The sun had dipped below the horizon, casting the practice track in dusky hues as the pit crew packed up for the night. The air smelled of oil and burnt rubber, a comforting mix to any racer. Sun lingered near his bike, his helmet still on, visor down. He was used to the helmet's weight and the anonymity it afforded him, but tonight felt different.
"Still not giving me a straight answer, huh?"
Sun turned to see Mel standing a few feet away, hands tucked casually into his jacket pockets. The reporter had a smirk on his face, his honey eyes gleaming under the track lights. He'd clearly been waiting for his moment to pounce. "You again?" Sun asked, his voice slightly distorted through the helmet. "Me again," Mel replied, stepping closer. "I've got a knack for showing up where the story is, and right now, you're the story. Unless, of course, you'd rather talk about AI conspiracy theories?"
Sun chuckled softly. "You still on about that? You weren't lying when you said you were persistent."
"It's a skill," Mel said, shrugging. "But persistence only works if the other person's willing to meet you halfway. And you, Hawk, have been pretty stubborn about keeping that helmet on."
Sun tilted his head, considering the reporter for a moment. He didn't usually entertain the media, but Mel had a sharpness to him—a playful confidence that was hard to ignore. Finally, with deliberate slowness, he lifted his hand and pressed the release on his helmet. The visor clicked open, revealing a pair of striking amber eyes and a sly smile. "There," Sun said, his voice smooth now, unfiltered by the helmet. "Happy?"
Mel blinked, momentarily caught off guard by how disarmingly handsome the racer was. "Well, that's a start," he said, regaining his composure. "Now we're getting somewhere." Sun leaned against his bike, his movements casual, but his tone had a teasing edge. "What is it you want to know, Rosscrest? Or are you just here for the view?" Mel arched an eyebrow, the corners of his mouth twitching upward. "Depends on what you're offering."
"Depends on how good you are at asking questions," Sun shot back, his grin widening. "So far, I'm not impressed."
"Not impressed?" Mel echoed, stepping closer, his notebook forgotten in his pocket. "I'll have you know I'm the best at what I do." Sun's gaze didn't waver, his eyes scanning Mel's face with deliberate interest. "The best, huh? Guess I'll have to see for myself." Mel laughed, the tension between them crackling like a live wire. "You're not what I expected, Hawk."
"And what did you expect?" Sun asked, tilting his head slightly. "Someone quieter. Less… cocky," Mel admitted, crossing his arms. "But I'm not complaining."
"Good," Sun said, his voice dropping slightly. "Because I don't plan on toning it down. Not for you, not for anyone." Mel opened his mouth to respond, but one of the pit crew called out, breaking the moment. Sun winked before dropping his visor back down with a click, the playful smirk once again hidden. "Catch you at the race later!" Sun said, his voice muffled but still unmistakably teasing. Mel stood there, a faint blush creeping into his cheeks as he watched Sun enter the locker room.
"Yeah," he muttered to himself. "You're definitely the story."
–☀︎–
The sun dipped below the horison just past the track, the fading light reflecting off the sleek helmets of racers preparing for the start. Sun sat astride his bike, his bird-shaped helmet already in place, its dark visor giving him a menacing, unreadable presence. Beside him, Sekh stood, her golden-yellow helmet gleaming under the overhead lights, the fur-lined collar of her jacket fluttering faintly in the evening breeze.
She leaned in slightly, her voice sharp and clear through their private comms channel. "Kid, listen up. You're not going full power tonight." Sun adjusted his grip on the handlebars, his tone tinged with confusion. "Not going full power? Isn't that the point of racing?"
"Not today," Sekh replied, her tone leaving no room for argument. "You're still carving out your place here. Winning is important, but showing your full hand too soon? That's a rookie mistake." Sun let out a breath, his visor tilting slightly as he glanced toward the starting grid. "So, what's the plan, then?"
"Race smart," Sekh said, her voice steady, the faint hum of authority behind it. "You're going to stay mid-pack for the first half of the race. Let the leaders think they've got it locked. Study their moves—watch how they take corners, how they handle overtakes."
"And then?" Sun asked, his tone more serious now. "And then, in the final laps, you make your move. Take the win, but keep it clean and calculated. No flashy overtakes, no unnecessary risks. You're here to show them you can win with your head, not just your speed." Sun tightened his gloves, nodding slightly. "Got it. Mid-pack, observe, strike late."
"Good," Sekh said, stepping back slightly. "You've got nothing to prove to anyone except yourself. Don't get caught up in the adrenaline. Remember, this isn't about domination—it's about strategy." Sun chuckled softly through the comms. "You're starting to sound like a fortune cookie."
"Yeah? Well, listen to the cookie, birdie," Sekh shot back, a rare trace of humor in her voice. "Or you're going to end up crumbling."
"Message received," Sun said, revving the engine slightly.
Just then, a figure approached from the shadows of the pit. Tah appeared, her face obscured by a simple black mask, her hair tucked neatly under a cap. Her eyes flicked toward Sekh, softening as she reached out to take her hand.
"Hey," Tah said quietly, her voice warm despite the mask. She gave Sekh's hand a light squeeze, her thumb brushing over the silver bracelet on Sekh's wrist. It matched the gold bracelet on Tah's wrist—a subtle, intimate connection between them. "You're doing great. He's lucky to have you as a mentor." Sekh glanced down at their joined hands for a moment before turning her visor slightly toward Tah. "He's lucky to have me," she said dryly, though there was a hint of fondness in her tone.
Tah chuckled, her other hand coming up to rest lightly on Sekh's arm. "You're too hard on yourself. You're doing this because you care, and that's what makes you a great mentor. Don't forget that." Sun tilted his helmet slightly, watching the exchange. "You two done with your pep talk? Or should I come back later?"
"Quiet, Sun," Sekh shot back, though there was no real bite in her words. Tah laughed softly, stepping back and giving Sekh's hand one last squeeze before letting go. "Go get 'em, Hawk," she said, her tone teasing.
Sun revved his engine again, the roar cutting through the air. "That's the plan." Sekh straightened, her golden helmet turning back toward Sun. "You've got this. Keep it sharp, keep it clean, and don't let me down."
"Never," Sun replied.
As he rolled toward the starting grid, Sekh watched him go, her posture steady but her heart heavy with unspoken pride. Tah stood beside her, her presence a quiet anchor. "You're good at this, you know," Tah said softly, her voice audible only to Sekh. Sekh glanced at her, then sighed. "I just hope he listens." Tah smiled behind her mask, nudging Sekh lightly. "He will. You've got that effect on people."
Together, they stood at the edge of the pit, watching Sun take his place on the track. Through her visor, Sekh's sharp eyes tracked his every move. "Just enough to win, Sun." she muttered softly, her voice carrying a rare edge of pride.
The signal lights above the track began their countdown, and the roar of engines filled the air. For Sun, the race wasn't just about speed—it was about proving he could outthink the competition, just like Sekh had drilled into him. And as the lights turned green, he was ready to execute the plan to perfection.
–☀︎–
The pit lane buzzed with post-race energy as Sun dismounted his motorcycle, his helmet reflecting the overhead lights. He rolled his shoulders, the adrenaline from the race still humming through his veins. Nearby, Sekh stood by his bike, her flashy helmet making her stand out among the crew bustling around them.
"Nice work," Sekh said, her voice muffled through the helmet. She leaned casually against the bike stand, her posture as relaxed as if she'd been watching a stroll in the park instead of a high-speed race.
"Still a lot to improve," Sun replied, his voice equally muted by his helmet. He glanced toward the scoreboard, taking mental notes.
The sound of sharp, deliberate footsteps cut through the pit lane's noise. Ma approached, her sleek black coat swaying with her movements, her air of authority impossible to ignore. Beside her was Keh, towering and silent, their sharp eyes scanning the scene with precision.
"Well, well," Ma began, her tone smooth and appraising as her gaze landed on Sun and Sekh. "The Hawk lives up to the hype." Sun straightened slightly, inclining his head in acknowledgment. "K'Ma," he said simply, his tone respectful but reserved. Sekh stepped forward, her stance shifting subtly. "Didn't expect to see you here. Thought the rookies weren't your scene."
"I came to observe," Ma replied, a faint smile tugging at her lips. "Rookie or not, The Hawk's making waves. I wanted to see for myself if it was deserved." She paused, her sharp eyes narrowing slightly. "And I must say, it is. Though there's still work to be done."
Sun nodded. "There always is." Keh, silent until now, tilted their head slightly. "You're disciplined. That's good. Many rookies get lost in the noise of their own hype. Stay grounded, and you'll go far."
"Noted," Sun replied.
A few steps away, Mel stood by the crew, casually chatting with the mechanics. His notebook was tucked under his arm, but his sharp eyes kept flickering toward the conversation. He wasn't trying to eavesdrop—not overtly, anyway—but Ma and Keh's presence was hard to ignore. "Judges at rookie races?" Mel said quietly to Tah. "That's rare." Tah shrugged, her gaze following Mel's. "Ma's got an eye for talent. If she's here, she sees potential. Or she's curious about something." Mel hummed thoughtfully, his interest piqued.
Back by the bikes, Ma's attention shifted to Sekh, her smile turning sly. "And you… Interesting choice of student," her tone light but with an edge of curiosity. "But I can see why you took him on. He's promising." Sekh's posture remained calm, but Sun could feel the faint tension radiating from her. "Promising doesn't mean anything without hard work," Sekh said smoothly. "We're making sure he puts in the effort."
Ma's sharp gaze lingered on Sekh for a moment longer before she smiled faintly. "Good. I'll be watching." She turned back to Sun. "Keep improving, Hawk. The higher circuits are tougher than anything you've faced so far. If you want to reach them, you'll need more than just talent."
"I know," Sun replied, his voice steady.
Ma gave a small nod of approval, then turned to Keh. "Shall we?" the bodyguard inclined their head slightly and offered their arm, which Ma took habitually. "Of course." As they walked away, Ma's voice carried back to them. "He's good, but he'll need polish. Keep him sharp."
Sekh muttered something under her breath as they disappeared into the crowd. Sun chuckled softly. "She likes to make an impression."
"She's not wrong, though," Sekh said, her tone serious now. "Don't let up. This is just the start."
Meanwhile, Mel drifted closer, his curiosity getting the better of him. "Ma herself came to check you out, huh?" he said, his tone casual but with a glint of interest in his eyes. Sun tilted his helmeted head toward Mel, his voice calm. "Something like that."
"High praise for a rookie," Mel said, his smirk teasing but not unkind. "Rookies are where the real work happens," Sekh interjected, crossing her arms. Mel raised an eyebrow, studying her for a moment. "And you are?"
"Support," Sekh replied smoothly, giving nothing away. Mel chuckled, clearly intrigued but not pressing further. "Support, huh? Well, whoever you are, you're doing a good job. Hawk's making quite the impression."
Sekh nodded once. "That's the plan." As Mel stepped back to rejoin the crew, Sun exchanged a glance with Sekh, his voice low. "He's sharp."
"Too sharp," Sekh replied, watching Mel with a hint of suspicion. "Keep your guard up around him." Sun didn't respond, but as he watched Mel's easy smile and confident stance, he made a mental note to do exactly that—while also wondering just how much Mel had overheard.