How To Belong {ROTB, 2023}

Chapter Two

   Mirage cut a U-turn, sliding down a side street and tricking cops into hitting other cars. "They just aren't as nimble, I guess," Porscha grinned. "Uh, issue one on my part," Porscha sat up, looking around. "I don't know this area." She admitted. Noah looked back before turning forward, "The bridge," He paused, "The bridge, take the Williamsburg!" Noah directed. "Hey, look at that! Boy savior," Porscha grinned. Noah looked at her, "Don't get ahead of yourself." He shook his head. "Right, we're still being pursued by cops. Well, you are anyway." She added. The cop ran up behind them, slamming against Mirage's tail end. "What the fuck!" Porscha whipped around, "You dumb bastard, don't hit him!" She screamed. "Him?" Noah gave her a crazy look, "Are you serious?" The cop rushed again, slamming into them again. Mirage's ass end broke loose, skidding them sideways and then into reverse as he caught it. "Good control, baby," Porscha stared at the cop in front of them. "Oh, nah, oh, nah," Noah tensed, his nerves returning. Mirage flew backward into traffic, easily keeping his pace going. Until the cop hit them again.

   "Son of a," Porscha jerked, almost hitting her head on the dash as Mirage pulled the seatbelt taut against her form. She sat back up as Noah cursed, blinking against them as Porscha shielded her eyes from the beams. Noah leaned way back, "Can you do something, please?" He gripped the middle console. Mirage flashed on his own high beam lights before Porscha felt him shift. "Ah, Mirage," She whined, shutting her eyes as he transformed around them. Within seconds, he returned to driving forward with the cop behind him. "Oh, god, nah. Nah, nah, nah, nah, nah, nah!" Noah looked around with wide eyes. Porscha reopened her eyes, "I hate that!" She cringed, "So disorienting." "Yeah, no kidding!" Noah returned. "Come in, come in! Can you hear me, Mirage?" Optimus' voice rang over the radio. Suddenly, lights danced around the car as projections shone outwards, materializing into solid-looking forms that mocked Mirage's alt. Now, instead of one car, there were five identical Porsche 911s driving on the bridge. Noah looked around at them in shock as Porscha smiled, "Good call," She praised. 

   One projection showed Noah and Porscha turned, flipping off the cops behind them as Noah squinted at it. "Classy," Porscha joked. On the other side, projection Noah appeared to be driving while Porscha twirled a knife. "I could never, but I'm flattered, Mirage, babe," Porscha grinned. "Mirage," Noah said the name, the meaning seemingly clicking with him. Porscha smiled, "Best Autobot you'll ever have the pleasure of meeting." She flaunted. When the cop finally did catch up with them, he hesitated, not seeming to know who to chase. It was exactly what they wanted. As the cop picked his poison, one of the projections disappeared, leaving him to crash head-on into a highway divide barrier. Noah whirled around, eyes wide as Porscha cringed, "Shit," She muttered. Noah looked shocked, "Hey, it's just a couple of water barrels to cushion blows like that. He's probably fine," She assured. The male looked at her, sinking in his seat. Mirage turned a corner, rushing down a back ally. "Yo, yo, yo, yo, slow down, slow down!" Noah urged. As they pulled in, Noah was tossed from the vehicle in a not-so-graceful tumble. Porscha climbed across the seats to climb out his side, moving to him.

   The sound of metal clicking and grinding alerted Porscha that her partner was making his presence known. "Woo-hoo-hoo-hoo! That felt good!" Mirage yelled. Porscha smiled as she stood over Noah, watching Mirage stir and stretch. She knew he was probably excited after being cooped up for so long. "Get some oil pumping, ya know? Damn! Ugh. I've been cooped up forever, dude. I can't tell you how old it gets. 'Mirage, stay hidden.' 'Mirage, don't draw any attention to yourself.'" The mech mocked Optimus Prime. "Failed and failed," Porscha commented lightly. "And 'Mirage, big is just a movie! You'll never be a real boy!' But that was fun, man. You're fun, dude." Mirage commented, blue optics shifting between the two humans. Porscha laughed, "Fun has a very flexible definition, hotshot," She commented. Mirage smiled before it dropped as he looked at Noah. "Ah, right. This is probably a lot for you, huh?" He squatted, looking at the male. Noah bounced up, dragging Porscha as he grabbed a metal pipe, wielding it like a bat. "What," Porscha was shocked as the male threw her behind him. "Back up," Noah warned. "Hey, woahoahoah! Woah woah, woah, woah, what's with the aggression? I thought after the car chase we were boys. What, are you gonna hit me?" Mirage stayed level and friendly. "He isn't a threat, Noah!" Porscha defended. 

   "Maybe." Noah continued to hold the pipe. Mirage looked at Porscha as she put her hands up, "Boys will be boys." She scoffed. She knew Mirage could handle this on his own. Mirage took a breath, "So it's like that?" He pointed a blaster at Noah. Porscha stood totally still now, watching the two. Mirage wouldn't hurt Noah. Noah didn't back down, though he definitely panicked a little. After a tense moment, Mirage's faceplates loosened, "Hm. Tough guy." He commented as he transformed his arm back, "I like that. I like it a lot." He crossed his arms calmly, emphasizing his words. Porscha smiled, looking at Noah, "See?" She put a hand on the pipe to lower it. "What are you?" Noah's voice shook, "Some sort of possessed car or something?" He looked Mirage up and down. "Pft. Nah, that's not real, man. I'm an alien." Mirage smiled. Porscha deadpanned, "Jesus Christ, Mirage," She stared at him. She then looked at Noah, "He's not lying, he's just an idiot," She commented lightheartedly. "She likes idiots," Mirage grinned. Noah looked between them like they'd just spoken Chinese to him. "So what, like-like E.T.?" Noah responded. "E.T.! The little ugly guy in the basket? Look at this face!" Mirage pointed to his own face.

   Then, he jutted a fist out and leaned towards the male, "The name's Mirage!" He grinned. Noah lowered the pipe even more as he stared at the offered fist. "Come on. gimme a little, gimme a little, gimme a little, give it a little tap." Mirage urged. Noah reluctantly tapped his fist with the mech, "There ya go! Now we're friends!" Mirage seemed enthusiastic. Porscha smiled as Noah looked at her, "And you?" He eyed her. She smiled, "Porscha Del-Rae. But people call me Porscha or Rae." She greeted. "Ohh, you got 'Rae' name privileges!" Mirage grinned. Porscha scoffed, rolling her eyes, "It's not like I have a lot of friends anyway, M." She reminded. He grinned and shrugged, "At least we made a new one," He nodded as he gestured toward Noah. Noah looked at the girl, "This is," He paused, looking at Mirage again lightly. "Insane? Unbelievable? Unreal?" "Yeah, yeah," Noah interrupted her, "Yeah, all that." He agreed. She grinned, "But it's pretty cool being one of a handful of people who know these guys exist." She stared at him. Noah didn't have time to react before the sounds of car tires peeling up reached their ears. "Ah, great. The gangs here," Mirage sighed. "Easy, Mirage," Porscha held her ground. "There are more like you?" Noah tilted his head at Mirage. "Like me? Nah. But be cool so they don't crush you." Mirage grinned. "What?" Noah yelped softly. 

"Yeah, I'd put that pipe down if I were you."