AN: This was mentioned by PlatoOfAncientRome34 and I love the idea, its just going to take a while to figure out.


"You gotta be kidding me. Him? Isn't there anyone else I can work with?"

"There are, Mr. McQueen-"

Mr. McQueen, what was he, ancient?

"-but our best trainers are all very busy and can't exactly fit you in to their schedules. You're both traveling to Florida and-"

"That shouldn't be a deciding factor."

Sterling only eyed him briefly before continuing. Lightning was beginning to dislike the slick gray suit and perfectly styled hair.

"We believe to be back on top, you should work with those currently-" He hesitated and gestured helplessly, because this was fairly straight forward to him and he didn't understand why McQueen was so against it. "-you know, at the top."

Lightning stared from where he stood in the lobby of the new training center. He daydreamed of having those jars of dirt moved out to the museum in Arizona and telling Sterling to take a hike. Instead, he sighed and wished he had more time before the race in Florida.

"Fine. When will he be here."

"He already is."

Of course he was, because somehow that made sense. Now he really was in opposite world.

Lightning didn't like the look on Sterling's face but followed beside him anyway.

They passed large training rooms filled with treadmills and exercise equipment and walked beneath the large indoor simulators that he and Sally had read about. He still found them to be a little silly but the technology was impressive.

The halls were spotless, sterile and cool. He felt like he was in some sci-fi flick. If Darth Vader suddenly showed up around the corner he wouldn't be surprised. He was lost in his thoughts, suddenly wondering who he'd be in that universe because he felt like he was about to face the dark side.

Maybe he was being too dramatic.

No, he wasn't, because when they finally reached his new training partner in another room full of treadmills, wearing black and electric blue running gear, all he could think of was Kylo Ren.

But that would be black and red wouldn't it?

Whatever.

Jackson Storm shouldn't have looked so at home at the Rust-eze training center. If Lightning wasn't already on edge over this whole idea before, he certainly was now as he watched the younger driver glance quickly at the overly technical fitbit on his wrist before grabbing his phone from the tray of the treadmill.

"Whatever happened to, I dunno, running outside?"

"This keeps track of heart rate, speed, distance run, calories burned-"

Lightning only huffed and looked sidelong toward Sterling. "How did athletes ever manage before..."

"I know, right? It must have been exhausting."

Lightning only narrowed his eyes briefly, considering him with a look of offense as Sterling stepped forward.

"Storm! Why don't you take a break?"

Everything about the kid screamed twenty-first century. How anyone could maintain perfectly styled hair during a workout, Lightning would never know but there he was, black hair styled just so, the latest phone on the treadmill that synced with his fitbit. The Beats by Dre headphones were a little much but somehow perfectly matched the IGNTR licensed workout gear he sported. Even the Nike running shoes sported the color scheme.

Lightning wondered vaguely if Doc felt this way seeing him in that courtroom so many years ago.

The kid was obnoxious, and he hadn't even spoken yet.

"Oh, hello, Mr. Sterling." He finally said in a honeyed politeness that won him the favor of the press as he brought the treadmill to a stop. Glancing up nonchalantly to the side he threw in a less polite hey there, champ.

Lightning was going to need patience.

"Surprised to see you back so soon.".

"Well you know what they say, can't keep a good dog down."

"They also say you can't teach old dogs new tricks." Jackson smirked, clicking through the settings on the fitbit.

Before Lightning could get a word in, Sterling had an arm around his shoulder. "Well he's not too long in the tooth yet. You'll be working together before Florida."

That was apparently news to Storm and Lightning took a grim satisfaction at the look that briefly crossed his face before he schooled his features back in to that smug aloofness he was better known for.

He shot a look at Lightning. "Don't break a hip before Sunday, Champ."

So much patience...

"I look forward to seeing your progress Mr. McQueen." Sterling patted him on the shoulder before turning to leave.

"Thank you, Mr. Sterling." Lightning said with forced enthusiasm. "You won't be disappointed."

Jackson raised a brow and looked away from the glass door Sterling had just left through. "Oh, I think he will."

"You know." Lightning started, feeling the need to get a few things straight before they started. "Rivalry is one thing, but you really push it."

He wasn't sure if he was expecting a response but wasn't surprised when he didn't get one. Instead, Jackson put his attention on collecting his things. He threw the duffle over his shoulder before finally looking back at his new training partner. "Don't you have a senior's zumba class to get to?"

"No. I have a track to get to."

"You mean the simulator."

"I am not training in a video game."

"Then where do you propose?"


Storm eyed the travel trailer with disinterest as the ramp lowered and the car backed down in to the sand. Without a word he slapped what almost looked like a tracking device over the lucky sticker.

"Um, what do you think you're doing?"

"If you refuse to use the simulator, you'll use the tracker." Jackson held up another gadget. "Keep this on your dash, it tells you what the car's doing."

"I know what the car's doing."

"How many races you win last season?"

Lightning eyed him with a withering expression before snatching the device from his hand. "Fine."

He climbed in to the stock car that Jackson had scoffed at. Maybe the kid was right, maybe he should upgrade the car. What if that's all that was holding him back?

Why couldn't he have been put with someone else, he'd listen to any trainer, do any ridiculous stunt willingly if it meant he didn't have to work with Storm. Storm wasn't a trainer, why did Sterling think this was a good idea.

Lightning stared across the sand as the sun began to arc through the afternoon sky. It was a beautiful beach, he could easily picture a lazy day with Sally wading through the waves, collecting shells...

He could picture a field of vintage cars tearing through the sand.

He could actually see Jackson standing impatiently beside the trailer in his rear view mirror.

He hit the gas and started a weeks worth of training. It would be a long seven days.