The roar of engines filled the air as Seth leaned low over his bike, his focus razor-sharp. The pack of racers tore down the track, a blur of color and speed. At the front, Asyut was pushing hard, his aggressive style clear in every turn and overtaking move. Seth stayed close, his movements calculated, biding his time.
In the stands, Sun sat beside Aset, Sekh, and Nep. The four of them blended into the crowd, but their cheers carried above the noise.
"C'mon, Seth!" Sun shouted, his voice full of enthusiasm. His golden hair was tied up under a baseball hat, and he grinned as Seth closed the gap between him and Asyut.
Aset clapped lightly, her eyes fixed on the race. "He's holding steady," she remarked. "He's waiting for the right moment."
Sun's aunt, Nep, leaning forward with her elbows on her knees, smiled. "That's my Seth. Always thinking three moves ahead."
Beside her, Sekh smirked. "He'd better be. Asyut doesn't leave much room for mistakes."
As the laps ticked by, Seth's patience paid off. Asyut oversteered coming out of a turn, leaving a gap on the inside. Seth seized the opportunity, leaning into his bike and surging ahead.
The crowd erupted as he took the lead in the final stretch, crossing the finish line with a triumphant roar from his engine.
—
The pit was buzzing with activity as Seth pulled in, his team rushing to greet him. Sweat glistened on his face as he removed his helmet, his chest heaving from the effort. He barely had time to catch his breath before Sun approached, pulling him into a quick hug.
"Great race, Lung!" Sun said, grinning. "You really made Asyut eat his words again out there."
Seth laughed, ruffling Sun's hair affectionately. "Thanks, kid. I've been waiting for a chance to do that for a while."
"You were patient," Sun added. "I could see you holding back until the perfect moment."
"Patience wins races," Seth replied with a wink. "Remember that."
Nep appeared beside them, her arms crossed but her smile radiant. "And here I thought you were just showing off for me."
Seth chuckled, pulling her into a hug. "Always, love. You know I race better when you're here." She leaned up and kissed his cheek, her tone teasing. "Good thing I came, then."
Sun made a face. "Okay, you two, keep it PG. There are kids around."
"Jealous?" Nep teased, nudging Sun playfully. "Maybe one day you'll find someone to kiss your helmet hair too." Seth laughed, glancing around the pit. "I'm glad you all came. It means a lot to have you here."
Ra and Toh approached next, Ra looking as sharp as ever in his tailored jacket. "Impressive run," Ra said, patting the winner on the back. "Asyut didn't make it easy, but you handled it like a pro."
"Thanks, Sir," Seth replied, his tone warm.
Toh gave him a respectful nod. "Well done, Seth. That was textbook racing."
"I'll take that as a high compliment coming from you, K'Toh," Seth said with a grin.
Ra checked his watch and sighed. "Unfortunately, I have to head out. One of the branches needs my attention. I wish I could stay longer to celebrate." He gave Seth a proud apologetic smile.
Toh nodded. "I'll make sure everything's taken care of here before we go."
As Ra and Toh departed, Ma and Keh arrived, their presence as commanding as ever. Ma offered Seth a rare smile. "A fine performance today. Keep it up, and you'll set the standard for this circuit." Keh inclined their head, their voice calm. "Good control, especially in the final laps. That kind of composure will take you far."
"Thank you both," Seth said sincerely. "I appreciate you stopping by."
Ma and Keh left shortly after, their footsteps fading as the pit began to quiet down. Sun, Aset, Nep, and Sekh gathered their things, preparing to leave as well.
As the group exited the pit area, the buzz of the crowd faded into the background. Sun walked a few paces ahead of Nep, Aset, and Sekh, his thoughts scattered between the race and the interactions with Seth in the pit.
Turning a corner near the media entrance, he collided with someone coming the other way. The impact wasn't hard, but it was enough to make the other person stumble slightly and drop what they were carrying.
"Sorry about that," Sun said quickly, stepping back to steady himself. He reached up to take off his sunglasses to properly look at the other person but stopped for a second.
The man he'd bumped into bent down to retrieve a notebook that had fallen to the ground. "No problem," he said, his tone polite but slightly distracted. Sun froze for a moment as recognition dawned. Mel. Of course, it was the one person he'd been trying to avoid off the track. Mel straightened, brushing off his notebook, and offered a faint smile.
Sun forced himself to play it cool, keeping the sunglasses on and nodding curtly as he prepared to walk away. "Excuse me." But his gaze lingered for a second too long on the notebook in Mel's hand. It was scuffed but well-used, its edges worn and lined with scribbles. The way Mel clutched it, like it was a lifeline, made Sun chuckle unknowingly. The brunet narrowed his eyes questioningly and tilted his head, his face twisting in slight annoyance.
"I'm sorry for laughing." he said apologetically, seeing that he accidentally offended the other man. "But do you always hold that notebook like it's your child?" Sun asked, his tone a bit playful and casual but his curiosity genuine.
Mel blinked, clearly caught off guard by the question. He laughed softly for a moment before replying. "Yeah," he said, holding it up slightly. "I'm Mel Rosscrest. Reporter for Racers Edge ." Sun extended a hand as if this was the first time he'd heard the name. "Sun. Nice to meet you." Mel shook his hand, his grip firm. "Nice to meet you too. You here to cheer someone on?"
"Yeah," Sun said, releasing his hand and stepping back slightly. "Seth. He's family… sort of."
"Ah, Seth Sutekh," Mel said, his eyes lighting up. "He raced a fantastic run today. I'll be writing something on it tonight." Sun gave a small, polite smile, though inside he was mentally kicking himself. "Yeah, he was solid. Glad you're covering him."
Nep, who had caught up to them with Aset and Sekh in tow, smirked as she took in the scene. She leaned over to the other two women and whispered loudly enough for Sun to hear, "He's cute. No wonder our boy here is suddenly Mr. Social."
Sun stiffened, shooting Nep a quick glare. "Not the time, Bpaa." Sekh chuckled quietly, while Aset raised an eyebrow, watching the exchange with mild curiosity. Mel, oblivious to Nep's teasing, smiled warmly and gave the women a quick respectful wai. "Well, I should get back to the media area. It was nice meeting you, Sun. Maybe I'll see you around."
"Yeah," Sun said, keeping his tone steady. "See you around." As Mel walked away, Nep nudged Sun with her elbow, grinning. "Smooth, kiddo. Real smooth. You almost didn't blush."
"Leave me alone," Sun muttered, adjusting his hat. Aset smiled faintly but didn't comment, while Sekh shook her head, her amusement hidden behind a stoic expression. As they continued toward the parking lot, Nep couldn't resist one last jab. "You know, if you're going to crash into someone, at least make sure it's someone as cute as that again. Might do you some good."
Sun sighed but couldn't hide the faint smile tugging at his lips.
—
Back at the house, Sun sat cross-legged on his bed, his laptop propped on a pillow in front of him. The dim light of the screen illuminated his focused expression as he replayed the clips from Seth's recent race. Dua lay at the foot of the bed, her ears twitching occasionally as the faint sounds of roaring engines filled the room.
The race replay played in sharp high-definition, and Sun leaned in, his golden-blonde hair falling slightly over his face. His attention wasn't on Seth's victory, though he'd already watched the winning moment twice. No, his focus was on Asyut and the logos plastered across his bike and leather jacket.
Pausing the video at a close-up of Asyut rounding a corner, Sun squinted at the logos on his jacket. His eyes scanned over them methodically. One stood out—an unfamiliar insignia that didn't belong to any of the big-name sponsors Seth typically worked with.
"What's that?" Sun muttered to himself, using the trackpad to zoom in. The logo was simple but striking—a stylized "A" overlaid with a snake design. It wasn't flashy, but it carried an air of exclusivity.
He glanced down at Dua, who huffed softly, her tail wagging once as if in response. "You think it's nothing?" Sun asked, smiling faintly. "Yeah, me neither." He scrubbed through the footage, pausing again at a clip of Asyut in the pit. This time, the logo appeared on the side of Asyut's bike. It was smaller but unmistakable. Sun leaned back against the headboard, his fingers drumming against the laptop.
"That's not a regular sponsor," he muttered. "And it's on his jacket and the bike. Who the hell is funding him?"
Dua perked her head up, tilting it slightly as if she could sense the frustration in his voice. Sun reached out and scratched behind her ears, his gaze never leaving the screen. "I've seen that somewhere before," he murmured, his mind racing. "It's connected to someone… someone with a lot of money and pull."
He replayed the section of the race where Asyut bumped aggressively into Seth, forcing him wide on a turn. Sun's jaw tightened as the memory of Seth recovering flashed in his mind. The tension in his body eased only slightly when Seth pulled ahead in the final stretch, but Asyut's actions didn't sit right. "Something's off," Sun said quietly. He saved the video clip and jotted down a note in the notepad beside him. The name Asyut and the mysterious "A" logo stood out in bold letters at the top of the page.
Closing the laptop, Sun leaned back, staring at the ceiling. "You don't just sponsor a racer like Asyut unless you're expecting something in return," he mused.
Dua stretched out, resting her head on his leg, and Sun absentmindedly ran his fingers through her fur. "Guess it's time to dig a little deeper, girl," he said softly. "We are gonna need help for that."
With a sigh, he shut off the light and slid under the covers, pulling Dua to his chest like a living pillow. Nef, Seti and Hapy jumped on the bed and curled up on his other side, purring contently. Despite the warmth and comfort of his pets, Sun's thoughts still raced a hundred miles a minute.
—A few days later—
The track buzzed with post-race energy as Sun dismounted his motorcycle, the roar of engines and cheers still lingering in the air. He scanned the crowd, his visor reflecting the overhead lights. Spotting Mel near the pit crew, Sun's shoulders tensed, his thoughts racing faster than his bike had moments ago.
Sun made his way over, navigating through the throng of fans, crew members, and racers. When he reached Mel, he tilted his helmet slightly in greeting. "Hawk," Mel said, his voice carrying a mix of curiosity and humor. "Hell of a race. You're making this look easy."
"Looks can be deceiving though," Sun replied, his voice muffled by the helmet. He leaned in slightly, lowering his voice. "We need to talk. Privately." Mel raised an eyebrow. "Now? What's wrong?"
"Too many people here," Sun said, glancing around. "Come with me." Before Mel could respond, Sun grabbed his hand, pulling him gently but firmly through the crowd. They maneuvered past lingering fans and busy crew members, their path leading toward the locker room area.
"Hawk," Mel said, half-laughing as he kept pace. "What's the rush? We could've just gone somewhere quieter in the pits."
"Not quiet enough," Sun said, his tone leaving no room for argument. When they reached the locker room door, Sun pushed it open and motioned for Mel to step inside. Mel hesitated for a moment, glancing at him with a raised eyebrow.
"Not gonna lie," Mel teased, stepping through the door, "dragging me into a locker room has some implications." Sun chuckled softly, locking the door behind them. "Relax, you. This is strictly professional."
Mel smirked but stayed quiet, watching as Sun quickly swept the room, checking for anyone who might overhear. Once satisfied they were alone, he turned back to Mel.
As he set his jacket down on a bench, the racer turned away from the brunet, reached up and pulled his helmet off, revealing his golden-blond hair. The motion was smooth, practiced, but before the other could get a look at his face, Sun reached into his jacket pocket and slipped on a surgical mask.
"Really?" Mel said, leaning against one of the lockers. "You're keeping up the mask act in here?" Sun glanced at him, his eyes crinkling slightly in what Mel recognized as a smile. "Force of habit."
Mel crossed his arms, his tone turning playful. "I feel like you're teasing me at this point. You invited me to a fancy dinner and now we're alone, yet I still don't get to see your face." Sun paused for a second, his nerves evident as he ran a hand through his tousled hair. "It's not about you, Mel. It's… complicated."
"Complicated," Mel repeated, his voice softening. He tilted his head, his curiosity shifting to something more understanding. "Alright, I'll let it slide. For now. What's going on, Hawk?" Sun leaned against a nearby bench, the air between them shifting to something more serious. "I wanted to talk to you about something I noticed during the race. I think there's more going on with the circuits than what we've already talked about. Something big."
Mel straightened, his teasing demeanor replaced with sharp focus. "What do you mean? Sabotage again?"
"Maybe," Sun said, his voice low. "But it's bigger than just one racer or one team. I think someone's pulling strings, controlling outcomes—not just for profit, but for power." Mel frowned, processing the weight of his words. "And you think they're connected to what happened to Oh?"
"Exactly," Sun replied, his eyes meeting Mel's. "But I can't prove it yet. That's why I need your help. You've got connections, a way with people. You can get answers where I can't." Mel smirked faintly. "So now I'm your investigative partner?"
"Something like that," Sun said, his tone softening. "If you're up for it." Mel stepped closer, his expression serious but warm. "Hawk, I told you before—I'm in. You don't have to keep asking."
For a moment, they stood in silence, the charged air between them heavy with unspoken thoughts. Sun glanced away first, his gloved hand gripping the edge of the bench. "Good," he said finally, his voice quieter. "Because I don't think I can do this without you."
Mel smiled, the tension easing slightly. "Don't worry. I'll make sure you don't crash and burn."
Sun chuckled softly, the sound muffled by the mask. The racer then straightened up, grabbed his helmet and pulled it on once more. "Thanks. Now let's get out of here before someone starts asking questions about why we're locked in a locker room together." Mel laughed, following him toward the door. "You might want to ditch the mask one of these days. Just saying." Sun glanced back at him, his eyes crinkling in a smile. "One day. Maybe."
As they reached the exit, Sun hesitated, his hand on the door. "Actually… before you go, you want to grab some coffee tomorrow? There's a place I know not far from here. Quiet, good coffee. Good place to talk." Mel tilted his head, his teasing smirk returning. "You mean a good place to talk, or a good place to keep hiding behind that mask?"
"Both," Sun admitted with a laugh. "But seriously. What do you say?" Mel pretended to consider it for a moment before grinning. "Alright. Text me the time and address. But if the coffee's bad, I'm picking the next spot."
"Fair deal," Sun said, pushing open the door and stepping out into the hallway.
As they walked toward the parking lot, Mel couldn't help but notice the slight spring in Sun's step—a rare glimpse of something lighter beneath the mask. For all the mystery surrounding him, Hawk seemed just as human as anyone else, and Mel found himself wanting to uncover every layer.