Final Lap - Sambucky AU

104

Ever since Natasha heard that article, it just felt as if more and more people were staring at her. It hurt to be accused of trying to ruin her fathers career.

She was heartbroken that her heart that he couldn't race. She had thought it was her fault until it was proven it wasn't. But now... everyone is blaming her despite the evidence.

She was getting pissed off about this, but she kept her composure and smiled no matter what.

Race Day rolled around. The discord on the internet was getting worse. Hell, the other day she was there for an interview and she was booed at by some random fan.

That struck her as a shock. She had never been booed before. She just ignored it. Purposefully she had gotten to the track earlier to avoid the paparazzi.

She got into her suit and stretched as she lounged around the paddock. As she did Maria walked in.

"Natasha, you have media obligations with Clara. Are you up for it?" Maria asked. There went trying to avoided the paparazzi.

"Yeah. I'll meet with her." She said as she headed out. Natasha found Clara on her way to the media center and walked next to her.

"Ready for today?" Clara asked. Natasha forced a smiled and nodded. "Of course I am. Wanna see if I can get podium." Natasha said.

"Oh you will, but you gotta pass me first." Clara said with a chuckle.

The two went over and started talking to reporters. Natasha immediately noticed a stark difference between her and Clara's reporters. Hers complimented her looks, complimented her races, and were just so kind to her.

Natasha on the other hand, felt anger and annoyance radiating off of her reporters. She paused to answer a question when one racer caught her attention.

"When are you going to leave F1 and leave it to the professionals!?"

Natasha paused and looked up. "Why do you want me to leave?" She said with a chuckle trying to hide her frustration.

"You are a harbinger of chaos! You only ruin the drivers!" Another said.

She looked in the direction of those words. They hurt... they really hurt. "I-"

"You caused your father to crash!" Another yelled. Natasha was so confused. What did she do?

"We don't need women like you! We don't want you!" Another yelled. Soon her group uproar and stared as tears welled up in her eyes. Clara noticed and then rushed over, turning Natasha's back to them as a tear fell down her face. "Natasha?"

Natasha stared ahead stunned.

She never would be good enough for them. She would never be what they want... they want racers like her parents and Clara.

Natasha Barnes would never be what the people wanted, they wanted someone who Followed tradition and was perfect. She tried so hard and hard to perfect.

Over and over and over again, she tried everything in her power to be someone the audience loved.

"Natasha are you okay?" Clara asked concerned as she placed her hand on her back.

Natasha knew... she knew she could never be what these deranged people wanted. She knew she couldn't be the perfect golden child of formula one.

She knew she couldn't be the perfect woman to these sick freaks of reporters. Not even the fans liked her, she would be booed after race, and harassed, even by the racers on the track.

Natasha carefully lifted her hand and wiped her tear. Her eyes went dark as she looked up.

If they wanted to be like this... call her the grim reaper, or challenge her abilities, she was going to live up to that name and challenge.

She had enough.

Clara paused when she saw Natasha turn towards the reporters.

Something was different.

"This interview is over." Natasha said as she looked at them.

"What!? You have required media time!" They said. Natasha simply flipped them off and walked away. Clara's eyes widened.

"Oh shit..."

Natasha walked into the pits. Kylo saw her and knew something was off. He walked over to her. "You okay?"

"Never better." She said as she grabbed her helmet which was next to his. He grabbed her arm and dragged her carefully to their drivers room.

"Natasha?" He said as he closed the door.

"I'm going to be making some changes Kylo..."
She said as she polished her helmet. "Changes?"

"Yep. Everyone things I'm a problem, a nuisance, an issue. So..." she looked at him and smiled.

"I'm going to become everyone's problem, become the nuisance everyone says I am, and make them know, who I am. I'm tired of trying to live up to ideal expectations, so..."

"I'm doing it my own way." She pulled her helmet on and walked out. Kylo stood there stunned. He grabbed his helmet and knew this was going to be a show to watch.

Natasha walked and jumped into her car. Her eyes were dark, and she was silent. Kylo knew she was going to be dangerous, but in a different way.

She was going to obliterate now...

The racers pulled up to the track. They did their welcome lap. People booed her car, and screamed foul things at her. She just revved her engine and continued on.

She knew she wasn't going to be the world champion with the love of everyone around her, so... she was going to use that hate to fuel her performance.

Natasha Barnes changed. A switch flipped in her, where she was going to be everything everyone didn't want for her.

The cars lined up. She watched the lights turn red. She knew her taking Clara down and Mina down would cause anger. They were the fan favorite.

She didn't care. She was getting podium.

The lights turned green. She booked it and pressed the gas as chased the cars in front of her down.

Sam watched her driving from the pits. He frowned as he noticed her becoming more aggressive than any other race.

"Something happened..." he said.