Chapter Text
Scarlet feels the smile twitch up the side of her face and sternly pushes it back down. Her feet pound into the earth, her arms swing. That is all there is, all there can be, until she is across that line. Coming from behind she can hear familiar footsteps charging along after her. At her left now, she forces herself to spare only a glance as Vodka lets out a guttural yell. It will be tight, she can feel it in her legs. But she only needs to be one step ahead. The burning means she is winning, the strain means that she is number one. Vodka's tail brushes against hers moments before they cross the line. In one sharp burst Scarlet clears it, and the crowd erupts into cheers. In her leg, something shifts. Stars bloom across her vision, and she falls to her knees, tears streaming down her face. Vodka trots to a stop next to her, slapping a hand on her shoulder.
"Hah, you're not so tired just from that are you? The Derby's next and I need to beat you at a real race." She pauses when Scarlet remains still under her hand, her ears pinned to the sides of her head. "Uh, I mean, it was still cool though, that you beat me. Just means I gotta work harder.." Vodka scratches her head awkwardly for a moment. Then Scarlet's shoulders begin to shake. The pain is immense, and the only thing keeping her upright is the fear that it will get worse if she falls. "Scarlet... hey... talk to me!" Vodka kneels down next to her and catches the wet sheen across her cheeks. "Medic!"
-
Hours Later, through the haze of painkillers that her trainer begged her to take, Scarlet glares at the unseemly bandage covering most of her left thigh. Her heart is still pounding as if she's just crossed the finish line. If she closes her eyes she can almost pretend that she is still number one. That her life isn't over now. Abruptly, she slaps a hand over her mouth to keep in a sob.
"Scarlet?" Vodka stands in the slightly open doorway, the light from the nurse office entrance illuminating the row of patient beds. Vodka ducks her head when their eyes meet. Scarlet sniffs and sits upright in her bed.
"Come in." She says, trying to put the priss back in her voice. If anything can be normal, she hopes that it's this.
Vodka approaches the bedside tentatively as she pulls up a chair. "...I'm glad you're okay." Her voice is softer than it has any right to be. More vulnerable than their relationship has ever called for. They both look away this time.
"Of course I'm okay, I'm the best aren't I? Number one doesn't go down so easy." It's easier to say it with conviction when she doesn't have to look into Vodka's bright green eyes. Scarlet's hands clutch around her thin bed sheets, the fabric stiff under her fingers.
"Hah, Yeah... I mean, you were pretty awesome today." Vodka says sheepishly.
Scarlet can hear Vodka raking her fingers through her short hair even if she dares not look. In any other place, any other time, she would preen. But the silence is heavy with pity, not admiration. She has earned nothing. Something sharp unfurls in her chest. She thought Vodka would know better than to treat her like any other racer. Apparently not. She forces her hands to stop wringing the blanket.
"You don't have to treat me like I'm fragile." Scarlet seethes, her ears flaring out to either side. Out of the corner of her eye she catches a few emotions flicker across Vodka's face. She only sees what it settles on: Hurt.
"Wha- I'm not! I- you!" Vodka pushes the chair back and stands. She reaches for something in her bag and slams it down on the bedside table. "Here!" Vodka yells half halfheartedly, and runs out the room with her tail nearly between her legs.
Immediately Scarlet's ears prick to listen to her footsteps fade away. Only once she is certain they're gone does she examine the book on the counter. Her favorite manga, the latest addition. Self consciously she lays down and starts to flick through the pages.