Chapter Text
"Wow, this place sure is big," Wheeljack muttered, wandering around the gardens. Technically he wasn't meant to walk around without an escort, but hey, if they couldn't keep track of him, that's their fault.
He's supposed to be visiting with the rest of his family to officially introduce Smokescreen to… someone. Eh it's probably not important if he doesn't remember.
"Tell me about it," A voice replied, startling Wheeljack, who absolutely did not jump.
"Uh yeah, who are you? Because y'know bots aren't allowed by themselves here, and you seem pretty 'by yourself', " Wheeljack asked, sure maybe it's a bit rude to ask something like that but it wasn't like he asked the duke heir or something. Not the duke. that's for sure, the bot doesn't look past his second upgrades.
"Uhm, scrap what's the full title, gimme a sec," the bot muttered, clearly trying to jog his memory. Wheeljack just stared, what kind of bot wouldn't remember his own title? Even Wheeljack knew his, and he rarely paid attention during his studies.
"Oh right! Ahem, I'm Duke heir of the Dukedom under Nexus Prime Bulkhead creation of-"
"Hold up, Duke heir? As in, soon-to-be-duke of this place? Wait we're in Nexus territory? Cool, I'm Wheeljack. Or of we're going full titles I guess it's Second son of the County under Solus Prime, Wheeljack creation of blah blah blah, so on and so forth," Wheeljack interrupted, barely stopping to vent as he talked.
Bulkhead just stared at him, feeling a bit awkward. No one really stops to talk to him, so he's never had a real conversation. Except Breakdown, but he doesn't count, and Boulder, but he barely got his first upgrade so he doesn't count either.
Wheeljack trailed off, also feeling awkward at Bulkhead's silence. Oh slag, did he just accidentally insult the duke heir, in his home? Oh slag he interrupted the duke heir, oh this isn't good.
"So hey, uh, sorry about interrupting, no hard feelings right? Wait am I supposed to bow before you or something? Or is that just for the Primacy, no wait you kneel for them? Slag sorry, didn't think I'd run into anyone and-"
"Relax, um, no I don't think you bow, unless the duke is here? Ugh now I really wish I payed more attention, you only kneel before the Prime himself?" Bulkhead interrupted, hoping to cut off Wheeljack's rambles. Wow has he vented at all since they bumped into each other?
"Okay, glad that's cleared. Anyways, nice gardens you have here, care to give a tour?" Wheeljack asked, feeling more comfortable know that he's sure the other won't throw him out or anything. Besides, Bulkhead sounds like he needs a friend, and Wheeljack, though he won't admit it, would also like one.
"Oh yeah, my brother loves it so we've been trying to expand them. Actually there's some-" Bulkhead started explaining before Wheeljack cut him off, again.
"Brother? Like the other duke heir? Breakfast or something right?" Wheeljack guessed, perking up since he did learn this bit. Mags did his best to go over everything they should know on the ride here, including the recent additions to the dukedom.
Unfortunately Wheeljack didn't get an answer, since Bulkhead was a bit preoccupied laughing.
"Oh man, Breakfast. Ha, oh he's gonna lose it when I tell him, ahem. No, not Breakfast, oh Primus," Bulkhead chuckled, trying to keep his composure, but breakfast.
"I'm gonna guess his name isn't that. You're not really gonna tell him though, right? Cause that would kinda get me in trouble," Wheeljack asked, genuinely worried.
"What, oh don't worry about it, I won't tell him it's from you. Nah, his name's Breakdown, and no, the gardens aren't for him. I got a bitty brother, his name's Boulder. We're keeping him on the down-low so that's probably why you didn't know about him," Bulkhead cleared up, not particularly excited at the prospect of losing his new friend over something as silly as breakfast.
Ha.
"So, uh, do you actually want that tour or?" Bulkhead asked, wanting to stretch their time together.
"Yep, say, are there other fun places to check out, y'know while I'm still here?" Wheeljack wondered, as he started walking off, he also hoped to spend more time with the other.
"Uhm, I think there's a dirt track over there, now that's for Breakdown. There's also…"
Their first meeting sparked a friendship that both worked to upkeep. Resulting in many casual visits to each other's place, to the point that their staff already knew to prepare for spontaneous visits because Primus forbid Wheeljack learn how to send a heads-up, both when he visits Bulkhead, and when Bulkhead visits.
"Ugh I hate Breakdown so much right now. Of all things he could've done!" Bulkhead grumbled, as he stalked into Wheeljack's workshop.
"Hello to you too Bulk, now what did Breaks do now?" Wheeljack teased, enjoying the gossip. He put down his tools and turned around to give his friend his full attention.
"Knockout. That's what happened. Did you know he has been having Knockout over for the past few orns? And no one realized it! Knockout. It's nothing about the mech himself, he's fine. But her Grace walked in on them! And guess what happened," Bulkhead complained, his volume raising the more he spoke.
"She got mad?"
"She was furious! I've never seen her so mad! And he didn't back down! He absolutely refuses to turn his back on Knockout, which is admirable, don't get me wrong. But he's still a commoner, and irks her Grace to know a 'filthy peasant' is in her home. Of all the reckless things he's done!" Bulkhead continued, waving his arms around.
Wheeljack whistled. Damn, he didn't know Breakdown had it in him to square up against the duchess. He didn't speak up immediately however, ready to let Bulkhead let it all out first. After he remained quiet, then he spoke.
"So let me get this straight. Breakdown is serious about Knocks, your mom found out, and now he's grounded. And you're mad why?"
"Because! If he's in trouble, then her Grace is in a bad mood until he apologizes, and he's not backing down. So now the whole place is tense, and you know how bad it can get. Uh, totally unrelated, can I stay here a few days?" Bulkhead vented, before sitting down in his corner of the workshop, deflating now that he's done ranting.
He's been in there so often that Wheeljack ended up moving things around so Bulkhead could have a safe spot to be in while they're hanging out. It's got a couch (for impromptu naps), the snack cabinet and a small table.
That table's probably the only clear surface of the whole place, because Wheeljack made that 'Bulkhead's space' so his stuff can't take over. It's got a little green tape around the area too.
Wheeljack let Bulkhead change the subject. He learned that sometimes Bulk just wants to vent, doesn't actually want advice, reassurance, or to actually talk about it. The moment he stopped talking it was case closed.
"Yeah sure, don't think anyone will mind… except Smokey but that's just because then he has no excuse to run off after Mags when he visits the Primacy. Heard he's got a friend there. Now, help me out here? Okay so just hold this piece here-"
- - -
"Greetings to the Duchess ruler of the dukedom under Nexus Prime from the First Son of the County under Solus Prime."
"Greetings to the Duchess ruler of the dukedom under Nexus Prime from the Second Son of the County under Solus Prime."
"Greetings to the Duchess ruler of the dukedom under Nexus Prime from the Third Son of the County under Solus Prime."
Ultra Magnus, Wheeljack, and Smokescreen greeted the duchess, keeping their helms bowed in respect, not looking up until they're addressed, as is proper.
"Rise. Welcome to my duchy, sons of Solus." The duchess returned their greeting, formally before continuing more casually, "Welcome all three of you, I'm sure you know where everything is, if not Wheeljack probably knows. I'm afraid I can't stay long, help yourselves. Now please excuse me,"
And with that, the duchess parted ways with them.
They all stared at each other, the duchess was rarely so 'comfortable' with them. Wheeljack just shrugged, sometimes she was weird like that. Not that he'd ever so much as to suggest that, no thank you, he would very much like to keep his glossa inside his intake. Besides, she liked him, so who cares.
"So, since we're here, you two know where to head off?" Wheeljack asked, breaking the silence.
"Well, you're the one who knows this place, what do you recommend 'Jack?" Smokescreen shot back, he wasn't really here often, the longest he was was probably when he first came here, a long time ago.
"I heard Breakdown's expanding his track to be on the borders of the duchy, you could totally check it out, if you want. Just tell him I sent you trust me," Wheeljack replied, knowing that Breakdown will initially try to shoo Smokes out.
Smokescreen barely stayed long enough to hear the last part before he ran off, metaphorically, since it would be utterly improper to run indoors.
Wheeljack then turned to Ultra Magnus, who just raised an eyebrow at him, as if to ask 'Okay so what do I do?'
Hmm, what to give him so he stays away…
"Oh right! You're learning about growing those crystals right? Boulder's been looking into creating his own crystal garden, maybe you two could compare notes and stuff?" Wheeljack baited, hoping this topic would entertain the other long for the whole visit.
Okay so maybe that was a bit mean. But he was just so excited to be back, visiting Bulkhead. In his defense, after the disaster that was the duchess discovering Knockout, guests were really limited, even him. Him! So yeah, for some precious catching up time, he sent his brothers off to bother someone else.
"Hmm, perhaps I will. It will do me good to hear about other's experiences and such… And where would I find young Boulder?" Ultra Magnus asked, falling for Wheeljack's trap.
"Let's see, if it's this time of day, but Breakdown's home, and considering the fact he's past his second upgrades… Nah he's probably in the back gardens or the library, you should look there first actually, since even if he's not there the south wing in the library overlooks the back gardens so you'll spot him," Wheeljack elaborated, and with that, Ultra Magnus also took his leave.
Score! Now to find Bulkhead…
"Jackie! You're here!"
Wheeljack barely got any time to react before Bulkhead was sweeping him up into a hug. Wheeljack just patted him, from the bit of his servo he could move.
"Hey there big guy, how's it going?" Wheeljack asked, like it hasn't been a while since they saw each other.
And that was all it took to get the ball rolling, falling into step with each other, metaphorically and physically, like they aren't forced to spend more and more time apart from each other due to growing responsibilities, like no time has passed at all.
- - -
Bulkhead stormed past where Wheeljack was waiting for him, clearly stuck in his processor.
Wheeljack, who had looked up as soon as he heard him coming, frowned as Bulkhead seemingly ignored him. It's unlike him, always at least bothering to acknowledge him in some way.
"Bulk?"
Bulkhead startled, apparently not having noticed where he was, much less who he was with. He smiled apologetically at Wheeljack, embarrassed.
"Sorry Jackie, just lost in my processor a bit." Bulkhead explained, and sighed. Clearly whatever bothering him won't let him rest.
"Hey what's going on, y'know you can talk to me, right Bulk?"
"Yeah I know, it's just… it's dumb." At Wheeljack's raised eyebrow and clear disbelieving face, he elaborated.
"It's Breakdown. Or not Breakdown, but his friends. Y'know, the only ones her Grace lets visit? Well, one of them, Makeshift, he's very, uh, flirty? I think? I dunno, he's kinda overbearing and doesn't like backing off until Breakdown gets him to knock it off. It just gets to me sometimes," Bulkhead confessed, not looking at anything in particular.
"What."
Bulkhead barely glanced at Wheeljack before looking away again and shrugged. He didn't think Wheeljack would take it to spark, it's just Makeshift being weird so who cares.
"How often is Makeshift over, and why hasn't Breakdown said anything if he clearly makes you uncomfortable?" Wheeljack prodded, there's no way Breakdown would let this happen, not after how Bulkhead backed him up when he started thinking about courting Knockout.
"He uh, doesn't know much. It's not really a big deal, Makeshift just makes weird comments about how… um, how I uh…"
"Out with it Bulkhead,"
"abouthowiwouldmaketheperfectbittieswithhimifilethimbemyconsort,"
"He what."
"It's not a big deal, just being weird, like I said. Can we just, drop this, please? He's only saying this because I don't have an intended yet and my final upgrades are soon," Bulkhead pleaded, not comfortable with airing out his emotions like this.
"Okay fine. we'll drop it," For now. There's no way Wheeljack's letting this go, and something tells him if he were to maybe drop a few hints, neither will Breakdown.
"You know Bulkhead, if you can't find anyone, I'm fine being duke consort, we're best friends after all. It's not like there'd be much difference in how we are now, except maybe a lot less sneaking around," Wheeljack offered, sincerely too, he really wouldn't mind if it's for Bulkhead.
"Heh, thanks Jackie. I might just take you up on that someday if I can't find anyone. I appreciate it. Say, you wanna see if the derby is back in town while we're still out here?"
"I dunno, is energon explosive?"
"Ha! Let's find out! Race you there!"
"Cheater! Get back here!"
And so they raced off, their conversation, not forgotten, simply closed and over with. Little did they know their accidental proposal would come to pass. By sheer coincidence of course.