Yay! Second chapter. And I think I forgot to mention that this is a slash story. Sorry...most of you probably figured that out but just making sure XD. So knowing this...enjoy!
The next days in Radiator Springs went on in a blur for most of the cars in town, except for one. Lightning was really confused and sad and although all the others could see that something was not right, they could not help him. If they tried to talk to him he would just smile and play it off as if nothing was wrong. But he couldn't fool anyone.
The red racecar always tried to talk to the other but since their last talk it was impossible. Doc always had an excuse and was always busy. This of course made Lightning more angry. He didn't know what he could do, but he was determined to find out why the other behaved like this.
They still trained every day but when they talked it was always about the race. If Lightning tried to bring up the situation which was going on between them, Doc would always yell at him to stay focused.
After so many days Lightning decided that he had enough.
-/-/-/-/-/-
It was Sunday afternoon. One week after his victory in the race.
Lightning knew that Doc was in his garage doing who knows what he was busy with and decided to go in after him and really talk.
He opened the doors and was immediately greeted by the others voice to leave him alone because he was busy.
He took a deep breath.
"No." He said a little louder then he intended.
"I will not leave! Not until you tell me what's going on! I can't stand it anymore!" He now shouted upset and angry.
Doc wore a calm expression as if he knew that the other would eventually do this.
"Listen Sport, I thought we had this conversation twice already and I said to drop it."
"But how can you say that and then await from me to act as if everything would be alright, when it obviously isn't. I always had such great time with you, but now you are avoiding me and you are being distant."
"Look…" Doc tried but was immediately interrupted.
"No matter how hard I try to think about it. Nothing comes to my mind except the race last week. You told me that's not the reason. So tell me. Did I say or do something? Why are you acting this way?"
"Kid! Listen...you didn't do anything wrong. And I am really proud of you for winning. There is a different reason."
Lightning waited for the other to continue but then he saw the anguish in the others eyes which nearly made him bolt out of there. He has never seen Doc like this before, although they knew each other for a year now.
"You don't have to tell me." Whispered Lightning, looking at the floor.
"I can see that you can't tell me. And it's okay. I just don't want to lose the friendship we have."
After he said that it became still in the room.
Since Doc became Lightnings crew chief they always had things to share with each other. Be it about strategies on how to go faster, the town or how The Fabulous Hudson Hornet began his career back in the days. Those were Lightnings favorite stories.
But now the stillness that was there was just…abnormal.
"I don't want our friendship to end either Rookie. And you still need a crew chief for your upcoming races."
Here he paused.
"I am really sorry that I can't tell you. But I see that what I am doing to you with this is not helping…so I really should stop. I hope I can tell you someday. When I am ready and more importantly when you are ready to hear it."
Although Lightning didn't get to hear what was bothering the other so much, he was still relieved. He couldn't stay mad at Doc even if he wanted to after this.
So instead he just smiled. "That's good enough for me."
"So…wanna come on a drive and talk a little. I really miss the stories about the Fabulous Hudson Hornet."
They both laughed and went out, where the sun instantly warmed them up as they made their way to Willies Butte.
-/-/-/-/-/-
After their conversation everything went back to normal. Well as normal as it could get in this town.
More and more visitors came to Radiator Springs after Lightnings victory and the town was really busy. But everyone enjoyed the attention that was brought for their little town and business was going great.
The town was alive once again.
Although all the attention, Lightning tried to train every day to stay in form. Sometimes it was easier said than done with all the fans around him. He still liked to show off on camera and sign autographs, but even he had his limits. Sometimes he just wanted to be alone to think or spend some quality time with his friends.
The relationship between him and Doc could not get better and both of them were truly happy about this fact. Lightning still had to learn many things from the older racecar and one of them was to handle fans that didn't know the boundaries.
"You are getting better and better. I think maybe we need to find a harder track for you to practice on. This isn't a challenge anymore. You know every turn and curve too well."
"Yeah, well you are the chief. If you say that I am the greatest racer, then who am I to disagree."
"Don't overdo it kid."
The laughter that followed after that warmed Sallys hearth. Lightning told her about their talk and she was happy that they could solve their problem in the end.
The two racecars were on their way to Flo's for a little drink but neither one of them was prepared for the sudden onslaught of fans, that seemed to have appeared out of nowhere. Doc himself was a little surprised but then he pulled himself together and handled the situation quite well. He was mostly surrounded by older cars and younger boys who wanted an autograph from him.
Lightning being younger and the most popular racecar since last year was not so lucky. A dozen fan girls who just came to town to see him, were suddenly all around him screaming and touching him.
"Ladies! Please! One at a time! Ow! Hey! Where are you touching?"
Doc and Sally immediately came to help him because it was obvious that he couldn't handle the situation by himself. But it was not an easy task.
They tried getting to Lightning which was of course impossible with all the pushing and shoving. Luckily Sheriff came along just at that moment and saw the commotion.
Doc seeing him immediately shouted.
"Sheriff! A little help!"
Being a police car had its advantages and so he began to blurt his siren and almost immediately the crowd went still. Lightning, using this opportunity, quickly made his way through and over to his friends.
"You okay Stickers?" asked Sally looking him over finding a few scratch marks on his paintjob.
"Yeah! Fine, fine. Just a little shaken up, that's all." he said a little out of breath.
"If I ever see any one of you harassing anyone in this town again, every one of you is going to jail. Am I clear?" shouted Sheriff and the crowd slowly began to dissipate.
After Lightning thanked them, all four of them went to Flo's where they had their hot oil.
"That was intense." Said Lightning after drinking his oil. "I have never had something like this happening to me before. It is great to have fans but…"
"I know what you're getting at Rookie. Had the same problem back in my days."
All eyes immediately turned to him.
"You? Problem with the ladies?" Asked Sheriff smirking a little.
"Yes. I was rather handsome back then." He said also smirking. He knew it was just fun.
"You must have been." Said Lightning and everyone turned to look at him instead.
"I mean…you still are. I think. I mean…"
"Calm down Rookie." Said Doc and laughed the others joining him.
Lightning just looked at the floor a little flustered.
-/-/-/-/-/-
After a few more minutes Sally excused herself and went back to the Cozy Cone, which also became really busy and she always had a lot of paperwork to do. And after a while even Sheriff had to go and do a patrol of the city again.
It was getting late and Lightning yawned. The last few days had their toll on him so obviously he was more tired.
"You should go and get some rest. You know there's practice tomorrow and I don't want you sleeping on the track."
"Okay. That's actually a great idea." said the younger car and after he said goodbye to Doc and Flo, made his way out of the Café and went over to the Cozy Cone. Although he had his training headquarters near town he preferred sleeping here. It felt like home to him now and he didn't want to lose this feeling.
Sally saw him driving up to her and she immediately stopped with whatever she was occupied with and looked at him.
"You look tired. Turning in for the night?" She asked.
"Yeah. I just thought I'd say goodnight" He said smiling which turned into a full yawn.
They both laughed at this and with a last wave he made his way over to his cone number 1. He opened the door but as he was making his way inside, he heard someone whisper next to his cone in the darkness.
Since he didn't have any headlights, he slowly and quietly made his way behind his cone to investigate. He didn't want any fans to disturb him while he was sleeping. That would be most unpleasant.
As he neared the voices he rolled on a twig which gave a loud noise as it cracked in two. The whispers immediately stopped and Lightning knew that the cars were now looking in his general direction. He had no idea if they could actually see him but they knew he was there, so he might as well say something.
"Hello. I didn't mean to interrupt. I was just heading in for the night when I heard whispers coming from behind my cone. I would just prefer if you would find a different place so I can sleep."
Lightning became even more concerned when he heard no answer. Whoever they were they didn't want the racecar to hear their voices. Maybe he knew them but he was not staying there to find out.
"Ok. You know what? I'll just go now and ehm…leave you to your ehm…whispering." He said laughing nervously and backing away slowly.
Suddenly he heard the start of engines and he was immediately blinded by three sets of headlights. He yelped rather clumsily and backed away faster but his way was blocked by another car.
"I don't think so McQueen." Said a chilling voice behind him, which made him shake with fear.
"What do you want? And who are you?" He asked hoping that he didn't sound as afraid as he was.
He heard the cars laugh and he gulped nervously.
"We would like to introduce ourselves but that would ruin this whole thing now wouldn't it? And the answer to your first question is something you are about to find out."
Lightning really wanted to shout for help at this moment but he just couldn't bring himself to do so. He was practically shaking with fear now and his voice didn't want to cooperate.
"Let's do this already and get out of here. I don't want to be found." Said one of the cars he was facing but he couldn't make out which one.
He felt the car behind him move a little and suddenly something was poured in his eyes.
He yelped again and tried to blink a few times to get the substance out but without luck.
"The boss says thanks."
"For what?" Muttered Lightning.
"For letting him win the next race." Came the reply and then he heard all the engines start up again and the cars speeding away from his sight.
He stayed there a few second trying to calm himself when he felt a weird stinging in his eyes. He began to blink again to get the feeling to stop but it just became worse by the second. Suddenly the pain became almost unbearable and he winced while closing his eyes. Tears began to gather in his eyes to help clean the weird fluid away that didn't belong there.
He tried backing away slowly with his eyes closed but he bumped into a tree. The pain was getting worse and worse by the minute and he didn't know what to do.
A blood curling scream was heard in Radiator Springs that night which no one who was there would ever forget.
So I will end the chapter here. Hmm…what happened to Lightning? Although I think it is pretty easy to guess. XDD But then again…who knows? Well I do obviously, but you just have to wait a little while to see what's gonna happen. Until then. Bye!
