London Bridge

Chapter 1

Am I mean? Read the fic, I think the answer is clear

Disclaimer: I don't own Transformers; I'm just prostituting it for my amusement.

Summary: A minibot and a Towers mech met in a garden...

Warning: Racism, culture clash, attempted rape, mentions of prostitution, violence

Pairings: No pairings, could be considered as Mirage/ Cliffjumper preslash

He ran. It was really more of a fast, dignified walk, but in Mirage's spark he was running. This was not a leisurely walk through the great Crystal Gardens, this was a run for his life. Everyone around him seemed to move in slow motion, almost as if crawling, stopping and starting and lingering around certain especially stunning crystals. Mechs sauntered with a sense of entitlement into the more quiet corners of the Gardens were the pleasure bots plied their trade. The shortest routes through the Gardens passed through those corners but Mirage wasn't looking for the shortest route, he had chosen the most populated one, and as a result the longest, because it would be in quiet corners that Skywarp would strike.

There was a crowd blocking the path ahead and Mirage stopped dead. What was it? Was it just a crowd of Academy mechs, chatting about what the positioning of one particular crystal meant? Mirage took a few steps forward, blending into the crowd, and tried to get a better look. A stage was being set up in the exact centre of the Gardens. Wonderful, there must be a concert this morning. This was a disaster. Now the only way for Mirage to get through the gardens was either to go back towards the Towers, and that was not an option, or go through what his fellow Towers mechs had dubbed the pleasure garden.

What time was it, early evening? Mirage wondered if the pleasure bots would be out in force at this hour. Or was that later in the night? He sighed heavily, it didn't really matter, he couldn't risk staying in the large crowd, Skywarp might get impatient. What choice did he have? Mirage took the path to his right.

Primus did not hold him in his great spark, Mirage concluded, the path was empty. The plating on the back of his neck itched. If Skywarp flew over here, he'd have Mirage for certain. There were no pretences now, Mirage ran. He whipped around each corner without slowing, almost tripping over his own peds in a few spots but he dared not slow down. Unless he was completely cursed, Skywarp was probably focusing his search in the crowd or the other paths. If he was cursed, Skywarp would pluck Mirage off the ground at any second.

As he took another tight corner, Mirage nearly barrelled right into a small red mech, a minibot. He caught his feet before he fell over himself and flattened the little thing. Mirage studied himself, and moved to step around the mech. The red fellow stopped him, placing a small but strong hand against Mirage's midsection.

"What business could you possibly have here, that you're in such a rush?" The mech asked. "I'm the only one in this garden."

"No business with a pleasure bot," Mirage replied.

He didn't hear the inarticulate rage spewing from the little mech. He was already running. The pleasure bot ran after him screaming something. Mirage did not have time for this nonsense. Jets roared over his head, and he could hear the afterburners scream to life. Skywarp had spotted him. Slagging minibot was so loud all of Cybertron must have known he was here.

"Hey!" The minibot yelled as he covered the ground between them. "Get back here you slagger so I can rearrange your face plates!"

The exit was right in front of him, if Mirage could just get through it before Skywarp blocked the way. He did, barely. Looking over his shoulder he finally noticed the minibot on his aft but right behind him, and above was Skywarp. With not time to think, Mirage took the first corner he saw and bolted down it. It was an alley. And it didn't have an exit. Skywarp blew over the minibot and barrelled towards Mirage, trapped against the far wall, at an impossible speed.

Mirage went invisible. He saw the surprise and panic on Skywarp's face as the Seeker realized he had lost his target and couldn't break fast enough. The Seeker warped, but he didn't go far, Mirage heard the crash somewhere on the other side of the alley. Mirage reappeared and took in a deep breath to cool his circuits. He couldn't risk doing that too often. Though his ability didn't use up an excessive amount of extra energon, it used up enough that Mirage didn't dare over use it. How could he know when he would next get a chance to refuel?

A hand seized his arm and dragged him viciously through a camouflaged door that Mirage hadn't noticed. He looked in surprise and saw that they belonged to the red minibot. He was too stunned to speak or struggle. The minibot pulled Mirage along at a surprisingly fast pace, pulling him through doors and down alley ways until they arrived in the labourers district. Then the little mech made a b-line for one particular house. Mirage would never have taken it for anything special, it look like the sort of house one of his creator's cooks would have lived in. The mech rapped twice on the door, still holding Mirage's wrist in an almost crushing grip. There was the click of a lock being disengaged and then the door opened and a blue, white, and black mech stepped into view.

"Cliffjumper, you found a recruit?" The new mech asked. Before Cliffjumper could say anything, Mirage interrupted.

"Would you care to tell me, a recruit for what?" Mirage asked.

"Oh Cliffjumper, Prowl is not going to be happy with you," the mech ushered them in. Cliffjumper scowled. The mech smiled sympathetically to Mirage and said: "I'm Jazz, this is Cliffjumper, and this is an Autobot safe house Come with me, and let me introduce you to Prowl."

"That won't be necessary, thank you," Mirage said. "I've chosen to remain neutral in this war. If I could just go on my way..."

"Oh great idea Towers," Cliffjumper said with a deprecating tone. "Sure go back to the place where they sent out a mech to slag you. And here I thought Towers mechs were supposed to be smart."

"I am not about to return to the Towers," Mirage snapped back, glowering down at Cliffjumper. "Not that it is of any business of yours but I am going to visit a friend."

"And get you both slagged," Cliffjumper snorted. "Stupid Towers..."

"And what about you?" Mirage said, he look condescendingly towards Cliffjumper. "Don't you know what sort of mechs prowl those gardens? Really, you could be slagged just stepping outside. I can deal with ruffians quite well on my own."

"Why, I'll show you rough," Cliffjumper growled and prepared to launch himself at the taller mech. Jazz grabbed his shoulder and held him firm.

"Well this meeting is getting off to a good start," Jazz sighed. "Prowl!"

Prowl stepped out of his office, still right off the entry room of the house. He frowned at Cliffjumper who was thrashing under Jazz's hold, with murder in his eyes, and then he frowned at Mirage, recognizing only that this was a Towers mech. Jazz looked sheepish.

"It looks like Cliffjumper kidnapped, uh..." Jazz said, and looked back at Mirage. "What is your name?"

"Mirage."

"Cliffjumper, we want volunteers, we are not in the habit of press-ganging mechs," Prowl said in a low tone. "I'm sorry, Mirage."

"I didn't kidnap him!" Cliffjumper grumbled. "He was being chased by Skywarp, and I rescued him."

"Rescued me," Mirage gasped, offended by the suggestion. "I'd already lost him!"

"He would've gotten up and been on your aft in three seconds," Cliffjumper snapped. "And if he isn't up right now, it means he's damaged enough that Thundercracker is going to be after your aft until he catches you."

"I can take care of myself!" Mirage snapped back.

"Were are you planning to go?" Prowl asked, both trying to defuse the escalating conflict, and verify if Mirage would be able to keep himself alive.

"I have a friend I can stay with, " Mirage said.

"Prowl," Hound called as he tried to push open the door Cliffjumper was blocking. "A friend of mine is in trouble, can I get leave to find him."

"Never mind Hound," Mirage said, looking at the door with exasperated eyes. "I'm right here."

"Raj?" Hound exclaimed and pushed the door with all his might. Cliffjumper went flying and landed flat on his face. He grumbled from his prone position. Hound didn't notice him at first; he hugged Mirage first, grinning like an idiot.

"How did you do it, Raj?" Hound asked. "How'd you piss off Megatron so bad?"

"I asked my creator why the Towers were siding themselves with a megalomaniac," Mirage said. "And apparently my creator told Megatron."

"What a guy," Hound sighed. "I'm glad you got away from that Seeker."

"Idiot Towers," Cliffjumper grumbled as he sat on the floor and sulked.

"Oh sorry, Cliffjumper," Hound smiled apologetically, and reached out his hand. Cliffjumper waved it off, no anger on his face for Hound. He glowered at Mirage instead. Glowered even darker when Mirage took this opportunity to pretend he didn't exist. Smug, prissy, stupid Towers.

"He's told you he's a neutral, right?" Hound asked Prowl, who nodded. "Mirage is going to stay with me anyway. Can't leave a friend in harms way, right?"

"Of course, Hound," Prowl said.

"What?" Cliffjumper scrambled up, horrified. "No way!"

"Cliffjumper," Prowl warned. "Please play well with others."

Cliffjumper sputtered; Jazz and Hound chuckled. Mirage did his best not to look as disgusted as he felt. No, staying in the Towers would have been worse, but Mirage was quite ready to say this wasn't going to be easy. Actually, he was certain this was going to be the Pit.

And it was the Pit. For Hound at least. Both Cliffjumper and Mirage seemed to relish squabbling with each. When they were in each others' company, they took the opportunity to find each others' buttons, and to push them. Already, by the fifth day, Hound was losing his wits. Prowl called to check in on them all.

"He's normally so quiet," Hound said of Mirage. "But when Cliffjumper and he are together, they're at each others' throats."

"Sorry Hound," Prowl said. "I'd reassign him but I'm hesitant to leave you alone."

"Don't worry about it, Prowl," Hound said, and he laughed. "They made a bad first impression on each other. I just need to find some common ground between them and it should be fine."

"What are you planning to try?" Prowl asked.

"Chess," Hound said. "I know they both enjoy it."

"Good luck," Prowl said, smiling a little.

"Thanks," Hound said and smiled back.

Hound marvelled at how well Cliffjumper played the game. He beat both of them soundly every time. Cliffjumper beat both he and Mirage five times each and Hound was actually surprised that Mirage wasn't laughing at himself by the end. True, Mirage had resisted the idea of playing but Hound had worked at it for a full day and Mirage had eventually given in. He'd been quiet from the start, and Hound had hoped it would have morphed into a comfortable silence. It hadn't. Hound had no trouble losing to Cliffjumper, and Cliffjumper only teased him playfully. When Cliffjumper beat Mirage he did his best to rub it into every one of Mirage's seams. The silence became darker and darker until finally, Mirage spoke with an icy tone.

"Isn't it amazing, Prime seems to have a knack of training unintelligible beast of burden," Mirage said.

"Pompous Towers," Cliffjumper said. "At least I can be trained to do something other than preen."

"At least I'm clean!" Mirage snapped back. "You use the wash racks less often than Hound and he's been known to collect dust."

"Oh go back to the Towers," Cliffjumper hissed. "You'd make a pretty pet for Megatron."

"Enough!" Hound said. "Both of you. Can't either of you act like the grown mechs you are?"

Mirage sat back and made a sound in his nose, but said nothing more. Cliffjumper's optics sparkled with fury, but he too was silent. Hound sighed.

"You two are capable of having so much in common," Hound said. "I don't understand why you can't at least be polite."

"I'm going out, Hound," Mirage said, standing up, turning his back to Cliffjumper. "I can't stomach this."

"Raj," Hound pleaded. "It hasn't been long enough, Megatron..."

"To the Pit, Hound," Mirage said. "He would make better company than your compatriot."

"Raj!" Hound warned.

"Slag'em, Hound," Cliffjumper said, making the first move to the door. "You've great taste in friends. Really, bet he's in bed with Megatron behind your back."

"Please," Hound said.

"I'm going to see what how Brawn is coming with his latest recruit," Cliffjumper said. "I'll be back later."

The door slammed and Hound shut his eyes. Mirage tended to get into trouble with mechs in the Towers, given he made a habit of speaking his mind, even when it was ill advised. But Hound had never known him to have such vicious arguments with anyone, even his creator who had always been so disappointed that the sparkling he had had created in his image never lived up to his expectations.

"Sorry, Hound," Mirage said quietly. "Perhaps I should find a hotel."

"I'm not going to kick you out, Raj," Hound said. "Cliffjumper has a particular hatred for all Towers mechs. I don't know the reason but I know he has one. But you aren't giving him a chance either."

"I get enough of it in the Towers," Mirage said. "I'm not going to take the bullying of a minibot with good humour if I don't have to."

"Please, Raj, please," Hound entreated. "Just please, take a step back and give him a chance. Please."

"Fine," Mirage relented.

"I'll talk to him when he gets back," Hound promised. Except that Cliffjumper didn't come back.

End Chapter 1

A/N And to think I had this grand idea that this was going to be a one shot. Funny, that didn't work out.