The ride did do Lightning much good. They drove for a few hours before stopping at Flo's again to refill and go again. Francesco had a hard time keeping his formula car and the dirt all under his command, but in the end he did really make progress.
Not enough progress to stop the other 3 cars of making fun of him though. After those countless times that Francesco was cocky about his skills, it was some sort of playful payback. Francesco did not like it, but the other cars sure did. In the end Lightning agreed to help Francesco to get the hood of his car completely free of any alien parts from the cactus to make Francesco shut up.
Lightning was terribly nervous any second he was alone with Francesco, as he was afraid he'd try to do something. But in the end, Francesco didn't go any further. He just stayed around Lightning, chatted with him, invaded his comfortzone like he always does, and at the end of the day he pulled Lightning into his arms to fall asleep.
The next morning announced with the arrival of the last cars who'd come from the mainland of Europe; Raoul CaRoule, Max Schnell and Miguel Camino. Rip, from eastern Europe was currently in Brazil with Carla, so he'd come later. Lightning made sure he was up before they could arrive (so he could finally welcome the participants, instead of anyone just busting in) Lightning tried waking up Francesco as well (he had been looking forward to especially seeing Miguel again) but Francesco was still fast asleep, so Lightning just left him. It would sure be a lot quieter around if Francesco wasn't there, but it directly created some emptiness for Lightning. Francesco had been stalking him non-stop for days, so it was odd to just walk out of the building with him still sleeping.
Lightning, still yawning as it was still so early parked beside Sheriff at Flo's. Everybody always gathers at Flo's.
"Morning, McQueen, you're up awfully early. These new cars would arrive around 10am right? And would you look at the time, it's still 6 in the morning!" Sheriff said laughingly. "I thought I heard you and that Italian car still up after 1 this night. Didn't ya sleep well?"
"Nah, I was just afraid I were too late. It'd be stupid if I weren't there to welcome anyone in the end. So I just made sure I really wouldn't miss them now! And Sheriff, it was just Francesco who was still up. I tried to sleep 2 hours earlier, but well, Francesco isn't really a quiet roommate." Lightning said, stretching himself. "Hey, could I take a sip from yours?" He pointed at Sheriff's pint, which he handed over to Lightning. "Don't you get tired? You don't sound like you get enough sleep either." Lightning noted.
"Don't worry about me, I have complied to take care of this town. If I don't, who will? Lizzy might still own this place by paper, but as long as Doc was here, he took care of everything. Lizzy just can't do that. And all of your folks are too young to do it, that leaves me, Fillmore and Sarge. Fillmore and Sarge will only bicker among themselves. They can't even take proper care of their gardens without yelling at each other. So I promised Doc to take care of this place until..."
"Yeah?" Lightning insisted him to continue.
"Untill… I don't know… well… "
Sheriff fell quiet again.
"Well, I don't know until when. Until I die I suppose."
"And then? And will everything stay the same if Lizzy deceases?" Lightning asked curiously
"Well that ain't none of your business, hotrod." Sheriff says at first, but he sighs. "Well, we are not really sure where the papers go after that. Only Doc really knew about them. So we'll be surprised. Either the ground will become public ground once again, which means we have to leave…" he just mumbled a little after that.
"Come on, spit the story out Sheriff!" Lightning insisted
"Well, Doc said he hoped…" He looked back to his pint.
"Sheriff, continue"
"Maybe, one day, you might be able to pay up for the town again so it'll stay our property, and maybe you and Sally could watch over the town, with Mater, y'know… It's too much to ask of you now, and you really shouldn't let it get in front of your career, but y'know, maybe one day…"
Lightning fell a little quiet. "Well, we'll all take care the town stays in our hands, together. I'm sure of it."
"And up 'till the day I cannot move a single limb anymore, I'll make it my job to keep this village good." Sheriff said proudly.
At seven in the morning, sharp, they could hear Sarge getting up with his standard morning ritual with raising the flag and sounding his trumpet, followed by Fillmore's music, which engaged in another fight. Little later, they both drove over to Flo's as well, in a weird discussion which sounded like it was about the rights of rodents.
Lightning kept chatting with Sheriff, as none of the other racers were still able to get up (Jeff and Lewis slept even later than Francesco and Lightning did) and most others were busy as well with more preparations. Sally most of them all. After Sally and Mater, Sheriff was probably the one he got along with the best. Most likely because Sheriff and Doc were very close friends, Sheriff tried to pick up part of the place Doc had to Lightning after Doc passed away, the fatherly part.
"McQueen, I think they are coming-" Sheriff said, pointing down the main road. Lightning drove up the road and scanned the road to see a big crowd of cars coming this way with what seemed like a bunch of flags. Lightning stared at them with some sort of awe.
"They all did that show, hotrod, you did miss something. Jeff and Lewis also made a pretty festive entry, with flags and all that stuff." Sheriff snickered.
Lightning quickly finished his drink, his heart racing as he was nervous. It was really going to begin, he nearly didn't believe it himself, but it was actually going to begin.
"Buenos dias, McQueen" it was Miguel, the Spaniard who got out of the car first to greet him. Both he and his car looked awesome, as did Raoul. They, together with Carla and Shu definitely had the most awesome attires.
"Hey, Miguel, all of you, had a good trip?" Lightning asked him, shaking his hand.
"Apart from the jetlag, si, it all went really smooth."
"Salut, McQueen!" Raoul said, who joined them, along with Max who grinningly shook my hand as well. "Ca va?"
"Excuse me?"
"'ow're you doing, that's what he asked." Miguel explained.
"Fine, just busy of course, with the race and all that. And to make sure that nobody will accidently slip off-road during the race to bump into a cactus, which is hard work I tell you"
"Zat sounds perfect to moi" Raoul exclaimed.
"You'll love it Raoul, but I tried to balance the dirt out enough to give others a chance as well."
"I would like to try dat out" Max said.
"It would be a good plan for you to check in at the Cone first, and settle down a little, we have enough time to take a drive later on!"
The three racers agreed with Lightning and slowly made their way over to Sally. They'd probably wake Lewis and Jeff up in the process, which was good. Now only Francesco had to get up-
"Buon pomeriggio"
Suddenly two arms, which Lightning quickly identified as Francesco's wrapped around his waist. Lightning nearly jumped from the surprise.
"Don't scare me like that! When did you get up?" Lightning asked as he tried to calm down again.
"Francesco doesn't really 'a remember when he 'a got up, just a while ago I 'a must think. Why didn't 'a you wake 'a Francesco up? Francesco 'a wanted to welcome them as 'a well!" He said as he pulled Lightning even tighter against his chest, much to Lightning's displeasure as they were still in front of Flo's.
"Believe it or not, I tried to, but you didn't wake up. I knew you wanted to." Lightning said. "Did the dirt make you tired?" he added with a chuckle.
"Of 'a course not Lightning, what are 'a you talking about," Francesco replied as he let go of Lightning. "Francesco is hungry, why don't 'a you make breakfast? It is 'a your house after all."
WHAT'S THIS?
IT'S TWO UPDATES IN HALF A WEEK. SURPRISE.
Please, feel free to drop any idea's for any slash pairing in Cars. I'm very veeerryy short on ideas, both for this fic, and for one shots I'd LOVE to write. be it FransescoxLightning, LewisxJeff, either RaoulxMax or MiguelxRaoul, pleaaaase give me any of your ideas/kinks applicable/dirty fantasies/prompts/ANYTHING. Pleeaasse PM me with requests or dump a request/idea as a review, I'm dying to write another short thing with the WGP racers. or Doc. Even a situation and a pairing is enough to write something about- so prettyprettypleaasseee.