Chapter Text
The Ocean City was being raised from the deep blue, an away team had been assembled to visit Cybertron and the Q Planet. Planet Q had been saved from the wrath of Unicron, thanks to Galvatron who saw something greater being born from his own sacrifice, but the planet was still in need of great help. If life was ever to be born and maintained there the planet needed outside help.
Rodimus was leading the away team. Hot Shot, Landmine, Bulkhead and his two followers as well as few Omnicons left to Cybertron as soon as the Bridge was opened. It felt weird for Prowl for not accompanying his comrades, but he himself had told Rodimus he'd stay behind. Rodimus didn't argue with him about it, which kind of irritated Prowl. He didn't even try to convince him to come.
Prowl watched from the Control Room's window as the team drove up the Bridge Road and disappeared. He held his arms folded on his chest.
"Call us if something comes up", said Jetfire a bit further, Rodimus answering him over the radio: "Will do. Rodimus, over and out."
"Hey, Prowl? Why didn't you tag along?" Jetfire's voice caught Prowl's audio receptors and he turned around to face him.
"Why, can't I be anywhere where they are not?" Prowl said, he didn't mean to sound mean but his words came out that way. Jetfire huffed and tilted his head to side.
"Sorry, didn't mean to-" he started but Prowl cut him short. He took a few steps towards him, lifted his servos up as a stop and said: "No, no, I'm sorry Jetfire."
"Is everything okay? Do you wish to talk 'bout it?" the second in command of Prime asked, but Prowl flashed him a smile and replied: "Nope, everything's fine." That wasn't really the truth, but Prowl didn't want to burden Jetfire, or anyone else, with his personal problems.
Later, Prowl was walking along the wide corridor, which had large windows in the roof. There walked a few humans and Omnicons here and there, some of them might've greeted Prowl but he was too deep in his thoughts to notice. Actually, he was so thoughtful he didn't even hear Prime call his name, and thus he ended up colliding with the big bot. He bumped against Prime and only then he was brought back to Earth.
"S-sir! I'm so sorry-!" Prowl pulled back and stammered; "I'm so embarrassed! I didn't mean to-" Optimus gave a soft little laughter and answered: "It's alright Prowl! No harm done."
"What's on your mind, Prowl? you were quite absent there", asked Roadblock, who was standing on Prime's left. Prowl 'umm'ed lightly and told him: "It's nothing, just a bit distracted. It's a bit hard for me to adjust to life without having to look over your shoulder for possible hostiles." That was true, just not the entire truth. With Rodimus life was always one big battlefield. You never knew when someone wanted to shoot you.
Optimus lifted a hand on Prowl's shoulder for a moment.
"I understand you perfectly, Prowl. It was hard for me at first too", he explained. Prowl looked up at him as Optimus continued: "But it's going to get easier. You'll never really let your guard down again, but you'll get used to life without war." Roadblock smiled and looked up at his leader, if someone had wise words to spare it was him. He wasn't the leader for just his strenght.
"Thank you, Optimus, I'll remember that", Prowl replied with a nod. Optimus removed his servo and looked down at Roadblock.
"I must be going. I'll see you later, Roadblock", the leader said and placed his servo softly on the bot's cheek, who leaned his head lightly on it. Prowl couldn't help a smallish smile. Optimus and Roadblock's thing wasn't a secret to anyone, they didn't mind showing everyone what they had going on. Another thing that bothered him about his and Rodimus' relationship. Could it even be called one?
Optimus left the scene, leaving Prowl and Roadblock behind. Prowl looked after him before he asked: "Where's he going?" and turned to face Roadblock. The brown and yellow bot answered him: "Doctor Jones needed to talk to him about something. How come you didn't leave with Rodimus?"
There it was again, Prowl murmured something unclear and looked down at his feet.
"I.. I didn't feel like it", he replied, his mood dropping dramatically. Roadblock frowned and tried to gesture for an optic contact.
"Is there something going on? Are you two okay?" he asked. What Prowl and Rodimus had wasn't much of a secret either, it was more harder to see but it still was there. Apparently Roadblock had noticed the tension between them.
Prowl wasn't going to open up to him, but maybe opening up was what he needed to do. Maybe he needed advice. Prowl shrugged his shoulders, shook his head and replied with a sigh: "I... don't know. Rodimus sir has been... distant." Roadblock gestured for Prowl to follow him, the blue bot would probably be thankful if his personal matters weren't heard by everyone.
They came outside, where Prowl continued: "Rodimus and I, well, there's been something about us for eons. We have..." Prowl stopped and looked a bit hesitant. He moved to lean against the railing that circled the city.
"Been intimate?" Roadblock helped him, to which Prowl nodded. Roadblock took a place next to him.
"There had never been anything wrong with what we had. It felt so natural. But now when everything is fine and there's no need to fight, he's become... distant. He doesn't look at me the same way he used to", Prowl explained gesturing with his servos. He turned towards Roadblock and huffed: "Heck, he doesn't even speak to me the same way he used to!"
Roadblock hummed thoughtfully. He looked into Prowl's optics before turning to look at the bright blue sky.
"Maybe he is just as confused as you are about our current situation. Maybe peace makes him insecure", he said. Prowl let a questioning hum and leaned his head on side.
"Insecure?"
Roadblock looked at the seagulls which were flying around Ocean City. Their laughter-like sounds were quite relaxing to him.
"Like you said, up until now you've always had to keep an eye on your surroundings. Maybe that makes Rodimus so distant, he isn't used to life without war. His whole image of world has changed." Prowl hadn't even thought about it that way. He turned to look at the seagulls as well.
"But I think you should discuss this with Optimus, he's known Rodimus for years. If someone knows what's in his mind, it's Prime."
Prowl looked at Roadblock, a small smile forming on his face.
"Thanks, 'Block. You've given me a lot to think about, I hadn't even considered Rodimus could think that way", Prowl told him. True, Rodimus had lived for war, to fight and help those in need. Prowl can't even imagine what his mate could be going through in his mind. Roadblock nodded for him with a dear smile.
"Don't mention it", he replied.