And, for Valentine's Day, the second part of this, the Fluff'o'd00m! Once again, we don't own it. Prime played Tracks, I played 'Jack.
...what? You thought we'd LEAVE it like that?
"Apparently someone likes you. Still, try to avoid Ratchet for a few days… and do something about you paint will you, it's freaking me out!" The all too cheerful voice broke into his thoughts and he tilted his head back to look blankly at Sideswipe who was grinning like a maniac. He could grin all he liked, at least his lo… lover didn't think he was a monster. Primus, this was more than he could deal with, at least if he was supposed to stay sane.
Completely ignoring Sideswipe and his attempts at humor, Tracks stumbled out of the brig intend on getting to his quarters, not that he really knew what he was going to do when he reached them. He didn't feel like repainting himself…
For the next joors the Ark mechs got to see a side of Tracks that well… he hadn't even known he had it. He kept the white scruffs, he was quiet and followed orders, others only saw him when he had duty, he got his energon early or late whenever there was least chance of meeting others. It was all to keep away from Wheeljack he would do anything to keep that look from the engineer's face plates… the scruffs? Selfishness, he couldn't quite bear to part with the physical reminder of… yeah…
Wheeljack wasn't really sure what was going on with Tracks. The engineer knew well enough that the other was avoiding him, and so he obliged, staying in his lab where he was easily available, or avoidable. And then, quite suddenly while working on his latest project, Wheeljack remembered something. Foolish, stupid, he knew it, should have remembered sooner... Tracks was frightened of getting hurt. What he might have done... surely Tracks didn't think Gears' accusation had had any TRUTH to it? But then... it didn't have to HAVE truth, as long as it seemed to be believed... Wheeljack's thoughts got cut off by an explosion, the power source he was working on falling from his hands and detonating as the impact with the floor jarred it just right. That wasn't supposed to happen, Wheeljack thought in an almost accusing manner before unconsciousness took him.
Meeting Smokescreen at the entrance for their scheduled scout patrol was not something he had been looking forward to. And predictably enough the moment he showed up Smokescreen began asking questions. "Tracks, how are you doing?" Oh such an innocent question, and such a bad answer, all he could really say was 'fine' because he was not going to tell Smokescreen that his life was miserable, that he had lost his only hope of love for the foreseeable future, perhaps his entire life. Yeah, so 'fine' it was! Forming the word was harder then he thought and it had barely left his vocalizer when a tremor shook the Ark followed by a distant rumbling roar. An explosion, coming from the…from…
Smokescreen was left staring after Tracks as he, against every regulation in the book, transformed and tore off, sickly sure of what had happened. They had already gotten him out when he reached them, he could dimly hear Ratchet swear but all he saw was Wheeljack's limp chassis in Optimus' arms. They passed him, not seeing him in their worry over the engineer, he just slid down the wall and sat almost catatonic… sometime later someone found him, probably Smokescreen or Red Alert, he was urged to his feet and moved, someone talked to him and then the world turned dark.
Waking up in the medbay was a very common occurrence to Wheeljack. Idly, the engineer noticed that the damage was a little more extensive than usual this time, or rather that it had more extensive. Ratchet had, like always, fixed him up as good as new. Sitting up and looking around, Wheeljack realized he wasn't alone in the medbey, now that was unusual. Who was... Tracks? Why was he here? He didn't remember the warrior being in the lab... as far as he remembered, Tracks had been avoiding him...
Leaving his berth, Wheeljack stood, then dared to caress Tracks' face, just like he had that first morning. "Why are you here... Why have I let you avoid me...?" He wanted to kiss Tracks, selfish, why did he always have to touch and handle whatever had his interest... A streak of white caught his attention, and he traced it wonderingly.
Someone was touching him and talking, it didn't seem threatening and the voice… he liked that voice, there was happiness? And pleasure connected to it. Mewling quietly he turned and reached blindly for the owner of said voice, not quite willing to leave the comforting oblivion of near recharge. It couldn't last of course, his systems were slowly powering up, dragging his reluctant processor out into reality and all its unpleasant truths.
"Hmm?" Whoever was with him tolerated that he slid his hands over his abdomen armor, it felt familiar. Not the armor, of course, but the... trust? Yes, the trust, no shaking, no obvious fear and no yelling or flying tools. Tilting his head to look up, he on lined his optics and smiled at what he saw. "Hey 'Ja… Oh! Sorry I'll go, I'll stay away sorry, Wheeljack!" Internally marveling that the engineer had managed to be still in his grasp he scooted backwards off the medical berth almost falling since his equilibrium gauges was not happy with the treatment. They were so unhappy, in fact, that they dumped him on the floor when he spun away trying to locate the door.
Wheeljack was almost able to think that everything was all right when Tracks snaked an arm around him. The hope was harshly proven false a click later by the honest... fear? terror? in Tracks' voice, on his face. Shock stole Wheeljack's voice until the warrior fell, and then the engineer was moving to help Tracks up before he thought about it. "Don't... why would you... I- I don't want you to go! Don't... Tracks, don't you DARE go anywhere!" Helping Tracks to stand abruptly became keeping Tracks from running, hands tightening on the white-scruffed blue chassis.
Fighting the engineer was not an option, the last thing he wanted to do was hurt him after all, and so he eventually stilled. The words had surprised him but he wasn't about to just believe them, it had hurt so much to see fear in Wheeljack's face. "'Jack, let me go, I don't want to hurt you again…" or be hurt again. Tracks didn't quite know why he was still hurting, unaccustomed to letting anyone inside his shields. There was no anger towards the engineer, only hurt, sadness and the wish to stay away so as not to be reminded of it all.
"No... no... I'm sorry, I should have stopped them, I should have gone with you, I was just confused... and it happened so fast..." His grip slackened marginally as Wheeljack sought the words to explain, to comfort Tracks quickly enough to have TIME to explain. He had hurt Tracks, and he needed to make it better, but how could he if the warrior wouldn't let him... ... what if Tracks didn't want him anymore? No, explain first, worry about that... after...
"It's not that! I can defend myself as needed… it was… you looked at me and he was right you know?" Tracks were determined to get it all out as it seemed to be the only way Wheeljack would allow him to go. "Gears was right, I did force you and that isn't right, no matter if you were interested, and I don't ever want to have that look directed at me again, it hurt! I don't want to scare you or see that my violent side repulse you so… just let me go and I won't come near you again…" There was a small, tiny insignificant problem with all this reason… he didn't want Wheeljack to let go. Not really, he liked being in the engineer's arms liked being held and interfacing gently without a need beyond being together. Still, the fear of what he had done, the negative feelings he had sparked in his lover… it was better if he left!
Looked at... But... "I was looking at Gears... I... was horrified... How dare he suggest that! You didn't force... Tracks, I don't LIKE to fight, fighting scares me, but I will fight! And I didn't... I remember, I DO remember I was in control... If anyone forced, I forced you, Tracks, Gears was just being stupid!" He was babbling again, the inventor realized vaguely. "You... you didn't... You didn't scare me, you've never scared me... No, that's not true, you're scaring me right now... I- I don't want... but if you want me to let you go, if you don't want me... I hurt you, I know, so if you don't... want me anymore..." Wheeljack was shaking, PLEASE don't let Tracks take him up on the offer, he'd follow through, but he thought he might just die doing so.
There are moments in life, be it long or short, were things just fall into place and makes sense… sometimes it is horrific, painful and destroys what little faith you have left. At other times it gives you everything you want and all you have to do is grasp it. Tracks stilled, feeling how Wheeljack shook yet clung to him with determination trying to figure out how a few clicks of confused words could make his pain go away so fast. It was the mix of apology and fury, explanations and fear that convinced him, not that he thought that Wheeljack would lie to him, but it was so like him to try and make things right again whether he felt like he stated or not. "I still… want you…" He sounded pained and doubtful even to his own audio receptors, but his doubts was not as to whether he wanted the engineer, but rather on whether or not he was 'good' or 'right' for the engineer. Oh, he wanted to be both, but wanting is not the same as being. "There will be more of this, others who say stuff… Are you sure you want this, 'Jack?"
But... why? Why would they even think such a thing, let alone actually say it? They were still in the middle of standing up, and so Wheeljack finished that, standing and gently turning Tracks to face him, embracing the warrior as he tried to rationalize people's cruel and false words. "Then... then they say stuff. We'll just ignore it, just like I ignore everyone who laughs at my inventions. I just... didn't expect it... I won't be such a coward next time, I won't leave you alone like that!"
"You weren't a coward! It wasn't your fight and I should have kept my temper in check I just… His words hit home 'Jack. I mean I got drunk and then…" Returning the embrace hesitantly he tried to explain his actions. His reasons for acting that way… "I loved it, but in a sense even with you as the aggressive one I did force you. I mean high grade always makes me h… riled up, and I guess that it does the same for you." Tightening his arms faction by fraction until he had the engineer plastered to his chassis he allowed air to escape from his vents and finally relaxed. This was good, this was what he had wanted, longed for and not dared to hope to feel again. "Oh Wheeljack! Please don't do that to me again? Don't look at me like I'm a monster…"
The growl coming from his engine surprised Wheeljack, and he knew he was holding Tracks too him far to harshly. "If you... EVER say something like that again, I'll... I'll... I'll hit you! You didn't force me, stop even thinking it! I know what high-grade does as well as anyone, you should taste some of the mixes I've made! And... And I already told you... I wasn't... GEARS was the monster, I was looking at him, oh Tracks... Tracks, you're not a monster, never... don't.... don't think that..." The aggressive growl dropped off until the only real sound was whirring vents.
It was enough, he couldn't deal with this constant up and down and not moving forward! Stroking his hands up Wheeljack's back, he tilted his head back and kissed him, he wasn't very good at it but it was the best he could do. Wheeljack had surprised him, the aggressive… protectiveness? not something he had foreseen, it felt good however. Breaking the kiss, his spark pulsing just a little, he leaned their helmets together. "I won't 'Jack, not if it means that much to you. I know… it's just, it felt… it hurt and I don't… I'm not all that good at dealing with hurt…"
"Then I'll simply have to keep you from hurting again," Wheeljack declared. He relaxed more, reaching up to run his hands against Tracks' shoulders. Feeling the pulsing, the inventor grinned a little, backing up and pulling Tracks with him. "I, ah, I kinda remember saying something about a berth next time? I mean, unless you, um, want the floor...?"
It was a ridicules promise, no one could keep hurt from another, but it made him feel good, the thought that Wheeljack was willing to try. That was what a relationship was, wasn't it? To be willing to take a chance on another, to protect and… love each other. Tracks wasn't a mech of deep thoughts or grand philosophical questions but Wheeljack made him think and he found himself seriously, deeply considering the implied offer. He wanted it, wanted what was so carefully offered, not just for the sake of interfacing, no he wanted it because Wheeljack made him feel whole and happy… was that love? Maybe, or maybe it would grow into love he… would take the chance!
"A… a berth would be good. But 'Jack you know… you don't have to, we don't have to interface? I mean I want to but I- I want you to know that…" Halting, uncertain how to express himself, he never the less barreled on when Wheeljack looked at him with fear? Nervousness?... it didn't matter he didn't want to see either on HIS engineer's faceplate. "I want more out of this then 'just' a berth partner! I don't know if I love you… but I want to try to love you and umm try to have a-a real relationship with all the little things like… dates, cuddling and-and Valentine's Day gifts." Desperately grasping for ways to describe what he meant he latched on to the human holiday of love…
"Valentine's Day gifts... Hey, that's a good idea... R... relationship?" Somehow, Wheeljack had almost managed to miss that word. "I... I'm not trying to drag you to a berth because I feel I have to... I mean, I really missed you, and I'd really like to, you know... and if you want to just cuddle instead of... or after, or later... Um, just not when I'm working on inventions, I kinda need to be able to move a little more then... but you can still watch, I would... like you to!" He very much liked having people watch him, sharing his inventing with him, but most people chose to make themselves scarce when he started poking wires.
They were both blabbering… oh, who cared! He could have Wheeljack, that was all that really mattered, have him for now and perhaps for forever, to a Cybertronian forever is indeed a long time. "I know, 'Jack. I just needed you to know that there's more to this for me, then simply interfacing. And I would love to see you work…um, I just don't know if I won't be too disruptive for you. I mean I like your hands a lot and I'm bound to get charged watching you work with all those wires and circuitry…" Teasing did not come easily to him, add to it that it was more than likely to be the truth… yeah, Tracks was slightly embarrassed and anxious he really did want to see Wheeljack work! He had imagined the engineer working on things, torturing himself with remembering how his hands felt…
"Well, you'll just have to learn when it's safe to, you know... jump me. And when it'll result in an explosion. Actually, no-one knows this, but when someone's around, I pay more attention to what I'm doing, because, you know, I'm showing them. So, yeah... But everyone just thinks they're in danger, so they don't... Um. So in a year from now... Is, is this our anniversary, or do we count that from when we got over-energized?" Wheeljack wasn't sure why that question occurred to him, but right now all that really mattered was that he'd gotten Tracks to the berth, now to get him ON it. With a low whine, Wheeljack nuzzled Tracks' neck-joint, licking lightly.
Jump him… that sounded so extraordinarily nice and well he would be allowed to do so if they had a relationship, so yeah all he had to learn was when not to do it! "Then I'll be sure to be in your lab a lot… to prevent explosions you know! I… I don't know 'Jack? We should maybe take today so… so we don't remember the thing with Gea… mm" He stopped vocalizing to moan huskily, running his hands over the engineer's chassis, oh, he had missed this so much. Not what it would lead to as much as the simple act of touching, he loved to touch and be touched like this. "Can we… can we lie down?"
Ah, that was very good timing on the moan, he didn't really want to think about that incident any more than he had to... so maybe Tracks had a point, then. "Well, that was rather the point of, ah, moving you over here, there's a nice berth behind you," and Ratchet would just have to deal in the morning. And then Wheeljack was moaning softly himself, the hands felt so good against him, and he had almost lost this!
Berth… oh. "And Ratchet? He will reconfigure us into something unpleasant in the morning if he finds out won't he?" Contrary to his statement he used one hand to find the berth and got on it dragging Wheeljack to stand between his legs. Despite his questions he was in no hurry to lie down nor did he intend to wait. "I… I didn't think you would ever allow me to do this again, 'Jack!"
"Only if one of us gets injured from this," Wheeljack answered absently, looking up at Tracks. The warrior really was attractive, so very much so... Wheeljack didn't say it, he longed to tell Tracks how beautiful he was, how much he loved looking at him, but he didn't want to make Tracks feel like that was the only reason for this. "Ever allow... I never want to stop."
"We will have to stop… you can't tinker while touching me and while I am sure we would make a show to remember I would be severely impaired on the battle field with you glued to my aft." Slyly teasing, nervous that it might be misunderstood yet wanting to try and make the engineer laugh at the mental image he had involuntarily gotten. "I think… I think I just want to spend as much time with you as I can 'Jack!" Pressing on the seam edges in the smooth back plating he leaned his helmet against Wheeljack's, he wanted this was simultaneously in a hurry and wanting to go as slow as at all possible… it was confusing but a nice confusion, one he would not trade off for anything.
It took Wheeljack a moment to process Tracks' words and imagine the image, but when he did it left him laughing against the warrior. "Yes, I suppose there are limits to when we can touch... so we'll just have to make it count!" One hand traced faceplates in fascination, the other going for seams and wires, lovely wires...
He loved that laughter! Turning his head slightly, Tracks nibbled at the engineer's digits, sucking lightly when he succeeded in capturing them… All of this felt strangely new, as if they had gotten a chance to start it all over, knowing what they were doing this time instead of just reacting to high grade induced lust. "Mm…" Moaning around the digits he pressed Wheeljack closer to him, gently probing the seams he had already been playing with.
Wheeljack allowed himself to be pulled closer with a soft moan, trying to climb onto the berth. He didn't entirely succeed, overbalancing and sending them both sprawling, though at least they were still on the berth! It was a good position, he decided hazily, even if one of his hands was trapped against Tracks and the surface they lay against. Actually, maybe that was even better, he liked stroking Track, and now he had a perfect excuse, not that he needed an excuse, but yeah.
There would be a lot of new white streaks on his chassis when this was over… and he would ware them proudly! It was strange to actually be proud of having a messed up paint job but he couldn't help it, it showed that Wheeljack wanted him, what more could he wish for? "You're… you're hungry for this aren't you?" The question was half amusement and half sparkfelt agreement, he was no better off after all…
"Um-hum," Wheeljack agreed absently, returning to his hobby of nipping and licking at Tracks' neck joint. It was such a rewarding hobby, after all, got the nicest little moans and short hums. And when he began moving his hand against Tracks' internals, mapping the wires and circuits, he very much liked the reactions he got that way. Hungry for this, oh yes, he was, had been hungry for this since almost the first time he'd seen the warrior, even more hungry from the time they'd spent apart.
Dropping speech altogether he just moaned, aching under the engineer, eagerly exposing more of his neck joint, and finally managing to get his own hands moving again. Stroking, pressing, probing at the seams, he wanted to be good to make sure that Wheeljack never regretted this. His systems heated with embarrassing speed, embarrassing but not really surprising, since he had not sought any kind of relief since… no! Not thinking about that right now.
Eager, Tracks was so eager. That was fine, though, since Wheeljack was pretty eager for this himself. His systems heated, not quite as quickly as Tracks', but still very fast.
There was really not all that much he could do to stave off his overload, it was fast, hard, and not enough at all. Holding Wheeljack to him, still stroking the white chassis, he murmured silly little endearments, working diligently on getting his systems under some sort of control. The engineer trembled slightly, the armor hot under his questing hands… "Please, can we merge again? Do you feel up to that?"
Feel up to it? It sounded ideal! "Up to it, yes, I'm fine. Ratchet was just keeping me here until I finished re-charging, you know how much he checks a person over before letting them go, but I'm fine..." Wheeljack felt almost bad that he hadn't overloaded when Tracks had, like he didn't enjoy the touches given, that was false, he did enjoy them, very much... But it did mean he got to enjoy the sight of Tracks in overload.
Air hitched in his intakes when Wheeljack eagerly told him they could merge, proceeding to reassure him that he was really fine. It was adorable, the engineer was so cute, sexy and hot! "Good!" Gathering strength for a few clicks he then managed to flip them over, grinning sheepishly down at his lover. "I want to be on top this time…?" He trailed off on a questioning note, wanting to be sure that it was okay with Wheeljack. It wasn't a question of dominance or control, he simply wanted to, to… he wasn't sure what, only knew that he wanted...
Ooh, now that sounded like another very good idea! Raising his hand, Wheeljack stroked Tracks' face, just looking at him for a long moment, just because he could. "Yes, of course. Whatever you want, Tracks." His words were every bit as eager as his body, which was already bending upwards, seeking more contact with the warrior, beautiful and hot and his.
Leaning down he nuzzled Wheeljack's neck, sucking gently on the cables, funnily enough he felt very unsure now that his lover had given him clearance. There was a lot he could do, wanted to do, but above all he wanted to be good, to make Wheeljack overload like the engineer had just done for him. Skimming his hands down the other's chassis, he relished the fact that his lover was already straining up against him. "So beautiful…" the words surprised himself… just a few orns ago he would have laughed scornfully at anyone who said he would ever call another beautiful, but the engineer was truly beautiful like this!
The words, or more the tone, the reverent awe in his voice, reminded Wheeljack of how he had felt when he had first been permitted to see Tracks' spark. He had been so honored, so gratified, so... happy. The inventor wanted to expose himself, not to hurry Tracks on, no, hardly, but to let the warrior see him, give him access to whatever he might want... but he didn't want the warrior to feel pressured, and besides, he'd rather like to feel those hands on his clasps, would rather like to be opened, to allow Tracks that heady rush of trusted power.
Shaking off his trance, Tracks leaned down again kissing, nibbling and licking at Wheeljack's faceplate, neck, and upper chest plates. Stroking what couldn't be kissed easily, patiently learning and relearning the chassis under him until he finally touched the clasps to the engineer's chest plates. "I'll be really careful…" Triggering the clasps gently he had to pause to look at the spark, it was agitated, sending energy out against its clear casing. The display alone arousing him, it made him want to paint Wheeljack even more, just so that he could be allowed to see how the spark acted after that intimate act.
"Tracks...!" the name came out in a choked, hungry whimper. The warrior had reduced the engineer to a trembling mass of needy, desperate mech. Wheeljack retained just enough presence of mind to watch Tracks face, he wanted to see, he wanted to see every little thing that passed over that beautiful face, the awe and the reverence and the desire... and the overload, he wanted to see the overload again, though he was fair sure that he'd be too lost in his own when the time came.
"It's okay… its fine 'Jack, I'll make it better…" Murmuring reassuring nonsense, Tracks bowed down and kissed the clear spark casing. He kept caressing with one hand using the other to open the delicate clasps on the last barrier between them while opening his own chest and spark casing. Looking up when he was done the question of whether or not Wheeljack was ready for him died unvoiced. He found himself watched closely by hazy deep blue optics, optics that seemed to plead with him… who was he to deny Wheeljack anything! Moaning he leaved himself into position, slowly lowering to allow their sparks to meet.
Wheeljack flailed, arm catching air as he made a strangled squeaking sound. The rush of pleasure had somehow caught him off guard, even though, maybe because, he had watched every one of Tracks' slow movements. The next moment, Wheeljack was grinding into Tracks, pulling the warrior closer, and quite thoroughly ruining his paint.
For just a click he feared to have hurt the engineer, but then hands latched onto him, dragging him so close that they would surely both need a full repaint when the merge was over. Funnily enough he didn't care about that beyond a small devious voice going 'goood' in a corner of his processor. Tracks could perhaps have lasted longer if… well, if Wheeljack had not overloaded like he did, clinging to him and making such sounds. It didn't matter… it really didn't matter because he could do this again, they could do this again. He cried out almost defiantly, definitely happily, and followed his engineer into the bliss of overload.
He was sated, beyond happy, felt good, totally comfortable, and warm. Yep, sounded like a good way to be. Making quiet happy sounds, Wheeljack nuzzled at Tracks, it didn't matter if they fell into recharge or not, he just wanted to stay here, stay like this. It was good like this...
Time went by as time naturally does, the years as humans counted them trickling by filled with trysts, battles, inventions and all the things of normal life. Wheeljack never failed to tell him that he was loved, showing it in multiple ways, bringing him out of his self induced exile and into a world of friendship… He was not longer so obviously narcissistic, he still took great care of himself but then he took great care of Wheeljack too and his looks were no longer a shield between himself and the other Autobots. Oh, he would likely never like Gears, had still not forgiven the ornery mech the near break up he had caused so long ago, and yet he did have to concede that things had happened a lot faster between him and the engineer because of that stupid inconsiderate minibot. Despite it all, he had never dared to tell Wheeljack what he felt, afraid somehow to give his feelings a name out loud feeling as if it might all despaired like a dream if he dared do so… one thing in particular made him feel humbled and loved like no other. In all the human years they had been an item, Wheeljack never forgot that stupid aft remark about Valentine's Day, always leaving him a token of some sort before going to work, even going so far as making sure someone else gave it to him if their duty separated them. Now was the time… he wanted to be more than just a lover to give more the just his chassis and occasionally his spark. The day had been beautiful, everything going as planned for once and Wheeljack seemed happy.
"'Jack… there is a thing that I should have told you ages ago… I love you! I have known for some time now but I… feared telling you." Looking at the engineer he could see happiness radiate from the optics and smile of his lover… "Wheeljack… bond with me?"
And that's the end. We hope you enjoyed it!