Ride or die
Pearl and Rusty had been mostly silent after they left Greaseball and Dinah’s place. That interaction had left both of them a lot to think about. Pearl understood both Greaseball and Rusty’s point of view. Dinah was Rusty’s friend, has been for a long time. He always hated seeing her hurt. However his view on her and the other coaches was a little outdated. You can definitely tell he was raised old fashioned, back when coaches were treated like delicate little things. It’s not really like that anymore, and Greaseball and Dinah were actually a part of the reason why. Dinah has more than proved she can handle herself. Pearl recalled a story Dinah told her where the two had gone over a bridge. Dinah’s arm had been broken clean off. According to Control if she’d been a human that arm would have been gone forever. Pearl laughed to herself a little.
”What’s funny?” Rusty asked.
”I just never thought I’d see the day you and GB had something in common.” She said with a smirk.
”We have nothing in common!” Rusty shouted “She’s an arrogant, over confident jackass, and she’s going to get herself and Dinah killed!”
”You’re both absolutely terrified right now.” Pearl responded, trying to keep calm “The only difference is GB trusts Dinah a whole lot more than you.”
”Excuse me?!” Rusty stopped moving and looked Pearl in the eyes. “I trust her with everything, I’ve told her things I haven’t even told you!”
”You wh- we’ll touch on that later, but that’s not what I mean dear.” Pearl said rolling her eyes “What I mean is that Greaseball trusts Dinah to take care of herself.” Rusty paused for a moment. Really trying to consider what Pearl was saying. “And she’s right about her. Do you really think Dinah would just sit back and watch the love of her life put herself in danger like that?” Rusty had to concede to this. One thing the pair had in common what their stubbornness, though it showed itself in different ways. “This is how Greaseball can keep her safest, it gives her more control over the situation.”
“Dang it Pearl, why do you have to be so smart!” Rust grumbled, Pearl giggled.
”Hey before I was outfitted as a first class car I was actually an observation coach, means I pick up on things most don’t.” Pearl said with a confident grin.
”Yeah you always did, it’s part of what makes you so amazing.” Rusty remarked, pulling Pearl close and gently resting his forehead on hers. “I’m sorry, it’s just… I’ve never dealt with something like this before. Is my racing career always gonna be this crazy?”
“I thought crazy was how you roll?” Pearl laughed and gave him a quick peck on the cheek.
“EEEWWWW!!! I don’t need to see two relics sucking face!” A loud, raspy voice shouted. The couple turned their heads to see the same engine Greaseball had been so worried about.
“Hey we’re having a moment, get lost.” Rusty snapped.
”Oh the relic can talk!” Sargent sneered a large coal truck following behind him. He looked just as slimy as his friend. His dark black and bright orange paint job grabbing an equal amount of attention.
“You’ve already got one foot in the grave grandpa, we need to give you a push?” He laughed, Rusty clenched his jaw. Sure he’d been bullied before, but Greaseball had never threatened to kill him.
”Hey I’m probably not even a year older than you!” Rusty snapped back, the big engines laughed.<
”Careful Steamer, you’ll blow a gasket.” Sargent snapped, he rolled over and squared up to Rusty. Pearl set her hand in Rusty’s shoulder.
“Rusty let’s get out of here.” She said, she could only see this ending badly. Rusty nodded and went to turn away.
”Yeah that’s right, run away like a coward!” The coal truck jeared.
“Listen to your dead weight coach.” Sargent was clearly trying to get Rusty angry, and it was working. “I don’t know what’s more useless, a coach or a steam engine.”
”I’d say… neon green camo!” The distinct voice of a certain black and yellow diesel rang out, a dangerous look in her beady yellow eyes. Her partner the dining coach standing firmly behind her, looking equally pissed.
“Whoa, am I seeing a ghost, thought you got scrapped.” The coal truck laughed.
”Hehe and I thought you would have grown up in the five years since I last saw you Carbon, guess we were both wrong.” Greaseball snapped back, crossing her arms.
“Well, well, well!” Sargent smiled, blowing right past Rusty as if he didn’t exist. He rolled right up into Greaseball’s face. “Looks like the little bitch finally found her bark.”
”Keep testing me! You’ll learn my bite is a whole lot worse!” Greaseball glared right at him, if looks could kill Sargent would be dead two times over. Rusty knew Greaseball’s tongue was sharp, she’d used it against him at least a hundred times. Never in a million years did he ever think she’d be using it to defend him.
”Aww that’s so cute, when I’m done with you the only thing you’ll be biting i-“ Sargent was cut off by a punch in the face… but not from Greaseball. Instead Greaseball was the one pulling Dinah back and getting in between them while the green brute staggered back.
”Oh wow, that’s a new low Greasy, making your bitch fight your battles!” Carbon snapped.
”Oh that wasn’t for her… that was for me!” Dinah snapped, still holding her left hand. A satisfied grin spread across her face. The tension was broken by the sound of a loud steam whistle that made everyone jump.
”What in the name of starlight is going on here?!” Mama’s voice rang out, full of authority and fury.”
”Uhh nothing Mama, just some playful pre-race banter gone wrong.” Pearl quickly spoke up. She’d quietly called Mama over the radio when Sargent started harassing them, knowing she’d be able to defuse the situation.
”Hmm is that right?” She glared both at Greaseball and Sargent. Though most of her fury was aimed at her problem child. “Whatever score you gotta settle, save it for the track, or neither of you are racing. Do you understand me!?!” Greaseball, Dinah, and Sargent nodded back, refusing to take their eyes off each other. Mama rolled her eyes “I SAID DO YOU UNDERSTAND ME?!?!”
“Yes mama.” Greaseball and Dinah responded in unison.
”Good girls.” Then she turned to the two visiting trains “As for you two, you are guests here so I expect you to treat your hosts with respect. If I catch you four fighting again you’ll be on the first track home got it!?”
”Yeah, sorry.” Sargent said nonchalantly, like he was only half listening. His eyes still glaring daggers at Greaseball.
”Now both of you, shake hands and apologize.” Greaseball gave Mama a look, but when she saw Mama’s face she realized how serious she was. She reached out to Sargent who grabbed her hand, squeezing it as hard as he could. Greaseball Kept a face of stone the whole time.
“Sorry Greaseball.” Sargent said using his grip on her arm to pull her into a ‘bro-hug’. While her ear was close to his mouth he whispered. “If you set foot on that track with me, you’re scrap!” Greaseball simply rolled her eyes.
”you and what army!?” Was all she whispered back. She shoved him away with a confident smirk before uttering a sarcastic apology. Though Mama didn’t pick up on it. She gave a satisfied huff. “See you on the track, Sarg.”
“Not if I see you first Greasy.” He hissed before rolling away.
“Damn kids.” Mama muttered to herself “Is everyone alright?”
”Well I think Dinah might have hurt her hand when she punched his face.” Pearl giggled.
“Yeah I saw that.” Mama said crossing her arms. “What on earth where you guys thinking?”
”In our defence he’s the one who started it.” Dinah smiled clearly incredibly proud of herself. “We were standing up for Rusty.”
“Well I don’t care who started it!!! It’s over now and if I catch either of you fighting again you’ll get a swift kick in the rear!!” Mama huffed before leaving. The for trains left behind stood still staring at each other for a while.
“Uhh thanks Greaseball, and Dinah” Rusty uttered a set of words he never thought he’d say. He’d also never thought he’d see Dinah punch someone so, today was a day of firsts.