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It wasn't necessarily a rare occurrence for Doc to wake him up early, in fact it was more often than not that it happened. Something was different this time around, usually an early wake up was right when the sun was rising over the horizon, not eight thirty in the morning.
"Hey kiddo, get up." Doc opened the door to the guest bedroom, the current residence of the driver haphazardly tangled in the bedsheets. Lightning groaned, not wanting to leave the comfort of the bed.
"There's someone here to see you, so make yourself presentable and don't take too long." He shut the door behind him, an offering of privacy. Lightning picked himself up from the bed and stretched, joints popping as he set a foot on the cold wood flooring.
'Who the hell is here that one, doesn't know I sleep in on weekends and two, I need to "look presentable" for.'
He ran through several possibilities as he dug through the dresser holding his clothes. He didn't know exactly who he needed to look presentable for so he just threw on a plain black t-shirt tucked into his faded brown pants. Tossing on his red flannel with the sleeves rolled up to the elbow, he slipped across the hall to do a quick brush of his teeth and gel his hair into a decent enough hairstyle. He looked over himself in the mirror and then put in his usual earrings; his lucky bolt on the right and the two small rings on the top of his left. He debated grabbing his fingerless gloves, but shook his head and exited the bathroom to go find Doc.
It didn't take long for the sound of Doc's voice to lead him to the kitchen, it was a rough voice that could carry well, and even from upstairs it wasn't hard to pinpoint him in the kitchen. He was talking to someone, a voice he didn't recognize responding to whatever anecdote Doc was telling. The smell of coffee hit Lightning the moment he set foot on the first floor and the thought of caffeine carried him to the kitchen. He rounded the corner, catching Doc and a man Lightning still didn't recognize sitting at the table. He cleared his throat to catch the men's attention.
"There he is." Doc said, motioning for Lightning to sit in the chair next to him. He looked expectantly at the man in front of him.
"Mr. McQueen-" He started but Lightning raised a hand,
"No need for formalities, Lightning is fine."
"-Well, Lightning, I am Derrick Wheeler with the Piston Series Board of Directors." He gave a businessman smile. Lightning felt a lump in his throat, people only spoke with the board when something was wrong. He tried to run through everything he'd done in the '06 season and if he'd done something in the soon ending off-season.
"I'm sure you are well aware of the results of the tiebreaker race a few months ago." He began, and Lightning turned over the thought of him getting in trouble for carrying Weathers across the finish line, which he would fight if that was the case. It clicked that he was waiting for some sort of response from Lightning,
"Yes, very." He remembered distinctly the feeling of slamming on the breaks, how it hurt, and only focusing on what really felt important in that moment.
"Well then it will not surprise you that Mr. Hicks has formally had the Piston Cup revoked. A decision made by Hicks himself." Wheeler, interlocked his fingers and rested his hands on the table.
"He gave up the win on his own?" Lightning raised a brow, and there was a hum from Doc at his side.
"Well, we gave him the option to forfeit the win or be barred from ever racing again. He chose the forfeit the win."
"There's the catch." Lightning sighed knowingly.
"But, with the Cup no longer in his possession, we are in charge of giving it to its rightful owner." Wheeler smiled, expecting Lightning to be immediately excited.
"Then why are you talking to me? That isn't for me." The trophy belonged to The King, not him. The statement caused Wheeler to chuckle before reaching down next to him and pulling up a box.
"That's funny, because that's the exact same thing Mr. Weathers said when the board approached him." He was standing up now, opening the box to pull out its contents.
Now sitting in front of Lightning was pristinely polished Piston Cup, his eyes caught on the engraving on the base;
Montgomery "Lightning" McQueen Jr.
Champion
2006
"I… I don't- Thank you." Lightning pulled the trophy more towards him,
“While keeping our records straight in the books, Mr. Hicks is still the 2006 winner, but you hold the trophy." Wheeler had sat back down. Lightning was still in awe over the trophy sitting in front of him, it didn't feel real, and deep down he still didn't feel like he deserved it. He had been nothing short of a jerk for the entire season, this felt like he was being rewarded for it…
"And will the board be monitoring Mr. Hick's behavior on the track from here on out? I'd hate to see someone else taken out by his recklessness." Doc said, eyes meeting Lightning's. A mutual understanding, they knew a crash could take you out, one had seen it, one had lived it.
"Rest assured, Dr. Hudson, we will be closely watching any 'accidents' that occur involving Mr. Hicks." Wheeler gave a knowing look, there was a lingering silence that followed the statement.
"Well, Lightning, here is my business card, give me a quick ring when you're ready for Piston Officials to make a statement, I figure you might want to prepare for the press in advance." Lightning reached around the trophy, taking the card in hand.
"Thank you, sir." Lightning said, "And send my thanks to the board, it's an honor to be deemed worthy for this."
"Of course Lightning," Wheeler paused, "And off the record, the board is looking forward to seeing you bring home the cup next year." There was a genuine smile that accompanied that, something that made Lightning smile in return.
"Alright, I have to be headed back now, If I don't leave soon It'll be late by the time I manage to get back." He chuckled while standing. Lightning and Doc joined him, they exchanged handshakes over the table.
"I look forward to seeing you both out on the track next season." With that, he left the room and the sound of the front door opening echoed around the house. Lightning waited a second before he turned back to the table. He picked up the trophy and set it back into the box, closing the flaps. He ignored the inquisitive look Doc gave him as he walked past, box in hand. He took it up the stairs and into the room he was currently occupying, tucking it in the back corner of the closet.
"Ok Rookie, explain the thought process." Doc said, now leaning against the door frame.
"It doesn't go in the trophy case till I actually win, until then it stays there."
"You know, every day I think I have a solid idea of who you are, and then the next you go and surprise me." Doc had a smile on his face.
"I was a douche this season, and if I didn't actually win I don't deserve to be rewarded for it." Lightning explained, "I know The King thinks I deserve it for what I did but, I don't."
"Well, it's your trophy, you know how I feel about it." Doc shrugged, pushing away from the door frame.
"I know Doc, I know."