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Tracks pulled into the parking lot, and instantly made a noise of dismay.
"I thought this would be on tarmac. This is grass."
"So?" Raoul said, digging out the tickets from his pocket.
"It rained yesterday. It's going to all be mud. My wheels will get dirty and clogged."
"No they won't." The window rolled down and he showed the tickets to the attendant, who waved them in.
"I'll remind you of that when my wheels are spinning and we're struggling to get out of here, and all of my lovely new varnish is ruined."
"I'll give you a new varnish afterwards, how does that sound?"
Tracks gave an awkward cough as he said that, as he always did when Raoul made a suggestion along those lines. However, they were finally in the car park and in front of the drive-in cinema. Tracks pulled up into the rows of cars all facing the huge screen.
"Alright, looks like we're just in time for the movie, and we even managed to get a good spot."
"Is this how most cinemas are on this planet?" Tracks asked. "Outdoors? With all this muck?"
"Not really. These are just the only ones where they let cars in." Raoul opened the glove compartment and got out some of the bags of snacks he had packed away. After all, what was a movie without popcorn?
As he prepared to open the packet, there was a sudden noise of panic from Tracks.
"No! Not in here!"
"What? What's wrong?"
"I don't want any food eaten inside me. The debris is so disgusting to clean up. I'm not letting you get anything in here."
"Bumblebee never complains about this."
"Well, then you should have gone with Bumblebee."
Raoul huffed.
"But that's the appeal of going to one of these things. You can just sit and eat."
"No. I'm refusing to allow anything in here. You can eat outside."
"That'll look weird. I'll get stares."
"Too bad. You should have thought of that before all this."
"Is on the hood okay?"
"Do you have to?"
"Come on, it's a drive-in, not a sit-on-the-grass."
"Fine. I'll allow that. But if you could take your shoes off please."
"Thanks man."
Raoul got out of the car, and hopped on the hood (gently, so Tracks didn't complain) and leaned up against the window. He got funny looks from the couple in the car next to him, but what did he care? Once he had finished he could go back inside. He leaned back and started to eat.
"A very curious way to show movies. Out in the air with the elements. I thought a cover would be more preferable," Tracks spoke.
"Most ones for humans are, but they don't allow cars in. I don't think you transformers would get to join in otherwise."
"Well, I appreciate you taking me here."
"It's no sweat, man."
"I know that Spike has taken various mechs to go see things with Bumblebee and the others, but I only really wanted to go with you."
Raoul paused as he munched on the popcorn.
"Aw shucks, man. Well thank you."
"I mean it. I like doing Earth things with you. It's nice. You've introduced me to so many interesting things."
"Aw, look at you getting all sentimental."
"I mean it. I really hated Earth at first. It all seemed full of so much… dirt. I didn't think I would like it, but I think after Cybertron has been dead for so long Earth and it's people felt so alive. I'm glad I met you."
"Oh man, now you really are getting sappy."
"I mean it. Earth has so many wonderful things."
"Yeah, well let's just hope one of them is this film."
"Even if it's not I'm still sure we can have fun."
"Yeah, I'm sure we can."
Raoul sat there for a moment, then he decided he was done with popcorn for now. He got off Tracks' hood and slipped his shoes back on, then got back in the car. Just in time as the trailers started.
"Alright, nearly there! Here we go!"
"So what movie are we seeing? You never actually told me."
"It's something I think you'll like. Footloose. It's got lots of dancing and music in it. You'll love it."
"I think I had enough music when we had that Dancitron incident."
Raoul laughed, patting Tracks's dashboard.
"Don't worry. I'm sure this will be a better time than that."
"That remains to be seen."
"Don't worry about it. Maybe we'll have to visit another dance club again. I promise they aren't all like that. Most of the time it's just fun. It can just be you and me, dancing."
"Hmm, I think I'd like that…" Tracks mused.
"Shhh! It's starting."
Tracks heard the music start, and he did have to admit it was catchy. It reminded him of some of the other songs that Raoul often danced to. In fact Tracks could even feel him tapping his feet in time with the beat, something Tracks normally complained about but this time he let it all happen).
He was reminded how happy he often was when it was him and Raoul. How he didn't quite feel this way even with the other Autobots. They normally thought of him as stuck up and annoying, and he knew he was like that. He just couldn't be anything else around them. Yet, somehow it was only Raoul that he felt different. This little human brought something else out in him.
Tracks wasn't sure he understood it himself, but for now he would just enjoy the company he had. He settled in, focusing more on the movie, and sharing the experience together.