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Lightning was sitting in his cheap motel bed. Still too stubborn to just settle down in Radiator Springs, too scared that once he did the townsfolk would decide they didn't want him anymore. Decided it was time for Lightning to leave their little town alone.
Lightning’s grasp on his beer can tightened, he had just opened it, and yet he felt guilty for drinking it. Doc wouldn't want him drinking like this, especially when Lightning was in the middle of serious training.
He couldn't help himself, especially since Doc was the reason he was drinking. He knew it was ridiculous, but he had fell for Doc, and fell for him hard.
Ever since Lightning was young he had a crush on the Hudson Hornet, but now, now he learned all about Doc Hudson. Though technically the same person, they were two different beings, and within what felt like no time, Lightning had learned to love Doc just as much as he admired the Hudson Hornet.
Problem was, he knew Doc couldn't feel the same. There was decades between them. Doc would probably want someone experienced anyways, older like him, not a young 'hotshot' like Lightning who somehow only now realized he was into men. Sometimes he cursed his obliviousness. How could he himself go so long without realizing? He didn't know.
But now he did know. He knew just how deep his feelings for Doc ran, and it tore him apart. Every time he looked at Doc he had an urge to just pounce the older man, declare his love, be rejected, and have that be that. Of course, that's just never how it's going to go.
Lightning took a swig of his beer, guilt tearing away at him as he did. Why'd he have to feel this way? He chugged the rest of the can, trying his best to ignore his emotions.
Lightning threw the can across the room, miserably missing the recycling pile he had slowly constructed. He really should get rid of that stuff. He leaned backwards till he fell across his bed, his legs dangling off the side. He let his arms spread out limply as he stared up at the ceiling.
Nights like this were the worst. Nights when he wanted to drink everything away, but couldn't bring himself to do it because of Docs words. Nights when he realized just how annoying he must be to Doc, and maybe even the rest of the townsfolk too.
Lightning felt his eyes burn, his vision blurring. It was pathetic, he knew, to be crying over something as trivial as this. Something that he could be making up, all in his head. But it was late, and he was already so deep in his mind, feeling more miserable than ever, so he'd let himself have this. He'd let himself wallow then go back to normal come morning when he had to see Doc again. Doc and his stupidly gorgeous face, more gorgeous than any girl Lightning had ever seen.
Lightning groaned and threw one of his arms over his head. Hell, he felt so miserable he didn't even feel like jerking off. He always felt like doing that. It was a good stress reliever.
Some nights when Lightning felt particularly alone, he'd find old news articles about Doc on his phone. Find clips where Doc was speaking, and stroke himself to the sound of his much younger voice and pictures. He had pictures of Doc now too, though. He'd sneakily take some here and there, slowly filling his camera roll, just like the rest of his life, with Doc Hudson. Okay, maybe this was a bit of an obsession. Lightning could at least admit that.
He could feel his phone vibrating against his bed. He groaned, not wanting to check it, but maybe it was something important. Or maybe Mater was inviting him to go out for drinks. He untangled himself from his position and reached over for his phone. Of course, it wasn't Mater. It just had to be Doc. Doc asking where he was.
Lightning sat in confusion for a few moments. Why would Doc be asking where he was? Doc never texted him. The only reason he had Docs phone number was so he could bother Doc. He couldn't even remember if Doc had ever texted him before. And why would he be asking where he was? Where else would he be but the motel he was always in?
It wasn't long until realization hit him like a train slamming against a wall. Lightning was supposed to meet up with Doc tonight. Doc had wanted to show him something, so he told Lightning to come by later. It was far past later, about an hour away from midnight. Lightning was surprised Doc was even still up. If Lightning was being honest he had expected Doc to have one of those old people schedules, but he supposed it wasn't too surprising that he didn't.
Lightning debated going at all, debated if he should just ignore Doc till the man came looking for him. He knew that wasn't a good idea, it'd cause more harm than good. He knew Doc would be worried if he didn't show up, he just couldn't find it in himself to believe Doc would be worried.
Begrudgingly Lightning peeled himself off his bed, pulling at his shirt to look at it. He was in a sweat-stained tanktop and torn shorts. He supposed he should change, at least look decent. He tugged his clothes off of him, throwing on a simple t-shirt and jeans.
He half-heartedly grabbed his phone and put on his shoes before walking out the motel. He wasn't in the mood to see Doc and his stupid gorgeously aged self.
It wasn't a long walk to Doc's house, it never was. The Motel Lightning stayed at was relatively close, he always wanted to be close to Doc. That short walk was dreadful, the more he walked the more he seemed to just slug along, barely picking his feet up off the ground. Once he got to Docs house he knocked on the door, hoping that Doc had fallen asleep and Lightning could say he had tried to come but Doc never answered that damned door.
He wasn't so lucky as the door did open, and there stood a frustrated looking Doc. "You didn't come on time, didn't even know you were going to come. You better have a good reason."
"Forgot, I'm sorry," Lightning mumbled and Doc seemed to pick up on the fact that Lightning wasn't all-in to be there. That something was wrong. He was smart like that, Lightning knew he'd figure it out, he had just been hoping it'd take more time than this.
Doc pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed. "You're excused this time, don't let it happen again. Come on in," Doc said, moving out of the way for Lightning. Lightning went and sat down on Docs couch where he always did, it was like it was his own personal spot now. "What'd you want to talk about?" He asked, leaning back as he followed Docs movements with his eyes.
"Was going to show you some things i'd thought would be helpful to your progress," Doc paused his talking as he sat down on his chair that just so happened to be across from where Lightning always sat. Not directly across, a little to the side, but across enough. "Though i don't think you wanna do that, do you?" Doc asked, peering at Lightning. The young hotshot shook his head. "Been a bit of a day," He told Doc, it wasn't a full lie, they had extensive training earlier and he had managed to run into Sally, and was drinking, so it had been a bit of a day. He was just leaving the dreading his feelings for Doc part out of it.
Docs eyes scanned Lightning. Of course he could tell his boy was leaving parts out, but it wasn't his business. No matter how much he wanted it to be. He nodded his head, and reached over for the bottle of whiskey he had out. "Want some?" he asked, grabbing his glass off the floor where he had set it down. Lightning looked skeptically at the bottle. "You don't like it when i drink during training, plus i had some beer earlier," Lightning admitted.
Doc chuckled and shook his head. "Son, i know, i could smell it on you... but we all need a break sometimes, don't we?" He asked, grabbing a second glass and pouring them both some. He handed Lightning the glass, and unsurprisingly, he took it. Doc took a small drink out of his glass as he watched Lightning drink his. Lightning was surprised at how Doc was acting, but it was still Doc, and he wasn't going to just pass up an opportunity like this. Drinking with Doc, Doc not caring, now that didn't happen often.
"This reminds me of when me and Mater used to go out and fuck 'round while we drank some stolen booze," Lightning said after his second drink. Doc cocked an eyebrow at him, but chuckled and shook his head after a moment. "Course you two went out doing that, wouldn't expect much else," Doc said. Lightning’s reminiscing reminded him of some of his own memories. Lightning felt his heart drop, did Doc think he was just some reckless kid? He probably did.
"You've always been reckless, haven't you? Ain't bad, gives you a damned personality, unlike some people," Doc said, grinning at Lightning for just a moment, but long enough he knew he saw. Lightning's heart sped up at that, it was Docs indirect praise, the older man always used it when it wasn't something really
remarkable that Lightning did, but he still liked. So he may have seen Lightning as some reckless kid, but that was good. Doc appreciated it.
Lightning grinned back at Doc, the grin coming easy to him, it was his signature smile. Except it wasn’t exactly what he used in front of an audience, this one was softer, reserved for only people Lightning trusted. “Yeah, yeah i have. Gives me some good memories," Lightning said as he drank down the rest of his glass. To his surprise, Doc poured him another. They both knew what Doc had was strong, and although Lightning wasn't a lightweight, he knew he couldn't handle as much as the older man could. And so far the older man was still working on his one glass. Lightning would watch Doc take small sips from his glass.
Doc kept talking with Lightning, finding the younger man's company nice. Whenever Lightning was around it made the music of Docs life play a different beat. Things that were usually dark and dull, brightened up whenever the man was around. Embodying the warmth that Lightning brought everywhere with him.
Doc knew it wasn't right to feel this way for the rookie. An old man pining over some new, young, hotshot that had unknowingly took his heart. Lightning had so much energy that Doc knew he should be with someone that could match that. Not some old geezer that was getting to re-live his glory days through him.
As time passed and Lightning slowed his drinking down his mind fogged over. Everything around him was just a bit fuzzy and he felt a little too warm, not enough to make him uncomfortable, not yet. He stared at Doc, his eyes blurring every once in a while. Time seemed to slow, Lightnings ears felt like they were ringing. Ringing to yell at him that what he wanted to do was a bad idea. Lightning could just imagine going over and kissing Doc right then and there, getting rejected, and moving on.
Lightning hadn't realized that he had actually gotten up and in a blink of an eye had leaned down to kiss Doc. He didn't realize until their lips were connected, but at that point he didn't want to stop unless Doc told him to. Unless Doc wanted to stop.
The last thing Doc was expecting was for Lightning to get up and kiss him, he damn near dropped his glass out of shock. He set his glass down on the table to his side and reached up to Lightnings face, carefully parting their lips from each other. He hadn't wanted the kiss to end, but Lightning was very clearly not in the right place to be making decisions like that. Doc knew his mind was clouded, it was a drunken manner. It meant nothing.
"Hey kid, maybe it's time to get you some water, hm?" Doc said softly, he couldn't help but be gentle with the young man, he didn't want to push him away. If he was too harsh than Lightning may never want to see him again, but that might be the better option.
"Why?" Lightning asked, a whine being pulled out of his throat. He missed the connection of their lips and wanted nothing more than to press his lips against Doc's once more, but he had pushed him away. He didn't want this. Lightning knew he wouldn't have wanted this.
"You're drunk, kissing all up on me, gonna regret that in the morning," Doc explained, his voice low and quiet. The answer seemed to upset Lightning, his eyebrows furrowing together as he looked into Docs eyes. "I'm not gonna regret it, i've wanted to do that for so long," Lightning said, he was shocked he was admitting it. "See? Drunk as a dog, come on," Doc was going to stand up, but Lightning didn't move an inch. "You think i don't?" the young man asked, his voice wavering. "I had the hugest crush on the Hudson Hornet when i was a kid, Doc, wanted nothing more than to meet you. Now that i have i want nothing more than, well, you. I understand if you don't want that, probably want some old man like you, but that doesn't mean i like you any less. I fell in love with you, Doc. Fell real hard. You can reject me, but you can't deny my feelings are real," Lightning said, his mind swirling as he spoke. He felt like he was going to throw up, he couldn't believe he had admitted that, but what was done was done, no going back now. He didn't want to go back now.
Doc stayed quiet, he wanted to just pass this off by saying it was because of Lightning's drinking, but it seemed the younger had already sobered up. Was at least almost entirely aware of what he was doing. What he was saying. Doc didn't want to believe it was true, he knew he deserved to stay a lonely old wreck for the rest of his miserable life that seemed to revolve around the sun that was Lightning, but he couldn't deny himself of believing this, he wanted it to be real so horribly bad.
Doc reached a hand up to gently hold Lightning's face as he gazed into his eyes, searching for any little sign that would prove this was a joke, it wasn't real, Lightning didn't know what he was saying. He didn't find anything. "You sure?" Doc asked, his voice low and quiet, rough sounding. His hand felt rough against Lightning's skin, rough but good. Lightning subconsciously leaned into the touch. "I'm way past sure, Doc, it's a fact," Lightning said, sincereness drowning his words.
Doc found no lies in what Lightning had said, and he had learned how to tell when Lightning was lying. He knew he wasn't. He gently led Lightings face close to his before pressing a soft, chaste kiss to Lightning's lips. Lightnings skin was burning against Doc, he felt like he was being engulfed by wild fire.
Lightning kissed Doc back, his movements sloppy. His movements were always sloppy when doing things like this, he didn't ever know what exactly to do. He wouldn't let himself start thinking about that, it'd cause his mind to run off in all different directions and ruin the moment. He really didn't want to ruin this moment with Doc.
Their kiss progressively became more heated, Doc's free hand moving to hold Lightings hip while the other stayed firmly on his face. Lightings hands found their way to the back of Docs head, tangling his fingers in the graying mass of perfectly took care of hair.
Before Lightning knew it, he was straddling Docs lap while Docs hands held him possessively. Doc hadn't been in a situation like this in a while, been some time since he had went down to some bar to get with a guy. Things were different now. Lightning wasn't just some guy he had met in a run-down bar, he was the man that admired him and was always bugging him. The man he had managed to fall in love with, and for who knows why, loved him back.
That was the most shocking thing for Doc. The one thing about their generations he just couldn't get used to. Doc would've got beaten up had he ever wanted anything more than a cheap fuck from a guy. Sure, people aren't all accepting nowadays, but it's a hell of a lot better compared to how things were when Doc was Lightnings age. So the fact that Lightning was so openly not just desiring him, but loving him, made Docs head spin. Made it so he just wanted Lightning more.
Lightning could like just about anyone else, could love just about anyone else. Someone closer to his own age, someone with more energy, someone to experience new things with. Instead he chose an older man, calm as a clear sky, who had been through so many experiences it was hard to count, he chose that man to love. He chose Doc. He loved Doc.
Docs lips pressed soft but rough against Lightnings, Lightning couldn't wrap his head around how he could do that, but it was making his mind fog in the best way. A whine was pulled from his throat as he pushed himself closer to Doc. He wanted to be as close to Doc as he could. He wanted to practically crawl into Docs skin. Never wanted the two to part ever again.
Of course that wasn’t possible, so he’d settle for just having Doc the way he does right now. Just having Doc. That’s all he needed. Lightning became more desperate as the two kept kissing, he could feel the warmth of Doc’s tongue in his mouth as he let the older man lead him. Let the older man take control.
Doc knew they couldn’t go too far, not tonight. He’d make out with Lightning, but nothing more. He’d save that for a different day, a day in which Lightning hadn’t spent the most of it miserably drinking.
“It’s getting real late,” Doc mumbled against Lightning’s lips. “So you do have an old man schedule?” Lighting questioned, his eyes screwed shut. Doc chuckled, gently pulling away from lighting. “It’s late, we’ve been drinking, especially you. We can continue this tomorrow.” Doc said, rubbing Lightings cheek bone with his thumb. Lightning pouted while he subconsciously leaned into the touch, “We have to?”
Doc chuckled, “Yeah we have to. Come on, you can sleep in my bed tonight. Don’t trust you walking back to that motel of yours on your own.” Doc said, guiding Lightning up off his lap as he stood up himself. “With you?” Lightning asked, Doc shook his head. “I’ll take the couch, come on..” “No, no i want to stay with you,” Lightning near begged, and Doc just couldn’t say no to him. “Alright, fine,”