When Lightning Met Francesco
Lightning hated parties. Parties meant he had to plaster a smile on his face and pretend everything was fantastic. He’d just lost his mentor/father figure so everything was anything but fantastic. He’d agreed to the world Grand Prix to get away for a bit and Mater had all but dragged him into it. But some time away from Radiator Springs and his fast track life would be good for him. He’d get to explore and meet new people. These were all the arguments Sarah made as she packed his suitcase. He needed to be far away from that good for nothing ex-boyfriend of his. He needed to do something great. Like compete against the world’s greatest and prove himself. Also part of Sarah’s long speech.
He sighed as he got ready to open the door of the limo to face the flashing lights of cameras. Mater gave him a cheesy grin and it warmed Lightning’s heart to know he still had his best friend to help him. There were a lot of things wrong with his life but there were also plenty of good things. He’d just have to shift his view on life. He couldn’t be sad forever, could he?
Once he was past the cameras and the reporters, How are you feeling, Lightning? Did Hudson’s death really affect you? Can you bring your A-game?, the party seemed like it would be a breeze. He was lost in the music and all the fancy trimmings before running into other racers. He was happy to see familiar faces and let all of his burdens go for the sake of not being a wet blanket. He’d loved parties like this before and he was determined to do it again.
Everything was going well and he was even enjoying himself a bit when Mater started being his usual Mater self and Lightning had to step in to explain things to him. His friend then dragged him to meet one of the main reasons Lightning was in this event, Francesco Bernoulli. The Italian had challenged Lightning on live TV and Mater had taken matters into his own hands and before he knew it, Lightning was signed up in the World Grand Prix as an American racer.
“Mr. San Francisco!” Mater greeted. Lightning hadn’t corrected him in hopes that the Italian would be annoyed by it. He’d heard that the formula racer was cocky, full of himself, and overly dramatic. Just the kind of person Lightning hated.
“Ah! It is the Americans.” Francesco grinned exposing pearly white teeth and his blue eyes shined in the lights of the ballroom they were in. He was handsome, Lightning thought, he’d give him that.
“This is Lightning McQueen. The best dang racer you’ll ever meet.” Mater smiled as he introduced them completely unaware of the two staring each other down.
“Oh, really? In America he is the best but that does not mean he is THE best.” Francesco’s laugh was sarcastic as best. He offered Lightning his hand along with a charming smile. Lightning would have rolled his eyes if it wasn’t rude.
“It’s nice to meet you, Francesco.” Lightning was polite as he shook his hand. He wasn’t about to let the guy get to him. The Italian shook his hand with the biggest smile on his face. “I hear you’re the best in Italy.”
Francesco was stopped from replying by a very beautiful woman. She was dripping in gold and jewels. Lightning noted she had a designer label on everything she wore and if it wasn’t for the bratty voice, she would have even been attractive to him.
“Francesco,” her accent was thicker than Francesco’s. “You promised I would have fun and I am so bored.”
“Then go drink something, tesoro.” Francesco cooed as he was talking to a child. “Now run along, I have talking to do.”
“Fine, but I want a new Chanel now.” She rolled her eyes before looking Lightning up and down. She gave him a seductive smirk before flipping her long curls and walking away.
“She is beautiful, no?” Francesco asked as he watched her walk away.
“Yeah, she is.” Lightning didn’t have much of an opinion on women. He liked them and found them beautiful but he probably didn’t see what straight men saw.
“Maybe I’m trying to fill a void in my heart with her beauty and company.” He said it so seriously that Lightning almost believed him but the smile on the Italian’s face was confusing him.
“We all have our demons, I suppose.” He didn’t know what possessed him to say it but Francesco just looked at him seriously for a moment before a smile lit up his face.
“Do you have a special someone? You are handsome enough.” There was a twinkle in Francesco’s eye that he couldn’t quite place but he gave him a half-smile.
“Uh, no. I’m fine on my own.” Lightning’s smile tightened without his consent.
“If you say so. Marina is perfect for me.” Francesco said “Do you not think?”
Lightning shrugged, “Doesn’t matter what I think.”
“This means you do not agree. I like honesty so say what is on your mind.”
“Um, I don’t know you well enough to just tell you what I think. You’re gonna think I’m an asshole.”
“No, I think you are a good racer with a handsome face and a polite manner.”
“You won’t think I’m polite if I tell you that maybe you should break up with her.”
Francesco’s face didn’t change. He kept an even stare as Lightning spoke. It was a little unnerving. “Well, go on. Tell me what you think. If I did not want to know, I would not have asked.”
“Well, if you insist.” Lightning sighed and faked a smile. “I think your girlfriend is more of a accessory than a person. She obviously wants nothing more than pretty things from you but what do I know? I’ve only known her for about two seconds. You seem kind of detached too since you’re asking me, a literal stranger, for an opinion of her. Are you looking for an excuse to get rid of her?”
“No. I was just trying to confirm what I knew. You seemed reasonable and intelligent.” Francesco shrugged and Lightning was confused. Who did that?
“Dude, I’m 21. I just got out of a pretty bad situation so I’m not really the person to ask.” He was incredibly tired all of a sudden.
Francesco nodded with a sincere smile before placing a hand on Lightning’s shoulder, “Yes, I was sorry to hear about your mentor. My condolences for what they are worth.”
“Thanks.” It was all he could manage to say. He’d heard it a million times by now but he believed it from Francesco for some reason. Like his condolences were for the horror of a relationship he had to suffer along with the death of the only man who’d meant so much to him.
“Of course. They say Francesco is heartless but he is simply too much for ordinary people.”
Lightning couldn’t help but laugh at that. It was almost strange since he hadn’t felt any kind of joy in the last couple of months. “I’d love your confidence.”
“You will have it too because I am sure you had it once. Everything ends, McQueen, the good and the bad.” Francesco offered as he took to glasses from a waitress that wondered by and offered one to Lightning who took it. “A toast?”
“To what?”
“To a great race and to more moments that make you laugh and show off your beautiful smile.”
Lightning chuckled at that again before clinking their glasses together. He took a sip of the wine. “You’re not so bad, Bernoulli.”
“Oh, I’m a lot more fun than you think.” Francesco winked at him and Lightning had to take another sip of his wine to hide the blush.
“I’m sure.”
“I think we will be good friends, McQueen.” Francesco nodded as if he alone knew the future. “Now come, let us meet our competitors and make them aware of who they will lose too.”
“Like I got a choice.” Lightning muttered as Francesco dragged him by the arm to meet the other racers. He was surprised with how much he laughed and how genuinely calm he was for the rest fo the night.
Maybe he was right. Maybe they would be good friends.