Street Racing
14 – Streat Racing
Raith017 on AO3: street racing with the abomi-car
VROOM!
The car purred happily as Luz lightly pushed down on the accelerator while Amity looked at the engine.
“Ok, you can stop Luz.”
Amity then started pocking in a few more places around the engine. “The structural integrity appears to be holding well. The small amount of actual abomination goo to replace the oil is working much better than magic infused mud. And the lack of a normal battery hasn’t impacted its ability in the slightest.”
She then looked up at Luz. “Until we can actually give it a test drive, I think that the experiment is a success!”
Luz just beamed at her girlfriend. “That is great! I’ll talk to Hunter and Mami later to see if either is willing and able to take it on a test drive.” She then begins to frown a little before continuing. “We should also find a area where we can drive without anyone seeing us just in case something, exotic happens.”
Amity raises a eyebrow at that. “Exotic?”
“Like the car exploding, the engine coming to life, or it being shot out of the exhaust pipe.
Amity just rolled her eyes. “First, the exhaust pipe doesn’t work like that. Second, without any gas in it right now there is no way for the car to explode. Third, there is only a tiny amount of actual abomination goo in the engine, so unless Earth mud has a habit of becoming alive on its own, we are safe.”
Her face then briefly gains a panicked look. “Earth mud doesn’t have a habit of becoming alive on its own, right?”
“No Amity, it doesn’t.”
“That’s a relief. The worst that could happen to an outside eye would be the engine catching on fire. Now how about you turn that off, talk to the others, and I’ll set up a Azura movie marathon.”
Luz just smiled. “Sounds like a plan.”
She then turned off the car and walked to the door that connected the garage to the rest of the house. Before she could open the door, her cell began to ring. She quickly took it out to check the ID before answering.
“Hi this is Otter, is there a medical emergency coming my way Vet?”
The vet responded over the line “No Otter, everyone is ok right now. I just wanted to ask if you would be willing to assist me later this week.”
“Is it a school night?”
“No, Saturday night. There is a street race that asked me to be the on-hand doctor just in case of problem. My usual assistant can’t make it, so I was hoping that you could help.”
Luz just blinked a few times at that. “Quick question, how can you sign up to race and what are the prizes?”
The line was quiet for a few seconds before the vet replied. “Um, just show up and be willing to hand over a $10 entry fee. If you win, you get $10,000, 2nd place is $5,000, and 3rd place is $1,000. Do you even have a license though?”
Luz rolled her eyes. “A: I was not planning on driving myself, I just know someone who could. B: I will gladly help you out. And C: I don’t have a medical license either and that hasn’t stopped me.”
“Point. The position is paying, so you will get your usual rates.”
Luz just smiled. “Ok, I will see you Saturday then with a driver and a mechanic.”
“Sounds good Otter. Have a nice day.”
“You too.”
She then hung up and turned to Amity while smiling. “I found a way to make some guaranteed money, test your car, and maybe make lots more money!”
Amity was just looking at her. “Did you just sign up my untested prototype car in an illegal street race?”
“If Hunter agrees to drive, then yes.”
Amity just sighed and put her head in her hands. As she was groaning, Luz walked over and pulled her into a light hug.
“Hey there, it’ll be ok. I didn’t mean to stress you out with this. I just thought this would be a great way to put it through its paces and see how it holds up. Not to mention it is a great way to show off your mad engineering skills. If it bothers you that much, we can just not enter it. We already have multiple sources of income coming in, and the chance of us winning even 3rd place is incredibly unlikely, let alone 1st.”
Amity began to return the hug to Luz. “It’s ok. I would just feel more comfortable testing the car out on some backroads first. Depending on how it goes, we can see if it is a good idea to enter into the race. Ok?”
Luz backed up a little from the hug and gave her girlfriend a smile. “Sounds great to me.”
The two smiled at each other for a bit before moving in for a kiss.
Unfortunately, Camilla chose that moment to enter the garage and tell them dinner was ready.
Backroads
Hunter sat in the driver’s seat, getting the seats and mirrors to the best positions before he started driving.
As he was doing that, Amity was doing some last-minute checks to the engine to make sure everything was working for the test drive.
“Ok, everything looks ok on my end. Are you ready Hunter?”
“All ready on my end Amity.”
She then closed the hood and slammed it twice. “Ok, turn it on and give it a whirl.”
Hunter nodded and turned the key.
VROOM
The engine began to purr as Hunter shifted from park to drive and began to slowly move down the backroad.
“Are we sure testing this out on dirt roads is a good idea Luz?”
“We won’t get to that part until halfway through the course, so it should be ok. Since this is also seeing if Hunter is confident with driving in the race as well as putting the car through its paces, it is important to see if the car and Hunter can handle both.”
Luz then put a comforting hand on Amity’s shoulder. “Don’t worry, the car and Hunter will both be ok. Mami said that his driving lessons have been going great, and you said the car is working perfectly yourself. This is just a test run, there is nothing at stake here in the slightest.”
“I know that, but I am still nervous about how well the car is going to perform. I have never done anything like this before.” She then sighed. “I just can’t stop thinking about how much I want to show this to dad when we get back to the Isles.”
Luz could only pull her into a hug again and offer some comforting words. “I know how you feel. Back on the Isles, the first thing that always popped to mind when I discovered a new trick with magic was how much I wanted to show mami. But I promise you, the second we find a way back home, we will get your dad and that car in the same room so the two of you can talk shop for hours and hours.”
She then began to smile a little. “And if you’re lucky, it might become your step-mom.”
“WHAT! Luz, my father is not going to replace Odalia with a car I made.”
Amity then held up 2 fingers and touched one of them with her other hand. “1, the car would be either another kid or a grandkid.” She then touched another one. “2, the one most likely to replace Odalia would be Darius.”
If anything, Luz’s grin began to grow even bigger. “So, what you’re saying, is that the car is our first kid?”
Amity jumped out of Luz’s arms so fast she thought for a second that one would be forgiven for thinking she was using Flapjack to flash-step.
“LUZ!”
Hunter
The car was handling just fine. If Hunter was being honest, the suspension and breaks were a lot better on this new one than the Noceda’s usual car. So far, the only complaint he had about it was that the head lights weren’t working right now. Not a problem in the day time, but still a problem to worry about.
He returned to Luz and Amity and poked his head out.
“Hay guys, it did well with the normal driving on and off road.”
“Glad to hear it, Hunter. So how do you fell about doing the race?”
He gave them a smile. “I’ll find out after I do another round while ignoring the speed limit. Any objections from our mechanic?”
Both turned to look at Amity, who just sighed. “If you wreck it, you get to fix it. Ok?”
Luz and Hunter smiled in tandem before Hunter saluted her. “Aye Aye ma’am. Time me Luz.” HE then turned back to the road, closed the window and began to grip the wheel while reaving the engine.
“You ready Flap?”
“Tweet.”
Luz stud by the side of the road holding her beanie in her hand like a flag above her head. Her other hand was holding her phone with a finger over the start button on a timer.
The second she swung down her hat and hit the button on the timer, Hunter slammed down on the accelerator and sped down the road. He slowed down a little on the twists and turns, but sped up again as soon as he could. He ran the stop signs, thankful that Gus had been able of making it look like this section of back roads were off limits due to construction to keep bystanders and cops away.
“This is amazing!”
“Tweet!”
“Don’t worry buddy. You will always be my number one transport/friend, this car is just becoming number 2 on the list.”
Hunter couldn’t see because he was going 60 and keeping his eyes on the road, but Flapjack was shooting him a nasty look.
“Now lets see if this can do off road as well as on road.”
He then turned off the paved path and hit the dirt road with a bump as the suspension took a hit. Hunter kept on trucking though it, laughing out loud as he drove through a large puddle and coating the entire lower half of the car in mud.
“Remind me to go staff racing with Willow and Gus later. If this is fun, imagine how much fun it would be if I add all my favorite people to the mix.”
“Tweet.”
The two kept on driving in silence until they passed Luz and scratched to a stop.
Hunter and Flapjack exited the car and walked to her. “How did we do?”
She looked at the timer and then flipped over to the time table she had the vet send her to determine how good the times actually were.
“Based on the info the vet sent me, I’d say you are a strong contender for 5th place if you choose to compete.”
He just smiled at her. “I might not win, but racing would still be fun. Sign me up.”
Next Saturday night
The Abomi-car pulled into the parking field the race had set up for the event. About two dozen people were getting the booths set up to sell food and beverage to the almost hundred people expected to show up for the event.
Amity, Luz, and Hunter exited the car and headed over to the check in tent.
“Hello, we are here to register to race and for me to work at the doctor tent.”
The man working at the check in desk looked them both over before pulling up a piece of paper he had on his desk.
“Otter? The vet already told us you were going to come. If you want to also race-“
“I’m not racing, my brother is.”
Hunter raised his hand at that. The man just looked at him quickly before turning back to Luz.
“Ok then, you still have to pay the $10 fee.”
Hunter handed over a $10 he already had in his hand. “Here you go.”
The man grabbed it and then handed over a slip.
“You’ll be driver number 5, please put your car in the garage section to do any last-minute adjustments. Start time is in one hour. The med tent is over there.” He then pointed to a white tent with a red cross on it.
“Thank you.”
Luz headed over to the tent while Hunter and Amity moved the car to the garage space.
As she entered the tent, she waved to the Vet.
“Hi, how can I help?”
The vet looked up from the box she was looking through at her as she entered.
“Hi Otter. Do you think you can man the check in desk while I double check and make sure I have everything? We don’t have any patients yet, but we probably will shortly once the beer starts flowing.”
Luz just nodded and walked over to the table in front of the entrance and sat down in front of the cliff board set on it.
Race Time 10 PM
“Are you ready to rumble!”
“YES WE ARE!”
The bleachers around the start position were jam packed with dozens upon dozens of spectators all cheering. 12 cars of varying makes and models were lined up at the start line.
“Drivers, start your engines!”
Hunter began to rev up his engines, getting ready to start the second the signal was given.
3
2
1
“GO!”
Hunter slammed down on the gas pedal and shot down the road with the rest of contestants. Hunter had to swerve a fair amount to keep his position with the rest of the drivers, but he was able of maintaining what he thought was about 3rd place by the time they reached the first sharp turn.
“Hang on Flap.”
“Tweet!”
He had to slow down a little, but he made it. Unlike car number 8, which had the misfortune to hit the railing and flip over it.
Hunter didn’t worry too much about them, he was much more concerned with the next two hairpin turns he had coming up while also maintaining his position.
Luckily, he and the other 10 drivers were able of making it through to another straight. Hunter fell to 5th place, but started fighting for a better position to get 4th after the next hairpin turn.
Unfortunately, two other cars weren’t able of doing the turn and ended up in the lake in front of the turn.
The 9 cars left then started fighting for positions again, with Hunter able of getting 2nd place for a bit. He and #7 ended fighting over the spot, with 7 eventually getting it when they reach a section of windy road. No one else was knocked off the track during this section, but it was a close one.
After that, it was back to a straight section with a 90-degree turn coming up fast. Hunter slowed down a little for the turn, falling to 5th place in the process. This decision was validated when the turn claimed 2 more cars and left Hunter in 1st place.
“I can’t believe it Flap. We might actually have a shot at winning!”
“Tweet!”
“I see it!”
There were two more 90 degree turns coming up, on right after the other. He barley stayed on the road with the first turn and banged against a competitor in the 2nd one. The result was the lost of a side mirror and dropping to 2nd place.
“See Flap? Nothing to worry-“
“TWEET!”
“LOG?”
Hunter then saw the fallen tree that was on the side of the road he was unfortunate enough to be on, and a jerk driver keeping pace with him to prevent him from getting out of the way in time.
“TWEAT!”
“What? Are you crazy? You can’t flash-step a moving car!”
“Tweet!”
Hunter looked between the fast-approaching log and his best friend. “I hope you’re right about this.”
He the grabbed onto Flapjack and focused on the road on the other side of the log.
PING
Hunter suddenly found his car on the other side of the tree and heard the sound of a crash from behind him as the car trying to take him out ran off the road in shock and another one ran into the fallen tree.
He quickly spared a glance at Flapjack to see his buddy laying on the seat and taking deep breaths.
“You ok buddy?”
“tweet.”
“Don’t worry, we are never doing that again.”
He quickly took stock of his position in the race before the next set of turns. There were 5 car left counting them, and he was in 1st place with the other 4 crowding right behind him.
The next part of the road was a fast-approaching gentle right turn, followed by a immediate 90 degree left turn into a curve before a final straight until the finish line.
“Just take a nap Flap, I can get through the rest on my own with no issues.”
Flapjack just nodded.
Hunter was able of keeping his 1st place during the gentle turn, but fell to 3rd during the 90 degrees. He was able of regaining 2nd place during the curve after that through.
After that, it was constant fighting between all 5 to determine the exact position everyone would get in the race. Hunter was constantly shifting between 2nd and 3rd place during the run.
“Almost there.”
The finish line was fast approaching. He and the others were still fighting over their positions as they neared. As they crossed the line, the crowd went wild!
The races slowed their cars and went to the garage area near the track to park and hear the judge’s decisions.
As hunter pulled in next to Amity she rushed over.
“How did it go?”
Hunter didn’t hear her as he was busy fussing over Flapjack. When Amity noticed, she opened the passenger side door and let Ghost in.
“What happened?”
“We had to flash-jump to avoid being run into a tree. He will be ok, but he’s out of it for now.”
Amity could just stare at Hunter in shock.
“You TELEPORTED a 3,000 lbs car while going 60 miles a hour? I’m somewhere between impressed and disturbed.”
She then shook her head. “Never mind. Ghost, stay here with Flap and make sure he is alright. Me and Hunter are going to go see how he did in the race.”
The two then walked over to the judging area with the other racers that finished to await the judge’s decision. Fortunately, they didn’t have to wait long.
“After reviewing the footage, we have determined the 3 winners!”
“3rd place goes to #6!”
“2nd place goes to #11!”
“and finaly, 1st place once again goes to #1!”
“numbers 5 and 9 got 4th and 5th place respectively.”
Hunter was disappointed, but not surprised. The fact that he got 4th place at all was a miracle in of itself.
“You go see if Luz needs help with the injured drivers, there were several nasty crashes. I’ll get Flapjack and meet you there.”
Amity just nodded and headed away.
As hunter walked back to the Abomi-car, one thought kept circling through his head.
“I am so doing this again.”