Prowl stared at himself in the two-way mirror in front of Ratchet's office as he'd been doing for the septorn he'd been sequestered in the med bay. His wings stretched wide and he kept them that way as he looked over the colors. Jazz didn't walk all the way into the med bay but stayed by the door, watching him. "I saw him once," Prowl said softly. Jazz blinked in surprise, he didn't think the other mech knew he was there. Technically his shift wasn't up for another ten breems, but a little black mail went a long way. Jazz left his spot and approached Prowl with soft steps. "When they docked my wings," Prowl murmured. "I got an infection. They thought I was going to die." His wings folded back revealing the streak of white that ran down his chest like a lightning strike. "It was the only time I ever saw him, I was so sick I thought he was a fever dream at first." A sad smile touched his lips. "My creator brought him in and…his wings were so pretty, they looked like the night sky." He folded his wings over his shoulders to look at the constellation-like pattern on the other side. "It was the first time I'd ever had someone read me a bed time story." His laugh caught in his throat and fluid shimmered in his optics. "It was…the best night I ever had."

Jazz slid an arm around his waist and hugged him. "Prowl," he murmured. "I know we can't make up for everything that happened." Prowl leaned against him. "But I promise you, ah will spend the rest of my life makin' it up to you."

Prowl's wing wrapped around him and he hugged him back. "You already have."

"C'mon, the crew's gone from worrying themselves sick to glitchin' themselves with curiosity."

He kept his arm around Prowl's waist as they walked down to the dispensary. Anxiety flickered through their bond and he tightened his embrace. "Prowler, I'm right here," Jazz murmured. "An' Red's already down there. You know this ship and this crew." Prowl nodded, his wings rising a bit, some of his regal poise returning but the unease remained. Jazz brought him to a stop. "What is it? You get any more flustered Red'll be down here lookin' to light my aft up."

A quiet laugh made Jazz feel better and some of the tension in the bond lessoned. "I feel…Jazz, I—I know I know them and I know they haven't changed." He stopped and looked down the hall, his wings lowering once more. "But I feel so…raw. I am new. I have changed and I'm still getting to know myself, how am I supposed to reintroduce myself to the crew?"

Jazz stroked his back between his wings while he thought. "Prowler, your body's new. You're still our Prowl. I promise you, the breem the twins put glue on the rec room floor you'll be the one to drag them down to the brig, like ya' always do." Prowl nodded and started walking again as he thought, the anxiety lessoned even more but his wings stayed low. "What's still botherin' ya' Prowl?" He considered messaging Red Alert to meet them outside the dispensary. The Primus-fragged mech had a way to get through to Prowl even now.

Prowl blinked and looked at Jazz with confusion. "Nothing, I am feeling much more confident about this meeting."

"Your wings say otherwise," Jazz said with a pointed look at how low they were. Prowl looked over his shoulder and made a surprised sound, at once his wings were high and confident over his shoulders.

He gave Jazz a sheepish smile, "I forgot. I've never been able to really move them."

"Prowler, I dunno how you can make me laugh and break my spark at the same time."

Red Alert stood outside the dispensary with his arms crossed. His optics stayed on Prowl but Jazz could feel him almost-not-quite glaring at him. Prowl smiled at him, softening the lines of his face. Red Alert fixed one of his feathers. "Are you all right?" he murmured.

"Standin' right here," Jazz said.

Prowl's lips twitched with a smile. "I'm fine, just a little…unbalanced."

Red Alert slid his arm around Prowl's waist, below Jazz's arm. "We're right here." Prowl's wings lifted a bit higher and the final vestiges of anxiety faded. "Ready?" Red Alert asked. There was a moment where Prowl didn't move and then he nodded. Red Alert stroked his wing a final time and opened the door to the hushed room.

oOo

A/N: Annnnd that's a wrap! Thank you for your continued support reading/reviewing/favoriting/following. I definitely had fun with this universe.

I have a few one shots in mind for this universe, so, eventually, those will be written and posted. I think the crew's reaction to this new Prowl is a whole new story arc and I didn't want to tag it on at the end and rush through it. So no fear! There is more in this storyverse, I just didn't want to cram it all into one arc. :)