Unlikely
Greaseball and Dinah followed Rusty and Pearl home. That fight had painted a huge target on their backs so they figured safety in numbers was their best bet. Luckily their place wasn’t too far from Greaseball and Dinah’s. Their shed had a much more homely cabin feel than Greaseball’s but she kinda liked it.
”Sorry the place is a mess, been a bit too busy to clean lately.” Rusty muttered, Dinah laughed.
”Oh dear this isn’t messy, you should’ve seen Greaseball’s shack before I moved in.” Dinah smiled “I think something in her fridge was alive.”
”I’m sure you’re over exaggerating.” Greaseball said rolling her eyes.
”It bit me!” Dinah joked, still holding her punching hand.
”Hey uuuhh do you have any ice for Dinah’s hand? I think she really hurt it on a dickwads face.” Greaseball asked gently taking Dinah’s hand in her’s.
“Oh uhh yeah, we should have something here.” Pearl jumped and rolled over to their freezer. Rusty tilted his head as he watched Greaseball with Dinah. The past couple hours had greatly changed his view of the dining car, and her relationship with Greaseball.
”I didn’t know you were left handed?” He said aloud.
“She’s good with both hands.” Greaseball said with a wink. Dinah scoffed and slapped her shoulder.
“That is not something they need to know you perv!” Dinah said rolling her eyes. A small giggle escaped from Pearl, Rusty smiled and laughed a little. That small release of tension felt almost therapeutic. Like they got a split second break from the weight being pressed down on their shoulders. Pearl handed Greaseball an ice pack and she gently pressed it against Dinah’s hand, Dinah let out a small hiss as the ice met her bruised knuckles. Greaseball pressed her other hand on Dinah’s back, pulling her close.
“So… it goes without saying but we’re all in.” Rusty spoke, his eyes meeting Dinah’s. “I’m sorry for everything I said Dinah. I really underestimated you. I’m just scared for you.”
“I understand Rusty, it just… it stung.” Dinah responded.
”Oh what, not worried about me steamer?” Greaseball shouted in a joking manner. Rusty rolled his eyes and laughed.
“Greaseball even if you died I’m pretty sure the devil would just send you back.” Rusty smiled.
”HA he’d have to catch me first!” Greaseball said while flexing her arm. The group managed to relax and laugh a little. “I have no plans on meeting him any time soon.”
“So you’re really going toe to toe with Sargent tomorrow?” Pearl asked, Greaseball smirked.
”Yup, don’t have much choice.” She said casually. “I don’t have it in me to back down now that I’m neck deep in shit.”
”And we’ll be there to help you shovel it.” Dinah said with a confident smile. “So guys the plan is, now that Sargent has his eyes on us, you two are gonna follow behind us the whole race and watch him-“
If you can keep up that is.” Greaseball joked. Dinah gave her a glare and she raised her hands in surrender. “Right sorry. Uhh anyway I don’t know what he’s gonna pull, but I know he’s gonna pull something, and when he does you’ll be there to catch him.” Pearl and Rusty were quiet for a little bit. “If there are whiteness to Sargent’s actions it’ll be way easier to prove he’s a monster.”
“But is that going to be enough?” Rusty asked “it’s just that I don’t want you guys sticking your neck out like this only for it to amount to nothing.” Greaseball shrugged.
“It’s all we got, unless one of you guys got a better plan.” She said back, Pearl sat up.
“I was thinking and… I think we should let Electra and Slick in on this.” She said shyly “with Electra’s fancy gadgets and Slick’s love of schemes we could-“
“Oh no way, this situation is volatile enough without bringing those two into it!” Greaseball said crossing her arms.
“Never thought I’d say this but I agree with Greaseball” Rusty said surprised.
“You had no problem working with them last year.” Pearl snapped back.
“Yeah and how’d that work out for me again?… oh yeah I almost died!” Greaseball responded “Besides Slick isn’t even allowed to race, she’s got a year long ban from the track remember.”
“I know… it was just a thought.” Pearl said looking a little embarrassed.
”I mean… having some backup would be a good idea.” Dinah piped up.
”Well… maybe, but would Electra even help us?” Rusty asked. Greaseball laughed.
”Well I don’t know about the rest of you but they sure as shit wouldn’t help me.” She said with a shrug. “Last I checked they hated my guts.”
“They seem pretty fond of the coaches though.” Rusty said, his voice sound a little bitter.
“Yeah maybe me and Pearl could talk to them!” Dinah shouted excitedly. That suggestion made Greaseball squirm.
“I don’t know guys, I don’t like the idea of more people getting involved.” Greaseball looked over at Dinah and the look on her face made sigh. “But if you two really think they could help, I guess it’s worth a shot.” She conceded. Dinah smiled and hugged her.
“Well then I guess Pearl and Dinah are gonna have to be the ones to talk to them. They wouldn’t really acknowledge my existence and they hate GB.” Rusty said, he still wasn’t a fan of this idea but he knew he was outvoted. Besides, Pearl is smart so if she thinks this is a good idea he trusts her.
“Oh boy, that’s gonna be… interesting.” Dinah muttered, having a… complicated history with the electric engine.
”Their race tomorrow is gonna be just as interesting.” Greaseball said “They’re racing against Sargent in heat 1.”
”WHAT!?” Pearl, Rusty, and Dinah exclaimed at once.
“What? Didn’t you guys check the racing schedule? It’s been up for like… three weeks.” Greaseball said with a shrug.
“Well yeah but none of us were looking for his name before today!” Rusty shot back “Wait… that means… Golden eagle and Lumber are going to be in that race!”
“I’m pretty sure they’re fine, Sargent only goes after those he sees as a threat” Greaseball said with a shrug. “nothing against Green arrow or Lumber but if they couldn’t beat me they won’t even be able to catch Sargent’s dust.” Dinah narrowed her eyes at her and Greaseball raised her hand defensively. “That’s not just my ego talking, I know that’s how he works. That’s what he was like at my old yard! Honest!”
“Well we can take comfort in that at least.” Pearl chimed in. “While the other engines from our yard are great you and Rusty are in a whole other league.” Greaseball noticed Rusty blushing at Pearl’s words.
”Hehe never thought I’d be in the same league as a steamer.” Greaseball mused to herself, just last year she saw that word as an insult. Now it stood for determination and endurance. It’s crazy how much things change in a year. She was about to say something else when Dinah cut in.
”Yeah you and Hydra were really something special!” She chirped, then she paused before asking “So… are you gonna be racing with him or Pearl?” Things went quiet for a second before Pearl laughed.
“Well the three of us actually discussed that.” Pearl explained “See since Rusty doesn’t race till heat 3 we decided to make a bet.” A mischievous smiled appearing on her lip “Hydra bet on two racers in heat 2 and I bet on two racers. Whoever picked the winning racer gets to choose whether they want to Race with Rusty in his qualifying heat or in the final race.”
“Oh that’s a… creative solution… wait a minute… we’re racing in heat 2.” Dinah jumped at the realization. “You bet on us? Right Pearl?” Pearl and Rusty got real quiet. “Right Pearl?”
”We flipped a coin and Hydra got first pick!” Pearl snapped with a pout.
”Could’ve fought him for it, he’s tough but I think you could take him!” Greaseball added with a sarcastic smirk.
”No! No! No! I will not entertain your buffoonery Greaseball!” Rusty jumped up “We settled this way specifically to avoid a fight!”
”Haha welcome to being a champion newb, you’ll always have people willing to throw hands just for a chance to race with you!” Greaseball said with a laugh. Greaseball had never thought she’d consider the steamer a friend. Even now she still wasn’t sure she’d go that far, but nowadays they were much closer to friends than enemies. Which felt weird, but nice. Especially to a young diesel engine who at one point in her life had convinced herself that no one would ever care for her. She couldn’t help but ask herself what that kid would say if she could see herself now. Had she’d know what was in store what would she have done differently? Would she have done anything differently? Greaseball knew it was pointless asking herself these questions but she still liked thinking about it.