Chapter 18: Slept In, Café Breakfast, And Race Wars Prep.

(Bonus Chapter Due to Power Stones, Thank You to all who support my work!)

After a quick shower, Guldrin laid down to sleep for a few more hours, since his late-night work had left him quite exhausted. "Emily, I still don't trust Brian… Something is off with him… He tries too hard, looks like he wants something, and never… Someone to get into confrontations with anyone… Even when he should? He acts… Perfect, but just enough human actions to hide his true intentions… Why do I feel this way…. OWWWWWWWW" He grabbed his head and felt like he was just on the cusp of remembering something, but it quickly faded.

"These damn headaches… It's like someone or something? Is preventing me from understanding something I should be able to… That is so weird… Why…."

"Ding, Gluttony has activated, please find sustenance."

Guldrin rolled his eyes and opened a bag of chips, munching until none remained, and then opened tens of other snacks. "I wish I knew who it was, or why do I keep remembering things but then forget them… and what is this system? I looked it up on Jesse's computer but found nothing. It is a real mystery, why was I given something that no one knows of? And where do my rewards come from? Jesse tried to explain that for something to exist it must follow some principle of equivalent exchange… Nothing can exist without a price… So what is my price?"

Emily listened to his words but wasn't allowed to give him an answer, though that doesn't mean she can't support him. So she took her little paws and poked his cheeks, making him lose his train of thought and smile. "Oh, was I ignoring you? Were you jealous of my system thing taking my attention?"

She rolled her eyes but meowed, and Guldrin held her close. "It doesn't matter where or why I have my system, as long as I have you. I don't know where I would be if I didn't have you… I wouldn't be with my new family, that is for certain." Emily lay there in his arms and thought to herself, 'If only you knew I and the system are one and the same, well, in a way, one can't exist without the other.'

Like this they drifted off to sleep, one child and feline embracing the world they were thrown into. Why did his cat speak in his mind? It didn't matter to Guldrin, what mattered was she was here with him, and he wouldn't trade that for the world.

The morning sun streamed through the cracks in the garage, casting golden rays across the floor and warming the metal of Guldrin's Chevelle. The scents of oil and grease mingled with the distant aroma of breakfast wafting in from the Toretto shop. Guldrin stirred awake, blinking against the sunlight that spilled onto his face. Emily purred softly, curled up beside him, before stretching and yawning wide.

'Good morning, sleepyhead,' she teased, giving his cheek a gentle swat with her paw. 'You missed breakfast. Dom made pancakes, he came to invite you, but you were fast asleep. At least he gave me tuna when he saw me peek my head up.' Seeing he was awake, she focused on her tuna, eyeing it as if she were going to devour it whole.

Guldrin's stomach rumbled in response. "Pancakes? I'm up!" he exclaimed, scrambling out of bed and racing toward the kitchen, his bare feet smacking on the floor. As he entered, he found Dom flipping pancakes at the stove, Vince already seated at the counter with a mountain of syrup-covered pancakes and a fork poised like a weapon.

"Look who finally decided to wake up!" Vince grinned, waving a half-eaten pancake in the air. "I was starting to think we'd have to send a search party to find you."

"Yeah, well, some of us were up late working on important projects, while you were… Doing whatever you were doing that you don't want to tell me about." Guldrin shot back, trying to sound more mature than his ten years suggested. He made a beeline for the counter, settling into a chair and eyeing the stack of pancakes.

Dom chuckled, serving a generous portion to Guldrin. "Don't worry, we saved you some. Just make sure to wash up before you get back to work on that car of yours." He leaned against the counter, arms crossed, watching the boy with a mix of amusement and pride.

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Meanwhile, as the Toretto family ate, Brian arrived at the LSPD and FBI staging point where they geared up to raid Tran. "You ready for this, O'Conner?" Tanner asked and Brian nodded, "Sure am. Got something to cover my face so I can preserve my cover identity?"

Blinkins tossed him a balaclava and a ballistic helmet, "Put that on pretty boy, wouldn't want anyone knowing your double life before we find out if this is the right crew or not." Brian grumbled but dressed the part and geared up. Grabbing an M16, Brian was prepped and ready to storm Tran's home and conduct their thorough search.

Pulling up to Tran's home, they broke the door down and held everyone at gunpoint as they took Tran into custody. It all happened in a span of less than 10 minutes as they searched the property, broke into the garage, and took anything they saw as evidence to be run through the database. Brian led them to the DVD players he spotted, and they confiscated and loaded those as well.

"Good work, now, get lost… Go keep an eye on Toretto and his. If this doesn't pan out, they are the only other crew in the area with the skills as of now." Brian undressed and left, making sure no one saw him, and hyped himself up to integrate himself into the crew as he continued his investigation. Loading into his pickup truck, Brian left for Harry's shop to continue his cover and then headed to Dom's garage to put the finishing touches on his car for Race Wars.

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As Guldrin dug into his breakfast, he couldn't help but feel a surge of energy. The combination of pancakes and syrup was a delightful treat, and he relished each bite as he watched the older guys banter back and forth, while Letty and Mia spoke in hushed tones. "So, what's the plan for today?" Guldrin asked between mouthfuls. "Are we going to be racing at that Race Wars today? What about Brian? I still think something's off about him."

Vince shrugged, his expression turning serious. "We've got to prep our cars first. I'll be working on mine, and Letty's gonna do some last-minute tweaks too. We need everything in tip-top shape for Race Wars, but that is on the weekend, so we have 5 days to wait, today will be all prep. Brian's just... keeping to himself right now, I guess. No idea what he's up to."

Guldrin couldn't shake the feeling of unease he felt about Brian, but he pushed it aside. He had his own project to focus on, and he was determined to make his Chevelle something truly special, something worthy of being part of the crew one day, even if it would take years before he could actually drive it. He swallowed hard, set down his fork, and grabbed the pancakes with his hands, his heart racing at the thought of finally participating in the race scene. In the span of a couple of minutes, Guldrin had eaten all the spare pancakes and was waiting on more, leaving everyone slack-jawed.

"Can I help with anything today?" Guldrin asked eagerly, trying to sound casual.

Dom smiled at him, a knowing look in his eyes as he placed 5 more pancakes on the little glutton's plate. "Sure, little man. After you finish breakfast, why don't you help Vince with his car? He could use an extra pair of hands."

"Awesome!" Guldrin exclaimed, excitement bubbling within him as he polished off the last of his breakfast. He jumped up from the table, ready to tackle the day ahead. After a quick wash-up, he found Vince already in the garage, crawling under his modified blue Honda, wrench in hand, his tattoos glistening in the morning light.

"Hey, kid! Think you can lend me a hand?" Vince called out, poking his head out from beneath the car. "I need to tighten some bolts on the undercarriage. You're just the right size for this job."

"Absolutely!" Guldrin replied, eager to be part of the action. He dashed over to grab a toolbox, his heart racing with anticipation. With Emily perched on his head, her tail swaying lazily. Rushing back, Emily leaped off and watched as he joined Vince under the car, their laughter echoing around the garage as they worked together.

"Alright, kid. Just follow my lead. Grab that wrench over there," Vince instructed, pointing to a shiny tool resting on the portable toolbox. Guldrin's hands moved deftly as he picked it up and handed it to Vince, who smiled at his enthusiasm.

As the day went on, the garage buzzed with activity. After having left with Mia for a few hours, Letty returned and joined them, her fierce determination evident as she worked on her own car, a sleek and aggressive Nissan 240SX. The air was filled with the sounds of tools clanking and engines revving, each member of the crew focusing on their own preparations while sharing occasional banter.

"Hey, Kid, do you think you'll have your Chevelle ready for Race Wars next year?" Letty teased, wiping grease from her forehead.

"Of course! It's gonna be the fastest car around," Guldrin replied confidently, his eyes gleaming with ambition. He knew it would take more than a year to fix his car, but maybe at the end of next year, it would at least run enough to be brought out for a test drive. "And when I can finally drive it, I'll be racing against all of you."

Vince laughed. "You keep dreaming, kid! Just make sure to practice your 'vroom-vroom' noises." This earned him a light punch on his shoulder, which made Vince laugh harder, "Maybe if you gain some strength I would feel those taps." 

The banter continued, and Guldrin felt a sense of belonging that he had never experienced before. As he worked alongside his newfound family, the weight of his lost past began to lift, replaced by the excitement of what was to come.

However, as the sun dipped low in the sky, casting a warm glow across the garage, Guldrin felt that familiar knot of anxiety in his stomach return. The whispers of the night crept back into his thoughts, Brian's secretive behavior, the way he seemed too perfect, the way Dom and the crew occasionally exchanged tense glances when they thought no one was looking. It gnawed at him, but he brushed it aside, forcing himself to focus on the tasks at hand.

As they finished up for the day, Dom gathered everyone around, a more serious tone creeping into his voice. "Alright, listen up, Race Wars is right around the corner, and we've got to make sure we're ready. This isn't just about racing; it's about family, loyalty, and showing the world what we're made of. Brian, you will be going out there and making back that money I spent on your car… My car? I am losing track at this point." Guldrin's ears perked up as Brian nodded, his expression calm yet guarded.

"Yeah, and if Tran tries anything funny, we'll show him how a real crew operates," Vince chimed in, his voice full of bravado.

Letty crossed her arms, smirking. "I don't just want to win; I want to take him down. He thinks he can play us like fools, but we've got the heart and the skills to take him on; we'll show him what real racers are."

Guldrin listened intently, feeling the fire of determination rise within him. He may not be able to race yet, but he was part of something bigger, a family that supported each other and fought for what they believed in.

As the meeting concluded, everyone dispersed to finish their preparations for Race Wars. Guldrin returned to his Chevelle, running his fingers along its sleek, unpolished frame. "We'll get there one day," he whispered to Emily, who nestled into the crook of his arm. "I promise."

'Ding! Gluttony activated. Sustenance required,' Emily piped up, her voice light with a hint of teasing. Guldrin rolled his eyes, 'Yeah, yeah, I don't need you doing it too… I get enough of those messages inside my mind already…' Emily smirked, well as much as a cat can smirk, and leaped onto his head and rode along, 'Just go eat, I want fresh fish Letty and Mia brought back.'

"Alright, alright," Guldrin laughed, knowing the next few days would be filled with the chaos of Race Wars and the whirlwind of activity that accompanied it. He headed back inside the shop, his mind racing with possibilities, strategies, and the taste of victory on the horizon. Even if he wasn't driving, he wanted to learn as much as he could.

As the evening wore on, they all gathered at the counter for dinner, the atmosphere filled with laughter and the warmth of family. Dom recounted stories from past races, the room alive with energy. "Remember that time we almost lost to those guys from Miami?" he laughed, and everyone chimed in with their own memories, the bond between them growing stronger.

Guldrin sat back, soaking it all in, feeling more and more a part of this wild family. He smiled at the thought of what was to come, the thrill of Race Wars mixing with the sense of belonging that filled his heart.

Later that night, as he lay in bed, his mind raced with thoughts of engines and racing. But beneath it all, that nagging feeling about Brian lingered like an uninvited guest. Why was he so drawn to this world, and what was his true purpose? He squeezed Emily tighter, allowing her warm purrs to soothe his thoughts.

"This weekend is going to be big," he whispered, a determined glint in his eyes. "And I'll find out what's really going on. I won't let anything come between us. I have to figure out what is up with Brian, what can I do, he just rubs me the wrong way… Something about him is off…" With those thoughts, he drifted into a deep sleep, dreaming of cars, races, the unbreakable bonds of family, food, and a Girl…?

(Give me your POWER, Please, and Thank You! Leave reviews and comments, they motivate me to continue.)