Chapter Text
“I didn’t realize you liked human children shows,” Jazz said with a chuckle as he settled on Prowl’s couch. Prowl’s quarters looked as bland and boring as his office. Like it had never been lived in at all.
Prowl had started the show from the beginning, projecting it on the wall across from the couch instead of from his recharging chamber. “Just because it’s for sparklings doesn’t mean it can’t have deep value,” Prowl growled.
Jazz held up his hands placatingly. “I never said there was anything wrong with liking them. I just didn’t take you to be the kind of mech to do so.”
Prowl rolled his optics and grabbed a magnesium stick from the bowl Jazz had brought. Then he leaned back into the corner of the couch, as far away as possible from Jazz. Jazz just snorted, and he, too, relaxed.
***
After the first episode was over, Prowl asked, “So, finally had enough?” Jazz knew what he was trying to say: Will you now leave me alone?
Jazz grinned. “Nah. The concept’s intriguing. Almost like human superheroes, but more nature based. I want to know more.” Mostly, he just wanted to spite Prowl. And see how long Prowl would last before kicking Jazz out.
But as they continued watching, Jazz’s snarky thoughts became less and less about Prowl and more about questions and predictions for the show.
When Aang grieved over his murdered friends and family at the Air Temple, Jazz thought about all the good mechs he’d lost from their own stupid Cybertronian war. And from the sorrow he felt from Prowl’s electromagnetic field (which allowed for Cybertronians to share their emotions, if they didn’t keep it to themselves), he knew Prowl was thinking something similar.
On the fifth episode, when Aang visited the King of Omashu in the Earth Kingdom, Jazz guffawed at a particularly funny line from the king. But he jumped in surprise when he heard a low chuckle from his right.
Jazz looked at Prowl, who had the same stoic expression as usual. Prowl tilted his head and asked, “What? Do I have magnesium crumbs on my face?” He paused the show, clicking a button on the projector.
“Nah, I, uh, was just surprised. Is all.”
Prowl frowned. “That what? I have a sense of humor?”
Jazz shrugged. “I don’t think I’ve ever heard you laugh before.”
Prowl scoffed and unpaused the show. They continued the episode in silence, with Jazz sneaking glances at Prowl every once in a while.
***
Once that episode was over, they decided that would be enough for the night. Jazz let Prowl keep the rest of the magnesium sticks, since he preferred sweeter treats himself, and walked over to Prowl’s berthroom door.
Prowl followed, and he opened the door for Jazz with a click of a button on the wall.
Jazz paused and slowly turned back to look at Prowl. Prowl crossed his arms over his chest.
“Can I… come next time?” Jazz asked. Normally, he was his confident self, but the lateness of the night seemed to be messing with him.
“Next time?”
“Yeah. I want to keep watching the show. With you. If… you’re up for it?”
Prowl leaned on the wall. “You could just borrow the files. Instead of subjecting yourself to my miserable company.”
“You’re not that miserable.” Jazz grinned wryly. “In fact, I think I had a fun time watching it with you.”
Prowl’s optics flashed, and his doorwings fluttered strangely. Jazz found himself wanting to know what that movement meant. “Really?”
“Really. You know me, Prowler. I only do things I want to do.”
Prowl huffed. “Don’t I know it. You still have paperwork you need to do, by the way.”
Jazz waved a hand. “Yeah, yeah, I’ll get to it tomorrow. So, same time in two Earth days?”
Prowl studied him for a moment. He held out a hand. “Yes. That is acceptable.”
Jazz laughed and shook Prowl’s hand. Of course, he’d try to make this a formal agreement. “Then until then.”
***
The two of them continued to watch the show every two Earth days. And Jazz found it to be an enjoyable time.
Prowl continued to loosen up around Jazz, until the both of them were debating on which kind of bender they would be.
“I would be an airbender, mostly because they’re so flighty and hard to catch,” Jazz said.
“And Aang matches your personality quite well,” Prowl mused. “I would be a firebender. I wouldn’t need resources like earthbenders or waterbenders to use my ability. And I could shoot lightning from my fingertips.”
“Lightning?!”
Prowl paused, then he vented loudly. “Right. We haven’t gotten to that part yet.”
Jazz laughed. “Rude! No spoilers! But anyways, I could see you being a firebender. You’ve got Zuko’s grumpy personality and everything.”
Prowl scoffed, his doorwings jerking back. “At least I don’t pretend to be happy all the time.”
Jazz clutched his chest and said, “Ouch. A low blow.” Yet, his smile felt genuine. And from the small curve of Prowl’s dermas, he knew Prowl was only teasing.
Man. If some mech had told Jazz that he’d be having a nice, civil conversation with Prowl two weeks ago, he’d have thought they were crazy.
Jazz leaned back on the arm of the couch and placed his hands in his lap. “You know, you never did tell me how you got into watching this show. It’s not like we have it in the library.”
Prowl hummed. “Optimus suggested—” And both Prowl and Jazz knew any “suggestion” from Optimus Prime was always an order. “—That I pick up a hobby. He said I was working myself too hard, that life shouldn’t just be all about war and strategy. So he asked a human friend for a show recommendation and gave me this.”
“There are millions of human shows! How did that human know this would be a good fit?”
Prowl’s doorwings twitched behind him. “The friend said it’s lighthearted enough to provide a good distraction from work, while still providing the emotional maturity an adult could enjoy. Plus, it was apparently their favorite TV show.”
“I see.”
“I find the ‘animation style,’ as the humans call it, to be easy on the optics as well.”
Jazz suppressed a grin. Prowl did not just say he thought the show looked pretty. No way. He wondered if there were other human shows that fit the bill; they could watch them once this show was over.
Wait. Was he seriously thinking of this hangout routine of theirs in the long term?
Prowl stood abruptly. “Looking at my chronometer, I think it’s time we go our separate ways.”
Jazz looked at his chronometer and saw that it was indeed late. He stood and stretched his frame. “We still on for next time?”
“Of course, so long as the Decepticons continue to be docile.”
Jazz smiled. Even without a processor like Prowl’s, he knew the odds of that.