The Cross Dimensional Traveler

Chapter 10: Road Work

Once Lightning was hooked up to Bessie, he got to work, pulling the big machine, but he sighed when his lucky sticker got dirty due to Bessie spewing out a bit of oil onto him.

"What's wrong babe?" Mizuna asked.

"My lucky stickers all dirty." He complained.

Mizuna looked at it. "I'll clean it for you." She says with a small smile. "I'll be back."

She walks off to the Cozy Cone and came back with her destroyed racing gear 10 minutes later. She then took a clean part of it and wiped off the smudge that was on his lucky sticker. "All better." She says with a smile.

Lightning noticed the racing gear. "Thanks..." He said softly. His voice trailed off for a moment before talking again, but he kept his soft tone still. "Is that your racing gear?"

Mizuna looked at him curiously. "It is... Or, well, was. It's damaged beyond repair, but I have a spare from when we return to racing."

"Can I see it?" He asked, with his tone still soft.

Mizuna nods and got closer, showing him the damages. "It was from the incident."

He could see blood gashes from where it seeped through along with the torn parts, and he gave her a sad look. "I can't believe my own stupidity got you hurt that bad..." He stayed quiet for a moment. "How are you feeling now?" His tone was cracking a bit, almost like he was about to cry.

Mizuna's expression softens. "Lightning, honey, I told you in this in the courthouse and I'll tell you again. It's ok." She says softly. "I'm getting better. Please don't dwell on it, ok? We have to move forward with our lives." She says solemnly. "I'll tell you what. When you get done with the road, why don't you take me on a ride? At least to see the spots that Radiator Springs has to offer." She says to cheer him up a bit.

"Like a date?" Lightning asked, his tone still soft but hopeful.

She nods. "Exactly what I'm asking. We haven't gone on a proper date just yet, but I'm sure that would be the proper time to do it."

His lips curved into a smile. "You have no idea how much I'd enjoy that."

Mizuna nods. "Then you gotta get to working if you really want it." She says with a playful grin. "Plus it's not every day that anyone gets to go on a date with me." She says in a cocky but playful tone with a wink.

"Oh really? Have you gone on a date before?" He asked teasingly.

"Actually, no. It'll be my first one too." Mizuna admitted.

Hearing that answer, he got a determined yet playful look. "Then I got a road to finish."

Mizuna smirked a bit and stepped back. "By all means, go ahead. Don't let me stop you." She walked backwards and leaned against the closest building. She had her destroyed gear slung over her shoulder and had her arms crossed.

Lightning revved his engine and got back to work, but was rushing a bit, so Mizuna spoke up. "Babe, don't rush. I know you wanna get done, but I don't need Doc down my throat. I told him I'd watch you and make sure you did a good job." She said sternly.

"But..." He whined.

"But nothing. Being cute ain't gonna get you out of this." She laughed a bit, then she checked her phone for a time. "It is already 3 o clock though. Want me to go ask Doc if you can be done for the day? You did get a good amount of work done."

Lightning nods. "Please." He said cutely.

Mizuna sighed with a smile. "Fine. I guess I could since you've done so well today." She conceded.

"And you said me being cute wasn't gonna get me out of this." He teased with a smirk, knowing she couldn't resist him.

Mizuna blushed a bit. "It's only cause of the time, ok?" She admitted softly. "It's not due to you being cute." She says with a smile. "Let me go ask."

Lightning lowly chuckled at her reaction. "Alright, cutie." He says in a flirty tone with a wink.

Mizuna's blush got a bit worse. "Damn you." She said softly. "You're picking up on how to really make me blush. That isn't good for me." She softly laughs, but she walked up and kissed him on his hood. "I'll let you know what Doc says in a bit." She walked off.

Lightning smiled as she walked off, just admiring her overall.

It didn't take long but Mizuna entered. "Hey Doc. You bu-" She paused and looked up, seeing Sheriff's back bumper. She simply sighed. "Never mind, let me go."

"You like what you see, city girl?" Sheriff asked, teasing her.

Mizuna blinked twice. "I knew you were lonely, old man, but I'm obviously spoken for." She said, clearly not too happy.

Doc sighed. "Ignore him. I was doing some work. What do you need?" He asked with a curious look. "Is that hot rodder boyfriend of yours done?"

Mizuna shakes her head. "No, but he got good progress done. Mind if he stops for the day?"

"Nope. He's to keep going till the road is done." He says bluntly.

"Really gramps? He's no semi heavy duty vehicle like Mater for example." She says with her not too happy tone. "I'm not gonna let you overwork him."

Doc took a moment to respond. "Then give me just a minute. I'll come out and talk to him myself."

Mizuna raised an eyebrow. "Alright. Suit yourself." She says dismissively. She made the walk back to Lightning.

Lightning saw her walking back. "So? What did the old man say?"

"He's coming to talk to you. I don't fuckin know about what." She seemed irritated.

He noticed almost immediately. "Ok what's wrong? What happened?"

Mizuna got on his hood and sat down. She also deeply inhaled and exhaled, calming herself down. "Doc was working on Sheriff and I saw. He even teased me." She told him as she looked him in the eyes.

He didn't look too happy as he was protective over her. "Don't worry about it. I'll ha-" He got cut off by Mizuna.

"You're not going to do anything, babe." She says gently, but sternly. "You're in no place to in the position you're in." She gently rubs his hood this time with her hand. "Just leave it alone. Not just for your own sake, but for mine too, ok? I'm sure it won't happen again."

It calmed Lightning down as he relaxes a bit.  His engine started purring gently under Mizuna's touch. "Thanks baby. I needed that." He says with his tone low and thoughtful as he gave her a love filled look with a smile.

"No problem and thank you for wanting to protect me at least." She says gently and thoughtfully. "I love you." She says with a soft smile as she continued to look in his eyes.

"I love you too." He says as he returned the soft smile as he looked into hers as well.