They call me a baby driver [Open]

[grimbiker]

Sirius's investigation of the ship had been haphazard at first. Now that he was working with Moony on a map of Stacy, he planned to fix that. The Hangar was well explored as far as he knew, but he had yet to go there himself. At first glance it looked simple enough. Lots of vehicles of all kinds, most unrecognizable to him. Their unfamiliarity made up for the lack of secret passages of any kind.

It wasn't until he reached a motorcycle that a strange thought passed his mind. He hadn't expected anything of his to be here. After Azkaban he was grateful just to have his wand. The fact that Stacy had given him the Marauder's Map, his mirror, and enchanted knife had been mind blowing at first. Now he wondered if there was something else Stacy brought from his world.

He walked faster and scanned the Hangar. It was a long while before there it was. A Triumph Bonneville T120 that belonged to one Sirius Black.

"Oh, baby." He ran his hands over the handle and then down her body. His fingers found several dents but the damage was minimal. He could fix that.

He straddled the motorcycle and held his breath as he turned the keys that were still in the ignition. The engine revved. The bike sprung to life. Sirius laughed.

"That's my girl." He pressed a button and kicked off into the air.

Nearly an hour later anyone walking around the City would see a strange sight. A man on a motorcycle soaring over them. The motorcycle's engines masked his laughter. But he was still laughing when he set her down on a road and let the engine rest. He stroked the handlebars lovingly.

"We've both still got it."

Comments

[grimbiker]

"What's so wonderful? You obviously haven't taken a ride on this beauty." He gestured to the motorcycle. "I just found her in the Hangar. I thought I'd never see her again."

[theboywhodied]

"Your motorcycle?" He eyed it skeptically. "I'd be delighted to have a broom again, but...I don't think I'd be this overjoyed."

Liar. He would've been.

"And everything works?"

[grimbiker]

"Perfectly." Sirius said. "She's got a few dents but I'll fix them." He'd also freak out over it and coo over his poor, poor baby. "I've had her for years. I enchanted her myself. The adventures we've shared..."

[theboywhodied]

"You speak as if she's your best friend," Cedric half-muttered. How strange. "How did you fly it---her, anyway? Some disillusionment spells?"

[grimbiker]

"Not my best friend, just an old one." And oh did it feel good to have her between his legs again.

"Why would I bother with a disillusionment charm? A simple hovering charm is all she needs. Well, relatively simple." It was actually a very complicated spell. It had taken weeks to get the motorcycle to fly properly. It didn't help that Sirius insisted everything be perfect. And after all that effort what was the point if people didn't see him taking off?

[theboywhodied]

Oh, Sirius was definitely excited. It'd been so long since his emotions had risen this much.

"Oh! I just thought...if you were anywhere near Muggles. I didn't know where you lived." He ducked his head, looking fairly awkward.

[grimbiker]

"London. So yes, I do- did. I doubt any of the Muggles who saw me told anyone and if they did who would believe them?" He leaned over the motorcycle, resting his elbows against the handlebars. "Before you start- I spent most of my time on the ground."

[theboywhodied]

"That means you're especially thrilled to see the sky again, doesn't it," Cedric observed, smirking as he watched Sirius's posture. Yes, he loved that bike. It was abundantly clear.

It also meant that Sirius had a certain disregard for rules. He'd had an inkling of that before, but it was noted for the future.

"Is it better than a broom?"

[grimbiker]

"Depends on who you ask." He grinned. "Why don't you take a ride and see for yourself?"

[theboywhodied]

Cedric can't hide his curiosity and excitement. "You...you're serious?" He takes in the bike, imagining the ride. It'll be something special, if a little intimidating.

[grimbiker]

"Cedric, I'm always serious. I'll drive her. Just take a seat behind me. I've never crashed her." Well, maybe once or twice but that was under extenuating circumstances.

[theboywhodied]

"No you're not," Cedric laughed, missing the pun completely. Oh well! He nodded and walked over to the motorcycle, hesitantly following Sirius aboard.

"And let's not break that record." He still has his wand in his pocket. Just in case.

Oh, he's so nervous, but excited too.

[grimbiker]

"Put your arms around me. She can't go as fast as a broom but she can still knock you off if you're not holding on."

The last time Sirius had gone riding with someone James had been with him. Sirius brushed that thought aside. He was going to enjoy today.

[theboywhodied]

Cedric nodded, locking his hands somewhere around Sirius's midsection. He chose a side to watch the skies from (the left, in this case and settled, close to Sirius's back.

"Ready. Do your worst," he invited, perhaps a mistake.

[grimbiker]

"You couldn't handle my worst." Sirius eased off the clutch and drove the bike forward, slowly at first then picking up speed. He kept on the road for now.

"Ready?" He yelled over his shoulder. He was still going slow enough that Cedric should be able to make it out. Much faster and they wouldn't be able to talk.

[theboywhodied]

Cedric scoffs at the idea that he couldn't possibly handle it, though he does cling a little tighter. "What do you think I am, a herbologist?" he says into Sirius's ear.

That said, he leans back and yells. "Yeah!" This'll be quite the ride. He's sure of that already. He can already see some of what Sirius enjoys. The thrum of the engine beneath them has a different feel than a broom, but he can see how it'd be comforting.

[grimbiker]

Hold on tight Cedric, it's going to get bumpy.

Sirius put on the speed. 40, 50, 60 miles an hour and climbing. And then speeds that no reasonable motorcyclist would use- but here on Stacy what was there to worry about? Aside from rubble. But soon they didn't have to worry about that either.

The take off wasn't gradual but sudden. One moment they were on the ground but once Sirius pulled up they were flying.

[theboywhodied]

Before he could blink, they were flying. Cedric clung tightly, hearing nothing but the roar of the wind and the engine. The sensation of his hair flying back was familiar and comfortable, but there was so much more to see.

The City's buildings are smaller and smaller. Trees, buildings, and even more he never saw from the ground. It was impossible to say anything appreciative at the moment, but he gave Sirius's arm an excited squeeze.

He really, really needed a real broom again. He'd missed the skies.

[grimbiker]

Sirius was in no hurry to end the ride. The engine's vibration sent waves through his body. Here, above everything, Sirius felt larger than life, like he'd left all his mistakes behind him.

And for a moment Sirius could almost, almost pretend that it was James and not Cedric behind him. This was all one more adventure and at the end they would walk away laughing.

If only.

Sirius slowly guided the bike back down to the ground. He had no idea where they were in the City but that was all part of the fun.

"What'd you think?"

[theboywhodied]

Cedric took a few moments longer to respond than usual. He was leaning back and steadying himself once the motorcycle came to a stop, finally hopping off when his heart stopped pounding in his ears.

Just the way he liked it.

"...Wow, I can see why you like it!" He did sound excited. His wind-swept hair seemed to be excited too. "Think I'll stick to a broom, though. Say...where are we?"

He'd never seen these buildings before. They twisted and turned and looked more foreboding than they probably were.

[grimbiker]

"To each their own." Sirius said, looking around. "I have no idea." He didn't seem bothered by it. His smile had never left his face.

"Why? You want me to take you back?" In a tone that said: chicken?

[theboywhodied]

"If you're going to do things that way..."

Cedric turned away, an innocent little smile on his face. "Why? This isn't where you park it, is it?"

[grimbiker]

"I haven't found a proper place for her." He hated to take her back to the Hangar. He was hoping to find a nice house in the City to claim and set her down there but it felt wrong to just claim a random house. So he'd make do with his own quarters and find some place nice and out of the way for his motorcycle.

"But if you're not up for a little fun you'd better tell me before it gets dark."

[theboywhodied]

"Oh, you want an even bigger challenge?" Cedric glanced up at the skies, worried. With the shortened night and day cycles in this city, it would in fact be dark soon.

"We could always use our wands to direct us if it's necessary, I suppose. And---just what sort of fun do you have after dark, Sirius?"

[grimbiker]

"I don't think you want me to answer that." Sirius said, laughing. "I asked in case you're afraid of it. Wouldn't want you to be uncomfortable."