For PoppyWest

Standing Still

Unusually for a race, especially one in which Dominic Toretto was racing, there were no existed crowds. Normally the atmosphere would be electric, anticipation sparking from person to person, the air so think with it that it almost became solid. But instead the night air was warm and balmy and the only sound was the soft steady purrs of the two cars that sat idling in front of the red light.

And that too was different, on a typical night and the average race the start line was spray painted on the road and the signal to go was when ever the starter called it. But this was anything but an ordinary race. They had just been cruising the streets, not really going anywhere when they had both pulled up to the traffic light. They hadn't spoken, hadn't needed to, the idea just came simultaneously to both of them.

Apart from the night on which they had first met, which had resulted in two cars heading for the junkyard and one hell of a lot of stitches, Dominic Toretto and Leticia Ortiz had never raced one another. They were arguably the two best street racers on the L.A. scene and the crowds that flocked to the illegal meets constantly clamoured to see a showdown between the two. Wanting to know once and for all if it was the king or the queen the truly ruled the streets.

But in spite of the begging and the bribery the couple never agreed. And when some less intelligent people tried blackmail and bulling they were still met with refusal, normally in the form of Letty's right hook. A deadly weapon known and feared in back room bars all over the city.

On lookers said that it was because of what had happened during that very first race, and that the pair were worried that if they ever had a repeat they might not be lucky enough to walk away the second time round. Others said that it was because of the relationship the two shared, they were both pigheaded, strong willed egomaniacs and only lasted because they kept things balanced. Knowing who was truly the best could well destroy that regardless of who actually won. And others said they were just being arrogant, not wanting to race each other before a crowd because they thought themselves better than the rest.

It was in fact all of these reasons, in one form or another, and more besides that had prevented Dom and Letty from racing one another. Which was why, sitting there waiting for the light to change, felt right. It was just the two of them, no clamouring crowds, no cash prize and no outside interference. It was just for them and the rest of world never needed to know which one of them was fast over a quarter of a mile.

"We don't have to do this." Her voice was a throaty purr that resonated in perfect harmony with the two throbbing engines, and though her words were hesitant in the balmy evening air the tone of Letty's voice sounded like an open invitation to do wicked and dangerous things.

"Aww," Somehow Dom managed to sound both sympathetic and mocking, an emotional range most would have thought him incapable of, as he stretched the sound rolling it around on his tongue before he continued, "You're not starting to get cold feet, are you now little girl?"

"No, I'm just not sure I want to deal with piecing your fragile male ego back together once it's all over." Letty finished shrugging off her jacket, the black leather buttery soft, as she finished speaking and flashed a smile across at the other driver.

"So confident," Dom teased, the fact that his eyes crinkled up at the corners did nothing to hide the heat that they held as the roved greedily over the form of the other driver. "Or maybe that should be arrogant."

"Like you're in any position to talk to me about arrogance." The look she gave him was equal parts condescending and assessing, smooth skin and hard muscle, it was no wonder he had the sort of self-assured confidence that lesser mortals could only dream about. It was also a good thing that humble was not a character trait Letty found attractive while self-belief was.

"It's not arrogance if you can back it up baby." It was a line that Letty herself had quoted to him one more than one occasion, of course she had then gone on to back up whatever statement she had made. Proving in the process that while she might be arrogant she also had every right o be confident.

"Oh please," Letty said in her 'please spare me this idiot' tone the one she reserved solely for him. She like to make him feel especial after all. "You really think it's gonna be that easy for you to win?"

"Sure," His smile, though still playful, turned decidedly predatory as the heat in is eyes rose to something near boiling point. "And when I win, I intend to reap the sweet rewards."

Letty didn't respond imminently instead she carefully scrutinised Dom's face, taking in the self-assured smirk playing about it lips and the slightly wicked gleam in his dark eyes. As she evaluated his expression a suspicion started to form in the back of her mind, "You're picturing me as your love slave, aren't you?"

"Yes." He said happily, the expression on his face said clearly that he was looking at mental picture Letty stretched out on his bed wearing a few interesting things that added up to next to nothing. "You look great. Stunning. Deliciously fuc-"

"And what if I win?" Letty asked archly, cutting Dom off before he could descend to a level of crudeness that would see them forgetting all about racing and headed directly for the back seat.

"Then I'll be your love slave, of course." The way Dom said it indicated that he would be just as happy with either result which was unsurprising as, in spite of Dom being a deep and complex person, he was very easy to please. The two of them naked in the same place was all it really took. Even then full nudity was not required, they just had to be naked enough.

"So you win either way." Letty affected disinterest, though the thought of tying Dom up and playing with him to her hearts content did send a thrill of excitement zinging through her. Though truth to tell, even if she didn't win Dom would be all to happy to let her tie him up regardless.

"Precisely," His smug tone and the look he give her, told Letty that some of what she had been thinking had shown on her face and Dom was in full agreement with whatever he had read in her expression. "And you know you're just as pleased about it as I am."

Letty just rolled her eyes and shifted her focus back to the traffic lights, after all there was nothing she could really say to a statement like that or do about the expression on his face. And she had to grudgingly hand it to Dom, the boy sure knew how to get is priorities straight, win or lose he'd rigged so he'd end up getting laid. Not that it was an outcome she was in any way apposed to, she just didn't feel the need to let him know that it was also a win win situation for her.

In an eye blink the light seemed to go from red to amber and then without pausing sliding straight to green. The engines of both cars rumbled like thunder as the two high performance machines sped forward leaving the rest of the world standing still.

(A/N) What can I say, I was feeling the need for some pre FF1 power flirting from our favourite petrol power couple. As for what happens when their race is over, I'll leave that up to your imaginations.

Lamanth xx