Wheeljack was waiting by the dispenser with a disgruntled expression on his face, carrying two cubes of Energon. Knock Out smiled as he took one, beckoning to the Wrecker to follow him as he took a sip.
"Thank you." The medic murmured.
"Yeah, no problem." Wheeljack muttered in return.
There was no more conversation as they went back to Knock Out's room, but anyone they passed in the hall didn't even look twice at them. For all appearances, they were just a couple officers either on duty or on break. Knock Out held the door while Wheeljack ducked inside, still looking decidely put out.
"What took you so long?" The Wrecker finally burst out, Knock Out stepping into the room with a frown and closing the door behind him. "I felt like an idiot, standin' there waiting."
"My sincerest apologies, Wheeljack. I'm sure if your shiny reputation is tarnished, it'll get better sooner or later." The Aston Martin said dryly, gesturing for Wheeljack to sit at the small table in the room.
They refuelled in silence, though it wasn't as strained and awkward as it had been. Wheeljack stared at Knock Out at first, then looked around the room with curiosity in his field.
"You like bein' neat, huh?" He remarked in an attempt to make small talk. Knock Out stifled a snicker and drained the rest of his cube.
"A place for everything and everything in its place. Doing your job is helped greatly when you know where all your tools are." The red mech got to his feet and began rummaging through one of his cupboards. "Speaking of which..."
"What're you doing?" Wheeljack asked with a hint of suspicion in his voice when Knock Out found what he was looking for and held it up. "We don't have time for that. I gotta work soon."
Knock Out blinked in surprise and put his free hand on his hip. "That's your only protest?"
"Last time we fragged, you spent half the day fixing my paint and yours." Wheeljack got out of his seat, looking conflicted. "I don't have the time for that."
"Then you're just going to have to trust me." Knock Out looked at the Wrecker with a smile and twirled his set of magnetic cuffs around one claw in a playful manner. "You do trust me, don't you Wheeljack?"
"Uh." Wheeljack replied, mouth twisting slightly. He clenched his hands into fists in a nervous way when Knock Out advanced towards him. "Not so sure I would trust anyone lookin' to tie me up."
"Especially not a 'Con?" Knock Out asked, optics sliding away from the Wrecker.
"M'not tryin' to imply I think you'll make like Starscream and shove a shock prod under my plating, but I dunno if I'm ready to just lay back and let you have your way with me, Red." Wheeljack muttered, and when Knock Out looked back, he met cyan optics. His field extended to Wheeljack's, who had his drawn close and guarded.
"I guess that's fair." Knock Out said softly. "I guess we're not at that point in our... relationship."
Wheeljack relaxed. It was almost imperceptible, but a tension left his hunched shoulders and his field moved out a touch.
"Why'd you really ask me here?" The Wrecker's tone was hard to read, but his optics were bright. "Cause I get the feelin' that wherever you went and whatever you did there changed your mind."
Knock Out weighed his options. From what he knew and understood about Wheeljack, honesty was probably the best way to go, but that would mean-
"I was going to cuff you to the berth and frag your brain module out without touching you more than absolutely necessary." He found himself saying, Wheeljack looking at him in surprise. As Knock Out continued speaking, he didn't miss the quickly aborted cooling fans clicking on across the room. "But I'm beginning to think that this whole thing is about more than the fragging."
"Yeah?" The Wrecker was ever so eloquent.
"Is it?" Knock Out prompted, lowering the cuffs.
Wheeljack's field contracted and he rolled his optics, hunching back into a defensive position. "Is this the part where I'm supposed to spill that I've had secret feelings for you all this time?" He asked in a rough voice. "The part where I'm supposed to get all sensitive and ask to formally court you or some slag?"
"No." Knock Out turned and shoved the cuffs back in his cupboard, closing the door. "This is the part where we have a conversation and actually say the things we're not saying to one another. I am getting the distinct feeling something's been bothering you."
"You don't say?" Wheeljack scoffed. "Maybe there's a reason I haven't been speakin' up about it."
Knock Out turned with a laugh. "Are you afraid of hurting my feelings? Trust me, I'm a lot tougher than most give me credit for."
Wheeljack's field was seething. Knock Out's was filled with cold judgement.
"I don't want to have this conversation." Wheeljack said shortly. "Not now."
"Stop being so... emotionally constipated, Wrecker." The medic demanded, Wheeljack baring denta and bringing his door wings up sharply. "You're a good talker. So talk."
"Listen Sunshine, you don't wanna do this. You don't wanna go there." Wheeljack had come just short of pleading, venting short and quick.
"If this is just about the sex, then say it." Knock Out pressed. "If it's not just about the sex, then say it!"
"Am I a replacement?" Wheeljack hissed, tensing even more. His field flickered with uncertainty and self-conscious fear.
Knock Out felt like he had been punched in the face. "What?" He asked in a low voice.
"I didn't wanna ask it! I knew if I opened my big stupid mouth and asked, it would ruin whatever this might be, even if it DID end up just bein' 'facing!" Wheeljack's field exploded outwards, and now the uncertainty was on his faceplates too. "Frustrations aside, I LIKE whatever this is, whatever this was, but I don't just wanna be a surrogate!"
Knock Out didn't speak. He stared with wide optics at the pale mech across from him. Clearly, the floodgates had been opened because Wheeljack wasn't stopping.
"I need to know if all this is just because I remind you of him, KO. I don't know why, but all this started as something just sorta... innocent and inconsequential and then it changed and I wanted-" Wheeljack growled and put one hand to his optics. His doorwings trembled, as did his arm as he clenched his other hand more tightly. "I wanted you. I wanted us. But I couldn't shake the fear that I was just some rebound or that you were just humoring me. Look at me! Look at YOU!" He lowered his hand and gestured, jaw clenched.
Knock Out ex-vented slowly.
"You're gorgeous. And talented. And so fragging SURE of yourself. Why would you want a rusted out, busted up old Wrecker like me?" Wheeljack's face fell as he spoke, and he looked away.
Silence filled the space between them. Knock Out's field slowly extended, quivering with rage and disbelief. He stood unnaturally still, continued staring at the Wrecker, trying very hard to reign in his fury. He couldn't even blame Wheeljack for this since he was the one who pushed the Wrecker into speaking.
"You... idiot." The medic breathed at last, Wheeljack flinching. "You honestly think me so petty?" When the Wrecker didn't respond, Knock Out lifted his chin. "You think I interfaced with you because you remind me of Breakdown?" He laughed harshly.
"I didn't want to say it, KO."
"You shouldn't have even thought it, slag for brains!" Knock Out's expression twisted. "You're not here with me because of Breakdown! You're here with me because I asked you to be. You. Wheeljack! The evidently exceedingly arrogant, rusted out, busted up old Wrecker!"
"Arrogant?" Wheeljack protested, frowning.
"Yes, and without any cause to be." Knock Out folded his arms, sneering. "You call yourself a Wrecker and yet you're standing here a self-conscious mess! YOU started this, or has your processor degraded so much that you don't remember that part?" Wheeljack clenched his jaw, giving Knock Out the opportunity to continue. "I started out treading lightly because I wasn't sure if you were pulling a fast one on me! Boy, I must be talented indeed if I've reduced you to such a whimpering pile of scrap!"
"Hey now-" Wheeljack growled, Knock Out moving quickly towards him. He braced both hands on Wheeljack's chassis and pushed hard enough to drive the Wrecker back a step.
"And you thought this was about Breakdown?!" The red mech shouted bitterly. "You're nothing like him! There is nothing in you that reminds me of him! This was never, ever about Breakdown!" He shoved Wheeljack again, this time leaving marks on the Wrecker's pale chassis with his claws.
"Then why?!" Wheeljack surged upright, field slamming into Knock Out's. "Why'd you even give me a chance, huh?!"
"Because you gave me an opening!" Knock Out cried, this time striking Wheeljack with a closed fist. "Suddenly it wasn't all 'once a 'Con, always a 'Con,' it was 'oh, let me get that spot between your wheelstruts, sweet rims!' Do you have any idea how long it's been since someone paid me that sort of attention?! Genuinely?!"
Wheeljack's expression was baffled now, and that just made Knock Out angrier. He raised both fists, finding them restrained by Wheeljack's rough hands and struggling briefly to try and get away.
"Knock Out-" Wheeljack huffed, grunting in discomfort when the medic kicked him in the shins.
"I can't believe you! How rude!" Knock Out attempted to free himself again but Wheeljack wasn't letting go. "Release me!"
"Why, so you can hit me some more?" Wheeljack arched a brow. "Do you see now why I didn't wanna say anything?"
"Yes, I can! You didn't want the world realizing that the whole stereotype of 'Wrecker with a soft spark' wasn't limited to buy-mechs and washed up porn stars!" Knock Out spat, transforming one of his hands into a buzz-saw and menacing Wheeljack with it.
"You carve me up, you're gonna ruin all your hard work, Red." The Wrecker remarked, Knock Out simply growling and pressing the blade closer.
"You were right, your mouth IS big. AND stupid." The medic hissed. "And I AM gorgeous and talented and sure of myself and that's why, when I'm done cutting off all of your limbs, I know I can put them all back on again once you're done apologizing for being such an aft!"
Wheeljack rolled his optics. "Oh please... I may have been the one to start this whole relationship, Sunshine, but YOU were the one who started this fight! I'd say that makes you the aft!"
"I would hardly call this a relationship." Knock Out stopped struggling as hard, ex-venting shortly and glaring at the Wrecker.
"I wouldn't know. You're the first mech I've actually stuck around with after the fragging part was over." Wheeljack muttered, glancing away.
"That explains a lot." Knock Out's tone was dry. "I guess there aren't many one night stands that want to stick around and discuss your obvious insecurities."
"I'm only insecure around you, Hot Wheels." The Wrecker hesitantly released his grip and Knock Out jerked his hands away. "Guess that's why I clammed up so much."
Rubbing his wrists, Knock Out stared at the paler mech in silence. Their fields were mingling, relaying the remnants of the tension they had carried. Wheeljack rubbed the scratches on his chest without looking away from the medic, his optics slightly dim.
"You're not as nice as he was." Knock Out murmured. "And you seem a lot more dull-witted. But you're more care free. Your anger is hotter, less rational. You're not as good looking, but you're faster. You can actually keep up with me."
Wheeljack gazed at him with a guarded expression. "You don't have to-" He said, Knock Out holding up a hand to silence him.
"You have your arrogance and your insecurity... that part of you is only thing that makes you like him. And when we interfaced, Wheeljack, it wasn't about you just taking your pleasure. You wanted to please. And I didn't have to push you to that point." Knock Out sighed slowly, some of the tension easing out of his shoulders. "Your root mode isn't as bulky, so it's easier to get close to you. Your scars..." Knock Out paused, then looked Wheeljack in the optic again. "I like your scars."
Surprise registered on Wheeljack's face.
"But you're stupid. Don't ever do this again." Knock Out jabbed him in the chest with one claw.
"Then don't ever make me." Wheeljack sounded almost amused. "Do you feel better, knowin' why I was actin' like an aft?"
"Mm. Yes and no." Knock Out shrugged, his optics taking on a distant look.
"Sorry we didn't get the chance to 'face again." Wheeljack murmured, shifting from one foot to the other. "I guess it might not be so bad, lettin' you get your way. So long as you're alright with me getting mine from time to time."
Knock Out smirked at him and nodded. He leaned up on his toes and kissed Wheeljack, arching a brow. "I contemplated marking you. Giving you another scar for your collection." He said softly. "But I don't think that would be very Autobot of me."
"Next time we get a break together, let's not waste it fightin'." Wheeljack muttered, his cooling fans clicking on and hastily aborting once more.