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Mirage could feel them all around him, slowly surrounding him. The quickest two sped around him, forming a pincer that threatened to close around him every passing second. The second two, fast but slower than the first two raced alongside him, allowing themselves to go slow enough to even their bumpers with his back tires. The largest of them all chased him, thoroughly eating his dust but eating away the distance with sheer endurance.
His tires and engine burned as he raced along the worn asphalt, any amount of stealth out the window. With the Stunticons riding his bumper, there was no need to even bother. As soon as they'd spotted him, Drag Strip and Wildrider began their chase and left their team to catch up.
A mountain loomed in the distance, growing only larger. There was a long tunnel cutting through it, where the lights hardly worked on a good day, and the road inside was equally left to the elements. He couldn't lose them inside, but he could try to use his invisibility to evade them in the darkness.
Drag Strip and Wildrider disappeared in the dark tunnel first and Mirage felt Dead End and Breakdown slow, settling in dangerously close behind him. Motormaster's dark form continued trailing behind, like a living shadow that ate the broken asphalt as if it was nothing more than a fragile treat.
The darkness of the tunnel consumed Mirage and he hit the pedal, gunning his engine for one last push. Red and yellow cars, parked lengthways, blocked the exit and he had to slam down his emergency brake. He twisted, skidding to a hard stop before he could potentially scrape anyone's paint.
Wildrider transformed first, a wide grin gracing him. His bright blue optics shined as he knelt beside Mirage, reaching out to touch his overheated frame. "Ouch! You really gave us a good chase today!"
Drag Strip transformed beside him, staring down at Mirage with a sly smirk. "Uh huh, shame you couldn't even keep up with us."
Mirage sighed heavily, sinking down on his shocks before transforming to lay back. "Couldn't if I tried."
Breakdown and Dead End's headlights shined over his exhausted frame as they pulled up, Breakdown carefully angling himself to see Mirage and allow Motormaster space when he inevitably pulled up. Dead End transformed, kneeling beside Mirage's prone form. At one point, he'd have been terrified, surrounded by the Stunticons and too tired to even try fighting back.
Now, he watched as Dead End's face twisted into a scowl and he pulled out a clean cloth and bottle of cleaner. "You're disgusting. Don't you 'bots take better care of yourselves?"
Mirage smiled as Dead End wiped some cleaner over a particularly dirty plate. "We try. Hard to stay clean when you're always sneaking behind enemy lines and getting caught by a team of handsome racers."
Dead End faltered and Wildrider grinned widely. Drag Strip crossed his arms, straightening up. "Of course we caught you, we're the fastest the 'cons have to offer. And most handsome."
Breakdown chuckled softly, rocking back and forth on his tires. "Yeah, you gave us a fun chase, Mirage."
Mirage sat up, leaning forward with his elbows on his knees and letting Dead End scrub at his shoulder. It was easy for dirt to get stuck in there and he couldn't always reach it, so a second pair of hands certainly helped. "Glad I could do that at least. Ouch! Hey, gentle!"
Dead End glared at him, gripping his shoulder plate to keep him in place as bright lights washed over them all and illuminated the tunnel. "Then clean up better. If you look like this again, we're just gonna take you back home. Should've known the 'bots don't know how to clean properly."
Mirage shook his head and looked up as Motormaster finally pulled up, air brakes echoing throughout the tunnel. Behind him, Wildrider looped his arms around his waist and pressed his frame against him, demanding his attention. Mirage smiled at him and gently patted his thigh, Wildrider's entire frame vibrating from the purr of his engine.
Motormaster didn't transform, though his voice still boomed, "Get in the trailer, brats. Don't got all day to fuck around."
Mirage sighed and Wildrider whined loudly. "Aww, c'mon, boss. We've got more time, right?"
Motormaster's engine growled. "No, we don't. Get in if you wanna ride with him."
Wildrider continued to pout and leaned around to steal a kiss from Mirage quickly, whispering, "I'm gonna beat Drag Strip to the drop off point."
In a quick flash, Wildrider was pulling away and racing out of the tunnel. Drag Strip glanced between them quickly and glared at Wildrider's escaping form. He leaned down to give Mirage an equally fast and rough kiss before pulling away to chase after him with a loud yell, "You wish you were half as fast as me!"
Mirage laughed and stood up as Breakdown finally transformed, looping one warm arm around his waist. Breakdown smiled at him, supporting the tired autobot's weight. "C'mon, I've got some energon sticks in my subspace. You can refuel a bit."
Mirage tilted his head down, pressing a sweet kiss to Breakdown's face and watching it turn a brighter shade. "Thank you, Breakdown."
Dead End followed them into the back of Motormaster's trailer, thin rows of purple lights illuminating the space as the door closed behind him. "Stop being so sappy and sit."
Mirage chuckled, but followed his order and leaned back against the warm metal. "What? You don't want a kiss, either?"
Dead End's optics narrowed and he leaned forward, meeting his lips with a kiss that immediately deepened. Mirage met him with the same eagerness, keeping his hands to himself. Beside him, Breakdown leaned into his side comfortably, one hand grasping his.
Motormaster's voice echoed around him, air brakes hissing again as he began driving. "No fucking in my trailer!"
Dead End broke the kiss with a scowl and Mirage smiled widely, resting his helm against the trailer wall. Someone help him, he thought he was feeling fond of this team. Genuinely fond.