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Hydra is aware he’s been watching the Electric engine all night. Probably longer. When the components called them magnetic they weren’t lying.
The celebrations swirl around him, but Hydra doesn’t pay it much mind. Okay, he’s sulking. He was aware when he agreed to be Rusty’s race partner in the final that he would always be second to him, he was just the fuel truck, the extra baggage clinging onto Rusty’s back just so he would qualify. Hydra really could be anyone. A fact Rusty very helpfully proved when he found Pearl to do his victory lap with, instead of Hydra, and now Pearl is getting celebrated for a win she had no part in.
But covering all the hurt Hydra feels, soothing it over like coolant, is the way Hydra’s eyes are glued to Electra across the room. They shine like a star of blue lights and sleek metallic shine. Electra is attractive and knows it, they are arrogant, self-absorbed, and downright mean, which… might be exactly what Hydra wants - needs - right now. So Hydra lets himself keep watching, just for tonight.
He had never considered the fact he might be into Electra. They weren’t someone he really wanted to be into. He especially wasn’t looking at Electra when Rusty was right in front of him, smiling at him, when they were race partners. And surely Electra, with their specialised team and fancy shed, has standards. Standards that do not include freight trucks like Hydra.
Hydra snaps out of his thoughts with a jolt and finds Electra staring back at him with an incredulous look. They’re eyes linger on him as they slowly turn and disappear out a side door, and Hydra can’t help but follow.
Electra waits under a dim lamppost, leaning against a wall, with an air of nonchalance no one else can compare to. They inspect a perfectly painted nail as they say, “You’ve been watching me. All night.” They glance up, “I thought you might want to do something about it.”
“I.. didn’t think you’d want me too.” Is all Hydra can think of. Stupidly.
“I’ve been watching you too, Hydra, ever since I got here. You’ve only ever been about Rusty. I thought that made sense, Hydrogen fuels cells generate steam and whatnot,” Electra says, casually. Though most trains don’t go out of their way to find out how Hydra works. “Until today at least…”
Hydra is all about Rusty, or... was. But Hydra takes in Electra in front of him, the way the glitter on their cheeks shimmers in the dim light and well… Hydra’s all about it.
“Hydrogen fuel cells generate electricity too,” Hydra blurts, “Steam is just a byproduct, the electricity is what really matters.”
“How bold,” Electra purrs. They roll closer. “Tell me more.”
Hydra breathes deeply, before quietly saying, “Another byproduct is heat,”
He definitely feels the heat as Electra reaches out to him, gently brushing their cool fingers up his arms to his neck. He can feel their electricity zipping through his limbs.
“Hydrogen is like a battery, but better. Stronger, lasts longer, holds more energy. It’s powerful.”
Electra’s eyes darken as they stare at Hydra, and he almost can’t take it anymore. “What this sounds like to me,” Electra says deeply, “Is that you would make a perfect race partner.”
And suddenly Hydra is being pushed so his back slams into the cool metal wall, and Electra is kissing him. Hydra gives into it immediately, because this is what it feels like to be wanted, and Starlight, Hydra wants it too. It’s rough and passionate and good, the glitter on Electra’s lips scratching at Hydra’s. Electra pulls at Hydra hair, and Hydra might actually be going crazy, but this feels more right than anything with Rusty ever did. This is what it feels like to be compatible with someone.
Hydra laughs against Electra’s mouth, and knows that this is just the beginning, that with Hydra boosting Electra further than ever before, the next championship will surely be theirs, and Hydra will be celebrated alongside them.