It was cold in Meredith's little shed, it was early morning and the sun had barely begun to rise above the horizon. She snored softly, still fully embraced by the warmth of sleep, one of the rare nights she was left wholly alone to relax and unwind in private. The shed itself was typically meant for streamlined passenger coaches, tall insulated walls and a tin roof, but they were moved to outside the night before to allow the little engine a proper warm berth. She was so exhausted from the previous day's work and other that she didn't even bother to back in, she slept soundly facing the stops which meant she didn't stir when another decided to slip inside surrounded by hot steam. The little engine didn't move at the sound of gears whirring and latches clacking and she hardly reacted when something shiny snaked between her wheels and carefully rolled her back by her rear axles. Only when she felt herself being lifted up from behind did she groan in annoyance then settled again, to be once more bothered by a pressure against her locked undercarriage. She kept her eyes closed, still mostly asleep as her panel was pried open by something chilly and hard, she let out one more little snore as he slid inside so carefully she didn't even register the feeling until the thickest part of his rod stimulated her nerves and she laughed without opening her eyes.
"You can't even let me sleep in, you naughty thing?"
There was a deep rumble as the male in question took an easy, sensuous pace in and out. "No ma'am, not after I've been gone two weeks. Didn't you miss me?"
Meredith sighed, her eyes wanted to open but the feeling of his slow movements had her in a stupor. "I always miss you."
"What did you miss?" The male purred, he carefully rolled Meredith to be nearer the stops so he could pick up the rhythm. "Did you miss my rod filling that tight little valve?" He pulled himself out as easy as physically possible, causing Meredith to groan long and low.
"I want to see you."
The male chuckled and removed himself completely so he could easily spin his lady around. She giggled and nuzzled his cheek. "I love when you do that."
He hummed and kissed her. "I know what else you love."
"Oh do you?"
"Mhmm," the male then slid his tongue along the seam of her firebox which caused her body to shudder involuntarily. She shifted herself to catch it in her mouth and initiated a hungry make out as he connected to her once again and started to bump her gently into the stops. As Meredith was fully moaning into his throat he disrupted their kiss to watch her face, she had closed her eyes again and bit down on her tongue, fully focused on the heat as it built up beneath her. "You know I don't like when you're quiet. Talk to me." He whispered.
"And you know I don't like when you're too gentle, Cammy." Meredith quipped back with a seductive smirk.
Cameron stopped his thrusting, his throat rumbled in a playfully dangerous laugh. "Oh-ho, so we're doing that this morning, huh, Mer-Mer? Tell me," he breathed out a perfect puff of steam in her face as he traced his lips across her brow. "You think I'm too gentle?"
She pursed her lips and fluttered her eyes. "Maybe I do." Cameron shifted beneath her and when she looked up at him his eyes were black. She bit her lip and in a second she was being slammed repeatedly into the stops by the massive male. Her mind went blank, she couldn't even hear her own bellowing cries of pleasure or Cameron's rough grunts as he put all of his weight and strength behind each thrust. The brutal force of their sex caused the stops holding Meredith in place to snap, she howled as her rear wheels slipped into the dirt, but Cameron managed to hook himself to her buffer beam to keep her from slipping completely away. He yanked her to his lips, the kiss was as dirty and intense as what was going on between their axles, their teeth gnashed, tongues twisted, voices vibrated, neither had ever been so enveloped in a partner before. When they reached their peaks it was loud and hot, Cameron panted from low in his lungs, his body trembled as he stared at the little engine on his fender shaking just as hard as he was. He then smiled, it was exhausted yet satisfied, his eyes appeared droopy like he was ready for a nap. Meredith simply looked like she had been thrown into a blender, her eyes were wide and wild, boiler and face drenched with sweat and spit as her undercarriage leaked his fluids. Then the male spoke, his voice thick and hoarse.
"Think I'm too gentle now, Mer-Mer?"
Meredith gathered herself and kissed him. "I love you."
"Woah," the Big Boy's grin widened as he returned the kiss. "You may want to let your mind clear up more before digging in that deep. Also, don't you have a steady boy back home?"
"I do," Meredith began to recoil and felt shy. "My heart's big enough for the two of you."
"Mmm," his smile didn't once waver as he mulled over Meredith's unexpected outburst. He then cuddled her cheek, he had pulled himself from the little female and winced. "I think I may have fucked you a little too hard, your brain's all mush. You don't love me."
"Do you love me?"
He sighed, glanced out a cracked window at the rising sun, still smirking. "I shouldn't."
"But you do?"
"It seems that way."
"Why won't you say it?" Meredith prodded with a giggle. "Are you shy? Is my big scary Cameron shy?"
The Big Boy's smile began to drop to a thin line, he carefully lowered Meredith back down to the tracks and reversed away to put some space between them. He let out all the air from his lungs and the steam from his valves. "I just don't want to become attached. You're not staying. Heartbreak is inevitable if I let you in."
Meredith sat still. She studied him as he stared through the windows, his brow was furrowed and angry, but his eyes were vacant. "I think you already have— let me in… I mean."
Cameron's gaze shifted back to the little engine. He wanted to respond but instead kept quiet for a moment, watching her intently, their words hung heavy in the air between them. Then he sighed. "You should call him— your beau. You're a lot of fun and I'm more than happy to ride you whenever you wish, but love isn't for me." He then chuffed out of the shed leaving Meredith alone to sit in their steam.
Once she made her way back to the yard she was surprised to be relieved at the sight of endless mixed-up stock littering the sidings. Cass was also back and had already begun to line up a train for Silas and Joey. Meredith slipped over to her and bumped her fender. "Morning stranger."
The yellow shunter backed up and offered a welcoming smile that quickly turned smug once she got an eyeful of the English engine. "Mornin'… Cameron wake you? I saw him refueling earlier, he looked unusually happy."
"Yeah," Meredith admitted, her face heated up. She watched a red-faced yard worker while he hooked her to a rusty gray hopper car. As she pushed it towards the line Cass was on she breathed out. "I told him I loved him."
Cass laughed. "Given all the time you two have spent together these last few weeks— while he was here at least— it makes sense. What did he say?"
"He basically told me he'll gladly keep fucking me but that I should save my love for my boyfriend back home." Meredith did her best to not sound disappointed, but she did. "Don't get me wrong, I love Scot so much it makes my throat tight every time I even think of him being there, but Cam—"
"He's here," Cass finished as Meredith stopped beside her after uncoupling from the hopper. She looked at the white tank engine, the sun hidden behind her beautiful build. "And you don't know if you'll be going back home."
Meredith's eyes began to well, though she still forced a smile. "My controller won't tell me anything and Scot is just as cryptic. They're half a world away and I miss them," she stopped and looked at Cass as tears fell down her cheeks. "But now I don't know if I even want to go back."
Cass couldn't help but laugh in spite of her friend's tears which made Meredith scowl. "You do want to go home, Mer. When the boys aren't here you're beside yourself with boredom. You work quicker than most and have too much free time. You don't want to stay here, you want to stay with them."
Meredith shrugged, she watched Cass line up a long flatbed fitted for construction equipment. "You think my controller could buy them?" She was half-joking, half-serious.
"I'm not sure your controller has that sort of money," Cass teased gently, she stopped beside her friend once more. "Plus the United Kingdom is tiny from what I hear, there's no room for Big Boys or Challengers assuming you could even find ships fit to carry them."
The English engine sighed. "You're right…" she trailed off as her attention was grabbed by the sound of heavy pistons behind them. The two turned around to see Abby lining herself up under a coal hopper, she wore a sleepy smile, one that suggested she as well had an early morning tryst. Meredith and Cass exchanged a wary glance, they attempted to cross the yard before the large female spotted them, but as fate would have it, they didn't.
"What're you two half-engines doing?" The Challenger called from her spot.
Both Meredith and Cass stopped on a dime and groaned. Meredith spoke up first. "We were just about to organize the next train, Abby."
She scoffed, rolling her eyes. "For a second it looked like you two were busy gossiping." She then turned her attention to Meredith specifically. "You know, I knew you were a tramp the second I laid eyes on you but considering you've gone and made nice with not only this little floozy but also with that slut Mary that definitely solidified your trampiness."
Meredith frowned, but then grinned crudely. "You know… I've come to realize why you detest us so much: you're jealous. You have to practically force males to fuck you while all we need to do is merely look in their direction. You're just as promiscuous as us but we're whores because males actually want us!"
Abby's steam rolled out hot and heavy as her pressure rose faster than her valves could manage, she clenched her teeth, but before more daggers could be thrown Jimmy and Chief put themselves between the seething female and her targets. "Abilene," Jimmy cooed, it wasn't a comforting tone he acquired, he was mocking her with a crooked smile and hooded eyes. "You may want to simmer down there, darlin', don't want things to turn south on ya, huh?"
"Are you threatening me?" Abby snarled.
Jimmy laughed while Chief remained stoic as he kept a careful eye on Meredith and Cass. "No, no, Abby. A threat isn't absolute…" he leaned closer to her so he could keep his voice low. "This is a warning," Jimmy growled, his smile had disappeared, his teeth bared. "Make a display like that towards them again and I will send you to the scrapyard in pieces."
Abby's expression lightened immediately, she was in complete shock. Jimmy had never spoken to her like that before and the way his eyes seemed to scald right through her smokebox forced her to submit. She dropped her head and pretended to pay attention to her driver as he checked over her brakes.
In one final display of dominance, Jimmy snorted steam at the female, startling her crewmen in the process. They all froze mid-movement and waited for him and his eldest brother to depart from the yard. Meredith and Cass didn't dare speak a word to the two males initially but Jimmy passed a sly wink to Meredith as they drove away and her boiler bubbled. The yellow diesel beside her snorted.
"You are somethin' else."
Meredith raised her brow at her friend in question. Cass simply shook her head and puffed ahead in a cloud of dark exhaust. "You're just somethin' else."
Afternoon came, most freighters and passenger trains were miles away in all directions from Chyenne's center hub. Meredith and Cass retired early and were enjoying a nap in the sunlight on a pair of vacant sidings. They slept blissfully as a set of sizeable males cruised by both were straight-faced and refused to acknowledge each other until they were well outside the city limits surrounded by flat snowy landscape. Jimmy spoke up first.
"You settlin' in okay? It's been some time since you've resided in Cheyenne."
Cameron narrowed his eyes. "Yes, still cold as ever, but it's nice having my wheels on consistently flat ground. Running those mountains non-stop wears at an engine, and it's lonely."
Jimmy nodded in understanding. "I never liked being stationed at the peaks house, too isolated and not enough to do outside work."
"Not enough tail to chase, you mean." Cameron snickered.
"Well what else is there for us to do besides sleep, work, and fuck?"
His brother shrugged. "I suppose you have a point." He noted the silhouette of plateaus in the distance and stiffened his jaw. They were nearing Lagrange where he first took Meredith. "You didn't bring me out here for welcoming small talk, did you?"
A half smile cut Jimmy's flat expression. "And what makes you think there's anything else to discuss?"
"I know you," Cameron stated. "And I know you don't bring someone out this way unless you plan to rip them a new one. Both figuratively and literally."
Jimmy glanced to the little town as they passed, a few people wandering its streets stopped to watch the impressive machines puff by. He laid on his whistle and the people all waved excitedly, but once they were out of sight, Jimmy's gaze hardened. "Any guesses as to what you might've done to earn a reprimand?"
The two finally stopped in the middle of a lifeless plain, the sun made the snow wet and sparkly. They were on a recreational line which meant no official Union Pacific traffic would cross their path. Cameron was quickly distracted by a small rabbit bounding through the powder, he smiled, happily ignoring his brother's baiting question. "Don't you wish we could frolic like that? With the freedom to go wherever we want, do whatever we want," he then glanced at his older brother wearing an uncharacteristically inquisitive look. "Fuck however we want."
"From what I've heard you've come up with some rather outlandish moves," Jimmy said. "Moves many of us could only dream of pulling off." He stopped to let out a brief chuckle. "I heard you've even tasted a female's valve."
A corner of Cameron's mouth turned up. "I have."
"I'm embarrassed to even ask but how… is it good?"
Cameron looked Jimmy in the eye. "It kinda reminds me of that polish used to clean our teeth, sweet but watery and soft, how I'd imagine a human's silk pillow feels."
"Can you tell me how Meredith tastes?"
The question caused Cameron to tense up, he bit the inside of his lip and breathed out as steady as possible. "I don't know what you're talking about."
Jimmy growled. "Don't lie to me! I know you've been fucking her, she's hardly come to me since you showed up."
"And you think I have something to do with that?!"
"Of course you do! I heard how in Utah you stole the females out from the noses of their partners, drawing them in with your seductive tricks and honeyed voice!" Jimmy was seething. "I should've taken your cock when I had the chance."
"I could always show you my moves," Cameron sneered. "Maybe you could use them to take your precious Meredith back!"
Jimmy stopped, he watched how his brother's steam wrapped his body and the way he avoided eye contact after dishing out a rather scathing comment. Then he laughed. "You worthless son of a bitch, you've fallen for her!"
"No I've not!" Cameron barked immediately, he then locked his stare with Jimmy's. "The only thing love has left me is scars and I don't need any more." They stared each other down intensely until Cameron's anger boiled to the surface and he took on a cruel smugness. "She tastes like a desert oasis, hot and satisfying. Only difference is once you've drank all the water you're still left thirsting for more. It's even better after you've fucked her and she's nice and swollen, gives you something to bite onto."
Jimmy clenched his jaw. "You think you're so special, don't you? Even after the work I did on that pretty face of yours you still manage to swoop my girls out from under me."
Cameron sneered. "Just Meredith, I've no interest in the rest of your whores." Jimmy crossed over to his brother's track, cutting off any chance he might've had to run. Though it was an act of intimidation, all it did was antagonize Cameron, he snarled. "You don't want to do that, James, it won't be me leaving the scene maimed and disfigured this time."
"And where exactly did this unfounded confidence come from?"
Cameron began to reverse away. "Why don't you turn around and find out?"
Jimmy did just that, he wasted no time to face his brother on the same line allowing the pair of them to nearly burn holes in each other's foreheads. He stared at Cameron's scarred expression and grinded his teeth. "Fuck, I can't wait to taste your blood again."
"You won't," Cameron replied calmly. "Just like you'll never taste Meredith."
Their first collision was heard from Lagrange miles away, it startled the town's inhabitants and gave them pause, but after moments of still silence they went back to their day thinking it was an odd rumble of thunder from a storm attempting to build.
"I told them!" Marjorie slammed the door to Hayden's office and dropped down onto his couch with an angry sigh. She threw her hands up and yanked her knitted hat off her head. "I fucking told them those two were to not be together and what do they do?! They completely ignore my warnings and reassign Cameron to Cheyenne's hub!" She groaned. "Fuck!"
Hayden sat at his desk, frozen mid-signature as he wasn't expecting the young blonde's visit. He waited for her to say more but she merely sat, her arms taught over her chest and cheeks red from internal fury and external cold. The controller then blinked and tapped his pen towards her. "First of all, who's Cameron?"
Marjorie looked at her host. "Jimmy's twin— well, sort of, they were supposed to be twins, released on the same day, but Cameron's build was delayed two months after the parts he still needed wound up backordered."
"Ah, yes, well… why aren't they supposed to be together?"
"Their egos don't exactly mesh well," Marjorie said, a little too sarcastically and it caused Hayden to scowl. She held up her hand in apology. "What I mean is they're both rather steadfast in their… ideals. Jimmy is firm on maintaining a certain hierarchy and social order while Cameron completely spits on the whole concept. He believes engines have no reason to follow any sort of… caste system."
"I have to agree with Cameron on that one," Hayden said, tossing his pen into a cup. "It's bizarre for engines to behave like that."
Marjorie shrugged. "Not necessarily, I think it's instinctual, but we as humans interfere so much with how we want them to do things they simply can't follow-through."
That observation caused Hayden to ponder then he nodded. "I suppose you're right." He shifted in his chair and interlaced his fingers atop his desk. "So what happened?"
"They about ripped each other apart," Marjorie ran her hand over her face then took her gloves off to look at her nails. She desperately needed a manicure. "I bet you can't guess what they were fighting about."
Hayden groaned and dropped his head. "Jesus, Mary, and Joseph…"
"That little engine of yours is somethin' else." Marjorie mused. She unwrapped her scarf and began to remove her coat. Hayden had the heater on and she was beginning to sweat. "It's kind of a feat to grab Cameron's eye. He's had his fair share of ass just like the rest of em, but he's picky and doesn't enjoy sex unless he really enjoys it. He doesn't go out chasin' tail just because he's bored."
"Sounds like a real gentleman."
Marjorie rested her elbow on the couch and exhaled, brushing down her striped blouse. "He actually is, he's very sweet, a real looker too, even with the nasty scar Jimmy gave him the year he was built. He's always rollin' around with lidded eyes and a ghost of a smirk like he knows he's gorgeous." She paused to laugh. "He's the best type of playboy, one that knows his worth. He'll make you fall in love with a wink if you're not careful." Another pause, she rubbed her forehead. "Anyway, they got into it a few miles north of Lagrange. They're both fine, everything's repairable, but the cost of doing so is ridiculous. The conversation of scrapping Jimmy has come up again just to save a few hundred thousand."
"I see," Hayden twiddled his thumbs thoughtfully. "I assume you're against that, even considering the circumstances."
Marjorie nodded slowly. "I am, if Cameron wasn't moved back to Cheyenne this would've never happened. They knew the risks and still put them together… idiots." She then winced and glanced at Hayden. "I'm sorry, that wasn't—"
The controller held up his hands. "I was against Scot and Gordon working together in the first place. It's my fault for not holding my ground and saying no."
"But I heard he's still doing the excursion after his extended time-out."
"Yes, he is," Hayden frowned. "Legally he has to, I've already tried to appeal to the commission about voiding the contract but they refused, claiming it to be an isolated incident fueled by exhaustion."
"They really must not be paying attention." Marjorie snorted.
"They're not," Hayden leaned back in his chair and tapped the small wooden clock on his desk. "So I've decided to drive Scot while he's on Sodor. He seems to behave better in my presence, but once this contract is up I'm not signing another one."
"Smart… how's he doing?"
Hayden shook his head. "I wish I had something positive to say. He's been fuming in his shed for days, refusing to even come out for a light cruise or allow his crew to inspect him, and I've had to break to him Meredith may not return until next spring which went about as well as you'd imagine."
Marjorie made an unpleasant face. "Did he blow up?"
The controller couldn't help but chuckle. "I don't think I've ever been called a cunt so much in my life."
"These engines have some colorful language."
A snort. "They're just… colorful."
After a quick discussion regarding the events of America, the pair decided to take a stroll through the snow over to Flying Scotsman's lonely shed. The falling snow left the atmosphere gray and cold and with no lights on in the nearby houses nor the shed, it appeared bleak and abandoned. Hayden followed Marjorie up to the shed's doors where she removed her glove and placed a hand on the aging wood. It was warm to the touch which suggested its resident was likely inside. With one solid shove she parted the heavy doors enough for her and the controller to squeeze inside then quickly shut them to cut off the frigid winds. They dusted the fresh snow off their coats and removed their hats, the air was hot and humid like it was mid-summer along the coast inside those four walls. When they looked ahead they found Scotsman asleep though his expression was taught and angry just like the steam that poured out from his valves. Marjorie approached him first knowing he likely wouldn't react well to waking and seeing Hayden. She placed her palm on his footboard and his eyes opened instantly.
"What do you want?" The engine grumbled. He sounded exhausted.
She rubbed the metal of his buffer beam thoughtfully. "How've you been?"
"What?"
"How are you?" She repeated, her tone remained level despite the engine's increasing hostility.
The male was taken aback by the question. He pinched his brow and looked down at the woman's hand as her thumb rubbed a rivet. His breathing quickened and he felt his throat tighten the longer he pondered. He clenched his teeth and spoke low. "I'm… fine."
Marjorie raised her brow, of course she didn't believe him, he was shaking. She softened her gaze more and continued her petting. "Scot—"
"Please… don't—" the tears burnt his eyes as he refused to let them fall. "I just want to be… alone."
"You have been, Scot." Marjorie pressed, she was almost through and gestured for Hayden to approach. "And look where that's got ya. If you need to vent just do it, it's not good to hole yourself up like this."
The engine's glassed eyes shifted to Hayden. "I— please… leave. I don't—" his voice caught in his throat and he shut his eyes so hard his head began to throb. Then the tears fell. "I can't do this." He whispered.
"Do what, darlin'?"
"All of this!" The male cried, his vision blurred by hot tears. "I can't do it anymore! I'm too fucking old, I'm too tired, I just want to be done! Everything with Mallard, my brother, that fucking German on that stupid little island! All of it, I'm so so tired…" he trailed off and the berth fell silent for only a moment until Scotsman began to audibly bawl. The two humans stood stunned, unsure what to say, but Hayden was quick to climb his engine's footboards and kneel in front of his face. He placed his hand on Scotsman's wet cheek. "I miss Meredith!" He sobbed. "Why can't you just bring her back?! I don't care about being on top, I just want to live my life and die in peace with her at my side. Mallard can be alpha, I don't give a fuck anymore."
"You don't mean that," Hayden spoke softly, he sat down and leaned against his engine's smokebox. "Mallard in charge would only cause disorder and violence. Sure it exists now, but you do well to quash it when you can. You're good at what you do, don't give up or you'll have more good engines die."
Scotsman blinked, the tears remained steady but his voice leveled out. "I suppose…"
Hayden sighed. "I'll see what I can do about Meredith, okay? I'll pull some strings."
The male mouthed a desperate 'please' in an attempt to avoid breaking down again. He exhaled slowly. "I need my girl back…"
"And you'll get her back," Hayden assured, rubbing the male's smokebox. "I promise." He couldn't help but snicker. "Any plans for when she is back?"
A smirk broke Scotsman's sadness and he chuckled through his nose. "You want the long or the short answer?"
"Short is fine," Hayden mused, pleased to see the light returning to his engine's eyes.
Scotsman's boiler rumbled which made Marjorie smile. "She won't be able to move or speak when I'm done with her."
Hayden rolled his eyes but he was grinning. He elbowed the engine's smokebox and stood up feeling satisfied with the turn of their conversation. "Just keep that in mind when you start to feel down, okay?"
Scotsman remained quiet as he watched his controller and the young woman leave him to be once more. He clenched his jaw then shut his eyes to sleep once more.
