Gears | A Rainbow Quest Street Racing AU

The Diner

Thursday,  September 20th - 2:02pm - Present day

The whole ride to this diner El had mentioned, I was fiddling with the blindfold. It was elegantly put together, and to think it used to be Rain's... It gave me some comfort.

But Mare's driving did not.

This guy Mare had driven over to the junk yard with one of the slickest drag cars I had ever seen. It was detailed with a black polished body and gold accents. But since his car was closest, and El's bike was at his place, Mare offered to take us in his car. And that's where the problem was: He definitely had no sense of survival.

He was swerving in and around traffic and only stopping when there was a stoplight. This guy seriously needed to get his driver's license rechecked or we were going to end up in a wreck.

We finally turn into a parking lot of a diner and Mare parks the car, leaving me to rest my head against the back of his seat.

"Thanks for the ride Mare. But take it easier next time dude. Sabs doesn't look all that great."

"For the record, I feel like throwing up yesterday's lunch. Ughhhh." I close my eyes as my stomach finally catches up from the ride and Mare unbuckles and opens his car door.

"If you do, hurl outside the car. Don't have the time to clean the car seats and I got this ride two weeks ago, so I'd rather not have it trashed so quickly." He gets out of the car and I feel a hand on my shoulder. I peek to see Time smiling grimly. It looked like his stomach didn't like the rough ride either, so at least I wasn't alone on that.

After a moment, I finally lean back and unbuckle, then get out of the car. Note to self- Never ask a ride from Mare unless you don't want to keep your lunch.

"El! Mare! There you two are! Not normal for you two to travel together." A guy walks over to Mare and El who were now at the front of the car, and he punches Mare's shoulder, a grin on his face.

"Yeah, wish it was on a happier note Royal." El says and I walk around to where Time was getting out of the car,  then over to El. I take a look at the guy who had a shade of red hair, silver lip piercings like Mare, black sunglasses, a red leather jacket, dark maroon shirt, and jeans. If I didn't know better, I would say he was an ordinary guy. But with the way he addressed Mare, it was obvious he was a gang member.

The guy who was apparently called Royal, gives me a look up and down before he nods.

"Kid looks like Rain. Speaking of which, where is he?"

Before any of us could answer, another car pulls into the lot near us. It was a silver four door with no special detailing, but it was definitely well kept. Mare starts to walk over with his hands shoved in his pocket and El motions to me and Time to follow. I place my hands in my pockets as I walk, tracing the soft fabric of the blindfold.

Mare reaches the car, then taps on the glass of the passenger side door a couple times. It takes a few seconds before the driver rolls down the window and I see a very bright silvery haired guy leaning on his wheel with his hand griping his hair.

"...You don't look so hot Light." Mare says while he leans down to look at the driver.

"What do you expect... Been crying the entire way here. Of course I'm not gonna look hot." The guy sighs and closes his eyes, definitely not looking his best. I finally take note of the wet streaks down the guy's cheeks and then look down at the ground. Whoever this guy was, must be taking things hard.

"Guessing he ended up during your rounds Protagonist?"

"Not the time for nicknames, Nightmare."

"You know I hate that name."

"Don't bring up name calling then."

I shake my head, then glance off to the skyline. I could barely see the bridge and the part of it that was now missing... Now missing like my brother in my life.

I feel hands on my shoulders then look at El who was now in front of me, a look of concern on his face.

"Sabs? You were starting to leak there. You ok?" El wipes my cheek and I realize I had started to cry again. I quickly wipe my eyes, then glance away.

"Wait... Sabs? As in Sabre? Rain's brother? Why is he and Time here now that I think about it? Speaking of Rain-"

"He's dead, Royal."

I look up at Mare who was now leaning against the silver car, his eyes fixed on Royal.

"Say what."

The red head has a dangerous look in his eyes as he balls his fists, glaring down Mare. But before he's able to do anything, El clears his throat. His hand tight on my shoulder.

"Don't start a fight Royal. Sabs is still working through everything and doesn't need you to add to his load," El says with a tone of voice I had never heard before and he dead stares down Royal.

Royal looks at El, then stands straight, the harsh look still in his eyes.

"Understood..."

"So... You guys found out already?" The guy from inside the car speaks again and El sighs and nods.

"Yeah Light. Sabs had been acting weird all day up until I confronted him at lunch and..."

"I snapped."

I finally find my voice, looking at the ground with my hand tightly closed around the blindfold in my pocket. Rain would have wanted me to explain things from my perspective first before anybody else would explain for me.

"I snapped because... Without Rain there by my side, understanding when I'm not in a good state to head to school, to stand up to the teachers... I'm... I..." I blink, tears threatening to come again, then wipe my eyes with my throat tight. I'm nothing.

Without a word, El brings me in for a hug, his hand firmly on my back. It takes me a few minutes before I tried to get a grip again, my breathing shaky.

"I think we could settle our emotions over some food. I'll pay," The guy who's name was obviously Light, says, and I hear him unbuckle and get out of his car. El shifts so he has his arm around my shoulders and I glance around. Mare with a sigh, stands up straight before he walks in the direction of the diner with Royal tailing him. 

I guess this is something I could handle... Didn't have a proper lunch anyways.

El starts to lead me to the diner and I gently lean into him. He didn't seem to mind. I just needed some sort of physical comfort right now. A hand on my shoulder draws me from my thoughts and I look over to see Time.  He gives me a small nod with a soft smile.

He was wanting me to know he cared and was going to stick by my side.

Which... I was grateful for. So, I gave him a cheesy grin back. One I only shared with my brother.