Chapter Text
"If youre not in two's, you lose!"
Killerwatt trailed after Electra as they backed away from the crowd, eyes scanning over their options. Joule and Volta had been approached before the announcement was even finished-- they were clearly off the table. Wrench never raced anyways.
"That observation car-- Pearl. She seems aerodynamic."
Killerwatt felt his heart sink at the statement. They were already considering their options. Perhaps it was just because he never had before, but clearly-- he wasnt one of them.
They had a lot on their plate. Perhaps his request at the last race at slipped their mind.
"Yes," agreed the security truck, reaching for their hand as they stopped moving. His fingers carefully intertwined with the engine's as though they were made of glass. He knew otherwise, the same way he knew it would guarantee their attention on him, if only for a moment.
And for that moment, when their eyes locked, everything that felt uneasy seemed to settle back in to what it should. Killerwatt wasn't stupid. He saw the fondness catch in their eyes as they looked to him and the way their expression softened in a way reserved just for him.
He did his best to fight the smile that was pulling on his mouth. They were in enemy territory after all, he couldn't risk anyone thinking he had a soft spot. So it was hidden as he raised Electra's hand, gently pressing a kiss to their knuckles.
"But between you and me, I think you're more suited to race with your freight."
The fondness on Electra's face shifted to amusement. Their eyebrow rose and their chest shook with a single stifled laugh.
"What, do you think I should insist Volta come with me this race? Tell Joule I don't think I can win without her? Whine to Wrench that I need my hand held? Do you know how insufferable that would make any of them?"
Killerwatt tried to ignore the stinging feeling in his chest.
He wasn't even on their radar. He pushed on, thumb tracing a delicate and invisible pattern over their hand. The answer would always be no if he never asked, he told himself. (Although… perhaps it would always be no even if he did, with how frequently it was.)
"Never! We both know you're above groveling. I was jusst thinking that… no one has asked me to race." He hated the way Electra's features contorted the further in to the request he got. And how blank and unreadable it had become before he continued. "… Electra, please. Let me be your partner for this race."
Silence settled between them. The longer it lasted (which felt like hours, but logically was only seconds), the more Killerwatt doubted the request. He'd made it so many times. They always said no.
Was— had he been doing something wrong? He had always thought he would be a great race partner, did they think otherwise?
Electra's free hand slid under his to hold. For a moment, his heart leapt. Was this the yes he had been hoping for? Was he right that they would eventually?
But they pursed their lips, pressing in to a thin, thoughtful line. The face he recognized as when they wanted to say something they thought he wouldn't like. They were usually right. His grip subconsciously tightened on their hand. He wasn't sure what his face must have done, but whatever it was made the engine look… sad.
That made everything hurt even worse. For so many reasons.
"Killerwatt…"
"No— it's… fine."
He didn't believe that statement himself.
"I'm sorry, I just… I've already made up my mind. Pearl is who I want to race with in this heat." They had to pry their hand from his to hold the side of his face. The tips of their fingers reached far enough back that they brushed in to his hair. He leaned in to it almost instinctively.
He didn't believe them. The thought of doubting them made him feel sick. How could he not believe them? What kind of security truck was he? What kind of partner?
But try as he might, he couldn't stop wondering what he was doing wrong. Why they wouldn't share the most important part of their life with him. Was he just… not good enough? Was it out of his control?
And yet, at the same time… he had to believe them. Who would he be if he didn't? Surely, Electra of all people knew what they wanted. That they could make those decisions quickly. They always had before. If they said they had already set their heart on racing with Pearl, who was he to say they were lying to him for some reason? Who was he to try and change their mind?
"Wow. Is it really that hard for you two to get a room?"
Both sets of eyes shifted to Volta as he returned. Joule and Wrench weren't too far behind. It seemed they had been having their own conversation, but were drawn back by Volta's feigned disgust at the display of affection.
"Is it really that easy for you two to be whisked off your wheels? Honestly. I thought your standards were higher." Killerwatt tsked, casting an unimpressed glance towards the diesels who had so graciously offered to race with his colleagues.
"We were just discussing my race plan." Electra butted in, just in time to cut off Joule and Volta at the knees. Their hand slipped from Killerwatt's face and hair. He felt himself missing the touch immediately.
"I'm glad you're all here actually. I'd like you to fetch Pearl for me. I'm taking her for heat one."
The freezer truck groaned. Wrench had sighed, and Joule rolled her eyes so hard the security truck could feel it. But he just… stared. Until their blue eyes met his.
There was no question. No request. Curtly, he nodded, turning sharply and starting back where the coach had left herself.
"Come on. You heard Electra. What they want, they get." He insisted, gesturing to be followed. He could do it on his own.
But he wasn't sure he was ready to face what felt like a replacement alone.