Chapter Text
“So you brought me by your side just to join a car show… ” Niki sighed.
“Ohh come on, it's not that bad. Just like our F2 days!” James spinned around like a small child with a huge stupid looking smile.
“Well… At least you don’t try to get back together with Suzy again…” Niki took out an angry breath when he remembered their conversation in the tribunes.
***
Niki raised his eyebrow with curiosity.
“Okay… What is it then?”
James went back and front on his heels, his hands in his pockets. He looked away then wrinkled his nose. He clicked his tongue and licked the back of his teeth before finally starting speaking.
“Suzy called me the other day-”
“NO!”
Niki interrupted him with his hand immediately.
“I-”
“No. You are not doing that to yourself again.”
“Niki-”
James’ protest was cut short by Niki’s deadly stare. He waved his index finger against him just like punishing a small child.
“Don’t even think about it.”
“I love her…”
James’ eyes were almost believable. Niki would believe him if he didn’t know him this well.
“No you don’t. You are just so used to her that even if she cheated on you can’t forget her. Get over it mate. She doesn’t care. She probably just called you because you sent her tons of voice messages.”
James’ mouth opened to protest again but he didn’t say anything. Because he too knew so well Niki was right about this. Niki raised both of his eyebrows waiting for an answer. He scoffed when an answer didn’t come.
“Knew it…”
James tried to defend himself a bit more but all of his attempts and arguments were refuted by Niki. Eventually James gave up sighed and after yelling some nonsense to Niki he turned around and he disappeared back into a corner with quick and angry steps. Leaving Niki there with his words stuck into his mouth staring at his moving away back.
***
“I think you should move in with me!” Michael said with a huge and warm smile on his face. He quickly turned to Damon who didn’t seem that much impressed.
“What?” Damon asked with a wrinkled face. He didn’t understand why they would wanna do something like that. “Why?” He didn’t seem so interested in the idea.
“We can be roommates. It can be fun!”
“What about Corinna?”
“Ohh It’s still too early for us to move in together. She wants to wait until we get married. Which is… Well… We still have plenty of time since she doesn’t consider marrying me right now. ” Michael narrowed his eyes and gave him a forced wide smile. “And you wouldn’t be alone.” He smiled and shook his head like he just agreed to his own opinion as he held out his hand.
Damon clicked his tongue and narrowed his eyes.
“I’m not so sure about this Mic… I wouldn’t make the best roommate–”
“Ohh come on. Just think about it!” Michael interrupted him immediately.
Damon studied his face for a while then sighed and unable to resist Michael's iconic smile, he nodded in agreement.
“Okay… I’ll think about it” He stopped Michael with his finger before he started celebrating. “I said I will think about it. I didn’t agree.”
Michael still raised both of his hands and clapped in the air.
***
“You are unbelievable…” Niki looked at James who just got into an old Ford.
“Yea you are right that Mustang looks like a better option to race in… Or a Corvette…” James exhaled, not being able to decide.
“I’m not talking about the cars.”
James threw his head back slightly and looked at Niki as he wrinkled his mouth.
“What are you talking about then?”
Niki raised an eyebrow with anger or maybe more like annoyment.
“Racing in ancient cars?! Really?”
James shrugged.
“Why is the long face? It’s a brilliant idea.”
“No, it’s not. Most of these fuckers can’t even turn the corner.” Niki protested and looked at James as if he grew a second head.
“That’s what makes it an absolute gem. It’s one of a kind”
James spread his mouth as much as he could when he said this which made Niki believe even more that he lost his last brain cells too.
Niki clicked his tongue and tried his best to stop his eye twitch.
“Uhhh… Just try not to die then mate–”
“You are coming with me” James cut him with the most straight face he ever made in his whole lifetime.
Niki’s mouth hung open.
***
Ayrton was taking the trash out when he heard a really familiar noise that it hurt.
“... Professor?”
The cat immediately ran to him as if he came back to life too. It was like he recognised Ayrton.
Ayrton hugged his cat with a huge smile.
“You are alive!” He gently pressed the gray furball on his chest.
He took his cat to the motorhome.
“Who is this?” Alain stood up from the sofa and came closer to look at the cat.
“This is Professor. My cat.” Ayrton smiled brightly.
“You named your cat after my nickname?” Alain raised an eyebrow with shock.
“Yeah… Look. You two look so alike” Ayrton grinned stupidly. “He is practically a carbon copy of you.”
Alain laughed. A genuine laugh that Ayrton wasn’t expecting.
“I’m not this cute” He scratched Professor’s head. The cat that Ayrton always knew for his distance rubbed his head against Alain’s head.
Ayrton looked at his cat with wide eyes.
“Huh… I think he has taste…” He was jealous though. He was annoyed that the cat in his last life he did everything to earn his trust just showed affection towards someone he just met. Well he was someone he just met too right now that wouldn’t change anything. He was his owner during both of the timelines not Alain.
He raised his cat up and looked into his eyes with a confused expression.
“I am your owner, you know that right? No favorism” He looked into Professor’s eyes as if the cat was understanding him.
Alain laughed at his state.
“Are you jealous of a cat?” He could barely talk.