Stuck In Last
Well, it's been awhile since I've actually been in the Cars fandom! Cars 2, I blame you. Anyways, due to the utter lack of Chick Hicks in the recent movie (if there was something after the credits with him, no one tell me, I left before the credits finished), I decided that I had to do a story of what happened to Chick during the events of Cars 2. In the end, it wrote itself. And it brought a familiar character back into play- Thunder Hicks, one of my most used characters back in my old Cars fiction writing days. Anyways, onto the story!
DISCLAIMER: Despite how much I wish I did, I do not own Cars. Or Cars 2. If I did, Chick Hicks would have at least been mentioned in the second movie.
The rain still fell, running in rivers through the drains along the streets of Santa Barbara. They were nearly empty, considering the darkness and the cold liquid dripping from the sky. Stores advertised merchandise based on the recent Piston Cup win of Lightning McQueen; it was no wonder his brother avoided town.
At first glance, any car that was out may have mistaken the familiar boxy shape to be the race car- however, a longer look would reveal that the 1980s Buick Regal race car wasn't the familiar green color with the drastically reduced number of sponsor stickers along the sides. After the Piston Cup tie-breaker race, many sponsors had dropped him, including the notoriously shady Hostile Takeover Bank. It was irony that even one of the most hated banks would drop sponsorship for one of the most hated racers. The older race car was now sponsored by Blockbuster videos, which was steadily declining as well- the only reason the racer had gained the sponsorship from them was because of a friend at the company. It was rumored however, that due to the bankruptcy on the horizon for them, the company might have to drop sponsoring Chick Hicks. His reputation only seemed to add weight to the already heavy burden of their failing.
At second glance, it was easy to tell that the car was definitely not the well known racer. Replacing the green color was a deep and vibrant crimson red, broken only by the equally vibrant royal blue racing stripe directly down his center, from his front bumper to his back. Although he hardly considered himself a racer, in silver upon both his sides was the number 56- it was no secret that their family contained a long history of racing. However, this car was more content to live a life of somewhat obscurity. Adding the final difference, where light brown eyes were on the racer, this car had brilliantly emerald green ones, a color that seemed unnaturally vibrant, but fit with his bright colors and his easy to get along with personality.
The younger Buick was more well known for his marriage to the well known actress, Storm Hicks. It was no rumor that the two had been together since their high school days- it was a fact neither denied. The fact of this was cemented by the presence of their fifteen year old daughter, Rain. Whereas both the actress and the younger brother of the racer were known by nicknames rather than their real names, their daughter's birth certificate stated that Rain was the teenager's real name. Despite the somewhat odd name, the girl didn't care.
The family had never suffered any strikes to their reputation after Storm became an actress and her past became the world's news. The Hicks family had enough bad reputation as it was- what with the wreck of the Hudson Hornet, caused by Rick Hicks back in '54, and other incidents involving their family. For awhile, the Hicks family had avoided any damaging blows to its reputation with the introduction of Mick Hicks, Chick's father, and a much more respectable character when it came to racing. However, Chick had rarely gone to his dad when asking for racing tips, which was probably why Chick's racing style more easily resembled his grandfather's than anyone else's. Which was why, after the Piston Cup tie-breaker race, things had become chaotic for the Hicks family again, as Chick easily went under fire for the selfish act of wrecking The King just to get a Piston Cup. For awhile, reporters had been plaguing not just the already famous Storm, but Thunder as well, seeing as he was the racer's younger brother, and the two were reported to have been quite close.
Eventually, everything had faded. The reporters stopped trying to learn how the events of the Piston Cup tie-breaker affected each Hicks family member, sponsors dropped Chick as if it were nothing, and slowly Chick started getting worse and worse at racing. Soon, he seemed to be coming in last at every race. For awhile, there was controversy over whether he'd have to return his so-called falsely won Piston Cup, but even that had faded after awhile. Now, with Lightning McQueen still easily acing the racing circuits, and hints that Blockbuster would be going completely out of business, it was no wonder there were rumors that Chick Hicks would be retiring soon.
"In other news, it's now official- Lightning McQueen has agreed to take the last available spot in the Allinol sponsored World Grand Prix..."
There was a small screech of brakes as Thunder stopped in front of the electronics store, where all the televisions were tuned to the newscast. He'd heard in passing of this World Grand Prix event, but not much. He'd never been much into racing. However, the name Lightning McQueen was what caught his attention. The rain no longer seemed so much of an inconvenience as he waited to see what else would be said.
"The World Grand Prix, held for the world's fastest racers, will prove that Allinol is not a threat to use and is actually a safe alternative fuel..." The sound of the televisions faded away. The fastest in the world. And Chick didn't get an invite. Of course not. After all, Lightning McQueen now had four Piston Cups, and most of the world didn't even consider the one Chick did have to be rightfully earned.
Which brought him to another thing- Chick would know this by now. Chick followed most everything about racing, considering he was involved in it. Everyone knew he was old news- once he was finally dropped by Blockbuster, he'd most likely not get another sponsor offer, and the most he'd be remembered by was the thing he hated the most. Where once he'd been defensive that he hadn't been cheating, he'd given up trying to justify that his jealousy to finally beat The King had won out and he'd purposely wrecked the Plymouth. Chick would see this news and know- he'd know that it meant there really was no room for him anymore.
Thunder sighed- maybe it was time to go check on his brother again. Even if it was just to check if his older brother had seen the news.
SIL
"Well, screw you too." The phone was already back on the cradle, leaving the empty house to listen to the muttered words. Inside the dull darkness, a dark gleam of gold came from one corner, where under years of dust, the Piston Cup still shone brightly.
It had been there since that day. He'd gladly give it up now, if it meant saving what little was left of his career. Hell, he'd give it up if it meant admitting he was wrong, even if it meant admitting to the world that he'd wrecked The King out of his own selfish need to win. He'd give anything to be second best again instead of so far in last place that even the last row in the racing stadiums were too close to the track. He was always losing- losing races, losing sponsors- like once again being stuck without a major sponsor.
We're sorry Chick, but we just can't keep risking having you sponsor us. The company's going under, and we have to do anything we can to just try and save it now. You know how it is.
Of course he did. The sponsors were nearly as competitive as the racers themselves, and they wanted the newer racers, the racers who didn't come with a history like his.
Right then, the doorbell rang, and Chick muttered something under his breath, figuring it to be the media before going to answer the door.
"Get the hell off my property before I call the cops!"
"Oh, so now it's custom to call the cops on your brother?" Great. Sometimes he thought Thunder could be worse than the media.
"What do you want?"
"Can you at least let me in? It's pouring out here." Chick rolled his eyes, muttering to himself again, although he opened the door. The younger race car quickly drove in, bringing in a ton of water. As usual, his immature brother bringing some sort of mess into his house, probably for no reason at all.
"Now. What do you want?" Thunder rolled his eyes this time.
"God, such a wonderful greeting, as always."
"Shut up."
"I wanted to check in on you." Thunder wasn't fooling him. Chick knew his brother too well, well enough that he knew Thunder would never just stop by, especially in the rain, which he hated, to just 'check in' on him.
"You want to see if I've seen the news about the World Grand Prix, haven't you?" His younger brother's expression said it all. Of course that's what this visit would be about.
"I was kind've hoping-"
"You were hoping what? That I hadn't seen it? It's all over the goddamned news. How couldn't I have seen it?"
"I just thought there was a chance you'd missed it."
"So, you could tell me anyways, right? If it wasn't you, it'd be dad, with some comment about how that could've been me if maybe I hadn't screwed things up. You and him are just alike, always willing to blurt out the first damn thing on your minds, since neither of you have the tact of a brain dead pigeon."
"Don't take this out on me and dad, Chick. Besides, your Piston Cup win was no thanks to anyone but yourself. You think you're the only one who's made a mistake in your life? I've got a daughter who the whole world knows has been around since I was sixteen, but you know what? Storm and I were able to move past it. You put mistakes behind you, you don't spend every waking moment sulking until everyone believes you've given up. You screwed up the entire family with that move, and you know it." Chick really couldn't remember ever hearing his brother sound so bitter, but he knew Thunder hated being insulted.
"What'd you come here to do, insult me? Because you've reached your goal if you have."
"I came here to make sure you hadn't done anything stupid because of this World Grand Prix thing."
"I think I've already achieved at least one badge for stupidity, don't you?" He gestured at the dusty Piston Cup, but Thunder didn't look. He didn't have to.
"You had the chance to give it back."
"That wouldn't have solved anything."
"It might've helped!"
"Like my life would've been any different, Thunder."
"It might have." Chick opened his mouth to say something, but the comeback he'd had ready didn't come out. Thunder was right- despite knowing how stubborn both of them were, Thunder was right. But Chick had kept the trophy. Because he'd wanted the proof that for once, even if it wasn't rightfully his, he hadn't been second best.
"It's not like I have another chance to try for it."
"You've had plenty of chances. You keep doing worse and worse." Chick sighed again.
"Thunder, Blockbuster dropped me. They're going bankrupt, and sponsoring someone like me is just sinking them faster."
"So? You can always get another sponsor." As always, his brother's stubborn optimism wasn't making him feel better. Chick just chuckled bitterly.
"You think anyone else is going to want to sponsor me? With my reputation and this losing streak I've got? I doubt a homeless guy with five bucks would even give me a passing glance for sponsorship if he was crazy enough. Face it Thunder, the racing game is over for me."
"You can't quit."
"You said it yourself, kid. I've brought enough embarrassment to this family. I'm retiring before next season. No one cares about Chick Hicks anymore." Thunder hesitated before sighing.
"If that's what you think, go ahead. Maybe if you stopped sulking and actually tried, you could get back in the game." Before Chick could even reply, Thunder was gone. Chick cast a sad glance at the Piston Cup in the corner.
"What's the point of trying? With McQueen around and all the things I've done, I'll always be stuck in last."
So, there it is, my first Cars fanfiction since... well, I can't even remember exactly when. If anyone would like to see this continued, I'd be happy to continue it, mainly due to the fact I'm still a Chick Hicks fan. This was interesting to write, since I added Thunder into it without him ruining it. If you don't know who Thunder is, you obviously weren't around here for the first Cars movie XD Just go look at my other stories, you'll find out who he is :) Glad to be back here though!
Buick Regal Racecar 56