Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

It had gotten dark outside. jun had taken most of his cardbots into the metal breath and gone home for the night. Even edo himself had gone home, which was a bit of a surprise; hook could've sworn the man sometimes slept at the garage. as amusing as that thought was, it didn't matter now, as the pirate had a problem on his hands: Despite his best efforts, hook had been left at the garage. jun and edo had said something about being on night shift but he wasn't really listening. he shook his head to clear his thoughts.

"What are you thinking so hard over? did The filth finally reach your processor and cause your gears to stick?"
He glared in the direction the gruff voice had come from. Right, the 2nd part of his problem was him. He'd been set to do the night watch with heavy iron of all bots. his protests against this-much to his dismay-had been ignored by jun.
"You two need to get along! Maybe spending more time together will make you both see that" is what hook recalled the young boy's reasoning being. he remembered edo sadly muttering something about the two outlaws causing damage to his garage behind the boy, the man clearly worried about the clean up he'd have to see to the next day. but alas, the boy had made up his mind and there wasn't much hook or edo could do.

he blinked, his thoughts had distracted him again. instead of responding to heavy's earlier teasing, he just stood there, glaring, while his mind was seemingly elsewhere. "Nay, me processor be clean, void o' filth." He finally responded. Heavy iron seemed pleased by the response, even chuckled to himself in amusement, before he asked "i see. lost in thought, are we?". Hook's response was a simple sigh. He was bored, it was dark outside and he had atleast 6 more hours to waste with this brute of a bot. suddenly, a thought crossed his mind. His gaze softened as he continued looking at heavy, his optic gaining a mischivious glint. "The others ain't be here, we donnae need tah worry 'bout them youngins seein us be civil" unbeknownst to the others, these two where quite fond of eachother.

Heavy huffed an amused sigh "feeling affectionate tonight, hook? That's unlike you". he was teasing him, and hook knew it "oh come on ye brute, we got hours to kill an' i be bored" he spoke still with that glint in his optics "you see how dark it be out there? Ye cannae tell me that donnae make ye feel a wee bit sad, tha' an' the damn cold". Heavy looked at him for a bit "hmh, you always complain about the cold. Tho, this winter does seem cooler than usual"

"I know right!? Be gettin' me joints all stiff an' slag" he couldn't lie, he was on the older side now, and he felt it especially in times like these. he was still in his prime, damn it! It just simply won't do that his joints are stiffening so easily now! He knows heavy also seemed to be feeling the effects of age on his own frame. Though of course, the brute wouldn't ever admit it.
heavy once again let out a sigh-maybe boredom, maybe amusement. hook wasn't quite sure this time "you have that look in your optic, you don't wonna spend the next few hours recharging like usual, do you?".

Ah, he caught him, his partner always seems to know when he's up to something. hook chuckles and smiles at him. "Nay" he responded playfully "i be knowin' just how to feel better" He hummed to himself. yes his idea was perfect, he knew just how to keep their joints loose and nimble. Hell, he was actually pretty excited about doing this with heavy, almost giddy with how long he's wanted to do this. Heavy just stood there with his arms crossed as if waiting for hook to explain. He just sighs dramatically "come on ye brute, help me clear space, we be needin' it in a bit!" with that, heavy iron sighed and started helping hook clear out a decently big square of clear space in the middle of the garage. Hook looked at heavy, giddy with excitement for what he had planned while the mech just stared back at him in confusion.

Obviously, he hadn't told heavy what he had planned, knowing the bastard would be hesitant in case anyone saw them canoodling in the garage. He just smiled to himself, next few hours where certainly gonna be interesting.

Chapter Text

Heavy was pushing one of Edo's tool shelves off to the side to clear more space. his expression was, well, as expressive as ever, Hook supposed. old mech wasn't exactly giving him much to go off in terms of the other's thoughts. Hook shook his head and went back to the task at hand, pushing some car repair equipments out of the way, all while chuckling to himself quietly. A sigh escaped the other "what are you so giggly over? Don't suppose you have something crude planned in that dusty head of yours" Heavy said. that in turn only made the boat bark out a laugh "nay nay, ain't be like that. ye been watchin' too many damn human movies with edo. Yer more filthy minded than i be" he replied smugly. the other's eyes widened slightly before he scoffed and got back to clearing out the garage floor. Hook's gaze shifted to the floor, maybe Heavy wasn't in a witty mood after all. "Can't believe they showed humans touching faceplates like that in all those movies"¹ Heavy's voice returned. Hook sighed at that, relieved he hadn't ruined the pleasent mood. his optic shifted back to stare at the other, who had his back turned from him. Hook was smiling like an idiot at the fool he surrounded himself with. fortunately for the pirate, his eyepatch covered about half his optical screen, hiding some of his expression.

He turned around to start picking up all types of bits and bobs so they wouldn't trip over them later. as he continues tidying up the place, he replied to Heavy's earlier response "ye be knowin' humans romance an' them weird customs they got, aye?" His voice was...soft? When had that happened?...bah, Hook supposed it didn't really matter. 

With the little bits and bobs in one hand. he went over to where he'd seen Edo discard such small things into different boxes. he pulled one out to check the contents. upon noticing it didn't match anything in his hand he pushed it back into place and opened another in search of the proper place to dump the bolts. behind him Heavy just sighed "Yeah, i know, it's just odd. A 'kiss' seems so simple to these small, soft creatures, they'd never guess it could mean so much more to us." mumbled the truck, the rustling that followed Heavy falling silent behind him let Hook know Heavy had picked up one of the many boxes Jun would leave lying around the garage. Hook and seemingly Heavy as well didn't know why the boy kept bringing 'em nor did he bother to question the child. 

Hook stood by the small boxes and mindlessly looked through them, sorting the small items as he spoke "from wha' i learned before gettin' stuck with jun the lil lad, was them humans be havin' other gestures they be seein' as more intimate or wha'ever, tho ain't be nothin' we got the parts for²" his hands moved on auto pilot as he recalled certain...videos he'd seen during his free roaming days on earth. He still couldn't shake what he'd seen on some sad sack human's screen through a window once. despite his vast age and experiences, it still shook him.

when he finally looked at his hands again he saw he had managed to put away all the little screws, bolts and what not he had found on the floor. He walked over next to Heavy to find something in the pile of cables the dark mech was standing close to. based on the mech's current expression, Hook was pretty sure Heavy didn't know what he was talking about. The mech spared a glance at him and just stated "i don't think i want to know."

"aye, i think that be fer the best" he reponded as his hands, which were mostly white, save for the black pointer finger on his right hand that was his supposed namesake, dug and combed through the stack of many differently colored cords and cables. where the hell be that cord?... he thought to himself before his hand stumbled upon it and he yanked it free from the others. 

that Mischevious glint returning to his singular visible optic as he put the end of the cord down. he walked over to a shelf to get a specific little something, he grabbed the radio a ceratin orange truck loved so dearly, then walked back to where he had left the cable, gait bouncy with excitement. Heavy had turned to stare at him, silver arms crossed, head tilted questioningly "you know trucker won't quit whining if you smash that". 

"aye aye whatever" came Hook's muttered response as he struggled to hook hah the small boombox up to the garage's speaker system. 

"What do you need it for?" asked Heavy. 

"music!" Hook responded happily .

"music? Do tell why you need music" he sounded intrigued. good. 

"Ye know wha' i talked 'bout earlier? ya'know, the perfect activity an' all tha?" He turned his head to look at Heavy. 

"yes, i remember, but i didn't think you had a plan thought out. Or that music was involved".

Hook doubted the other had intended for him to hear the last part as it had been muttered fairly quietly, probably to Heavy himself. He finished plugging in the boom box and started looking trough the music options. Of which there was a surprising lack of variety in both languages and genres. 

"Aye well, i got a damn good plan, lad. lemme tell ye exactly how we'll be keepin' our frames well an' nimble" he said, popping in a random tape he thought would fit. in a nice turn of events it did! perfect. Black hook turned to Heavy iron, the mech giving him the most intense questioning stare that Hook had ever seen on his face. it took a lot of effort from the pirate to not laugh at him.

Hook decided that since the old mech hadn't figured it out yet, he best tell him. "Danc-" 

"no". 

"oh come on, scared ye old aft donnae have any rhythm?". 

"Hook, what if the neighbors hear? Or i don't know, some of the others come by?" 

Hook just looked at him with that same mischevious look from before "i thought ye were smart- but donnae worry! It be late, music ain't be that high, and there be nay way jun's sendin' any bot at this time, lad's sleepin'" he was trying to cheer up Heavy but he could barely take himself seriously. Heavy just sighed, Hook was so giddy about finally getting the boxy creature that was Heavy iron to dance with him, he knew that even if he where to look a fool, it would be so worth it. 

The dark mech looked unsure and Hook sighed "ye ain't be the only one dancin' now, come on!" He said reassuringly before walking into the middle of the makeshift dance floor and holding out his hands, waiting expectantly, smiling at Heavy who just sighed at him again. the truck then just turned around and walked off, leaving Hook right there in the middle of the cleared floor. he wouldn't admit it, but his mood deflated a little, smile changing into a small frown as his hands dropped to his sides... 

but, The small feeling of hurt quickly faded as he noticed the lights in the garage dim down a bit and the sound of a certain someones heavy footsteps coming back towards him. he just stared at Heavy iron as he approached him and joined him on the dance floor "just...since we cleared the floor and i know you prefer dimmer lighting..." came the hesitant explanation from the dark mech.

Hook was sure the other also dimmed the lights so his dancing would be a small bit less visible. But the other was right, he did prefer dimmer lighting-something to do with an old head injury which had left his optics more light sensitive than others. one worse than the other obviously, hence his eyepatch, as well as a small modification to the scope of his card weapon to deflect more light away from his oversensitive optic. 

"Ye just wanted to see me optics, didnae ye?" he says softly, humoring the other as he folded away the eyepatch and reset his optics a few times before staring at the other. well mostly the other's optics. Though, dark as the other's plating was, he could still vaguely see the shape of Heavy's frame, especially the silver and red colored sections of his armor. He held out his hands again and waited for Heavy to place his below them, before putting his hands in the other's and squeezeing gently 

"i'll let ye lead, takin' it slow, aye?".

"Hook, i don't know-". 

"ye'll be fine Heavy, nay one be watchin', ye can loosen up a li'l. when i step me right ped back, just follow with yer left one...". 

the two slowly moved as Hook explained the steps 

"aye, just like tha'! yer doin good! now step back to where ye had yer peds before, switch yer hip onto yer other ped". 

"like this?" Heavy asked questioningly. Hook knew he was still unsure about this whole thing. so, he continued to encourage him "aye! Now step back on yer right ped" he said, smiling at the other warmly. he knew Heavy was smart and would catch on to the basic steps fairly quickly "now just stay repeatin' tha' with me fer a bit" Heavy muttered something Hook didn't quite catch but it sounded vaguely positive. 

"this be nice, aye? Now just follow tha' music" he watched the other concentrate, seemingly counting the beat of the music in his head before starting to move accordingly. their earlier slow shuffle sped up into what could actually be taken for a simple dance. Hook could've sworn he even saw Heavy crack a small fond smile.

the two stepped back and forth for a while, basking in eachother's quiet presence. "I suppose i can see why you were so giggly now. this is...pleasant". Hook couldn't help but chuckle softly at the other's admittance of having fun. 

"lets try somethin' else! ye just continue like ye be, aye? When ye be steppin' back to tell me ye want me to do a different move, let go with yer right hand" he explained. Heavy nodded and after repeating the basic steps a few more times he let go of Hook with one hand and as he stepped backwards. Hook, instead of following him, twirled in a clockwise direction before returning to position as Heavy stepped back into place to start the basic steps again. Hook watched the other's expression turn into that of confusion and chuckled "donnae worry, ye be playin' the part that ain't be spinnin' "³ Heavy gave him a hesitant, but thankful, nod "good".

From then on, the two danced together for the next hour or so. Hook got twirled around every so often, chuckling softly and smiling at eachother. He got the impression that his idea hadn't been as bad as the other had expected. Heavy even managed to surprise the pirate by gently pulling hook's hands outwards to the sides for a different move, which he followed, sidestepping in unison along with the truck. 

"full o' supprises, ain't ye, mech?" He teased. the other simply chuffed a laugh at him. They continued dancing, not noticing the music changing between different songs, slowly standing closer and closer before they eventually stopped dancing.

they just held eachother gently as they rested. Hook smugly looked up at the other old mech, nuzzling his cheek against Heavy's "thanks fer dancin' with me, ye brute~" Hook wasnt exactly much for saying 'thanks' but for once, he didnt mind.