Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Bristol Tennessee, 1994

“Monty, wait up!” A blonde little girl cried, rushing after her brother.
The boy turned around, rubbing his hands through his matching hair. “You walk too slow Mellie.”
“I can’t help it, my legs are too small.” She pouted, stomping her stubby leg for emphasis.
“Aww it’s okay. I’ll always wait for you.” Her brother smiled, grabbing her hand and tugging her along. “C’mon! We gotta go play race cars!”
As the pair ran off giggling, Eva McQueen watched them fondly. Her twins may not have her much longer, but they had each other, and that was enough. She just hoped that nothing would ever try to separate them.

———————————————————————————

Present Day, Brownstown Indiana, 30 years later.

“And they’re coming around to turn four on the last lap, it’s nose to nose! Who will win the 2013 World 100? It’s gonna be number 01, Miss Tempest McQueen!”
“Well Rob, that was an awesome race, and an awesome win for The Storm.”
“You got that right Nick, the rookie came into the season unknown, but has quickly raced her way up the totem pole! Let’s head on down to Victory Lane to speak to the cha-“
The tv cut off abruptly. The light emitting from it vanished, leaving Tempest in the dark. She flopped against her couch, listening to the storm raging outside. The woman sighed softly, picking up her phone. The screen woke up, the brightness blinding her.
Squinting, she stared at her lockscreen for a second before she unlocked the device. A blond teenager with bright blue eyes and a wide grin stared back at her, oil splattered all over his clothes and face. Smiling softly, she jumped as Life is a Highway suddenly blared through the empty Indiana manor.
Tempest quickly answered the call, ignoring the Unknown Caller plastered at the top.
“Hello?”
“Is this Tempest McQueen?” A man asked, his voice slightly shaky and unsure.
“Yes, this is her.” The woman in question furrowed her brows in confusion.
A sigh came from the other end. “Hey sis.”
She froze. “Montgomery. What do you want?”
“Yeah, yeah I know, you never wanted to hear from me again. But that was 12 years ago. Things have changed.”
“Don’t make me repeat myself.” She spat out, glaring hatefully at the trophy shelf in front of her.
“Look.” A sigh came from the phone. “I don’t want to argue anymore. Can we talk in person?”
Silence. Tempest was reeling. She hadn’t spoken to her brother in 12 years, and out of the blue he wanted to see her?
“Mel, are you still there?”
She huffed in reply. “Don’t call me that.”
“What if I fly you out to Radiator Springs? You can bring your cars, I’ll have them shipped. That way, you can meet the crew. I have a feeling you’ll get along well with Sally.”
She didn’t bother responding.
“I’m taking your silence as a confirmation. Your flight departs at noon tomorrow, it’ll be a private one. I know how much you hate the press. Oh and by the way, there’s a dirt track right by the town, so bring your gear. See you soon sis.” The line beeped as he hung up.
Tempest stood up quietly and walked down the hall to her bedroom. She stared at her bed before flopping down and burying her head in the pillows. The spattering of rain against the large glass roof soothed her, and she found herself coming to terms with her situation.
Fine. If my arrogant brother wants to talk to me after 12 years of silence, what’s it going to hurt if I hear him out? Plus, it’s a free vacation.
Grumbling under her breath, she texted the number back. She told him not to bother with a plane, and that she’d just drive down, to which he protested, but eventually gave in. ———————————————————————————

Next thing she knew, she was loading her stuff into the truck parked in her driveway, and watching it speed off into the distance.
Tempest turned and entered her now empty garage again. Her black Yamaha r125 was the only thing left, and she walked over to the shelf on her wall to grab her helmet. Her racing helmet had gone with her car, so she pulled her hair up and tugged on her regular driving one. Kicking up the stand, she started the bike and drove out, the door automatically shutting behind her.
It was a full 23 hour drive, so she’d need to be quick in order to make the deadline she’d told her brother. No biggie. Speed is my specialty.

Time skip brought to you by Rust-eez Medicated Bumper Oil

23 hours of constant driving would make the average person crash, but Tempest had the power of an unhealthy sleep schedule and 24hr energy on her side. An empty can of Monster Energy sat in her cup holder, and she stared longingly at it as she parked her bike in front of a sign. Namely, the sign pointing to the entrance of Radiator Springs. Her brother’s smiling face was plastered on it, and the words “Home of Lightning McQueen” surrounded him.
Tempest glared up at him, huffing as she pulled out her phone. Scrolling through it, she opened a contact and FaceTimed the person.
It chimed as Maxxy Stevens answered the call.
“What’s up Temperature.” The dark haired man didn’t bother looking down at his screen as he shoveled what appeared to be Fettuccine Alfredo in his mouth.
She stifled a laugh. “Guess where I am.”
“Hell.” He replied with zero hesitation, not even glancing at his screen once.
“Close.” She flipped her camera to show the horrid sign.
Maxxy looked down and promptly spat his pasta out. He stared wide eyed at the screen, mouth agape, and pasta sauce everywhere. “HILLBILLY HELL?” He yelled. Tempest winced as his voice echoed through her ears, courtesy of her AirPods which were set to max volume.
“Yep.” She deadpanned, lips forming a tight line as she winced at Maxxy’s groan.
“Why on earth are you in your brother’s domain? Aren’t you two supposed to hate each other?”
“Well y’know, I just felt like scootin’ on down here from Indiana, it’s just a country mile down the road anyway.” She drawled, honing in on her fading Tennessee accent.
“Well gosh diddly darn it Celsius why didn’t you tell me? I’d’ve scooted my happy little butt onto a plane and met you there.” Maxxy quipped back. “Give me a second to wipe Alfredo off of everything in the room. I got some on Clara.” He flipped the camera around to show the woman in question.
Her annoyance was clear on her face, and Tempest couldn’t blame her. Her pink hair had chunks of pasta in it, and the sauce was all over her face. “Hi Tempest.” She muttered, not daring to open her mouth wider lest some happened to fall in her mouth.
“Hi Clara! Sorry ‘bout that.” Tempest replied sheepishly, waving at the camera. “I’ll let you go then. Wish me luck.”
“Good luck Temperature, you got this.” With that, Maxxy hung up, leaving Tempest alone with nothing but her thoughts, her bike, and that awful sign.
Well, here goes nothing. She sighed softly, then kicked her bike into gear and sped down the road, stirring up dust as she went.

Lightning McQueen was a nervous wreck. He hadn’t seen his sister in 12 years, and that was admittedly his own fault. He had let his arrogance and career take priority over the person who had worked her butt off to raise him. Sure they were the same age, but Melody had always been the older of the two, with wisdom and a maturity level that was rare amongst kids.
The door to Flo’s opened with a ding as he walked in and took a seat at the bar. The woman smiled at him and placed his usual smoothie in front of him. Just as he took a large sip, the sound of a motorcycle speeding down the road caught his attention.
He placed a handful of cash on the bar and got up, still clutching his smoothie. Walking outside, he startled as what could only be described as the Grim Reaper sped down Route 66.
A cloud of dust formed behind them, and as the figure reached the town, Sheriff turned on the lights of his car. Lightning held a hand up to signal him to turn them off as the bike screeched to a stop in front of him.
Lightning stared at the black helmet in front of him, and watched as the person climbed off the bike and stood in front of him. He could’ve sworn he’d heard a small sigh, but that was quickly forgotten as they tugged their helmet off.
Melody McQueen stood in front of her brother, staring him down as he gaped in front of her.
“Close your mouth, you look like a fish gasping for air.” That southern drawl he had only recently heard in interviews hit him like a brick. Lightning hadn’t realized just how much he’d missed his twin until she was standing right in front of him.
She looked vastly different to how he saw her last. Her blonde curls were nowhere to be seen, and she was significantly tanner than him. Gone was the baby face and the innocent expression. The only thing he could recognize was her eyes. They still held the same cool, calculating gaze as they had the day he’d walked out.
“Quit staring at me. You’re freaking me out.” She deadpanned, her blue eyes glaring daggers at him.
“Sorry.” He muttered, embarrassed by his actions. She was his sister, not a freak to be ogled at.
Sally had warned him that reconciling would be hard, but he hadn’t expected it to be this difficult. Why can’t I talk? His mouth seemed wired shut, and he couldn’t speak the thoughts racing through his head.
“Y’know, I drove for 23 hours straight. I’ve had nothing but Monster Energy for a day, I’d appreciate a bit of rest.” She broke the awkward silence.
“Oh, yeah that’s fine. You can stay at a Cozy Cone building, if that’s okay with you?” He trailed off, looking at her.
“Yes, it is.” Her reply had him sighing internally in relief.
He led her across the road to Sally’s business, suddenly immensely grateful his fiancée had decided to stay home for the day. Lightning didn’t think his stoic sister would appreciate being bombarded with questions and small talk.
Walking behind the office desk, he grabbed the key that had her name on it and handed it to her. “There you go, building number one. It’s all yours for as long as you stay.” He smiled briefly, wincing as he noticed her unchanging expression. “Your bags are in there already, and your cars are in my garage. You can stop by whenever you’d like, the gate code is our birthday.” He stared at her for a beat, attempting to force her face into his memory in case this was a dream.
“I’ll leave you alone now, make yourself at home.” He smiled again, and turned to walk out. To his disappointment, she didn’t stop him.

Chapter Text

   Tempest stared at the brightly colored room in front of her. Fairy lights were strung along the ceiling, and the walls were a bright orange. Her dark teal suitcases seemed wholly out of place, and she winced when she saw the pictures someone had placed on the fireplace mantle. 

    She assumed Lightning’s fiancée had put them up, seeing as their father’s face stared back at her. The pictures were obviously stolen from an album, as their mom had died before the modern cell phone.

    Walking closer to the mantle, she gazed at the pictures. They seemed to be in a chronological order, with the first one being the day they were born. A blonde haired woman beamed at the camera, holding a baby in each arm. Her father was nowhere to be seen.

    Her mother had always said their birth was the happiest day of her life. Her father never agreed with her statement. 

    The next picture was also of her and Lightning. They were playing with toy race cars, matching onesies covered in dirt. As she moved down the mantle, she stopped once she saw their middle school graduation pictures. 

    They looked miserable, with dark purple under eyes and disheveled hair. Their mom had died a couple years prior, and their father was in no state to help them get ready. He had relapsed into alcoholism, and his drunken state had scared her. 

     The rest of them were ones Tempest had taken, selfies and shots of them working on cars. Maxxy was in a couple of them too. Lightning had always been the driver, while Tempest stayed at the garage to take clients. 

    After they left their father’s house, the twins worked hard to secure their dreams. Well, Tempest worked hard. Lightning had made friends in high places. 

    Abruptly, the pictures stopped. The pair hadn’t had contact since they were 23, meaning that there were no more opportunities for pictures to be taken. Tempest placed the ones with her father face down on the mantle, and picked up her favorite. It was a selfie she’d taken. Lightning still had oil from his car on his face, and Maxxy was in the background posing on the hood of his truck. That was the last happy day. 

   
 12 years ago, 2012

    Melody sighed as she tossed another bill on the counter. They kept coming, and she couldn’t keep up with the relentless torrent. Dropping her head, she braced herself against the counter, sighing heavily. Behind her, the front door swung open and slammed shut. 

    “Mel?” Her brother called out.

    “Kitchen.” She yelled back, listening as his footsteps came closer. 

    As she heard the floor creak, she turned around. Montgomery plopped into his chair with a groan, ruffling his hands through his disheveled blond hair. They stared at each other for a moment.

    “Rent’s due.” She deadpanned, watching him tense. Aha. Something’s up. 

    “I uh-“ Montgomery stuttered. “I got laid off again today.” He stared at the floor, not wanting to face her disappointment.

    “What?” Melody cried. “Montgomery this is the third job you’ve had this month!” 

    “Yeah well apparently I’m not cut out for a regular job. I’m meant to be a driver.” He spat, glaring up at her.

    “Monty, you're 23. The time for make believe is over. You have to be an adult now.” 

    “Well maybe I don’t want to be an adult. And besides, you’re the same age as me. I don’t see you being an adult!” He yelled.

    Melody froze. Slowly, her expression blanked. The only thing her twin could read were her eyes. Her usually gentle gaze grew cold, and she stared at him through half lidded eyes. She seemed almost bored.

    “Did you really just say that?” She muttered.

He didn’t respond. 

    “I have been an adult since the day mom died. I was ten.” Her voice grew louder. “Ten and taking care of you. I had to raise you. You’re my twin, Montgomery. A ten year old shouldn’t have to raise her brother.” He flinched as she yelled. “A ten year old shouldn’t have to worry if they’d have money for food or if her father spent it all on beer. A ten year old shouldn’t have to help her brother get dressed, or cook, or clean.” She spat, glaring hatefully at her brother.

    “The least you can do is suck it up and get a job.” She finished, leaning back against the counter.

    Montgomery was silent for a minute. “Well it’s not my fault any of that happened. Get over yourself, it’s been years.”

    Melody’s jaw dropped. Her brother stood up and grabbed his keys from the table. “I’m leaving. I got a sponsorship deal. You’re never gonna have to see me again.” He muttered, stomping out the door. The woman froze. He’s not serious, is he?

     Hours passed. He didn’t come back. The rain was pouring outside. Melody was running on autopilot, her mind had retreated to the darkest corner of her head, and her body moved without her permission. She could only watch as she walked down the road in the pouring rain to Maxxy’s house. 

    Pressing the doorbell, she stood in silence as a pair of footsteps grew louder. The door swung open, and her best friend stood there in a Hudson Hornet hoodie and bright purple pajama pants. 

    “Temper? What’s wrong? You’re soaked, what on earth are you doing in the rain?” He questioned rapidly, grabbing her arm and yanking her inside.

    “He’s gone.” She murmured.

    “Who’s gone?” When she didn’t reply, he repeated himself. “Melody, who is gone?”

    “Monty.” She whimpered, then collapsed to the floor, the last of her willpower crumbling. 

Present Day

    Tempest couldn’t remember what happened after that. Maxxy always told her that she’d just blacked out. Apparently she had slept on his couch for a full day, and he’d been seconds away from dialing 911 when she woke up. 

    It took her a while to pull herself back together, but she managed. Leaning on Maxxy and his family for support, she grew her business. Storm Racing Engines. The money she made from building race cars was more than she’d ever seen in her life, and she was able to support herself. 

     Speaking of Maxxy, she needed to call him back. Flopping on the freshly made bed, she opened her phone and pressed the call button. It rang once before the answering chime sounded.

   “Yellow Temper!” Maxxy answered the call, and Tempest snorted as he held his face up to the camera.

    “Bonsoir Fender.” She grinned widely at him, feeling relief wash over her at the sight of a familiar face.

    There was some shuffling on his end as he clambered onto his bed. “Soooo-“ he drew out the word. “How’s it going?”

    “It’s going.”

    “That’s a midwestern caucasian response for when things are bad. Spill.” 

    Tempest sighed deeply, smacking her hand on her face. “I just feel weird. I’m so out of place here. I don’t think I can do this.”

    She gasped as an idea hit her. “I can just leave! I can grab Yammy and run! I’ll just buy new stuff and-“

   “Whoa there Nelly, hold your horses!” Maxxy scolded, clearly over her crap. “You are not gonna be like him. Don’t be a coward and run away from your problems. He’s a dumb blond, he makes bad decisions.” 

    “Maxxy I’m a natural blonde.” She deadpanned, glaring at him.

    “Not at the moment you aren’t. C’monnn, you never back down from a fight. Remember when you beat up Luke for me?”

    She did remember, quite vividly, in fact.

 10 Years Ago, Maxxy’s House

   “Out of my way JiJi.” Luke shoved Maxxy to the side as he went to the fridge, unintentionally pushing him into the counter. The younger boy yelped as he hit one of his  fresh scars.

    Tempest froze as she heard the commotion, glancing up from her cards. Maxxy was wincing as he rubbed his hip, and Luke was smirking as he poured himself a glass of juice.

    “Alright-“ She stood up, dropping the uno cards carelessly onto the table. “I’ve had enough of your bull crap.” 

    The woman walked casually up to Luke, staring up at him with narrowed eyes. 

    The man just stared down at her, stupid grin still in place.

    “You’re a grown man. You’re married. And you’re picking on your little brother who’s still recovering from a traumatic accident. You need to stop.” She glared up at him.

    “Or what? What’re you gonna do, short stuff?” Luke laughed loudly as he leaned over her.

    “You piece of s-“ Tempest growled as she punched him square in the jaw. Luke staggered back upon impact, his eyes widening as he clutched his jaw. The woman didn’t stop, grabbing him by the throat and shoving him down.

    Maxxy and Amanda just watched as Luke got the beating of his life. The pair rolled around the open kitchen as Tempest directed blow after blow onto his face. He landed one good hit on Tempest before she punched his nose, and then stood up.

    Luke laid on the cold tile, breathing heavily as he looked up at the furious woman above him. “You treat anyone like that again, and I won’t just break your nose.” She spat, wiping her bloody lip. She looked terrifying. Her blue eyes were cruel, and she had smeared blood on her face.

    Glancing back at her deck of cards, she tossed the last one onto the pile in the middle. “Uno. I win.” Then she stormed out of the house, and the screen door shook as she slammed it.

Present day

    “I’m still salty about that win by the way. I was injured, you should’ve cut me some slack.” Maxxy pouted dramatically.

    “Maxxy you were covered in cuts, I don’t think I needed to give you more.” Tempest snorted.

    “Hey! That’s unfair.” 

    “Everything’s unfair in your eyes. You’ve got youngest child syndrome.”

   “Meanie.”

 Before she could snap back another insult, there was a soft knock on the door. She glanced down at her phone as Maxxy raised a brow.

    “I’ve gotta go, it’s probably Lightning.” She smiled tightly at her best friend.

    “Mkayyyy.” He drug the word out. “Talk to you later?” 

    “Yep.” She popped the last letter before exhaling deeply.

    “Great. Byeeeee.” He didn’t even wait for a response before hanging up.

    Tempest huffed a laugh. Typical Maxxy. Strolling over to the door, she swung it open. Lightning stood there sheepishly, his arms crossed over his chest.

   She leaned against the doorframe. “Yes?”

   “Sorry to bother you, but Sally’s making dinner in a couple hours. She threatened to withhold it from me if I didn’t come tell you. I was told to inform you that it is lemon chicken with rice.” He stated, clearly having been drilled over what to say.

   Tempest blinked, then nodded slightly. “I’ll be there. Any dress code?” 

He sighed, clearly relieved. “Nope.”

    “Great. I’m going to take a quick nap first though. What house?” She raised a brow.

    “The white one down the road. The house is nothing fancy, but you can’t miss the garage.” 

 She nodded again. “Noted.”

    Lightning nodded absently as he stared at her. “Okay, I’m going now. Enjoy your nap.” He turned and sped away before she could respond.

    Sighing deeply as she pushed off the doorframe, she headed inside. Flopping on the bed, she set a timer, before going to sleep.

Chapter Text

 Tempest groaned as her phone buzzed, the alarm forcing her out of a nice nap. Huffing as she turned it off, she glanced around the room. The sun was barely beginning to set, and she looked at her phone to see the time. 5:00pm. She’d gotten around four hours of sleep. That was plenty for her.

    Meh, I’ll just grab a drink. Sliding out of the comfortable bed, she strolled over to the minifridge resting on the small kitchen counter and tugged it open. To her delight, it was fully stocked with both RedBull and Sprite. He remembered. I can’t believe it. Chuckling under her breath, she grabbed the first can she saw and cracked it open, taking a large sip.  

    Sighing deeply, she set the can down and walked to the bathroom to study her appearance. Looking in the mirror, she glared at her disgruntled reflection. Her makeup was smudged, and her turquoise hair was a frizzy mess. Curse southern humidity. 

    A couple minutes of touchups later, she deemed herself presentable. With simple makeup and her hair thrown up in a bun, she looked halfway decent. Tugging some jeans and a shirt on, she texted Lightning to tell him she was on her way. Slipping her gloves on and grabbing her keys and helmet from the table, she strolled out the door.

    Yammy was parked in the lot right outside the cone. She clambered on, starting the bike and kicking the stand up. Flicking her visor on, she rolled out, and cruised down the road. Radiator Springs was clearly a tourist destination, with neon signs and fairy lights strung up everywhere. Tempest huffed a laugh as she spotted yet another Lightning McQueen sign, except this one featured his movie star counterpart. Eyeing the red car beaming at her, she revved her bike’s engine, flying down the oddly quiet street.

    Spotting the white garage and house up on a small hill, she slowed down a bit, turning onto a side road that most likely led to the property. A large iron gate blocked the drive, and she punched in the code. 05041989. Basic blond. She snorted as the gate swung open and she drove through. It closed behind her with a soft thud, and she pulled up the gentle slope and parked beside the cars she assumed were theirs.

     Music played faintly from the garage, and she tugged her helmet off to hear it better. Setting the helmet on the seat, she started walking down the gravel drive towards the massive building. Light peeked out from under the doors, and she tilted her head, debating going in. Curiosity got the best of her, and she turned the doorknob, slowly peeking in.

     Lightning was nowhere to be seen, but his famed car was parked in the middle. Its hood was popped up, and a couple of wrenches were strewn across the floor. She walked over, lightly brushing the side with her hand. The lightning bolt glistened in the bright light, and the red wrap seemed to have some sort of shimmer effect. It’s sharp, I’ll give him that. 

     “What do you think? Is it up to your standards?” Her brother spoke up from behind her, and she shrieked in surprise.

    He laughed loudly as she composed herself. “My bad, I didn’t mean to scare you.” 

    “I call bullcrap.” Tempest glared at him. 

    He shook his head, still smirking at her. “Okay.” He shrugged. “I’ve been trying to push this thing to its limits. Keeping up with these rookies and the new tech is getting harder, and I need to be the best I can at Bristol this week.”

    Oh, the first race is this week. “I’m sure you’ll be fine. You’re Lightning McQueen, six time Piston Cup champion.” She crossed her arms as he rolled his eyes, smiling slightly. 

     “Anyways, dinner’s done, you got here just in time. C’mon, let’s head inside.” He led her out of the garage and back towards the house, stopping at her bike. He peered at it oddly, seemingly scrutinizing it. “Let me guess, Yamaha r125?”

    Tempest blinked in surprise. “Yeah, how’d you know?”

    He smiled softly. “You always wanted one.” He brushed his hand against it, rubbing some Arizona dust off the pristine black paint. “Alright, let’s go eat. Sally is an awesome cook.”

    They walked around to the porch, and he opened the door, letting her go inside first. The smell of fresh lemons hit her, and it was heavenly. Her mouth practically watered as she looked around. The home was simple and clean, a stark difference to their father’s house.

     “Nice isn't it? I get flashbacks every day.” Lightning glanced at her. “I don’t know where you live, but I assume you’ve done the same? Kept a simple and clean house, I mean.“

     “Yeah. I mean, it’s clean and modern if that’s what you mean.” She winced at the awkward reply.

    He nodded “Cool. Okay, let’s go eat.” 

   Tempest followed him into the kitchen, pausing as she spotted a black haired woman standing by the stove. 

    “Stickers! You got her!” She exclaimed, beaming at Tempest. Lightning knelt down to kiss her forehead before going to make his plate.

    Tempest blinked, and suddenly she was wrapped in a crushing hug. “I’m Sally, although I’m sure you’re already aware of that.“ Sally smiled warmly as she gripped Tempest’s shoulders. “It’s so nice to finally meet you!”

    “It’s uh, nice to meet you too.” Tempest smiled awkwardly.

   Sally’s bright gaze locked onto her hair. “Oh! Your hair is even prettier in person! Lightning showed me some of your interviews on FloRacing, but the cameras don’t do it justice! The ombré is so smooth!” Sally kept rambling as she gently grasped a strand, admiring the shades of teal.

   Tempest just kept smiling, although she was sure it was more like a grimace now. Glancing at Lightning, she almost scowled at his smug expression. “-and you can get a tan so much better than Lightning, although I’m sure you’re actually out in the sun a lot more than him. Your freckles are so pretty!” Sally was still going.

    “Alright Sal, leave the poor girl alone.” He smiled warmly at his fiancée. “Let’s eat before the food gets cold, it looks delicious and I don’t wanna miss it.”

    “Oh! I’m so sorry! I’m a rambler, I can’t help it.” She smiled bashfully at Tempest, releasing her shoulders after a brief squeeze. “I already fixed you a plate, you can sit down!” She gestured at the table beside them, and Tempest went to sit down.

    Tempest smiled softly at Sally. “Thank you so much.” Her mouth watered as she glanced down at the food. The chicken was seared to perfection, and the rice was covered in the buttery lemon sauce. A small sprinkling of parsley decorated the plate, and the lemony aroma wafted towards her.

    Lightning chuckled as he watched his sister practically drool over her food. “Go ahead.” She glanced up at him. “You can eat, we’re not strict.” As if encouraging her, he scooped up some rice and ate it.

    Tempest smiled softly, before cutting up some chicken and taking a bite. Oh my gosh. This is heavenly. Trying her best to maintain self control, she savored the delicious food. 

    Glancing up occasionally, she watched as Lightning and Sally talked to each other. Third wheel once again. She thought, blinking as they stared at each other with loving gazes. I can’t take this anymore. 

      Tempest turned her head to look at Sally and cleared her throat.”Genuine question.” Lightning raised a brow as Sally smiled encouragingly at her. “How do you put up with him?”

    Sally laughed softly, glancing fondly at a disgruntled Lightning. “I don’t really know. He was pretty insufferable when I first met him.”

    Tempest raised a brow and tilted her head at her brother’s glare. He was seemingly telling her not to start crap, but she couldn’t resist. “Bless your heart darling, I wouldn’t be surprised if you were just in it for his money.” She grinned viciously as Lightning growled under his breath. He was clutching his fork so hard it looked like it would snap at any moment.

     “Tempest, that’s enough.” He snapped as Sally snorted. 

    Tempest’s smile was borderline feral as she stared down her angry brother. “What?” She asked, adopting an innocent tone. Her smile vanished and she pouted mockingly. “Did I hit a nerve, Jerkface? Oh I’m sorry, wrong nickname. Is Stickers better?”

    Sally choked on the chicken she was swallowing. Tempest cast a concerned glance her way, but Sally was too busy laughing in between coughs to notice.

    “That’s enough. I’m serious.” Lightning’s face was matching his iconic car, and he glared at his sister. “Look, I didn’t invite you out here to argue again.” He stood up, grabbing his empty plate from the table and walking to the sink. “If you’re gonna give me crap, it’s well deserved, but don’t bring Sally into this.”

    Sally opened her mouth to speak. “Stickers it’s oka-“ He cut her off. “No, Sals, it’s not okay.” 

    Sighing softly, Tempest smiled apologetically at Sally. “Look, I’m sorry. I’ll cut it out.” She glared at Lightning as she picked up her barren plate. Walking past her brother, she turned the sink water on, grabbed the soap, and started scrubbing her plate. She could hear Lightning murmuring to Sally under his breath, and she rolled her eyes.

    Once the plate was cleaned and dried, she set it gently on the counter and turned to face the couple. “I’ll head on out. Thank you for the dinner, it was delicious.” She smiled softly at Sally before tugging her keys out of her pocket and heading out of the house. 

    “Have a safe drive!” Sally called from behind her, and Tempest waved back. The sun was just beginning to set over the horizon, and the town’s lights were on. Walking over to her bike, she grabbed her helmet, sighing as she stared at it. The white lightning bolt down the side gleamed back at her, and she brushed some dust from its surface.

    Tugging it on, she flipped the visor up as she started the bike. The engine purred as she rolled backwards and turned to face the gate. As she twisted the handle, the bike shot forward, roaring out of the driveway and onto the road. The fairy lights of the town lit the street well, and the neon signs glowed brightly. Pulling into the Cozy Cone parking lot, she turned off her bike and kicked the stand down. Sighing, she grabbed her key ring and unlocked the door. Tossing the helmet on the couch, she staggered over to the bathroom to throw her pajamas back on. 

    Now fully ready for bed, she plopped down on the mattress and huddled under the thick comforter. Grabbing her phone, she stared at the lock screen for a moment before unlocking it and opening Instagram. Tempest scrolled through her feed for a while, smiling at the latest memes of Maxxy. After a couple minutes of scrolling, she was struggling to keep her eyes open. Powering the device off, she switched on the bedside lamp, tugged the comforter up to her face, and fell asleep.

Chapter Text

    “Mama, who’s that?” Melody asked, staring at the picture in the locket. 

    Her mother smiled softly, gently swiping her finger over the picture. “That, my darling, is someone very special to me.” 

    Melody blinked as she assessed the photograph. It was worn with age, but she could make out the features. Honey blonde hair and light blue eyes that shone with joy stared back at her. “What was his name?”

     “His name was Mason.” Her voice was quiet, and she seemed to be deep in thought.

    “Oh! He has the same letter name as Monty and I!” Melody smiled brightly at her mother, who smiled back warmly. 

  “Yes, he did. And I believe he would’ve loved you two.”

   “Really?” Melody asked, her eyes wide as she looked back down at the locket. 

   “Of course, my darling. Probably just as much as I do.”

*BEEP*

*BEEP*

*BEEP*

   Tempest groaned loudly as her alarm sounded loudly, the noise rousing her from her slumber. Shoving her face deeply into the soft pillow, she blindly slapped at her phone, eventually managing to stop the alarm. 

    Sighing deeply, she rolled over to stare at the ceiling. The white color made her wince as it reminded her where she was. Radiator Springs. It wasn’t a dream. Rolling her eyes, she turned to glare at the time on her phone. 8:30am. Simply lovely.

     Sighing again, she sat up and clambered out of bed, heading towards the bathroom. After a quick shower, she felt awake enough to deal with people. Granted, she never fully enjoyed the company of others, but she could tolerate some if it meant finally getting to try some of Flo’s food.

     Tugging down the hem of her shirt, she grabbed the keys resting on the kitchen table. Snagging her helmet from beside them, she opened the door, fumbling with the odd cone shaped key. As Tempest yanked her helmet on, the toe of her boot caught the edge of the pavement, and she yelped as she fell forward. The chin of her helmet slammed into the pavement with a crack, and she groaned loudly. Did I seriously just do that?

    Staggering to her feet, she grabbed her key ring from where she had flung it, and clambered onto her bike, pulling out of the parking lot. The main road was still quite empty, but there were more signs of life. Twisting the throttle, she pushed the bike into gear and sped forward. The bright colors of Flo’s Station came into view, and she smoothly turned into the lot, parking by the door. 

     Tempest tugged her helmet off and set it on the seat, before walking up to the door. The bell chimed loudly as she stepped through. 

    “Well I’ll be! If it isn’t the talk of the town herself!” An older woman with tanned skin and dark brown hair stood behind the counter.

   Tempest smiled awkwardly as she slid onto a barstool. “Yep, that’s me.”

    Flo grinned brightly, leaning onto the counter in front of her. “So darlin’, what’s your name?”

    “It’s Tempest.” 

    “You’re Lightning’s sister all right, both of you’ve got unique names.”

    Tempest raised a brow. “You don‘t know Lightning’s real name?”

    Flo’s eyes widened. “That’s not his real name?”

    A vicious grin slid slowly across Tempest’s face. “It’s Montgomery. His full name is Montgomery Alex McQueen.”

    “Well now, that’s quite the difference!” Flo smiled widely. “For that information, I do believe you deserve a hearty breakfast. What can I get for you sweetheart?”

     Tempest’s eyes quickly scanned the menu above the counter. “I’ll take the uhh-“ She rushed, trying to find something quickly. “Can I get the pancake platter with my eggs scrambled and my bacon extra crispy?”

    Flo wrote the order down quickly. “Of course! Anything to drink for ya?”

    “Coffee please, straight black.”

   Flo winced. “Ooh, rough night?”

    “Not at all actually. I just like it plain.” She deadpanned, raising a brow at Flo’s reaction.

    “Yeah, she likes it depressing and dark, like her soul.” An irritatingly familiar voice chimed in from behind her. Tempest groaned in annoyance as an arm was flung across her shoulders.

     Flo chuckled loudly as she went to make the order, leaving Tempest with the Hillbilly from Hell.

    “What do you want?” She asked, glancing at him slightly, noting his tired eyes and rumpled hair. 

    Lightning inhaled deeply, clearly pondering his response. “I meant what I said last night. I need your help. I’m gonna test my car in a bit, and I was wondering if you’d wanna bring yours out too.”

    “Deal.”

   Lightning choked. “Geez, zero hesitation there.”

     “I haven’t driven since October. It’s February.” She shrugged, smiling briefly at Flo when she was handed her coffee. Tempest took a long sip, savoring the flavor.

    “Eugh.” Her brother winced, scrunching his nose up when he caught a whiff of the drink. He slid his arm off of her, leaning dramatically back on his stool in an attempt to distance himself. “How can you stand that?”

    “Because it warrants reactions like those. Teaches people to give me space.” She grinned viciously. “Maxxy was pestering me once so I switched mine with his iced brown sugar cinnamon latte. He left me alone after that. I had to take a sip of his in order to really sell it, and I swear I felt my heart stop from the amount of sugar that entered my body. It was awful.” She shuddered, vividly remembering that horrendous drink.

    Lightning squinted at her. “You literally live off of energy drinks.”

    “Yeah but that’s caffeine. I can handle caffeine, not sugar.” She winced, jumping slightly as a plate was set down in front of her. 

    “Here you go darlin’!” Flo smiled brightly as she slid silverware towards Tempest. “Enjoy!”

    Tempest’s mouth watered as she stared in awe at the food in front of her. Fluffy pancakes smothered in syrup gleamed back at her, and the bacon was perfectly crispy. The eggs looked impossibly light and airy, just the way she liked them. “Thank you!” She grinned widely at the older woman.  

     “You gonna drown them in ketchup like you used to?” Lightning droned, raising a brow as she glared at him. 

    “I only did that because someone always burned the eggs and I was too nice to say something.” She retorted, smirking at his offended expression. 

    He opened his mouth to speak, but she cut him off. “Shut up and let me enjoy my food. Go find someone else to pester.”

    “But it’s so fun to pester you.” He whined, leaning towards her. Her responding look had him backing away again. “Ugh, fine. Hurry up.”

     As he slid off the stool, he slid a twenty dollar bill across the counter to Flo, who glared at him sternly. 

    “You are not allowed to pay.” She chastised, sliding the bill back to him.

     Tempest swallowed the large bite of pancake in her mouth. “I can pay for myself thank you very much.” 

The twins narrowed their eyes at each other, before Lightning gave in, shoving the bill back in his wallet. “Whatever. Sorry I tried to be nice.”

    Tempest hummed as she shoveled the last couple of bites of food into her mouth. It had depleted far too soon, and she almost cried at the loss. “Alright, let’s go.” She stood from the stool, sliding a fifty across the counter. “Thank you very much Flo, that was the best food I’ve had in a long time.” Smiling warmly, she turned and bolted out the door as Flo spluttered. 

    “That’s too much-“ Her shout was cut off by the door slamming, and Tempest wheezed loudly, slapping her hands on her knees. Lightning followed closely behind, running out behind her as Flo scolded them. 

    The pair glanced at each other, then broke down laughing. Tempest leaned against her brother as she struggled to breathe, and he wrapped his arm around her shoulder, stabilizing her as he tugged her towards his car. Their giggles slowed as they leaned against the Mustang. 

     “She’s never gonna let you back in her building.” Lightning smirked as Tempest snorted. 

    “I’ll fight my way in if I have to. That food was heavenly.” She grinned up at him. His face was flushed from laughing, and his eyes were bright with happiness. I missed this. She thought as she stared at him. 

    “C’mon, you can leave the bike here. I’ll give you a ride.” He nodded towards the bright red car. Tempest walked over to the passenger seat, running her hand along the yellow pinstripe down the side. The wrap had a nice sheen to it, and it was done well.

    She opened the door and slid into the seat. Lightning started the car as she buckled her seatbelt. The purr of the engine was music to her ears, and she rolled the window down as he backed out of the lot. The dry Arizona air swept through her hair as they drove down the road, and she basked in the sunshine. Indiana was a miserable and dull place this time of year, and she missed the sun. Lightning was oddly quiet beside her, and a quick sideways glance told her he was lost in thought.

     Before long, they were parked in front of his garage. He turned the car off and they both climbed out. 

    “The car has been making this god awful rattling noise every time I start picking up speed.” He raised the large garage door. “I cannot figure it out for the life of me.”

     Following him into the building, Tempest tugged her hair into a ponytail. “Have you taken the engine out?”

   “Yep, it’s actually still out. I was planning on putting it back in earlier.”

   “Why’d you stop?”

    He turned around and grinned at her. “Heard you going to Flo’s.”

    “Nerd.” She deadpanned, staring at him like he was an idiot. Which he was, so the expression was valid. Glancing around the garage, she quickly spotted the engine. He had it up on a rack, and an overly large oil pan sat underneath. The pan was halfway full, and Tempest’s eyes widened in horror and she bolted over to it.

    “Dude what the actual h-e-double hockey sticks is this?” She cried, scanning over the engine with wide eyes. “What have you done?” She paused. “Is this the same car I built you?”

    Lightning avoided her gaze. “Maybe.” 

    Tempest gasped dramatically. “My baby! What have you done to my pride and joy?” She ran her hands over the engine, searching frantically for the leak. 

    “Nothing, I haven’t touched it since I left! Didn’t wanna mess it up!” He exclaimed defensively.

    “WHAT?” She shouted. “YOU HAVEN'T TOUCHED THIS CAR IN TWELVE YEARS?”

     “Yeah?” He drew out the word sheepishly. 

    “Genuinely,” She inhaled deeply, pinching the bridge of her nose. “How have you won this many races with this?”

    He grinned widely. “Pure luck!”

    “That thing,” Tempest gestured to the engine behind her. “Is running on nothing but hopes and prayers.” Sighing deeply, she turned to the engine. “Hand me a wrench you incompetent fool, let’s get this over with.”

Chapter Text

    “Lightning.” Tempest muttered from under the car. 

    Her brother hummed in answer, focused on grabbing the lug nuts for his tires.

   She slid out from under the vehicle. “I am ashamed to call you my brother.”

     Lightning gasped in offense, whipping his head around to stare at her. “Why?”

    “Dude.” She squinted at him. “You haven’t touched this freaking car in twelve years.” She gestured to the engine from where it sat under the hood. “You were racing in a vehicle with a severe oil leak and broken valve springs. ‘It’s making a god awful rattling noise’ yeah no sh- Sherlock, I’m genuinely surprised it’s even running.” 

    She clambered off of the ground, wiping her forehead and smearing oil across her tanned face. “Six time Piston Cup winner and you’re still hopeless with cars.”

   “Well that’s why I’m a movie star who is constantly adored by the press and you’re holed up in Indiana with literally no press coverage.” He retorted lamely.

    She scowled at him. “I’ll have you know I prefer it that way, moron. My business is world renowned, thank you very much. And why does everyone hate Indiana? It’s great, nice and quiet. Much better than Hillbilly Hell over here.”

    Lightning huffed loudly before turning back to the tires. “Whatever.”

     They continued their work in silence. Tempest finished placing the engine back in the car right as Lightning finished replacing the tires. Pushing the hood back down, she stepped backwards with a sigh.

     “Alright, she’s all set.” Tempest glanced at her brother. “Start her up.”

     Lightning clambered into the driver’s seat with a large grin. He twisted the key, laughing loudly as the car roared to life. “This is the best it’s sounded since 2013!” He called, grinning ear to ear as he looked at his sister.

     Tempest smiled softly, the noise of the engine music to her ears. “I should hope so, considering I fixed every problem that hunk of junk had.” She walked over to the large garage door, she pressed the button to open it. As the door clanked up, Lightning put the car into gear and pulled it out of the garage, parking it beside his Mustang. 

    He turned it off and stepped out, smiling at his twin. “Now, let’s get this Late Model up and running.”

    Tempest’s eyes lit up as he walked past her, pushing a button she hadn’t seen before. She watched in shock as a section of the celing began to lower.

    “See, the house may be modest, but my garage sure isn’t.” Lightning smirked, chuckling at her awed expression. “State of the art car lift. The whole ceiling is a storage area for them. Your Jaguar is up there too.”

    “Holy crap man, how come I haven’t heard of this?” She turned to him, raising a brow. 

    “It’s custom made. I can get you the info of the guy who did it later.” He let go of the button as the lift touched the ground. “But for now, let’s get to work.”

    The second the car hit the ground, Tempest rushed over, running her hands down the side of the body. Seemingly satisfied with the lack of damage, she looked at Lightning. “C’mon, we gotta roll it outside. I don’t see any air purifiers in here and this E85 is potent. I don’t feel like giving any of us cancer anytime soon.”

    Lightning huffed dramatically, but walked towards the car anyway. The pair pushed it outside, and it’s metal glistened in the sun. They stepped back, both staring at the car. 

    “Did you design it yourself?” Lighting asked, shielding his eyes as the light bounced off of it and into his eyes. 

    “Yep.” She popped the p. “Wasn't that hard, it’s really not a complicated design.”

    The varying shades of teal made it unique, and the lightning bolts were eye-catching. It was simple, yet it was stunning. The Storm Racing Engines logo was plastered in front of the name, alongside various other sponsors. 

    “Number one, seriously?” Lightning raised a quizzical brow. 

    “Yep. Zero was taken already.” She shrugged. “I know the guy, so I didn’t feel the need to steal his number.”

    Lightning nodded in understanding. “Ah. That makes sense. I thought you were just being egotistical.”

    “Nah, that’s more your thing.” She snorted, elbowing him half heartedly. “Now, can I fire her up?”

    “By all means, be my guest.”

    Tempest grinned widely at her brother before she practically skipped up towards her car. Pushing herself up onto the side, she slid down into the seat, settling down with a sigh. Flipping the start switches, she laughed quietly as the engine roared to life. The familiar rumble was soothing, and the noises were music to her ears. 

    “Man, I forgot how much I missed that noise.” She murmured, running her hand over the panel in front of her as she scrutinized the gauges. 

    Lightning smiled at her as he walked up to the car. “C’mon, your suit’s hanging up by the bathroom, go ahead and put it on.”

     Tempest wasted no time in hitting the kill switch and scrambling out of the car. She bolted towards the bathroom, grabbing her suit as she ran. When she finally managed to zip it up and cinch the waist, she hurriedly walked back out to her car. Lightning had somehow managed to change into his racing suit as well.

      “How did you-“ she trailed off, squinting at his sudden change in apparel.

    “Bold of you to assume I didn’t have it on under my clothes.” He smirked at her.

     Her brows furrowed even more. “You were in a tank top.”

     “Okay you got me, I had it hanging up in my storage room. I just ran the second you shut the bathroom door.” He admitted, holding his hands up in defeat. “Now, let’s get this show on the road.”

    Tempest clambered back into her car, cinching the seatbelt before grabbing the steering wheel from off of the roof and attaching it to the car. Lightning handed her her helmet from where it sat on the roof, and she tugged it on. Her gloves were also handed to her, and she slipped them on, then fired the car up again, startling Lightning as it roared awake.

    “Alright, I’ll lead you down to the track, it’s just down that road.” He patted the side of the car twice, before turning to walk away. Tempest gasped in remembrance and quickly grabbed his wrist, yanking him back towards the car. 

    “Raceceiver!” She shouted, her voice muffled.

    “What?” He shouted back.

    She sighed, gesturing wildly at her helmet. “RACECEIVER!”

    “Oh!” He exclaimed, finally understanding her. “What’s the channel code?”

    She pointed down to the gate, and he turned to look at it in confusion. “My gate code?”

    Tempest nodded quickly. He gave her a thumbs up, patted the top of her helmet quickly, and strolled back over to his own car.

     When his car rumbled to life, she clicked her Raceiver on. 

    “Hello dearest sister.” Lightning’s voice buzzed in her ear. “You’re stuck with me now!”

    “I’m going to kill myself.” She deadpanned, staring at the gauges in front of her. 

    Lightning paused. “Please don’t.”

     Tempest snorted, tapping her nails on the steering wheel. “Relax, if I was gonna kill myself, you wouldn’t be the cause.”

    “If you say so.” He backed his car up and turned to face the road. “Now, let’s get this bread.”

    “I genuinely hate you.”

    “I can live with that.”

Chapter Text

    The famed racetrack of Radiator Springs was an odd one. Some sides were steeper, resembling Brownstown, while others were flat, resembling Florence. 

    “Who built this?” Tempest asked, staring in horror at the uneven surface. ”The banking is awful!”

    “I have no clue.” Lightning parked his car, climbing out. “Okay, so you go ahead and start, I’m gonna keep my helmet on so we can speak.”

    “Mkay.” She murmured, cruising onto the track. The car rumbled beneath her, and she sunk deeper into her seat, sighing softly. Here goes nothing. Pressing the clutch, she gripped the wheel as the car sped forward. 

     Gliding around the first turn, she cheered loudly as her car thrived in the environment. “My tire instinct is still phenomenal!”

     She could faintly hear a low whistle coming from Lightning, but she was too focused on pushing her car to the limit, each lap faster than the last.

    Lightning leaned against his car as he watched his sister. The loud cheers and laughs coming from her end of the Raceiver had him smiling fondly. The red Arizona dust flew as she sped past him, and he was grateful for the filter in his helmet.

    “Well, look who finally showed up.” A gruff voice said from behind Lightning, and he turned around, a small smile forming on his face.

    Doc Hudson leaned on his cane as he scrutinized Tempest’s driving. His grey hair was ruffled from the air coming from the track, and his glasses rested atop his head.

     “She’s something else, isn’t she?” Lightning nodded in the direction of the track.

     Doc pursed his lips. “That’s one way to put it.”

     Lightning’s brows furrowed. “Is that supposed to be a bad thing?”

     “No.” Doc’s face relaxed a bit, his eyes still following the teal Super Late Model as it roared past where they were standing. “Her driving style is just familiar, that’s all.”

     “Yeah, she always was a late braker.” Lightning smiled fondly, tugging his helmet off to run a hand through his blond hair. 

     Doc leaned against Lightning’s car, sighing deeply. “So, tell me about her.” 

     “I honestly don’t even know where to begin.” Lightning exhaled slowly, trying to decide what to say. “She’s my twin. Her hair is dyed right now and she’s got a heck of a farmer’s tan, so you can’t really see the similarities unless you really stare.”

    “We were close, practically inseparable.” He swallowed thickly. “And then, in my egotistical head, I thought she was holding me back from my dreams, when she was actually sacrificing everything for me. I left her in that little dump we called home and ran off to race.”

     Doc’s face was unreadable, and he nodded shortly, prompting Lightning to continue.

     “I reached out to her a couple of days ago. Sals had asked about my family, and I did some digging. She ended up moving up to Indiana.” Lightning picked at a loose seam on his suit. “She’s got a business, Storm Racing Engines, and she races in the Super Late Model class. She’s a world champion, and I never even knew.“

     Doc pursed his lips again. “Well kid, sounds like you’ve got a lot to make up for.” He pushed himself off of the car as Tempest turned off of the track, parking her car beside them. “Better get to it.”

    Tempest pulled herself out of the car, sitting on the side and leaving her legs dangling in the cockpit. Tugging her helmet off, she shook her hair out, ruffling it back into place. 

     “So brother dearest, was my driving good enough to impress a six time Piston Cup winner?” She grinned brightly, swinging around and jumping off the car. As she strode towards him, her steps faltered as she noticed the older man standing beside him.

     “Well, I’d say it was enough to impress Doc Hudson over here.” Lightning grinned back, walking over to her. He slung a muscular arm over her shoulders, tugging her into his side. “Tempest, meet Doc.”

     Tempest’s eyes widened comically. “As in, Doc Hudson? The Doc Hudson?”

     The older man nodded at her, a small smile on his face. “The one and only.”

     “Holy crap.” Tempest admonished, staring at Doc. “Maxxy is gonna die.”

      “Oh yeah, wasn't he obsessed with Doc?” Lightning asked, grinning slightly as he recalled the worn purple hoodie Maxxy never seemed to part from. 

     “Was? He’s still obsessed.” Tempest chuckled. “I’m pretty sure he’s got a closet full of merchandise.”

     Doc raised his eyebrows. “Well I must say, I’m flattered.”

     Tempest smiled slightly, and a moment of silence passed before Lightning spoke. 

     “Alright, it’s my turn now.” He tugged on his helmet and climbed into his car. Doc and Tempest stepped back as the car roared to life. As he peeled onto the track, Doc cleared his throat.

     “So,” he started, his voice gruff. “Why have you suddenly decided to talk to him?”

     Tempest furrowed her brows. “Excuse me?”

      “Well, nobody willingly wants to talk to him, especially with how he used to treat them. You don’t seem to be any different.” 

    The teal haired woman scoffed. “Firstly, that’s a wonderful way to speak about someone who sees you as a father figure. And secondly, he’s my brother.” She scowled at Doc. “Sure he’s a jerk, but at the end of the day, he’s the only biological family I have left.” 

    Tempest glanced down at her dusty racing shoes. “I’ve spent twelve years alone. Why would I pass up the opportunity when it’s handed to me on a silver platter.”

    Doc pursed his lips. “So you don’t want his money and fame?”

     “What?” Tempest exhaled sharply. “I own a hundred and fifty acres of prime farming and hunting land just outside of Brownstown, Indiana.” She tilted her head. “I’m a three time world champion in the Super Late Model Class. And,” She emphasized the word. “I own a world renowned business building race cars.”

     The former Piston Cup winner merely grunted in acknowledgment.

     “So why on earth would you think I wanted his money? I have my own.” Tempest ruffled her hair out of her face, huffing harshly. “For the record, I don’t even claim to be related to him.” She let out a deep sigh as she leaned against her car, turning away to watch her brother drive. “I built my own life, without his help.” 

    Doc Hudson inhaled deeply as he stared at the young woman beside him. He could see the resemblance to Lightning, no matter how much she denied it. Maybe I judged her a bit harshly. “Look,” he started. “I apologize for my lack of manners.”

     She snorted in response, not turning to face him.

     “The kid has been through a lot, and I just wanted to make sure you weren’t going to hurt him.”

     As Lightning’s car quieted down and he pulled off of the track, Tempest glanced at the older man. “Well Mr. Piston Cup Winner, you don’t have to worry about that.” She smirked widely. “I’m not as mean as I look.”

     Lightning pulled up next to them, killing the ignition. As he clambered out, he yanked his helmet off and tossed it down. 

    “Well then, is it be-“ Tempest’s sentence cut off with a loud squeak as he yanked her into a tight hug. She stiffened, arms outstretched as his face pressed into the side of hers. Exhaling quietly, she gently wrapped her arms around his, returning the hug. He merely gripped her shoulders tighter, sighing deeply. 

     “Thank you.” He pulled back, smiling softly at her. “Thank you so much.”

     Tempest grinned. “Of course, brother dearest.”

     “Oof, I see why you hate it when I talk to you like that.” His smile was wide, and his eyes were bright with delight. 

     “Now,” Tempest smirked devilishly. “You stink and you’re getting me covered in sweat. Care to let go of me?”

     Lightning wrinkled his nose in mock offense. “Ugh, fine.” He squinted at her hair, scrunching his nose up as he scrutinized it. 

    “What?” She raised a brow.

     An evil grin spread across his face, and Tempest’s eyes widened in panic. She scrambled to back away from him, but he tackled her again. 

    “No, no please-“ She screamed dramatically, thrashing as he ruffled her hair. 

     Tempest elbowed his ribs, and he grunted in pain before releasing her. “You're such a jerk.” The pair glared at each other, before cracking up. “Alright sweaty boy, let’s get you home. I’d like to go back to my cone.” 

    “That I can do, sister dearest.” 

Chapter Text

One Week Later - Motor City, Georgia

    The purr of Tempest’s Jaguar tugged her closer to the edge of sleep, and she sighed heavily. Driving from Indiana to Georgia without stopping was a peculiar decision, and she was beginning to see why.

    “Screw this, I need coffee.” She mumbled. Blinking the sleep from her eyes, she glanced at the oncoming exit sign. Spotting the logo of a coffee shop on it, she exhaled in relief. Her RedBull stash had run out on the drive down, and sleep was hunting her down like it was Max Verstappen and she was a World Driver’s Championship. Cruising off of the interstate, she scanned the city’s skyline for the sign that would guide her to heaven. After several wrong turns and frustrated growls, she pulled into the parking lot of a tiny, practically deserted coffee shop.

     Espresso Yourself? Seriously? It was no Starbucks, but it would have to do. Huffing once more, Tempest stepped out of her car, spinning the key on her finger as the lock clicked behind her. As she opened the door, a bell rang, and the smell of freshly brewed coffee hit her like a brick wall. Rubbing her eyes once again, she stepped forward, and promptly hit a different wall. 

    A grunt of pain yanked her out of the sleepy state, and her eyes widened in panic as she looked down at the man she’d walked right into. 

    “Oh my gosh I am so sorry, I genuinely didn’t see you-“ She rambled, kneeling down to check on him.

     “Hey, it’s okay.” He glanced up, a soft smile on his face. “Accidents happen.”

      Tempest blinked for the third time that hour, which was quite a feat, considering the unhealthy amount of caffeine running through her veins. The man’s curly hair had flopped into his eyes, and his boyish grin made her heart skip a beat. What in the fanfiction- Her thoughts trailed off as he stuck a calloused hand out. 

    “Care to help me up?”

    Her eyes widened as she realized she’d been ogling him. “Of course!” Wrapping her hand around his, she tugged him up, frowning as she noticed he’d spilled his coffee.

     “Well,” he started, also glancing down at the ruined drink. “That’s quite a way to meet someone, wouldn’t you agree?” 

    “Yeah.“ Her voice trailed off quietly. “I really am sorry.” She furrowed her brows, staring sadly at the mess.

     “Don’t worry about it,” He smiled at her. “I probably shouldn’t have had that anyway. Caffeine makes me jittery and I do not need that today.”

     She nodded in understanding. “Well I was gonna offer to buy you a new one, but I wouldn’t wanna ruin whatever you’ve got going on. Would you like a doughnut instead?”

     His eyes widened comically. “Oh! I mean that’s really not necessary.”

     “It would make me feel better.” Tempest pressed.

     He sighed deeply. “Come on, we’ve just met each other and you know my weakness?”

    She raised a brow in confusion as they turned to walk towards the counter. 

    “The puppy eyes.” He glanced sideways at her, and she pushed a strand of hair behind her ears. “I can never resist puppy eyes.”

    “Oh.” She stated, feeling stupid. “So what kind of doughnut do you want?” 

    He glanced up at the menu. “A blueberry glazed sounds good to me.”

    She nodded, then stepped forward to place their order. The barista stared at her with a smile on her face. It was the kind of smile you get when looking at something really cute, and Tempest narrowed her eyes in suspicion. 

    “Thank you for stopping by! My name is Bailey, and how would you like to Espresso Yourself this morning?” The girl tucked a piece of her curly brown hair behind her ear, and she smiled sweetly.

    Tempest didn’t have the heart to grumble at the horrendous catchphrase, so she just smiled back. “Can I get a blueberry glazed doughnut, a plain glazed, and the largest sized black coffee you can legally give me?”

    The girl nodded, typing furiously on the register. “That’ll be seven dollars and two cents!”

     As Tempest swiped her card, the girl turned to make her drink and grab the doughnuts.

    “Plain black coffee? Whew, you’ve got quite the strong taste buds.” The man raised his brows, and Tempest scoffed in mock offense. 

    He raised his hands up in defense, grinning brightly. “I don’t mean that in a mean way, it’s just bold, that’s all.”

   “Uh huh.” She raised a brow skeptically, glancing away as he ruffled his hair.

    “Here you go ma’am!” The barista spoke up, smiling widely as she handed the drink and a small bag to Tempest. 

    The teal haired woman smiled softly. “Thank you!” Grabbing some napkins from the counter, she wrapped one around the blueberry doughnut and handed it to the man. “Here you go!” She grinned sheepishly. “I’m gonna watch where I’m going from now on.”

    He smiled back, swallowing a bite of the doughnut. “That’s probably a good idea.”

    The pair walked outside, and Tempest stopped by the door of her Jaguar. “Well, this is my stop.”

    “Thank you for the doughnut.” He smirked. “Enjoy your flavorless coffee.” 

    “Hey!” Her jaw dropped. “I’ll have you know that a good roast has plenty of flavor, thank you very much.”

    “If you say so.” He grinned widely. “Well, I’m gonna head out. Have a good day!”

    “You too!” She called as he walked away. Smiling to herself, she opened the door to her car and slid into the seat. Well that was a mess. She thought, pinching the bridge of her nose. I see one cute guy and I lose it. I am a lonely, lonely woman.

    Taking a sip of her coffee, Tempest pulled up the GPS on her car and inputted the address for the track. The Motor Speedway of the South. Home to the infamous Dinoco 400, the track was among the most well known in the country. As she drove back on the interstate, she sighed heavily, slumping in her seat. Lightning literally begged her to come watch him race, and the only reason she agreed was because he told her Maxxy would be there. 

     She hadn’t seen him since Christmas, and she was eager to surprise him. Maxxy never bothered to invite her to his races anymore, and the guilt nagged at her. The last one she’d attended, she’d seen a glimpse of Lightning’s trailer and had a panic attack. Speeding up, Tempest grinned softly as she imagined his reaction when she showed up.

    As her GPS chided her for breaking the speed limit, she switched it off, spotting the exit that would lead her straight into the track. It was early enough in the morning that fans wouldn’t be allowed on the property, and yet the line to get in was already absurdly long. Snorting in amusement at the absolutely ludicrous amount of bumper stickers featuring her brother’s number, she cruised into the VIP lane.

     Flashing the badge Lightning had handed her before she’d left Radiator Springs, she flipped her Aviator sunglasses back down on the bridge of her nose and rolled towards the designated Rust-eze crew parking. Zeroing in on a parking spot, she was about to push the gas when Life is a Highway suddenly blared throughout her car. Shrieking in surprise, she scrambled to answer the call, huffing slightly as she read the contact. 

    “Yello there sister dearest.” Lightning’s sickly sweet voice chimed over the speaker, and she could picture the stupid looking expression he was making.

     She rolled her eyes, pressing the gas softly. “What do you want, moron?”

    “I want to know where you are.” He groaned, and she heard a thud as he presumably slumped against wherever he was sitting. “I’ve been waiting on you for forever.”

     Coincidentally enough, as Tempest pulled into her parking spot, she glanced to her left. Lo and behold, there was the immature baby, sprawled across the seat of his Mustang like a toddler. Smirking slightly, she tuned out his babbling and pressed a manicured finger against her horn. Beep beep bit-

    The loud sound echoed through the parking garage, and she could hear his scream through the thick windows of her Jaguar. He whipped his head to the side, and his offended look had her crying in laughter. As she wheezed, he got out and stormed over to the driver’s side, yanking her door open.

     “YOU ARE SUCH A JERK!” Lightning shouted, shoving his finger in her face. 

     Still wheezing, Tempest tried to steel herself, but a quick glance up at his red face had her spiraling again. Inhaling deeply, she fought for control as he glared at her. “I am, but it was so worth it.”

     “Ugh, and you wonder why I left.”

    Tempest felt her body stiffen, and she sat up straight, fixing a steely gaze on her brother. “Seriously?”

     His eyes widened in panic as he realized what he’d said. “Temps I didn’t mean it like that I swear-“ 

     “Enough.” She raised a hand, shoving him back as she slid out of her car. Slamming the door, she glared at Lightning as he leaned against his car, rambling useless apologies.

    As the lock clicked on her car, she slipped her keys into her pocket and turned to walk off. “I’m walking down, I’m gonna go find Maxxy.”

    “I-“ he stuttered, clearly regretting his prior statement. “Okay.” 

     As he admitted defeat, Tempest strolled away, heading down the ramp and towards the seemingly endless line of trailers. 

Chapter Text

    As Tempest walked away from the jerk she called her twin, she scanned the Pits, looking for a glimpse of purple. Where there was purple, there was Maxxy. He was called the Michael Afton of the track, and as much as Tempest loved him, his addiction was getting out of hand. This is coming from the person with teal hair, a teal race car and suit, a custom teal Jaguar XE, and a teal bedroom. Oh well.

     Rolling her eyes fondly, she continued her walk, grumbling under her breath as the Georgia humidity ruined her hair. There were countless trailers, and crews swarmed around them as they prepared for the first race of the season. Glancing up at the clear sky, she sighed softly at the sun on her face. The peace didn’t last long.

    “IS THAT WORLD CHAMPION SUPER LATE MODEL DRIVER TEMPEST MCQUEEN AKA THE STORM?!?” A voice shouted from behind her. Tempest whipped around, immediately spotting a mop of curly brown hair and a bright purple v-neck shirt a few feet behind her.

    “IS THAT 2019’S MOST ATTRACTIVE MAN OF THE YEAR MAXXY STEVENS AKA MAXX VELOCITY?!” She called back, a massive grin on her face. Bouncing forward, she let out an oof as Maxxy crashed into her, wrapping her in a crushing hug. 

    “You’re here! I can’t believe it!” Maxxy pulled back, shaking her shoulders roughly. 

    Tempest smiled widely, ignoring the stares of the people around them. “I know!”

    “It’s been so longggg.” Her best friend groaned dramatically, leaning against her. 

    She shoved him off, and he staggered back a step, pouting pitifully. “I knowwww.” 

     “So,” Maxxy wrapped an arm around her shoulders, tugging her towards where his trailer presumably was. “Let me guess. Lightning brought you here.”

     Tempest sighed deeply. “Yep.”

     “Ugh.” He scrunched his nose in disdain, glancing down at her. “Did you know you’re a pushover?”

     She scoffed dramatically, flipping her hair off of her shoulder and placing a hand on her hip. “I am not!”

     “You totally are.” His roguish grin told her all she needed to know, and as he attempted to lean on her again, she simply stepped backwards. 

    “Oi-“ he shouted as he toppled over, landing face first on the asphalt. Tempest snickered mischievously, knowing he was perfectly fine.

     As he rolled over to stare at her, the betrayal on his face had her cackling. “You’re such a nuisance.” He sat up and crossed his arms, sticking his tongue out at her.

    “I know.” She smirked, leaning down and holding her hand out. “C’mon, get up. People are staring.”

    As she tugged him up, she directed a piercing glare to a group of women who were clearly talking about them. Maxxy brushed off his jeans, glancing at the group as well. He snorted quietly and wrapped his arm back around Tempest’s shoulder.

    “They’re staring because I’m the main character.” He placed a hand on his chest as he grinned smugly. “This whole thing revolves around me.”

    Tempest blinked, then squinted at him. “Okay y/n.”

     “Hey!” Maxxy gasped in offense. “I am not y/n, I’m my own person!”

     She snorted, patting his shoulder sympathetically. “Sure bud, keep telling yourself that. I’ll have you know that you would’ve never been trending on Wattpad without me, seeing as the tag was Taxxy, not Maxxy.”

    He pouted once more, his shoulders sagging dramatically. “But I boosted it through my YouTube channel.”

    “And I made cameos in those videos.” She smirked, snickering as he shoved her off of him. 

    Maxxy squinted down at Tempest. “You’re such a vibe killer.” 

    “Rude, but true.” She glanced down at her boots, scuffing them against the asphalt as she walked. “Maxxy, can I ask you something?”

     Sensing the change in tone, Maxxy glanced sideways at her, raising a brow in concern. “Sure.”

    “Am I a bad person?”

    The air rushed out of his lungs as he exhaled sharply, making a funky wheezing noise. He looked at her in surprise, then yanked her into a quiet spot  between two trailers. 

     “What makes you say that?” He placed his hands on her shoulders, bending over slightly so he was at eye level with her short stature.

     “I just-“ she stammered, sighing deeply. “Lightning keeps trying to make an attempt to reconnect and I keep pushing him away.”

     Maxxy’s brows furrowed, and he sighed deeply. “Look Ellie,”  He froze, seemingly noting his slip up, but when she didn’t correct him, he continued. “I don’t know what is going on in that decrepit little head of yours, but it needs to stop.”

     Tempest rolled her eyes lightheartedly, huffing under her breath. 

     “I don’t care what Lightning or anyone from stupid Radiator Springs says about you. They don’t know you. All they know is what your stupid excuse of a brother has said, and quite frankly, the only culture that man has is the bacteria in his stupid overgelled hair.”

     Tempest snorted loudly, then slapped her hand over her mouth. “You’re such an idiot.”

     Maxxy grinned brightly, standing straight. “I know. Now c’mon Debbie Downer, there’s chaos to spread!” He looped his arm around hers, and yanked her back out into the sunlight.

      As they strolled through the pits, Tempest inhaled deeply, savoring the smell of asphalt and fuel. “I can’t remember the last time I was on a NASCAR track.”

    “It’s been too long.” Maxxy smiled down at her. “We’ve gotta get you back out here more.”

     Tempest scoffed. “Says the one that hasn’t been to one of my races in forever.”

    “Hey! You race literally every Saturday, I do not have the money for gas or a plane ticket weekly.”

     Tempest smirked widely, sliding her sunglasses down on her eyes. “Imagine being poor.”

    Maxxy scoffed in offense, his jaw hanging open. “You’re such a jerk.”

    “And you’re an alcoholic.” 

    Maxxy scrunched his nose. “Oh, would you look at that, we have arrived.”

    Snorting at his attempt to change the subject, Tempest glanced up, blinking at the purple trailers that had materialized in front of them. Crew members stood around it, and Tempest noticed several holding phones with their weather apps pulled up.

     “Are we expecting some issues later?” Tempest furrowed her brows, glancing up at Maxxy as he ushered her towards one of the trailers bearing his name. 

   He opened a door, pushing her inside. “Yep, there’s a storm front coming through later, so they’re pushing to get this race over as soon as possible.”

    “Oh, that’s fun. Guess I get to go home quicker.” Tempest flopped down on a leather couch, relishing the air conditioning.

    Maxxy whipped around, still holding the key he was using to lock the door behind them. “Excuse me?”

    “What? I’ve gotta start prepping for the race at Brownstown next week. They’re having a Lucas Oil race the week after, and I need to tune my car up.”

    “Absolutely not. You’re staying with me for the weekend. We’re going to get dinner tonight, and then we’re heading back up to Bristol tomorrow morning.”

    “But-“

    Maxxy stuck his finger in her face, his expression stern. “No buts. Besides, Mama wants to see you. She’s been worried about you.”

     Tempest huffed softly, turning her head away as heat flooded her cheeks. Maxxy sighed deeply, then flopped on the couch beside her. 

     “We all miss you. Except for Luke, but nobody cares about him.” Maxxy slumped against her.

     Tempest exhaled shakily, then shifted to the side. Her head landed on his shoulder, and he leaned into her side more. They sat there for a bit, neither daring to break the fragile silence. 

    “You’re clingy.” Tempest grumbled as Maxxy wrapped his arm around her shoulder, tugging her closer.

     He snorted. “And you’re like a walking space heater. I’m cold.”

    “Turn the air off you moron. Duh.”

     Maxxy huffed. “Clara would rip my head off.”

    “And that’s why I’m single.” Tempest smirked.

    He rolled his eyes. “You’re such a loser. Imagine being thirty five and your best friend is thirty three.”

     “You’re only two years younger than me.” Tempest snapped in offense.

    “Yeah, you’re geriatric. Dream core for real.”

     Her jaw dropped. “Get off of TikTok.”

  “That’s what I’ve been saying.” The sound of a door clicking open and closed had Tempest sitting upright.

    Clara Lacey stepped out of the doorway, running her hands through her pink hair. “What’s up Celsius?”

    “Nothing much Garry.”

    Clara nodded. “Sick.” She walked over to the kitchen area, opening the fridge and grabbing a can of Monster. “Oh, and by the way Maxxy, there’s someone wanting to see you outside.”

    “Ugh. Can Lou not handle it?”

      Clara scrunched her nose. “Lou’s veins are getting ready to pop out of his forehead, I think he needs backup.”

    “It’s not Chick, is it?”

    She shook her head. “I wish it was.”

     Maxxy groaned loudly as he shoved himself off the couch. “I shall be back.”

     When the door closed behind him, Clara turned to face Tempest. “So, how was Hillbilly Hell?”

    “Torture.” She deadpanned. “If I was anything like my father, I’d have been drowning in drinks.”

    Clara whistled lowly, raising her brows. “Did you at least meet Doc?”

    “Well,” Tempest started. “You’re gonna wanna sit down for this. Plus I need a drink. On the rocks.”

    Clara grinned, turning back to the fridge. “One Mott’s, coming right up.”

Chapter Text

    “Welp, that was a mess.” Tempest deadpanned.

Chapter Text

After the race, back at Lightning’s trailer.

    As Lightning’s car rumbled to a stop, Tempest pushed herself off of the trailer. The engine died, and she could hear her brother’s sigh from a few feet away. As he hauled himself up and out the window, she stepped closer, Maxxy hovering behind her.

     “I cannot believe that happened.” Lightning yanked his helmet off and tossed it down in his seat. “The car felt so good.”

    Tempest hummed, popping the hood up to stare at the mechanisms. Everything looked pristine, exactly as she’d left it. “Maybe it’s your aerodynamics. Your car isn't exactly modern.”

     “Hey!” Lightning scowled. “My car was doing just fine.”

     “Lightning,” Tempest started, leveling a calm gaze at him. “I’m not insulting it, I’m being honest.”

     “How do you know anything about car bodies and aerodynamics? You don’t race NASCAR.”

     She blinked, her brain buffering at his idiotic response. Maxxy snorted in the background, still lurking over her shoulder. “Dude, I literally build cars for a living. This thing is built like a freaking Crown Vic, when it needs to be built like a Late Model. It’s too clunky.”

     Lightning blinked. “Oh.”

     “Mhm. Now stop back-talking and get your head out of your a-“ Maxxy slapped a hand over her mouth, effectively silencing her.

    “That’s enough.” He scowled down at her. She squinted back, then proceeded to grab a fistful of curls and yank them down. He yelped in pain, quickly releasing her.

    “Jerkface.”

    “Witch.”

    Lightning sighed deeply. “Alright you two, break it up.”

     “Shut up Dad-“ Maxxy’s quip was cut off by a haughty voice. 

    “Hey McQueen!“ The group turned around, spotting a dark race car stopped in front of the Rust-eze trailer. The driver hopped out, landing gracefully and strolling over to them. Lightning stepped forward, giving Tempest a warning glance.

     “The name’s Jackson Storm.” The rookie stuck his hand out for Lightning to shake. Lightning took it warily, glancing once more at his sister. She leaned against his car, a calculating look on her face as she stared coldly at the newcomer.

    Storm cleared his throat. “That was some pretty good racing out there,” he tilted his head, and Lightning could feel his stare through the tinted visor. “On my end, that is.”

    Lightning froze as Tempest inhaled sharply, and he refused to turn his head, even as he heard some scuffling behind him. “Well-“ he started, attempting to diffuse the suffocating tension that was rapidly spreading.

    “Listen, I mean this in the nicest way possible,” Storm interrupted. “Maybe it’s time to consider retiring.”   

    A muffled offended growl rang out from behind Lightning. Well crap.

    “Anyways, I’ve got an interview to get to. See you at the next race. Or not. Your choice.” The arrogant rookie strolled away, hopping back in his car and driving off. 

    Lightning turned around, glancing at Maxxy. The brunet man was holding Tempest in a bear hug, effectively keeping her from racking up a list of criminal charges. 

     “Tempest,” Lightning started, glaring at his sister. “Are you gonna be nice if we let you go?”

     She nodded, slumping in Maxxy’s grip.

     “Alrighty then. Maxxy, thank you for that.”

    Maxxy smirked, then released the teal haired woman. She took one look at Lightning, then booked it towards the media circle.

    “What?” Lightning blinked, a dumbfounded expression on his face. “Why did she-“

    “It doesn’t matter why, we just gotta catch her!” Maxxy took off after her, grateful he had already changed out of his suit. Lightning followed, his brain still lagging from his sister’s abrupt departure.

        “Well Jackson, how does it feel to be dubbed the newest rookie of the year?” Chick held the microphone up to the driver’s helmet. 

     “Chick, I can honestly say that it is the greatest honor of my life. I am so-“

    “YOU!”

    The men turned, their interview pausing abruptly. 

“Uh oh. Looks like you’ve got a storm heading your way. Pun intended, of course.” Chick guffawed grossly, rubbing his mustache as he looked the incoming woman up and down.

    “Hey now, let’s not start any fights, what’s the issue-“ The helmeted driver’s words were cut off as Tempest grabbed the collar of his suit and yanked him down to her level.(A/N-> She’s 5’3, he’s 6’1. He is literally folded in half.)

     “Listen here you little brat.” Storm gulped at her tone. “You may be young and stupid, but that does not give you the right to talk to anyone, let alone my brother like that.”

    “Just because you have all new, expensive gear, and a rich sponsor does not mean you get to look down on other people.” She snarled, glaring up at the dark helmet in front of her. Being unable to see his face enraged her even more, and she felt the stares of the gathering crowd around them. 

    “Morons like you get people killed.” She spat, releasing his collar and shoving him back.

     Storm blinked in surprise, laughing briskly. “Looks like someone has a temper.”

    Her eyes widened in offense. “You absolute as-“ her profanities were cut off as Lightning slapped his hand around her mouth and grabbed her. She kept shouting, thrashing against her brother’s grip. Her voice was muffled, but anyone could infer the profanities coming from her mouth.

    “I’m sorry about her, she’s taking anger management classes.” Lightning smiled apologetically, dragging his feral sister back towards his trailer.

    Chick whistled lowly. “Looks like she needs them. What a woman.”

    Jackson had never been so grateful for his helmet, as it hid the utter disgust that rolled across his face. “Whatever you say man.” 

  The interview continued as the Tennessean trio made their way through the pits and back to Maxxy’s trailer. Tempest was dragging her feet like a toddler, and it took both Maxxy and Lightning to carry her back. Her Doc Martens had scuffs from the asphalt, and her hair was a complete mess from running. 

    Maxxy opened the door to his trailer, holding it as wide as possible so Lightning could toss Tempest in. He shut the door behind them and locked it, effectively trapping the feral cat.

    The scene resembled that one Spider-Man meme, except instead of pointing, they were glaring at each other. The silence grew suffocating, and Lightning finally spoke up. 

    “What was the point of that?” He pinched the bridge of his nose, strongly resembling their mother. 

    Tempest huffed, slumping on the couch once more. “He was a jerk.”

     “I’m not denying that, but you shouldn’t act like that. The dude is a rookie, of course he’s gonna have an ego.”

    Maxxy snorted. “I wonder why you know that.”

     “Shut up, Crash Velocity.”

     “Hey!” Tempest shot up from her seat, and stormed up to her brother. “You have no right to call him that!”

    Lightning scoffed, furrowing his brows. “And you have no right to go up and try to fight a kid on live television!”

    “He was clearly not a kid, the dude was like six foot two!”

    “Children can be tall too!”

     “Says the one who was a foot shorter than everyone else in middle school.”

    Lightning’s jaw dropped. “That was a low blow.”

     Tempest shrugged, grinning smugly. “It was necessary.”

    “Alright you two, pack it up. Lightning, get your butt out of my trailer and go see your crew. Tempest, we’re going out to eat, so you’re gonna follow me to my truck.“ Maxxy pushed himself off of the counter and unlocked the door. As Lightning grumbled under his breath, Maxxy held the door open, shoving him as he walked by.

     Tempest grinned widely as Maxxy slammed the door. “Well that was polite.”

    “He’s such a jerk.” Her best friend grumbled under his breath.

     She snorted, grabbing her car keys off of the counter beside her. “Tell me about it. I’m related to him.”

    “Don’t remind me. Anyways,” Maxxy opened the door once more, checking to see if a certain blond still lingered there. “We’re going to get dinner.”

    “What about Clara?”

   Maxxy grinned widely. “In her words she doesn’t ’give a flying f-‘ what I do with you.”

    “Wow, her faith in you is bold.”

    “That’s what I said. Now, let’s go eat before your brother shows back up.”