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Kobra Kid was no stranger to anxiety attacks. He gripped at his own hair as he stared at the ground, pacing. Jet Star and Party Poison were out currently, taking the girl somewhere fun or something, and with no clue where Fun Ghoul was, left the only killjoy in the diner currently to be Kobra. Or so he thought. In that time he managed to think himself into a frenzy. “Goddamnit.” He muttered seemingly pained as he continued to follow the same path back and forth. His lungs heaved as if he'd been running but he’d been here the whole time. Goosebumps lined his skin. “Calm the fuck down..” he repeated, a mantra of sorts. The hiss of the lights started this, taking him out of his pleasant slow day and thrusting him into a stressed out spin of thoughts. Fabric clung to his skin, his boots clicking on the ground, thoughts spun and he felt sick to his stomach. “Calm the fuck down”
Though in reality he was not the only ‘joy home. Ghoul was somewhere in the building but not too far. He was listening to Kobra have one of his.. breakdowns(?). He didn’t know what to call them. Was it disrespectful to call them breakdowns? Hoping not, he continued to listen. Kobra had these a lot, sometimes Ghoul would intervene, others he wouldn't touch the situation. After mulling over the choice for a while it didn't sound like Kobra was listening to his own advice of calming down, Ghoul didn't want him to deal with this for much longer. Hearing him lose his mind in there wasn’t fun for him.
Kobra wasn’t ready for any sounds to come at him, so when a knock at the door rang out and movement followed his fear spiked and he drew his ray gun pointing exactly at the intruder's head. He would have shot if it took him any longer to realize who was at the door, Fun Ghoul. His expression molded into anger from fear then into defeat. He knew what the other was here for. That nosy bastard.
“No need t’ draw your gun, Kobes.” He still had that playful inflection in his voice. Kobra quickly started pacing again, now with the added determination to from coming down after thinking he was getting ambushed. “You alright in here?” He sounded concerned.
“I’m-“ a stutter instantly fell out of his mouth, hesitation proving everything Ghoul already knew. “I’m fine, you know how I get.” His voice had none of the steady tone it usually had, unsure of himself and how he felt at all.
“I do, which is why I’m getting you out of here.” Ghoul knew that Kobra never wanted to talk about these things, and that’s fine. Best thing to do was to get out of this diner. Kobra looked up from his harsh stare at the floor.
“No, I’m fine, I just need a second please-“ he was shut down again.
“I know that if we get on the bike and spend some carbons you’ll wanna keep going. Come on Kobes.” Kobra couldn’t say no when Ghoul gave him a look like he needed to go to tracks more than anything.
With Ghoul in the room Kobra already felt more at ease, before he could realize it his heart rate was already steadying out and the sound of his voice rose above all the other small sounds in the room. He still felt on edge and needed a moment before he could face the sun, much less the asphalt at the tracks. With how hot the room was he could guarantee that it would be a tire melting day.
After a long pause between the two, Kobra looking out the window and back to Ghoul “Fine.. jus’ gimme a minute or two and I’ll be out.”
“Yes!” Ghoul basically jumped and twisted himself out the door. Kobra couldn’t fight a smile to see him so excited. Though quickly the looming feeling of overwhelmedness was returning to him. He slid on his jacket and pushed up his glasses. Sometimes all he needed was a change of scenery to get himself back on track. Thank god Ghoul was here to remind him of that.
Once Kobra finally left the room and walked out into the main area of the Diner, as he expected, there was Ghoul looking at one of the zines Kobra was so adamant on collecting. Once he realized which one it was he came up behind Ghoul and snatched it out of his hand pulling it up and closing it. “Since you’ve been lookin’ at it, no spoilers. I haven’t read that one yet, asshole.” He was playful though serious. No one was allowed to read his zines before he did.
Ghoul tried to grab it back “Hey! I was just flippin’ pages!” He defended himself lifting himself off the seat and reaching further, his head upside down smiling at Kobra as he backed away.
“Then you’re fine if you weren’t invested.” Kobra set it on the counter behind them and made his way to the door, garage bound. Ghoul finally stopped whining and got up to follow him.
Kobra made it to the garage. And, Witch, was he right. The heat beat down on him like no other even in the small time it took to get from the diner door to the garage. The waveheads would be singing today. He could already smell burning rubber on his nose, a prophecy of the crash tracks. He heard Ghoul opening the door and quickly shutting it. “I bet Destroya’s meltin’ in this!” He laughed, not asking before grabbing the jerrycan and getting on the back of Kobra’s bike.
“I’ll make you walk if you are any louder.” He was clearly joking as he grabbed a few tools, handed them to Ghoul, and hopped on the bike. Before Ghoul could complain about all the shit he was carrying Kobra started the bike, its engine roaring. He’s always wanted to get better mufflers on this thing. His current ones didn’t work very well, that’s why the bike was in here in the first place. Usually it sat outside next to the ‘am. He laughed, feeling Ghoul grab at his sides. He backed out of the garage and aimed for the tracks.
—
Kobra always believed the wind was the best way to forget about the heat, and apparently so did everyone at the tracks today. A race was already in motion as he pulled up and killed the engine. As soon as no more breeze was in his hair he felt hot again. Ghoul hopped off before him to set the shit down “ya know, you should really invest in a backpack for all this shit.” He grumbled but Kobra knew it was light natured.
The place wasn’t packed, just enough to get a few good races in. Some joy collecting the carbon fee for a race tipped his head towards the two as they made their way to a spot on the bleachers. Kobra waited for the race current to end before getting up from his place leaving Ghoul behind, “wish me luck.” He wisped as he left.
“We both know you dont need it.” He felt himself get pushed down the street stairs but caught himself, flipping Ghoul off in the process.
Kobra pulled his bike up to the line and hopped on, looking at the crash-queens he was up against. Nothing he couldn’t handle. It took him a moment to realize that a ‘joy was talking to him. He snapped his head to the right after finally hearing the voice. The ‘joy was already too far into his rant for Kobra to catch his name.
“-really just a huge inspiration for me. You’re the reason I started racing, I’ve actually climbed up pretty high in the echeladder of racing. We’ve went up against each other before but I never got a chance to talk to you, it’s so exciting to be racing right next to you.” Kobra had to cut him off before he kept going and missed the flags.
“and remind me, what was your name?”
“Hive Mind!”
Kobra couldn’t keep the niceties up with this guy before he heard a call to ready himself, taking the advice he flipped his visor down and kick started his engine. He bent down against the bike to get the least wind resistance.
“Set!” Flags were up, he sent a silent prayer to the witch. Though, he didn’t need it.
“Go!”
Flags flying and a shot from a ray gun made him shove throttle. Attempts to space out, we didn’t need a six bike pile up. Ready and far enough from the line to feel safe, he pushed the red line. He’s grown familiar enough with these turns not to slow down. He eased into the curve though no part of that was easy. He was so close to the ground and going so fast he was sure if the corner of his jacket touched the ground, even that resistance would make him go flying.
Once he felt confident that he was far enough ahead, he decided to show off for himself and the small crowd of today. The crash tracks were always busy, but yet again they got busier once word got around the zones that he was racing. He slowed down and sat up. Waiting a moment to look behind him and then back ahead. He revved forward and performed a pretty sizable wheelie. He couldn’t hear it, but he hoped at least someone cheered for him. Probably Ghoul, if he had to guess.
Showing off like that was fun for two reasons. Being a dickhead and knowing the other racers are now on your tail. Looking behind him again he leaned down to regain the speed and time he lost. Time didn’t matter anymore. Not when you’re the only person who can beat your own records.
Eventually he screeched past the finish line, literal seconds before anyone else did. He kicked up dust when he pulled the break hard, taking his helmet off in the process of slowing down. Cheers rang out and he fought his smile to look stoic for the crowd. He could feel Ghoul laughing at him. He rolled his eyes and hopped off his bike, only to hand the fee guy another few carbons. But when he saw that Ghoul really was laughing at him, he detoured from going back to his bike to step up the bleachers.
“What’s so funny, I killed out there.” He finally let himself smile,
“Need a mirror dude?” Ghoul pointed and circled a finger at the top of his head.
Quickly he felt around his head to feel what was wrong. His hair had essentially melted from the up do it was usually in. Mix of him not doing it before and helmet. He groaned. “Do you happen to have a comb?” He asked.
“Nope.” Ghoul smiled up at him, no not smiled. That was a shit eating grin. He even popped the p on his ‘nope’. Jesus.
“Just shiny..” he sighed, looking back down at the starting line. Joys were lining up again.
—
After another two hours of racing Kobra took a break. Just watching certain racer’s form. “That Hive Mind guy really has it together. Real dork when he talks but serving ass on the asphalt ya know?”
“Which one?” Ghoul asked, snapping his attention away from where he was staring off into space.
“Yellow bike, looks like a heavily modified dirt bike?” He pointed out.
“Oh, hey Kobes I think they’re calling back up, you gonna race again?”
“I could.” He lifted himself up and down the bleacher. As he dumped more carbons, A new bike quickly caught his eye. It was burgundy and painted with what seemed to be intentionally messy suns. The panels weren’t sleek but they were clearly cut for performance and wind. He had no time to talk to the new ‘joy before he knew the time before the ready call was drying up.
He pulled his bike back up and readied himself, interested to see how this eye-catcher would perform. He hoped that’s what his name was. It would fit him perfect. His useless train of thought was derailed by the call out.
“Ready?!” More than anything.
“Set?!” Already was.
“Go!” Gladly.
This race wasn’t as pleasant as the round of lasts. Eye-catcher was quick. Keen too. Rounding up on the side of his back tier so he could turn as wide as he wanted to, had he no sense of decorum? Kobra couldn’t say he was anything less than thrilled by this. It's been a long time since anyone’s been able to keep speed with him like this. Made him wanna go another round with Eye-catcher.
Though it was more difficult than usual, and more exciting, Kobra still came in a violent first place. One the tracks stopped hissing with bikes speeding by he took off his helmet and looked for mr eye-catcher. Once he finally found him he spared no time walking up to him to congratulate him.
He didn’t look friendly after he took his helmet. He had dark red hair that looked to have at one point been in spikes, though the idea is long gone. Piercings lined in face in a few spots. Snake bites, nose, and an eyebrow. Even for the stoic Kobra Kid this guy looked hard to approach. “That’s the best race I’ve had in a fucking while.” He laughed. They were about the same height but the other was wider. Ripped, probably.
“Are you that guy people are sayin’ never lose?” His voice wasn’t as deep as Kobra expected it to be, but it wasn’t welcoming.
“ ‘Joys really sayin’ that about me?” It was a joke only he seemed to get. This guy must be new to the zones, that or completely away from any radio waves that might have been on air. Though he seemed set up enough. Skilled in racing, clad in a sick black leather jacket. All sorts of patches of symbols and bands Kobra’s never heard of before.
“ ‘Guess.” He seemed to want to be done with the conversation. But Kobra still needed to know one thing. Least one.
“What’s your name?” Kobra asked, planning to leave this guy be. He looked like he wanted to race again.
“Zinlezz Zun.”
“I’ll keep that in mind. You racin again?”
“Yea.”
Kobra couldn’t fight a smile when he looked back to the tracks.
—
To finally race against someone of his own calibur Kobra hadn’t pulled himself away from the track for a few hours now. The sun was setting by the time he yet again flew past the finish line with Zinlezz Zun hot on his tail. He knew it was gonna be over for the night when he saw Ghoul standing next to the carbon fee guy.
After so many races and small talk afterwards Kobra and Zun seemed to be friendly enough. Trying to ignore the fact that he had just finished his last race he killed his engine and yet again met with Zun. “What’s your frequency?” He asked as Zun was taking off his helmet.
“Don’t have one.”
“What?”
“I don’t have a radio and I don’t want one.”
“Oh.. well hope to see you at the tracks again sometime.” Kobra nodded and turned on his heel. No frequency huh? Fucker must hate attention. Or noise. Or friends. No wonder.
He saw Ghoul calling him over and obliged. “New boyfriend or somethin’?” He chucked.
“Shut up, are you gonna blame me for being excited when for once I have a challenge?” Kobra shot him a glare. Though the meaning was lost behind his aviators.
“See you’re getting defensive!” The fucker cackled like a hyena. Loud and way more annoying the more you hear it. “You’re not racing anymore. I forgot our radios so neither Party nor Jet know where we’re at. And you’re wastin’ carbs up the ass. Plus! You were cutting it close there anyway. I’ll fill up the tank with the jerry, kay K? Mr. hot-shot shouldn’t do it himself. Those soft hands~”
Kobra playfully shoved him towards the bike before sitting down on the bleachers. He sighed though no part of it was upset.
He looked towards the horizon, sunset falling over the zones. Pretty as always. Thank the Witch for Ghoul. Without him Kobra would have never left that room until he was forced out by Party. A habit of letting himself suffer until someone stepped in for him. Kobra loved Party more than anything but Ghoul understood the fact that it was more stressful to talk about it sometimes. Just Ghoul’s presence was enough to calm him down. As he got lost in his own head, just the man he was thinking about brought him out of it.
“Kobes get y’ ass over here. It’s gonna be sunrise by the time we get back to the diner. Betcha The Girl’s crying ‘er eyes out.” He laughed as he yet again got on the motorcycle.
“Don't tell me that. you’re gonna make me feel bad for something you offered.” He heard Ghoul’s ghoulish laugh following after he got on the bike with him.
Ghoul was right, it was already way past sundown by the time the two of them got back to the diner. Kobra killed the engine before they had even come to a stop. He felt bad, he should have cut the racing before the sun was hitting the horizon at all. Luckily, the trans am was still out in front of the garage, so chances were that Party or Jet hadn’t come looking yet. Not that they would, they don't fly off the handle like that for no reason and especially not so quick.
Once he managed to get the jerry can and tools Ghoul had brought back in the garage he quickly lit a cigarette. He heard that same idiot open the door of the garage and step in. “Need nicotine before you hear Party complain?” He asked with a chuckle.
“I wouldn’t say that.”
“I would, you know you’re not gonna be able to get any more of those for awhile, right?”
Ghoul was right about that too. What is with this guy and being wrong all the times when you want him to be right and right all the times you want him to be wrong? “Yeah.” Kobra sighed out smoke. It took about five minutes for him to be finished with the cigarette before throwing it on the ground. The girl could smoke those butts when she was old enough to use a lighter and influenced enough to wanna smoke.
Kobra opened the door of the diner, careful not to set off the bell at the top of the door. Before he could check if Party was there or not, he heard the distinctive sound of his brother's voice. “There they are.” He called to whom Kobra could only assume to be Jet, in the back rooms. Thankfully, Party laughed along with his sigh. He wasn’t mad.
Ghoul came in behind Kobra and smiled “if you’re gonna chew anyone out, let it be me. I was the one who suggested we go. And I was also the one who let him get carried away. He almost lost today.”
“Really? Are you losing your strike Kobes?” Party looked at Ghoul then to him.
“Fuck no! I didn’t ‘almost lose’. There was just a particularly good racer there today. Never seen em’ before so I wanted to- Ugh.” Kobra tried to defend but decided it was useless. He didn’t almost lose at all.
“Sure, don’t listen to him though. He almost got his ass bested on the asphalt.”
“Didn’t.”
“Did.”
“Didn’t.”
“Did!”
“Didn’t!” Kobra flipped the two off as he made his way to the rooms in the back of the diner.
Ghoul looked to Party and snickered. “Hey you two really need to bring your radios-“ Ghoul cut him off before he could start.
“I know Par-tay.” He was already on his way to follow Kobra. Leaving Party to sigh and shake his head.
Kobra knew that Ghoul would follow him and welcomed it. His jacket now hung on the hook from the door. Two rooms, Kobra and Ghoul to one. Jet, Party, and the Girl to another. He sat on the side of the bed fiddling with his aviators now. When Ghoul came in, the smile crept back into his face but he quick shut it down. Gotta be stoic.
Ghoul sat next to him already pestering him “Party was gonna chew me out for the radio thing but fuck that guy ya know?”
“Typical of you to say that.” Kobra teased.
“Sure sure, you say that till I have you pinned to this bed.” Ghoul shot him a look, though it was playful.
“Mmhm, absolutely.”
“Don’t doubt me!”
“Was I really about to lose out there?” Kobra changed the subject.
“One wrong move and you would have. Whoever that guy was, he was a real snake.” Cobra pun how funny. Those never get old.
“Damn.” Ghoul must have noticed how the inflection of his voice wasn’t as playful as before because Kobra felt a hand on his.
“Kobes.”
“What.” He turned to the other and quickly yet gently Ghoul closed the gap between their faces. Kissing him softly. Kobra didn’t pull away, he only deepened what they had started.
It felt like Ghoul understood him, his every want and need wordlessly met. He made the panic attacks soften and the thoughts that haunted him fuck off. Lit up a room and dimmed the lights when needed. Annoying in every perfect way. The change of a tone, a shift in the energy was all Ghoul needed to know exactly what Kobra wanted. Communication so clear that Kobra couldn’t ask for anything better.
Than this right now.