Domestic Disturbance

Chapter 1 : Gossip


It had been quite a while since the Autobots last made contact with the Decepticons. Not an overly alarming amount of time had passed since then, but enough to cause worry. It wasn't unusual for Megatron to give his men a few days recovery after a hard fight or miserable failure, but a month was pushing it. It had Optimus edgy.

While the others spent the down time training, relaxing, socializing and studying earth's cultures, the Prime monitored Teletraan 1 for any Con activity. Normally Cliffjumper would be more then willing to guard the post but since a week had come and gone and no blips on the radar, he requested a break and hadn't come back from it yet. That was twenty four days ago.

It wasn't like Megatron to just up and take a week's vacation off. That could only mean one of two things. That Megatron had found a way to hide his activities from Teletraan 1, or that the Con's were planning something big. Something real big that could strike at any moment. Optimus wasn't prepared to take chances.

Jazz could no longer stand to watch as his leader and friend drive himself crazy watching a dead monitor for so long. While Optimus wasn't stubborn enough to let himself go without energon or proper recharge, he was stead fast enough to cause some concern. Mostly for his own mental health. While the lack of hostile's for the past month was something to raise suspicions, it wasn't so unnerving that the Autobots shouldn't be able to at least enjoy some R and R. Being one to always keep things cool, the Sub Commander felt he had to move in and rescue Prime from his self inflicted prison.

"Optimus, why don't you chill for a while. Let someone else take monitor duty."

Prime jumped slightly from the sudden sound of vocals. He had been focusing so intently on the screens that he hadn't even heard Jazz approach him.

"Oh, well I don't want to trouble anyone else."

"Trouble?" The smaller bot chuckled. "Prime, if anyone's bein' troubled 'round here it's you! Get one of the kids to take your place."

Jazz could sense the weary appreciation from his friend, but felt as though this rescue might be a lost cause. Optimus merely shook his head slowly and turned back to the screens.

"No that's alright Jazz. I know I'm being paranoid, but it's just not like Megatron to take such a long leave of absence. He's planning something and I just feel more comfortable knowing that Teletraan's being monitored properly. It's just something I don't feel I can push on others."

"That's cause you know it's crazy." Jazz smirked and crossed his arms. "What makes you think that Megs isn't just takin' a little break?"

Prime's shoulders rose with a small shrug. "It's just not something he'd do."

"You and that freaky instinct you got." The white and blue mech shook his head. "It's like you two share minds."

"It's called respect." Optimus stated matter of factly. "We respect each other's abilities and never underestimate one another."

"Well there is such a thing as overestimate'n too."

Before the other mech could respond, the doors to the control room hissed open in acknowledgement that another bot had just entered the room. Both turned to see Prowl approach with his usual characteristic frown and data pad in hand. He strode over to the two, fixing Jazz with a disapproving look.

"Are you bothering Optimus Prime while he's monitoring Teletraan 1?" He handed the data pad to his seated leader to formally go over the daily energon count.

"If by botherin' him you mean saving him, then yeah."

"Well knock it off! Someone's got to monitor the screens for any sign of Decepticon activity, and seeing as how Cliffjumper is with Bumblebee on a joy ride with Spike..."

"Yeah but that doesn't mean that he's gotta drive himself nuts!" Jazz challenged. "Let someone else take up the job!"

"It has to be someone reliable." Prowl tensed and snatched the data pad from Prime's servos the second he was done with it.

"Then why don't you do it?"

"I'm busy trying to keep track of everybody! Nobody seems to see how serious this could be!" The strategist seethed. "Better yet, why are you not offering to take his place. You seem to have a problem with it, so why aren't you offering?"

"I would if he let me."

Optimus was tired already. His optics felt strained as he attempted to focus on the monitors in front of him, and the sound of Prowl and Jazz arguing was enough to make his very processor ache. He spoke up if only to cease the vexatious noise.

"Jazz, Prowl,".

The two stopped snarking at one another and turned to their commander.

"I promise that if this dry spell continues for much longer, I'll take a break. This is, however, my choice, and if I felt the need to reassign someone else to do it, I would. So please do not feel concerned any longer."

Without breaking optic contact with Teletraan, Optimus gave them a dismissing wave.

"Now I need to get back to work. Earth is a big planet and there is plenty to guard. Thank you for your concern Jazz, Prowl."

The two exchanged glances before Prowl snapped to cadet like attention, saluting. Jazz merely nodded and muttered his compliance before they took their leave. The door to the control room slid shut behind them, once again cutting Prime off from the rest of the world. The blue and white Porsche sighed and gave his comrade a friendly nudge to the shoulder plate.

"You know, ya could've backed me in there. He's gonna wear a hole through poor Teletraan before he spots any Decepti-creeps."

"Optimus knows what he's doing." Prowl ignored the breach of his personal bubble. "That's why he is our leader. His choices must be respected."

"But it's all so ridiculous. Megatron's probably takin' a little time off to cool down. Last round, we mopped the dirt with the Con's skid plates. Even war mongerin' tyrants need some down time."

"Oh?" The strategist raised an optic ridge incredulously. "You're an expert on 'war mongering tyrants' now are you?"

"Just enough to know that every cat's gotta simmer." Jazz shrugged.

"And how exactly does one of Megatron's caliber 'simmer'?" A small smirk graced the uptight bot's mouth as challenged the other mech's philosophy on the ridiculous conversation they were having.

"Probably got his servos joint deep in a pretty set of red 'n white wings." The smaller Autobot said slyly.

Prowl's disturbed expression was met with Jazz's amused grin.

"That's got to be a rumor!" Prowl shook his head as his comrade burst out laughing. "Why would you even say that?"

"Cause it's so true!"

"I very much doubt it." He countered. "They hate each other more then they hate us."

"That's not what I've heard. Seems they used to be a real item back when the war started. Nearly inseparable, apparently."

"And why, for the love of Primus, do you care?"

"Gossip for gossip's sake." Jazz offered. 'It can be pretty entertain'n."

"That's pathetic..."

Prowl went silent for a moment, however, as if he were contemplating his friend's reasoning. His expression slowly shifted to that of a curious one.

"So then...why are they like this now?"

"See!!?" The other pointed and grinned manically. "Gossip for the sake of gossip is fun!"

"I don't find it fun!" Prowl bristled at being brought down to Jazz's level. "It's...merely a weakness. And knowing your enemy's weakness is important."

"Suuuure..." If Jazz's optics could be seen, Prowl knew they would be rolling.

"Come on, Mr. Smart Guy, tell me if you think you know the reason! I just want to hear how pathetic you can be."

"So you can be as pathetic as me?"

His answer was a cold hard stare. Jazz just smiled, thrilled to know he was getting under uptight Prowl's plating.

"I'm guessing Screamer's voice just finally got so irritating that Megs kicked his aft from the berth. Screamer's been in a bad mood ever since."

Prowl stared at his friend for a moment with a blank expression until the combination of what he had just heard, mixed with the goofy grin the other's face finally got to him to crack and both burst out laughing.

"P-Primus, Jazz!" Prowl nearly choked. "That's got to be the worst thing you've said in the past stellar cycle!"

"See!" Jazz patted the other officer on the back still laughing. "Gossip is fun!"