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Optimus vented heavily. Coolant beaded and dropped from the prime's helm as overtaxed systems attempted to return to normal, his cooling fans blaring. Solid servos rested on his knees as his frame tried to dispel the excess heat.
“Sorry Optimus I might’ve gotten a bit carried away... here-” Wheeljack looked guilty as he produced a cube and offered it to the prime, directing his own cooling fans at the larger bot.
Optimus swallowed as he attempted to even his vents to reply and not sound as winded as he felt, “Thank you Wheeljack. It seems I may have underestimated my ability to keep up.”
He grabbed the cube and quickly tipped it back, the fuel cooling his internals as it went down. The prime shuttered his optics and momentarily let himself relish in the cool air from his partner's fans.
Wheeljack fluttered around Optimus, servos wanting to help but not knowing with what; settling for placing a servo on their leader's arm.
“You're a big rig, Optimus, your frame is a lot heavier than mine. Takes a lot of strength to move all that. I'm pretty impressed you kept up as long as you did to be honest!”
Optimus smiled at the smaller bot from behind his mask, bringing a servo up to return the comforting touch to the engineer's arm.
“As much as I appreciate the flattery old friend, you needn't worry. It was challenging to keep pace, but I still enjoyed our drive.”
Wheeljack returned the smile, “Me too. Maybe next time I can teach you some moves, show you how to shift your weight to your advantage. Seems like the corners are what's really getting ya, a little drifting could be a game changer.”
Optimus chuckled. “Next time indeed. It's easy to forget you are a speedster sometimes Wheeljack.. You’re quite different from the others on our crew.”
He stood and vented deeply once more before stretching and shifting his gaze to the road ahead. “I am always impressed by how talented you are across many fields. I know I’ll be in good hands whenever you are free to give me those lessons.”
The engineer’s finials lit up orange, an embarrassed look settling on his face above his mask.
“Ah.. well. I guess I am pretty different. Not sure if I can live up to the praise though.”
Optimus shot a puzzled look at his companion, “And why is that?”
Wheeljack shifted on his pedes, “I’ll do my best to teach ya some racing moves but I can’t promise you’ll still be impressed with the whole ‘multi-talented’ thing the next time I set the fire suppression system off. I dabble in a lot but I’m no miracle worker.”
Optimus gave a light laugh. “I never expect miracles, Wheeljack. Your skills are invaluable and your company arguably moreso. I don’t think Ratchet would put up with your repeated needs for repair if he didn’t also concede your brilliance.”
The chief engineer gave pause, finials still orange as he came to stand at the edge of the road with the taller bot.
“Thanks Optimus, that means a lot.”
Optimus nodded and brought a servo to rest on the lancia’s pauldron. “Anytime, old friend. Now, if you’re still up for it, we could begin those lessons now that I’ve regained my normal venting pattern.”
It was Wheeljack’s turn to chuckle. “There’s that strength again. If I had a frame like that I’d probably be looking for a quick recharge after the paces I just put you through.”
Optimus gave the speedster a mischievous look. “Yes you mentioned that before, a frame like what?”
The lancia stiffened. “Oh - uh I just meant a larger frame with more heft. Not that heft is a bad thing- at all. I wasn’t-”
Optimus gave a booming chuckle before transforming and idling his engine. “I’m only teasing Wheeljack. Now, how about you tell me about handling those corners better.”
Wheeljack transformed quickly and gave a small rev of his engine, “That I can do! First things first we gotta practice some donuts with counter steering to get the basic feel for it down. I know just the place, come on.”
- - - - - - - - - -
“I don’t feel I’m making much improvement. Perhaps we should retire for the evening, I do not wish to take up too much of your time.”
“You’ve only been at it a few breems! You just gotta loosen up big guy. Here-” Wheeljack transformed quickly to kneel and brought his servos to rest where the semi’s cabin met his rear bed. “You gotta let go of the rear wheels about here and let your front wheels do the work-”
Optimus’s processor was faintly taking in the information the engineer was relaying to him but he couldn’t help but focus on the servos lightly gripping at his frame. They were pleasantly warm against his plating and he could feel the scarred texture of the lancia’s digits as they moved across his chassis.
The brief contact ended too soon, the engineer taking a step back before reaching into his chest and fiddling for a moment before producing a tiny cassette.
“Here! A little music might help you get into it. Chip helped me get these songs so I could have them on demand.”
Optimus was about to transform to retrieve the cassette when scarred servos returned to his frame and tapped lightly on a window.
The prime rolled down his window, hoping Wheeljack didn’t notice how he jerked at the touch. A digit suddenly prodded around at his dash, blindly trying to find the radio and Optimus couldn’t stifle the involuntary honk that the sudden contact with his sensitive interior elicited.
“Oops, sorry prime. Guess I should use my optics when poking around in there, huh?” The engineer bent and quickly found the desired slot for the cassette, retracting quickly before transforming again.
“Alright once you get that playing I want you to try again and ease on the throttle as you feel those back wheels start to slide.”
- - - - - - - - - -
“Not bad for a first session! I had to practice a lot more than that to get the countersteering right.”
The engineer’s finials flashed bright blue with enthusiasm as the pair’s drive came to an end and they transformed outside the ark.
Optimus smiled at the smaller bot from behind his mask, “I had a good teacher.”
The audials briefly flashed orange as Wheeljack shot the prime a sheepish look and waved his servo dismissively. “Ah come on. You got better when I gave you those tunes, I told you the music would help.”
“Ah yes, the cassette. Allow me to retu-” Optimus began to reach into his chest when the engineer shook his head and held up a servo.
“Keep it! I can have Chip make me another copy. Who knows, maybe you’ll get inspired to practice on patrol.”
“Ah, but then I would miss invaluable tips from my cherished instructor.” The bigger bot teased.
The lancia’s audials returned to orange as he looked like he was about to say something but turned away from their leader and rubbed the back of his helm, wings twitching.
“Well if that’s how you feel, maybe we could go driving again the same time next decacycle?”
“I’d like that. For now, would you like to grab a cube together before recharge? The rec room should be thinning out this time of night.”
“Sounds good to me, big guy.”