Author's Notes: You guys knew it was bound to happen sooner or later, but I think I am the first one. Yes, it is a Lightning/Francesco story. I actually wasn't sure if I wanted to do this. Depending on what kind of feedback I get will determine if I make another chapter. There are some Cars 2 spoilers, so just be warned . . . other than that enjoy! Oh, and I was writing this late at night, so excuse any grammatical errors. I will go back another time to correct them . . . just not now.
Pairing: Lightning x Francesco(slash)
Warning: Yaoi.
Lost Within a Secret
Chapter One: Heart of Change
"It doesn't matter how long we may have been stuck in a sense of our limitations. If we go into a darkened room and turn on the light, it doesn't matter if the room has been dark for a day, a week, or ten thousand years - we turn on the light and it is illuminated. Once we control our capacity for love and happiness, the light has been turned on." -Sharon Salzberg
Francesco Bernoulli was a name which every car knew weather respected, or hated. The Italian formula racer grew up in Porta Corsa wanting nothing more than to race. Through the years he honed his skills and made it all the way to the big leagues. Fame was a wonderful achievement, but through all of it he grew lonely. The woman found him attractive, but they were all even more superficial than he was. He loved the attention, but sometimes things got out of hand.
Sometimes he would take a secret trip out to a remote location and try to clear his head. The racer just needed some alone time to try to figure things out. It seemed he had almost everything figured out. He had the perfect life, but there was one thing which he had kept secret his whole life. Something which he didn't think about because of who he was, and how famous he was. He wanted to retain his famous image, but it caused him to feel utterly lonely. Even the great Francesco grew lonely.
With so many beautiful cars following him around like love sick puppies it was amazing he was single. Yet again with his self-centered attitude it wasn't really a surprise at all. He taunted his opponents, and insulted them with these rather irritating quips. There was one opponent which tested him, and ultimately changed him. He did everything he could to intimidate the red race car, but there was something about him. This race car cause strange feelings to stir within the F1 car. It confused him and made him insult the other car even further.
After the World Grand Prix things began to settle down again, and he saw how happy McQueen was with his friends. Most of all he saw how happy the racer was with his girlfriend, and wanted to know how he found happiness. The truth was he wanted to get closer to the racer because these strange feelings were still bothering him. It wasn't easy but he managed to get McQueen alone. He found the red racer perched on a small cliff just outside of Radiator Springs. He was overlooking the beautiful countryside, and it was quite peaceful.
Francesco approached slowly, and stopped beside the other car.
"I 'a see why you like it 'a here." Francesco said startling the other car. "It is 'a beautiful."
McQueen turned to the Formula car, and gave a half smile. He then continued to look down upon the untouched country side.
"It is beautiful and it made me realize that sometimes its just better to slow down, and enjoy life." McQueen explained. "Sometimes if you go too fast you can't stop to enjoy the things around you."
"Ahh, Francesco understands now."
"Theres no point in living if you just pass it all by . . . it took me a long time to learn that."
"I find it hard to 'a slow down."
"It's never easy, but when you do it is definitely worth it."
The Italian race car let out a sigh, and looked down at the country side as well.
"I just 'a wish I could find the same happiness." Francesco finally said breaking the silence.
"I always thought you were happy . . . I mean after all you have everything you could ever want." McQueen stated.
"Francesco wishes that 'a were true."
"You really aren't happy?"
Francesco turned away from the other race car, and looked down at the ground. He looked up again, and could see concern on the other racers face.
"I've never seen you like this Francesco." McQueen said genuinely. "I guess I got so used to you insulting me."
"It was 'a wrong for me to treat you that 'a way." The Formula Racer said kindly. " I want to know how you 'a found happiness."
"Well, ummm I don't really know how to explain it . . . I think its one of those things that can't be explained in words."
"Oh . . . I see."
"I wish I knew what to tell you, but I don't because everyone finds happiness differently."
"Hmm, I never thought of it that way."
"Well, my mentor taught me that."
"Ahh si . . . the Favuloso Hudson Hornet."
"Yes, and I wish he was here."
"He has passed?"
"Yes, just last year."
"I am 'a sorry . . . he was an amazing racer."
"I'm surprised you know him."
"Every racer who is any racer knows the great Hornet!"
McQueen gave the other car a kind smile, but then it disappeared when he saw sadness return to Francesco's face.
"I 'a never had a mentor like that . . . let alone a father."
The 95 racer's eyes went wide when he realized something very deep came out of the Italian car. He moved closer to the other car, and tried to comfort his with his presence. Francesco looked at him sadly, and wished the emptiness in his heart would disappear.
"Francesco I never knew." McQueen said sadly. "I'm sorry."
"Grazie, it is 'a nice to have a . . .friend." Francesco whispered.
"A friend?"
"Si."
"Well, I'm happy to be your friend."
Francesco smiled feeling a bit better realizing he had a real friend. He shifted his wheels in the dirt, and those strange feelings suddenly came to his attention. He repressed them, but he blurted out a rather interesting question.
"How did you, and Signora Sally meet?" He questioned.
Lightning was take back by the question, but he decided to tell the other car the story. He explained how Sally taught him how to slow down and enjoy life. When he came to the end of the story he saw sadness in the other cars hazel eyes. His smile disappeared when the Formula car rolled away from his slightly, and looked over the cliff. Then McQueen understood what was upsetting Francesco. He was lonely.
"Francesco you'll find someone." McQueen explained. "I mean what woman doesn't like you . . . even Sally thinks your attractive."
"You 'a don't understand." He said shaking his front end. "The women 'a don't love Francesco . . . it is a fake love."
"I get what you mean."
Lightning though about those two twin girls who never left him alone, and could understand what the other car meant.
"Have you tried to have a relationship with someone?" McQueen asked.
"Many times, but they are all 'a failures." Francesco explained. "They just like the fame, and being able to tell their 'a friends they are 'a dating Francesco Bernoulli."
"Ohh . . . being a famous race car has it's downfalls."
"It's not just that . . . something else has 'a to be going on."
"You don't know what it is?"
"Well, I'm not quite sure, but there is 'a something."
"Is it emotional, or something else?"
Lightning was starting to realize how weird the conversation had become. It was odd talking to another male car about feelings. It was just something which didn't happen, and it was especially odd because it was Bernoulli he was talking to. All though he could see whatever was going on was really bothering the racer. It had to bother him for a long time, and quite a lot. Francesco could see that McQueen was a bit upset, and he decided maybe it was time to leave.
"Maybe I 'a better go." Francesco said as he began to slowly drive away.
"Wait, Francesco . . . its all right." McQueen reassured him. "If this is bothering you then you need to talk about it and I'll listen . . . after all it's what friends do."
"You can't tell anyone what Francesco has told you here."
"I promise I won't tell anyone."
The Formula 1 car turned back around, and could see McQueen meant what he said. The red racer nodded, and assured the other car that he was genuine.
"Francesco has no problem attracting the ladies, but when it comes to relationships . . . it' a never works out." He explained. " I 'a don't know why?"
McQueen thought about it, and then it struck him like a truck. He thought about how Francesco acted when they first met, and it all made sense to him. He knew why the car was having such a hard time with relationships.
"Francesco I know why you are lonely." McQueen said.
The car looked at him, and his eyes grew wide with anticipation.
"Then tell me." Francesco demanded.
"You're looking for love in all the wrong places buddy."
"What 'a do you mean?"
"You weren't meant to be with a woman." McQueen began. "Francesco . . . your gay."
"W-W-H-H-A-A-A-T?" Francesco growled with rage. "You 'a think Francesco is . . . GAY!"
McQueen backed up seeing he had certainly ticked the other car off. He completely forgot about the fact that most Italian's had a bad temper. He had lit the fuse, and now the bomb was going off.
"NO-NO-NO!" Francesco yelled. "COME SFIDA YOI! FRANCESCO NON É GAIO!"
"Hey calm down . . . relax . . . " McQueen said trying to calm the other car. "Francesco STOP!"
McQueen yelled, and then put a tire over the other cars mouth to shut him up. He looked at him kindly trying to let him know he didn't mean anything by it. He was being genuine about the whole thing.
"Just think about it." He said before taking his tire away from the other cars mouth.
Finally the Italian race car calmed down, and after a few minute looked away from the other car. He didn't want it to be true, but he knew it was. After all the years of struggling he finally had come to an absolution. He wasn't sure how to feel at the moment, but he did feel some relief because he finally wasn't confused. He finally had some idea how to find love, and that McQueen was right. He was indeed looking for love in all the wrong places.
Francesco finally understood the weird feelings he was having around McQueen, but also knew they were wrong.
"It-it is wrong." Francesco finally said. "I-I can't be gay . . . it's 'a wrong."
"No it's not . . . there is nothing wrong with you." McQueen explained. "There is nothing wrong with being gay . . . we need to except each other for the way we are."
"But . . . "
"I learned that because I almost lost my friend . . . I couldn't accept him for who he was."
"You mean the tow truck?"
"Yes, and I learned that we need to accept our friends for who they are."
"But if I am . . .gay it will change everything."
"No, it won't."
"What if they 'a don't accept me . . . what if they hate Francesco . . . what if I 'a lose everything?"
"If they can't accept you for who you are then they are the one who need to change."
"I-I 'a don't want to be gay."
"Hey, you were made that way buddy . . . it's okay."
He watched as Francesco closed his eyes, and sighed sadly. Lightning put his tire upon the other racers, and tried to comfort him. Francesco's opened his eyes as those strange feelings began to wash over him. He now understood what these feelings were, and he realized that he only felt them around McQueen. He picked on the other car more than anyone else because he liked him. If anyone knew how he felt, or even if anyone knew he was gay he could lose everything.
"I-I 'a can't . . . it's just wrong." Francesco said backing away from McQueen. "I have to go now . . . "
"You can't what?" The confused car questioned. "Wait, Francesco!"
The Formula racer was speeding away before Lightning could catch him. He left the other in the dust, and as confused as ever.
"You . . . can't what?" Lightning questioned to himself.
Well, I wasn't planning on writing in Cars fic's, but after my Toy Story one I thought I would give it a shot. Feed back appreciated, but please keep it civil.
Translations:
como sfida yoi- how dare you
non e gaio - is not gay
Grazie- thank you
Si - yes(duh)