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જ⁀➴ᥫ᭡⊹₊ ⋆🏎️🏁જ⁀➴ᥫ᭡⊹₊ ⋆
Lightning McQueen had never been a superstitious man- he didn’t concern himself with theological or philosophical debates on a higher being, or trivial matters such as fate. These things never interested him.
Not until he witnessed Jackson Storm race.
He’d heard of the sensational rookie through the gossiping in the pit crew, but he had never come face to face with the man, nor had he beheld his skills on the track.
He slid his head-set down around his neck as disheartened noises echoed around the room when Storm surpassed Cruz, coming out on top at the last minute.
The incessant clicking of the vulturous paparazzi only grew as the young man stepped from his car, spreading his arms in the air in celebration, pumping his fists in the air.
Lightning could only shake his head witnessing the man who perfectly mirrored his younger self. It seemed that he had travelled back in time to perceive his own rise to glory- he knew it would make the man arrogant as it did him.
He could only hope the young man had a mentor as wise as Doc to guide him; to prevent the sensational rush of victory flowing through his veins from turning him into a narcissistic rich twenty-something year old asshole. Although he knew he could only view his youthful self retrospectively.
Cruz made her way over to where the crew was situated- bitter over her loss; her frustration showing in her pursed lips and pink tinged cheeks. Lightning offered her a small smile before gathering her in an embrace.
“Hey, you win some you lose some,kiddo. Don’t let it get you down. You were incredible out there.”
”Incredible- but Storm was better.” She clicked her teeth as she rebuked him, throwing her helmet into a corner as she massaged her pinched knuckles.
“Like I said.. don’t let it get you down. Storm bested you this time. Buck up and get over it so you can beat him next quali race.”
The young woman merely shook her head at him before pacing away to rewatch the race’s footage on an ipad, likely in the dark of her trailer so she could agonize over every minute detail.
For now,Lightning had to deal with the descending paparazzi; a dreaded task that didn’t get better after becoming crew chief for Cruz.
His retirement from the sport had come as a shock to the whole racing world- leaving rivals, friendly competitors, commentators and viewers all equally stunned.
It had been a necessary decision- something that wasn’t forced on him by disastrous circumstance or unfortunate scandal. It was something he had been fighting for years; he was past his prime, he had just turned 29 after all. Retirement was the next natural step for a veteran like him, and what better way to leave the racing world than with a bang- having driven the first half of a race, he opted to pass the torch on to his trainer, Cruz Ramierz.
He had been bombarded in minutes with emails, texts and calls from concerned friends and fans. The only call he had bothered to pick up had been from his ex-girlfriend, Sally Carerra.
Their relationship hadn’t ended in fireworks; there was no big fight or anything like that, it had merely fizzled out with a quiet whimper. Sally had returned to the big city to continue her work as a big time corporate lawyer, and Lightning spent all his time either racing or spending time in Radiator Springs.
The break up had been amicable, though no less heartbreaking for both parties. It had taken time to recover, but Lightning had eventually come to accept the drastic change in his life.
When he picked up his buzzing phone back in July to Sally, he had expected a witty remark about getting old or an angry comment at not having forward notice- he got neither. All she said was, “I’m proud of you, Monty. You’re finally doing something for yourself.”
He had definitely not shed a tear over the warmness of his friend’s tone later that night. And if he did it was nobody’s business.
When his thoughts returned to the present, he was face to face with an irritating young journalist who constantly berated him with questions about his ‘unfortunate retirement’ and ‘dire love life’, which he believed was a tad dramatic.
The young man shoved a microphone close to his face, already prepared to ruin Lightning’s day.
“McQueen, what do you have to say about your mentee’s monumental loss to Jackson Storm?”
Lightning’s brows furrowed in annoyance, eyes squinted as he assessed the man and his stocky cameraman. He was relatively good looking, although his aura of smugness bled through any chance of a woman finding him appealing for more than anymore than a brief fling.What was his name again? Right, Danny Parker..
”I wouldn’t call it a monumetal loss. Ramirez remains on the podium in second place, which makes her better than 41 other racers. That doesn’t count as a loss in my books. Nor is it monumental. Don’t forget, this isn’t for the Piston Cup just yet.”
The brusque response left the reporter blank-faced for a moment, though he quickly recovered and followed up with a quesrion that truly made Lightning considerate,
“So then what’s your opinions on the young racer in poll position, Jackson Storm? I’m sure you’d have a bone to pick with him for what he said to your rookie on the last lap.”
Confusion must have painted the older man’s features, as the reporter continued, “Storm allegedly heckled Ramirez by shouting, ‘You don’t belong on this track!’ Any thoughts, McQueen?”
Oh, did he have thoughts.
Retrospectively speaking, Lightning should have avoided any big display of emotion or angered outburst. However, when faced with the young driver’s cocky remarks that clearly had misogynistic undertones.. he couldn’t help it.
Retrospectively speaking, Lightning regretted this decision deeply. He should’ve kept his mouth shut and moved on.
If he had have done that, he wouldn’t be sitting replaying a viral clip of him cussing out Jackson Storm, cringing everytime he reheard his words.
The clip was only 24 seconds long, yet it felt agonizingly stretched everytime Cruz hit the re-play button, sitting in a reverie of stunned silence.
The words that stuck with Lightning the most was not his critical analysis of the driver’s attitude, or even his targetting of Cruz, no- he had said, and I quote;
”Maybe you should learn a thing or two from me before running your mouth. I have some tips just for you, Storm.”
Lightning groaned as he pushed his cap lower over his face, obscuring his view of the screen and slumping back on the sofa roughly.
Cruz finally relented, placing the phone on the coffee table in front of them.
“Well, you definitely told him, boss.” ,was the sarcastic remark Cruz finally landed on in an attempt to lighten the mood.
“Why in God’s name did you not tell me what he said before I went out infront of those vultures?” he mumbled, sitting forward to place his face in his hands.
Cruz sighed deeply, looking to the ceiling before begrudgingly stating, “I wanted to deal with it on my own. I dont wanna be the rookie that goes running to their crew chief at every mean comment. Besides, Jackson always taunts people he passes, it’s.. almost like a ritual for him.” She rolled her eyes at that last statement, although she was defending the man she clearly did not like him.
Lightning nodded morosely. He could understand the need to prove yourself, and the need to do it alone. It made him thing of the King’s words all those years back at his first Piston Cup.
“Look, I get it. You want to be independent from me, especially in front of your peers. But you gotta understand that you can’t be a lone wolf in this sport. We’re a team. And being a team means communicating with eachother. I probably wouldn’t have blown up like that if you had’ve just had a heart to heart with me.”
Cruz huffed out a breath, tears in her eyes, “A team,huh? That sounds nice.” She sniffed, rubbing at her running nose before continuing, “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you, I won’t make the same mistake again.”
The finality in her words assured the older man, who placed a hand on her shoulder, “I know you won’t.”
Suddenly, a flush of humour appeared on the young woman’s face, “So, you have some tips for the Jackson Storm, huh?”
Lightning pinched his nose bridge as he released a guttural groan, “ God I must’ve sounded like such a dick. What’s the chances he hasn’t seen it?”
Cruz chuckled, “Oh come on, what you said was totally badass- you really schooled him gramps.” Her humour faded however and she winced, “ Chances he hasn’t seen it? Slim to none.”
“Aw, shit. How angry you think he is?”
Cruz pondered this , biting her lower lip before taking up her phone again, presumably scrolling through the video’s comments.
”Most people think you’re totally in the right over this! Storm couldn’t release a negative statement about you even if people didn’t agree. You’re a legend. He’s not gonna make a PR disaster over this.”
The woman’s reassurances did nothing to soothe his nerves, “I kinda already made a PR disaster, and I haven’t even met the kid.”
Cruz was about to object when her phone suddenly began buzzing in her hands, causing her eyes to widen as she froze on the spot. Lightning gave her a quizzical look before she slowly turned the screen to face him and understanding dawned on his features.
The name highlighted on the screen was Jackson Storm.
”Shit shit shit! What do I do?” Cruz whispered harshly (Lightning had no idea why she was whispering, maybe Storm could hear them through the phone using the powers of his giant ego.)
“Answer it!” Lightning commanded, running a hand through his hair from the stress.
Cruz’s finger smashed the answer button, and for a moment there was nothing but silence.
A smooth voice echoed from the phone, causing Lightning’s eyebrow to twitch involuntarily.
“Hey, Cruz. Is the old man there?”
Old man. Lightning could phsyically feel his blood pressure rising exponentially, probably reaching unhealthy levels.This cocky bastard.
“Yeah, I’m here rookie.” Lightning drawled, massaging above his eyebrow bone.
A short bark of laughter answered him, followed by words that left the veteran deeply confused and surprised,
”I heard you have some tips for me. I’m willing to train with you, if that’s what you’d like.”
That simple conversation led to Lightning McQueen now standing in Radiator Springs awaiting the arrival of Jackson Storm. After recovering from his initial shock, Lightning had stated that if the rookie was going to learn snything from him, it’d be on his own home turf; the town of where his life found meaning.
Cruz was at his side, arms crossed and face scrunched in an unimpressed manner, “He’s late.”
“Not surprising, he doesn’t seem the type to be punctual. Besides, it’s a 7 hour drive from the last race’s location.”
”Yet we managed to get here in one piece. Promptly.” ,Cruz bit back.
Lightning huffed a laugh, shaking his head fondly at his mentee’s impatience.
“He’ll come.”
“I know that, I’m just worried we’re losing daylight waiting for this prick.”
“You manage fine in the dark- headlights exist for a reason.”
A thunderous noise interrupted his musings, and a cloud of dust suddenly formed before Doc’s garage, making the pair cough. A deep blue car sat before them- it was like a fancy car from futuristic movies with LED rims and wheels.
The black tinted window rolled down, revealing the man in car, who rested an arm on the window sill and lowered his sunglasses,
”So, are we gonna get started?”
A muscle twitched in his jaw, but he smirked back at the young man anyways- “Ok, we’ll get started. Come on.”
Once they pulled up before Willy’s Butte and got out of the vehicles to converse, Storm turned to the racing veteran, “So this is where you train, huh?”
“It’s where I train Ramirez now, yeah. I don’t race anymore.” Lightning shook his head, adjusting his cap over his dusty blonde hair.
Storm watched the man’s tanned arms flex as he did so, before blanching and saying, “Wh- You don’t race anymore? You don’t drive around at all? I gotta admit I thought it was weird when you came in Ramirez’s car-“
Lightning cut the young man off, “Nope. Don’t race.”
The two men stared eachother down for a moment, whilst Cruz stood awkwardly beside them, kicking at the sand with her dirty red converse.
Storm incredulously broke the silence, “So what am I doing here then?”
Lightning smiled at him brightly, “You’re gonna race with Ramirez, and I’m gonna watch.”
Storm seemed to regain his composure, remembering the cold person he was supposed to convey, “I’ve already raced Ramirez. I beat her ass. This is a waste of time.”
Cruz spun around, ready to pick a fight with her fellow driver before Lightning intervened by setting a steadying arm in her path, “Not here you haven’t. You said you wanted to hear my tips. Practice here, and I’ll give you my tips.”
The placating tone seemed to anger Storm, as his cheeks turned a pinkish colour and his nostrils flared, Cruz barked a laugh at his irritated face, which gained her a glare.
“Fine. We’ll race- and I’ll beat her all over again.”
“Ah, ah, ah!” Lightning raised a finger, coming to stand in between the two young drivers. “You’re not gonna talk to her like that, alright? Look, I get it. You’re young- probably a playboy if your looks are any indication. You got millions of fans and sponsors and all of that has gone to your head and inflated it to the size of Mars. You’re cocky- I’ve been there. Just know, if you’re gonna train with me, you cut that out right now.”
His stern tone must’ve cut through the haze Storm was in, because he suddenly jolted into motion, “Fine, come on Cruz. Let’s race.”
Lightning noticed that as the young man retreated towards his car he kept turning back to glance at him. Lightning figured he was like a puppy with his tail between his legs. Mater would find that funny.
Cruz was smug and more than smug, skipping off to her car and practically jumping into the seat, “Again, you told him, boss!”
Storm merely revved his car angrily in response, pulling up to the crudely drawn starting line. Cruz joined him there seconds later, both their windows were rolled down- presumably to curse eachother out periodically.
He’d taken Cruz here before to train with him; she knew this track, heck she grew up around here. Storm would be in for a prickly shock.
Lightning stepped to the side, tilting his head to see both drivers in their mirrors- they were goading eachother already.
“On your marks, get set, go!”
The suddenness of it took them both by surprise, and they both shot forward a second later. Lightning stepped back to lean against an old dead tree, shaking his head fondly. That Jackson kid wasn’t all that bad- cocky sure, and prideful too. But a good driver.
Lightning would just have to make him a better one- maybe teach him some humility along the road too. He had two weeks until Storm had to return to training at IGNTR. That was more than enough time to beat some niceness into the kid aswell as some tricks.
Just before the sunset, Mater pulled around the corner in his tow truck, waving happily at Lightning, “Hey, buddy! Long time no see.”
Lightning chuckled, “We seen eachother last week, pal.”
Mater got out of the truck, pulling Lightning into a suffocating bear hug, “Like I said! Long time.”
A loud crash interrupted their conversation, pulling them apart, “Oh, so that’s why you called me here. Whose the unlucky fella?”
”Jackson Storm.” Lightning said simply, wiling his hands down on his cargo pants.
”Oh my goodness, are you playing with me? The Jackson Storm that Cruz has been raving about non-stop for three months? The one that you- No way! He’s here?” Mater’s flabbergasted face drew a laugh from Lightning.
”Yep. I dragged him all the way out here to teach him a lesson.”
Cruz pulled around the bend moments later, victory clear on her face. “Might wanna help our friend Storm out of the cactus pit, Mater.”
Mater nodded happily, “Alright, you betcha. I’ll be back in a jiffy.”
Lightning sighed, “How mad was he exactly when he went in?”
“Oh, you shouldve seen the look on his face. That car is trashed.”
Lightning couldn’t help but laugh when Mater returned towing a crumpled mess of a blue car, “Damn right it is.”
Storm sat, arms crossed with a hilariously furious look on his face in Mater’s passenger seat.
Lightning and Cruz thought he would throw a gasket when he emerged from the front seat to stand in front of them, instead all he did was glare at Lightning, “So you think this is funny? Do you know how expensive that car is? It’s not even released to the public yet !”
”Oh, I know. And it is funny, do you wanna know why?” Lightning knew he was playing with fire, he just couldn’t help it.This kid seemed to bring the worst out of him.
”Go ahead and enlighten me, gramps.” Jackson bit out, brows furrowed. Lightning thought he looked like an angry kitten.
He wasn’t afraid of Storm. They were around the same height and build, but Lightning’s shoulders were slighter wider, and his arms bigger. He could take Storm in a fight if it came to it.
“You lost, isn’t that funny?”
Cruz pulled a face, reversing to stand beside Mater as she watched the conversation unfold. If it turned into a phsyical altercation she would have nothing to do with it. Well, besides cheering Lightning on.
She didn’t understand why Lightning was so insistant on rattling on Jackson’s cage. Furthermore, she didn’t understand why he agreed to take Jackson here to train anyways- why was he helping the enemy?
As Mater and Cruz watched the two descend into a screaming match, Mater clicked his tongue and leaned against the truck’s hood.
“Reminds me of Sally and Lightning before they got together; always picking fights..”
Cruz’s eyes widened as she looked between Mater and the two men whose faces were inches from eachother. Storm had a grip on Lightning’s t-shirt, whilst Lightning kept pushing at Storm’s shoulders angrily.
They were holding the most intense eye-contact Cruz had seen in her entire life, and she had seen a lot of enemies to lovers movies.
“Holy shit…”
Mater gave her a confused look, “Hmm? What did you say?”
Cruz was about to respond when Storm suddenly punched Lightning in the nose, sending him flying backwards. When Lightning recovered he instantly tackled Storm into the sand.
Mater rushed over, “Hey now, fellas, break it up!”
Mater stood hopelessly as they rolled around in the dirt, he shot a pleading look towards Cruz who simply stood there.
Once the fight had finally been broken up, Storm had a bruise forming along his jawline- and McQueen was cradling a bloodied nose.
“Well, you two seem to get along well!” A voice called out, causing Lightning and Mater to whip their heads around.
Sally Carrera stood with a hand on her hip, her sunglasses reflecting the light against her dark brown hair. Cruz turned to her, grinning happily at the woman.
“Sally- what are you doing here?” Lightning gaped, still nursing his wounded face.
Storm took the opportunity to shove past Mater and Lightning and trudge over to Ramirez, “Hey, give me a ride back, Cruz? I’m done with this circus.”
Cruz blinked at him without remorse, “The circus you’re a clown in? Remember you’re here for a while, Stormy.”
Storm groaned, rubbing a hand over his eyes. Sally turned to him, holding out a hand in greeting, “Well, well, well- Jackson Storm. Good to meet you. I’m one of your companies many lawyers.”
“Ah, you’re the ex, right?” Despite his sarcastic tone, Storm reciprocated the hand shake.
“That I am.” Sally smirked, Lightning could tell she liked the young man already.
“What’re you doing here,Sal?”
The woman turned to Lightning, tilting her head innocently,
”Just dropping by to see some old friends. Heard you were in town and bringing along someone. Couldn’t miss the chance to meet ‘em, could I?”
Mater grinned cheekily at Sally, “Aw, shoot! Am I glad to see you, Sal! Lightning needs someone to keep him in check clearly, and you’re it!”
He dragged Sally into a crushing hug, one that she happily obliged in.
“Yeah, I can see he needs to be kept in check.” She looked knowingly between Storm and Lightning, before pointing at Cruz.
“You take him back, I’ll take the grumpy old man. We’ll meet you at the diner, Mater.”
Lightning shook his head, “We’re basically the same age, who’re you calling old?” yet he followed Sally anyways.
Cruz waved goodbye, hopping into her driving seat- followed by Storm in the passenger, clearly happy for the distance between him and Lightning.
Once they were driving back towards town in Sally’s silver- blue convertible, Lightning finally relaxed, “So, why are you really here?”
Sally tapped the steering wheel with her well manicured nails, chewing her bottom lip- Lightning could tell that meant she was contemplating what to tell him.
“I just wanted to spend some time at home away from the city. I’ve got some things to think about is all.”
“No dice. I know you better, Sal”
“You’re right, you do know me better.” Sally smiled bitterly, reaching over Lightning to grab the handbag at his feet.
“There’s a paper in there in a ripped envelope. Take a peek.”
Lighting did as he was told, unfolding the paper and reading its contents.
”Non-hodgkin’s lymphoma….Stage 3.”
“Mhm..” Sally’s eyes had watered, but she pushed up her sunglasses so he wouldn’t notice. Though her sniffling was indication enough
Lightning didn’t know what to say- he was stunned to say the least.
“Oh, Sal… I’m so sorry.”
“I’m gonna be starting treatment in a few weeks. They said it’s spread all over my lymph nodes at this point- too many to operate. Radiation and chemo is the route to go apparently.”
Lightning ran both hands through his hair, releasing a harsh puff of air.
“So this is what you need to think about? How’d your boyfriend take it- what’s his name.. Jim?”
“Oh, Jim’s in the wind since he heard. Too much, he said. Too much for him to handle. Pass me a cigarette, I need one badly”
Lightning compiled, passing her one of the red marlboros she favoured, which she placed to her lips.
“God. What an asshole.”
Sally hummed, huffing a puff of smoke out the window.
“You know, I’d never imagine you being into someone like that.” She said simply as she lit up, turning into Radiator Springs.
”What? Are you tryna confuse me to change the subject? Be into who exactly?”
Sally snorted, raising a finger from the wheel to wave at where the Sherrif was stationed.
“Mhm.. Someone popped into your head, didn’t they? Who was it?”
Lightning’s face flushed a cherry red hue, “Are you referring to the guy I just had a fist-fight with?”
”Damn right, he’s cute- just didn’t think he was your type.” Sally responded, pulling up to the diner where Cruz and Mater were already parked.
“W- what I- don’t think… he’s not- What?!”
Sally laughed, unbuckling her seatbelt.
“You are… so obvious,Lightning. You think he’s cute!” She turned in her seat to him, grin widening.
”I do not-“
Lightning’s indignant refusal was cut off by Cruz banging on his window, making him jump.
“Are you lot coming in to eat or not?”
Sally climbed out of the car, smoothing out her pantsuit as she followed Cruz into the diner.
”Come on McQueen, thought you were supposed to be the fastest?”
Lightning finally emerged from the car, walking hesitantly into the homely diner.
He didn’t know what to do with what Sally had told him. He hadn’t even asked any questions since he’d been in such a state of shock.
The bell ringing above his head brought him back to the present, allowing him to smile sheepishly at his friends and raise a hand in greeting.
”Alright, Mr Jackson, tell me what your top speed is? I haven’t been keeping up with the racing since Lightning retired.”
Lightning slid into the booth to the only seat left; directly opposite Jackson Storm.
Sally gave him a sly sideways glance, batting her eyelashes as she pulled out yet another cigarette.
Mater eyed her, “You’re not supposed to smoke in here, Sal. Besides I thought you told me you quit those damn things- you know they’re not good for you.”
Sally exhaled slowly, “Yep. I know.”
Storm fiddled with his clasped hands on the table, spinning a silver ring around and around.
It made Lightning notice just how much jewellery the man had on; double pierced lobes, a nose stud- one of those.. what do you call its? High up on his left ear.
Storm suddenly looked over after answering Mater’s nagging questions (surprisingly politely) and caught him staring.
Lightning didn’t want to make it awkward so he slid his eyes away, clearing his throat whilst scratching the back of his head.
”So… We’ll call it a truce after all that back there? Friends?”
He hesitantly held a broad palm out towards Storm, who eyed it suspiciously for a moment before returning the gesture,
”Alright then, friends.”
Lightning smiled brightly at the young man, turning just in time to see the look shared by Cruz and Sally.
“So.. What are we eating?”
Mater picked up a menu (which he had already read a million times since this was the only decent place to get food in Radiator Springs) and put on a very serious face, as though he were truly pondering what to get.
A slim waitress with curly red hair rushed over, carrying an empty tray, “Hey folks, what can I get you- Oh my god!”
The waitress stood stock still, staring right at Jackson Storm. Lightning wasn’t surprised he wasn’t the centre of attention here, he came to Radiator Springs so often he was a local commodity.
“Are- are you Jackson Storm, like the Jackson Storm? Oh,my God!”
Storm raised an eyebrow at the flailing waitress before giving an uncomfortable smile,
”Yes, that’s me.”
“Oh,my god…I can’t believe you’re here… Can I take a pic with you? It’ll only take a second,I swear!”
The girl’s cheeks were a ruddy red, and Lightning could tell why- This girl clearly had a massive crush on Storm; a fangirl.
Storm subtly rolled his eyes before standing up and taking a photo with the girl- clearly begrudgingly, though his friendly smile in the photo gave no indication of it.
After the group had ordered and the waitress toddled away, Cruz turned to Lightning, “What are we, chopped liver?”
Mater hooted in laughter, “Oh, come on now that was sweet! I bet she just got tunnel vision once she saw her celebrity crush!”
Storm rolled his eyes yet again, mumbling something under his breath.
“What was that?” Lightning tilted his head, tapping the table with two fingers and forcing Storm to look at him.
”I just don’t know how you could stand it- all those girls after you?”
“Hmm” Sally hummed, stirring the sugar into her black coffee.
Cruz made a faint gaging noise, poking a finger to her mouth at the notion of her father- figure having girls after him.
“Aw come on, don’t tell me you don’t enjoy it- not even a little?”
Lightning’s goading town made Jackson’s eye twitch,
“She’s just not my type, that’s all.”
Mater nodded sagely, “Well, that makes sense.”
Cruz began picking apart her waffles, about to ask Lightning what he thought of her driving today, but Lightning was still staring at Storm.
”So, what is your type then?”
Cruz’s eyes widened, and she attempted to nudge Sally under the table, but she was already in an intense conversation with Mater about some kind of cabbage soup?
She was the only one witnessing this horrific conversation unfold.
Storm looked up, ears tinted red, mouth full of pancakes which he quickly swallowed.
”Uhmmm… my type?”
Lightning seemed to have realised too late that this was an awkward question, and was now looking to Cruz for help.
Cruz blinked at him, unsure of how the hell she could fix his own mess for him?
Storm set his fork down, “Well.. I don’t know. Good looking, I guess.”
Storm’s response made both Lightning and Cruz’s head swivel at the speed of light.
“Good looking… You guess??” Cruz mumbled at him aghast, face horrified.
“Well, I don’t know what to say to that!”
“Your first response wasn’t kind or smart or responsible- good looking..you guess??” Cruz flicked a piece of waffle at him.
“Dude, how on earth do you get all the girls when you act like this?”
Storm scrunched his face up, “What’re you talking about, Ramirez? I don’t ’get all the girls’”
“Oh yeah, you don’t get all the girls and yet you’re going out with Natalie Certain..” Cruz looked down, moving her food around with her fork as though she were disinterested.
“I’m not going out with Natalie?”
Storm looked genuinely perplexed by this, raising his eyebrows at Cruz.
“You aren’t??” Cruz leaned forward so violently Mater let out a pained groan as she clearly kneed him under the table.
She winced and shot a quick sorry before repeating, “You’re not?”
“No..?”
Lightning had never seen Cruz more elated in her whole life,
“Well is she going out with someone else, or..?”
Jackson returned to his plate, clearly deeply confused,
“No, Nat’s single. Wait do people actually think me and her are a thing? No way..”
”Uh, yeah? You guys are always together? Even the media talks about her being your girlfriend.”
Storm wrinkled his nose, “Yeah, no.. me and Nat are just friends. We went to the same middle and high school.”
Cruz pulled her phone out quickly, typing furiously to someone.
Mater and Sally had moved on to talking about her cases now, though she could give very little detail she still mouthed things against the table to him- juicy gossip was their favourite pastime.
When Lightning glanced up, his eyes locked with Storm’s- who appeared to have already been looking at him.
Instead of looking away quickly to escape, the older man decided to hold the eye contact for a beat, before Storm finally relented.
“I guess I’d say my type is blondes.”
Lightning was taken by surprise with the sudden declaration.
He leaned an elbow on the table and smiled at Storm, “Oh yeah, you have many blonde L.A girlfriends then?”
“No, no girlfriends.”
“Weird, I’d always pegged you as a player.” Lightning mused, fiddling with his straw.
”Nah, that’s not me. I mean it’s what Reverham wants, but- it’s not me.”
Lightning nodded, he could sympathise with people setting expectations and making preconceived notions about his life.
“You know, I’d pegged you as a playboy too- back in your prime, that is.”
Lightning chuckled, “Really? Well, I guess I kinda was. What can I say?”
“I’m shocked you haven’t been married and divorced three times by now. I’d figured she was just the start.”
Storm jutted his thumb in Sally’s direction, raising an eyebrow.
”Well, yeah… I guess I’m bot surprised. Me and Sal broke up ages ago and I guess I just haven’t-“
Lightning blinked against the bright fluorescent diner lights, at a loss for words.
”Found the right person?” Storm supplied, fiddling with his rings again- a nervous habit clearly.
“Something like that, yeah.” Lightning nodded, looking at Storm from a new perspective.
He figured the kid was an arrogant city boy- a player with an ego the size of a globe, yet instead he saw now a man who politely answered Mater’s annoying questions, who took a photo with a waitress when he really didn’t want to- and most importantly he saw someone who was prepared to travel 7 hours to a dingy forgotten town in the scorching summer Nevada heat in order to learn from an old pro.
“You really are something, you know that kid?”
Storm blinked at him, cheeks flushing.
“Thanks- you too?.”
Lightning huffed a laugh, “God, you are socially awkward during serious conversations, aren’t you? Your macho man act is all gone..”
Storm puffed out his chest and straightened his posture, clearly ready to leap across the table at him before Sally suddenly called his name.
”Jackson, it was an absolute pleasure to meet you, hope to see you again during your stay. Lighting, haul your ass up and follow me.”
Lightning obliged instantly, bouncing from his seat and falling into step with Sally as she left the diner with a ding from the bell above their heads. He couldn’t help turning to catch Storm’s eye before he left and giving him the finger guns, clearly mouthing the word;
“kachow”
જ⁀➴ᥫ᭡⊹₊ ⋆🏎️🏁જ⁀➴ᥫ᭡⊹₊ ⋆