Faster Than Flying

Abby Ebon

O.o.O.o.O.o.O

Beta: vairetwilight, (as of 11/1/09) who was a great help with fixing everything here.

Note: I've recently had a thought, so I changed that last bit in the previous chapter, it won't be Dom who works on Sirius' bike, but it is still a keystone to their interactions.

I bow down in thanks to Esmaya, BOOMrobotdog, daughterofpenthesiliea, and Kayjay Dee (most especially, for now I know the direction the whole engine fix will take…) for their help about mechanics and engines; on with the chapter

O.o.O.o.O.o.O

Glinting Through Rust

O.o.O.o.O.o.O

Dom didn't know shit about bikes. He'd worked most of his life with cars that went faster in the first ten seconds then most people drove their whole lives. Car engines he understood – bike engines, well, those were different. That didn't mean he wouldn't keep his word to the kid. He'd pull a few favors and snarl a few threats to get the bike looked at.

He knew why he gave a damn. He'd seen a bit of his past in the boy. Even with a full shaggy head of dark hair and bright as glossy green paint eyes, there was still that familiarity in his posture and wary looks. He'd lost someone or something, maybe he was running – but it was for damn sure no broken down bike put that much of a haunted look in the kid's eyes.

He'd lost something of himself.

Dom had felt a kinship with that, a small tie. It was enough to offer his hand and see what could be done. At least for now, Dom knew he was taking a risk. He didn't know the kid. He didn't know if this kid would pay up what was due for fixing the bike or run out. If he ran, well, he wouldn't get far in the middle of nowhere with people on his tail. Kid seemed the decent sort though.

If his accent was a little off.

"Where are you from?" Dom asked as he strode along the wooden planks that marked the establishment's balcony from the road. Nothing but gravel sidewalks stretched out between the shops and the road. It looked like the middle of nowhere, and it was – and it was why Dom felt safe enough to walk in broad daylight.

"Europe, or there about…." Dom glanced to the kid with a raised brow. Harry caught the look and straightened up, jutting his chin out and looking stubborn. Dom barked out a laugh again. If he kept Harry around only for amusements sake, it might be worth it. As it was, Harry stood just a hair shorter then Dom, though Dom hadn't realized it with the kid's slouched back and hunched shoulders. He wasn't really a kid at all, probably past drinking age – had to be to ride a bike in these parts, unless he didn't have a license. That would be stupid – the kid looked like a lot of things, but stupid was not one of them.

'Sides, it probably was the most important thing the kid held onto; if he was sulking like this about it. He wouldn't risk loosing it. That was common sense. The silence stretched between them and Harry took his time about getting to wherever he'd dumped the bike after getting into town.

Kid was probably smart enough to realize this could be a trap, would likely take him on a "walk about" until he was satisfied that Dom was to be trusted enough to look at the damned bike. Dom had never had the greatest bit of patience, but he could appreciate Harry being wary. It was somewhat reassuring, innocent as the kid looked, he hadn't been sure. Someone had had the smarts to teach Harry how to survive.

"L.A." Dom growled out the answer to an unasked question, when it was clear it was not going to be asked. Dom didn't like silences, while Harry seemed the sort to be comfortable with them. That was somewhat annoying to know, as it meant Harry was used to being alone. This wasn't a one time trip, or a very short one.

"Big city, how'd you end up here?" There wasn't any suspicion in that question, only curiosity. Dom saw the kid look over his shoulder, narrow eyed, and shrugged. He couldn't give a real answer for that one – he suspected Harry would have the same sort of answer.

"Way most of us around here do." Street racing, stealing from truckers, finding out a pal of yours is in with the government, spying on you, escaping it all because of that pal. Yeah, that was real usual around these parts. Green eyes glanced to him, studied him, Dom didn't look away until Harry did.

"How you know about engines?" Harry asked next, there must have been something in his voice that Dom hadn't meant to be heard, for this question came out soft, careful.

"My dad taught me. Look kid, I don't have all fucking day, stop jerking me around and show me the bike or the offer is off. You can find your own mechanic – good luck with that in this shithole." Dom had had just about enough, and it showed now. He didn't want to scare the kid off – not really, what he wanted was to see if the kid was salvageable. When you got used to running, you started not to care about people. After a while, it was something that you couldn't get over – you'd still be running, even if you were standing still.

"We're here." Harry was more amused by his outburst then startled or annoyed, Dom could tell that much. There was still humanity in the kid. When Dom looked to him this time, Harry had eyes only for what was in the dirty warehouse – abandoned with the rest of this part of town; safe enough here that Dom knew it wouldn't get stolen.

Dom sighed then and looked up to see the bike. It was a beauty – the kind that stayed with you though it was probably as old – or older, then the kid.

"What's her name?" Dom asked moving closer to the bike, where before Harry had been all fine and dandy to lead Dom into a part of town where no one would hear him scream, or find his body until it rotted, Dom was amused – in a approving sort of way, that Harry watched him carefully now.

"Name…?" Harry mused, narrow eyed, as if he had never heard of such a strange concept. Dom felt the corner of his mouth tilt as he ran his eyes over the bike, then glanced to Harry who watched him, tensed, finally taking it in how dangerous Dom could be. It didn't strike Dom that oddly that Harry only noticed now – where what he cared about was sitting stretched out between them.

"Bike like this one…it's obvious you take care of her – you've got to have a name for her, kid." It came out dryly and Harry watched him like a nervous narrow eyed cat. It was odd – even to Dom, that he found himself insisting on this fact – everything that drove and had a soul and a care taker; it had to have a name to match the soul given by its care taker. Dom was only too curious for what that name would be.

"My name is Harry, use it Dom. It…I never bothered with a name." Harry finished softly; Dom stood back from the bike, looking it over and wondering what Harry would have said if Dom hadn't called him kid to his face. Harry had a past – a life before this, Dom was sure.

"It doesn't matter. What do you think, salvageable?" Harry's words startled him – because Dom had wondered if Harry was… salvageable, from his lifestyle. He saw some of himself in the kid. It was a weakness. He should just walk away, telling Harry it was pointless. It would fix the problem – that being Harry's running, all the same. It would also break the kid. Dom couldn't do that to him.

"Likely, we'll have to fetch a friend of mine. See what she says…I really don't know shit about bikes." Dom gave Harry a grin that had gotten him out of more scrapes as a kid then what he cared to fess up to. Harry only blinked at him, amusement creeping into his green eyes.

"She, huh?" Dom shifted his weight uncomfortably, knowing that Harry had unearthed the fact that he and Letty ….(who had stuck with him in this no-where town, even though, as she said, he had "poor taste in friends" and had broken it off, she and Vince had something going now) had a history – all it had taken was Dom mentioning it. Harry, he was learning quickly, was innerving in that regard. He'd have to watch himself; there were only so many secrets Harry could gleam off him before it got to be too much.

"I think she'll like you though." Dom reassured him, though Harry still looked uneasy at yet even more people knowing where his bike was stashed.

O.o.O.o.O.o.O

"I've got two kinds of news for you, Dom… the good," Letty announced as she stood from squatting down to look at the bikes engine, "and the not so good." She looked to Harry this time, with pressed lips and a curious expression lingering in her dark eyes.

"Have at it." Harry mumbled, nodding for her to continue, Letty patted the bike fondly though she hadn't taken her eyes off Harry.

"Though this brute has some shit I can't guess at what it's for – and your insistent it stays in place though it'd make more sense to rip it out and put it right - the problem isn't there, it's in the fuel – the pipes have nearly rusted and what isn't rusted is coated with years worth of gunk, have you ever heard of a fuel change kid?" Letty demanded of him, Harry's blank look was enough to make her groan and rub at her temples – which left dark oil marks behind. Dom pressed his lips together so he wouldn't snicker. Harry kept his face perfectly black, somehow.

"How long have you had her?" It was more of a demand then a question, but even Letty couldn't seem to be spiteful to Harry; though Dom knew she was simply hard to get along with on the best of days.

"I've been riding for…a few years." Harry finished, looking aside as if ashamed. Letty said nothing for a long while, looking back at the bike she'd looked over only a little while ago.

"Damn, something magical kept it running for you then – I've never seen it get as bad as this…it is fixable, but that leads to the not so good news…" When Letty paused, Dom knew it would be bad. She gave softening eyes to Harry, who'd tensed up as if he was going to be dealt a blow. In fact…Dom's eyes narrowed, it was exactly as if the kid expected to be hit, thought it was natural – Harry didn't seem to see them a real threat, but it was defensive. As if he didn't know any other way to defend himself against something other then it being somehow physical.

"It'll cost so much, you might as well get another and sell this for scrap…" Letty was rarely motherly, but the way she studied Harry before she'd spoken, Dom knew she'd put some thought into her words before saying them. Letty caught his eye when Harry visibly relaxed, though he was still tense about his shoulders.

"That is not happening." Harry told her firmly, though his eyes were so determined it was hard to argue, least they break – Letty did her best.

"But, the money…you clearly don't have it …. I'm sorry, really I am." Letty did sound sorry for him too – there was no false humility there. It was as real as it had ever been. Letty looked to Dom, asking him what was going to happen to Harry now – and knew that the kid had friends beyond himself. Letty would watch out for him, though Dom hadn't expected it.

"Don't be so sure. I'll get the money for you – just, trust me, alright? I'm better off then I look. Do either of you have a phone you don't mind if I use it to call long distance…?" Harry looked almost sheepish, scratching the back of his neck, though his eyes were someplace else, he was still talking. That much was good.

"How long distance?" Letty asked of him, suspicious in only that his accent had thickened with his words.

"Around about England, or Scotland – I'm not too sure…I'd have to stay the night to hear back after…" Harry trailed off, coming to the present, Letty was shaking her head, hands held defensively in front of her as if to ward off Harry's pleading eyes.

"Forget it." Letty looked away then, careful not to look to the bike or Harry.

"You can stay with me." Dom surprised himself with the offer – he wasn't the only one. Harry looked at him a little too wide eyed, Letty though looked between them, suspicious of his motives. It didn't matter – until Letty looked at him narrow eyed bringing him back to reality.

"Dom?" Harry asked carefully, aware of the tenseness between Letty and he.

"He can stay, Letty." It was simply final. It had nothing; he tried to tell himself, with the first real smile that Harry had given him.

Nothing at all.

O.o.O.o.O.o.O

Note; I saw a few of you mention there was another Harry Potter/Fast and the Furious crossover that's rarely updated? I've never read it, so I'd be grateful if it was passed along to me by title and author name, thanks very much!