Chapter Text
“It’s just like being on wheels.”
For some reason Joule didn’t believe that. Coming off of the tracks was one thing, but having her wheels removed and replaced with blades? It wasn’t comfortable in the slightest. She felt as though a piece of her was missing. Volta seemed less perturbed however. Well, of course she wasn’t bothered. This had been her idea anyway, as soon as she found out the nearby lake had frozen over. Apparently an engine like Electra would crack the ice, but for small trucks like them, especially Joule with no fuel source to speak of, would be fine.
Volta helped Joule to her feet, who immediately pulled a face. She felt so… stationary. With no wheels to propel her, she was stuck in one place, unless she moved her legs herself. Each step towards the ice felt unnatural. But with Volta holding her hands and leading her with such a reassuring smile, Joule couldn’t find it in herself to stop it.
Volta was much more comfortable on the blades, each step as balanced and intentional compared to Joule’s nervous trotting. It created a dynamic between them Joule didn’t know if she liked. She was relying on Volta completely and utterly, a weakness Joule didn’t like feeling. She liked to be in control of situations wherever possible.
Then Volta stepped back and Joule felt the ground underneath her change. The sound of metal hitting ice hit her ears and Joule looked down with her mouth open, then looked back at Volta. She was on a lake. She was a train, on a lake. Every part of this felt unnatural. Volta slid backwards, and Joule was forced to take another step, which just made the freezer truck laugh. The melodic sound reverberated around the trees that lined the edge.
“Stop walking. Act like you’re on tracks. Just push off and glide. It’s just like rolling on tracks.” Volta spoke calmly and clearly. It was the same tone she used on Joule when she was agitated. Joule didn’t know if she liked that or not. But she followed instructions, pressing into the ice a little and pushing forward. She did slide a little, immediately wobbling but being held steady by Volta. She went again, and again, and again, going a little further, and feeling a little more balanced with each step.
“There, you can probably go on your own now.” Volta said, dropping Joule’s hands. She immediately darted forward to grab hold of Volta again, but the freezer truck had already pushed off and was dancing circles around Joule. She laughed at the other’s expression.
“Want to see what else I can do?” Volta called to Joule, who tried to sputter out a demand for Volta to get back over to her, but didn’t quite get the words. Volta just laughed and took off again, gaining some speed before leaping into the air and spinning. She landed on one leg, the other outstretched. Of course her damn truck was just as elegant on ice as she was on wheels.
Not wanting to be left behind, Joule started to push off alone towards Volta. Without the other truck, she was less confident, and a lot slower. But she started to gain a rhythm and was soon chasing Volta down.
Until she wasn’t.
Suddenly unstable, Joule’s leg went out from underneath her, and suddenly she was on one knee. She pulled a face at the pain shooting up her leg. Luckily there didn’t appear to be any plating damage. It more so caught the truck by surprise.
“Are you about to propose to me?” An amused voice came from above her. Volta had slid over, and was now offering Joule a hand.
“You wish.” Joule grumbled, pouting but standing up with some help from the other truck.
“You alright though?” Volta asked, genuine concern seeping into her voice. Joule nodded and batted her away as she started to check over her.
“You better not leave me again though.” She huffed, which only made Volta laugh again. She took Joule’s hand in hers and the two pushed off together. Maybe Joule could get used to the ice if it meant she got to hear Volta laugh more…