Swipe right

by Ethereal_Elysian

Summary:

“I’m looking for someone who works and wants to buy a house together asap.”
That’s what the bio said of a man named Carlos on the dating app.

Lando swiped right.

Chapter 1: Chapter 1

Another night in the stuffy attic of his parent’s house was where Lando found himself. He tossed and turned in his bed, scrolling endlessly through various social media apps. It didn’t satisfy him though, a sigh escaped his lips as he turned again, opening Instagram for the twentieth time tonight. He watched how his friends had fun without him on a yacht somewhere in Monaco on their stories. Lando bit his lip as he continued watching the photos and videos wishing he was there, however he couldn’t afford it. Unlike his friends who have high paying corporate jobs, Lando works at his local grocery store making minimum wage. He liked his job, he really did, but sometimes his mind wanders to what it’s like to live the lavish lifestyle his friends live.

He closed the Instagram app, getting too depressed watching his friends having the time of their life. He feels the sting in his eyes when he remembers his friends didn’t even ask him if he wanted to join, probably knowing Lando would say no. However not getting invited hurts. He sighs again as he opens twitter only to be found with the same videos and pictures of his friends. He closed his phone and laid on his back staring at the ceiling. He felt like an absolute failure knowing he hadn’t really achieved anything. His parents started to lose their patience as well with him, almost as if they are losing the hope they once had.

His phone buzzed in his hand signalling a notification, it was probably one of his friends and he really was not in the mood currently. However Lando was a curious person, so he couldn’t help himself when he looked at his screen and saw a notification of a dating app he had forgotten about. “Get 25% off your next purchase!” Lando stared at the notification until his screen went black and saw his own reflection. Maybe he could just take a peek at the app and look at some hot guys while at it. He opened the app and couldn’t help but swipe left immediately, not even bothering to look at all the pictures, just straight up no.

However when he came across a profile where he saw the most beautiful eyes he has ever seen, he simply couldn’t resist. He quickly read the profile. “I’m looking for someone who works and wants to buy a house together asap.” It said, Lando swallowed as his thumbs hovered over the x and like button. He swiped right. “It’s a match!” it said. Oh god, Lando thought, this can’t be good and why would a man like him be interested in a guy like Lando. It didn’t make any sense. He almost instantly got a message from said beautiful stranger. “Hey how are you?” Lando’s eyes went wide and his mouth agape. This can’t be happening, he must be getting catfished or something. There’s no way this is real. “Doing good” Lando texted back. “You?” he added. He almost immediately got a message back, god this guy was fast he thought. “Can we facetime?” The message said. Lando stared at it for a couple of seconds before regaining his composure. “Sure” he typed back. A chuckle escaped his lips, as if this guy would actually call him, it was probably a troll or something. He closed his phone again but his breath got stuck in his throat when his phone buzzed in his hand.

“Incoming video call”

This is not happening lando thought, god he looked like absolute shit, wearing his favorite hoodie he got 10 years ago with gross stains all over it. Great, I’m video calling with probably the most handsome man I’ll ever see and I look absolutely terrible. He quickly swiped to accept the call and was immediately faced with a perfect set of close up collarbones. “Sorry I had to grab something.” A voice said and lando was simply blown away how deep the mans voice was and how pretty he sounded. “That’s okay.” Lando said and waited until the man leant back so he could see his face. Okay so Lando wasn’t being catfished, he is actually facetiming with a gorgeous human being. “Hello” The man said with a small smile on his face. “Hi” Lando managed to barely get out, still blown away by the other mans beauty. “I’m Carlos, nice to meet you.” Said man still had a small smile on his lips, eyes crinkling a little bit. “M-my name is Lando.” He stuttered, since when did he stutter? He hasn’t ever stuttered. “I’m sorry I’m just a bit nervous.” He quickly added and hid inside the hood of his sweater. “That’s okay, it must be a bit weird to facetime with a complete stranger.” Carlos said and took a sip of his water he apparently had next to him. “Yeah.” Lando croaked out and tried to clear his throat. “I like your hoodie.” Carlos said and it caught Lando off guard, he looked down at his horrendous hoodie where you could obviously see the food stains from a mile away. “You’re joking right?” He said and Carlos laughed, Lando decided that that is his new favorite sound. “No I honestly really like the color, it suits you.” Carlos said and gave him a wink. Lando could not believe all of this was happening, it felt like he was dreaming. “Thank you.” He squeaked and tried to hide the blush spreading on his cheeks. “You’re cute.” Carlos said and now lando can definitely not hide his blushing. “And you’re hot.” He blurted and his eyes went wide like saucers realizing what he said. A breathless laugh escaped Carlos his mouth as he ran his hand through his hair.

“Okay we need to focus.” Carlos said and lando quickly nodded. “Are you open to buy a house together?” Carlos asked. “I am.” Lando answered however his mind quickly became clouded with thoughts about his salary, he couldn’t even afford rent let alone buy a house. “Okay that’s good.” Carlos said. “Whats your salary?” He added. This is the moment Lando dreaded because he knew for a fact that Carlos would probably reject him. “I…” Lando started but he just couldn’t finish the sentence. “Are you okay?” Carlos asked and god was he a sweetheart. Lando bit his lip, considering lying about his salary for a moment but decided against it. “I’m okay, thanks.” He said. “I work at my local super market so my salary isn’t good.” The last couple of words he whispered, almost ashamed of himself. “That’s okay I think we can work with that.” Carlos said and Lando’s eyes lit up. “Really?” he asked. “Yeah of course, I just really want to move out of my parents house.” Carlos said. “Me too, I can’t stand being here anymore.” “Same, I’m 27 years old now and ready to be on my own.” “Why do you want to buy a house with a stranger?” Lando asked. “I’m honestly too scared to do it on my own.” Carlos answered seriously. “Why?” “I feel like having someone beside you would be better, I’m afraid of making mistakes and having someone with me means more precision.” Carlos said. “That’s fair I guess.” “So are we doing this?” “I think we are.” Lando smiled as he couldn’t hide his enthusiasm.

The next morning was confusing for Lando, he couldn’t believe what happened the night before. He checked the dating app a hundred times seeing if he didn’t imagine or dream everything, but no, the conversation was right there on his phone which were only a couple of sentences before they facetimed. He was too absorbed staring at his phone that he didn’t hear Daniel call his name. “Lando, I swear to god if you don’t answer right this second im gonna submerge your phone in water.” Daniel said and Lando snapped up his head, looking at his best friend. “What is it?” He asked. “I could ask you the same thing.” Daniel answered.
“Is it weird to buy a house with a stranger?” Lando asked seriously but Daniel burst out laughing. Daniel looked at Lando and saw his serious face. “Oh shit you’re serious?” He said. “Well, yeah.” “Shit okay I’m sorry.” Daniel said and Lando gave him a tight-lipped smile. “I personally wouldn’t, what if they have terrible habits?” Daniel said. Crap Daniel had a point, Lando had absolutely no idea what Carlos was like as a person, he zoned out, brows furrowing as he thought about Daniels statement more and suddenly everything felt like a mistake, how could he rush into this? With a stranger, nonetheless. A hot stranger might he add. How did such a stupid thing feel so right? The whole conversation yesterday felt amazing and Lando felt like he could breathe for the first time since forever. How can a person have such an effect on someone? It boggled Landos mind, and he didn’t know if he liked it or not.

He finished his shift at the grocery store and went straight home, he wanted to hide in his bed and never come out of it. So far Carlos has not sent him any message anymore, maybe Carlos had changed his mind or maybe Carlos was facetiming with someone else right now. Lando drifted off with those thoughts in his head but was quickly awakened by a sudden buzzing.

“Incoming video call”

Who would video call him at midnight?! He quickly swiped to accept and saw a dishevelled Carlos on his screen. “Carlos.” He said surprised. “Hey.” Carlos said and pulled up his covers till his chin. “You okay?” Lando asked but it stayed silent on this other side. “Carlos?” Lando asked worriedly. “Can we please purchase a house fast? I’m sorry to rush this but I just can’t live at home anymore.” Carlos said fast and Lando almost didn’t catch all of it. “I mean yeah of course if you want to.” “Thanks, that would mean a lot.” Carlos said gently and suddenly Lando got a notification from him. “I saw this house and thought it would be a nice starter.” Carlos said and Lando checked the listing. It was a beautiful 3 story house with plenty of space, it had a big backyard and Lando could almost image himself sunbathing on the neatly trimmed grass. He clicked through the photos, and it showed a modern kitchen and an open layout. The house was located outside of London in a nice neighbourhood. “Do you like it or do you prefer something bigger?” Carlos asked. “No this is perfect, it’s nicer than my parents’ house.” Lando said and Carlos let out a chuckle. “Are you sure we can afford this though? It’s so expensive.” Lando said as he looked at the price tag of the house. “Yeah, I checked with my bank today.” Carlos said. Damn Carlos was really serious about this. “We could look at more houses though.” Carlos said and Lando agreed. They spent the whole night sending each other house listings and giggling at each other while slowly falling asleep.

Chapter 2: Chapter 2

Lando woke up with a yawn, he stretched himself out before burying himself deeper into the duvet. He grabbed his phone and saw he was still facetiming Carlos. Right, they fell asleep while looking at house listings. He wished that just like in the movies he got a clear picture of Carlos sleeping (which actually would’ve been weird now that he thought about it). But instead, the camera was pointing at Carlos his ceiling, however Lando could hear soft snores coming through his phone speakers and he almost fell back asleep, those are more soothing than Lando liked to admit.

Now came the difficult part, he had no clue if he should hang up or keep the call going. Hanging up seemed so brusque but keeping the call going is kind of creepy. “I could hear you thinking from here.” A rough deep voice suddenly said and Lando jolted out of his thoughts. “Oh.” Was all Lando could say as he turned in his bed. “Sleep well? He added. “Yes actually.” Carlos said and Lando saw Carlos grabbing his phone, suddenly Lando got a screen full of pure natural beauty, Carlos his hair was ruffled, his tan skin was glowing against the morning sun that shone through his curtains, his rosy lips slightly parted, he looked absolutely stunning.

“Lando you’re staring.” Carlos said and Lando snapped out of his thoughts. “Sorry.” He said like a deer caught in the headlights, a small laugh escaped Carlos his lips. “It’s okay.” He spoke. Lando nuzzled further into his blanket as he thought about last night, they went through a hundred houses and found the perfect one, it was smaller than the initial house Carlos sent but they realized they don’t need that much space, just 2 bedrooms were enough for them. The house was also way cheaper so that meant that they had more money left to buy furniture and refurbish the house if necessary. It sounded perfect in Lando’s opinion, and he couldn’t wait to move out.

“I just made an offer.” Carlos said and Lando was pulled out of his thoughts. “What?” Lando asked, his mouth agape. “I made an offer for the house that we both liked.” Carlos said. “That’s…. fast.” Lando played with his hands. “I mean I told you I want to move out as soon as possible.” “I know, its just….” Lando couldn’t find the right words as Carlos looked at him questionably. “Are you sure?” Lando asked. “Of course, I’m sure.” Carlos answered. “I’m just a bit confused to be fair.” Lando said.
“Why?”
“I just don’t get why you picked me, I have a shitty income and I don’t have that much to offer.” Lando said nervously. “First of all, you don’t have a shitty income, second of all, you’ve got so much to offer. Even though I don’t know you that well, I really enjoy our video calls and just talking to you makes me feel lighter.” Carlos said and Lando was overwhelmed by the answer. “Thanks.” Was the only answer Lando could give.

“I’m going to take a shower, call you later?” Carlos asked and Lando quickly nodded. “Yeah, talk to you soon.” He answered as he saw Carlos getting up from his bed and Lando quickly realized that Carlos wasn’t wearing a shirt. Even though he only saw Carlos his bare shoulders, it was enough to stir up some feelings for Lando.

The call ended an Lando didn’t know what to do with himself, he was so overwhelmed by the amount of feelings he felt, and the weirdest thing was that everything felt so right. It didn’t make sense to him, he never felt this way about something, or in this situation, about someone. Lando always considered himself straight, having only dated women in the past, but Carlos made him question his sexuality. Carlos was this Spanish god with beautiful skin and gorgeous eyes, thick hair and plump lips. Lando simply couldn’t get enough. Another thing he realized is that he hasn’t even met him, how can a person have such a strong hold on him who he hasn’t even met? The math was in fact not mathing.

His shift at the grocery store was nothing too exciting, just stocking shelves and sometimes helping out at the register. However, his colleague and best friend Daniel always made their shifts together more interesting.

“I’m proposing to Max.” Daniel blurted out during their break and Lando choked on his scorching hot tea he was drinking. “You what?!” Lando almost yelled.

“I’m proposing.” Daniel repeated and toyed with the small velvet box in his hands. “We’ve been together for 5 years and I think it’s time, it just feels right with him you know?” He continued. “That’s…. Wow Daniel, congratulations mate.” Lando said as he put down his tea, not wanting to injure himself more. “Thanks, I hope he’ll say yes.”
“I’m sure he will even though I only met him a couple of times, he seems nice.” Lando said as he walked towards sink to hold his burnt hand under some cool water. “He is, he’s the best.” Daniel smiled while looking at the velvet box in his hands, Lando really wished he got to experience that one day.

“Anyways, how is the whole house situation?” Daniel asked as he started eating his sandwich. “Assuming what you said is true.” He added. “It’s going well, he made an offer.” Lando turned off the faucet and sat back down.
“That sounds pretty serious.”
“It is.”

“What’s the name of this mysterious person?” Daniel asked. “His name is Carlos, he’s from Spain.” An instant smile appeared on Lando’s face. “I need a last name so I can google him.” Daniel looked at him expectantly and Lando realized he doesn’t even know Carlos his last name, nor has he googled him, which would’ve been a pretty obvious thing to do since he’s going to buy a house with the guy.

“I don’t know.” Lando said and cast his eyes down. “What do you mean you don’t know?”
“It means that I don’t know Daniel.” “That’s fucked up dude, tell me you at least have a picture of him.” “I do, and before you say anything, I’m not getting catfished, I video called with him three times right now so he’s legit.” Lando said as he showed a couple of pictures he saved of Carlos on his phone.

“Holy shit he’s hot, are you sure you’re not getting catfished?” Daniel asked. “I’m pretty sure.” Lando exclaimed as he continued drinking his now lukewarm tea. “It doesn’t make sense though.” Daniel said pensive. “What doesn’t make sense?” confusion arose in Lando and he almost starts to worry. “Where did you meet him?” Daniel asked. “On a dating app.” “What does a guy like him do on a dating app? He’s way too hot for that. And why does he pick a random stranger to buy a house with? Why not one of his friends, that seems more logical in my opinion.” Lando hated that Daniel was right about this, it indeed didn’t make any sense why Carlos would choose a complete stranger to make such an important life changing decision. It also didn’t make sense why Carlos would try to find someone on a dating app nonetheless.

“I don’t trust this guy.” Daniel said as he started to walk towards the trash bin, ending the conversation with that.

After his shift Lando went home and checked his phone for any messages. He got a couple from Carlos and opened them.
“We can sign the papers next week and then get the keys.” The text said and Lando’s eyes bulged.
“It’s on a Tuesday so I hope you’re free then.” Lando continued reading.
“I should be able to make it.” Lando texted back as he suddenly got a couple of texts from Daniel.
“Is this him?” The text said as Lando looked at the attached image Daniel sent. He looked at the picture and it was instantly obvious that was Carlos.
“Yes.” He texted back and not even a second later he was sent all types of different articles about Carlos. Lando’s eyebrows furrowed as he scrolled through the numerous amounts of articles he got sent and his breath got stuck in his throat.

Holy. Fucking. Shit. 

Notes:

And so the plot thickens.

Chapter 3: Chapter 3

Notes:

Sorry for the late update, I was paralysed for some time. Apparently the AO3 curse is real. Also, is anyone still reading this story?

Lando stared at the screen, frozen. His thumb hovered above the phone, but he couldn’t move it. The headlines were relentless.

Heir to Tech Empire Carlos Sainz Caught in Family Dispute Over Inheritance.

Insider Claims Sainz Plans to “Cut All Ties” With Parents.

Luxury, Lies, and Legal Battles: Inside the Private Life of the Sainz Family.

Each article painted a more vivid picture than the last, Carlos wasn’t just wealthy. He was filthy rich. The kind of rich that made people suspicious, envious, or worse, opportunistic. Lando suddenly felt small, like a pawn in a game he hadn’t even realized he was playing.

His fingers trembled as he clicked on one of the articles. There was a photo of Carlos, dressed in a sleek suit, stepping out of a black car with tinted windows. He looked cold, hardened, nothing like the soft-eyed guy who FaceTimed Lando from his bedroom, half-laughing and asking if Lando liked cats.

The article went into details about Carlos’s strained relationship with his parents. Terms like emotional manipulation, forced control, and estate power struggle were thrown around. Apparently, Carlos had been trying to legally emancipate himself from his parents’ control over his trust fund, and the move to buy a house under his own name, with a "non-affiliated third party," was part of that plan.

Lando blinked, jaw slack.

Non-affiliated third party.

Lando’s heart thudded hard against his ribs, a dull echo in his chest. His thumb still hadn’t moved. The screen dimmed slightly, waiting for him to act, to acknowledge something, anything, but he just stared. He felt it in waves: first confusion, then disbelief, and now something closer to betrayal. Or maybe it was embarrassment. Or fear. It was hard to tell, his thoughts were tangled, wrapped around each other in a knot that made it impossible to breathe fully.

He shifted on the bed, the springs creaking beneath him, the silence of his childhood room wrapping around him like a blanket that suddenly felt too tight. The posters on the wall, the worn hoodie hanging on his chair, the faint hum of the ceiling fan, they were all reminders of the small life he lived. A life filled with staff meetings over expired yoghurt, early morning shifts at the till, lunch breaks with Daniel laughing about customers who didn’t know where the eggs were.

And then there was Carlos. Carlos, with his golden skin and charming smirk. Carlos, who had just texted Lando how much he was looking forward to next week.

Lando swallowed hard.

The articles had felt like being splashed with cold water. No, like being dropped into the middle of the ocean, alone, with no warning.

Carlos was not just some hot guy who wanted a fresh start. He was a man with legacy wounds and high-stakes secrets. And Lando? Lando was... conveniently not connected to any of it.

"Non-affiliated third party."

The phrase looped through his head, taunting him.

Was that all he was to Carlos? A loophole in a legal plan? Someone easy to manipulate because he still lived with his mum and worked checkout six days a week?

His phone buzzed again. This time, it felt loud. Aggressively loud.

Carlos: “You okay? You’ve gone quiet.”
Lando stared at the message like it might explode. He could feel his pulse in his throat now.

Do I ask him about it? Do I call him out? Do I pretend I didn’t see?

He couldn’t ignore the sting. Not after everything they’d shared, those late-night calls where Carlos talked about wanting “normal,” where Lando had let himself believe, just for once, that maybe something extraordinary could happen to someone like him.

He didn’t want this to be a story where he got used. Not again. Not like—

He didn’t finish the thought. He didn’t want to remember the last time he trusted someone who made him feel seen.

Another buzz.

Daniel: “Dude. Be careful. This is way above your paygrade.”
Lando clenched his jaw.

He knew Daniel meant well, but the text still made his gut twist. As if his entire existence could be summed up by what tax bracket he belonged to. And maybe that was part of what hurt most, because it was kind of true. Lando was out of his depth. He knew that. But part of him, the part that still believed in maybe, wanted to believe Carlos wasn’t playing him.

That Carlos had seen him, not just the strategic benefit of his obscurity.

He stared at the screen. The cursor blinked in the message box like it was daring him to speak.

His chest rose with a shaky inhale. Then he typed:

“We need to talk.” He hit send before he could talk himself out of it, then tossed the phone on the bed like it had burned him.

And suddenly he felt everything. His stomach flipped, his throat went dry, and his mind filled with questions he wasn’t sure he wanted answered.

He laid back and stared at the ceiling, trying to breathe. He wasn’t sure what scared him more, the possibility that Carlos had used him, or the possibility that Carlos hadn’t… and this was real.

Lando didn’t pick the phone up for a while. It sat there next to him, screen dark, like a sleeping animal he didn’t want to wake. He sat in the quiet, a dense kind of quiet, the kind that presses down on your chest. His room hadn’t changed in ten years. Same sagging mattress, same cheap curtains faded by the sun. The only new addition was his phone vibrating softly beside him, full of headlines that didn’t belong in his world.

He picked it up again, thumbed through the texts from Daniel one more time.
“Be careful. This is way above your pay-grade.”

Lando exhaled. It wasn’t even the money thing that bothered him. It was the truth of it. He was being swept up in a life that he had no real grip on, and the only person who seemed to see it was Daniel.

So he called him. It only rang once.

“Finally.” Daniel’s voice came through, laced with worry and frustration. “You’ve had me pacing in the frozen aisle for twenty minutes like a psycho.”

Lando tried to chuckle but it caught in his throat. “Sorry. I was… yeah. Just needed a second.”

There was a beat of silence on the other end.

“You at home?”

“Yeah.”

“I’m coming over.”

Lando wanted to say no. He wanted to say I’m fine or we’ll talk tomorrow. But the truth was, his chest felt like it was splitting open and he didn’t want to be alone with it.

“Okay.”

Daniel hung up without waiting for a goodbye.

Daniel let himself in, the way he always had. He didn’t knock, he didn’t need to. Mrs. Norris shouted from the kitchen, something about there being leftover shepherd’s pie in the fridge if either of them were hungry. They both ignored it.

Lando was still on his bed, back against the wall, legs stretched out and phone in his hand like a lifeline. Daniel plopped down in the desk chair, spinning it slightly as he scanned his friend’s face.

“You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

“I might’ve,” Lando said, voice low. “Or maybe I just saw the truth.”

Daniel nodded. “So… it’s him?”

Lando passed the phone over. “Yeah. It’s him.”

Daniel scrolled through the articles again, even though he’d already read them twice before sending them. There was something about seeing them here, in this room, in this context, that made them feel even heavier.

“He never told you?” Daniel asked, already knowing the answer.

Lando shook his head. “No. I mean, he mentioned wanting to get away from his family. Said they were ‘complicated.’ But he didn’t say he was, like…” He gestured vaguely at the screen. “This.”

Daniel raised an eyebrow. “Rich-kid royalty level screwed up?”

“Yeah.”

They sat in silence for a moment, the fan clicking above them. Outside, a car drove by with its bass thumping, too loud for the street. Lando didn’t move.
Daniel leaned forward, elbows on his knees. “Lando, mate… you’re about to sign legal documents with a guy you haven’t even hugged. That’s not romantic. That’s mental.”

“I know,” Lando said, voice small.

“Do you?” Daniel shot back, not unkindly. “Because it sounds like you’re still half-convinced this is some kind of fairy tale.”

“It wasn’t a fairy tale,” Lando said, sharper now. “He was… kind. He listened to me. He asked about my mum. He liked my stupid jokes. It didn’t feel fake, Daniel. Not once.”

Daniel exhaled through his nose. “I’m not saying it was fake. I’m saying there’s a difference between someone liking you and someone needing you.”

Lando looked away, the words cutting too close.

Daniel softened. “Look. I don’t think he’s trying to hurt you. I just think you’re the only real thing in his life right now. And that’s dangerous, for you. Because if this goes sideways, he’ll still have lawyers and assets and private islands or whatever. You’ll have... debt. And a signed mortgage with a stranger.”

Lando ran a hand down his face. “I keep thinking… what if I’m just helping him escape something? What if this isn’t about me at all?”

Daniel tilted his head. “Then ask him. Not over text. Not through emojis and house listings. Talk to him. Face to face. Make him tell you the truth. And if he flinches, even a little, you walk.”

Lando nodded slowly. “I was lonely,” he said, so quietly Daniel barely heard it. “I didn’t think anyone like him would ever talk to someone like me.”

Daniel stood and crossed the room, clapped a hand on Lando’s shoulder.
“You’re not nothing, mate. And if someone makes you feel like you are, even a little, they don’t deserve your name on anything, let alone a fucking mortgage.”

Lando felt tears sting at the edge of his eyes, but he blinked them back. “I’m gonna call him,” he said. “FaceTime. Tonight.”

Daniel gave a firm nod. “Good. Just… keep your guard up, okay?”

Lando gave a tired laugh. “That ship’s sailed.”

“No,” Daniel said, “it hasn’t. You still haven’t signed anything. You still get to choose.”

Lando looked at him, really looked, and nodded, and for the first time all evening, he felt like he could breathe again.
Daniel left not too long after, having to go cook for Max, although he really just grabbed the shepherds pie Lando’s mom had made.

Lando sat in the dark for a long time before he could bring himself to press the button. His room was lit only by the screen in front of him, his thumb hovering over the green FaceTime icon next to Carlos’s name. He stared at it like it might bite. This wasn’t just a call. This was a question, one he wasn’t sure he wanted the answer to. He could almost pretend none of it was real if he never made the call. No articles, no rich-boy headlines, no sharp words from Daniel echoing in his head. But pretending was over. He needed to know.

His thumb finally dropped.

The dial tone rang once. Then again. And again.

For a moment, he thought Carlos might not answer, but then the screen shifted.

Carlos’s face appeared, his background a pale wall and soft yellow light. He looked tired. Not unkempt, not disheveled, but tired in the way that lives in the bones, behind the eyes. His hair was a little messy, a hoodie hanging off one shoulder. He looked exactly like he had every night they talked, casual, soft around the edges.

Except now, Lando saw it all differently.

“Hey,” Carlos said, with a small, genuine smile. “I was starting to think you ghosted me.”

Lando tried to smile back, but it didn’t come.

Carlos’s face shifted. “What’s wrong?”

Lando swallowed. “I saw the articles.” There it was. Just like that.

Carlos blinked. His mouth parted like he was about to respond, but nothing came. His gaze shifted slightly, like he was looking through the screen, not at it.

Lando kept going.

“I saw everything, Carlos. Your parents. The company. The trust fund. The lawyers. The house thing, the way they said you were using ‘unaffiliated third parties’ to gain independence.”

Carlos exhaled slowly, rubbed the side of his face. He didn’t deny it. He didn’t look surprised. He looked... tired. More tired than before.
Lando sat forward a little. His voice was soft but steady. “Did you choose me because I’m a nobody?”

Carlos’s head snapped up. “No.”

His answer was fast, too fast, like a reflex. But then his face softened, and he spoke again slower this time.

“No,” he repeated. “I didn’t choose you because you’re a nobody. I matched with you because you smiled in your pictures like you didn’t care if people were watching. And because you listed your favourite movie as Shrek 2 like it was a masterpiece.”

Lando looked away, jaw tight.

Carlos’s voice dropped. “But yeah. I didn’t tell you everything. And I should’ve. I didn’t want to scare you off.”

Lando’s eyes flicked back to the screen. “Scare me off with what? The truth?”

“No,” Carlos said, “with the weight of it. My family’s name... it’s a prison with good lighting. I’ve been trying to break out of it for years. And when I matched with you, it felt like maybe I’d found something untouched by all of it. Something real.”

“And buying a house together? That’s real?” Lando said, his voice rising now, heat creeping in. “You wanted something real so you asked a guy you’ve never met to take out a mortgage with you?”

Carlos winced. “I know how that sounds. I do. But I wasn’t just using you, Lando. I liked you. I still do.”

“But you still let me walk into this blind,” Lando said. “You knew what I didn’t. You held the power in this from the start.”

Carlos looked down for a long moment, jaw working, something raw flickering behind his eyes. “You’re right,” he said. “I did. I was selfish. I didn’t want to lose you before I even had a chance to know you in person. But I also didn’t think you’d say yes. I thought we’d talk, maybe meet up, maybe see where things went. I didn’t expect you to actually want the house too.”

Lando rubbed his temples. “I wanted you, Carlos. Not the house. Not the story. You.”

The words sat there between them. They were heavier than Lando expected them to be.

Carlos looked at him then, really looked and for the first time, Lando saw him not as a perfect face on a screen, not as a fantasy or a headline, but as someone wounded and scarred, trying to outrun ghosts made of gold.

“My parents don’t hit me,” Carlos said quietly. “Not physically. But... they control everything. Where I go, who I talk to, what I can buy. They made my life into something I don’t even recognize anymore. I’ve had friends walk away because they didn’t want to be caught in the middle of it. I just wanted one thing, one person, that wasn’t connected to that world.”

Lando was quiet for a long time. He didn’t look away. “And that person is me?”

Carlos nodded, eyes low. “Yeah.” Carlos’s face on the screen was still, like he was bracing for a fall that never came.

Lando sat there, taking it all in, the articles, the truth, the messy, privileged, painful chaos Carlos had come from. It didn’t make everything okay, but it painted a picture. And in that picture, Carlos didn’t look like the villain. He looked like someone trying to claw his way out of a life he never asked for, clinging to the first real thing that had come along, and, for better or worse, that was Lando.

Lando exhaled, slow. Thoughtful. He rubbed his hands together in his lap, the way he did when he was nervous at work or trying to count change with shaking fingers.

“I’m not mad,” he said, and it was true. “I just wish you’d told me. Not because it would’ve scared me off, but because it would’ve made me trust you more.”

Carlos looked at him then, quiet. Waiting.

“And… I think I do trust you,” Lando said softly. “I think I see you, Carlos. Not just the name, or the headlines, or the money. You. The guy who listens when I talk about work. The guy who wanted a cat but didn’t know if he could handle the responsibility.”

A tiny laugh broke through Carlos’s lips, fragile and grateful.

Lando smiled too, but just barely. “This is crazy, yeah. I mean, buying a house before we’ve even met? Insane. But I don’t think you were trying to use me.”
Carlos’s expression shifted, softened. Like something behind his eyes unclenched.

“You’re still okay with next Tuesday?” he asked, careful, like he didn’t want to push.

Lando nodded, slowly but firmly. “Yeah. I’m okay with it.”

Carlos blinked. “Really?”

“I don’t think we need to have everything figured out to take a step,” Lando said. “But we should take it together. So, yeah. Let’s sign the papers. Let’s get the keys. And then… let’s figure the rest out, one step at a time. Not as strangers. But as whatever this is, something real.”

Carlos swallowed, visibly holding back the emotion behind his eyes. “I don’t know what I did to deserve this.”

Lando shrugged, half-smiling. “Me neither. But I guess we both get a bit of luck for once.”

They were quiet for a while after that, not awkwardly, but peacefully. The kind of silence that felt earned.

Carlos eventually said softly, “I want to meet you before Tuesday.”

Lando grinned. “Yeah. That would probably help.”

“Coffee? Tomorrow?”

“I know a place. It’s nothing fancy.”

“Perfect.”

They didn’t say goodbye. Neither of them wanted to hang up first, but when the screen finally went dark, Lando sat back in bed, his phone warm in his hand, and let himself smile, not because everything was fixed, but because for the first time, he wasn’t afraid of where it might go.

He wasn’t being dragged into someone else’s life.

He was walking into something new, by choice. If it's a dumb one, he'd figure that out soon enough. But, hey, at least it will make for a good story. 

Chapter 4: Chapter 4

Notes:

Another update because I had the creative juices flowinnnn (read: procrastinating studying for my finals)

To say Lando was nervous would’ve been a laughable understatement. He was wired, heart buzzing, skin prickling, stomach flipping every time he even thought about what the next day might hold. Sleep wasn’t just elusive; it was impossible. He’d been tossing and turning for hours, the bedsheets tangled around his legs like restraints, trapping him in a night that refused to end.

His mind wouldn’t stop. It kept circling through an endless loop of possibilities, what Carlos might look like in person, whether his voice would sound different face-to-face, if there’d be awkward silences or too much eye contact or not enough. He imagined Carlos smiling at him the way he did on video. He imagined not recognizing him at all. He imagined Carlos taking one look at him and realizing he’d made a mistake.

Again and again, he spun out, overthinking, recalculating, preparing. For what, he didn’t even know.

At 4:07 AM, he rolled over for what had to be the hundredth time. The attic was hot and stuffy despite the cracked window, and the air had that stale, metallic edge of a room that had been closed up too long. The ceiling fan above him whirred in lazy, tired circles, letting out a soft metallic clunk every few seconds, just enough to irritate, but not enough to fix. It was driving him mad.

Clunk.
Clunk.
Clunk.

Lando groaned into his pillow. The sound had become some kind of cruel metronome for his anxiety. And yet, turning it off wasn’t an option, not unless he wanted to suffocate in the thick attic heat, which already felt like it was seeping into his skin.

He flipped onto his back and stared up at the ceiling fan blades. “You’re lucky I don’t own a wrench,” he muttered.

He tried closing his eyes again, willing sleep to come, but his heart thumped too loudly against his ribs, a physical reminder that morning and Carlos were coming fast.

-------

Lando had managed, at best, two hours of sleep, though even that felt somewhat generous. What little rest he’d gotten had been fractured, restless, filled with strange dreams he couldn’t remember and a pounding heart that refused to settle. Now, as he stood in the middle of his room clutching his third cup of coffee, he could feel himself running on nothing but raw nerves and the shaky high of caffeine. It was barely 8 AM, and his hands were already trembling, not from fear, exactly, but from the unbearable energy coursing through his system.

He took another gulp of the coffee, not even tasting it anymore, and resumed pacing. Back and forth. Floorboards creaking under his socks. His room looked like it had been hit by a minor tornado, one fueled by existential dread and bad fashion choices. His closet doors stood wide open, both hanging slightly crooked on their hinges, and the floor was completely overtaken by clothes. Jeans, jumpers, shirts he’d long forgotten he owned, all discarded in wrinkled piles.

He’d tried on at least a dozen combinations, some too formal, some too casual, some just wrong in ways he couldn’t explain. One hoodie made him look twelve. A button-up made him look like he was headed to a job interview at a law firm. Everything in between was either too worn, too tight, or embarrassingly loud.

With a dramatic groan, he threw yet another rejected t-shirt onto the growing mountain of failure at his feet and flopped backward onto his bed. His coffee sloshed in his hand, but he didn’t care anymore.

“Why do I even own a neon green flannel?” he muttered to the ceiling, half-laughing, half-mourning every poor clothing decision he’d ever made. “Who let me spend money? Who let me go outside?”

He ran a hand down his face, fingers dragging across tired eyes. The caffeine was doing little more than amplifying his panic at this point.

He wanted to look good, not perfect, not polished, just... presentable. Like someone worth meeting. Worth remembering.

But in this moment, surrounded by nothing but threadbare hoodies and questionable fashion crimes, he felt like a kid again. Small. Underprepared. Not quite enough.

Still, time was moving, and meeting Carlos was becoming inevitable.

Lando sat up, tossed back the rest of his coffee, and stared at the mirror across the room. His reflection blinked back at him, dark circles under his eyes and hair that defied any brush.

He blew out a breath and pointed to himself in the mirror. “Okay, you need to get it together.”

Then it hit him.

Not a good idea, not a well-thought-out or carefully planned idea, but an idea, nonetheless.

Was it solid? Absolutely not. Was it guaranteed to succeed? Highly questionable. But in his current caffeine-fueled, sleep-deprived state, Lando couldn’t be bothered with details like logic or dignity.

Without a second thought, he grabbed his mug, abandoned the battlefield that was his own wardrobe, and made a beeline down the narrow hallway toward his parents’ room. His bare feet made dull thuds against the old wooden floorboards as he moved with the urgent conviction of a man on the edge.

He threw open the closet doors with a theatrical flourish, already cringing in anticipation of the dusty scent of cologne and stored nostalgia. His dad’s side was a mixed bag of outdated polos, stiff blazers, and suspiciously beige sweaters. Still, compared to his own closet full of adolescent regret, it felt like raiding a boutique.

“Come on, come on,” he muttered to himself, flicking through hangers. “You had a life before gardening and making questionable organic snacks. I know you used to own something normal.”

To his genuine shock, there were a few decent pieces tucked away behind the novelty ties and poorly folded golf shirts, sweaters in rich earth tones, a few half-zips in surprisingly good condition, and a navy jacket that might’ve passed as "minimalist chic" if you squinted.

He pulled out a maroon half-zip made of thick cotton, slightly faded at the collar but still respectable, and threw it over his arm. With a short prayer that his father’s mid-forties dad-bod and his own lanky twenty-something frame weren't tooincompatible, he turned and bolted back upstairs, nearly tripping over a loose floorboard in the hallway in the process.

By the time he reached his room again, he was already halfway into the sweater, tugging it over his head like a man possessed. The sleeves were a little roomy, the fit slightly looser than he was used to, but it didn’t hang wrong. It felt... lived in. Comfortable, but still presentable.

He turned to the mirror, adjusting the collar, brushing a hand down the front. And then he froze.

“Holy shit,” he breathed.

He barely recognized himself.

The maroon color set off his tan better than he expected, warming his skin, bringing out the gold in his eyes. His messy hair, somehow, suddenly looked effortless instead of tragic. For the first time in what felt like forever, he didn’t look like the awkward kid at the back of the class.

He looked... kind of good.

There was a flicker of something in his chest, not quite confidence, but a tiny spark of it. Enough to make him smile, just a little.

“Okay,” he whispered to his reflection. “Maybe you won’t totally fuck this up.”

He took a breath, straightened the hem, and headed downstairs.

For the first time that morning, he wasn’t spiraling.

Lando wandered into the kitchen for what felt like the fourth time that morning, maybe fifth. The sun had barely stretched across the tiles yet, and already he was orbiting the kettle like it was his only source of purpose. The mug in his hand trembled slightly from nerves, caffeine, and a complete lack of sleep. He reached for the jar of instant coffee again, mind somewhere else entirely, already rehearsing how to smile, how to walk in, how to breathe like a normal human being when he finally saw Carlos face-to-face.

He barely registered the sudden movement beside him.

A hand reached out and snatched the mug clean from his grasp.

“Hey!” Lando yelped, startled, whipping around to find his dad standing there with one eyebrow raised, mug now firmly in his possession like it was evidence in a crime scene.

“Are you trying to give yourself a caffeine-induced heart attack?” his dad asked, eyeing him like he’d just attempted to chug battery acid.

Lando sighed and leaned against the counter, too tired to argue but still annoyed. “I’d like to have that option, actually.”

His dad didn’t reply, just gave him the kind of dry, unamused look only a father could give before placing the mug gently into the dishwasher with a quiet clink. It felt strangely final, like a barista refusing service.

Lando groaned under his breath and rubbed the back of his neck.

He could feel his dad’s eyes still on him.

Then came the pause. The narrowed stare.

“Wait a second,” his father said slowly, a note of suspicion creeping in. “Is that my sweater?”

Lando froze. His heart dropped like he’d been caught stealing a car instead of cotton.

He glanced down at the maroon half-zip, suddenly aware of every fold, every thread that screamed not yours. His mouth opened, then closed. Then opened again, a silent, fish-like stammer of someone trying to find a lie and failing miserably.

His dad didn’t even look mad. Just... resigned.

“I’m gonna go,” Lando said abruptly, voice an octave too high as he turned on his heel.

His father huffed a laugh. “You better not spill anything on it.”

“No promises!” Lando called over his shoulder as he disappeared toward the front door.

Lando slung his leg over his bike, the tires slightly deflated from sitting too long in the garden shed. Of course he didn’t have his driver’s license yet, just another checkbox on the list of things he hadn’t gotten around to. A twenty-seven-year-old without a car, still living at home, borrowing his dad’s clothes. Pathetic. It echoed in his head with every push of the pedals. Carlos must be absolutely insane, he thought bitterly, if he’s willing to overlook all this.

The streets were quiet, slick with dew, and the sky above looked bloated with clouds, already threatening to burst.

And because the universe had a cruel sense of humor, or maybe just terrible timing, it happened as he reached the bottom of the hill leading toward the café.

The sky cracked open, and a cold, relentless sheet of rain poured down like a curse.

“Are you fucking kidding me right now?!” Lando gritted out, teeth clenched as the rain soaked through his borrowed sweater and turned the fabric into a heavy second skin. The maroon color darkened, clinging to his back and arms as water streamed down his face.

He pedaled harder, tires slipping slightly on the wet asphalt, breath coming faster as he pushed himself up the incline. Cardio is bullshit, he thought desperately, thighs burning and lungs protesting. Absolute bullshit (it’s not).

By the time the café came into view, Lando was drenched and gasping, hair plastered to his forehead, water dripping from the hem of his sleeves. He skidded to a halt near the entrance, flung his bike against the brick wall with a clatter, fumbled with the lock like a man disarming a bomb, and bolted toward the door.

The warm air hit him the moment he stepped inside, the smell of roasted coffee beans and cinnamon pastries curling around him. But he barely registered it.

Because Carlos was already there.

Sitting by the window, bathed in soft morning light, one hand cradling a mug, the other resting on the edge of the table like it belonged there, like he belonged there. And his eyes were already on Lando.

Dark, warm, and entirely focused.

Lando stopped in his tracks, every drop of rain clinging to his skin suddenly irrelevant. His breath caught as Carlos stood up, slow and smooth, gaze trailing over him from head to toe,  not judging, not even surprised, just taking him in.

And Lando... Lando wanted to crawl out of his skin.

His cheeks flamed instantly. Not just from embarrassment, or the awkwardness of being caught dripping wet and wheezing. No, it was Carlos.

Carlos in real life was even more breathtaking than on screen. Not flawless, not airbrushed,  but human in a way that knocked the air out of Lando’s lungs. He had presence. Gravity.

Rain streamed down Lando’s face, and he clumsily tried to swipe it away with his sleeve, only managing to smear it across his cheek.

Then Carlos moved toward him, slow and sure, reaching into his coat pocket.

He pulled out a handkerchief, real, actual cloth, not a paper napkin and unfolded it carefully in one hand. His expression was gentle, faintly amused, but not mocking. And his voice, when he finally spoke, was lower than Lando remembered. Rich. Warm. Intimate.

“May I?” he asked softly, his accent curling around the words like velvet.

Lando could only nod. Dumbly. Wordlessly. His tongue felt glued to the roof of his mouth.

Carlos stepped a little closer, close enough for Lando to smell something soft and clean on his skin, not cologne, just him. He reached up, deliberate and unhurried, and gently pressed the edge of the handkerchief to Lando’s cheek, dabbing away the raindrops with a tenderness that caught Lando completely off guard.

Every nerve in Lando’s body lit up.

He didn’t dare move. Didn’t even blink.

Because for the first time in weeks, maybe longer, Lando wasn’t just imagining what it might feel like to be cared for.

He was feeling it. Right there. In the steady touch of Carlos’s hand, in the way his thumb grazed the side of his jaw like Lando was something worth holding gently.

The café melted away.

There was only the two of them, at least that what it felt like.

 

 

 

Chapter 5: Chapter 5

Lando was mesmerized in a way he’d never been before. It was as if the world had shifted around him, subtly but irreversibly, the second Carlos’s fingers brushed his skin. Everything else, the faint hum of conversation in the café, the hiss of the espresso machine, the patter of rain still dripping from his hair, faded into a muted backdrop behind the quiet intensity of this single, impossibly gentle touch.

He’d always scoffed at the idea of love at first sight. He’d rolled his eyes at it in films, muttered under his breath when characters fell in love halfway through a conversation, and told himself it was a pretty lie spun by hopeless romantics who needed something to cling to.

But now, standing here, dripping rainwater on the café floor, breathing in the warmth of Carlos’s closeness, Lando felt something cracking open inside him. It wasn’t just butterflies fluttering in his stomach; it was something deeper, more electric, something that seemed to root itself in his chest and spread outward, humming along his nerves, pooling in his fingertips.

He felt awake in a way that had nothing to do with coffee and everything to do with the way Carlos looked at him, like Lando was not a mess of wet hair and borrowed sweaters but something rare and worth lingering over.

His heart beat harder, faster, pushing blood through his veins until he swore he could hear it in his ears. It wasn’t logical. It didn’t make sense. But he didn’t care.

In this moment, every doubt, every cynical thought about romance being unrealistic or too big for someone like him, it all fell away.

Because this didn’t feel big in an unreachable, fairytale way.

It felt big because it was real.

Carlos lowered the handkerchief slowly, his fingers lingering for just a beat too long near Lando’s jaw before he stepped back, giving them both space to breathe.

The air between them felt thick, but not heavy, like something fragile and forming. Lando could feel his pulse in his throat. He stared for a moment too long, then immediately looked down, cheeks burning.

Carlos was the first to speak, his voice a little softer now, like he didn’t want to startle whatever had just settled between them.

“You really came,” he said, almost like he hadn’t let himself believe it would happen.

Lando let out a breath that was half a laugh. “Of course I came. I signed up for a mortgage with you, showing up seemed like the least I could do.”

Carlos smiled, not the confident, curated kind Lando had seen on screen, but something gentler, more crooked. “Yeah, that’s fair. Most people ask for coffee before co-ownership of property, though.” Lando said.

“I know, I’m a real romantic,” Carlos said, rubbing at the back of his neck. “Next time I’ll try flowers and a lease.”

Lando chuckled, but his eyes never left Carlos’.

There was a pause. Neither of them quite knew what to do with their hands. Lando’s were shoved awkwardly into the pockets of his dad’s sweater; Carlos’s were fidgeting with the hem of the handkerchief.

“I, uh…” Lando started, then stopped, then tried again. “You look... real.”

Carlos tilted his head, amused. “You say that like you weren’t sure I would be.”

“I wasn’t,” Lando admitted. “You kind of look like someone who should exist on billboards. Not in a coffee shop. With me.”

Carlos’s smile faded, but not in a bad way. It softened.

“I’ve been looking forward to seeing you,” he said. “In person. I wasn’t sure you’d still want to.”

Lando blinked, heart thudding all over again. “I do. I mean, I’m still figuring it all out. But I wanted to be here. With you.”

“I’m glad… that you’re here,” Carlos said finally, his voice low, carrying a weight that felt sincere and unpolished. A small smile tugged at his lips, not the kind he wore for cameras or strangers, but the kind that lived in the corners of his face when he let himself relax.

Lando felt his own mouth curve in response, almost involuntarily. “Me too,” he murmured, barely above a whisper. His eyes stayed locked on Carlos’s, unable or maybe unwilling to look away. There was something about them, the softness, the steadiness, that wrapped around him like a blanket. Warm and safe, like a bear hug on Christmas morning.

The silence stretched, but not uncomfortably. They lingered in it, exchanging shy smiles and fleeting glances, like teenagers tasting their first love, caught between laughter and something deeper they couldn’t yet name.

“Tuesday’s the big day,” Carlos said eventually, breaking the spell with a gentle reminder.

Lando nodded, almost dazed, still half-wondering how on earth he’d stumbled into this moment. Him, awkward, sleepless, coffee-fueled Lando about to live with this impossibly breathtaking man. It felt unreal.

Carlos leaned forward slightly, his tone shifting toward practical. “I was thinking… maybe we should go over some details. Like, what the sleeping arrangements are going to be.”

Before Lando’s brain could catch up with his mouth, the words slipped out. “I imagine not much.”

The second they left his lips, heat exploded across his cheeks. His eyes went wide, and he immediately snapped his gaze down to his lap, mortified. He’d never wanted to rewind time faster in his life.

Carlos, however, laughed. A warm, genuine sound that filled the small space between them and made Lando’s embarrassment feel almost bearable.

“Alright,” Carlos chuckled, amusement flickering in his eyes, “I guess we can cross that topic off the list.”

“Oh my god,” Lando groaned, covering his face with his hands. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean it like that. Sometimes I just… I blurt things out without thinking, and it never does me any good.”

His voice tumbled out in a rush, half apology, half panic.

But when he dared peek through his fingers, Carlos was still smiling at him. Not mocking, not judging, just smiling, like he found Lando’s honesty more endearing than anything else.

“But seriously,” Carlos said after a moment, his tone gentle, steady, “it’s okay if we have separate rooms. We’re practically strangers still.”

Lando paused, letting the words settle. He knew Carlos was right, it was the respectful, decent thing to do. And yet, hearing Carlos say it aloud felt oddly grounding, as though they were drawing the first line of safety in this strange, tangled situation.

“Yeah,” Lando agreed, nodding slowly. “That might be best. Both of us having our own space.” He almost startled himself with how reasonable he sounded, as if some unexpected streak of maturity had finally decided to make an appearance.

“Exactly,” Carlos said, offering him that soft, disarming smile again, the one that seemed to slip past all of Lando’s defenses without trying. “We can always change things in the future, if it feels right. But in the beginning… it’s probably the best way.”

Lando felt warmth creep up his neck. If Carlos keeps smiling like that, I’m done for, he thought, gripping his cup a little tighter.

He cleared his throat, choosing his next words carefully. “So… have you told your parents?” he asked, voice tentative as he lifted the mug to his lips.

Carlos didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he just stared at Lando across the table, his expression unreadable, like he was weighing something.

When he finally spoke, it was quiet. “No.”

Lando’s head snapped up, eyes wide. “No?” He hadn’t meant for it to come out so sharp, but the surprise was impossible to hide.

“I sort of just wanted to… vanish. Leave without a trace.” Carlos replied, his voice calm but Lando could detect the slight nervousness in it, however that is if Lando actually paid attention to his only psych course during his further education year.

And you think you can pull that off?” Lando asked finally, his voice softer now, measured, as he took another sip of his drink.

“I…” Carlos hesitated, shifting in his seat, shoulders tightening just a fraction. “I’m not sure.”

“So you want to cut off all contact with them?” Lando asked carefully, his voice lower now, as if speaking too loudly might shatter the fragile honesty in the air. He just wanted to be sure he understood, to clarify what Carlos was actually saying.

Carlos didn’t answer right away. His gaze had drifted past Lando, somewhere into the middle distance, as though the weight of the question pressed down on him. After a few long, tense moments, he gave a small nod.

“That’s the plan,” he whispered, the words barely audible, almost like admitting them aloud made them heavier.

Lando’s chest tightened. “It’s that bad, huh?” he asked, his tone softer now, not prying, not judging, just steady. The kind of softness that said: you don’t have to carry this alone, not right now.

Carlos’s lips pressed together, his jaw working as though he was holding back too much at once. “You don’t even want to know,” he murmured, eyes still fixed on some faraway point beyond the café window. The flatness in his voice made it clear, this wasn’t just rebellion or frustration. It was desperation.

And that, more than anything, struck Lando. Carlos wasn’t a reckless person, he radiated calm, composure, control. For someone like him to even consider severing ties with his own family, things had to be worse than Lando could imagine.

Not wanting to push him further than he was ready to go, Lando shifted the focus slightly, giving him a softer landing. “I haven’t told my parents either,” he admitted, voice quiet. “So my reaction just now wasn’t fair.”

That earned him the faintest laugh from Carlos, a soft, almost disbelieving sound that eased some of the tension between them. When his eyes lifted to meet Lando’s again, they were warmer. Grateful, almost.

“How do you think they’re going to respond?” Carlos asked, his voice light but edged with genuine curiosity.

Lando huffed a small laugh, already picturing the scene in his mind. “Probably happy. And probably also mortified. My mum will make a list of every single thing I can’t do, cooking, laundry, anything involving a screwdriver, and then she’ll wonder how on earth I’m supposed to survive without supervision.”

Carlos’s lips curved into a real smile at that, the kind that softened the tension in his shoulders.

“But they’ll be understanding, no?” he asked, and though his tone was casual, there was still that faint undercurrent of nerves, like he needed the reassurance more than he wanted to admit.

“Yeah,” Lando said softly, meeting his gaze again with certainty. “They will. They’re good people.”

Carlos exhaled, a small sound of relief escaping him as another sweet smile tugged at his lips. “Good.”

Before Lando could get another word in, Carlos’s phone buzzed sharply against the table, its vibration cutting through the soft hum of the café. Carlos glanced at the screen, his expression flickering with something unreadable before he lifted his gaze to Lando with an apologetic smile.

“Sorry,” he murmured, already reaching for it.

Lando nodded, pretending it didn’t sting a little. He busied himself with his mug, staring into the swirl of coffee dregs as if they might form shapes, anything to keep him from looking like he was openly eavesdropping. But it was impossible not to.

Because Carlos spoke Spanish.

Smooth, fluid syllables rolled off his tongue, low and controlled, every word sliding together like music. Lando had never thought of himself as someone with a “thing” for another language, but God, hearing Carlos speak like that was… hypnotizing. The rhythm of it, the warmth. It was like Carlos transformed into someone else entirely, sharper, more composed.

Why the hell is everything this man does so hot? Lando thought helplessly, his pulse quickening.

The call ended too soon, the sudden silence almost jarring. Carlos slipped his phone back into his pocket, but something about him had shifted. His shoulders sat higher, his expression carefully arranged, his presence suddenly carrying the faint edge of tension.

“I’m sorry, but I have to go,” he said, standing.

Lando blinked, pushing himself up too, rainwater still clinging stubbornly to his hair and the hem of his borrowed sweater. “Everything okay?” he asked carefully, trying not to sound too intrusive.

Carlos gave a small, reassuring nod, though it didn’t quite reach his eyes. “Yeah, just… some things I need to take care of.”

Before Lando could even think to reach for his wallet, Carlos had already signaled the waitress, sliding his credit card into her hand with quiet efficiency. Lando felt a protest rise in his throat but swallowed it down.

“Alright,” he said instead, the word coming out more awkward than he intended. He searched Carlos’s face, hoping to catch his gaze one more time before he left. “I guess I’ll see you later.”

Carlos looked back at him then, and the warmth in his smile softened the tension from the phone call, just for a moment. Without hesitation, he stepped closer and pulled Lando into an embrace.

It was firm, warm, grounding, a hug that felt like it was meant to last longer than it did.

“Yeah,” Carlos murmured near his ear, his voice lower now, softer, “it was really nice meeting you, Lando.”

Lando closed his eyes, letting himself sink into the moment, into the solid warmth of Carlos’s chest, the faint scent of rain and clean cotton. For a few seconds, he let himself simply be there, wishing time would slow down.

“It was nice meeting you, too,” he whispered back, his voice almost trembling with how much he meant it.

And then it was gone. Carlos pulled back, and Lando had to resist the instinct to lean forward, to chase the comfort he’d just lost.

At the door, Carlos held it open for him, and Lando stepped out obediently, the cool damp air wrapping around him again.

“I’ll call you tonight,” Carlos promised, his eyes catching Lando’s one last time before he disappeared into the rain.

Lando stood there for a few seconds, blinking against the drizzle, trying to piece together everything that had just happened. It felt surreal, like he’d stepped out of a dream too quickly.

But before he could even begin to gather himself, Carlos reappeared through the misty rain. He was holding an umbrella, the fabric snapping softly as he opened it.

“Here,” he said, extending it toward Lando. “Don’t want you catching a cold.”

Lando took it with both hands, cheeks heating instantly. “Thank you,” he murmured, his gaze darting away, embarrassed by the sudden wave of shyness crashing over him.

Carlos lingered just a moment longer, watching him with something that felt halfway between fondness and worry. “Be safe,” Carlos told him before actually leaving this time.

Notes:

Who caught the modern family reference?

Notes:

Hope you enjoyed it!