I'm okay, and unless I indicate otherwise, I like to be held, to listen to your spark while I settle down." He kissed Prowl gently. "Thanks for checking first, lover.

"Is there anything else in the drawer you'd like me to use?" Prowl asked, seeing other items — toys — in the drawer Jazz had fished the handcuffs and blindfold from.

"There are a few other toys in there," Jazz acknowledged. "Metallic red bullet and the blue vibrator are favourites, but whether they get used is up to you."

Prowl smiled and nudged his lover gently towards the bed. "Yes, it is."

Jazz lay back, and Prowl cuffed him, looping the chain of the cuffs around one of the headboard's support bars. The blindfold moulded snugly over Jazz's visor, and Prowl remembered how it had blocked out all light for him. Once he'd made sure Jazz was comfortable, Prowl sat back and just looked at his lover, lying there bound and waiting for him, deciding what he wanted to do first. Jazz's last few deca-cycles had been demanding, and it was unlikely he'd want anything too intense. Cautiously, Prowl put a hand on his lover's hip and ran it upward when Jazz pressed into the touch. Encouraged, Prowl explored further, finding that touching his lover while the mech was restrained gave it an extra little…something.

"Mmm, that's good," Jazz sighed, relaxing into the bed. "There ya go."

Prowl didn't reply, but he leaned over his lover, brushed a soft kiss over his bumper, and laid a chain of kisses up over his hood to his collar fairing. Jazz arched his neck a little, inviting, and Prowl readily moved to kiss his throat, lingering over the most sensitive spots, making Jazz moan and arch under him.

"Babe," Jazz gasped. "Oh!"

Prowl sucked gently on his lover's throat and then nibbled his way up to his mouth, lowering himself to the bed and indulging himself in deep, sweet kisses for a long time.

"Is this good?" Prowl asked after a while, pushing himself up just far enough to speak.

"So good, babe," Jazz told him, turning his head toward Prowl's voice. "Love the way you kiss."

"You like the way I do other things, too." Prowl let a hand wander over Jazz's abdomen again.

"Sure do. Gonna treat me to some of those?"

"I think I will."

Prowl kissed him again then, with one hand still resting on his lover so that Jazz knew he hadn't gone anywhere, got up on his knees and leaned over to look inside the drawer with the toys. There were the vibrators Jazz had mentioned. Prowl hadn't used toys before and wasn’t sure which to use, but he did a search on both types. The bullet seemed to be for external use, and the other could be slipped into a valve and controlled remotely.

Prowl had an idea and picked up the second one and its remote, though he didn't plan to use it just yet, though he kept them within reach. Instead, he pushed Jazz's legs further apart so that he could kneel between them.

"Open your panels for me," he said, stroking Jazz's thighs. "Both of them." Maybe later, he would request access to his lover's ports, but he hadn't decided yet. Jazz obeyed him, exposing his still-recessed spike and a valve starting to plump with arousal. "Beautiful," Prowl murmured, rubbing small circles into Jazz's inner thighs with his thumbs.

"All yours, too," Jazz reminded him, spreading his legs wider as Prowl lowered himself between them. There was already a slight hitch in his voice, anticipating Prowl's mouth on him, though he wouldn't know yet if the mech would go down on valve or spike. Prowl thought he might treat himself to both. While it wasn't easy to decide, Prowl chose valve first, the sound of Jazz's moans muffled by the thighs wrapped around Prowl's helm. Prowl could hear the chain on the cuffs rattle as Jazz's hands instinctively jerked, likely trying to reach for Prowl.

'Jazz?' Prowl asked over comms, slowing a little. 'Are you —?'

"Keep going!" Jazz gasped out needfully. "C'mon, Prowler, please!"

Prowl smiled to himself and buried his face between his lover's thighs again. The first few times he'd gone down on his lover, he'd felt unskilled, worried he wouldn't please Jazz sufficiently. But he'd had plenty of practice since then and knew what Jazz liked. Prowl licked his lover open, slowly and carefully, until he thought the mech might be wet enough and tested with a finger before sliding it inside. Jazz groaned, valve clutching the digit tight.

"Prowl…!"

Prowl fingered his lover gently while he ate him out until Jazz was slick enough to take two more fingers and pleaded for more. Jazz was clearly close to overload, and Prowl added a little twist to his fingers' motion and sucked on his lover's swollen node.

"Prowl!" Jazz moaned again and bucked under Prowl as he overloaded. "Oh!"

Prowl's spike had been pinging him insistently for release for a while now, and he gave in and let himself pressurize as he carefully brought Jazz down from climax until the mech was relaxed and his moans were softer.

"Jazz?" Prowl asked, nuzzling his thigh.

"Oh, mech," Jazz panted. "Please, c'mon, just…keep going! Keep going till you're done with me, okay?"

Prowl doubted he'd ever be done with Jazz, but he understood what his lover meant. "I will," he promised. But before that, Jazz's straining at the handcuffs concerned him a little. "I'm going to check your cuffs, darling; I'm not done with you yet."

Jazz's restraints and blindfold were still in place, and he didn't have any damage from the cuffs. Prowl paused to put gentle little kisses on each wrist, then kiss his lover's lips.

"You're doing so well," Prowl told him. "And you look wonderful like this." He lightly palmed Jazz's spike, and the mech pushed up into his touch.

"Please, yes!" Jazz moaned, spike already leaking. Prowl kissed him again and crawled back down the bed, back to his spot between Jazz's legs, still quivering with the aftershocks of overload. He didn't backtrack all the way since his lover's valve wasn't what he planned to focus on next.

Prowl pressed a kiss to the base of Jazz's spike and felt it jerk against his mouth but didn't stop, working his way up the length until he could take the head into his mouth.

"Oh," Jazz whispered hoarsely, chains rattling again. "Oh, yeah. Oh, babe, Prowler, you're so good at this!"

'I like doing this,' Prowl told him, letting Jazz's spike slide deeper into his mouth. He still couldn't quite manage to deep-throat, but he was getting closer every time. And but for a chance meeting at the monastery, he might never have known how much.

Prowl had an idea of what he wanted to do next with his lover, and he went slow and careful on his lover's spike, wanting him hard but not close to overloading. Not yet. Jazz certainly didn't complain, rocking toward Prowl's mouth and moaning eagerly. Prowl remembered that Jazz liked edging and briefly considered it, but then he also remembered the heavy, frustrated way he'd felt. Prowl wanted his lover to enjoy himself, but he didn't want that feeling back then, even as a reminder. Perhaps another time.

Prowl worked his lover's spike for a while, then slid a hand out over the mattress, finding the vibrator he'd put there earlier. Jazz was wetter than he'd been when Prowl had finished fingering him, and his valve accepted the small toy readily.

"Oh, I know what that is," Jazz said in a voice thick with anticipation. "Gonna give me your mouth and the vibe?"

Prowl held the little remote firmly in one hand and Jazz's spike in the other. "I think you'll like what I do."

"I think I will — oh! Mmm…"

Prowl had turned on the vibrator at its second-lowest setting, not sure which one to use but sure his lover wouldn't want the lowest. And Prowl didn't plan to keep his lover at that setting for long, either.

"You'll have to show me what these are like soon," Prowl told Jazz. Prowl didn't know what toys felt like, but from the look on Jazz's face, it was something he wanted to experience.

"You got it, babe, any time you want!"

Prowl leaned over and pressed a kiss to the head of his lover's spike, dropping the remote on the bed where he could access it later. He let Jazz's spike go, and the mech made a soft noise of protest, but he wouldn't be disappointed for long. Prowl straddled his lover, pushing the mech's legs closed again, and crawled up his body until he could feel spike brushing against his panels. He opened his armour, shivering just a little at the touch of comparatively cool air against his valve, plump, wet, and ready for Jazz's spike.

"Oh, Prowl, yeah!" Jazz breathed, lifting his head up as if to look at Prowl, even though the blindfold was securely in place. "Frag, yes, I love it when you ride me!"

"I love taking your spike," Prowl replied, rubbing his valve along the length of his lover's spike, voice catching a little bit when the head rubbed against his node.

"Primus, you're wet," Jazz moaned. "Been touching yourself, gorgeous?"

"No, just you."

"Prowler, gorgeous, you — oh, frag, yeah!"

Prowl had caught the head of Jazz's spike just inside his valve, not quite letting it push past the first ring of tensors. He was slick enough that it wouldn't take any effort to slide all the way down, take his lover all the way in.

"Babe," Jazz pleaded, fingers flexing as if he wanted to reach for Prowl, though the cuffs stopped him.

Seeing Jazz so needy but restrained was doing something to Prowl he would have to examine later, but for now, well, Jazz wasn't the only one being teased. His valve was flexing, ready, and Prowl gave in and slowly sank down, sighing contentedly.

"Oh, babe, yeah, that's so good…."

Prowl rested his hands on Jazz's bumper, teasing his fingers along the rims of his headlights, just savouring having his lover inside him. It felt like it had been a very long time though realistically, he knew it had only been cycles.

"I've missed this," Prowl murmured, squeezing his valve tight around his lover's spike. "

"Yeah," Jazz breathed, relaxing back on his pillow. While the blindfold obscured half his handsome face, Prowl could see that the line of his mouth was softer and his shoulders were loose. He looked as though — as though he had yielded, somehow. "Do whatever you like, lover. I'm all yours."

Prowl was unsure precisely what he was feeling or what to say, so he leaned over and kissed Jazz softly, then began to move, nudging the vibrator a notch higher. Jazz gasped, hips rolling up to meet Prowl as he came back down. Prowl rode his lover at a steady pace, neither fast nor slow, just enjoying the feel of a spike inside him, the mech between his legs. He'd missed this so much! He just wanted to take some time to enjoy himself before chasing their mutual overloads. Jazz certainly was not objecting, moaning eagerly beneath him.

Soon, though, Jazz's moans started getting breathier, needier, and Prowl increased the vibration to its third and highest setting.

"Prowler!" Jazz's hands jerked against his bonds again, trying to reach for Prowl. Prowl didn't want him to hurt himself, even if the cuffs were enamelled to prevent it. He leaned forward, balancing on his knees, and slid his hands up Jazz's arms until he could twine their fingers together. "Oh…"

Prowl kissed his mouth, dotted softer kisses over his cheeks, by the edges of the blindfold. "You're doing so well," Prowl murmured, unsure where the words came from though they felt right.

"Baby," Jazz said breathily. "Sweetspark, Prowl, I — more? Please?"

"Yes," Prowl agreed, moving faster now but not enough to bring them to overload. He wanted to enjoy himself for a while, watching his lover, fingers entwined with Jazz's. At times it was still hard to believe he was here, out of the monastic life and having taken a lover. A caring, attentive lover who trusted him and sounded like he was praising Prowl with every moan and gasp.

"Love this!" Jazz groaned. "Frag, this is amazing! You're amazing, Prowl!"

Prowl added a little swivel to his hips, rode his lover faster. He'd have increased the vibrator's speed, but that would have met letting Jazz's hand go, and he didn't want to do that. He wanted to keep watching his lover, to have as much contact as possible, and to overload. Jazz was moving beneath him, hips rolling up to meet Prowl as he came down. Prowl could feel the tension of climax beginning to build and Jazz's spike beginning to stiffen and thicken inside him. Jazz was holding back, though, and Prowl could see the strain in his face along the lower line of his visor.

"Prowler," Jazz moaned. "I'm close! Can I —?"

"With me," Prowl told him, hoping they could overload together, "close as you can."

"Ah!" Jazz's neck arched, and Prowl wanted to kiss his throat, but he was getting close to his own overload, and it was clear Jazz needed to come. Prowl didn't want to risk shifting position and falling away from the edge of climax. "Prowl!"

"Jazz," Prowl answered in a low voice. "Almost…I'm almost…." He shuddered, so close, he just needed… "Ah! Jazz!"

Prowl overloaded, pressing down to take Jazz's spike as deep as he could, Jazz pushing up into him as they came, together or so closely it made no difference. Jazz's head tossed on the pillow, clutching Prowl's hands tightly, together in an overload that went on and on.

Shivering with aftershocks when it was over, Prowl carefully leaned down and pressed his cheek to Jazz's, resting his weight atop his lover. Their hands were still entwined. It took a while before Prowl remembered the vibrator and a few nano-kliks more before he freed himself and fumbled for the remote to turn it off.

Prowl pushed himself up just far enough to kiss his lover, a little clumsy but soft and warm.

"How do you feel?" Prowl asked.

"Fantastic," Jazz sighed and rattled the handcuffs a little. "Need these off."

Prowl couldn't remember where the key was, or think of a reason to leave his lover's warmth, so he used the quick-release.

"Thanks, babe."

"Your blindfold?" Prowl asked.

"Nah, that one's good." Jazz wrapped his arms around Prowl and carefully tipped them onto their sides. Jazz pushed himself down and snuggled into Prowl's arms, head on Prowl's chest, right over his spark.  Prowl stroked Jazz's helm tenderly, feeling an upwelling of intense emotion. He loved having Jazz close and wanted to have him closer. That wasn't physically possible, but Jazz had said he liked listening to his lover's spark, and Prowl could give him a little more of that.

"Jazz, is it alright if I —?" Prowl cautiously triggered the sequence to unlatch his chest plates but did not open them, letting the sound finish his question for him. "Just a little?"

"You…" Jazz broke off, then turned his head and pressed a kiss to the seam of Prowl's chest armour. "Yeah. Yeah, lover. It's alright. Please."

Prowl let his chest plates open just barely, not quite a finger's width, and the barest hint of sparklight spilled out, a line of icy blue light illuminating Jazz's cheek plate. Jazz kissed the edge of one of the open panels reverently, then pressed his audial to the opening and pulled Prowl closer.

"I could stay here forever," Jazz said softly, fingers rubbing light circles into Prowl's back.

Prowl stroked his lover's helm. "I could let you."

They could not stay that way forever, but they stayed there for as long as possible, getting up briefly to clean up and then going back to bed, Prowl spooning up tight around Jazz. He was awake before Jazz and spent a little time watching his lover sleep before gently kissing the mech's cheek and getting up to make breakfast.

While Prowl was preparing their fuel, he heard Jazz get up and, distantly, the sound of the automated polishers. His lover came into the kitchen, polish touched up, and greeted Prowl with a kiss.

"Morning, lover," Jazz said, hand still cupping the back of Prowl's neck. "How're you feeling about last night?"

"I enjoyed it," Prowl said, arms still looped around Jazz's waist, smiling at his lover. "Not just because I was in charge but because it showed how much you trust me."

"Yeah, I sure do," Jazz said affectionately. "But I'm not just talking about that."

"…oh." Prowl had not forgotten opening his chest plates for Jazz, and now he worried he'd overstepped and, out of the afterglow, his lover had thought it was too much. "I wanted to."

"And I'm glad you did," Jazz reassured him. "Hearing your spark was just incredible, lover." He put a hand on Prowl's chest plates, just lightly. "Even opening up just a little like that, it's usually something you do for mecha you're really serious about." Jazz looked deep into Prowl's optics. "Is that what you're telling me, Prowl?"

Prowl felt like something was shifting toward something he couldn't identify but wanted very much. "Yes. It is."

Jazz nodded and leaned into rest his forehelm against Prowl's. "Good," he said softly, looking into Prowl's optics, "because I'm really serious about you, too."

Chapter Text

They had spent the first full day of their weekend together in Jazz's apartment, doing plenty of things to help Jazz relax. Being handcuffed and a whole night's rest had made a difference in Jazz, and they even got around to watching the series Prowl had wanted to share with him, the first few episodes at least. Prowl could feel Jazz getting restless and, to be honest, wouldn't mind a break himself.

"Why don't we go for a drive before returning to this?" Prowl suggested. "The public race tracks will be busy, but Hound gave me directions to some back roads with little use and no speed limits."

Jazz, lying against Prowl, stretched and sat up. "Yeah," he said, "that sounds great. Love to get on my wheels again and just drive. You got anywhere to go in mind?"

Prowl shook his head and turned off the entertainment system. "No. I just thought you might like to get out. Do you know the area?"

"Sure do. Want me to show you the sights?" Jazz offered, getting to his feet and stretching again before helping Prowl to his feet.

"I'd like that."

The city streets were congested with mecha going about their daily lives and weekend errands, but once they got onto the back roads, everything opened up before them. Lack of use meant the roads were still in good condition from their last resurfacing, and it was easy to get up to speed. The only other mecha they saw were some transports, which were easy to overtake and pass.

'Oh, mech,' Jazz sighed over comms. 'This is fantastic. How d'you always know what I need, gorgeous?'

'You were starting to get restless, and you like to be in motion. Giving you the opportunity to do so would make you feel better,' Prowl explained. 'And I wanted to see this area, so we could both get what we wanted.'

Jazz chuckled fondly. 'Good compromise, lover. Speaking of sight-seeing, got a place I wanna show you.' He pinged Prowl coordinates. 'Race you there?'

Prowl had rarely driven when he lived at the monastery and had certainly never been allowed to go racing despite his alt clearly being streamlined for speed. He was not going to turn that offer down.

In the end, they arrived at their destination, a lookout area at the top of a high hill, nearly at the same time. Prowl was fast, but Jazz's familiarity with the area gave him an edge. But Prowl had memorized the route and felt he would have an advantage if they were to race back.

Jazz transformed, working a happy little dance step into it and reaching out to take Prowl's hand. He was grinning broadly, and Prowl was distracted from the scenery by how handsome his lover was.

"That was amazing, babe," Jazz told him, taking Prowl's other hand and drawing him closer. "I needed that."

"I thought you might. I know you like to be active."

"Sure do, babe." Jazz kissed him. "C'mere, there's a great view of the city."

Prowl let Jazz lead him to the lookout area proper, the drop in front of them barricaded by a practical-looking steel fence. Behind them was a shelter with a broad entrance to protect sightseers in the event of an acid rain storm. Mecha would be able to shelter either in root or alt mode. But Prowl was distracted from that by the view in front of him.

Iacon was a large city, and they weren't that far outside of it. The city would likely have swallowed up the area long ago if it weren't protected. Behind them, encroaching on the shelter, were clusters of wild crystals with thin, new-looking cable vines beginning to sneak between them. But Prowl was soon distracted by the sight of the city sprawling before them. In the patterns of the streets, Prowl could see where the metropolis had absorbed outlying suburbs and even smaller villages. He had known Iacon was immense; it was hard to take it in, living inside it for only a short time. He'd only had a glimpse of it on the transport from Petrex.

"Yeah," Jazz said contentedly, looking out over Iacon with a smile. "It's amazing from up here, isn't it? We'll have to come up here at night sometime now that you do. Iacon looks so beautiful, all lit up."

"It must be awe-inspiring," Prowl said, leaning into Jazz when the mech wrapped an arm around him.

"It is," Jazz agreed. "I love this city. It's got problems, I'm not saying it doesn't,  but…I really love it."

Prowl put an arm around Jazz and let the mech tug him closer. "It's beautiful in the daytime, too." The sun was still high in the sky, and they likely wouldn't be up here long enough for the night to fall, but Prowl was willing to come back and said so.

"Thanks, babe."

Prowl had explored Iacon, with and without Jazz, but the city was large, and they hadn't seen everything yet. Jazz pointed out a few more places of interest, including the river.

"You can just see it from here," Jazz said, drawing Prowl's attention to a cluster of warehouses, "but that one warehouse, near the docks, sticking out a little further than the others? That's where Prime used to work before he got picked by the matrix. Just another mech walking by the Matrix, giving it a little pat..."

Prowl suppressed a laugh: only Jazz would describe the laying on of hands to their most sacred relic by the faithful as 'giving it a little pat.'

"Then, bam!" Jazz continued. "New Prime. Shocked priests, senators freaking out everywhere. Chaos and celebration!"

"I think it was a little more involved than that," Prowl said, amused.

"Yeah, but it's more fun the way I tell it." Jazz pointed to a different section of the city, though Prowl hardly needed to have the Great Dome of Iacon identified for him. "Right after being chosen, he got bundled off to the Dome. No one knew what the frag was happening. Everything was pretty wild for a few cycles, and then the official announcement was made." Jazz let his hand drop and smiled at Prowl. "Kind of wild to think that we might not have met if none of that had happened, huh?"

"Perhaps not," Prowl allowed. "I would have left the monastery eventually and might have come to Iacon. Maybe we would have met as I explored the city. Would you have noticed me in the crowd?"

Jazz's smile softened. "Prowler, I'd have noticed you anywhere."

Prowl smiled back as his lover leaned in to kiss him, lingering and sweet, then leaned into Jazz's side as his lover pointed out more places in Iacon, telling Prowl a story about each of them. Some were major points of interest, and others were places that held meaning to Jazz.

"Used to play at that nightclub down there when I first got to Iacon," Jazz said, letting his hand fall. "Wouldn't have minded going pro if I could have, but it wasn't paying the bills, and cultural investigation was. Then I went to work for Prime, and I haven't had much time. Might do a show here and there but nothing on the regular."

"You miss it," Prowl said sympathetically. "Do you still practice?"

"Not as much as I'd like. Was just going to start doing it more often, and then," Jazz turned so he could wrap his arms around Prowl, "I got distracted."

"Not a bad distraction, I hope."

"Nah," Jazz said affectionately, tugging Prowl a little closer. "Great distraction. My favourite, actually."

"You can practice when I'm over," Prowl told him. "I don't mind."

"Might say differently after you hear a few of my wrong notes," Jazz teased. "Really, though, babe, I'd rather be with you. But I will play for you sometime once I've gotten the rust off a little bit." Jazz freed a hand and brushed the backs of his fingers over Prowl's cheek. "Sure do love spending time with you, Prowler. We'll have more of it in a few deca-cycles, don't worry."

"By then, I'll be almost into end-of-term exams," Prowl said. "I'll have to study."

"I know. Don't stress over them too much, alright? You're gonna ace them," Jazz said confidently with a kiss. "The view wasn't the only thing I brought you up here to see. Want to take a walk in the crystal forest?"

One of the few things Prowl missed from the monastery was the gardens, and he'd never visited a crystal forest before.

"Yes, I do."

Paths were winding among the crystals, and they followed those at first. Prowl was amazed at how happy the simple act of walking while holding Jazz's hand made him. But Jazz would never be satisfied sticking to the path, so Prowl was not surprised when his lover gave him a mischievous grin and tugged him off the path into a thick cluster of crystals. They wound between the crystals, smaller on the outside and growing larger as they circled in until they found the centre. A more giant crystal, likely the one the others had budded from, had become damaged and crumbled long ago. Shards of it, rounded from erosion by the acid rains, littered the ground.

"It must have been magnificent when it was alive," Prowl commented, taking it in.

"Yeah. That was long before my time, though." Jazz's arm slipped around his waist again. "Sure does make a nice spot for some privacy, though, doesn't it?"

Prowl smiled, turning to wrap his lover in his arms. "It certainly does. What do you think we could need privacy for out here?"

"C'mere and let me show you."

Prowl held his lover in a kiss and slowly backed them up until he could lean cautiously against one of the crystals. It was enough to hold him steady while Jazz kissed and caressed him, doing his best to make Prowl's knees shake.

"How far d'you want to go?" Jazz asked once Prowl's temperature had begun to rise noticeably. "We're pretty sheltered here, but…."

The first overload Jazz had ever given him — the first one he'd ever had — had been in a semi-public place, a room off the monastery's library. Prowl had liked the extra edge the possibility of being caught had given it, but the room had had two advantages the crystal grove didn't have: a locking door and a ceiling. Although, they had not seen anyone else yet and were reasonably far off the path. They would have more than adequate warning if he increased his sensors' range.

"Let's start with something simple," Prowl decided, sliding his hands up Jazz's sides. "Easy to hide. We can always become more adventurous later."

"Easy to hide, huh?" Jazz' said teasingly. "I can work with that. In fact," he leaned in to nibble Prowl's collar fairing, "I think I've got the perfect thing. You, my mech, have gone too long without your spike sucked. Sound good?"

"Oh yes!" Prowl's voice hitched a little when Jazz's fingers traced the edge of his codpiece. "Yes, very good!"

"Missed doing this to you, too," Jazz said, caressing Prowl's hips and scattering kisses across his chest between words. "Not complaining about last night, believe me, but sure would like to eat you out and have you frag me sometime this weekend too."

"And toys," Prowl said breathily as Jazz knelt before him. "You were going to introduce me to toys."

"Mm, yeah, that too." Jazz kissed Prowl's abdomen, heading lower. "You're gonna love those, babe. Vibration on your node is gonna send ya."

"Will it?" Prowl asked, letting his hands fall to cup Jazz's helm.

"Oh yeah." Jazz kissed his panel. "That's for later, though. I'm gonna send you now."

Jazz pressed a firmer kiss to Prowl's panel, traced the edges of it with his tongue, and Prowl opened for his lover.

Prowl had his sensors at maximum, just in case someone approached, and to his surprise, the idea that someone might was enticing. Prowl stifled his moans as Jazz teased his spike out, pressurizing faster than he'd thought he would.

'You want slow and sweet or a little faster to take the edge off?' Jazz asked over comms, taking Prowl's spike into his mouth.

'In between,' Prowl decided after a moment. 'But,' just in case, 'closer to fast.'

'You got it, lover.'

Prowl let his head fall back as Jazz worked his spike and played teasing caresses over his thighs. It had been too long since he'd had this, and keeping himself from making noise was difficult. He did let a few soft sounds escape just so Jazz would know Prowl was enjoying what he was doing. Even if Prowl hadn't said 'closer to fast,' he might not have lasted too long, especially once Jazz began to enthusiastically deep-throat him. Mouth, throat, valve…Prowl had missed having tight, wet heat gripping his spike.

'Missed this,' Jazz groaned over comms, echoing Prowl's thoughts. 'Frag, I love going down on you, gorgeous.'

'It's so good!' Prowl moaned, the words only narrowly escaping his vocalizer. He stroked the curl of Jazz's audial horns with his thumbs. 'Darling, please, yes!'

Jazz slid his hands up the backs of Prowl's thighs, drawing him just a little bit closer. 'You got it, babe.'

Prowl let his optics shut off, unable to stop himself from making shallow, small thrusts that his lover didn't protest. Jazz picked up speed, and Prowl stifled his sharp gasp, his moans. It was hard not to cry out, especially when he overloaded, quick and hard.

"Ah, yeah," Jazz sighed, wrapping his arms around Prowl's thigh's in a hug and pressing his face into Prowl's hip. "Missed doing that to you. You feel good, lover?"

"Mmm," Prowl hummed, petting Jazz's audial horns. "Mm-hm."

Jazz nuzzled him gently. "Good."

Once Prowl's knees stopped trembling quite so much, he helped Jazz up, and they continued their walk through the tangle of vines and crystal. They didn't encounter anyone else, although a turbofox darted across their path at one point. It felt as if they had the whole forest to themselves, and Prowl wondered if he'd been too nervous about being discovered. True, the crystal grove, with its lack of roof, had felt too exposed, but there was an alternative if he wanted more before they headed back. The acid rain shelter was open front and back, but it had a roof and was long enough that you couldn't see the corners from the path. Someone approaching would be caught on sensors before they could get close enough to see inside. The idea was enticing, and Prowl didn't see a reason to resist.

"This way," Prowl said impulsively, tugging Jazz toward the shelter.

Jazz followed him readily, a smile tugging at one corner of his mouth. "You got something in mind, lover?"

"Yes, Prowl said, smiling back. "I don't think you should wait to get yours, do you?"

"Well, I could wait till we got home if you weren't okay with more outside," Jazz said. "But, somehow, I get the feeling you are."

In reply, Prowl pulled his lover into the shelter and kissed him, backing them deeper into the shelter. This time it was Jazz's turn to be pressed against a flat surface, and he sighed with satisfaction when his back hit the wall.

"Aw yeah," Jazz said, hands sliding down to Prowl's hips. "This is the stuff. You comfier being a little less exposed, huh?"

"Yes," Prowl admitted. "There's a roof, and while someone might explore the grove, I think they're less likely to enter the shelter on a clear day."

"Unless they're looking to get up to the same thing," Jazz pointed out. "Guess they'll just have to wait their turn."

"Yes, they will," Prowl agreed and kissed him again. From how Jazz moved, he was still aroused from earlier and responded eagerly when Prowl cupped his codpiece, pushing into the touch.

"Yeah, that's it," Jazz sighed. "Mm. Love the way you touch me, gorgeous. Gets me running hot every time."

"I love it when you run hot for me," Prowl told him, nipping kisses along his collar fairing. "Will you open for me?"

Jazz did, by way of answer, and Prowl slid his fingers along slick protoform and traced gentle circles over his lover's swollen node.

"Should still be quick," Jazz reminded him, "just in case. But you can spoil me with slow and gentle later if you like."

"Perhaps I will." Slow, gentle lovemaking with Jazz sounded wonderful, but he was right that they should be quick. "Do you want me to frag you here, finger you, or…?"

"Fragging," Jazz decided. "Might be a little awkward, but that's half the fun. Well," he amended with a slight gasp when Prowl's fingers pushed inside him, "maybe a quarter.  Oh, frag…'s good, but I don't need much. Still wet from blowing you."

"Are you ready?" Prowl asked, curling his fingers inside his lover to rub at the sensor plexus in the front wall of his lover's valve.

"Sure am." Jazz trailed his fingers over Prowl's thigh, teasing at his panel's edges. "What about you? Need a hand?"

"I wouldn't object to one."

Jazz tapped gently but insistently at Prowl's armour. "C'mon, then." Prowl opened up, and Jazz took him in hand, stroking him to full pressurization.  "That's it, babe. Ready to go?"

"Oh yes!"

"Alright, let's —"

It took a few nano-kliks to get adjusted, but they managed to get into a not-too-awkward pose with Jazz slouched down, and a leg hooked over Prowl's hip, but Prowl was able to spike his lover face-to-face.

"Gotta be quick," Jazz urged him, holding on to Prowl's shoulders.

"Yes," Prowl agreed breathlessly and didn't hesitate any longer before starting up a quick, steady pace. He sincerely hoped no one did approach because he wasn't sure if he could stop if they did.

"That's it, yeah, yeah," Jazz muttered, shifting his grip on Prowl. "C'mon, please, lover, little harder. Little faster. Don't wanna get caught, right?"

"Don't I?" Prowl didn't, but it crossed his mind that the possibility sounded fun.

Jazz's laugh was interrupted by a gasp of pleasure. "Oh, lover, sounds like some stuff we gotta talk about later."

Prowl wasn't entirely sure what that could be, but he was not thinking about anything other than fragging his lover just then. But if Jazz could talk now, perhaps Prowl wasn't doing his job right. He pulled Jazz's leg a little higher up on his hip and fragged him faster, pressing him against the wall. Jazz's soft gasps came in time with Prowl's thrusts, and his fingers tightened on Prowl's shoulders as he got closer to overload.

"Babe!" Jazz groaned. "Babe, getting close! Oh, frag, you're amazing!"

Prowl, focused on getting them both off, didn't reply but did reach down to grab Jazz's hip and pull him in just a little closer. Jazz bit back a moan, Prowl likely wouldn't have heard it if he weren't so close, and it wasn't much longer before he overloaded, valve squeezing Prowl's spike tight. Prowl took a little longer but soon followed his lover.

They leaned against each other to stay upright, carefully untangling from each other.

"That was great," Jazz sighed, stroking Prowl's sides affectionately. "Time to go back home and clean up?"

They had closed their armour up quickly, but, yes. Prowl was already starting to become uncomfortable.

"Yes."

"So, did you enjoy  your time outside?" Jazz asked teasingly as they drove back along the road, heading for Jazz's apartment.

"Oh, yes," Prowl said, drifting closer to Jazz in his lane. "Very much."

"Think it's something you'd like to do again?"

"Perhaps with a little more  preparation," Prowl replied, as condoms and cleaning cloths would have come in handy, "but yes. I think I would."

Jazz gave a seductive little rev of his engine. "I've got a few more places to show you, then."

Prowl revved right back, then pulled ahead, playfully inviting his lover to race him again, and they sped back to the city limits and home.

Chapter Text

"Ready to explore outside the city more?" Jazz asked once they'd cleaned up. "Or inside?"

"Inside is fine," Prowl said, using a soft cloth to touch up his lover's polish. "We don't want to use up all the good spots in one weekend, after all."

"Good point." Jazz stole a quick kiss before Prowl turned to put the cloth away. "Inside it is, then. Got anything in mind?"

"We'd discussed introducing me to toys," Prowl said as they left the wash racks. "And I enjoyed using them on you. I've done some research, and I think I know what I'd like for myself if I buy one, but — even reading reviews on the DataNet, it's very difficult to decide which site or store to visit."

"I've got a place I like," Jazz said. "I haven't been there in a while because I haven't been looking for anything new, but we can check it out. So you've got an idea of what you want?"

"Yes," Prowl said, resting a hand on Jazz's back and resisting the urge to rub, even gently, to not muss his polish. "I think I want to try a petro-rabbit-style vibrator."

"Oh, those are fun! I've got a couple of those. Good choice, babe. You want to head out again?"

Prowl agreed, not seeing any reason to wait. He was unsure how he felt when they actually got to the store; if researching online had felt a little intimidating, being in the store was more so. There were just as many options as online, but seeing them in person was very different.

"Remember the style you wanted?" Jazz asked him in a voice pitched for Prowl's audials only, reassuringly squeezing his hand. "Don't gotta stick with it, but it'd be a good starting point."

"I remember," Prowl said. "Do you know where…?"

Jazz did, and Prowl followed him, relieved that at least one of them felt confident. There were boxes of vibrators neatly lined up on shelves, with a sample of each on display. The samples were firmly attached to their bases by short, coiled tethers. Prowl could imagine why.

"Looking things up online is one thing," Jazz told him, picking up one of the samples and squeezing it a little. "But some stuff you want to touch for yourself before you buy it. Y'know, make sure you like the shape, the texture, firmness and all."

"And the vibration?" Prowl asked. Would these really be charged while on display?

Jazz turned the toy on briefly, and the buzzing sound revealed they were charged while on display. It was louder than Prowl had expected, certainly louder than the one he'd used on Jazz. (Granted, that one had been inside Jazz most of the time, and the sound had been muffled.) He shouldn't have been surprised since the websites all had noise ratings, but the reality differed from the DataNet. The noise ratings also showed on the stand; the one Jazz had tested had a louder rating than the one Prowl had planned to buy.

"That's not quite what I was looking at," Prowl said, looking up and down the row until he saw the one he'd been considering. "Here it is."

"Pick it up," Jazz invited. "Give it a try."

Prowl did. The texture was less firm than he had expected, not quite like a spike, and while he obviously couldn't use it as intended to prove it, the shape and vibration didn't feel quite right after all. It was very close, though. Prowl thought the items nearby must be similar and tried several more. Jazz left him to it, browsing nearby, and Prowl wondered if he would pick something out for himself. Jazz had toys, plenty of them from the sound of it, but perhaps there was something he needed to replace. Or perhaps he was just giving Prowl space to decide.

Prowl finally found one he liked, buzz and all, and picked up a boxed one to bring to the counter.

"Hey, yeah," Jazz said when Prowl approached him. "Those're nice. I'm sure you're gonna like it. Anything else you want to look at?"

"I wouldn't mind looking around." Prowl didn't intend to buy anything else, but the store was interesting, and he might come back later if and when he had more shanix available.

Prowl had not delved into every section of the store's DataNet site, and a few things surprised him as he walked through the aisles. There were aisles for sensation play, bondage, impact play, how-to books and erotic fiction, films, and more. The variety felt almost dizzying, and Prowl knew he couldn't decide whether half of it interested him any time soon. He probably didn't need to buy anything new to try it out; Jazz would have things they could experiment with.

Despite knowing that the clerk would sell these to people daily, Prowl still felt a little nervous and exposed when they went to the counter. But the clerk only smiled pleasantly and asked him if he needed to buy some toy cleaner.

Prowl had not considered this, but it would be easier than cleaning a vibrator in the dorm wash racks. He accepted and shortly after left with a discreet package secure in his subspace.

"Okay if I stop at a shop I know to pick up some stuff for breakfast tomorrow?" Jazz asked as they headed back home. "It's on the way. I know you'll want to get home and try things out, but I also know you love pastries."

"Yes, of course," Prowl said, smiling as Jazz took his hand. "One needs fuel to play, after all."

Jazz laughed. "Sure do, gorgeous."

At home, pastries were put away, and Prowl's vibrator was cleaned and put on a nightstand to charge while Jazz treated Prowl to another dance lesson. Prowl didn't think it was a coincidence that his lover picked an activity that meant they were in physical contact, and he certainly didn't mind.

"Mind's not just on dancing, is it, lover?" Jazz asked as they spun across the floor.

"Am I that obviously distracted?"

"Nah, you're doing great," Jazz reassured him. "You got the steps down, just gotta make 'em habit. I just know you've been looking forward to this for a bit. Don't worry; it won't be too much longer before you can try your new vibe out. Want to get warmed up for it, do a little pre-gaming?"

Prowl laughed. "Pre-gaming?"

"Well, we can hold off until it's charged if you like."

"I know," Prowl said and carefully took charge, changing direction to steer them toward the bedroom. "But I don't want to."

Jazz grinned broadly, letting Prowl guide them. "I had a feeling you'd say that."

Prowl had always been a patient mech, but making out with Jazz while waiting for the vibrator to charge was infinitely better than passing the time in meditation or prayer. It felt like no time before he noticed the charging light on his vibrator had turned off.

"It's ready," he told his lover. "Unless…?"

"Nah, I know you've been waiting for this." Jazz trailed his fingers up Prowl's thigh. "Want some time on your own? I can make myself scarce if you do, no problem."

"You can stay," Prowl told him, pushing himself to a sitting position and lifting the vibrator out of its dock. "I don't mind if you watch."

"Mmm." Jazz kissed Prowl's hip before sitting up as well. "Starting to think you might have a little bit of an exhibition kink, there, lover. Like showing off, being watched?"

Prowl paused and thought for a moment. "Perhaps I do. The idea of it, at least, unless it's you."

Jazz put an arm around Prowl's waist and kissed his pauldron. "Sure do like watching you, lover. You're one gorgeous mech. Where d'you want me?"

Prowl hadn't been entirely sure, but they worked out a position where Jazz was sitting up against the headboard, and Prowl was between his legs, leaning back against his chest.

"Comfy, babe?"

"Very." Prowl was already running a low-level charge and didn't need time to get himself worked up. He opened his armour, turned the vibrator on to its lowest level and ran the tip of the vibrator's large branch over the length of his valve. Prowl moaned softly and ran it back up to rest on his node. "Oh!" And that was just the larger branch, not the one designed for node stimulation! Prowl immediately nudged the vibrator to a higher setting and pressed it more firmly against his node, moaning as his head fell back.

"Bet you'll like how it feels inside, too," Jazz murmured, arms wrapped around Prowl.

Prowl saw no reason to wait and aligned the toy with his valve. He wasn't quite wet enough yet to take it inside easily, but between the vibration teasing at his entrance and the two 'ears' of the node prong just brushing against their intended target, he got there fast.

"Oh, Primus!" Prowl gasped when the toy was entirely inside him, buzzing against his sensitive valve and on either side of his even more sensitive node.

"Feels good, huh?"

"Ohh…uh-huh…."

Jazz nuzzled him. "Knew it'd send you. Go on, lover, get yourself off. Always love to see that."

Prowl loved to have Jazz watch him come as well, but just then, he was too busy chasing his overload, working the vibrator in quick, shallow thrusts, to put on a show. He spread his legs wider, hooking them over Jazz's, and his partner obligingly held him open. Prowl had picked one he thought was closest to a spike, and it was close but not quite the same.  The vibration against his node was an entirely new sensation, different from fingers or mouth, and Prowl thought he'd never made a better purchase in his life.

"Primus, you look gorgeous," Jazz told him. "You want me to just watch, or can I touch?"

"Mmm." Prowl rubbed his cheek guard against Jazz's armour. He loved having Jazz's hands on him. "Yes, touch me."

Prowl worked the toy in and out of his valve in shallow thrusts and experimented with different angles and positions, unable to decide on a favourite. It wasn't as if he could focus enough to decide either; every time he pushed the toy back in, the rub of the prongs over his node sent a new shock of sensation through him. Jazz was not only touching him, light, sweeping touches that were a counterpoint to the intense vibration, especially once Prowl turned the toy up to a higher level.

"Yes!" Prowl gasped, hips starting to roll into the thrusts of their own accord.

"Yeah," Jazz crooned to him. "That's it, gorgeous. Keep going; love to see you get off!" He pressed a kiss to Prowl's helm. "Love to see you try new stuff, too. You're one amazing mech, Prowler."

"Mmm…Jazz…" Prowl arched in Jazz's arms, wanting more.

Jazz kissed his helm again. "Right here, babe, I gotcha. Let yourself go, sweetspark."

Prowl kept going, his movements becoming shaky and uneven as he got closer to his overload, and for a brief nano-klik, he thought he might not, but then he pushed the toy deep, and his lover's fingers found his sensitive hinges and —

Prowl cried out sharply, arching and pressing the toy as deep as he could, coming hard while Jazz hugged him close. He hadn't even come down from the first when it was followed by a second, smaller overload.

When the pleasure receded, Prowl fumblingly turned the vibrator off and tugged it out so that nothing touched his now-oversensitive node. He shifted, turning in Jazz's arms and clumsily unhooking his legs from over Jazz's, though he was too sensitive to close them.

"Gorgeous," Jazz murmured, stroking Prowl's back and helm. "Guessing that was a hit?"

"Mm…mhm." Prowl kissed Jazz's chest, hearing the faint hum of his spark through his armour. He petted his lover absently, fingers trailing down his side and over his hip. He was sated, but Jazz was aroused; Prowl could tell by the sound of his voice and the warmth of his panels. "…something for you?"

"I mean, I got plenty just watching you get yourself off, so you don't have to."

Prowl knew that because he never had to with Jazz, but he wanted to.

"I know, just…."

Prowl pressed more kisses over Jazz's armour, making a line heading downward as he moved to lie between his lover's still-spread legs. Jazz's codpiece opened for him as soon as his lips and fingers brushed it, and Prowl let his lover pressurize into his mouth.

"Oh, frag, babe…."

Prowl was feeling lazy and satiated, and the blowjob was a slow, steady one meant to draw out his lover's pleasure rather than bring him quickly to overload. Jazz breathed praise, hands gentle, caressing, on Prowl's helm. Prowl was much more accustomed to doing this now, and it took much longer for his jaw to become sore. It was just beginning to ache when Jazz finally held him still and came deep into his mouth, groaning softly. Prowl held his spike in his mouth until it started to soften, then drew away and crawled far enough up the bed to rest his head on Jazz's abdomen, hugging his lover's legs.

"That felt like a hit," Jazz murmured, still absently petting at Prowl. "Glad you found something you like, lover."

"Mhm," Prowl agreed. He liked the lazy feeling of afterglow and didn't mind Jazz taking through it but didn't want to talk much himself. "More, later?"

"Oh yeah, lover."

Jazz had mentioned his toy collection, and he and Prowl went through it later that evening. Spread out between them on the mattress, it looked almost exactly like what Prowl had pictured an interface toy collection would look like. At least, how he would have pictured one once he’d done research, after the monastery. He’d certainly never have had the opportunity to picture what one looked like in his early life.

“Guessing you’ll recognize these from looking up what you wanted,” Jazz said, “so I probably don’t need to tell you what each of them is unless there’s something you don’t recognize.”

Prowl shook his head. “No, I recognize them all, though I didn’t go into detail on more than vibrators when looking up what to buy. I’m not sure what one could do by oneself with a spike ring, for example.”

“Well, there is stuff, but since you’re not into edging, most of it might not be for you,” Jazz said reasonably. “What about strokers?”

“I looked at those but wanted to try a vibrator first.” Prowl didn’t add that he could only afford one toy to start with, and he’d picked the one that seemed most appealing. He had certainly made the correct choice! Or a correct choice. And, while Jazz didn’t ever bring up the income disparity with him, it still made Prowl a touch uneasy. But it would not last forever, and his current job relieved the pressure.

Jazz nodded. “Got it. Well, these sleeves are made of silicon and sterilizable, so check ‘em out, and if you find one you want to try, I can give it a good boil for you. Yeah, I’m clean, and you’re clean, but it’s good practice when you’re sharing toys. Speaking of…” He swept the few plastic toys to one side. “Can’t sterilize those, so if you want to try anything plastic, it’d be best to get a new one. Same for anything that’s not glass or metal.”

There was enough variety in the sterilizable options that Prowl didn’t think that would be an issue.

He picked up one of the strokers and examined it, finding the outside rough enough to give a mech the ability to grip it and the inside textured like a valve. How it worked was obvious, but Prowl preferred using his valve when he self-serviced.

"Perhaps later," Prowl said. After all, he could use toys for solo play when he was alone. He only had so much time with his lover. "What about toys we can use together. Like the spike rings?"

"Sure." Jazz picked one up. "There are plainer ones, too, just stretchy rings that go around your spike to give you some extra lasting power, but I like ones with a little pizzazz. This one vibrates, and the top part, here?" He tapped a flat-topped extension on the top of the ring. "It's designed to press against your partner's node if you're fragging spike-in-valve, so you add that together with some shallow thrusts, slow or fast, and it can really get a mech going."

"Can it?"

"Go on, check it out," Jazz encouraged, handing the ring to Prowl.

Prowl accepted it and took a moment to examine it, testing its stretch and switching on the surprisingly powerful vibration function. Unlike the prongs of his vibrator, this would press flat against his node, creating a slightly different sensation.

"Let me know if you want to try one of these out," Jazz said, offering another. "This one's got a little bit of texture on the nub. Some of them have texture on the inside of the ring, too."

"Which one do you like?" Prowl asked, switching out the ring in his hand for the one Jazz gave him.

"Mm, I've got a couple of favourites," Jazz said, picking up another ring. "This one's nice. It's got a small  curve on the front, so it cups your node a little bit. Not as much as the prongs on a petro-rabbit-vibe but still pretty good."

Prowl turned that ring on and held it against the curve of one finger. "I think this one would feel nice," he said, "Why don't we try it first?"

"Not gonna say no to that, lover," Jazz said, stretching over the toy cluster to kiss Prowl. "You want to wear it? I mean, I sure don't mind, but I know you're not wild about overload delay, and they have that effect."

"I'd like you to wear it," Prowl said, tugging his lover closer. "It's been a while since you've spiked me; I want to feel it again."

"Mm, won't say 'no' to that, gorgeous." Jazz kissed him again, then sat back to put the toys onto the nightstand where they'd be out of the way. "Haven't sucked your spike in a while either; how's that sound for a warm-up?"

That sounded fine to Prowl, and he was more than willing to sit at the edge of the bed while Jazz knelt before him. This was something no toy would ever be able to replicate: a warm, eager, living mech, their body spreading your legs apart, clearly enjoying themselves while they went down on you. Prowl caressed his lover's helm, moaning his appreciation, not bothering to hold back. He was enjoying himself, but he wanted to be fragged!

'Oh, yeah,' Jazz breathed over comms, stroking Prowl's valve and gently rubbing at his node. 'Getting so wet. Love how this turns you on, sweetspark.'

"Jazz!" Prowl groaned.

'Don't hold back,' Jazz told him, and Prowl didn't, overload rushing through him not long after.

"Ready?" Jazz asked, standing up

"Oh yes!" Prowl assured him.

"Right, so here's how you put one on," Jazz began. "Easier to put one on when you're not fully pressurized, and you want to use lube so it doesn't get uncomfortable." Jazz had fetched their bottle of lube, which Prowl noted would soon have to be replaced, while Prowl rearranged himself. "Would've done this before I went down on you 'cause it's not easy not pressurizing when I'm listening to you moan for me, gorgeous, but you can only wear them for about twenty kliks. Don't want to restrict energon flow too long." Slicked up, Jazz reached for the cock ring. "To put it on, stretch it out a little bit, then side it down to your housing, then ease it back to its normal size. It should be snug but not tight and shouldn't hurt. Then you can let yourself get hard. Ring'll let energon in, but it's harder for it to flow back out, so you'll get stiffer than usual."

"And you only have twenty kliks," Prowl noted, reaching out to run his fingers along his lover's spike. Jazz might have been working not to pressurize before, but he'd certainly given up trying now. "How do you want me?"

"Just stay right where you are," Jazz told him, "and lie back."

Prowl lay back across the bed, a little surprised when Jazz put his legs over his shoulders but very appreciative of it when Jazz pushed into him. The position, or maybe the spike ring, or both, made his valve feel tighter and his lover larger, and the buzz of the vibrator against his node made him jerk and push into the touch. "Oh!"

"Good, huh, babe?" Jazz asked, running his hands up and down Prowl's thighs.

"Mmm, yes," Prowl sighed. "More?"

Jazz kissed Prowl's knee. "You got it."

Jazz leaned forward a little more and fragged Prowl with shallow, slow strokes that meant the vibration was never absent from Prowl's node for long. Prowl had reached up to clasp his lover's hands, but he let one fall so he could touch himself and find the sensitive spots in his armour and under his bumper that Jazz couldn't reach just then.

"Oh, damn, that's fragging hot!" Jazz groaned as Prowl arched up a little bit under his own touch. "You're loving this, aren't you, babe?"

"Yes," Prowl told him breathily, deliberately letting his fingers trail over his centre chest seam. "It's good, it's so good!"

"Gonna think about it when you're alone with your toy?"

"Ohhh," Prowl groaned. "Yes!" He usually thought about Jazz when he self-serviced alone in his dorm room, and this would definitely get its share of replays!

"Yeah," Jazz pushed Prowl's knees a little further back, changed the angle his spike was dragging over Prowl's walls, and Prowl gasped sharply, jolting closer to overload. "Yeah, me too, lover. Always thinking about you. You're just — you're so fragging amazing, lover! Love being with you, just love it."

Prowl could only moan in reply, already close to overloading, and Jazz sped up a little, the spike ring sending shocks of pleasure through his node every time it made contact. It wasn't long before Prowl overloaded with a shout; Jazz slowed down, but Prowl reached for him.

"Keep going!" Prowl pleaded. "Keep going, please!"

"You got it, Prowler," Jazz promised. "Right through the overloads?"

"Yes, yes!"

It wasn't long before Prowl overloaded again, and Jazz fragged him through it, gasping in time with each stroke. Prowl didn't seem to come down from his overloads, each feeding the next, leaving him sated and spent well before Jazz finished. Prowl urged his lover not to stop: he didn't need to overload again, but he was enjoying simply feeling his lover inside him and wanted to feel Jazz come.

"Oh, babe," Jazz groaned, pressing his cheek, then a kiss against Prowl's leg. "Gonna just…"

"Yes," Prowl breathed, reaching up to put his hands on Jazz's. "Keep going."

Prowl lay back and affectionately watched his lover, already feeling the languor of the afterglow with Jazz still moving inside him. He could still faintly feel the buzz of the vibrator, but Jazz was considerately not going deep enough to push it against his node, likely and mostly correctly concerned it was too sensitive.

"Baby," Jazz managed as Prowl could feel him tensing, about to overload any nano-klik. "Prowl, can I — all the way?"

"Yes!" Prowl wasn't close to overloading again, but he felt a rush of satisfaction when he felt his lover, buried deep, spill inside him. "Oh…Jazz…"

"Yeah," Jazz panted, a faint tremor running through his structure. It took a bit of careful movement, but eventually, he was able to help Prowl lower his legs, roll off the spike ring, and curl up at right angles next to Prowl on the bed. Jazz's head was on his lover's chest, with Prowl stroking his helm. Jazz wrapped an arm securely over his waist. Their cooling systems were still running on high, though Prowl's had already begun to slow.

"Alright, darling?" Prowl asked, kissing the tip of one audial horn.

"Oh yeah," Jazz sighed, burrowing closer to Prowl. "Just gonna lie here, 'kay?"

Prowl's legs were still hanging over the edge of the bed, and he would begin to get uncomfortable soon, but cuddling with Jazz mattered far more. "Very okay."

Jazz mumbled something and nuzzled against Prowl's chest, perhaps not asleep but certainly not entirely awake. It would be several kliks before he'd be ready to move again unless Prowl nudged him awake. Jazz wouldn't object if it meant Prowl's comfort, but his position was little more than an annoyance. Prowl could wait for his lover to wake again.

Prowl brushed another kiss over Jazz's audial horn and shut his optics off, enjoying Jazz's warmth while he waited.

Chapter Text

Jazz eventually woke enough for them to sleepily resettle themselves, and they dozed together for a while longer. Jazz stayed out long enough that Prowl thought he must still be tired from his week and not just recent interface and their other activities that day. After a time, he kissed his lover's forehelm and got up, leaving Jazz to steal and snuggle his pillow. Prowl wanted to shower and hoped the noise wouldn't wake his lover, keeping the cleanser pressure low to ensure it was as quiet as possible. It was still stronger than what Prowl had been accustomed to at the monastery, but he did miss the more powerful spray. When he was finished and dried, he took a moment to examine the options for the wash rack and tub.

While they had never used it together, Jazz's washracks did have an option for an oil bath. Prowl did not run one but wondered if it was something Jazz might like. Being submerged in warm oil certainly sounded enjoyable and would be something they could do together. Prowl knew that Jazz had been busy, and while the mech's paint and polish were kept up by the wash rack's automated systems, that wouldn't be the same as having someone do it for you. Prowl had never polished anyone, but it did not seem like it would be difficult or difficult to undo or cover up if his efforts weren't up to par.

And it would give him a reason to get his hands on Jazz.

Jazz was still asleep, and Prowl's shower had invigorated him, so he was not quite ready to go back to bed, tempting and warm as Jazz was. He was hungry, and it was getting close to the time for evening fuel. Prowl wasn't quite ready to begin cooking on his own, but he could at least see what might be possible.

There was not much: it seemed as if Jazz hadn't been home for a while to replace his fuel supply. But Prowl had lived on plain fuel for most of his functioning and was hardly bothered by not having anything elaborate available. Their pastries, some additives, and a few leftover mineral-based treats were also there. Prowl left the pastries but put the treats, a handful of additive packets, two spoons, and two cubes of plain fuel on a tray and carried it to the bedroom, peeking in to see if Jazz was awake yet. Jazz was, visor dimly lit, and he smiled at Prowl.

"Hey, lover. Dinner in bed's a nice thought, but I think I'll get up for this one."

Prowl nodded. "In the dining room or in the living room while we watch something?"

"Living room," Jazz decided and stretched. "Feels lazier. Be right in; just gonna wash up a little bit."

"It won't get cold," Prowl assured him. He wanted to wash and polish Jazz, but he knew his lover's habits, and the mech would only freshen up a little bit from interfacing. Prowl could still give him a more involved and hopefully luxurious treatment later. "It's just a few things I put together from your pantry. I hope that's alright."

"Yeah, help yourself to whatever you want. That includes streaming services. Pick something you like."

Prowl browsed the streaming menus while Jazz washed up, settling on something fairly light that he thought Jazz would enjoy. It didn't take long before Jazz joined him and settled on the couch with his cube.

"Thanks for this," Jazz said, leaning companionably into Prowl, who put an arm around him.

"I thought you might still be in the mood to relax after your week," Prowl said. "Later, I thought you might like an oil bath and a polish. By hand, I mean, though I haven't polished anyone before, and I don't know how well I'd do."

"That sounds great, lover," Jazz said with a little sigh. "And don't worry, you can always polish me again. You might have to anyway 'cause I might get heated up again with your hands all over me."

"Might you?"

"Almost certainly will. Especially if you join me in that oil bath."

"I've never had one before."

"You'll like it. Nothing like soaking in warm oil without a care in the world."

Prowl brushed a kiss over Jazz's helm, though he had to stretch to do it. "I'm looking forward to it then."

The movie was short, and they nibbled lightly on their fuel throughout. Then Jazz showed Prowl how to run the oil bath and set it to temperature. The translucent oil filled the tub quickly, shimmering with heat.

"Go on, get in," Jazz urged him. "I'd like to lean back against you while we soak."

That did sound nice, so Prowl did as his lover suggested. Jazz got in and wriggled down into position, snug between Prowl's thighs and solid against his chest. Prowl wrapped his arms around his lover and shut his optics off.

"Oh yeah," Jazz murmured, relaxing. "This feels great."

"It does," Prowl agreed.

"You've got great ideas, babe." Jazz stretched a little. "Mmm. You're gonna have to let me know when you're done 'cause I'm not sure I'm gonna want to get up."

"Even for me to polish you?"

"That is one thing that can get me up," Jazz acknowledged. "Give me maybe a joor first?"

Prowl kissed his helm affectionately. "Yes."

They soaked for a little longer than a joor since Prowl could see how much Jazz was enjoying himself, but eventually, the heaters shut off for safety, and they had to get out. Warm oil was pleasant to soak in; cold, much less so. They stood and dripped while the tub emptied and then washed off the rest under the shower. Prowl made sure to wash Jazz off thoroughly, carefully cleaning off all of the oil residue.

"I can get that for you," Jazz offered.

Prowl shook his head. "No need. I want to look after you." Jazz daily polish was designed to stand up to many things, including cleanser, and though the hot oil had loosened it and washed some of it away, there was still more to be taken off. But… "I haven't removed anyone's polish before." And he'd only had it done to him by automated washracks using chemicals.

"Don't worry," Jazz assured him. "You'll do fine. It's not different from washing someone. Just put on some gloves so you don't also strip your own off."

Prowl listened and donned the gloves, though they made his hands feel clumsy. He was extra careful by way of compensation, though he doubted he could remove paint as well with the polish remover unless he let it soak too long. It evaporated quickly, and Prowl only had to wipe away the remnants.

"Feels nice, lover," Jazz said, brushing his fingers over Prowl's helm while Prowl knelt to remove the polish on his feet. "Can't wait for you to put it back on me."

"Which polish do you want me to use?" Prowl asked.

"Just the daily one. Don't have anything fancy to do this week."

Prowl was just as relieved to hear that: he was not confident in his ability to properly apply anything more demanding than a daily polish. The everyday kind was forgiving of error by its nature. He applied polish just as carefully as he'd applied it, and, from Jazz's soft sounds, his lover appreciated the slow, gentle touch of the microfiber cloth.

"This is way better than a salon," Jazz sighed. "Mmm. You've got good hands, Prowler. Making me glad we're not using anything that can't stand a little scuffing."

Prowl smiled at that. "Do you want me to scuff you up later?"

Jazz rolled his shoulders as if to relax them. "Maybe. Earlier took a lot out of me — not complaining, but I might not be up for another frag tonight. But you can always scuff me up tomorrow."

Prowl nodded. "You've had a long week. It's not surprising you're tired."

"A bit. Not just physically, either. I'll be glad when this slag is done, and we can go back to the usual stuff I can't tell you about."

Prowl nodded again, carefully rubbing polish onto Jazz's back in small circles, concentrating on not leaving streaks. He thought it was going reasonably well so far. "Is there anything I can help with?"

Jazz smiled at him. "You're doing it, lover, just by being here."

Prowl smiled back. "I wish I didn't have to leave, but at least that's not for another couple of cycles. In the meantime, I can look after you."

"You're the best, babe. Hey, c'mere."

Curious, Prowl circled Jazz, only for his lover to draw him in and kiss him sweetly.

"Jazz?"

Jazz cupped Prowl's jaw and rubbed his cheek with a thumb. "Want you to know I appreciate you, Prowl. Sometimes I wish our weekends could go on forever."

Prowl turned his face into Jazz's palm and kissed it. "Sometimes I do, too. Though I know you would get bored and want to go out eventually."

"Yeah," Jazz acknowledged, perhaps a touch ruefully. "But it'd be fun."

"Yes," Prowl agreed with another kiss, "it would."

Prowl resumed his polishing, noting how relaxed his lover became. Being polished by a mech rather than an automated polisher was clearly more enjoyable.

"It doesn't have to be tonight," Prowl said as he finished, checking Jazz over carefully for missed or incompletely buffed spots. "But would you polish me sometime?"

"Sure will, lover." Jazz examined himself in the mirror. "Hey, Prowler, you did a great job!"

"Thank you," Prowl said, stripping the gloves off. He'd never liked wearing gloves, always feeling as if they left a residue, and he washed his hands to get rid of the phantom sensation. "Better than the wash racks, I take it?"

"Oh, much better." Jazz came up behind him and slipped his arms around Prowl's waist. "Better than a salon, even. You want me to return the favour?"

"Unless you need to look after me, I'd rather look after you," Prowl replied. "What would you like to do next?"

"Play my guitar a little bit, honestly," Jazz said. "If you don't mind listening. I might be a little out of practice. You can tell me if I'm awful."

Prowl smiled and patted one of his lover's hands reassuringly. "You won't be awful, and I'd like to listen to you."

Jazz spent a lot of time adjusting his guitar before he actually began to play. While Prowl didn't hear anything go wrong, the mech stopped a few times with a slight frown before making a minute adjustment and starting over. Jazz practiced for over a joor before stopping and gently putting his guitar back in its case.

"Felt good to do that again," Jazz said, closing the lid and latching it. "Thanks for listening, lover."

"I enjoyed listening to you," Prowl told him. He'd been sitting across from Jazz while his lover played, and now he let the mech pull him to his feet and kiss him.

"Ever learn how to play anything?" Jazz asked.

"No, only a handful of monks could play instruments, though we did sing sometimes." Prowl very much hoped Jazz would not ask him to sing. "I suppose I wasn't terrible, but it wasn't something I looked forward to."

Jazz just nodded. "Okay, won't ask you to sing, then. But if you ever want to learn to play, let me know. I'm happy to teach you."

"I know," Prowl said, thinking of all the things Jazz had taught him since their first meeting at the monastery. "I'll keep it in mind: I certainly enjoy it when you teach me things."

"Yeah, I enjoy it too," Jazz said with a smile. "It's been amazing watching you learn about everything outside the monastery. You're wonderful, babe, you know that?" Jazz's expression softened. "Really wonderful."

Prowl wasn't sure how to read Jazz's expression, but he felt a soft stirring in his spark that he thought matched it. He let Jazz draw him in closer and tenderly press their forehelms together.

"Being with you is the best part of my week," Jazz told him and kissed him tenderly. "Y'know what I'd like to do now?"

"No?"

"Take a turn spoiling you. C'mon, I'll polish you up and then rub your hinges; how's that sound?"

Prowl had turned down Jazz's offer of a polish earlier, but he knew how much Jazz liked to look after his lovers, and Prowl had done his job: Jazz was relaxed and clearly wanted to do it. Jazz had obviously enjoyed Prowl's handiwork, and Prowl was curious about what it would feel like to be polished by a mech instead of a machine.

"It sounds wonderful, thank you," Prowl said.

"C'mon, then."

Having Jazz's hands all over him, stripping old polish and applying new, was fulfilling in an entirely different way than interface. He shut his optics off to focus on the sensation and didn't turn them on again until Jazz prompted him to look.

"You like?" Jazz asked, kissing Prowl's neck.

"I do," Prowl said with genuine appreciation. Jazz had used a daily polish, nothing Prowl hadn't used before, but somehow it looked better than usual, having been done by hand. "I look very good, thank you."

"Not just thanks to me; you're always gorgeous," Jazz told him. "Ready for your hinge rub?"

Prowl tilted his head to the side to give Jazz more access for neck kisses. He already had a feeling this massage was going to lead to more. He certainly hoped so.

"Yes."

Prowl had nothing to judge it by, but his opinion was that Jazz gave an excellent hinge rub. He was floaty and relaxed by the time Jazz considered it finished and lay there contentedly while Jazz placed tiny kisses on his back in a trail down to his waist.

"Love have you sprawled out beneath me," Jazz said, nuzzling Prowl's hip. "Any chance you're up for a little extra?"

Prowl stretched his legs a little, and Jazz shifted so he could spread them. "Yes. Hands and knees?"

"Nah, you can stay right where you are. Open up for me?"

Prowl wasn't quite ready to be spiked, but Jazz's skilled fingers took care of that, and he was wet enough within a breem. He sighed in satisfaction as Jazz slid inside, all the way to the housing in a single stroke.

"Yeah," Jazz murmured, rolling his hips in shallow strokes, "Prowler. Slow okay?"

"Mhm," Prowl agreed, flexing his fingers on the mattress.

"Alright," Jazz said and lowered himself a little further, bearing Prowl down into the mattress with just the right amount of pressure. He reached forward and laced their fingers together. "Slow it is."

Prowl moaned into his pillow, optics off, while Jazz fragged him tenderly and occasionally kissed his neck and shoulders, whispering praise. His climax built up slowly, and he groaned softly when it washed through him. Jazz took a little longer, but Prowl made a satisfied noise as he felt his lover tense and spill inside him.

"How're you such a perfect mech?" Jazz asked rhetorically as they curled up together afterward, Prowl's head on his chest.

Prowl nuzzled happily against his lover's armour. "I could ask you the same thing."

"Well, can't say it makes me sad to hear it even if modesty is a virtue." Jazz kissed his helm. "Know what else I want to do?"

Prowl couldn't picture having the energy to do more than what he was doing right now, but as long as it didn't require him to move, he would be fine. "Mmm?"

Jazz's fingers trailed lightly up and down Prowl's spine. "Let you listen to my spark. If you want to."

"Jazz," Prowl said softly and kissed his lover's chest. "Yes. I very much want to."

"You got it, darlin'."

Jazz's chest armour with the soft sound of a minor transformation, and Prowl shifted to lie with his audial over the opening, the warmth of his lover's spark striping a line along his cheek. He could hear the faint sound of sparkspin, soft and like nothing he'd ever heard before. Prowl shut off his optics and dialled down all sensors except auditory so he could focus on Jazz alone.

Jazz didn't talk, just hugged him close and let him listen, for a long time.

Chapter Text

Jazz was even more affectionate than usual the next day, always finding excuses to kiss Prowl, kiss his armour, hug him tight, even if it was just an arm around his waist tugging Prowl against his side. Prowl was more than happy to cuddle up to his lover, even briefly, and kiss him back.

"Mech, I'm all full of energy today. I need to burn it off," Jazz announced mid-morning. "Never felt like that opening my chest plates up before — you're doing good things to me, lover."

Prowl smiled shyly, pleased by his lover's words. "Am I?"

"Sure are," Jazz said happily, kissing Prowl affectionately. "Want to go for another drive? I've got a whole lot of other places to show you."

Prowl was still enjoying the ability to drive whenever he liked, something he had not had at the monastery, and readily agreed. Once again, Jazz took him outside the city, though in a different direction this time. This time, they looped around the perimeter of Translucentia Heights, the most exclusive district in Cybertron, its towers rising high into the sky.

'Mirage's place is in there,' Jazz told him as they drove. 'It's one of the older ones, so it's in the district's centre, but they've got a ton of space. Beautiful gardens. You like gardening, right?'

'I always enjoyed tending the crystals at the monastery,' Prowl said. 'I do miss it sometimes.'

'We can get you a desk garden,' Jazz said. 'Think you'd like that? It'd fit in your dorm room, and you can pack it in a stasis bubble when you move to your own place.'

'That does sound interesting.' Prowl thought about it for a few nano-kliks. 'I would have to budget for one, but I think I could afford it in a short time, depending on how expensive they are.' It didn't sound like something that would be very expensive. Prowl still felt he sometimes didn't understand the cost of things. He hardly needed to worry about it at the monastery and still felt new.

'Depends on the size and the quality, but you can always start small and expand.' Jazz turned onto an off-ramp, and Prowl followed. 'C'mon, let's hit the highway outside the city and really get up to speed!'

Prowl followed his lover onto the off-ramp, gunning his engine when Jazz did and catching up to the mech easily.

'We've gotta get you onto a racetrack sometime, lover,' Jazz said. 'I know you're sticking with me 'cause you don't know the road, but damn if I wouldn't like to see you outrun me.'

It was true that Prowl wasn't running at full speed, but he never had. The highway didn't have speed limits, but Jazz was right to think Prowl was holding back because he didn't know the way. Having access to maps and GPS was not the same as having experience.

But Prowl would know these roads eventually.

'I'd like to try the racetrack,' Prowl said. It was another thing he'd not had access to in his former life.

'Cool. Got one at work, I'll get you a visitor's pass, and we'll spend a joor or so doing laps.' Jazz let himself drift a little closer to Prowl. 'If you do pass me and keep it up, I'm gonna have one heck of a nice view for a bit. Fast mech, nice sleek lines, all revved up, getting me going too…'

Prowl playfully revved his engine. 'You sound like you wish we were on the track right now.'

'Sure would be nice. Plus, I know where the public areas — and the cameras — are and aren't there. Like that garage no one ever uses.'

'Are you suggesting we sneak off to interface at the Primal Palace?'

'Sure am, if you're into that.'

Prowl had liked the thrill of interfacing outside, had certainly not been supposed to interface with Jazz or anyone at the monastery. But at the Primal Palace…it would have better security than the monastery, for one thing, and a higher chance of being caught.  'It sounds risky.'

'Risky's half the fun. Well, a quarter. And if you're worried about someone walking in, 'cuz Primus knows people have timing like that,' Jazz, having better timing, paused to let Prowl laugh, 'we could always 'face in alt. Plug and play, easier to hide fast.'

It hadn't occurred to Prowl before that cabling in alt might be possible, but he was intrigued by the possibility. 'We could,' he agreed. 'You'll have to show me that sometime.'

'Knowing you, lover, sometime soon?'

Prowl laughed. 'Am I that predictable?'

'Mm… about some things, maybe. You won't hear me complaining, though. I like how into 'facing you are.'

'It's not just interfacing,' Prowl told his lover. 'I enjoy the closeness with you as well.'

'Yeah, the cuddling's pretty great, too.' Jazz's smile was audible in his voice. 'The company, conversation, watching you learn all about who Prowl is…How're you feeling now you've been on your own for a bit?'

Prowl slowed a little, thinking. 'I feel…different. I don't think I was unhappy at the monastery, but I was certainly not in the right place. I'm still not sure I'm in the right place now, but I feel I'm on the road to it.'

'Good,' Jazz said. 'Makes me happy to know you're happy, babe. Now, why don't we swing back homewards, and you can give me a little preview of what you're gonna show me on the racetrack?'

Prowl laughed and took the lead.

On the third day of their weekend, Jazz got a call from Mirage asking if they wanted to attend a small get-together at his apartment. He seemed surprisingly frank about their only being asked to 'make up the numbers,' though Prowl was unclear on what that meant. Whatever it meant, Prowl was curious, and so they accepted.

"There's this whole upper-class thing where you have to have a certain number of people at a Season shindig," Jazz explained as he applied a more formal polish to Prowl, "even an informal one. Sounds like 'Raj could only manage eleven tonight, including himself, so we're added to bring it up to thirteen."

"Did he say who else would be there?" Prowl asked.

"Yeah, couple of 'em you already know — Sunstreaker, Blue, Hound — but there'll be a few new faces as well." Jazz chuckled. "I think this is something 'Raj put together because he's an Eres, and there's a whole bunch of stuff he's expected to do, or he'll hear about it from his creators. But he gets the say over the guest list, mostly."

"Are the guests people his creators and class would approve of?" Prowl asked.

Jazz grinned at him; Prowl saw it in the mirror as the mech stood behind him. "More or less. I know he's got a couple of Senators who usually show, but Momus was sparked as a miner, and Crosscut is considered an agitator. You've met Sunstreaker, and he gets some slack for being an artist — expensive and exclusive because he doesn't like to deal with people — but he started as a gladiator."

"Are Sunstreaker and Mirage dating?" Prowl asked, remembering how Mirage had bought Sunstreaker's drinks just as Jazz had bought his.

"Well, you'd have to ask Mirage about that," Jazz said, polishing Prowl's pauldrons. "But when he and I had a thing, it was mostly to slag off his creators. So it could be the same with him and Sunstreaker."

"Does Mirage not get along with his creators?" Prowl asked.

"Eh, it's kinda hard to explain. Sure, they love each other, but his creators have expectations for him, stuff or a way to be they think will make him happy. It worked with his older sibling, Shade, but Mirage doesn't want to be part of Society. He just wants to have fun." Jazz kissed Prowl's neck. " I know how the mech feels, but I can't say I'm unhappy with my life." He kissed Prowl's neck again and pressed their cheek guards together, smiling. "There are times I'm happier than others, though."

Smiling, Prowl reached back to caress his lover's cheek. "I feel the same way."

"'Course you do," Jazz said, half-jokingly. "You're the perfect mech."

Prowl chuckled, letting Jazz go as the mech returned to his task. "I'm not sure about that."

"Humble, too. See, perfect?"

Prowl shook his head slightly, smiling, and let his lover finish making him look presentable. He was not entirely sure, or sure he wanted to identify, what the warm feeling he got around his spark when he was with Jazz, but he knew he didn't want it to stop.

They took a transport to Mirage's Tower to avoid accidental damage to their finishes, being admitted by a footmech when they arrived.

"Atriensis busy tonight?" Jazz asked the footmech as they were escorted to the lift.

"Yes, sir," the footmech said politely. "He's attending Eres Mirage directly tonight."

"Gotcha." Jazz pinged Prowl on a private frequency. 'Atriensis is Mirage's most trusted servant. If he's attending Mirage directly tonight, it means Mirage needs someone discreet, which means there's probably gonna be an after-party.'

'"After-party?"'

'Yeah, just a few of us hanging out in Mirage's pad, but the after-party can run pretty hot sometimes. It's not intended as full-on swinging, but it happens. If you're not okay with people getting hot and heavy in front of you, you can let me know, and we'll leave.'

'I don't know if I am,' Prowl said. 'I suppose we'll see.' Out of curiosity, he asked, 'did you want to attend and…' He wasn't quite sure how to finish his questions.

'I've done the whole exhibitionism thing in front of other people, yeah,' Jazz said, which hardly surprised Prowl. 'And I know you like the thought of getting caught. I'd be into it, but only if you were.'

Prowl had no idea whether he would be, but he also knew Jazz would be fine with an uncertain answer. 'I don't know. I'll have to give you an answer later.'

''Course, babe.'

The hallway they stepped into when they reached their destination was as far from the simplicity of the monastery as anything Prowl could imagine. He would not have called it showy, but it was certainly opulent, and if he was honest with himself, Prowl felt out of place, even a little intimidated.

'Okay there, Prowler?' Jazz asked as they followed the footmech through a foyer toward the sound of mecha talking.

'It's beautiful,' Prowl said, 'but it's far from anything I'm used to.'

Jazz took Prowl's hand, gripping it reassuringly. 'You'll do fine, lover. If you're worried about what to do, just let people talk to you. People love talking about themselves, and then you just have to stand there and look gorgeous. If you get overwhelmed, comm me, and I'll get us out of there for a bit, or give 'Raj a reason we have to leave. Okay?'

'I don't want you to miss the party even if I'm uncomfortable,' Prowl said. 'I could leave without you if you wanted to stay.'

'Nah, lover. We came together, we'll go home together. We'll work it out, don't you worry. C'mon, let's go say 'hi' to Mirage.'

Mirage was — and Prowl couldn't think of a better term for it — holding court in the centre of a spacious room. The room had tall tables, tall enough to comfortably rest a drink on while standing, scattered around and few chairs. You were meant to mingle, which Prowl wasn't quite sure how to do. Jazz would, and Prowl felt secure in following his lover's lead.

Mirage greeted them first after politely excusing himself from the conversation he'd been having with a mech whose RFID identified him as Senator Momus.

"Jazz, Prowl," Mirage said with a smile. "It's so good to see you again."

"How you been, Mirage?" Jazz asked, letting his friend clasp his hands. "Surprised to get your invite."

"A pleasant surprise, I hope," Mirage said, releasing Jazz and moving to Prowl, who let his hands be clasped in turn. "Prowl, I know you've not met half my guests before; allow me to introduce you."

Prowl had met Sunstreaker, Sideswipe, Bluestreak and Hound before, but six other people were entirely new to Prowl. He let Mirage introduce him to each of them, and Jazz fed him a steady diet of information on each new mech over comms.

'That's Tracks and his brother Needlenose. They own a company that manufactures fashionable hardware — a big deal a while back, but it's slowed down a little lately. Fads are like that. They would be respectable, except there's a double whammy of being in trade, plus Needlenose there doesn't always keep the highest of company.

'Momus of Helix, Senator. Sparked as a miner, made a lucky find down in the mines, got a frame exception, and worked his way up. There's a lot of people who'd like to forget that history, but he won't let 'em. He even talks to poor people sometimes.

'Smokescreen works for the government, same as I do.'

Prowl found the lack of further information on Smokescreen telling but didn't ask any questions, as he knew enough about Jazz's line of work to doubt he'd get an answer.

'Blaster, talk-show host,' Jazz continued. 'He and I knew each other way before we met Mirage. I met him when he was deejaying at a club as a side gig.

'And that last mech there is Senator Crosscut. Likes to stir things up and try to change the system. Which, y'know, I respect as a thing that's gotta happen, but you can imagine how popular he is with people who like things traditional.'

Prowl was not accustomed to small talk: the monastery had urged quiet and contemplation, and monks generally spoke of pertinent matters, of work and Primus. Talking for the sake of talking wasn't something he'd ever had to learn. So he followed Jazz's advice and let people talk to him, only occasionally asking clarifying questions. It seemed to work well, though Prowl was glad Jazz stayed by his side.

'They like you, lover,' Jazz reassured him as a bell rang, and everyone began to file into what must be the dining room.

'It's not different from the monastery,' Prowl told him. 'I spent much of my time there just listening as well.'

'You're doing great,' Jazz said. 'Now for dinner, Mirage has probably got us next to each other or across from each other, and there'll  be a nameplate at the place that's yours. Don't sit anywhere else; there's a lot of etiquette around planning this stuff, and at best, you'll look like you don't know what you're doing.'

Prowl didn't know what he was doing, so he followed Jazz's instructions. He found his seat and, as his lover had suggested, was to be seated across from Jazz. They were sitting at the end of the table, which reduced the number of people Prowl might have to talk to, and so Prowl had no one on his left and Bluestreak seated on his right. Once the conversation started, Prowl was especially grateful for this as there seemed to be several going on at once. At their end of the table, Jazz, Bluestreak, and Hound kept the conversation going with little input from Prowl.

Prowl was accustomed to dining in a group as that had been the only way he'd ever fuelled at the monastery, but there had been significantly less conversation. What conversation there had been had certainly been less varied. Prowl overheard discussions of theatre, politics, art, and events from the speakers' lives. Prowl just hoped no one asked him about what he did: he didn't have much, he felt, besides school, work, and Jazz — and what he and Jazz usually did was not appropriate dinner conversation.

'Holding up okay, Prowler?' Jazz asked. 'You've gone kinda quiet there.'

'I feel a little out of my depth,' Prowl admitted. 'I don't have enough experience to add anything to the conversation.'

'It's okay. You don't have to; listening is just fine. I'm just making sure you're comfy.'

'It's just not quite what I'm used to.'

'It'll break up so people can go for a stroll in the atrium and the gallery,' Jazz told him, certainly things they hadn't had at the monastery. 'I'll find us a quiet spot, and then it's okay if you want to call it an early night.'

Prowl wasn't sure he would call what he was feeling enjoyment, but he wasn't unhappy either. 'I think I'll be alright, darling, but thank you.'

Prowl didn't know if Jazz had messaged Bluestreak or if the chatty mech had just noticed Prowl's quietness, but Bluestreak started putting more effort into including Prowl in the conversation. Prowl hadn't been ignored, but Bluestreak addressed him more often now, though the other mech frequently got distracted and went off on tangents.

Prowl got distracted himself when dessert was brought out. It was some form of dense, rich, jellied energon with mercury foam on top. Prowl had rarely had mercury, but it was one of his favourites. Remembering his cooking lessons with Jazz, he wondered if this dish would be difficult to make and how long it would take to learn.

Dinner had not been too overwhelming, but Prowl felt a little relief when it ended, and everyone rose for what Jazz identified as the customary post-dinner walk in the atrium and gallery. As Jazz had promised, he found them a quiet spot, though they could still faintly hear the others talking in the distance.

"Still feeling good, lover?" Jazz asked quietly, hand resting gently on Prowl's arm.

"I am," Prowl said. "I know I've been quiet, but the evening has been enjoyable overall."

"Good, and lemme know if that changes. Guessing the dessert was a highlight?" Jazz teased.

Prowl smiled warmly at his lover. 'You know me so well. Do you think it would be difficult to make at home?"

"Not sure, but I can get the recipe from Mirage, and we can try to figure it out." Jazz moved a little closer, and Prowl entered his arms, recognizing what his partner wanted. "I'm glad you're having a good time, Prowl."

Prowl kissed him, still able to hear the others around them, but they were hardly doing anything improper. "It's not so different from the monastery, really. The food and conversation are certainly more interesting, though."

"Yeah, I'll bet." Jazz kissed him again. "C'mon. I wouldn't mind making out with you here, but we don't want to get too distracted before we go in for after-dinner drinks and the formal party breaks up."

Prowl smiled as Jazz let him go. "Very well. I'll distract you later, then."

"Bet on it, gorgeous."

Prowl would have liked to spend more time kissing Jazz in the garden, but the walk through the small enclosed space was also interesting. While the crystal garden he'd been used to and worked in at the monastery had been primarily useful crystals, with a few cultivated for pure decoration to be made into votive objects, this garden's crystals were entirely decorative. The monastery had more or less let their crystals grow into whatever shape they liked unless they began obstructing paths or other crystals. The crystals in Mirage's garden were skillfully pruned into their current shapes. Prowl wondered how one acquired that particular skill: he liked the shapes of naturally grown crystals, but the sculpted ones were also fascinating.

"Crystal topiary's a bit tricky," Jazz noted when Prowl told him about this. "Sunstreaker isn't into it, but I know he's studied it a bit. I might be able to get some info out of him if he's in the right mood. That probably won't be tonight, though. He won't be in a chatty mood once everything settles down, even if he sticks around."

A soft chime sounded through the enclosed garden, and Jazz turned them around toward the doors. "C'mon, that's the signal to go back in and close out the night. Well, for most guests, except the ones who're staying afterwards."

"This is more regulated than I'd expected life outside the monastery to be," Prowl said as they walked.

"Yeah, Towers're like that," Jazz said. "All about doing things the 'proper way.'"

They were coming up on others, so Prowl switched to comms to keep their talk private. 'I doubt any friends of yours would be terribly concerned about 'the proper way.''

Jazz smiled at him. 'You bet they're not, lover.'

Inside, they were escorted to yet another room, and a serving drone circled the room with glasses of engex. Prowl was still a little unaccustomed to the taste of high-grade and sipped his very slowly until Jazz notified him that etiquette dictated no one could leave until everyone finished. Prowl didn't have enough of a taste for engex that he wanted to drink faster, a dilemma they solved by surreptitiously switching glasses.  If there was any protocol about that kind of trick, Jazz didn't think it important enough to mention.

Finally, the Senators, Blaster, and Needlenose departed, and Prowl almost felt the shift in the mood. Mirage dismissed his servants and invited everyone to find their way to 'the usual place.'  Jazz hung back, and Prowl stayed with him, still relying on his lover's guidance.

"Did Jazz tell you what sometimes happens afterwards?" Mirage asked.

"He's explained, yes," Prowl said. "He said it can run a little hotter sometimes."

"It can, though I think you should have a little more detail than 'a little hotter.' Shall I, Jazz?"

"Go ahead. You've been to more of these than me."

Mirage nodded and continued. "Sometimes people make out; they might give each other tactile overloads or might go even further," Mirage said, making sure to keep optic contact with Prowl. "Everyone is aware of this and chooses to stay. If you're uncomfortable at any time, for any reason, and want to leave, please don't feel awkward about choosing to leave. It happens, sometimes even with people who have participated before."

Prowl nodded. "I understand."

'We can also join in if you want to,' Jazz murmured suggestively over comms. 'But only if you want to.'

'I might,' Prowl told him because it did sound intriguing. Perhaps they would engage in no more than a little kissing, but he had liked interfacing with Jazz in public, with no one around, and having people nearby was the next step. Jazz knew and trusted these people, and since Jazz had once dated Mirage, they might even have seen Jazz engage in such activity before.

Jazz squeezed his hand. 'We only do what you're comfortable with. I know this whole night is something new for you.'

"Based on what you've both told me, I'm comfortable attending, at least so far," Prowl told them.

"Glad to hear it, babe," Jazz said happily. "Let's go."

Prowl and Jazz followed Mirage through the suite into a less-decorated but still sumptuous area that Prowl guessed was not meant to be a public room. The room they entered was large, furnished with soft-looking couches, chairs, and a wet bar. Mirage's other guests were already there, engaged in various conversations. Every party member wasn't present, but except for Sideswipe, Tracks and Smokescreen, Prowl had met everyone at the after-party. Hound and Bluestreak were already holding hands and leaning into each other, and Tracks and Smokescreen were being playfully flirtatious with each other. Prowl thought they weren't being serious about it and just wanted to have some fun.

"Oh! Prowl!" Bluestreak exclaimed when he spotted them. "You decided to stay! I wasn't sure if you would or not." The energetic mech tugged on his partner's arm. "Hound, look, Prowl and Jazz are here!"

Hound chuckled fondly. "So I see. Prowl, it's good to see you again. We didn't get much of a chance to talk earlier."

"Well, you can't have a real conversation at a formal dinner anyway," Mirage said, crossing over to the bar. "Drink?"

Everyone else had something, and Prowl concluded it was the expected thing to do. Not wanting more high-grade, he requested a simple glass of coolant. Mirage obliged, though even basic coolant seemed to be high quality in the Towers. Prowl's coolant levels were still acceptable, so he only sipped occasionally. Someone put on music, and Prowl hoped he wasn't expected to dance: slower dancing with Jazz when they were alone was one thing, but this was fast and in public. But Jazz, likely reading his mood, drew him back against a wall to make room for the others.

"Maybe we can dance if a slower song comes on?" Jazz murmured, slipping an arm around Prowl's waist.

"I'll try it," Prowl promised. 'Does it seem strange if I'm more reluctant to dance in public than to interface?'

'Nah, not at all,' Jazz reassured him. 'Stuff just hits you in different ways sometimes. Besides, when we 'faced outside there wasn't anyone around, just the possibility of it. This time, you know there are people here. Look, Blue and Hound aren't dancing either. Do you want to go talk to them? Or, uh…'

Bluestreak was tugging Hound into a darkened corner with clear intent, and Prowl didn't think they wanted to be disturbed.

'I don't think they're interested in discussion,' Prowl said. The alcove the two had slipped into was dark but not so much that Prowl couldn't make out hands, legs, bodies moving.

Jazz chuckled. 'Yeah, guess not so much. But if you're cool just hanging out, that's fine too.'

"You can go dance if you want to," Prowl offered, but his lover smiled and shook his head.

"I want to stay with you, gorgeous."

It soon appeared that Jazz wasn't the only one not interested in dancing as the activity on the de facto dance floor changed, and people were decidedly not moving to the music playing over the speakers. Prowl was fairly certain that some of what was happening would be cause for immediate eviction and possible arrest in public — but Mirage's apartment was far from the public optic. Prowl could not keep himself from watching, though he tried not to stare at any particular couple for long. Some stayed on the dance floor, which involved less and less dancing every klik. Some of them, like Hound and Bluestreak, disappeared into the room's corners or slipped out and found other places in the house. Prowl wondered if they had to search somewhere out or if they already had a place in mind. He wondered if Jazz knew any of the places those other couples might be going.

"Jazz," Prowl murmured, leaning in to kiss his lover. Jazz kissed him back, and while Prowl never stopped being aware of everyone else in the room, he couldn't keep his hands off Jazz. The music was loud enough to drown out most sounds, but occasionally, very occasionally, Prowl could pick out sounds from elsewhere in the room. He wondered if he would sound that good to them if he dared to raise his voice. Prowl tried it, not stifling his moans as Jazz explored under his bumper with knowing fingers.

'Your fuel's starting to pump a little fast there, huh, Prowler?' Jazz asked, fingers trailing over Prowl's back in a way that made him shiver.

More than a little. 'Oh yes!'

'Want to find a semi-private space?' Jazz asked. 'Or a private one? Raj is cool with people staying the night. There're plenty of rooms.'

Was it impolite to request the use of a guest room in your host's habsuite to interface with your lover in, Prowl wondered? It had certainly never been covered in any of the lessons on proper etiquette he'd been given at the monastery. But then again, nothing he was observing had been covered at the monastery or by any etiquette datatrax Prowl had ever uploaded.

For a moment, Prowl was tempted to suggest not leaving. He did like the thought of being watched or caught, but the reality, among relative strangers, was something else.

'A private one,' Prowl decided. 'It's…very different having others around.'

Jazz kissed him again. 'It can be, yeah. But I've got somewhere for us to go. Ready?'

Prowl was more than ready. 'Yes.'

Chapter Text

Jazz took Prowl down a hall decorated with elegant furnishings like those filling the rest of Mirage's apartment. The doors leading off the hall were widely spaced, suggesting sizeable rooms or suites behind them. In an odd way, it reminded Prowl of the individual cells that full monks had inhabited at the monastery although these were almost certainly not sparsely furnished rooms designed to promote meditation, religious contemplation, and prayer.

He wouldn't mind getting on his knees, Prowl thought to himself, but not to pray.

"Here, we go," Jazz said, opening the door. "Never been in this one before, but Mirage likes his guests to be comfy so I think we'll like it." He grinned over his shoulder at Prowl as he led the mech inside. "Though I don't think you're planning to pay much attention to the décor, right, lover?"

"I'm not," Prowl said, tugging Jazz close to kiss him before they'd even gotten inside. "Are you?"

Jazz chuckled. "Nope,  not a bit. Rather look at you anytime, babe." He held Prowl's hands and backed into the guest room. The lights came on automatically dimmed to a romantic level. Prowl catalogued a bottle of fine engex, glasses, and some slick-looking oils in bottles on a table by the bed. Mirage, or at least his staff, knew how to set the mood. Not that Prowl needed much help; he pulled Jazz into another kiss.

"You liked watching the others getting revved up, huh?" Jazz asked between kisses as the door to the guest room closed behind them. "Got you revved, too?"

"Yes, very much!" Prowl wasn't in the mood for talking. "Jazz…"

"Yeah, I got you, babe." Jazz cupped Prowl's face in his hands and kissed him deeply. Prowl slipped a thigh between Jazz's legs and ground against him. "Oh, frag, you're running hot, aren't you?"

"Yes!"

"And you want it now, huh?" Jazz nibbled at his jaw. "Want to try it a little rough this time? Hard and fast?"

Hard and fast was very enticing, and Prowl was eager to try it out, especially if it got Jazz's spike inside him in the next few kliks. "Please, Jazz!"

"You got it. Get on the floor, gorgeous. Hands and knees."

Prowl loved being taken from behind and followed instructions eagerly, opening his armour without waiting for a prompt. Jazz didn't wait either, kneeling behind him and rubbing his fingers along the slick outer folds of Prowl's valve.

"Frag, you are running hot already, aren't you?" Jazz asked admiringly. He fingered Prowl briefly, digits slipping in easily, and Prowl clamped down reflexively around him. "Primus…" Prowl heard the faint sound of Jazz's armour opening and then the soft sound of his lover stroking himself. Another hand landed on Prowl's shoulder, pushing him down. Prowl obeyed, spreading his legs a little further in invitation. His hips were hiked up a little higher, then he barely had time to feel the press of Jazz's spike against his entrance before he was filled in a single stroke.

"Ah!" Prowl gasped, fingers clutching at the tiled floor. "Jazz!"

"Okay?"

"Yes!"

"Primus, you're tight," Jazz muttered, fingers curling firmly around Prowl's hips. "Here we go. Gonna fuck you, lover, right through your overloads until I'm done, yeah?"

Prowl moaned, dropping his head down to rest on his arm. "Please!" Jazz filled him in a single stroke, and Prowl gasped, hands curling into fists. "Yes!"

"Frag, you are soaked," Jazz groaned, not giving Prowl time to adjust before setting up a fast pace. "You just loved watching everyone, didn't you?"

"Yes," Prowl moaned again. "Ohh! Harder!" he pleaded, and Jazz complied, his thrusts rocking Prowl forward. Prowl moved back eagerly for more with every push and overloaded with a shout in no time at all, and then again as Jazz kept his word and kept fragging him. The overloads didn't seem to stop, one followed by another until Prowl was left panting and satiated on the floor as Jazz finished inside him.

"Oh, Prowler," Jazz groaned, almost falling to the floor beside Prowl. Clumsily, he tucked Prowl against him. "Oh, mech, frag me, that was amazing."

Prowl mumbled in agreement and then, with some effort to work out the new configuration, transformed one of his doors into a position where he could roll onto his side and cuddle up against Jazz, head on his lover's shoulder. Jazz nuzzled him affectionately.

"Sore?"

"Mm…" Prowl could feel that his valve had been well-used but wasn't sore. "Mm-mm."

Jazz kissed one of Prowl's door panels. "Good. "

Prowl snuggled against his lover, warm and sated and happy, ignoring the hardness of the floor. His valve felt quite pleasantly stretched, but he would have to wait a few cycles before getting spiked again. His spike was quite willing, however, as he found out after a breem or so of lying there with his codpiece pressed against his lover's thigh.

"Heating up again there, lover?" Jazz asked when Prowl nuzzled his chest and wrapped a leg over him.

Prowl made a noise of agreement. "Are you?"

"Oh yeah, but I won't be up to spiking for a bit. That got me off hard."

"Mm, I noticed." Prowl stretched, pushing back against Jazz. "I suppose I'll just have to spike you instead."

Jazz trailed light fingers over one of Prowl's doors. "Sounds good to me, lover. Is it okay if we move to the bed, though? The floor's not exactly comfy."

Prowl smiled and pushed himself up, reaching out a hand to Jazz to help him to his feet. "Of course it is."

Jazz grabbed his other hand and backed toward the bed, drawing Prowl with him. "Want to get a little rough with me in turn? It might not be your thing, but I know you like to try stuff out."

"I do like to try," Prowl agreed. "It's a shame we don't have your handcuffs with us, though."

"Sounds like I gotta start carrying some cuffs around," Jazz said. "Where d'you want me first, lover?"

Prowl kissed him, pressing him back against the bed, but not firmly enough that Jazz would have to sit. Not yet, anyway. "On your knee, getting me hard."

"Yeah," Jazz breathed. "You got it, babe. Love going down on you! You want a little teasing or straight to work?"

"Straight to work," Prowl decided and opened his armour, letting his spike pressurize. Jazz didn't hesitate, mouth hot and eager, taking him deep. Prowl moaned and gripped the foot of the bed with one hand, cupping Jazz's helm with the other. He let his hips rock slightly in time with Jazz's movements but resisted the urge to go faster, push deeper, and get off instead of fragging his lover.

'Tell me when you're ready, lover,' Jazz urged him. 'Want you to bend me over the bed and frag me so bad!'

'I want to,' Prowl told him. 'We don't have handcuffs…do you want me to pin you down instead?'

Jazz groaned and took Prowl's spike into his throat, holding him there for a few nano-kliks before pulling back and leaning back to look up at Prowl with a visor dark with lust. "Prowler, please tell me you're ready — and yeah, I'd love it if you pinned me down!"

Prowl bent down just enough to grasp Jazz's arms and help the mech to his feet. "I'm ready!"

Jazz pulled him into a fierce kiss and then turned around, let Prowl push him face-down on the bed, irresistibly reminding Prowl of their first night in Iacon when he'd fragged Jazz over the table. Maybe later, they could do that again, harder, faster, just like Jazz wanted it now.

Prowl lined up his spike and sank in, moaning in satisfaction. Jazz's mouth was wonderful, but this was what Prowl had been craving! He leaned over Jazz and pinned him with his weight, pressing his lover's wrists to the mattress, wrenching a satisfied noise from the mech.

"Oh, frag, yeah, Prowler!" Jazz panted. "C'mon, c'mon…yeah!"

Prowl held back a little at first, not wanting to risk hurting his lover, but Jazz was soaking wet and hot and saying 'harder' and 'faster,' and soon Prowl was taking Jazz just as rough and hard as Jazz had taken him. Jazz overloaded hard, and Prowl didn't stop, just slid his hands up a little to lace their fingers together and kept going. It was good, so good, and Prowl held off his own overload as long as he could just to wring more out of Jazz. By the time Prowl let himself come, Jazz was a limp, satisfied mech who made a happy sound when Prowl's weight came down on him.

"Just as good from the other side?" Jazz asked once they shifted to more comfortable positions, still lying sideways across the bed but sprawled out beside each other.

"Yes," Prowl said and kissed Jazz's fingers. "I want to try it with the handcuffs."

Jazz chuckled. "Really making me regret not bringing fetish cuffs with me, lover. Still, got all the other comforts of home here. Wanna check out the oil bath? Nice hot soak before bed? Plus, 'Raj has the good stuff."

Oil baths were one of Prowl's favourite luxuries, and Jazz certainly wasn't wrong about this one: the oil was lighter and smoother than the oil in Jazz's bath was, and Prowl could feel what his lover meant by 'good stuff.' It wasn't the only good stuff they had either: Jazz had poured them each a glass of a light energon that was so refined it cast a halo of light on the side of the tub when Prowl set it down. He wasn't even sure he would finish it, in case it made him light-headed. While he enjoyed the occasional glass of high grade, Prowl did not like being intoxicated.

"Happy lover?" Jazz, sitting on the other side of the tub, asked, holding his own glass. "Think you'd like this kind of thing every day?"

"Every day would be a bit much," Prowl said since he genuinely preferred a simpler life. "And I'm always happy when I'm with you."

"Yeah," Jazz reached out, and Prowl took his hand. The two smiled at each other. "Me too."

Prowl felt a slight blush rise in his faceplates and a warm, fluttery feeling in his spark that he only got around Jazz. He wasn't quite ready to name that feeling yet, but…he didn't want it to stop.

Chapter Text

Prowl fell into bed after his oil bath with Jazz, snuggled into his lover's arms with body and spark content, and woke to Jazz smiling warmly at him.

"Hey, gorgeous," Jazz said softly. "Sleep well?"

Prowl stretched, smiling back. "Very well, you?"

"Always do when I've got you next to me." Jazz brushed his thumb over Prowl's cheek strut. "Mirage invited us to breakfast on the chalcedony terrace. A couple of the others might be there, or they might've left already if they didn't stay the whole night. You up for it? We can head out someplace or back to mine if you're full up on people."

"I'm fine," Prowl assured him, not making any moves to get out of a bed that was warm, comfortable, and, most importantly, contained Jazz. "Socializing is becoming easier the more I do it, though I admit this isn't a scenario I'd ever expected to encounter."

"The morning after a Towers party like this isn't exactly the kinda thing you find in most etiquette downloads," Jazz agreed and kissed him. "You got anything in particular you want for breakfast? I can put in an order with the kitchen."

Prowl didn't need anything special and said so, but was pleasantly surprised to see a dish full of his favourite pastries, the ones with mercury filling and rubidium dusting, waiting on the breakfast table. Those took some time to make, and Prowl wondered if Jazz had ordered them in advance.

The chalcedony terrace was tiled in blue variants of the titular mineral, sweeping over the floor in a soothing fractal pattern. While Prowl was entirely alert, there was a faint dullness to some of the other occupants' optics that suggested something soothing might be necessary. The additives on the table reinforced that, being minerals that would soothe an uneasy tank, which Prowl imagined worked as well after a night of indulgence as they did after taking bad fuel or suffering a viral infection.

"Good morning!" Mirage's greeting was echoed by the others — Sideswipe, Sunstreaker, Hound, Bluestreak, and Tracks — with varying degrees of energy and enthusiasm. Prowl said good morning back and settled at the table next to Jazz, who promptly served him with two of the mercury-rubidium pastries.

'Did you order these?' Prowl asked.

'Mmm, might've let slip to 'Raj that you liked 'em. Hope you don't mind?'

'Not at all.' Prowl didn't mind anything that got him pastry, really.

"You made an impression on Senator Crosscut last night, Prowl," Mirage said. "Choosing to leave your sparked function and all that." Mirage slid a small box across the table to him. "He's left you a token of his regard."

Confused, Prowl glanced at Jazz for guidance.

'Little gifts the upper crust likes to give out to people they think are charming or interesting or want to make a connection with,' Jazz explained. 'No obligations behind it besides writing a nice thank you note, and Raj'll probably be okay walking you through that. You don't even have to keep the whatever it is — there're even people who make a living off this kinda thing.'

It still seemed strange to Prowl: he'd barely even talked to Senator Crosscut and couldn't imagine why the mech would want to make a connection with him, but as long as there was no obligation, there didn't seem to be a reason to refuse. Jazz and the others also seemed to be treating this as normal, at least for this particular scenario.

"Thank you," Prowl said, accepting the box. It contained a small, silver and amethyst magnetic brooch, flat enough to easily accommodate a transformation sequence. Prowl had no idea how to price jewelry, having never expected to wear any, and had no idea what kind of value it might hold. "Ah…I wasn't expecting this."

"I'll help you with the response, if you like," Mirage offered, and Prowl accepted.

"There's no strings or anything attached to it," Bluestreak added. "But it’s a very nice piece. Is it something you'd wear?"

"I'm not sure," Prowl said and closed the box, tucking it away in his subspace to think about later. He wasn't sure, but he rather thought that if he were going to wear jewelry, he would want a piece from Jazz to start with, rather than one from a relative stranger.

"There's no obligation," Mirage assured him. "Well, beyond the thank-you note. I can help you with that before you leave, if you like. I imagine you lack the appropriate writing foil."

Prowl lacked any kind of writing foil, appropriate or not. "I would appreciate that, thank you."

Mirage smiled at him. "After breakfast, then."

'The gift didn't weird you out too much, did it, babe?' Jazz asked as, after the most leisurely breakfast of Prowl's life, they drove back to his apartment. ''Cuz there are ways to refuse 'em in advance if you're really not comfortable.'

'It's fine, just…strange.' And Prowl didn't anticipate being invited to Towers parties often enough for it to make a difference. 'I think I'll simply handle it as it comes…if it does.'

'You're a good lookin' mech with an air of mystery,' Jazz said, 'You're gonna catch optics.'

Prowl had no idea how to respond to that, as Jazz's optics were the only ones he was sure he'd caught and the only ones he wanted to catch. 'I don't know if I'm comfortable with that.'

'And that's fair, 'cuz not everyone likes to be flirted with.'

'I liked it when you flirted with me,' Prowl pointed out, remembering how he had felt the first time Jazz had flirted with him, even if the mech had cut it somewhat short out of respect for the monastery's rules. For a while, at least, until Prowl had returned his interest. 'But….that was you.' Prowl was not sure what he thought about 'catching optics' or how he would feel for anyone other than Jazz to flirt with him. He needed to think about it and told Jazz so.

'Okay, let me know when you're ready, Prowler. Want to talk about something else, or d'you need to think about stuff for a while?'

'Something else,' Prowl decided.

'Okay, cuz I got some news for you: I got us permission to use the racetrack at work! Still interested?'

Prowl, who still didn't get to drive as much as he wanted, was instantly and pleasantly distracted by the offer. 'Yes, of course!'

'Late afternoon three days from now okay?' Jazz knew Prowl's class schedule, though not as much about his work schedule, which was less structured. 'Or are you working?'

'Not that evening, no. The two following, though.'

'Alright. Until then, want to hit the highway for a bit? It's no racetrack, but it's faster than driving through town.'

It meant that they would have to go the long way around to Jazz's apartment, but Prowl happily accepted the opportunity to drive. And if they looped around an extra time, well, they had nowhere else to be.

Jazz found a time to bring Prowl to the Primal Palace, the massive building that housed the Prime and all the administrative, secure, and religious departments that accompanied him. It had taken a bit, but he'd found time that worked for both of them to use the racetrack there. Prowl had not had to study for exams before and had booked sessions with student support to help him plan the best method. Despite Jazz's assurance that he would do well, Prowl was still anxious. Jazz had suggested that a few races might help him work out some of that, and hinted that he might have another way to help take Prowl's mind off of things. Prowl was still not entirely sure he wanted to risk actually being caught, but surely Jazz would know somewhere secluded, even in the Palace, if Prowl asked him to find one.

Prowl was cleared to enter the facility quickly, which was hardly surprising as there could be absolutely nothing objectionable in his background, and given a thin magnetic visitor's pass to attach to his armour. Jazz didn't require a visible pass as his regular clearance was embedded in his RFID. Prowl was still not permitted into the more secure areas of the complex, but he was allowed into some of the low-security areas not usually open to the public, as long as he was accompanied by Jazz.

The monastery hadn't exactly been small, and the university had plenty of large buildings and tall corridors. Mirage's apartment was luxurious. None of them had prepared Prowl for how large and-and grandiose the Primal Palace was. Everything was large and ornate, covered with friezes and frescos depicting the Primes and scenes from Cybertron's history. Prowl felt more than a little intimidated by it, and Jazz squeezed his hand.

"It's a little overwhelming the first time, huh?" Jazz murmured sympathetically. "S'okay. It gets a little less gaudy once you get outta the main halls."

Prowl was not sure he would have referred to the Primal Palace's décor as 'gaudy', but, upon passing a particularly aggressively coloured Second Age frieze, he couldn't say it was incorrect either. Jazz led them out of the public areas, and the artwork became considerably more sedate. The staff areas of the Primal Palace felt almost like the visitor areas of the monastery, and Prowl felt much more comfortable.

"This isn't where you work, is it?" Prowl asked Jazz, who shook his head.

"Nah, I work even more out of sight than this, usually. Can't take you back there, though, babe."

Prowl nodded. "I understand."

"I think you'll like the racetrack better anyway. Get some road under your tires, let loose with some speed!" Jazz squeezed his hand. "Get the feeling you didn't get that much when you were back at the monastery. Shame to keep a fine pursuit frame like yours cooped up."

Prowl smiled and switched to comms for a…less than workplace-appropriate conversation. 'And you want to watch my rear bumper.'

'You bet I do, lover. Looking forward to seeing what you've got. And most people will be at work, so we should have the track to ourselves, or almost.'

The track was empty when they arrived, an empty expanse of smooth track with crisply painted lane markers, just for them. Prowl's wheels practically itched with the desire to drive on it.

"You like, huh?" Jazz asked. Without waiting for an answer, he caught hold of Prowl's hand and towed him over to the starting line. "Alright, lover, I won't keep you waiting. How many laps d'you wanna start with?"

"I hadn't thought about it," Prowl said because he'd been focused on the idea of just getting to drive. "Why don't you choose?"

"Three?" Jazz suggested. "That should give you enough time to get a feel for the track. And yes, we can start right away. I can feel you wanting to get up to speed."

"Yes," Prowl agreed and transformed. "Let's go!"

The feel of the track was different from that of a road, smooth and sleek under Prowl's treads.  Unrestricted by speed limits, Prowl revved his engine and poured on speed, staying neck-and-neck with his lover for most of the race, crossing the finish line perhaps half a car-length behind him. But Prowl had the feel of the track now, and the second race was his.

By the time Jazz regretfully told Prowl that their time was drawing to a close, it was clear they were relatively evenly matched.

"Don't know when it'll be, but I should be able to get you clearance to come back sometime," Jazz offered. "For now, want to hit the garage for a top-up, and the washracks after? Not a lotta dust here but still feels good to cool down and get cleaned up."

Prowl could see that his fluids were getting low, and he didn't think he'd ever driven this fast, this long. It certainly couldn't hurt to get a top-up. "Yes, please."

The garage was automated, and they parked in bays next to each other, letting the auto-docs work, then headed to the wash racks. These had individual bays, but they chose one that was large enough to accommodate both of them, still in vehicle mode. There was just enough room for the buffers to get between them, and Prowl relaxed on his wheels as hot cleanser and suds washed over him.

"Nice, huh?" Jazz asked as Prowl hummed in contentment. "You just looking to relax or maybe for a little more? 'Cuz you know how much I like watching you drive."

Prowl was not so tired that he wasn't intrigued by the suggestion. "What do you have in mind?"

"Cabling in alt? Got just enough clearance if we use the undercarriage ports."

Ports and cables were safe to use in cleanser, and Prowl was always willing to try Jazz's suggestions. Prowl opened his ports and let his jacks snake free, eagerly accepting Jazz as he plugged in. Jazz's engine revved happily, and the private network opened between them.

'There you are,' Jazz said huskily. 'Oh, frag, networking with you is just the most amazing…we gotta do this more often!'

'Yes,' Prowl agreed, and opened the bandwidth wide between them. They weren't touching, couldn't touch, but the brushes, cleanser, and buffers provided more than enough sensation.

'Show me the race?' Jazz asked. 'How it felt for you? I know you loved it, lover.'

'I did!' Prowl pushed sensation across their link, everything he'd felt during their races, the enjoyment, the feel of the track under his tires, the rush of wind over his body. Prowl let himself dive into the memory, took Jazz with him, hearing the other mech stifling his moans next to him. They were in public, someone could come in and find them, and as tantalizing as Prowl found the idea, it was not wise at his lover's workplace. Usually, their network interface sessions were slow, building gradually to overload, but this time, their data exchange was quick. It was less than ten kliks before Prowl overloaded, shuddering on his wheels, and he held nothing back over their connection, bringing Jazz with him.

'Amazing,' Jazz repeated with a contented sigh. 'Only downside is I can't snuggle ya in alt.'

Prowl reluctantly disengaged and retracted his cables. 'You'll have to make it up to me later,' he teased.

'You bet.'