Runaway

Chapter Three - Concerning Company

"Wheeler?"

"Well, hello there, pipsqueak. Harass Wildrider an' Dragstrip lately?"

"No! They always harassed me!"

Wheeler crossed his servos, still glaring down at one of the younger mecha who'd gotten him in trouble at school. Many times.

"How'd ya end up here? You were still in Praxus when I left. Where's yer investigator friend?"

Steeldust's plating, which had been flared slightly, clamped down tight against his frame. He glared at the other youngling.

"None of your business," the black and navy hissed.

"Did ya finally get kicked out, orphan?" The black and green mechling leaned against the open-door frame. He smirked, seeing he'd hit a nerve.

"No!"

"Then what happened? Go through something bad that ya don't want ta talk 'bout?"

"What would you know about it, Wheeler?" Steeldust snarled.

The look in the former bully's optics changed as he winced. But it was only there for an astroklik before being replaced with the more familiar, nasty grin.

Wheeler let out a short laugh. "Wouldn't you like ta know?"

Tilting his helm, Steeldust watched his old rival carefully. This Wheeler was slightly different than when they'd last seen each other.

But that was about two vorns ago now. In Praxus.

With a sharp twitch of his doorwings, Steeldust straightened to his full height. Looking up to meet Wheeler's optics, he spoke.

"I'll tell you the same thing I told you before. Leave. Me. Alone."

Wheeler just looked down at his once rival, an amused expression on his faceplate. "What 'bout yer friends? They were added in dat last time ya told me dat. Not friends wit' the two Praxies no more?"

Steeldust opened his mouth to yell at him, but then closed it, biting is glossa.

"It's not worth it, Steel," Smokescreen had said once.

The speedster had believed him then. And he believed him now.

Even if there was a possibility that Smokescreen might have left him too.

Plus, Swindle was probably waiting for him.

Pushing past the older youngling, Steeldust entered the building that was apparently his new home.

That he would be sharing with Wheeler.

"Joy," thought Steeldust.

He soon found Swindle waiting for him at the end of the short hallway. He fell into step as the noble walked around the corner, heading down another semi dark hallway.

The youngling warily looked around. This place wasn't as spooky as some buildings he'd been in, but he still wasn't sure he liked it.

He wasn't too sure about being in the same place as Wheeler again either.

"Of all mecha from school to run into here, it just had to be the bully from Praxus. Nobody I knew from Polyhex, nobody I actually liked from Praxus," Steeldust thought. "With my luck lately, I shouldn't be surprised."

Swindle jerked from his thoughts by speaking.

"You and Wheeler have met before?"

With a nod, Steeldust replied, tone glum. "Yeah. We went to school together for a term."