I'm the driver, I'm in control

[shadesofeco]

Characters: shadesofeco, ecopiracy, maybe more? [closed]
Location: Deck 20
Date: present
Rating: PG-13 I think

Comments

[ecopiracy]

Phoenix, on the other hand, was beginning to chafe at the enforced inactivity. Well, perhaps "beginning" wasn't the best word for it. This wasn't the first time his presence on the ship had rankled. But one thing after another had piled up of late, and there was no outlet for his frustration. Normally he would fly or fight Metal Heads, or indulge in a raid on some key target, but none of that was possible here.

But there was racing, which wasn't the same. But it was something, and something was better than nothing, so Phoenix made his way down to deck twenty.

It wasn't empty.

Phoenix pulled up short a few steps away from the lift, focusing on the car and the pair of feet sticking out from under it. He hadn't been expecting the deck to be in use, and certainly not by someone who wasn't actively racing.

Not racing... Phoenix blinked, then his lips curled up. Hmm.

He moved forward again until he was at the side of the car.

"I don't suppose you intend to put that vehicle to use."

[shadesofeco]

Jerking at the sudden voice, Jak tried to sit up and slammed his head against the underside of the car. Blinking back tears, he clutched his head and muttered a few vicious curses, then wriggled out from under the car to glare at Phoenix.

There was a black smudge on his forehead, and his clothes were splattered with grease and oil. He glared tiredly. "I wasn't planning on it."

[ecopiracy]

The smile disappeared from Phoenix's face when he realized who the other person was, but instead of frowning, he folded his arms and leaned against the car. Jak. One of his very sources of recent irritation.

He eyed the grease stains for a moment, then met the glare. "Is that so? I never took you for the type who would rather be under a car than in it."

[shadesofeco]

"Sorry, I'll ask your permission next time."

And with that, Jak disappeared back under the car. If he had to listen to Phoenix, he might as well pick something more attractive to look at. Like the underside of a car.

[ecopiracy]

Unperturbed, Phoenix continued to lean against the car, and never mind if it was an invasion of Jak's work space. In fact, perhaps that was why he did it.

"I wasn't about to insist you needed my permission at all." He paused, then added with a slight, mocking grin. "Unless that's what you want."

[shadesofeco]

"Bite me."

It's muffled, but pretty clearly frustrated. A few moments later he grunts.

"Can I help you with something?"

[ecopiracy]

"I'd rather not."

Then there was silence as he considered how to respond. Try to provoke a challenge from Jak? Or issue one himself? Because the more he thought about it, the more a race against the teen appealed. A challenge and a reason to push himself to his limits.

"How good are you with a car?"

[shadesofeco]

"I can hold my own."

It was an understatement, and he knew it. Jak was damn good with vehicles, whether on land, air, or even on water. Okay, so he'd never actually captained a ship, but he was pretty sure he'd be awesome at it if he did.

He reaches for the wrench and slowly tightens another bolt.

[ecopiracy]

"Would you care to prove that?"

No sense beating around the bush. Jak probably already knew what he was getting at anyway.

"Or would you prefer to remain under the car instead of facing me, Jak?"

[shadesofeco]

Jak's arm stopped, and he narrowed his eyes at the bolt, as if it was the one challenging him. He hadn't planned on racing; after all, he'd been drinking shortly beforehand.

Then again, necessity and emergency had forced him to ride while less than sober in Haven, and he'd come out of it fine. A little bruised here and there, but he didn't kill anyone who wasn't asking for it anyway. Hell, apparently he destroyed the Kras circuit in another world. He could handle it.

Pushing himself out from under the car, Jak sat up and snatched a rag, wiping his hands on it. "Sure you're not gonna regret that?"

[ecopiracy]

Phoenix smirked and pushed away from the car. "Would it matter to you if I did?"

Without waiting for a response, he moved over to the panel to call up a car of his own. The sleek counters of a superficially modified Road Blade soon appeared on the deck, gray with slate blue accents.

"I'm keying the setting in for Hardcore, unless you'd prefer something lighter." It wasn't a statement in his own confidence. No, if he was going to race Jak, the race was going to be serious.

[shadesofeco]

Standing and stretching, Jak tossed the rag and wrench aside and snorted at Phoenix. He wouldn't bother if it was anything less.

Walking over to the panel, he finished putting in the modifications he hadn't gotten to yet. His Javelin X was bright red, sleek and polished with no adornments; a complete contrast to the vehicles he was used to driving in Spargus.

"Your choice of track. Since you'll need the advantage," he smirked.

[ecopiracy]

"Such confidence." His voice was light, almost teasing. "You don't even know how good I am."

As he considered the panel, his fingers lingered on the option for the beach track, but at the last minute he changed his mind and selected the mountain track instead. The ocean would always remind him of the Brink, but the height of the mountains made him feel closer to the sky, and he wouldn't mind that at all in a land-bound car - not to mention the challenge of the cliffs and jumps and sharp turns at the edge of ravines. He would need to push himself to rise up to the challenge - but wasn't that the point?

He slid himself into his waiting car. "Ready when you are, Jak."

[shadesofeco]

"I know you're not as good as me."

The banter was playful, but strained. Jak was taking this more seriously than most of his other races. Now it wasn't just a matter of pride, it was a case of convincing himself that he was still as good now as he ever was in Haven. He was still the number one racer, still the hero, still someone people looked to for help when everything else had failed.

Slipping into the Javelin, he checked the settings, fastened his belt, revved the engine a few times, then hit the start up button to begin the countdown.

Red.

Red.

Red.

Green.

The engine roared and he peeled away from the starting line.

[ecopiracy]

Phoenix didn't have nearly as much to prove. In fact, though he wouldn't admit it, he wouldn't be surprised if Jak beat him in this race. Cars were not his vehicle of preference and he knew his talents were only moderate at best.

Not that that meant he wasn't going to roll over and just let the other win.

As soon as the light turned green, Phoenix slammed his foot on the gas, already turning his car for the curve that was up ahead. He wasn't just trying to pass Jak, though. No, to win this race he needed to be more aggressive than that.

Now, how well could Jak dodge if Phoenix edged his car directly toward his path?

[shadesofeco]

That was fine by Jak. He eased up on the gas, yanked the wheel to the left and slammed on the brakes. The car slid sideways, letting Phoenix overtake, and Jak tapped the gas as he lined up with the turn, bursting ahead and taking the lead.

In the mountain course, the turns were sudden and littered with loose rock and gravel. Used to driving on churning sand, Jak already had a good idea of how to handle a vehicle on shifting ground, but it was never easy, even with experience. More than once he felt himself losing control, and had to ease up on the gas to regain traction.

He checked the mirrors now and again, trying to keep tabs on Phoenix's position. He didn't know how to judge Phoenix's ability, and it made him cautious.