dens_tf_den | NaNoWriMo 2013 Chapter 2

Chapter Two: Change of Scenery

Knockout had been acting strange lately, Breakdown decided as he made his way through the human settlement on a lesser utilized patrol route that he had bribed a Vehicon with extra rations to get. As he finished a second pass on the street that brought him alongside the C&D Car Wash, he flashed his lights toward the main window of the building. Pulling around the back of the building to the entrance to one of the larger bays, a tall human woman with curly red hair that reminded Breakdown of Knockout, due to the particular shade of red it was, stepped out and nodded a greeting to the blue sports utility vehicle.

"I was starting to wonder if you would ever show up today, Breakdown. Busy day at work?"

"Something like that, Dallas. Doc has been acting weird lately. Think you could work him into your schedule for a full detailing session sometime soon?" This was the biggest secret Breakdown had kept from his fellow Decepticons. If any of them ever found out that he had broken cover to receive a wash from a human, he was not sure he could live down the ridicule. However, Knockout was his best friend. And he was worried about the medic. He usually declined the offer of a full roof to wheels detailing session, as there was no real point to it, in his processor, but he knew how Knockout enjoyed being pampered in such a manner.

"I will have to check my appointment book, but I think I can get him in on Thursday, if you do not mind being bumped up an hour and having Cat wash you." Dallas said as she moved to check the hoses and soap levels in preparation of giving Breakdown a good washing. He was not as meticulous as Knockout, but having a wash every few days was a luxury he felt he could afford. Dallas was thorough, and always made sure there were no nails in his tires, or debris caught in his wheel wells where he could not reach.

"I do not mind. Cat is not as good at getting under the wheel wells as you are, but that is not her fault. Her hands are bigger than yours are. Take the payment for giving Knockout a full detailing session out of the money I gave you last week." Then Breakdown was letting out an undignified squeak as Dallas sprayed him right in the grill. She always started with the grill, which made talking a bit difficult at times, but at least she could get the organic internals off of the surface and could get the internals that had wound up missing his grill entirely and ended up embedded in the screen behind the grill.

"I will make note to do so, Breakdown. That will leave you enough for your session on Thursday, next Monday, and next Thursday. You can worry about paying me for the next few sessions next week, alright?" With that, she was moving on to spraying down the rest of his chassis. The water was warm, and she was mindful of where the worst of the still tender welds from his most recent scrape with the Autobots were.

"Fair enough." Breakdown settled onto his shocks, giving Dallas more access to his roof. He knew she could more than likely reach his roof on her own, given her larger than average height, but it often made the whole washing process go a bit faster if he helped where he could. Dallas never once said anything about needing the help, but at the same time, she never told him to stop, so unless the human woman did say something, Breakdown would continue to lower himself on his shocks during washings.

"So tell me about him." Dallas said as she reached to scrub off a particularly stubborn piece of road tar from a fender. Breakdown had to stop zoning out long enough to think of who the human could mean. Then his processor returned to their earlier conversation and the request made sense.

"Knockout? He is kind of picky about how he looks. Hates it when his finish gets ruined, so I have gotten really good at working as a buffer. I do not think you will have any problems with him in that regard, though. You do good work." Dallas suddenly stopped scrubbing, causing Breakdown to sweep his scanners over her and wonder why her internal temperature was slightly elevated. "Dallas? Is something wrong?"

Dallas shook her head, a strange expression on her face. "No, nothing is wrong, Breakdown. I just... I do not hear that very often from people. Thank you." With that, she was returning to scrubbing the blue sports utility vehicle down so she could rinse him free of soap and debris. Breakdown wondered at that, but only for a few moments, as Dallas began scrubbing inside his wheel wells, and he quickly forgot how to process thoughts.