Spy Racers: Extra Stories

Painting Stress (EchoxShashi)

Requested By @rebel784 (Thank you for the drawing)

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Echo and Shashi have been dating for five months. About four months after Shashi's release from prison on good behavior and his assistance to the Spy Racers with mission, he and Echo started dating.

At first, Echo thought that the relationship between them wouldn't last long considering Shashi was six years older than her and he was a former criminal but was going better than Echo had thought it was.

Echo and Shashi never told anyone on the team. They knew that it was possible they would get backlash from the team, more specifically Tony and Layla, the two people Shashi hurt the most when he was a criminal. They would probably tell the crew at some point, but they needed more time and plus, the crew needed to warm up to Shashi first.

During the first month, Shashi had convinced her to talk to an art publisher and she about a particular painting she had created when she and Shashi started dating.

Echo was scared that Tony would disapprove of her relationship with Shashi and created a painting about it. It was a water painted piece that at two people facing each other, the colors representing the colors of Echo and Shashi themselves.

The publisher loved the piece itself and the meaning behind it and sponsored it at the next art gala. The painting received so much attention and praise that the publisher offered the Echo sponsorship and deal. Every two months, Echo would present a new piece and it would be showcased at the next art gallery.

At first, Echo loved it. Her second piece was a hit and the publisher offered her more money. But the third time... it was starting to stress her out.

The date for when she was supposed to present her piece to the publisher was approaching quickly and Echo was getting nowhere. She had scrapped about five canvases in frustration. She had hit a wall. She was having art block.

Shashi was getting concerned about Echo when she would stay up late nights in her studio and paint, but then would scrap it the next day because she didn't like it. She started acting weird and more reserved.

"Ugh! This isn't good!" Echo said from her studio. Shashi peeked inside and watched as Echo picked up the canvas and chucked it into the pile of discarded canvases that he needed to throw out at some point for her. "Why can't I think of anything!"

Shashi sighed and decided that it was time for Echo to take a break from painting. She had been at it for several hours and Shashi was also having enough of hearing her yelling.

Shashi walked into Echo's studio and stood in front of her easel before she could put another canvas down. "Oh, hey babe." Echo greeted tiredly with a small smile.

"Don't 'hey babe' me! Come on!" Shashi grabbed Echo's hand and dragged her out of the studio.

"Wait, Shashi! Where are we going?!"

"Out to eat! You didn't eat breakfast or dinner last night. We're going to get lunch!"

"But... my work-"

"Can wait. You need food and you need to get out of that studio. Now come on!" Shashi pulled Echo out of their apartment and headed towards his car. They got in even though Echo didn't want to go, and he turned on the engine.

"Hm, a Maserati. I'm assuming you still have access to all your money?"

"Yep, it's not a race car like yours and the others, but I like it."

"It's still nice, and it's still a sports car. I like it!" Echo said as Shashi took off towards the main road. The Maserati was a 2020 GranTurismo model in a grey shade. He brought it not long ago when he got his accounts back open. Granted, he was using the money he stole to pay for the car, but that was beside the point.