This brief Cars drabble was entered in a contest over on DA. The story is exactly 200 words (as required on the entry rules) and the count does not include the title.
Story is (c) Me
Characters (c) Disney/Pixar Animation Studios
Failure
"You're not an idiot, Doc—"
Doc growled quietly, turning on his friend with glinting cerulean orbs. "You don't get it, do you?! Do you know what I just did to the entire town? I crushed it, that's what! I crushed everyone's hopes and happiness because of my own selfish greed!" He stamped the dirt-brown earth with a tire, dust flying onto his cobalt hide.
"I saw myself in that kid, Sheriff… When I was still in the racing career, I was like a hero to everyone out there. After they just… just threw me aside like that, I didn't want to see the folks 'round here to get their hopes up on someone they couldn't depend on."
"Doc… listen to me, you made a mistake, sure… but that doesn't mean that you destroyed everyone. You can still undo that damage."
Cerulean eyes averted their gaze back to the ground. "He said I was amazing… I dunno how he can think so highly of an old has-been. He was the only one that didn't judge me for my failure…"
Sheriff quietly leaned against the remorseful Hornet, listening to the singing crickets. "You were never a failure to us, Doc… Never."