Day 3: Royal

Inspired by the movie Rush and David Gutta's song Dangerous. Modern-ish (like 1970s) AU with a Formula 1 Racing focus. Please enjoy.

Royalty of Speed

They were the royalty of speed all of them. Every single driver on the track was royalty is this, their profession. They didn't care about death or danger just speed and victory and that was what made them who they were. Their crowns were the trophies on their walls and their scepters were the gearshifts of their cars.

Five years old and screaming for joy, Korra watched from the stands. Cheering on her father as his blue car zoomed around the track leading the pack. She jumped for joy as her father crossed the finish line and won. She looked over at her mother who was smiling.

"Daddy did it! He won!" She grabbed her mother's hands. "I knew he would and when I'm big I'm going to just be like daddy and drive in the Republic City Grand Pries and win it just like daddy." She looked at the track smiling from ear to ear. That's where her heart belonged on the track. Out there it did matter if you could bend or not even being the avatar meant nothing out there. It was all based on luck, talent, and most of all skill.

Twenty Years later

Korra leaned against the railing watching the drivers practice. It should have been her out there but, she glanced back at Tenzin, it was too dangerous for the Avatar. She hated it racing was in her blood just like bending was. She just wanted to be out on the track feel the speed and smell the exhaust. She was a daughter of racing royalty and she couldn't even get behind the wheel of a car.

"Korra? Is that you?"

Korra turned to see the son of one of her father's rivals and good friend. "Iroh, what brings you to the track?" She smiled; he used to watch her while his mother and her father raced against each other.

"I'm here to get some practice in before the qualifier next week. You? Is the world finally going to see the first avatar Formula 1 driver?"
She shook her head and pointed to Tenzin. "I'm not allowed to race…too dangerous."

Iroh frowned. "That's too bad. You're a really good driver. I heard a few of your races in formula 2." He looked up at Tenzin. "Hey, is it ok if she does a few practice laps with me?"

The Air bender frowned and shook his head.

"Oh come on it will just be the two of us. No rough play just some fun on the track."

"She doesn't have a car."

Iroh looked at Korra in surprise. "You don't have a car?"

Korra looked down. "Not here, it's back at Air Temple Island. I crashed it a few months ago and he won't let me put it back together."

"Well you can use my spare car."

Korra looked at him in shock. "But-"

"Don't worry I've got good a sponsor having a spare car is just perk." He smiled. "Now come on, let's see if you can live up to your father's legacy."

.o.O.o.

They raced around the track like their whole existence was speed. They were legacies royalty of the track and it showed. High Octane gas ran through their vanes instead of blood. They went around the track ten times pushing speeds of 180 in places and yet they crossed the finish line milliseconds between them. Korra pulled her helmet off and looked over at Iroh.

She smiled. "I didn't think you were going to catch up to me back there. Looks like the Fire Lady has raised you right."

Iroh chuckled. "And the Ice Serpent taught you well. You would have never thought this was the first time you'd been in that car or out of the seat for a few months. I would be worried if you were going to the qualifier next week."

She smirked. "Worried I'd take your place?"

"Nah I'm going to qualify, I'd just be worried about having a challenge."

Korra tossed Iroh his helmet. "Don't get two cocky there. I've been watching the people practicing on the track all week. You'll be surprised how good these drivers are."

"Oh? Care to enlighten me on the competition?"

"Only if you allow me to be in pits on race day."

Iroh glanced up at Tenzin's ever-looming figure. "If your baby sitter allows it, you can be in the pits, now spill, who are the one's to look out for?"

Korra hugged him. "Thank you! Ok so as you hopefully know there's Tanno number 23, last years winner, he's back and still driving dirty but he's being sponsored by Triad Motors and you know how shady they are. Then there's the brother team of Mako number 14, and Bolin number 15, they're new to Formula 1 but have been tarring it up in the Republic City Formula 2 ring for a good while now. They definitely have the raw skills to make it far, just how far we'll see. At the moment they are hoping to be signed with Future Industries rumor has it that the older brother is wowing the owner's daughter Asami Sato. And last but not least is the newest driver a guy called Amon, not sure who's sponsoring him or where he came from but he's good just a stickler for the rules and it helps if your not a bender he seems to have it out for those drivers." She leaned against a wall. "And that's all the drivers you really need to know about the rest are, well, either from your neck of the woods or veterans who you should know by now."

Iroh nodded. "Got it, thanks Kor."

Korra stretched. "So…I'll see you in a week?"

"Sure but…can I see you sooner?"

Korra paused her hopes soring, Iroh was her childhood crush and while she never would tell him she had all his posters from his formula 2 careered in Fire Nation. "Yeah…why?"

"I want to see what you did to your car."

Korra felt her hopes fall. "Yeah sure, of course drop by anytime. I live on Air Temple Island and I'm always there." She started to walk away but then stopped at turned. "Hey, I bet if you drop by around dinner Pema will feed you."

Iroh just smiled. "Well then I might have to plan it around that. See you later Korra."
"See yah Iroh!"

.o.O.o.

Iroh looked at the wreck his eyes wide. "And you walked away from this?"

Korra nodded. "One of the other drivers kind of hit it after I got out of it but before the safety drivers got there." She looked up at Iroh. "They're ok just a broken arm."

Iroh shook his head. "Man there is no salvaging this is there?"
"Nope, which is why Tenzin lets me keep it. He says it's for me to remember how dangerous racing is but to me it just tells me I failed." She kicked the twisted metal. "I just want to get out and race again." She looked up at Iroh. "You understand right?"

He nodded. "I'd give up my bending before I'd give this up." He looked back at the wreck. "But I'm glad you weren't hurt." He sighed. "You know my sponsor is looking for a third driver to round out the team. Do you want me to drop your name in to the pool? United Force Automotive would love to have another 'royal of the track' on their roster. "

Korra looked at him in disbelief. "You would do that? For me? Really?"

Iroh nodded. "Yeah, you're a damn good driver and I wasn't the only one to see that two days ago. I'm surprised you don't have people beating down your door!"

"Apparently Hiroshi Sato dropped by but Tenzin sent him away." She felt her shoulder's drop thinking about Tenzin. "He'd never let me join especially Formula 1." She crossed her arms. "It's not fair."

"It's also not safe." Tenzin walked into the room and looked at the pouting avatar. "What would people say if you got hurt or died on the track?"

"They'd say I died doing what I loved. Tenzin please! If UFA offers me a spot to qualify will you let me?"

Tenzin sighed. "If I say no, will you sneak out and do it anyway?"

Korra nodded. "Yeah probably."
The old man hung his head. "Fine but you have to promise me if the risk it too great you'll stand down from the race."

Korra nodded. "I'll stick to my father's rule of 61%"

Tenzin looked at her confused. "61%?"

"Yeah, if the risk of a wreck is 61% I won't do the race." She looked over at Iroh. "I thought that was common knowledge."

"Your father hasn't been racing for quite a while and most drivers don't even bother to calculate the risk they just want to win." Iroh pointed out.

Korra crossed her arms. "Well I think it's time the old 61% rule came back in to public knowledge." She smiled. She couldn't wait for Saturday.

.o.O.o.

Bolin took off his helmet and nudged his brother and pointed to a girl getting out of the UFA car. "Hey isn't that the girl Mr. Sato tried to sign?"

Mako nodded. "Yeah, I think that is." He smiled. "Let's go say hello to our newest and cutest competition." He walked over and held out his hand to Korra. "Hi, I'm Mako and this is Bolin welcome to Formula 1."

Korra shook his hand. "Thanks, I'm Korra." She let go of his hand. "So what do you boys want? This is Formula 1 there are no friends in this world until retirement."

Iroh looked over and couldn't help but frown as he watched the two young racers chat up his teammate. He saw how Korra laughed and tucked a piece of hair behind her ear. Oh spirits! They were flirting with her! Iroh shook his head. They weren't flirting just talking getting to know the new driver that was all. In fact if I walked over there right now and told her the head mechanic wanted to see her she'd leave with out batting an eye. He nodded, that's what he would do. Korra was a driver at heart and she wasn't going to let some pretty boys turn her head. Would she? He watched her laugh in her devil may care way. Was she?

.o.O.o.

Two Months later

Iroh looked down at his helmet. He had placed low in the last few races and all because he was becoming distracted. Not by Korra, who was showing herself to be a rising star in racing, no he was getting distracted by Mako. The young racer was hanging out with Korra more and more and it was getting on his nerves. So much so on the track all he did was try to keep the other from winning. Korra was his teammate and his friend so why did she even give Mako the time of day? What if next season she switched teams and joined Future Industries leaving him with UFA alone? It would make sense Future Industries had the better cars and it was her father's sponsor long ago signing with them would be a dream come true for either of them. If she did leave would then end their friendship? He didn't want that. She was his oldest friend and racing with her felt so right he couldn't imagine her on a different team.

Korra tapped him on the shoulder bringing his attention back to the present.

"Hey there golden eyes." She tilted her head. "What's going on? You've been driving like you don't know what a tier is. Amon and his teammates are smoking us every race now. We need you to have your head in the game if we hope to make it to the Grand Prix this year." She paused. "Is everything ok?"

"It's nothing I've just been getting distracted lately. Can't clear my head."

"Distracted by what?"

He looked at her. "Jealousy."

"Jealousy? Who could you possibly be jealous of? When you're on game you're the best man on the track and off the track." She blushed. "You're the best looking one."

Iroh smirked. "I don't know about that. The way you and all the other girls look at Mako makes me wonder."

Korra laughed. "You're jealous of Mako? He's driving worse then you! Last week he spun out in the first ten laps. Why would you be jealous of him? He's got nothing on you besides one of the best cars on the track but that's only 50% on the equation. You're the better driver and I know you can prove come next heat." She sat next to him. "So why be jealous of him?"

Iroh crossed his arms. "Because you seem to like the guy and next season they might ask you to join their team and you and he might become…more."

Korra rolled her eyes. "Spirits Iroh you don't have to worry about that. Mako's dating Asami Sato who coincidently is his mechanic. He and I are just friends nothing more and I not going to abandon UFA or you." She patted him on the cheek. "Come on let's go get something to eat and as always loser pays!"

"Fine but loser also picks the restaurant!"

"Aw Joe's burgers again?"

"If I agree to go somewhere nicer will you call it a date?"

"I'll call it marriage if I don't have to eat another hamburger again!"

.o.O.o.

Mako almost fell over when he saw Korra kissing her teammate before the race. His eyes wide in shock and jealousy, yes he was with Asami but Korra also haunted his daydreams. He waited for Korra to leave and talk to her mechanic before going over to talk to Iroh.

"So dating a teammate huh? It's that against some rule somewhere?"

Iroh glared at him. "Yeah, It's right next to don't screw over your mechanic." He pointed behind Mako at Asami who was glaring at the back of Mako's head. "I'll see you on the track. Let's hope she's nice enough to secure your tiers properly before the start."

"I don't know what to say folks!" The announcer said over the airwaves. "It's like we're watching two races in one! Mako of Future Industries in car number 14 is battling number 45 Iroh of UFA out in front while Car number 23 Amon and number 64 Korra also of UFA seem to be fighting for third place! This is quite the upset! And Tanno looks to be making a move and…he's spun out! A quick wrench of the wheel from Amon and Tanno is going to be taking up the rear in this race! Now back to our front-runners! It's only two laps left and it's not letting up! They're making the final turn and Amon is pulling away from Korra and…NO! Ladies and gentlemen there's been a horrible collision on the coarse! I can't see the cars because of the smoke but I can tell you someone's going to be going to the hospital from this one!"

Korra slammed on her breaks seeing the three burning cars blocking the road. She jumped out and using her earth bending pulled earth from the side of the track on to the fire to put it out. She ran to Iroh's car a cursed that she wasn't a metal bender. One of the safety car's pulled up quickly fallowed by two others. The drivers got out and started to help get the trapped drivers out. Korra helped pull Iroh out of his car once the metal was bent out of the way. She only looked at the other drivers once Iroh was free of his burning car and out of immediate danger. Mako had crawled out himself and a crew was pulling out Amon, he looked fine but was definitely knocked out.

She watched as the other racers drove past her and the wreckage. She hung her head knowing she was going to get an ear full from both Tenzin and her coach. She could have been in the crash or she could have won. She looked at the finish line only twelve feet away. She could have won but she chose Iroh over winning. She leaned down and pressed her forehead against his. She chose Iroh over winning.

.o.O.o.

"-And there you have it folks! Korra of UFA wins! With Amon coming in second and Mako coming in third! I'll give the final rankings after a word from our sponsor."

Iroh turned the radio off and flinched a little. He had a few broken ribs and some deep bruising and a burn on his left arm that was still tender. He'd be ok but he'd have to miss two races, which drastically cut down his chances making into this year's Grand Pries. He smiled, Korra would make it and even if he wasn't on the track with her, he'd be next to it cheering her on.

An hour or so later Korra dropped by baring gifts and smiling still high after her victory. She kissed him before she even set down the bottle in her hand. "I won! Were you listening to the radio! I won there were a few close calls but I did it!"

Iroh smiled. "Yeah I heard! It sounded amazing Kor, I don't know how anyone's going to come close to catching you at the Grand Pries." He kissed her. "Unless you know I actually manage to get enough points to qualify."

Korra chuckled. "Of course with you there I'll actually have a challenge. But for now we celebrate!" She popped open the bottle of champagne and poured two glasses handing one to Iroh. "By the way have you been hearing what Amon's been saying about the crash?"

"Isn't he claiming it was caused by illegal bending on the track?"

Korra nodded and took a sip. "Yeah, but I saw the crash. His back wheels hit yours and Mako's cars causing the crash. The only bending that happened was me bending dirt on to the fire to put it out."

Iroh frowned. "He's up to something. Racing is one of the only sport were it's truly equal no matter if you're a bender or not." He took a sip of champagne. "I don't like the idea of him causing trouble. If he wants to crusade against bending he's in the wrong sport. Now if he was bitching about Pro-bending then he might have a leg to stand on."

Korra nodded finishing her glass and pouring another one. "Yeah, the guys a real ass hole didn't even say congratulations on the podium." She took a gulp from her glass. "I mean just because you lost doesn't mean you have to be a bad sport."

Iroh nodded. "Some people just don't know how to lose with class. On a completely different subject you seem to be going through that champagne awful quickly. Please tell me you're not going to drive yourself home."

"You don't think I could?" She laughed seeing the look on Iroh's face. "I'm kidding." She kissed him. "I was kind of hoping to spend the night here. You know fully celebrate my victory."

Iroh wrapped and arm around her neck and kissed her deeply. "and celebrate we shall."

.o.O.o.

Engines purred waiting for the flag to single their release. It was the day of the Republic City Grand Pries and every driver worth his salt was hoping to claim the checkered flag and be victorious. Well almost every driver Iroh looked at Korra from the sidelines, smiled and waved. Korra blew him a kiss before looking forward focusing on the lights. Korra gripped her steering wheel; she was three cars back but still a favor to win. Mako was right behind her and Amon, well Amon was right out in front the road completely open to him.

Korra took a deep breath and cleared her mind. She could do this. She knew the track, she knew her car, and she knew her skill. The flag dropped and the racers took off! Korra was soon flying down the track, she took and early lead and kept it. She was a royal of the track and everyone watching knew it. It was all skill, all talent, all luck. She didn't need to be the avatar to be this good, her bending didn't matter, just her ability to drive and drive fast. She smiled this is where she belonged and yet as the race wore on she wasn't racing for the speed or the thrill. She wasn't pushing 150 on tight turns to gain a trophy or out run the other behind her. She was racing to something and as she started her last lap she knew who she was racing towards.

.o.0.o.

Years later

Two seven year old boys, twins in fact, sat on their grandparent's laps watching opened mouth as the cars raced by. One looked up at his grandfather. "Which one's mommy?"

The old racer smiled. "She's the one in the red car in front."

The other boy looked at his grandmother. "And which one's daddy?"

She laughed. "He's the other red car trying to catch her."

The boy looked at the two red cars so far a head of the rest. He smiled and cheered as his parents battled it out for one last lap. They were racing Royalty and everyone could see that. Most just hoped they'd retire soon but as they crossed the finished line to the cheers of their fans and family it didn't look like that was going to happen anytime soon. They were the King and Queen of Formula 1 and no one was going to take that crown.

A/N so I know it's a little different but I'd love to know what you think so comment if you feel so compelled I'll see you later!