Description: I don't own anything.
AN: First things first. MASSIVE thank you to all of you out there who reviewed and followed this story. So sorry...I wasn't able to update for a while(for a few months) just school has been getting to me lately and with all my other practices...also I've been working on other fics, so it left me no time to update. So here's an extra long chapter...actually it's more Lightning\Francesco friendship, than my usual father\son theme. Need time to get back to the old routine.) Anyway, Enjoy!
Chapter 7: Troublemakers
"I'm sorry could you please repeat that?" Lightning asked casually, ignoring the evident terror on Francesco's face. "It just seemed as though you said, that I had to spend the day with...him." he chuckled, gesturing at the Italian racer and receiving a glare from him. But the smirk was quickly swept off his face, when Doc looked at him knowingly, confirming his fears.
"You're kidding, right?" he started, his voice getting higher with every word. "You can't be serious! I am NOT-" he trailed off as Doc gave him 'the look' and groaned.
The doctor sighed. He still couldn't get what the duo's problem was. At first their usual banter was bearable, but soon enough their bickering turned into arguing to the point that once he had to step in between the two, as they were not that far from killing each other. He really didn't mind the Italian's company, in fact he was glad that Lightning befriended someone with so many familiarities. It would only be beneficial for the rookie to socialize with other racers, but this was getting out of hand.
"I don't see why not." Doc said, taking off his glasses and rubbing his temples tiredly. "He's going to his trainer anyway and it will do you no harm to go with him, will it?" Lightning opened his mouth to say something, but he was quickly interrupted by his mentor.
"Besides, I hope this will help you get along with each other...because it may have slipped your attention, but you are tiring everybody out with your constant quarrels." He added with a particularly harsh look towards the rookie.
Lightning gulped. If Doc was kidding...he was scarily convincing.
At the moment, Francesco couldn't help the mischievous grin that found its way to his lips. Oh this was going to be so much fun. Lightning glared at Francesco like he had done earlier.
"I'm not going. And I don't need a trainer." He said in annoyance. Doc raised an eyebrow and slowly nodded in a 'not quite agreeing with what you just said, but I'll let it slip' way. The look on Lightning's face, Francesco considered rather comical and tried very hard not to laugh.
"I do NOT need a trainer." He stated firmly. Doc made a defensive motion with his hands and walked out of the room.
Lighting rolled his eyes and said loud enough for his mentor to hear.
"Anyway...I'm not going anywhere!"
Auto Club Speedway, California(Fontana)
"I really hate my life..." Lightning stated with a groan. He knew it was a lost shot from the very beginning. He would always get to complain about something that Doc said, but in the end he ended up doing it anyway.
"Oh, do lighten up!" Francesco said with clear amusement in his voice. "I heard he's not-a that bad."
Lightning raised an eyebrow at him.
"What do you mean, you heard?' Isn't he supposed to be the one training you?" he asked.
"Well...yes. In a way." To the glum expression on Lightning's face he sighed and continued. "Not quite, actually. You see, since I am in America in-a no racing intentions, I couldn't have possibly dragged my-a racing team with me, could I?" he said." And when I am staying somewhere-a long, every once in a while I reserve a track and race for a few hours to-a be in shape. So technically, the trainer isn't training or particularly teaching anything...he's just kinda in charge."
Lightning nodded just as a tall, dark haired man with a large nose, started making his way to them. He started shaking hands with Francesco and than turned to him.
"Hello, I'm Robin Fields...and you must be Lightning." the man spoke in a low baritone and shook Lightning's hand as well.
"Mm...yes, it's me. It's really nice meeting you Mr. Fields..." he stuttered and the taller man chuckled.
"Just Robin, please...Hope you'll like it in here," he continued, gesturing around with his hand, "we have prepared the track so it is completely at your disposal today. I wish you would have warned me a bit earlier, that you weren't alone," he turned his attention back to Francesco, "we have only one car readied...I believe it's not a problem though, you can drive in turns, right?"
Francesco and Lightning shared a look, before both started smirking knowingly.
Just as Robin said that they could get started and excused himself, both racers rushed towards the said car.
"I'm the first!" the Italian racer declared."Francesco's always the first!"
"In your dreams, fragile!" Lightning spat back, as they both continued running.
Francesco made his way to the car first, due to his advantage in height, but as he was about to reach for the door, two surprisingly strong arms strangled him from the back.
"Let go of me...Lightning!" he cried and their competition soon turned into a not-too-rough riesling session. They kept elbowing and pushing each other, not giving the other a chance to get close to the car.
"What are you two doing?!" the approaching voice of their trainer could be heard "Stop it this instant!"
They didn't seem to have heard him though and once they both reached for the door opener and pulled, they both froze at the loud 'THUD' the motion had produced. They slowly looked down and gulped when they saw the now unconscious form of their trainer lying on the hard concrete ground.
A few moments later...
They kept dragging their trainer through the next hallway, but now with more difficulty. The man only looked lightweight. They were halfway through the corridor, when Lightning noticed Robin making funny noises. Yap, he was snoring. McQueen was hardly holding back his laughter as he glanced up at Francesco.
"This is not-a funny, McQueen!" Francesco snapped angrily and shot him a glare. Lightning just gave him an innocent look and lowered his head.
Soon with some difficulties they turned to the right and stopped in front of Robin's office. They managed to drop the racing expert three times, before successfully opening the door and entering in. The room was not so big, they noted, and tried to figure out where to 'put' the owner of the office himself. There wasn't much space on the couch and the table was obviously not the best option so they lowered him to the floor as gently as possible, until deciding on what to do next.
"We-a can't just leave him here, we need to lay him down-a somewhere..."the Italian racer mused. Lightning just rolled his eyes, when noticed the still evident panic in the other's voice. It was amusing and even strange to see how easily he could get freaked out over something like that. He never thought that Francesco would be the kind to be afraid of some little...doings?
"Why? It's not like he's going to know." Lighting said matter of factly, only half joking.
"Lightning!" Francesco hissed and glared at him for probably the hundredth time that day. The American racer held up his hands in defense and walked over to the couch.
"Alright then, I'll get him a pillow." he said calmly and picked up one of the pillows. Francesco's mouth opened and closed in disbelief.
"HE"S OUR TRAINER!" he growled angrily.
"ALRIGHT!" McQueen snapped back, turning to the couch. "...two pillows then." he finished.
That evening Doc found his young charge and the Italian racer sited in front of the TV and bickering as usually. He had decided to check on the two and make sure they were fine. He tried his best to ignore Lightning's fidgety behavior when he had asked how the day went, and the fact that they had returned earlier than he expected. But nothing serious seemed to have happened, and the good doctor was content with it, as long as they didn't cause much trouble.
AN: So there was a Merlin reference...I had this idea on my mind for a rather long time now, so I just had to write it. Once again thank you to all the people who still read this. As I've said before, I'm working on other fics and I'm not so sure about this one. Should I continue with this fic?
