Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

It was supposed to be a peaceful morning at the Pie dinner. Prowl went in early to start making daily pies for their incoming customers. Currently, Prowl was working on a chocolate banana pie, mixing the ingredients in a bowl with a spatula. He couldn’t help but put a slight smile on his face plates for his creation that customers would love. Unfortunately, that all had to go away when Bumblebee spoke up, one of his coworkers at the diner.

“Prowl you’ve put it off long enough”

“What?” Prowl was taken back. He was so focused on the current pie he was making.

“You know what” Bumblebee and Bluestreak (another coworker) said at the same time.

Prowl grumbled to himself and followed Bumblebee and Bluestreak back to the bathroom. This sure as heck be a waste of time. Prowl couldn’t deal with another problem. He sighed when he sat down on the bench that was in the bathroom and looked at his guidance systems, waiting for another signal to pop up that wasn't his own spark.

“One spark, One spark, come one” Bumblebee chanted, waiting beside Prowl for any news.

“Dear Primus, please protect Prowl from the pit of unwanted carrying” Bluestreak paced, placing both his servos on his hips.

“I don't want a sparkling, I don't want any trouble, I just want to do my job. That’s all I want to do. Make pies” Prowl mumbled, holding up his arm where the screen of his guidance systems were showing.

“I thought you said you don't sleep with your husband anymore?” Bumblebee questioned. Prowl just sat there, ignoring Bumblebee's question. Luckily, Bluestreak answered for him.

“He got him drunk one night. On that special high-grade he keeps around for himself” 

“I should have NEVER had any. I do STUPID things, like sleep with my husband–”

“OH NO…”

“What? WHAT?” Bumblebee and Bluestreak crowd around Prowl, trying to look at the screen.

“Frag” Prowl breathed as he stared down at the screen. Prowl couldn’t understand. No. This couldn’t be happening. Not to him. No. Please.

“One spark or two sparks?” Bumblebee demanded, still trying to look over at the screen Prowl held up to his face-plates.

“Two sparks, my spark and another spark–”

“Let me see” Bumblebee grabbed Prowl's arm and looked at the guidance system report.

“Oh Prowl, two sparks, two definite sparks. There's no mistaking it” Bumblebee gave Prowl a sympathetic look.

“What's going on in there? Where are my waitresses?” A voice from behind the bathroom door. Prowl, Bumblebee, and Bluestreak all looked over to the door, a little flabbergasted about the situation still. But yet, the voice was a familiar one. A voice oh so similar to their boss.

“Hold your spike, Starscreem. Prowl’s not feeling well”

“What?”

“None of your business you blowhord” Bumblebee teased.

“I'm fine, Starscream. I’ll be right out!” Prowl scrunched his face plates. 

“Well hurry up!” Starscream said impatiently. The three could hear Starscream's peds walk away from the door. Relief quickly settled and their shoulders all slumped. Bumblebee and Bluestreak only stared at each other, giving each other a look, before glancing back at Prowl who still sat on edge on the bench. Prowl flung his arm down, not wanting to see the clear sign that he was sparked. With a huff Prowl mumbled to himself.

“Are you okay–”

“SHHHH” Prowl cut off Bluestreak.

“Im inventing a new pie in my head. Tomorrow’s blue-plate special. I'm calling it…I don’t want Tarantulas sparkling pie”

“I–I don't think we can write that on the menu..”

“Then i’ll just call it bad baby pie”

“That’s it Prowl” Bumblebee sat next to Prowl on the bench, along with Bluestreak. The two knew the only way to stop Prowl's tac-net from over working itself was to let Prowl make up new pies on the spot. Call it crazy, but it does help.

“It’s a quiche of egg and brie cheese with smoked ham” Prowl didn’t know he had closed his optics, but he realized when he opened them, feeling a bit better about this whole situation. But it dawned on him. With a sparkling on the way, there was zero chance Prowl would ever be able to step foot out of that house.

“Im never getting away from Tarantulas now…” Prowl stared blankly.

********************

After finishing for the day. Prowl helped clean up the tables and booths, and helped clean dishes, anything to help stall time. Though after finishing everything with Bluestreak and Bumblebee there to assist, Prowl let reality set in. Everything is a disaster now. Prowl sighed as he walked out of the diner and looked up to the sky. It was bright with pink and white shining clouds and a darkening blue sky, there was always something mesmerizing about the sky. The cyber-crickets started chirping and a slight breeze drifted by. Prowl was caught up in his mind; he didn't see Bluestreak or Bumblebee sit down next to him on the porch.

“So are you gonna tell him?” Bluestreak asked. Prowl could tell Bluestreak was concerned, and since he’s known Bluestreak forever, he never was not on edge.

“Not sure…If my plan comes true and I can make my big escape from him in a couple of months–Maybe he doesn't even have to know–”

“Are you sure it’s his sparkling?” Bumblebee chirped smugly next to Prowl on his left.

“What!?” Bluestreak squawked.

“You know everything I do! I never cheated” Prowl looked at Bumblebee sternly. Prowl fiddled a bit with the pie he held in his servos. He never cheated. Yet sometimes he wish he did.

“Ya know I feel bad for you, Prowl” Bluestreak piped up.

“I mean–I would do anything to meet another mech. And Bumblebee’s husband is a senile fruit cake”

“BLUESTREAK!”

“You knowwwwww it’s true” Bluestreak turned his attention back to Prowl.

“But here you are, married to this handsome mech–”

“Who’s got VERY good…uh…a very good face…”

“VERY good face” Bluestreak agreed. Prowl knew the two of them were wrong. But he liked to hear their efforts being displayed on a silver platter for him to hear.

“And your spark with a little femme–”

“How do you know its a femme?--”

“We don’t know if it’s a femme” Prowl crossed his arms over his chest. He gave Bluestreak a disapproving face.

“Neither of us would trade places with you for one second, now would we Bumblebee?”

“No we wouldn’t, Prowl, no we wouldn’t” Bumblebee glanced back at Bluestreak, agreeing with his statement. Prowl looked at them, disbelief that they would say all that to make him feel better. He knew what his life would be like and he agrees with them, but not in the way they mean. He would NEVER trade with some other mechs life if they had the exact one he was currently in.

“EXCEPT, just once in my life, I’d like to be able to make a pie half as good as Prowl could make a pie” Bumblebee held his servo over Prowls, meant to be reassuring.

“Yeah me too” Bluestreak huffed with a smile. Prowl only rolled his eyes at the twos rant.

“Come on, so what if I could make a decent pie, nobody cares” Prowl soured his own mood without even thinking about it.

Bumblebee grumbled angrily. He made sure Prowl was looking at him.

“Look at this Prowl” Bumblebee gestured to his windshields on his chassis.

“You can clearly see my right windshield is higher than my left windshield…” Prowl was startled. He wasn’t exactly sure what brought Bumblebee to the fact that his windshields were not coordinated with one another.

“...And this one here has a pasty pasty proto frame. Im stuck in this marriage to drooling phil and Bluestreak eats TV energon meals alone, but still I wouldn’t rather be you” Bumblebee finished.

“I do have a pasty pasty proto frame” Bluestreak gave Bumblebee a sad look before returning his gaze back up to the sky.

“PROWL! PROWL!”

The three looked off into the near distance to see Prowl’s husband, Tarantulas walking towards them. Oh great. Here we go again.

“Yeah I know you're here…” Prowl mumbled under his breath after hearing his name called several more times. Prowl sighed as he started to pack some of his things into his subspace storage pocket.

“You know we’re here for you, Prowl” Bluestreak quickly grabbed one of Prowl's servos reassuringly. Bluestreak surely was worried about his friend and what might come to him.

“And if you do tell him–”

“SHHH” Prowl cut Bumblebee off.

“Hey Prowls” Tarantulas spat out.

“Hey” Prowl shuffled off his safe seat next to his co-workers and walked over to his husband. Prowl was hoping Tarantulas wouldn’t say anything about him working later than usual. He glanced back to see both Bluestreak and Bumblebee give Tarantulas a quick glare when he wasn’t facing them.

“Hiya there, Tarantulas. We all just agreed your face is super attractive, hurray for you” Bumblebee said mockingly, but by his tone no one would know.

“Woohoo!” Both Bumblebee and Bluestreak said aloud.

Tarantulas only gave them a glance before wrapping a possessive arm around Prowl’s waist as they made their way over to the monorail transport. Prowl never liked it when he placed his servos on him like that, it made his tac-net scream out that something was wrong. That now wasn’t the time for any metal on metal situations. Unfortunately, sometimes it always lead to things Prowl never wanted to do.

“I don’t care if he is a pie genius. I wouldn’t trade places with him” Bluestreak admitted to Bumblebee as they watched Prowl get taken away.

“No, me neither” Bumblebee agreed with a nod of disapproval at Tarantulas.

************

Once the two got onto a monorail transport with the ticket Tarantulas used, they made their way into one of the roomettes. Prowl was forcefully sat down side by side to Tarantulas, thankfully that arm that was wrapped around his waist was lost as Tarantulas pulled out some paper work from his job and set it on his lap. Prowl looked out the window, not wanting to start any sort of conversation with him, knowing he wouldn’t be able to speak freely.

“You don’t look happy to see me” Tarantulas perked up as he saw Prowl distancing himself.

“Are you happy to see me?” 

“Yeah, I'm happy to see you” Prowl turned to face Tarantulas with a fake small smile.

“I even brought you today’s special, kick in the metal pie, cinnamon spice custard” Prowl held the pie up to Tarantulas face, showing that, he indeed, did bring him a piece of pie.

“You don’t give me a kiss” Tarantulas listed, looking over at Prowl a little agitated. When he saw that Prowl didn’t move or say anything, Tarantulas put his servo up to his face.

“Well, give me one” he demanded.

Prowl quickly did as his husband said. He thought to himself that, if he got this over with quickly it wouldn’t come back to bite him in the aft when he gets back to Tarantulas house. Prowl never really thought of the home as both his and Tarantulas, even though Prowl was paying the bills too (forcibly by all means). It never sat right with him ever since he left Praxus to be with his ‘dream husband’, little did he know everything would change after the conjunx ritus was done.

“That’s more like it” Tarantulas said cockily, bringing Prowl back to his misery.

“Now, where is that money you made today”

“It’s here in my subspace”

“Well now hand it over” Tarantula stuck out his servo. Prowl opened up his subspace and pulled out the shanix. He glanced at the loss of the shanix in his servo as he was coerced to give it to Tarantulas.

“Not much here is there” Prowl looked nervously at the shanix now placed in Tarantula’s lap. Of course Prowl didn’t show that he was, he always kept a simple straight face when around Tarantulas.

“It was a slow day” Prowl argued.

“Yeah, well if you have any more of those I'm not sure it's worth working there anymore” Prowl wearingly thought about that. He would have to leave his job if he wasn’t making the right amount of income for Tarantulas.

“I think I might have you home rather making ME pies all cycle long” Tarantulas continued.

“You didn’t ask me how my day was”

“How was your day?” Prowl asked halfheartedly. Prowl wasn’t paying no mind to Tarantula’s as he was thinking about the loss of his job. Though, he flinched when he responded that way.

“Ask me like you care about it!” Tarantulas raised his voice.

“How was your day, Tarantulas?” Prowl asked slowly, giving Tarantulas optic contact.

“Well you know, Razorclaws on my case again, about the mortgages and everything. But I don't make bank policy and I told him that!” Tarantulas ranted. Prowl only stared out the window.

“Now you got to listen–”

Prowl shut his optics before Tarantulas could say anything that would stick in his mind. His tac-net was working itself up again so he went back to a place he liked. He started thinking what pies he would make, and the one currently he called ‘I hate my husband pie’. It was filled with bittersweet chocolate, but not sweetened. The chocolate would be made into pudding then drowned in caramel. It sounded right in Prowl’s mind. He hummed as he thought about how it made him feel some sense of solace when sitting next to Tarantulas.

“--Your not listening to me” Prowl snapped out of his thoughts and clicked his helm back to Tarantula’s.

“Yeah I am–”

“What’d I say?” 

“You were glitching about Razorclaw”

“What were the exact words I said!?” Tarantulas grabbed Prowl’s thigh and gripped it hard.

“Well, I can't exactly repeat them–”

“You're not listening to me!” He clenched harder on Prowls thigh to the point it started to dent.

“It hurts my feelings” Tarantulas grumbled lowly. 

Monorail transport, stopping at #########, was heard over the comms as the monorail stopped its tracks, literally begging the two to get off of the train.

“Now please just say your sorry so I can let you out of this roomette on this monorail so you can make me some dinner”

“I'm sorry Tarantulas for not being able to repeat your words. Something I should be able to do” Prowl mocked.

“Whenever I need it”

“Whenever you need it”

“Alright then”

************

Prowl and Tarantulas walked into their house, Prowl closing the door behind them. He made his way to the kitchen and pulled out the piece of pie from his subspace and gently placed it on a plate that was microwavable. Then he placed it into the microwave for a couple of seconds before taking it out. Tarantulas was waiting at the dinner table which was on the other side of the kitchen wall. Sometimes Prowl wished he could just jump out this Kitchen window and run away without Tarantulas knowing. 

“Where's the pie!?” Prowl heard the angry voice from the other room.

Prowl sighed as he grabbed another tray of a different pie that Tarantulas might want to have with this different slice. He walked over to the dinner table and placed the pies down in the middle. He sat himself next to Tarantulas but on the long side of the table so he wasn’t as close as he thought. Prowl watched as the arachnid picked up a fork and started eating the pie. He sat there quietly until something came to his mind, though if he wanted what he was thinking to work, he should probably butter Tarantulas up a bit.

“You look handsome tonight, Taranty” Prowl purred.

“Thank you, hunny” Tranatulas grinned as he stopped eating and looked at Prowl with that smile before resuming.

“Hm, it’s been a long time since you’ve called me Taranty, I like it” Tarantulas continued to smugly smile.

“And you look pretty tonight” Prowl was shocked to hear that back. Usually when Prowl gave Tarantulas compliments it was always one sided, never was he complimented back.

“Hey, you're not eating some of this pie, why not?” That was where he would start the big question.

“I'm thinking…I want to borrow some shanix from you…” Prowl stated, hoping nothing harsh would be directed at him.

“And my answer to that is no–”

“There’s a big pie bake off in Iacon in a couple of months, and I'd like to go–”

“And my answer to that is no” Prowl could tell that Tarantulas was starting to get annoyed by Prowl, but he couldn’t help himself. If Prowl won this contest he would have the shanix he needed. The shanix he needed to get out of this fragging pit hole.

“The prize money is pretty good” Prowl was smiling when he said that but it faded so fast when Tarantula dropped his fork down on his plate and stared at Prowl.

“Why do you need shanix?” Tarantulas tapped his fist down on the table, warning Prowl.

“I give you everything you need, don’t I?”

“Absolutely…”

“You want for nothing…don't you?”

“Yes, Tarantulas, I want for nothing…” Prowl felt stupid. He shouldn’t even have asked him. Tarantulas was as stubborn as it gets and when he says that ‘you want for nothing’ really makes his gears turn. Little did he knew, Prowl had a little something 'up his sleeve'.

“I mean–your pies ain’t bad, but why's that so important when you’ve got me to take care off?”

“Good point, Tarantulas” Prowl nodded, mainly to himself, wishing this conversation would end now.

When the late cylce arrived Prowl got ready for bed beside Tarantulas. He had to do everything beside him. Just the side piece that lingered in the sun, just waiting to get scrapped up by cyber hawks and eat him alive. Prowl couldn’t help but think this was over, this was it, as he laid next to his husband in the berth. But, Prowl remembers the extra shanix he kept hidden in his other subspace. Now would be the time. Prowl got up from the berth and headed out into the living room. He found the spot under a chair and squished the shanix into the seams, keeping it hidden if Tarantulas looked under it. Prowl then quickly made his way back over to the berth and settled in again, still keeping his distance from the arachnids grasp.

Maybe things will turn up for him? Maybe he can save enough of this shanix to get out…but what of the sparkling? He still couldn't keep his mind from that fact. He will have to do something about that, but for now, he really needs to rest. Next cycle will be just as eventful as this one.

Chapter Text

Prowl didn't think he would ever be in this situation. He dreamed he never would be yet here he is, ready for his appointment with a pediatrician. Sure he trusted who he was supposed to see, that wasn't the problem, but it rather was the fact that now he had to deal with a little gremlin growing inside him for forever more. Sighing was all he could do when he looked at his internal clock to see that he was still early and if the doctor was willing to see him now, he wouldn't get yelled at by Starscream when he gets back to work. Prowl clutched at the pie he was holding, this whole situation is just a mistake. He knew he shouldn't have let Tarantulas give him any high grade and now this was his consequence. Glancing around the room, there were a few other carriers waiting in the same room, reading newspapers to assumingly get their mind off the same situation they could be in. Just thinking about that made his stomach boil.

“Prowl Mesothulus–”

Everything is haunting him in this exact room…From the posters to the statues they had, he knew his fate was sealed the moment he set foot in the patient room to await his doctor. Thankfully a knock at the door brought him out of his deepening thoughts.

“Hello, Mr. Mestholos–” The pediatrician opened the door and closed it behind them.

“Mesothulus….uh, who are you?” This was not the doctor he wanted to see. Where was the one that was there his whole life since the day he was born?

“I'm your doctor…oh, wow you brought me a pie, how nice” The doctor smiled, at least, Prowl thought he did behind the mouth piece he was wearing.

“--I've only been here a few weeks, but I'm generally surprised with the hospitality–” The doctor tried to take the pie out of Prowls servos, but Prowl pulled it back into his chassis.

“I'm sorry, but you are mistaken, your not my doctor, Ratchet of Vaporex is my doctor, this pie is for him, it marshmallow mermaid, it's his favorite–”

“Oh, well, he’s simply retired now, it kinda happened this morning, he kinda quit. We didn’t have enough time to call anybody” The doctor stepped back a bit from Prowl, knowing the tension was a little high with this patient.

“But doctor Ratchet delivered me…” Prowl was flabbergasted to say the least. The one he probably trusted the most with anything wasn’t here anymore. There goes another from his life from his list of mechs he trusted.

“He’s been my doctor forever. I really liked and trusted him…” Prowl didn’t know he muttered his thoughts out loud.

“Maybe you can really like and trust me too?”

“Iv’e never even seen you before–”

“Yeah I–I just got hired. Long story short, this is still doctor Ratchet’s practice, I'm the junior doctor on staff…uh…I just moved here two deca-cylces ago” Oh boy, here comes the rant that is supposed to make Prowl feel better.

“I took a class over the summer that Dr. Ratchet teached, I was a student of his…is this story boring you…?” The doctor realized he was rambling.

“Un no…yess”

“Oh, sorry…anyway it’s nice to meet you…”

“Whats your name again?”

“Doctor Chromedome….and you are?”

“Prowl Mesothulus–”

“Prowl Mesothulus…So what seems to be the problem” The doctor quickly got back on track, putting away the folder he was holding into a cabinet nearby.

“Well I seem to be carrying” Prowl let it off his chassis a little too easily.

“Good! Good for you, congratulations” Chromedome huffed.

“Thanks but I don't want this sparkling” Why must Prowl be so blunt. Normally he wasn't this bad, trust.

“Uh, well–we–we don't perform–”

“No, no I'm keeping it, I'm just telling you that I'm not as happy as everyone else here so if you could be sensitive and not congratulate me every time you see me. I'm having a sparkling, and that’s that” Ugh. Prowl really wanted to curl in on himself.

“Got it, okay, not a party…uh well, why don't we do a blood test to make sure your carrying and make sure you don't have any diseases and check hormone levels stuff like that”

“Sounds like a plan…” Prowl said, not exactly impressed with this doctor.

“Okay well, the nurse will be right in, so don't go anywhere” Chromedome made his way out of the room.

“No where TO go” Prowl mumbled under his breath.

After the nurse took some samples from Prowl he was dismissed from the room and taken over to Chromedomes office where Prowl knocked on the door, waiting for a response before coming in.

“Come in, Prowl” And with that Prowl entered.

Prowl looked around the office and holy smokes. Prowl has never in his life wanted to sort and put everything in its place that was lying around. Truly it bothered him to see all the folders of files from other patients on the ground, on his desk, and over the chairs that fluttered the small office. And there stood Chromedome in the midst of it all, holding another file that he most definitely would shove somewhere in this ferocious mess. 

“Okay, I'm going to give you this pie now, Doctor Chromedome” Feeling a little sympathetic and awkward holding the pie he had that wasn't given out, he put out his servo.

“Oh! Thank you, thank you very much” Chromedome did exactly what Prowl predicted, he shoved the files he was looking at to the right on a pile to mingle with other things.

“You know just, uh, just push those off onto the floor” Chromedome gestured to the files left on the chair seated in front of the invisible desk covered in boxes.

Prowl winced at the fact these files would get tangled with another once on the floor, but did as told and made no comment on the matter any further than he thought.

“Well, uncongradulations, you are definitely having a sparkling”

“I unthank you”

“So for the next 8 orbital cycles if you need me I'm here for questions, just give me a call. We’ll be doing some tests all of which I'll be telling you about prior to those appointments. Oh, and I'm going to give you a prescription, for uh, prenatal vitamins. And do you have any questions for me” Chromedome shuffled through the papers, looking for something that would tell Prowl about the prescription. 

“Wh–what kind of question” Prowl said that really dumbfoundedly.

“Well, concerns about your pregnancy, do's–and–dont's, anything you're wondering about, exercise, interfacing…”

“I don’t really do much of either of those things, so…”

“Okay…any diet concerns?”

“Not really, just eat healthy right?--”

“Eat healthy, yes. Avoid certain cheeses, certain fish. I can give you a list of good and bad foods if you want”

“Okay–”

“And here is your prescription” Chromedome fiddled with the paper he signed, dropping it on his desk with his very obvious shaking servos, apologizing in advance.

“It was very nice to see you Prowl, and Ill see you in about 3 deca-cycles” Prowl nodded.

“Alright” Chromedome and Prowl both got up from their seats, but as they did, Prowl didn’t realize he was thinking of a question to ask the doctor.

“Uh, I do have ONE question” Prowl turned around right before the door to look at the doctor.

“How far along am I carrying exactly…”

“Uh, about 6 deca-cycles, give or take”

“Yep, that was Tarantulas getting me ‘trunk’ alright” Prowl mumbled loudly, lost in his thoughts.

One of Prowl's internal alarms went off, ringing in his audials. Shoot. He was gonna be late for work! Prowl dashed out of the place and started making a beam for the road leading to his work. Sure he hated getting rocks stuck in his peds that would itch, but he just couldn’t be late! He would most likely pulverize himself if he was caught even more late than now. Thankfully by the time he arrived and made haste into pie diner.

“You're late” Starscream said, coming around from the kitchen to get in Prowls face.

“By 6 kilicks!”

“Why doesn’t your damn conjunx just get you an alt mode already or your own monorail train ticket?”

“Because he doesn't let me go anywhere” Prowl grumbles as he steps around Starscream and into the employee bathrooms to get ready.

Starscream stood there with a scowl and it only made it worse when Bumblebee stepped in, late as always.

“And you, late again. You are inches from being fired shorty!”

“Oh try firing me you old bucket of cheese” Bumblebee growled, his arms came up across his chassis as he scowled at Starscream.

“Who are you calling a bucket of cheese you heifer. Now get to work before I fire your ass!” Starscream hissed. Bumblebee though, didn't back down and only smirked.

“Calm down you psychotic mechanimal” Bumblebee maneuvered around Starscream and also made his way into the bathroom.

“So, how's the doc?” Bumblebee chirped when he saw Prowl getting ready in the bathroom.

“Fine, it was fine. Though a new doctor, a young mech”

“A young mech, wow, ya know maybe he’s good for Bluestreak”

“No, I think he was wearing a ring, new mech, obviously nervous–”

“Hey, Prowl, could you do me a favor?”

“What?” A favor for Bumblebee could range from killing his husband to sleeping with some guy that was bothering Bumblebee, hopefully this wasn't any of those situations.

“Old Kup sat in my station, I can’t deal with him today. Your better with him than I am”

“Sure, I'll take him” Prowl sighed in relief.

“Oh Prowl you're a trooper!” Bumblebee smiled, watching as Prowl made his way over to him.

“Ugh” Prowl felt something wrong in his stomach. Please don't be what Prowl thought it was. Not at work…

“What? Are you okay, you're gonna be sick?” 

“I'm okay, I'm okay. Just–just nauseous for a second–”

“Hurry up! Let’s get to work!” Starscream banged on the bathroom door. Bumblebee only rolled his optics and huffed, while Prowl made his way out of the bathroom to start the day. Before Prowl could make it to Kup’s booth that he sat at, Prowl saw a young mech, maybe a year or two younger than him, sitting in one of the booths marked for his station. Ignoring the favor he tasked himself with, he made his way over to the mech who was seated in the corner in the front by the big windows.

“What can I get for you today, sir?” Prowl asked politely, despite how he wanted to barf up his breakfast right then and there. The mech sitting there turned and faced Prowl. The mech had a

Blue visor resting over his optics and a black and white color scheme with little black numbs on his helm, similar to Bumblebees.

“Hmm? Oh hey, uh I want one ov’ dem Apple Fritter pies ya have out” Prowl jotted that down on a small data pad he held.

“Would you like something to drink with that?”

“Just som’ regular engex, wou’ be nice” The mech smiled.

“Right, ill get that out for you when I can” Prowl couldn’t help but smile the same way the mech did. Could say that that smile was contagious, it seemed like it made Prowls day until he heard the grumbling from his other customer he was trusted with. Prowl sighed as he turned around and flipped over another piece of the data pad to start a new order.

“Hi, Kup. What can I do for you today?” Prowl huffed, but Kup didn’t take notice of it.

“This is my pie diner, I own it” Out of the blue, but okay…

“I know you do, Kup–”

“And I think it’s warm in here. I know I'm warm” Kup grumbled, but I guess with some manners.

“Ill tell Starscream–”

“They keep on keeping my businesses too warm on the inside. My gas station, supermarket…my laundry mat. But this is my favorite business, Kup’s Pie Shop. I'm Kup, and I will not tolerate it being too damn warm in here” 

“I hear you, Kup”

“Turn the air on”

“Yes sir” Prowl heard this commotion everyday when Bumblebee would talk to Kup, but had to say, it was just as annoying as Bumblebee had said. But he couldn’t blame Kup, it was hot as pit in the diner.

“Alright. I want two glasses of engex, no ice”

“Two glasses of engex, no ice, no problem–”

“Two glasses, NO ICE”

“RIGHT” Prowl mocked unintentionally, but sighed after he caught himself.

“And I want the Bad Baby Kish pie, and on the side on its own separate plate–”

“No potatoes with that?” Prowl only asked what he was supposed to but now, here he is, about to get scolded for something that seemed logical to him too.

“Did I say anything about potatoes? Where’d you get potatoes from?”

“Right no potatoes” Maybe the reason he asked was because his helm was spinning randomly. His processor was hurting and oh how much it made him want to run into the bathroom and throw up all the food he ate this early cycle.

“I want orange engex, on a SEPARATE PLATE, along with salt and pepper”

“Bring the orange engex last. I want the engex first. The orange engex should go with the meal” Prowl scribbled fast on his data pad as he started to feel ‘light headed’ as the humans called it.

“Now listen here before you scidaddle away” Kup pulled up a newspaper and looked down at one of the lines closest to the bottom of the paper.

“Aquarius: Smooth sailing today and ….” Prowl didn’t exactly hear some bits of the conversation as he was leaning in and out of consciousness while standing on his two peds.

“...the ones you love will listen carefully to you, just make sure you're careful with what you say. I don’t have ones I love. Wanna hear yours?” Kup asked blatantly.

“Uh im okay, I'm Aquarius too, and I don’t have ones I love. Excuse me, I think I'm gonna be sick” Prowl admitted, making his words flap with speed. He rushed over to the bathroom and slammed the door open, not taking a car in the world if anyone heard or saw what he was doing. He was already throwing up in the nearby toilet and came over to the sink to wash out the stuffy left overs in his intake.

“You okay, Prowl?” Bluestreaks voice echoed in the bathroom as the door closed.

“Yeah, I'm okay…”

“Good, listen umm….I have a 5 kilicks blind date tonight—”

“5 kilicks date? Shouldn’t the mech pay for the whole thing…”

“Yeah, see umm…I have this idea, I'm meeting these mechs through personal adds and I just give them 5 kilicks, whether or not we like each other, just 5 kilicks together”

“Huh” Prowl wasn't sure what Bluestreak was really getting at, but went back to looking in the mirror and scrubbing off the barf that lingered.

“Ya know that way if the mech makes me sick I don't waste a whole evening!” Bluestreak said confidently.

“Anywho, I was supposed to meet these mechs at Banches and I was wondering–”

“Mechs? Like as in plural?”

“Yes, yes, now I was wondering if you’d be able to help me get ready here right before I leave?” Bluestreak looked up at Prowl who was impressed with this whole act.

“Fully getting ready for 5 kilicks?”

“It’s really important to make a first impression. What–what if their prince charmings?”

“There is no such thing…” Prowl couldn’t help but think about the times he thought Tarantulas was prince charming. The way he swept Prowl off his peds before they were married. How much Tarantulas cared about Prowl’s personal being. Oh how life could have been if Tarantulas stayed that way. But, his ‘prince charming’ was dead. There was no going back to the past now. Not with everything happening. It's like Primus wanted to punish Prowl for something he didn’t know he did.

“Would you do that for me?” Bluestreak cut in.

“Of course” Prowl couldn’t help but give in. Bluestreak was like a little sibling at times.

“Oh, would you also make your falling in love chocolate moose pie, that's my favorite pie–”

“Oh what the heck, ill do it on my break”

“You are the king of kindness and goodness” Prowl didn’t pay mind to what Bluestreak said. He sprayed some minty spray into his mouth, hoping that there wouldn’t be a hint of barf breath once he came back to his customers. Prowl looked back over at Bluestreak who was smiling as he walked out to resume his shift. Prowl shortly followed after and went to the Kitchen stand to give Starscream the orders he still had in his data pad. Prowl sighed as he went back around asking if any of his customers wanted more to drink or eat then made a round back to the kitchen to pick up orders. He picked up the smiley mechs order first and made haste.

“I'm sorry about the delay” Prowl looked at the mech who just continued to smile and look up at Prowl.

“Nah, mech. It’s alright. Thanks fer the pie and engex” Very polite, something Prowl wished Tarantulas was taught. Prowl pushed the thought aside as he realized he was staring at the mech. Awkwardly, Prowl made his way back to the kitchen and grabbed Kup’s order once it was done and walked over to Kups booth.

“You have a child?” Kup looked up at Prowl and asked innocently.

“SHH!” Prowl couldn’t believe it? Did Kup know? 

“I've seen that looks on another femmes face plate before. Name was Lynett. I made sweet love to her all summer long back in the days. She got the sick face just like you had all through the fall. She lost the baby though, it was a close call. When you do–”

“SHH! Kup! I don’t want Starscream to hear you. I can’t lose my job” Prowl kept his voice down, like Starscream could appear right around the corner any second.

“I'm trying to save money so I can leave my conjunx”

“Why? What's wrong with em? Hey! There’s no salt and pepper on the table. I asked for salt and pepper and no ice in my orange engex glass. Did you get nothing I said right?” Kup hissed.

“I promise I'll get your salt and pepper and orange engex with no ice, but you better keep your mouth shut about this baby” Prowl growled.

“What baby?” Kup actually looked dumbfounded. Maybe Kup didn’t know, maybe he was just playing along, so that's what Prowl did.

“Good mech”

Prowl made his way over to the kitchen to receive salt and pepper, and thankfully spotted Bumblebee make his way over to Prowl, not looking very pleased, but yet, Bumblebee was never pleased much when it came to work. He only held a happy face when he was around Bluestreak and him, which brought some comfort.

“Hey, Prowl. Tarantulas is on the comm”

“Tell him I'm busy” Prowls demeanor sank.

“If you don’t talk to him, he might come over here and cause a scene again” Such a glorious time to have a conjunx with the processor cells of a sparkling.

“Yeah, I know…”

“Can I ask you a question? Is it my imagination or is my left windshield drooping down more today. I'm starting to feel like something Picasso would've made” Bumblebee frowned. Prowl knew that Starscream was most likely the cause of this question. That mech just wouldn’t leave Bumblebee alone for a second.

“Can you do me a favor, Bee? Can you get Kup a glass without ice in it or ill bite your head off. Oh can you also get him some salt and pepper?” Prowl started to move towards the kitchen and he heard a small voice behind him.

“You got it”

Once Prowl got through the Kitchen and into the back break room where the com was he quickly picked it up and was met with an angry huff.

“Hello, Tarantulas…good, good…I-I am glad you called…are you picking me up this late cycle?...no that’s fine ill ask Bumblebee to give me his ticket…yes I know you work hard…look Tarantulas I-I got to get back, we are busy here today…okay, bye…I…I love you too…” When Tarantulas was done talking, Prowl slammed the com into its spot. This was just infuriating. He can’t keep this act up for long or else he’s going to pull some of his own processor cells out.

****************

It was finally Prowl’s break for the shift since it was about closing time. He went to the back in the kitchen and started to make the pie Bluestreak requested. It was a nice smooth chocolate that was displayed in the bowl Prowl was mixing. Honestly, to Prowl, chocolate made everything feel better. Just melts away your worries. Once Prowl finished, he made his way to the bathroom and found Bluestreak sitting patiently, waiting for Prowl to help him get ready.

“Your looking great, Bluestreak” Prowl patted some soft powder onto Bluestreaks lips, giving them a more natural look away from the harsh dark grey they were.

“Thank you…ya know, it’s a little tight…the adjustment to my aft”

“Oh don’t worry, mechs like a little metal up there. What do you think, Prowl?” Bumblebee was washing his servos, glancing over at the two.

“I don’t know what mechs like” Prowl hated how he sounded like everything was gonna die. But he couldn't help it. Everything felt like it was just black and white the day Tarantulas changed and the sparkling came into existence.

“Speaking of more metal, does Tarantulas have any clue at all that you’re carrying?”

“He doesn’t notice. And I'm never going to tell him. I'm just going to run away” Prowl started on the lower lip with the lightened powder on Bluestreak.

“Wow, how much money do ya got saved?” Bluestreak almost messed Prowl up.

“Not much. 12 hundred shanix. I can save another couple hundreds at the Iacon bake off”

“How much is that prize money?”

“5 thousand shanix” Prowl couldn’t help but smirk at the prize. If he played all the cards right he could gain that shanix in a blink of an optic.

“What pie are ya gonna bake?”

“Not sure. I was thinking I would make one of my really unusual ones. One where you would think all the ingredients wouldn’t go together but they do” Prowl stood up and looked over his work on Bluestreak. Bluestreak looked wonderful, Prowl didn’t if any mech could deny that.

“Oh Blue! You look great! Your proto frame looks like a normal cybertronians”

“Thank you” Bluestreak smiled awkwardly. Bumblebee wasn’t the best at compliments but that was something he would work on.

“Oh! I know what you should do with the prize shanix!” Bluestreak turned back to Prowl who was putting away the items he got out to get Bluestreak ready for that blind date or dates in this case.

“--you should open your own pie shop, Prowl!” Bluestreak finished.

“Oh Yeah! You should have your own little pie shop somewhere. Somewhere where the could use a little pie shop!” Bumblebee chimed in.

“Wow…I guess I never thought of that. My own pie shop” Prowl whispered.

“Prowls pie palace”

“Prowls pastry heaven”

“Okay, back to reality. Hey, Bumblebee, can you give me your train ticket? Tarantulas doesn’t want to pick me up the late-cylce” Prowl didn’t really like to fondle on dreams that wont come true, but it pleased his mind so he shoved that thought back and waited for another time to think about it.

“Im sorry Prowl, I can’t, I have to use it, I've got somewhere to go”

“Where are you going?”

“I can’t tell you that” Bumblebee said almost nonchalantly.

“WHAT?” Both Prowl and Bluestreak said at the same time. Bumblebee always told them everything. He would tell them the weirdest things and now he couldn’t tell them about where he was going? Personally, Prowl didn’t find that intriguing.

“I can’t tell you…yet”

“Why not?” Bluestreak grumbled.

“Gotta go! You have fun on your 5 kilicks date” Bumblebee quickly made his way out of the bathroom. Prowl and Bluestreak were left there a little shocked.

“Well, whatever it is, I hope it’s good” Prowl smirked.

“Bluestreak, why don’t you look at yourself in the mirror?”

“Oh, wow, you made me almost pretty” Bluestreak looked at himself in the mirror, Prowl could see that he was a little doubtful.

“What do you mean almost pretty?”

Bluestreak looked up at Prowl. Who wouldn’t want to date Bluestreak, he was everything nice you could think of. Prowl smiled back at him. He only hoped that this blind date would go well for Bluestreak, he never liked seeing him down in the dumps like Prowl was constantly. Never in his processor did he want Bluestreak to experience what he has gone through. Hopefully he’ll find the right partner. 

************************

Prowl sat on a bench outside, waiting for the monorail to show up. It was really late and he couldn’t help but look up at those bright stars in the sky. Almost had him thinking that life was great, but he felt a wave of being nauseous again and it took him back to the dead ground that was below his peds. Prowl offline his optics and started to think of another pie.

‘Sparkling screaming its helm off in the middle of the night and ruining my life pie. Iacon style cheesecake, branded brushed, pecans and nutmeg…’

When Prowl was thinking he normally didn’t have his audials on and in this case he also didn’t. Though he did have his sensors up high on his sensor wings that hung on his back plate.

“Hello, Prowl?”

“What?...Hi…Doctor Chromedome...what are you doing here?” prowl didn’t expect to see his doctor. Given that, does anyone expect to see their doctor outside of their work place? Makes you think that they don't have a life except when they're working.

“Well, my alt mode wouldn’t start this early cycle so i have to take the monorail home”

“Where do you live?”

“Down kinda by Iacon and Nova Cornum”

“It’s really nice over there” It truly was, Prowl heard that the cities up there were phenomenal. They always had festivals going on and the markets were big down there.

“Yeah, it’s nice. Well if you like buildings everywhere, but ya know, who wouldn’t like buildings…it’s a long walk…uh…do you mind if I sit down?” Chromedome still looked as nervous as ever.

“Not at all”

“Thank you”

The two sat in a small amount of silence. It was awkward. REALLY REALLY awkward. But eventually Chromedome spoke up to break it.

“So…you're a waitress? Where do you work?”

“Uh, a little diner off of highway 27. Kups pie diner”

“Wow, sounds like it has a variable factory of pie” Chromedome chuckled. Prowl found it amusing that he was trying to make Prowl's mood better. Like everything Chromedome does, it was obvious.

“Iv’e never been there. Is it–is it good?”

“Hmm? Oh, yes, it's very good. We make all the pies there fresh. Breakfast pies, dinner pies, seven different variety of pies. And you know I create a new one every day” Prowl just boasted out of the blue. It kinda felt right to tell Chromedome all of this. Like he could trust the doctor sitting next to him on this lonely bench.

“I actually was just inventing a new one in my processor when you walked up” 

“Did you make that marshmallow pie that you brought me?” Chromedome looked shocked, but maybe it was something else? Prowl couldn’t exactly tell.

“Yes, I did. Marshmallow mermaid pie. I invented it when I was young, when I read about these stories they have in earth books”

“That was probably the best pie I've ever tasted in my life!” Prowl didn’t see it. His pies would be good, but were they that good? Maybe hearing that could make him feel better about what pie he wants to use for that contest in Iacon.

“That pie was, like, biblically good! That pie could like win pie contests and win ribbons and things”

“Thank you” Prowl felt flattered, a smile crept on his face as he looked down.

“....You know you kinda remind me of someone that I knew who also worked at a pie diner when I was young. Had this like a major crush on her. She was old but I liked her when she was young. When I saw you sitting here, it just had me thinking”

“Right right”

“Uh, sorry, I meant that as a compliment” Chromedome nervously chuckled to himself.

“Yeah, that's what made me uncomfortable” Prowl continued to smile.

“Your blushing, was it bad?”

“No, no it was a nice thing. Nobody ever notices me in that way”

“Well somebody had to notice you that way or else you wouldn’t be in the condition your in” Wrong move Chromedome, wrong move.

“Oh, him, he doesn’t count, he’s just my conjunx” Prowl looked over at Chromedome, he held a face of disbelief, normally when Prowl would say something like that others would think it was a joke. So Prowl blinked a couple of moments before he got the memo.

“I'm kidding. Of course he would. He’s my conjunx” Thankfully the monorail showed up just on time before things could get more weird from there. Maybe Prowl would've liked it better if they stayed in the awkwardness, then he wouldn’t have to indulge in his conjunx at home. He could relax and just talk about pies and life, well maybe not exactly, but more on the pies.

*************************

When Prowl got home he couldn’t help but sit down on the couch, his peds hurt from walking around and he didn’t feel right. Like he was going to throw up again and very soon. It didn’t help that Tarantulas came over and sat down next to him begging to interface.

“Please”

“Please”

“Please”

“Come on, Prowl”

“But, I–I feel really sick”

“You know it’s been over a month. You can’t seriously still be feeling sick” Prowl wished he could roll his optics so bad, you have no idea.

“I feel about as sexy as a tree stump” Prowl really didn’t want to interface, not at all. And if that meant he had to hurt that sense of pride, so be it.

“You haven't ever been sexier” Prowl only ignored him and looked off into the distance. His nausea coming back.

“Am I imagining it, or is your chassis getting bigger? Like they grew a size practically over night–”

“That's ridiculous, Tarantulas”

“Well I got to be with you or I'm gonna die” Tarantulas smiled, kissing Prowls neck. Prowl could only shutter and let Tarantulas do what he wanted. He couldn’t talk back. It never ended well. 

Prowl laid his back to the berth, it hurt, everything hurt, but all he could do was lay there with a blunt face and look up at the treacherous beast. He really wanted to cry, he really did, but he didn’t want Tarantulas’ ego to burst if he got a reaction out of Prowl. Prowl Just laid there limp as Tarantulas bucked in and out, thrusting his spike in Prowl, it hurt, there was no pleasure, not anymore.

“Come on baby…kiss me babe” Tarantulas whispered against Prowls dermas. Prowl only gasped small when Tarantulas shifted, getting into a better position to release.

“Come on honey~” Tarantulas thrusted harder, hitting every node painfully. He let out shallower shaky breaths, not wanting to give in to anything Tarantulas did to him.

“Say something sexy to me~”

“What do you want me to say?” Prowl said without a hint of static in his voice.

Tarantulas didn’t get to say anything when his overload hit him and released into Prowl, letting out a groan and laying limp on top of Prowl. Tarantulas puckered Prowl's neck in sloppy kisses, he slowly pulled his spike out of Prowl and grumbled as he laid to Prowl's side.

“That was good baby~ That was good. Wasn’t it?” Tarantulas looked up at Prowl, away from kissing now at his shoulder plates.

“Yes, absolutely wonderful” Prowl hinted at no emotions.

After what felt like breems upon breems, Prowl heard Tarantulas' snores and he quickly got up from the berth and headed over to the bathroom. He hated the feeling of Tarantula still inside him, it haunted him, ached at him. So every time when they would interface Prowl would make sure to get rid of the fluids inside him, watching as they dribbled down his thighs and into the drain of the shower. It brought peace to the processor seeing everything go down the drain, kinda like his life. He just had to get that shanix, he had to get enough. Prowl can’t keep living like this anymore. It drained everything out of him to keep his act up around Tarantulas and around others he wasn't close much to.

Prowl made his way over to the mirror once he cleaned himself up. He looked at the heavy bags laid under his eyes and the light of his optics dim from being tired. He slouched and pressed his back plate to the sink and curled his peds to his body. There, Prowl silently sobbed to himself, afraid if he made too much noise Tarantulas would find out about everything. 

Chapter Text

It was another day of work. The customers were happy and enjoying their meals. The sky was a pink and yellow haze and the cyber-birds chirped as the day began with ease. That morning of work was great. Everything seemed fine to Prowl. Though, when he went to serve his usual customer, the visored mech wasn't wearing his usual gleeful smile like he always did. Prowl went up to him, as routine since the mech seemed to always sit at his station, and pulled out his small data pad to start writing away his order.

"Ah, hey mech"

"Hello again" Prowl wasn't too sure if he should ask if the mech was doing alright or not. He was just a customer. But, he was his primary one according to all the times the mech somehow sat at the same booth.

"Ah'll take ah slice of 'Anotha' Day' pie"

"Would you like a drink with that as well?"

The mech looked away from Prowl and diverted his optics towards the table. "Sure" It didn't feel real that this cheerful mech was most definitely filled with grief.

Prowl took off with the order and put it on the rack for Starscream to complete. Over a couple of breems serving others, Prowl couldn't help but glance over at the lonely mech in his corner booth. Thankfully, Starscream gave the mech a generous amount of pie on his plate when Prowl picked it up. Prowl gave a small smile when he placed down the pie and a drink of engex.

"Thought maybe you would like a little extra, considering you don't seem to be on the ground at the moment" Prowl made optic contact with the mech and it seemed to do the trick. The mech was smiling softly at the gesture.

"Aw thanks mech. That really means a lot to meh"

"You know, for a usual customer, I never got your designation?" Prowl didn't realize he even asked by the time the mech answered.

"It's Jazz. Ah would ask for yours too, but ya have it on yur designation tag" 

Prowl only smiled when he walked away from the mech--no, it was Jazz--and started to continue with the other customers who were yet to be served. When Prowl went over to the two customers sitting next to each other in their booth, Prowl was a little shocked when they said,"No,no,no,no. We don't want you to serve us. We want him, Bluestreak" One of them pointed while the other finished their sentence.

"The one right there" Said the yellow mech.

Prowl looked over at Bluestreak and he quickly got hit with a 'don't you dare bring me over there' gesture. Prowl peeked over at the table he was supposed to serve and saw that the red mech, closest to the window, was holding a bouquet of flowers in his servos.

"Oh, well, I'm sorry, but you're sitting in my station. All the seats in Bluestreaks station are taken--"

"We know, but we don't want you, we want him" The red mech piped up.

Prowl glimpsed over at Bluestreak again and with the same gesture, Prowl continued.

"Well, if you both want to eat in this diner, you have to sit here and I have to wait on you--"

Unfortunately, for Prowl, it seemed that yellow mech caught on from the glancing. "Is he a real good friend of yours? What can you tell us about him? What are some of his likes and dislikes he looks for in mechs?" The yellow mech continued to smile in an innocent way which didn't seem right.

"Uh, I'm just here to bring the pie or coffee or something, I don't dispense romantic advice"

"What about if I paid ya" The red one stole the yellow mechs line.

"Just give me a cycle, I'm going to go talk to Bluestreak for you and see if he wants to come over"

"Oh that would be wonderful!" They both said.

Prowl walked away from the other two and went to go check on Bluestreak who grabbed his shoulder plates when he got close. Bluestreak pulled them both over to the kitchen.

"YOU HAVE TO HELP ME!" Bluestreak whisper-yelled.

"What--"

"Those mechs, their designations are Sunstreaker and Sideswipe. I was supposed to meet two different mechs, but instead I ended up with those two! It was the worse 5 breems in my life! I made a mistake by telling them I work here!"

"How could a 5 breems date be that bad?"

"They took me through the entire medical and psychiatric of their family"

"Oh--"

"And they told me they want to marry me! Marry me! And they haven't given up, not ever given up. That's what they said! The first two mechs of any that first paid attention to me just had to be MAD.STALKING.ELFS! Prowl, your magic touch up job was too good and your magical pie!"

Prowl could see the very clear distress in Bluestreaks optics. But, what was Prowl supposed to do when those two dimwits wouldn't listen to him when he told them he was supposed to serve them, not Bluestreak. Unfortunately in that moment, Prowl could feel nausea rise up in his stomach once again.

"What am I supposed to do?" Bluestreak crocked as his voice laced in static.

"You go over there and them you're not interested--"

"I told them that last night!"

"Tell them better!"

"Come with me!"

"I can't, I have to go throw up" Just the tension and the way the new-spark was in his stomach, everything didn't feel good.

"Fine, I'll just go over there myself..." Bluestreak cringed internally. He couldn’t put himself through with that! What was he thinking!? But yet here he was, walking over to those two crazy ape-like mechs!

When Bluestreak sat down in front of the two mechs he couldn’t help but tense up. This was going to be horrible, he thought to himself. Why couldn’t life just be better? Why must Primus send him over to two mechs that wont leave him alone!?

“We are VERY persistent mechs, Blue. We know what we want, we know what makes us happy” Said Sideswipe, the red mech. This only made Bluestreak boil more. The audacity to call him Blue!? There would be no nick-names here or ever!

“BLAH BLAH BLAH!” Bluestreak gave them a scowl.

“We are combat specialists. We make 31,000 shanix a stellar cycle with bonuses. We have very good insurance, as the humans call it, for our alt-modes. We could eat at all the restaurants–”

Bluestreak zoned out, he couldn’t hear any of this. He doesn’t care if they have the shanix or the “insurance” or whatever they were saying about some dumb restaurants! Bluestreak just wants them to leave him alone, why must the creepy mechs be the one to pry on him?

“--What else do you need to know about us?–”

“How to make you go away!” Bluestreak said in a hard whisper.

“No. You can’t make us go away. Cause I – WE, don’t take no for an answer. We’ll just keep coming back, until your resistance has weakened! We were meant to be together Blue!” Piped up Sunstreaker, the yellow mech.

“YOU DON’T KNOW ME!”

“Oh, yes we do. Your Bluestreak. And you inspire poetry in me” Sideswipe chimed. Sunstreaker could only roll his optics as he slouched over the table, closer to Bluestreak, and cover his audials.

“Here’s one I'm making up right here on the spot! Blue, can I bring you joy? Like you brought us sunshine? Can we hold you in a klik and let it turn into forever? Did you like that?” Sideswip smiled as he tried to grab Blustreaks servos but those servos were swiped away and into Bluestreaks own lap.

“Okay..uh…how about a snip bit that rhymes? All my life I bet–” Bluestreak starts to zone out more.

“--there’s something in between. Yeah…I gotta work on that one” He chuckles.

“WHY WON’T YOU LEAVE ME ALONE!?” Still in a whisper-yell.

“We CANNOT leave you alone. Cause we're gonna be with you Blue” Sunstreaker talked over his twin.

“And you're gonna be our conjunx!” Sideswip continued.

“Listen to ME. YOU MECHS MAKE ME SICK! I think you're both NOTHING BUT SOME CRAZY LITTLE FREAKS! I WISH YOU BOTH WOULD GO AWAY AND DIE!” Bluestreak didn’t mean to yell that out loud. Now the majority of the mechs and femmes around were staring at him, like he had grown an extra head out of his arm. Bluestreak sunk into the booth and held his servos over his spark, in a way to comfort himself with what he had just said. Why would he say that to any mech? He didn’t wish they would die, did he? Maybe this was all going to his helm. Yeah. Maybe that was–

The quiet sniffs of Sunstreaker snap Bluestreak out of his processor.

“I just…we just…” Sunstreaker tries to say between his quiet sobs, that were being muffled behind his servo covering his face-plate.

Bluestreak couldn’t help but feel guilty. He looked wearily at the two. Sideswipe was trying to comfort his brother but also gave Bluestreak a glance before converting his attention back to his brother who was usually “cold-hearted”, but now was leaking lubricant from his optics.

“Oh…no…I'm sorry…I'm sorry hun” Bluestreak tried to sound sweet.

**********************************

Prowl came back from the bathroom and a look of disgust waved over his face-plate. Why was he barfing up his internal parts every day? Surely there must be something to take away all this nausea. Prowl could only sigh as he looked towards the kitchen comm and saw that no mech was using it. He scrambled over and picked up the comm dialing for Dr. Chromedome.

“Hey, Prowl, I was going to use the comm” Starscream pronounced over from where he was making food.

“Sorry, this is important…”

“Yeah? What’s so important–”

“Can I PLEASE have some privacy?”

Starscream stared at Prowl before moving back to get to work. Something was up with Prowl. It was clear as day. Why would some weirdo stay at work if they were sick? It shouldn’t bother him since at least he was working, but still. Starscream could only groan to himself.

“Hey, is Doctor Chromedome there?”

…

“This is…uh Prowl Mesothulus, I'm a patient”

…

“Hi doctor Chromedome, it's Prowl. Um, listen, I'm sure it's nothing, but my processor keeps yelling at me and it has me thinking–you said to call if I had any concerns? And this early cycle…I'm…leaking fluid energon (blood)”

…

“No, no. Very very light”

…

“Come in to see you?”

Bumblebee crept up from behind Prowl and put his two servos on Prowl's shoulders, getting closer, trying to listen in on Prowl's conversation. Call him invasive, but a mech wants to “know the tea” as the humans say.

“Tomorrow morning?” Prowl only ignores Bumblebee.

…

“Great! I'm lucky you're open so early so then I don’t have to be late for work. Thanks, see you then” Right when Prowl put up the comm, Bumblebee bombarded him with questions.

“Who are you seeing that early in the morning~?”

“Not telling you” Prowl could only sass back. If Bumblebee wouldn’t tell him or Bluestreak what's up with him then he wouldn’t tell either. It's only common sense.

“Oh? So this is a secret~?” But knowing Bumblebee, he would somehow find out anyways, wasn’t like he was having an affair…

“No, I'm just going to see my doctor. Now what’s your secret?” Prowl sighed.

“Can’t say!” Bumblebee chanted.

“Why not!?”

Bumblebee turned away from Prowl and was walking back over to his station, only to bump into Starscream as the mech wanted to go back to make his comm call.

“HEY!”

“HEY!” They both said at the same time. Prowl, though, didn’t get the hint when Starscream didn’t say more than that, just a simple glimpse at Bumblebee and then a glare at Prowl.

“Don’t you have customers to serve?”

“Why can’t you ever say one nice thing? Like, ‘How are you Prowl?’ or ‘Great apple pie today Prowl’. All you ever say is ‘don’t you have customers?’ ‘get out of the kitchen’ or ‘ get back to work”

“Don’t you have customers? Get out of my kitchen. Get back to work” Starscream smirked.

Prowl only rolled his optics and walked away ready to serve the rest of his customers for the day. He couldn’t help but look over at where Jazz would have sat, but the mech was gone. Prowl walked over and saw that a little piece of paper was kept hidden under a napkin and pulled it out. It read:

Thanks for the extra pie, Prowl. It made my cycle. Looking forward to the next time I come back for pie

– Jazz

Prowl put the paper into his sub space and kept it in there for as long as he could remember. He would look at it when he wanted to be reminded that he did something right. Especially, since what he might do soon, isn’t his best moments during his time.

***************************

The next early Cycle, Prowl got on the Monorail Transport–Thanks to Bumblebee giving him his pass– and headed off for his appointment. The walk to the small clinic was short but it gave him time to think. Doctor Chromedome was a nice mech. Way nicer than his conjunx. Treated him nicely too. How he wished things would change. Prowl walked up to the entrance and rang the doorbell, waiting awkwardly. But thankfully, he didn’t have to wait long, as he saw Dr. Chromedome open the door.

“Hello, Prowl”

“Hello, Dr. Chromedome…uh, here, I brought you some peach tarts” Prowl felt a little gitter in his stomach, like he was nervous or maybe something else?

“Wow. Thanks!”

“You're welcome, where’s everybody else?” Prowl had noted that there wasn’t much activity this early cycle around the place. His processor was thinking of some solutions as to why.

“Um…I came in a little early to see you. It’s just me” Chromedome scratched the back of his helm with his free servo.

“Oh”

“So–so that’s why I'm opening the door for you”

“I see” Saw it coming, was one of his solutions.

“Come in, come in” Chromedome waved Prowl inside.

Prowl couldn’t help but feel unnaturally giddy about this whole situation. The doctor had his charm he will admit. A much greater one than his–no–Tarantulas ever had. Wasn’t this mech conjuxed already? What a shame…what? “What a shame”!? What on earth was going through Prowls processor!? His tacnet is starting to lose it!

“Prowl?”

“PROWWLLLL?”

“What?” Prowl didn’t mean for that to come out snappy. His processor was surly screwed up from the carrying. Right. Right?

“As I was saying. I see the bleeding is very mild” Did they already have the check up? Ugh. His processor was rolling over again.

“Yes”

“And has it stopped?”

“Y-yeah, it was just the one time”

Prowl couldn’t help himself from starring at Chromedome. How could any mech when another was this caring and nice and oh so charismatic? UGHHHHH! It didn’t help that Dr. Chromedome was starring back at Prowl. It’s like their optics were glued to each other. Conjunxed mechs surely wouldn’t look at another in such a way…would they?

“Okay” Chromedome finally said after some awkward silence.

“Well, you can cover up now, and when you're ready you can meet me in my office” Chromedome smiled and got up from the tool he sat on.

‘What?’ Prowl thought.

“You're not going to examine me?” Prowl was utterly confused. Not just with Chromedome but with himself. Why did he feel aroused by such a thought? Still, shouldn’t Chromedome actually look at what's happening down there? What if something bad was actually happening? What if…what if…what if…it kept going on and on and on. All the questions his tacnet was sending started to give him a helm ache.

“No, no need. Just slide your panel back in place and I'll meet you when you're done” That’s not the way he should have phrased it, Chromedome thought.

“Okay…” Prowl watched his keen optics as the doctor left. What a silly thought. He had to get himself in check. He shouldn’t be feeling this way, yet here he was. Prowl could only sigh as he slid his valve cover back into place, almost with a relief groan. He took off the garnet that was draped over him and hung it back on the rack then proceeded to walk to Chromedomes office.

He breathed right before opening the door, “Hi”

“Hi, come sit down” Prowl noticed that Chromedome had taken out one of the tarts he brought.

After a bite Chromedome couldn’t help but say, “Oh my Primus…heh…”

“Well, am I okay? Is there something wrong with me?” Prowl didn’t want to sit still, he had to get out of that office. It felt like his whole lower half was going to explode if he didn’t run out of there with the whole world to hear.

“No. No. There’s nothing wrong with you…uh…what you have is a perfectly normal symptom for carrying…were you concerned about a miscarriage?”

“Not really” Did he forget how much Prowl was not excited for this sparkling? Earlier he seemed worried if there was something wrong, but Prowl couldn’t or wouldn’t remember that whole event.

“Is that everything you have to say…?” They just stared at each other…this is getting embarrassing just sitting here.

“Umm…yes…no…”

“Well, what?”

“I…nothing. Nothing” Something was up. Chromedome's demeanor seemed to shift and his digits were fiddling with each other.

“Um, you can go now. I'll see you at your next appointment. And if you have–” Chromedome continued.

“--If I have any questions or concerns to call you” Prowl finished.

“Exactly” Prowl couldn’t wrap his processor around anything anymore. This whole appointment didn't seem right. More like a waste of time and sleep.

“Why did you have me come all the way in here if spotting was a normal sign of carrying? I mean, I had to get up early, take the monorail and walk 5 breems for you just to say this all was a perfectly normal symptom” Why was he getting so irritated? Just seeing the doctor's face made him feel like he could survive the whole day. Must be from carrying. Yes. That's got to be it.

…

Hello!? Was he going to say anyth–

“I have no response to that…” Chromedome just looked at Prowl with no expression. He lost the smile he held moments ago and now it was just as plain as ever.

“And what time does this office normally open? DOCTOR. 8:30?”

“9 o’clock as the humans say it” That was a fast response. 

“9 o’clock? So–so you came in here 2 groons early to tell me that spotting was a perfectly normal symptom?” Unbelievable. Truly it was.

“Well it would seem that way, yes”

“Goodbye, Doctor Chromedome” Just leave. Just leave. Just leave. Don’t look back. Not now. NOT EVER. This is your chance. Leave. Leave. Leave.

“Goodbye, Prowl–”

Right when he heard his designation slip from Chromedome's mouth he couldn't help it but snap, “I think you're strange. I don’t want you to be my doctor anymore. You make me sick”

“I'm sorry, Prowl” Chromedome got up from his chair and made his way over to the door Prowl was standing in front of.

“I'm really sorry. What–whatever it is I did–I–I'll never do it again. You should not feel uncomfortable with me–”

“You're doing it again” GAH! Why was he so nice!?

“What?”

“No, no-you know that nice guy talking thing you do! Ah! Forget it!” Prowl stormed out of that office. He couldn’t look at the friendly doctor. He shouldn't be feeling so calm and…would he say…excited? He shouldn’t feel this way about any nice guy. No. No way. He had Tarantulas. But, oh, how he was terrible. NO. NO. Just walk away. Just walk away. Don’t look back. No. No. No. FRAGGIT!
Prowl seriously just had to forget some small paper he left. He had held it in his servo to remind himself what he needed to get done at work. And now it was left inside that awful, awful, yet nice office…ugh…screw it.

When Chromedome walked out holding the paper recipe and told Prowl he forgot it in his office, Prowl couldn’t stop himself. Like his body was moving on its own. He stormed up to Chromedome and hooked his arms around his neck and braced himself to kiss Chromedome. As their dermas connected, Prowl could feel that Chromedome was hesitant, but eased in and placed a servo on the back of Prowl’s back. Right as the kiss started, it ended with Prowl, turning away into a speed walk.

“Dammit! Don’t walk away from me!” Chromedome quickly closed the open door behind him and jogged to catch up to Prowl.

“Well…what do you want…” Prowl just wanted what he did to go away. WHY DID HE DO THAT!? Leave. Leave. Leave.

“I–I want to see you again…”

“I want to talk to you…somewhere outside of here…maybe we can go have some high-grade or something–”

“I can’t have high-grade, it’s on the bad food list you gave me! What kind of doctor are you” Prowl whispers.

“You don’t have to have high-grade! You can have water or fruit juice!” Chromedome raised his hands to show he wasn’t a threat. He could tell Prowl wasn’t having any of this.

“That’s a BAD idea. I'm conjunxed. Your conjunxed. I'm carrying. Your MY DOCTOR–”

“Your–your right it's crazy…it’s unethical on my part…” Would he just shut up with being so nice!

And yet again, there they go. Prowl swung his arms up to cradle Chromedome’s helm and pulled him down in a kiss to shut him up. It all felt right. Yet it all felt wrong. But, the ‘right’ it felt definitely outweighed the wrong. It felt like his world was spinning. Something that Tarantulas never achieved. Tarantulas…oh frag!

“WAIT!” Prowl pulled apart once more.

“No kissing in the street. I have a really jealous conjunx. He’d kill you if he ever saw us kissing. He doesn’t like it when other mechs even look at me”

“Is he large?” What kind of dumb question was that?

“He’s large enough and he drives right past here on the way to work”

“Maybe we shouldn’t be standing in the street then…”

“...I gotta go make pies…Ugh! It’s going to take some time to get back there. I have to walk 5 breems then take the monorail. I don’t want to be late, Starscream gets mad when I'm late”

“Well let me drive you”

“NO…yes…please” Everything felt like it was scrambling. The moment Chromedome transformed and opened the door, Prowl stepped inside and buckled himself in. It was a silent trip to his work, except when Prowl had to give directions and the sad ‘sorrys’ when Chromedome took the wrong turn. Once they finally arrived at his work, Kup’s pie diner, Prowl stepped out and let Chromedome transform.

“Well…thank you for the tarts…they were unbelievably good. Delicious…deliciuous isn’t a good word for what they are…” Chromedome smiled to himself as he stood in front of Prowl.

“--your welcome” Prowl hushed him.

“--So um…do we–I mean what are we–”

“Doctor Chromedome…i’ll call you if I have any questions or concerns…” Prowls last words weren’t his best moments, but what else was he supposed to say. He just heaved himself into the dinner, not looking back for Chromedome expression since he could hear the engine growl as Chromedome transformed again and rolled out. Prowl’s tired optics shut once he sat down in a booth. The diner has yet to be opened. He thought to himself, and started making another pie.

‘Tarantulas murders me because I'm having an affair pie’. You smash raspberries and blackberries into a pie chocolate crust…ugh…no…new pie…’I can’t have an affair because it's wrong and I don’t want Tarantulas to kill me pie’. Vanilla custard and banana…never mind…get rid of the banana…

“--Do you got no home?”

‘Huh’

Prowl looked up with open optics to see Kup, standing there.

“Excuse me?”

“I'm wondering if you have to sleep outside my diner cause maybe you don’t have no home”

“I have a home”

“Right…and a bad conjunx, I remember. You got drool all over ya face”

“What?”

“Your drool is all over like someone gave you a good one” Blunt as always, Kup. Prowl reached up to his dermas and felt the drool on the side of his dermas, quickly trying to rub it away.

“I'm gonna go inside now. Once you're done whipping away all your…drool…I'll be sitting in my booth, one fresh squeezed orange juice, no ice, and a Spanish dancer pie with potato crust” Kup gave Prowl a mini smile before heading inside. The ring of the diner chiming around as the door closed. Prowl sat there in disbelief. Everything that has happened today was definitely not good. But, yet, it all felt so overwhelming with how ordinary. He just looked up at the clear skies. The early cycle was always one of the best times to admire the sky. Maybe one day he’ll be able to look at the sky forever and not worry about anything that is spiraling in his processor. Maybe some time he’ll get rid of Tarantulas…maybe some time he’ll wonder what’s going on with him and Dr. Chromedome…maybe some time he’ll talk to Jazz more and start a friendship he never knew he needed? But for now, he has to get to work.

Chapter Text

Once Prowl was finished making himself decent to the public's optics, he made his way over to Kup’s typical booth. Bringing out his handy data pad to jot down orders, Prowl realized that he naturally started looking for the mech, Jazz. He noticed Jazz wasn’t at one of his regular booths around this time. He could only hope the best for Jazz.

“Prowl, I can hear you thinking,” Said Kup, looking up from his daily newspaper.

“Sorry…uh, here you go”

“Oh, Prowl, did you read this column? It’s for the lonely hearts”

Prowl could only roll his optics as he stood still and listened to Kup. Primus forbid Kup didn’t have anyone else to talk to around here.

“...Dear Lizbeth, my husband fell in love with another mech from his workplace, I want to off myself, haha weird right? The perfect suicide note to let him know how much pain he caused me, haha. Im wondering if you could give me any advice to composing a suicide note that would harm my snake of a husband and his slut mech, haha”

Prowl just gave Kup a tired smile. Would he miss this? Maybe? Idk, it's going to be a long time before Kup takes a hit to meet Primus.

“U love living carelessly through the pain and suffering of others” Kup obliviously chuckles to himself.

“You know you are not as mean as you play. You tip me better than any mech around” besides Jazz, but Prowl doesn’t say that.

“Oh, what do you know…bring me more water for this empty glass”

“Will do, will do” Prowl mutters to himself.

Prowl wanders over to the section of the diner where the water pitchers are, but stops in his tracks before picking up one from the whining of a young mech to his left. Their creator was trying to calm them down but the little one insisted on throwing bits of their food at them. Even when the creator said the bitlet could have anything on the menu it didn’t stop the little thing from crying their optics out. Prowl could only watch in horror with a disgusted look on his face plates. ‘You can’t be serious, it's like Primus is trying to tell me I'm screwed’ Prowl thought. Thankfully, Prowl was brought out of his thoughts when Bluestreak and Bumblebee stole him away from the station by the pitcher.

“Prowlzies we bought ya something” Bumblebee spat as he settled down next to Prowl on a stool with a small gift bag.

“That's…sweet of you…but you really shouldn't have” Prowl wasn’t so big on gifts, actually he wasn’t huge on surprises to begin with.

“Open it!” Bluestreak persisted.

“Okay…” Prowl sighed as he grabbed the wrapped up gift in his servos and began to unravel it.

“Oh…it’s a book…” Prowl flipped it over.

“What a carrier you're going to be…” Oh boy.

“We know you weren’t so happy about this whole situation, but the little mech is coming–”

“You don’t know its a mech”

“Well… we thought we could give you something that every creator is supposed to read! And according to the accountist they said that every creator should read something like that” Bumblebee chimed in.

“Well thanks…”

“You know–” Prowl begins.

“No, Prowl. You're not gonna sell your sparkling to the government to get money…”

“Listen, If I get the money, I'll be able to leave Tarantulas and this sparkling is the only financial thing I have”

“Prowl that is an awful thought” Bluestreak deadpaned.

“Are you really not feeling any affection to that sparkling? Not at all?” Bumblebee looked a little hurt, but it wasn’t like this sparkling was his.

“You know I wouldn’t do anything horrible to this sparkling. I respect it, I watch what I eat, drink, and do all the time. But, yet I don’t feel it…” Prowl paused.

“...Maybe that primus awful mech smothered all the affection I had in me”

There was a bit of awkward silence. Eventually Bluestreak spoke up.

“Well I gotta get back to work–”

“Yeah me too–”

“Yeah–”

“Hey…Thanks for the gift” Prowl said, feeling ever so guilty.

“Prowl, there's all these cool things to do in here. There’s a little scrapbook section in the back and there’s a place where you can write some letters to your sparkling” Bluestreak beamed quietly to himself while he pointed to a section of the little scrapbook.

“Thanks Bluestreak…”

As Bluetreak smiled and walked away, Prowl couldn’t help but think about what he should write as his first letter to his sparkling.

‘First letter to my sparkling ... .first letter to my sparkling?’ Prowl thought to himself as he stared frustrated at the paper below.

Prowl is in such focus that when he heard, "Where's my water” from Kups table he was startled. Quickly getting up from his seat he grabbed the water pitcher and made his way over to the table. While doing so he began his thought process for the sparkling.

‘Dear sparkling…If I was writing you a letter, it would kinda sound like some apology. I know every carrier would be thrilled to have a nice sparkling such as yourself, who was also a good wife, fine member of society…and I can’t rightly say that in any of that…’

Prowl managed to finish up work quickly that day, still pondering about the first letter when he got home and made Tarantulas dinner for the night.

‘...And I'm not sure this world is a fine place to be bringing you into. Many of the mechs I've met are not worth meeting. Many of the things that happened are not worth living through…’

Another night of pleasure for Tarantulas got Prowl thinking more about life for his sparkling. Prowl situated himself in their berth and rolled over to his side looking out the window that covered the moon light that seeped through the curtains. Tarantulas holding him possessively around the waist. He continued to ponder.

‘...And you shouldn’t take it personal sweetspark, if I don’t seem to be like all the other carriers, jumping with joy. I frankly don’t know what I've got to give you…”

And again, began to reflect more on his situation when he walked into the bathroom to look at himself and the mirror, noting that his mid section plating was growing.

‘...What if I leave Tarantulas and don't win that pie contest next deca-cycle and don't have the shanix. What the frag am I gonna do with you then?’

Tarantulas came into the bathroom and interrupted his thoughts.

“You sure are getting round, Prowlsy” He chuckles to himself.

‘All my life sweetspark, the only thing I ever want to do is run away. What kind of carrier is that?’

When Tarantulas was off at work, Prowl began to pack his luggage with everything he needed. He can’t keep doing this anymore. And the only way is to earn that money at that pie contest. So he should leave now for it as the solar cycles pass by. So he sits there on the bench waiting for the mono rail with Bumblebees card, stuck in his head once more.

‘I wish I could feel other things sweetspark, like excitement that your with me now, or faith that I’ll be a good carrier even if my life isn’t such a good place and the world as I see it isn’t so pretty like they are in those books…anyway, im writing this letter to you, it doesn’t seem like a letter to me does it?’

*HONK*

*HONK*

*HOOOOOONNNNNNKKKKKK*

Of course. Right when life could be turned upside down and Prowl could get away, there was always that barrier that wouldn’t budge. Prowl could see the angry and disgusted face Tarantulas made when he got off the monorail and walked over to Prowl. Prowl didn’t make optic contact and Tarantulas got up in his face, chewing on some gum.

“Where you going, Prowl?” He hissed.

“No where, Tarantulas” Prowl lied as he slyly looked up at him.

“Im-Im going to work…”

“Then why you got a luggage?” Prowl could see the anger start to boil in Tarantulas's optics. Without any warning, he raised his servo and smacked Prowl across the face, leaving a blue servo print. Prowl could feel every emotion rise to his face. He can’t go back. No. Please. Prowl could only put his servo on his cheek and look down ashamed with himself as his body didn’t move to run away like he hoped.

Prowl could feel his spark beating in his arm as Tarantulas gripped it hard and grumbled,”Come on”.

Now in the monorail, side by side, Prowl began to get teary optics. Pathetic. He can’t cry in front of this monster. No. Please. Just let me let go now.

“Pie baking contest huh?” Prowl looked out the window. Tarantulas continued to be snarky. Prowl couldn’t let him know why he was leaving. Things would happen if Tarantulas did know exactly.

“...yeah, I was going to go up there and win and surprise you when I got back–”

“No you're lying. You ain’t ever gone to a contest in your life. YOUR LYING TO ME” 

Prowl had to sit still as Tarantulas pushed his face with his servo in an angry gesture, reliving that blue smack mark from earlier.

“WHY ARE YOU LYING TO ME!”

“IM CARRYING!!” FRAG…Prowl couldn’t think of anything. Why did he say that?

**************************************

Prowl took out the warm pie from the oven  and sighed to himself before going into the dining room. Tears were stained on his face and he looked like a mess. Prowl couldn’t care less. His life was the pit, how could it get any worse or any better? There was no hope. This sparkling would be sent into the pit with Tarantulas around. Or worse, killed for simply living. And himself? Why did it matter…

He placed the pie down in front of Tarantulas and settled into his own seat, waiting for anything harsh to be sent his way.

“When were you going to tell me?” 

“...After I won the pie contest…”

“But you aren't going to any pie contest. You aren’t going anywhere. And here’s the thing, why…what if… you decide to love the sparkling more than you love me? Huh? Carriers do it all the time, they have a sparkling then they stay at their place with them…”

You're joking. That’s what this was about? The answer is definitely–

“Jealous. Are you jealous of the sparkling?”

“NO. I don’t get jealous. It's below me. Im just talking it out, im talking my feelings out”

Prowl blinked with an unamused face.

“I know how carriers get–”

Oh do you now? Last I checked you weren’t the one carrying this sparkling, or even have carrier protocols. So no, you don’t know you slaggin piece of–

“And I'm just not sure I want that happening…Im not telling you to get rid of it, but I don’t want it to replace me after”

It? IT!? I would gladly replace you with the sparkling. Any day. Any time. You name it. Get me out of this fragging pit spawn and just offline me already and go frag your–

“I want you to promise me that you wouldn’t love the sparkling more than me. Ya know, that you make a real promise to me to love me more” Prowl shifted uncomfortably in his seat, fiddling with his digits in his lap as he stared at this buffoon.

“If I need something you keep taking care of it. You belong to me more. I COME FIRST. NOT any sparkling” Prowl moved his optics to the side. This slagging scum of–

“Well, could you make that promise?”

“...absolutly” Not.

“Say I promise”

“I promise” Not to love you more.

“Say, ‘I promise I won’t love the sparkling more than I love you Tarantuly”

“I promise I won’t love the sparkling more than I love you…Tarantuly…” This piece of slag.

Tarantulas could only smile and chuckle to himself as he stared at Prowl breaking down. Prowl sat there. Waited for Primus to pluck him from his misery right there. Maybe having a spark attack right now doesn't seem like such a bad idea. Hint hint, Primus. 

“We are gonna have ourselves a sparkling” He began to grab at Prowl.

“A young mech” A mech? Sure it wasn’t a bad idea but Prowl much preferred a femme, not some mech that would inherit this beast's personality. At least Primus could spare him that.

“It happened that night you got you on the high-grade huh?” He looked like a serial killer the way he laughed at Prowl.

Prowl scrambled from his seat and sprinted to the bathroom, puking to his sparks content. Maybe Primus would let him puke up his internals so he could just go to the hospital and be let free since they couldn’t save him.

*******************************************

The next solar cycle Prowl was back in the waiting room. Anxiously picking at the paint on his digits. He didn’t want Tarantulas to be in this sparklings life…not like he really wanted the sparkling to begin with–at least that’s what he told himself.

Prowl squirmed in his processor. “Mr. Mesothulus, the doctor will see you now”, how wonderful. Another thing that’s on Prowls plate that he can’t get rid off. Chromedome. But, perhaps Chromedome is a nice distraction from this life of hell he got himself into.  He sighed as he walked into the examination room with the nurse that greeted herself.

“Hi there, im FirstAid. I’ll be helping Dr.Chromedome with your ultrasound examination this cycle”, Prowl sat in silence, watching as the hanging clock on the wall ticked down in that clockwise rotation. A never ending cycle for the clock, similar to Prowls dying life.

“--Do you have any questions?”

“This is where we look at the sparklings heartbeat, correct?” Prowl needed a distraction from his processor, man would it give him a headache if he used it for far too long. 

“Yes, as among other things…are you nervous?” FirstAid mentioned seeing Prowls blank and zoned out expression. 

“No…do I seem nervous?” 

“Yes, you do. But it’s normal, everybot is nervous for their first ultrasound–”

“I’m not nervous though…”

“...okay…you're not nervous” FirstAid couldn’t help but get the feeling something was up with this patient, not like your typical carrier to begin with. Fortunately there was a knock at the door that kept FirstAid from asking questions that Prowl would not want to answer.

“Hello, Mr. Mesothulus, how are you feeling?” Chromedome asked, almost sounding like a plea.

“Fine” Prowl didn’t want to face him. He could feel his face frowning and trying to keep his cool as the doctor kept insisting. “You had no questions or concerns this orn…”

“No, I certainly did not” Prowl cut him off.

“Okay…well, lay back and we’ll take a look at you” Prowl followed the orders as the lights dimmed in the room so they could see the screen on the monitor in the room. Prowl stared at the ceiling as Chromedome stared at him like some kind of action reaction system. Chromedome, though started to put the gel cream onto prowls abdominal plating and used the

wand to circle around the surface, trying to find a hint of the sparkling that was building in his…”Well you’re definitely having a sparkling…do you want to see them?”

“I guess”

“Ill have you look at the screen on the monitor while I wave this wand around a bit more to get a more clear image”

Prowl could see some-what of the outline of the sparkling looked like. The monitor was kinda hazy, but the sparkling was there. Upon looking further into the live image, he could see the small shiny spark that was held in the sparklings casing. There was a faint smile that appeared on his face but it quickly vanished as fast as it appeared.

“Congratulations, Mr. Mesothulus!” FirstAid chirped.

“Yeah…”

“Mr. Mesothulus doesn't like to be congratulated…”

“Oh! Sorry…”

Prowl ignored them with a roll of his optics. The sparklings growth doesn’t really look like a full form of a sparkling, given he wasn’t near ready to pop. But, that little spark shined and was moving. What a lively little thing it was. Finally, Chromedome started to wrap up the monitor by asking FirstAid to leave since he was only there to help set it up. With the door now closed behind FirstAid, the atmosphere got awkward as usual.

“Well, there you have it” Yeah…

“So I guess we are forgetting about that nonsense that happened last orn…” Now why on earth did you have to bring it up? Prowl sat up and looked at him.

“Yes, we officially are”

“I want to apologize…” And there was a lot more he said that Prowl didn’t want to remember. Something about himself, another thing about himself, lame excuses, lame excuses.

“...now our relationship will be strictly professional” Prowl looked at him with the sudden urge to grab his helm with his servos and smash their dermas together. Fortunately for him again, things happened just as expected. Those two really couldn’t keep their servos off each other. Prowl couldn’t help but indulge in this distraction. Good thing the two of them never really want further than kissing, would Trantulas have quite a fit if he found some residue from Chromedome lingering there, they would both be busted and dead.

‘Dear sparkling, P.S: I would want to teach a sparkling such as yourself the difference between good and bad and right and wrong. But it seem’s fit that I'm not to teach any mech anything’

“Dr. Chromedome! Are you still in there!? You have a phone call!” Well gosh dammit. Could Prowl get even a little bit of peace that wasn’t outside of work? How cruel must primus be to him?

“I’ll be out! Um, FirstAid, if you could weigh Prowl” Turning back to Prowl, “I’ll see you in my office after” Prowl blushed as he looked over to the side and away from FirstAids view as he opened the door for Chromedome to walk out.

Once back in Chromedome’s office Prowl squirmeded in his chair, wanting some sort of action. He hoped that it wasn’t him actually getting used to Chromedome treating him as such and rather what the sparklings urges were.

“Don’t do that again…”

Okay…wait, what, no…I won’t”

“No, Prowl not that, I mean THAT” Gesturing to the idea of Prowl not meeting up with Chromedome.

“I mean, don't go away for an orn without a call”

“Questions or concerns” Which Prowl didn’t have any, at least not any that Chromedome could help with.

“This is crazy Dr. Chromedome–”

“Please, call me Chromedome”

“I won’t” Prowl said sternly.

“Okay…okay then don’t”

Chromedome then went on in his professional way to ask questions and keep things…safe. Except he just had to make an appointment close to this one he was currently at. Then…of course he asked Prowl to go with him on a lunch break after the appointment. Primus save him now. Thankfully Chromedome exited the room and with a snarky, “I wish it were the next appointment already”, Prowl sat in the chair stunned. What is his life? With his hand on his face plates, he just had to smile slightly. Someone actually wanted him, for being…him? Suppose that put him in a great mood. The next cycle, Prowl was cherry and didn’t care that Bumblebee and Starscream were arguing right in front of him as he passed by. He even greeted the customers nicely and placed down their order gracefully.

‘Dear Sparkling, at first it was really just about the interfacing’

It truly was. Every time Prowl had an appointment it would always end up just the two of them in the room pushing each other's dermas together and maybe it could progress to more. Prowl had to remind Chromedome a couple of times to thoroughly wipe out his transfluids from inside Prowl. Prowl wouldn't have minded at all, but Tarantulas was always there in the back of his processor. All of this helped, maybe Prowl could be free from whatever mood Tarantulas put him in. So after a couple of orns (months), Prowl went back to his appointment, happy but not showing it yet. He clutched the pie he held in his servos, waiting for his designation to be called.

“Prowl, the doctor is ready for you now” His mood was so uplifted that when he walked into the examination room to see Ratchet instead of Chromedome, he couldn't help but actually show a shocked expression.

“Hey there, Prowl”

“Oh…Dr. Ratchet? How are you? I thought you retired?” Awkward…

“I wish. Im only unretired for this cycle because Dr.Chromedome and his conjunx had to fly back east for a funeral this early cycle”

“Oh…he flew back east with his conjunx?” Great, right…

“How are you feeling Prowl? Are you doing alright with Dr.Chromedome?”

“Fine, just fine. Still having a sparkling and everything…”

“Yeah I bet. How’s it working out with Dr.Chromedome?” Ratchet fiddled with the files he held in his hand. Maybe he was taking notes on Chromedome or something? Logically, Prowl shouldn’t care, but if something he said wrong would have Chromedome fired, well…he couldn’t help himself.

“Good. He’s a great doctor…uh, is he coming back soon?”

“I don’t really know of it. But, this cycle we are going to do some blood work, just some standard stuff to see how the sparkling is developing”

“Do I have to do it?”

“Yeah you have to do it” Ratchet could see that Prowl wasn’t really there, in his processor. With an unimpressed look he said, “It’ll make you a little weak afterwards so you might want to call someone, like your conjunx to come pick you up”

“Yeah…i’ll call him”

“Is that pumpkin pie for me?” Ratchet pointed out, changing the subject since Prowl didn’t seem so happy about talking about his conjunx.

“Kind of, it’s just something I thought of…’Naughty Pumpkin Pie’” With a sigh Prowl handed the pie over to Ratchet, a frown on his face like he was defeated. The appointment went smoothly, but Ratchet wasn’t kidding when he said the blood work would make him feel weak afterwards. He wasn’t ready to hear those annoying honks and yells from Tarnatulas as Prowl waited outside. It was starting to be hard to get up now that his plating was more round and plump because of his abdominal plating that stretched with the sparklings growth. When Prowl went back to work he started making a pie around Bumblebee and thankfully he wanted to know, he was just as curious as everyone else.

“Hey, are you going to tell us your secret, Bumblebee?”

“Yes I am…when I'm ready” Bumblebee smiled, a little odd for this early of a cycle.

“Iv’e got a secret too!” Bluestreak piped up. Did everyone just so happen to have secrets?

“You do?” Bumblebee asked, a little unsure.

“I have a boyfriend now…well, two now” Bluestreaks face was as blue as the energon drinks they served at the diner.

“HUH!? NO! YOU DO!?” Prowl and Bumblebee said at the same time.

“Well who are they?” Prowl asked, he had an assumption, but just had to make sure.

“Well you're never gonna believe it, but, um…ya know those two mechs that came to the diner that cycle? Names were Sideswipe and Sunstreaker?”

“Sideswipe and Suntreaker? Yeah the stalking elf’s I remember, what about em?” Bumblebee chirped. Bluestreak’s face plate looked a little distraught. Prowl should have guessed and said it out loud. 

“Well…it’s…um, it’s them”

“Oh, well, that is wonderful, Bluestreak! Isn’t it Prowl?” Bumblebee gasped, trying to take back his words.

“Yeah, that’s wonderful” Prowl tried to sound enthusiastic. 

“How did that happen?” 

“Well, ya know, they were true to their word. They never gave up. Their cousin gave them my comm. number and they messaged me thirty times. I thought I might have killed them” Bluestreak continued to make the pie he held in his servos as he went on about this crazy fantasy.

“But, they got to me.They are so passionate. I get these spontaneous poems, Poems that just occur to him right on the spot! Last night I got one saying,’ Bluestreak, you are the moon I see in my room, your love is like a breathing drum. Bubum bubum bubum bubum…” Bluestreak looked over at his coworkers. Prowl and Bumblebee weren’t sure how to react to this information.

“Yeah, I know what you're thinking, that they are maybe too much or they don’t look so…great to you, but they grow on you…And anyways, they are it, cause no other mech or femme wants me”

“Bluestreak…you shouldn’t be with someone if no other mech or femme wants you” Prowl gave his advice, it really did backfire.

“Yeah, well you are. And you wouldn’t know what they are like since you don’t look at them but they are like sexual dynamo!”

“No, we wouldn't know huh?” Bumblebee looked up from the pie he was making on the right side of Prowl.

“Well, Bluestreak. I sure hope it’s making you happy”

“You don’t mean that” Bluestreak looks at Prowl.

“You're jealous…you are! Because you have the most mean and controlling conjunx in the world. And you are stuck there, but I have someone who loves me to death!” Bluestreak yelled. Prowl was stuck. 

“And I am happy!”

“Good…” Prowl trailed off. That stung like it never has before. Was he jealous, miserable? Noticing Prowl’s change in demeanor, Bluestreak switched up his act real fast. 

“Uh, will you put this pie in for me with the rest…I–I have to go clean up my station” And with that Bluestreak left the kitchen.

“We’ll see you later!” Bumblebee said, looking over at Prowl.

Prowl ignored Bumblebee’s look and scrambled to get back to work. He grabbed a tray with some energon on it and his small data pad that he stored in his apron. He walked over in the direction of his station but quickly diverted Kup to go see Jazz sitting in his corner booth.

“Heya, Prowl! I see ya are progressin’ along well” Jazz beamed, referring to the sparkling Prowl had growing.

“Yeah. How are you doing? You haven't been in the diner for a bit now”

“Im alrigh’. Just some family problems going around here an’ there”

“I could relate. What would you like?” Prowl tapped the menu with his digit as he placed down the energon on the table.

“Suprise me. I don’ mind what ya make, it’s always good” Prowl jerked back a bit. Oh. That’s a nice compliment. He doesn’t get those so often.

“I’ll make sure it’s quite a surprise then” Prowl smiled and walked away from Jazz and over to Kup. With a glance over to Jazz he realised that the mech looked fairly happy today. He huffed another small smile.

“How are you, Kup?” Prowl asked when he reached the table.

“Same as always, Prowl. How are you?”

“Same trainwreck”

“And how’s the sparkling doing so far?”

“So far so good, nothing that would worry any bot. No defects, no diseases or whatever”

“Good, good” Kup, shifted his cigar from his dermas to the other side.

“How’s the bad conjunx?”

“Just awful”

“And wip-sticks-misor. The mech on the side. The affair”

“SHHH, Kup. I'm not having any kind of affair”

“Hmm, okay, you're not having no affair” Kup shifted the cigar again and took up the newspaper in his servos.

Kup went on about how much an affair is bad despite the horrible conjunx and how the affair could harm other bots around.

“You're just making all that up” Prowl would know, he reads the newspaper, but it’s still nice to have a conversation with Kup so he doesn’t mention it.

“This late cycle I want the singing tuning fish casserole with a pickle on the plate with some fries and some milk and swiss cheese and gravy on their own plate, and you special chocolate oasis pie. You got all that?” Kup pointed to Prowl's little data pad.

“I got that” Prowl frowned.

“Why don’t you smile, Prowl? No bot makes strawberry chocolate pie the way you do. It’s my favorite day cause I get to have a slice of it” Kup takes out the cigar and places it on the ashtray with the condiments.

“Your making to much of it Kup, It’s JUST a PIE”

“Just a pie? It’s downright expert. It’s a beauty how each flavor opens itself one by one. Like a chapter in a book. In fact, forget all the other damn stuff, just bring me the pie, that’s all I want” Kup smiled sweetly.

“I better bring you the pie right away” Prowl smiled briefly and walked away from Kups booth. Prowl walked over to the kitchen and seeing that Starscream wasn’t near he thought he should go find him to see if they have any of his special pie left over for Kup.

But, when Prowl rounded the corner he should have worn bleach in his optics for this sight. Bumblebee was under Starscream, sitting on the counter of the sink as the two mechs crumbled their dermas together and mumbled sweet things to one another. Prowl whipped around.

“OH!” Prowl diverted his optics to the ground as he faced the other direction.

“Oh, frag!” Bumblebee pushed Starscream off him and Starscream stood up in shock seeing Prowl.

“Uh starscream, I'm gonna need you to pick out a random pie slice and another slice of oasis. Gotta go throw up now” Prowl could feel his stomach churn.

“Prowl!” Bumblebee scrambled towards Prowl, Starscream tried to pull him back but Bumblebee managed to get out of his grip.

Prowl walked into the bathroom and stood in front of the sink with his servo over his dermas. Bumblebee ran in and closed the door behind him. “I swear it wasn’t intentional, Prowl. It just kinda happened”.

“Your poor conjunx” Prowl turned around and leaned heavily on the sink with his aft.

“My poor conjux curses constantly and sleeps in a separate room!”

“So what! You just divorce him then!” Prowl couldn’t believe this. There just seems to be something going haywire every time he enters work.

“I can’t just leave a sick crazy mech! What kind of bot would do that!”

“No! What kind of bot had an affair with Starscream who’s conjunxed and we see them all the time!”

“Having an affair is a messed up thing to do! It destroys bots' lives and you just messed up all of that!”

Thanks to Bluestreak knocking on the door, “Hey Prowl, there’s this cute mech outside wanting to talk to you. He says he's your doctor”

Oh great just another thing to go wrong this cycle. Just give him a break already.