You're drowning,
you're falling,
you just can't breathe.
The fear is growing,
and they've planted the seed.

Seven remembered when she first met Lloyd.

She remembered the crash, the anger, the frustration.

Again she had lost.
Again she had crashed.
Again, again, again.

She had thrown the helmet before she even realized it. When she finally became aware of her surroundings she saw the green clad figure dash off, the helmet in his hands as he quickly battled the red visors.

Great. Now she lost her helmet too.

Feeling useless she had gone to the sushi bar in hopes drowning her frustration in sushi.

She chewed slowly, mulling over what she could've done better. She was doing great, why couldn't she win?

"Have you ever noticed that you always wipe out in the exact same spot?" A voice suddenly had asked.

Seven looked up, turning to meet some brilliant green eyes. She had never seen anyones eyes so green. Her eyes widened when she recognized the same green outfit and massive blonde Mohawk.

"Wait....you're the guy from the stadium!" She gasped.

Her voice hardened as she slammed her fist down. "Where's my helmet?"

"You always wipe out at the fourth mile marker, why do you think that is?" He questioned, dodging the question.

"What?" Racer Seven gave him an odd look. "Who are you?"

"A friend, and I don't have long. So if you want a chance at winning, a real chance you have to listen to me." His voice was low and anxious.

Who is this lunatic? Seven wondered, giving him an unimpressed look. "Okay?"

He began talking, saying crazy tales about the world she lives in how it wasn't real. At first Seven had thought he was crazy. She had met many pretty unstable people in a Prime Empire. A rat that always had fleas was one of her opponents.

"Every race you've ever run you've always wipe out in the same place, its because you were programmed to, you were programmed by the game to lose." That made her look up. "But you don't have to. You can break the cycle, I've seen it done." He had said.

Seven remembered threatening him. Then she grabbed him by the front of his shirt and telling him to go away.

"Just think about it." He said finally. "When you're ready to listen I'll be at the empty lot by the market district."

She didn't look his way but he stared deep into her, like he was looking into her soul. "No one should be programmed to lose Seven, you deserve a chance to cross that finish line."

Seven blinked. Confused. Who was this guy? Why was he telling her this? He quickly looked around before leaving in a hurry, pulling a scarf over his mouth before dashing away.

Seven remembered thinking, recalling every race. Moving the gear, pressing the pedal, telling herself to turn the wheel but for some reason her reflexes were to late. Crash. Again, click the seatbelt, hit the gas, crash. Click the seat belt, hit the gas, crash.

Click the seatbelt, hit the gas, crash.

Crash.

Crash.

Anger. Frustration.

No. No. No.

Why.

Why.

Why.

Why.....

Her eyes flew open. Every. Single. Time. Every single time she crashed it was in the exact same spot.

He was right.

She had quickly driven to the spot, calling out for him, telling him she believed him. He hadn't been there, until she ran into something.

A door hidden by cloaking suddenly slid aside as he stepped out, a group of others joined confidently behind him.

He had opened his controls before turning off his avatar. The golden Mohawk disappeared, replaced by a mop of blonde hair. Seven blinked, he looked so different. But her eyes settled in on his own. The same striking green eyes.

"I believe we can win that race if we work together." He had said. He reached out a hand. "What do you say?"

*****

"Here again?" Seven raised an eyebrow when she saw Lloyd. He blinked, as if he just noticed her presence. He looked tired. Worn.

"You good?" She questioned, noting his normally tidy hair was mussed.

He glanced away before flicking his eyes back to her face.

"Yeah."

Seven sat down. "You look like you could use an order of sushi. What do you say?"

Lloyd looked at her. His mouth slowly tilted into a smile.