Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

The crash must have been recent, for Electra didn’t see it. It was sort of tucked to the side, but still enough to be a hazard (That fact quickly presented itself). Electra and CB were in the lead. That thought propelled Electra down the hill. They took off their brakes, swerving around a turn in the track.

There was a panting behind the two, and Electra turned away to see Greaseball catching up to them, racing alone. It appeared Pearl had been ditched somewhere else along the track. "Oh please! That can't be legal!" Electra pushed on ahead. CB put on his brakes and Greaseball began to catch up to the two. "CB, brakes off!" The caboose's eyes were focused on something ahead on the track, where Electra's attention should have been. His face was pale, mouth open, about to shout something. Electra cut him off, their patience waning with the freight. They should have just snagged Joule and dealt with her complaining. "Can't hear me Caboose?! I said brakes-"

Electra's skate caught on a piece of rubble and something flew into the back of CB. There was an awful metal on metal sound as well as a wooden splintering as the three cars all went tumbling. Electra faceplanted into the ground and they tumbled away from the other two cars. The first thought to cross their mind was how expensive a new paint job would be. As they shakily pushed themself up, the annoying steam train zoomed by with this freight in tow, and Electra got a front row seat to the view of them crossing the finish line. A stream of curses left the Electric engine's mouth as cheering erupted. They sighed as they pushed themself up. Yes, there would be other races, but they were so damn close!

Turning their attention back to themself, Electra surveyed their own injuries. Coolant was dripping down their face from their nose, and they could feel scrapes on their metal plating, but it seemed their racing helmet had taken a lot of the damage for them. Hopefully their mohawk wasn't too messed up. If not, Wrench would simple have to help them manicure it. "Are you alright Diesel?!" There was no need for animosity now that the race was over. If the diesel engine had won, Electra would have had some very different opinions on the matter, but they saw no point in rivalry while in between races. They were a little frazzled by the engine crashing into them and his freight. Speaking of-

Greaseball pushed himself up with a grunt. "Greaseball? Are ya hurt?! That crash looked awful!" Dinah's voice rang out amongst the noise that was beginning to grow. Between the cheers and the sirens from repair and medic trucks, the trackside was growing loud. "I called the repair trucks, they should be here any sec and-" Dinah cut herself off with a scream. Electra turned, their face paling. They had found their freight.

"Don't look at 'im sweetheart. The medic's will grab him just- just look away." Greaseball shielded Dinah from the awful sight that was the crash. CB laid face down on the ground, wooden splinters scattered all around the crash site. His chest was caved in, the wood warped and torn to show the hollow box inside of the caboose. Electra's hand shot up to their mouth. They felt like they were going to be sick as they studied their racing partner closer. His legs were snapped. His left arm was smashed under him, the right one partially snapped off his body.

Electra looked down at their own couplers, finding CB's arm was smashed inside. Electra turned away. They had to look away in order to regain their composure. Their components all raced up to them, Wrench immediately taking them aside, beginning a quick check up. "Don't worry about me. My partner, the caboose-" Electra shut their eyes and turned, pointing to where CB had lain in the ground. "Will he be alright?" Electra opened their eyes again and faced their repair tuck. Wrench looked concerned.

"I don't know. I'm not specialized in non-electric vehicles, but from what I understand, freight are quite resilient." Wrench's unfounded confidence made Electra distraught. Killerwatt skated up to their other side and the two components began to guide Electra back to the rail yard.

"He wasn't a freight!" Concern spread through Electra. They turned around, seeing police already roping off the area of the crash. Red splinters covered the area. It made Electra sick to look at. "He was a caboose! Made of wood! He-" Electra shook their head, shutting their eyes in extreme concern. Where was this emotion coming from? They had only met the little caboose a few weeks ago, when he introduced himself to the electric engine when they settled into the rail yard. He had been a cheerful face to see out on jobs, accompanying the freights with their tasks. CB had chatted with Electra at a party after the first heat of races. It had been mostly small talk, but Electra couldn't seem to focus on the caboose's words. They were too focused on the way a small dimple appeared in the small train's cheek when he laughed, or the blush that had spread across his face when Electra had complemented his efforts to rig the first two races, as silly as it sounded now.

Electra thought about the caboose a lot that evening. As the electric engine laid in their repair shop while receiving a new coat of paint, they didn't stop thinking about CB once. As the events of the crash replayed in their mind for what had to be at least the hundredth time that evening, their face curled into a frown. "Electra, stay still," Wrench snapped. "The paint is almost dry." The snip of scissors continued as Wrench began fixing Electra's mohawk. It had been messed up terribly in the crash, and appearance was always at the front of the electric engine's mind. They continued thinking about the caboose some more- the way he always tipped his hat and cheerfully waved at the engine whenever they crossed paths, the way he immediately jumped up to help Electra in the final race. He was a good friend, Electra thought. His mouth once more formed a frown at that word. "Stay. Still," Wrench hissed. Electra huffed.

Friend. Why did that upset him? They were friends, were they not? The caboose had always been very trust worthy to Electra. They had celebrated the night after the first races at that party. They both had a drink, exchanged plesantries, Electra got lost in his gorgeous blue eyes and wondered what his curls of black hair would feel like- Electra's eyes snapped open and they sat up, an artificial blue flush no doubt covering their face. "Are you serious?!" The Electric engine sat up skating towards the door. "Don't complain when your paint job looks like shit!" Wrench sounded quite peeved, but Electra paid her no mind. They had to go to the repair shop. They had to make sure their partner was okay.

Chapter Text

Truth be told, CB had not been invited to the party. He had only been in the yard for a month, roughly, and even so he was staying in some rundown shack outside of the yard, not even in with the freights like everyone assumed. The freights were all dumb enough that none of them had caught on yet, and the Red Caboose wouldn’t be surprised if it stayed that way for a long while. At least until he had to skip town again.

The party was being held in the diesel engine’s shed. It was huge enough to fit at least four trains, and caboose was amazed this guy had money like that to throw around. The door was unlocked and CB slipped right in. The music was loud and the house was crammed- it was just your typical house party. CB didn’t remember what it was for, probably a win for the diesel engine. The caboose wasn’t extremely interested in racing, so he didn’t pay attention. Just because the yard he was in was a race yard didn’t mean he was a racing train. Besides, who would want a caboose anyways. It was all about the coaches. The sleek, skinny, sexy little coaches who did as they were told. CB could never live like that. He lived as he wanted to and dared to do as he wanted.

“CB! You’re here?!” Speaking of coaches, Dinah skated on up to the caboose and wrapped him in a hug. She smelled faintly like alcohol, and she held a drink in her hand. It sloshed over the edges of the cup as she grabbed CB’s hand and began to skate deeper into the party. “Who invited you?” The caboose sheepishly smiled.

“Funny story, I just sort of showed up.” Dinah smiled. “I hope you don’t mind.” The coach playfully pushed CB, although slightly too hard.

“Nonsense! You’re welcome here anytime, even if it isn’t a party. Besides, it’s half as much my party as it is Greaseball’s!” Dinah was the only other car CB could count as a friend here in the yard. She was sweet and sassy, as well as an amazing chef. When she just so happened to “accidentally” make extra food during meals, she would always radio CB and give him some. She never accepted anything in return, except for the occasional gossip session when she had told the other coaches everything already. “Now come on, let’s get you a drink!” The two skated over to a cooler and CB grabbed a beer, cracking it open and taking a sip.

Greaseball skated over to the two after a few minutes, nodding in greeting to the caboose. “There you are! I was just telling CB about all the engines who came in for the races!”

“There’s a lot of international competitors this time ‘round,” CB commented.

“Yeah, but it won’t be a problem for me and my Dinah, will it?” The diesel engine grabbed his coach into a kiss and the dining car let out a stream of drunken giggles. The two very frequently cross the limit of what CB considered the maximum amount of PDA.

“Yeah, not even that new electric engine stands a chance,” Dinah said. CB turned back to the two. Dinah was leaning heavily into her engine, whether it be out of fondness or need of support. CB guessed it was the latter, with her hiccups that she let out every few seconds.

“Electric engine?” CB didn’t know there was any type of engine other than steam or diesel in the rail yard. Greaseball took a sip of a beer that had somehow appeared in his hand and gestured toward the corner of the living room.

“Yeah. They’re in there, some new engine. Filthy rich, have a whole set of coaches just for them.” the caboose followed the engine’s gaze until he saw who the two were talking about. They were a lanky engine, all sleek with chrome plating. A very large mohawk sat atop their head, adding to their height, and to their allure.

“Starlight above, that is a gorgeous model,” the caboose whispered. Dinah snorted.

“Go shoot your shot! Maybe they need a racing partner or something!” Greaseball didn’t look very pleased. CB ignored him, the engine was going to be racing against him, after all. The caboose gave Dinah a wink as he skated over to the electric engine.

The train sat in the middle of the couch, one of their coaches on either side, and three leaning on the back of the couch. None of them were talking, and they all looked very, very bored. CB skated up and stopped in front of the engine, taking in their very handsome features.

Their paint job was painstakingly done- eyeshadow and eyeliner creating a menacing look. Their lips were black and sparking, and they looked oh so kissable to CB. Starlight above, he was what, one drink in and already horny? “Can I help you?” The engine crossed their legs, arms crossing. The two coaches on either side of the engine leaned forward.

“Hey. The name’s CB. I’m a caboose from the freight yard.” The engine looked him over.

“I can tell. Electra. Electric racing engine.” They reached a hand out and CB reached both of his out, shaking enthusiastically. As the engine withdrew their hand, CB noticed a set of sharply manicured nails on the engine’s hands, the same color as their lips.

“I heard you’re new in town, here for the race?” The engine nodded, seemingly bored. “Yeah, I don’t really pay too much attention to the races, but I guess I better start now that a gorgeous engine like you will be in them.”

For the first time, and emotion other than disgust or boredom spread across the engine’s face. They blushed, a blue flush spreading across their face. A slight smile reached their expression. “Well, aren’t you a clever little thing?” CB smiled, putting his hands in his pockets. “Are pick up lines all you do?”

“Nah, I know a few tricks too, we can head back to your place and I’ll show em to ya if you’d like?” The engine threw their head back and laughed. Their coaches looked bored.

“I like you, little caboose. Wrench, Krupp, off. Give my guest here some space.” The two coaches on either side of the engine got up and left. The engine moved to the side of the coach, offering the over to CB.

The Red Caboose sat down and began to chat with the engine, although the flirting died down until the end of the night. Electra had at least four more drinks, not counting the two empty glasses that his coaches (components, CB learned he called them) had held for him.

While the party was dying down, Electra grabbed CB’s hand and pulled him outside, none of his competent following. The fact confused the caboose- Electra had self described them all as a set. “Your lackey’s ain’t coming with us?” Electra looked down to smile at CB. The engine had to have been nearly 7 feet tall, making them a whole 2 feet taller than CB.

“They don’t need to see this,” the engine whispered as they leaned down to kiss the caboose. CB kissed back, even though it wasn’t the greatest on account of the awkward angle paired with the height difference and the taste of alcohol. The engine broke away, standing back up and skating back inside. “I need to be getting home. I have consumed far too much alcohol and I know I will have a hangover in the morning. You give me a call, alright caboose?”

CB gave a mock salute and watched the engine return inside, only to reappear a few minutes later with their components in tow. “I will be seeing you, CB.” The components all followed the engine out in a line, the last one in tow turning to hand the caboose a scrap of paper. CB looked down at it, seeing a phone number neatly printed out with what looked like sparkly gel pen. The caboose’s cheeks flushed and he looked up at the engine.

“See ya!” The caboose felt lighter than air as he skated back to his little hut. He tucked the paper under a loose floorboard where he kept other trinkets. The Red Caboose didn’t even have a phone number, but maybe if they saved up money and took up a few more jobs. Sleep didn’t come easy, but the morning came quickly. He couldn’t stop thinking about the engine all day while he did his work. Several times the freights yelled at him to ease off the brakes, and CB knew they were on because his mind was wandering.

After work, CB hung around the yard, hoping to see the engine, and by Starlight did he get lucky. Electra was skating away from the tracks, head in palm, mumbling something under their breath. Deep circles laid under their eyes, and their makeup wasn’t as on point as it had been the night before, but the engine still looked gorgeous to CB. “Hey pretty thing,” CB said, cat calling to sell the sizzle.

The electric engine sneered up at him, a look of utter disdain on his face. “Excuse me?Do I know you?” CB’s smile fell as the engine skated up to him, standing at their full height and looking down with their lips curled into a frown.

“The party last night?” It was CB’s turn to be confused. “We talked? We hangout we…” The caboose trailed off. There was more he wanted to say. We flirted, we kissed! You gave me your number.

“Ah. I see. Unfortunately my systems were… overloaded by the amount of alcohol I consumed. Can you remind me of your name?” It felt like someone had taken an axe to CB’s chest. He frowned, meeting Electra’s hand to shake for the second time in twenty-four hours.

“CB- the Red Caboose. I live over in the freight yard.” The caboose looked down at his skates. Just when he let himself get attached.

“Well Caboose, I’m terribly busy, so I doubt we will cross paths, but I wish you luck in whatever you little cars seem to do.” The electric engine skated off CB feeling as if he had just been punched in the gut. It would have been way too awkward to approach the engine about what had happened. They probably wouldn’t have even believed him. Besides, CB had never heard of an engine being with a caboose. The rear cars were commonly ranked the lowest in society, often looked down upon in every aspect of work. Maybe that’s why the party had felt so special to CB.

The caboose never told anyone about that night. Thankfully Dinah had been whisked away by Greaseball, and the two weren’t seen for the rest of the night, up to Starlight knows what.He vowed to just keep it a little crush. There was no harm in that. When CB crossed paths with Electra he would wave cheerfully, hoping that maybe, something would slip through about that night, even if it was just the conversation they shared in between flirting. (Although, CB admitted to himself, most of their conversation was flirting). Sometimes the engine would wave back. Sometimes they would greet CB with a “Hello, Caboose.”

One time the two even had a job together. Even if Electra was at the front, pulling all three Rockies and one of his components (CB could never remember their names, and they all looked nearly identical to him), and Cb had to be at the back, acting as the brake car as they sped downhill. CB let himself dream all day, thinking about how strong the engine was, how they were pulling five cars with ease, how it would have been so easy for the engine to whisk CB away, carry him to their shed and throw them down on their bed and utterly ravishing CB-

But it was just a crush. Just a harmless little crush that no one had to know about. So what if CB stared. All the coaches were constantly oogling at Greaseball while he trained for his races. It was just a tiny little crush, one that would never become reality. Electra was at the pinnacle of racing engines, and CB was all the way at the bottom of the totem pole. “Somethings just aren’t meant to happen”, CB reasoned with himself. A caboose getting an engine, that was definitely one of them.

Chapter Text

The first thing CB remembers is a sense of foreignness in his body. It was a vaguely familiar sensation: the one of new parts. This time, however, it felt very different. Almost his entire body felt gone and non-existent, yet strangely there and numb.

Without visually assessing the damage, it felt like his entire body was composed of new parts. ‘What the hell happened that such a big repair had to be done?,’ CB started to ask himself. Then he remembered the crash.

That awful feeling of not being able to do anything as Electra tripped over shrapnel, Greaseball smashing into CB’s back and ramming him into the ground. He remembered frantically sending out a distress signal on his radio, because all he could feel was pain, he couldn’t move his arms, or his legs, and the scariest part was he didn’t know how badly he was hurt. CB was just a wooden box, nothing to leak out. It could have been just a scrape or it could have been a total wipeout. From the amount of pain the caboose remembered, it was the latter.

The Red Caboose opened his eyes, trying to sit up so he could find someone, demand answers, or at least demand for something to take away the pain that was running through his limbs.

At this slight action though, a sharp strap ran through his head and CB winced, curling back into what he now realized was a very uncomfortable bed. “I’m here, I’m here, caboose.” There was only one engine who called him that in a kind way. CB opened his eyes to find Electra sitting by his repair bed, a soft smile displayed on their face. “I am very happy that you are awake. I was very worried.”

“Why are you here? Where- No. What happened?” CB was confused. Things weren’t making sense, like why he hadn’t been arrested for the crash yet and why this gorgeous engine was all of the sudden very concerned for him.

“The crash. Do you remember?” CB nodded. He had seen it up ahead with plenty of time to tell his engine to stop, but the caboose froze. In all his years of orchestrating crashes, it never occurred to him that he would be the victim of one. The only thing he could think to do was to slam on his brakes, and that didn’t even do much. If he had just spat it out, everything would have been avoidable.

“You were injured very badly. You’ve had a lot of replacements. All of your limbs and a majority of your frame.” CB looked down at himself, and beneath the thin garment of clothing the repair shop had given him, he could tell that the majority of his wood paneling was unpainted.

“This feels weird.” CB wrinkled his nose as he struggled to move his left arm. The joints in his fingers felt awfully stiff, and even though movement was returning to him, it seemed impossible to pick anything up.

“They replaced your entire arm. A new model, something with metallic joints.” CB frowned. This had to have been expensive- a lot more than he could afford.

“Who paid for all this?” For the first time since he had woken up, he looked- really looked- at the electric engine. At the question, his features softened and he gently smiled.

“I did.” CB tried returning the smile, but it didn’t stick. “Is something wrong?” The electric engine leaned forward, concern displayed on their features. “Are you in pain? I can retrieve the mechanics and-“

“No, it’s just- I can’t pay for these repairs. I- I won’t be able to pay you back.” CB looked down at the fancy new limbs. He had once dreamed of an upgrade, new brakes and new wheels that would make him faster, make jobs easier, but prices went up faster than his earnings did.

“Nonsense. No payment is necessary from you.” The caboose looked up at the engine. Instead of a cold, expressionless face Electra normally wore, they looked at CB with a smile. A smile that said they were happy that the caboose was finally awake.

“Electra, that’s awfully out of character for you? Did somethin’ happen while I was out?” The engine sighed.

“Not exactly. I did a lot of thinking.” There was silence for a few minutes. “I was very concerned for you, CB. I was afraid you would be scrapped. I found that I care for you a good deal and was so worried that- that you were gone.” It was unlike the electric engine to stumble over their words.

CB leaned forward, taking Electra’s hand in his. “It’s not your fault, you know? I’m in crashes all the time, always get a little banged up. Don’t worry about me. I got these fancy-dancy new limbs and I’m better than before.” The engine squeezed CB’s hand.

“I should have braked. I apologize. I wasn’t focused on the race. We could have had a win. You could have had your first.” CB opened his mouth to speak and shrugged, then regretted it, as pain shot through his chest. Electra jumped forward, standing to help CB lean back against his bed. “Relax, your body needs to adjust to the new parts.”

“I’m fine Electra. What I was gonna say was I don’t really care too much about racing. I’m honored I got to race with such a high tech engine like you.” Electra blushed, their cheeks turning blue.

“Oh my- well thank you,” they said, flustered. “I appreciate your offer to race with me.” CB nodded, smiling. There was more silence, still uncomfortable. Electra opened their mouth to speak a few times, before finally breathing in and breaking the silence. “I said I did a lot of thinking while you were… down.”

“Yeah? What about it?” The electric engine clasped their hands together in their lap.

“It was about you. Almost all of it was about you.” Blush covered CB’s face. “My memory of the night is still clouded with alcohol, but that party that we met at- we kissed.” CB swallowed, then nodded, slowly. The electric engine paused again, thinking over what they wanted to say. “CB, if you became scrap, I never would have forgiven myself. Quite honestly, I’ve never cared about another car like I’ve cared for you. That party- the kiss- I don’t know if it was the alcohol talking from both of us but-“

“Electra?” CB’s voice was calm. Electra hummed, nervousness displayed across their face. It was so unlike the engine to be acting this way. “I didn’t have anything to drink at that party.”

“Oh- oh starlight-“ CB grabbed Electra’s hand, with some difficulty, and leaned forward. “I just thought we were both drunk and it didn’t mean anything, but I wanted it to, starlight, I really wanted it to mean something.” Electra leaned into CB, holding the caboose gently. It was an uncomfortable position, but the engine didn’t mention that.

The hug lasted for a while. CB thought he heard Electra crying, and knew he felt coolant drying on his shoulder, but the caboose didn’t mention anything. “I have you, I’m safe. I’m gonna be okay.” Electra nodded into CB’s shoulder, no doubt messing up their makeup, but for once appearance was at the back of their mind. So many things were flooding through their head at once, the forefront of those was something they were too nervous to vocalize.

“CB?” The engine pushed away, their hands still entertwined with the caboose’s. CB smiled gently, his eyes meeting Electra’s and waiting for what the engine had to say. “You can say no, but I would really enjoy it to kiss you again.” Blush spread across CB’s face and he smiled.

“I’m glad you asked. I would really enjoy that too.” The engine leaned forward, taking CB’s face in their hands. CB reached his arms around the electric engine, resting them on their shoulders as the two’s lips met. It was a soft kiss at first, a product of the nervousness on both sides. They broke away for a moment, taking a breath, before CB leaned back in.

This kiss was much more passionate. Electra leaned forward some more, pushing CB back into his bed. For the moment, it was heaven. There was nothing else in the world but the red caboose and his engine. CB felt tiny little electric shocks running through him at the contact/ It was addicting. Electra pushed away for a moment, eyes hazy and lips growing swollen. They dipped back in, lips barely touching CB’s when the door opened.

“Electra?” CB couldn’t see very much, on account of Electra still sucking his face off, but he thought he recognized the voice as one of the components. “Ahem. Electra?” The engine pushed away, eyes narrowing.

“What? I’m busy, Killerwatt.” The component looked amused. He smiled and nodded.

“I can tell. I came here to inform you that the caboose is fully repaired. He can go home.” Electra’s frown disappeared at this.

“Marvelous! Is there anything that needs to be done? Paperwork or-” Killerwatt shook his head.

“Fully cleared. He is encouraged to leave as soon as possible.” CB felt a small smile creep up his face. Electra stood up, fixing their mohawk in the reflection of the window while CB pushed himself up.

Killerwatt had brought a bag of clothes with him, and Electra helped CB gently put them on. “I can do this myself,” CB said, wincing as he lifted his arms up to shrug on a shirt.

“I know,” The engine replied, their features softening as they helped CB stand up. He was a little wobbly on his wheels, but once the engine guided his hands into their couplers and the two were moving, that nervousness faded. “Are you comfortable? I can have one of the components pick you up if-”

“Electra, I’m fine.” CB couldn’t see Electra’s face, but he heard them hum with a smile, and that was good enough for the caboose. CB leaned forward into the engine on the skate home, his face pressed into the fabric of Electra’s clothes, feeling the cool metal underneath and inhaling the scent of machinery. CB shut his eyes and let his wheels move on their own. A few times he slipped, but Electra steadied them. It was only as they slowed down much sooner than CB anticipated that he pushed away and opened his eyes.

They were skating up to the huge, mansion-like shed that Electra stayed in with their components. “Why’d you take me here?” Electra disconnected CB’s hands from their couplers, instead moving to skate next to the caboose.

“I took you home.” CB looked up at the engine, confused. They just smiled. “Are you alright with that?” The caboose nodded, holding the engine’s hand tightly.

“Yes,” He said, a tear threatening to spill out of his eye. “Very much so.”