Chapter Text
Nothing but the car and the track. The adrenaline is flowing through your veins as you attempt an overtake on your title rival for the F1 championship in an intense battle for the lead of the race to potentially go 5 points clear in the drivers' standings if you win the race. This is Ava’s mindset as she reaches the hairpin at the Monaco Grand Prix in her OCS F1 car. JC Ramirez, Ava's main rival in the way of Ava becoming the first-ever female F1 champion, tries to cover the overtake. But not today, like the last race in Miami, where JC erratically ended both of their races, attempting to cover her off in a similar way. Today is her race to win.
“Keep pushing. Ava, you got this.” Camila, Ava’s lead engineer, communicates with Ava and pushes her on from the OCS garage. But Ava needs her focus right now.
“Don’t talk to me when I’m attempting a fucking overtake!"
Is it rude to say that to your friend and biggest support system back in the garage during a race? Yes, yes, it is. But this is racing; this is F1. This is the adrenaline of fighting for a title to break down barriers and open the floodgates for more future female F1 drivers, but more importantly for Ava. To win the title that her father, Fabian, would've won but didn’t after he died on this very same track a decade ago in a tragic crash that engulfed his car and him in flames. So Ava doesn’t give a fuck if she’s rude. She’s got to focus, and she does as she completes the move with 5 laps remaining in the race to take the lead; the win is hers now if she stays ahead.
“Come on!" Ava fist pumps quickly, then refocuses. Monaco is a tight as fuck track, so any loss of focus, and bam, you’re in the wall.
“Get in, Ava! 5 laps to go. Michael is back in P3. 10 seconds back, you’re on your own against Ramirez until the end of the race.”
“No more comms; let me focus.”
“Got it; go get this win.”
Ava grips her steering wheel, then focuses on winning this race to go one step closer to achieving this one goal, this one mission she’s been driven by in an obsession since her father's death. This is all that matters—nothing else. Win for Dad. The female representation stuff and James, her boyfriend, come second. Just win. Make him proud. Put the Silva name on the championship trophy where it should’ve been 10 years ago.
—
Watching Ava from the paddock, Beatrice fist pumps, but not too obviously, more restrained, as she watches the race on a TV screen beside Vincent. The OCS team principal.
“Come on!" Vincent punches the table below him in ecstasy.
Being THE Ava Silva’s bodyguard is such an honour for Beatrice. To watch over and protect Ava from her fans or in general when she’s back home in her surprisingly quaint home, considering her wealth back in Portugal, Lisbon, is one of the most rewarding things Beatrice has ever done.
She can’t deny that as she watches Ava speed down the main straight of the Monaco track in the race lead, she’s in utter awe of Ava. Becoming the first female F1 driver was one thing, but competing for the title is unbelievable. Ava’s such an inspiration to so many young girls who may one day follow her lead by getting into Formula 1. Of course, you need money to get into the sport and to prove yourself in F2 and F3 championships before you get into F1, but watching Ava do this is undoubtedly a major boost to female F1 drivers of the future.
Lilith, one of Ava's pit crew, suddenly cheers Ava on beside her. “Come on, Silva! Bring it home!”
Beatrice never usually comes into the garage during a race, so all of the hustle and bustle of Ava’s mechanics and engineers rushing around the garage to get tyres ready for pit stops is a bit of a shock to the system. But Ava asked Beatrice to be here today for moral support. So she'll accept feeling a bit out of place for her.
Outside of being her bodyguard, Ava is also Beatrice's friend, which is pretty surreal. Countless would kill for this position as Ava’s protector, and countless more would kill to be considered a friend of Ava's. That's not the only plus side of this gig, though. Beatrice gets to travel with Ava from race to race, country to country, and lives at Ava’s home in Portugal full-time in one of her guest rooms. It’s totally bonkers; it really is.
Ava crosses the finish line and wins the race to take the championship lead. “Yes!” Beatrice exclaims and claps, then tries to hide her joy at her friend's triumph by shyly stepping back as the dozens of OCS team engineers and mechanics huddle together and celebrate. She really doesn’t belong here in the garage after a race. It’s Ava’s and her team’s time to celebrate.
“Silva! Silva!” The team chant victoriously while jumping on the spot together.
Beatrice takes in Ava's light blue OCS car on the TV screen one last time with a proud smile, then shuffles away to let Ava celebrate with her team when she gets back to the garage.
—
A short while later, Beatrice, wearing her sunglasses and her hoodie, waits for Ava to return from the podium outside the doors of the driver's cool-down room to resume her duties alongside Mary, Ava’s other bodyguard, and Beatrice’s friend.
“Did you enjoy your VIP treatment today, Bea?” Mary teases beside her, breaking the silence as they watch the activity of the paddock, with countless team members of different F1 teams rushing about the paddock doing one task or another. While reporters wait to interview the drivers in the press area to their left, where Ava will momentarily be required to be.
"Shut up, Mary; it wasn’t VIP treatment; I just watched a screen in the garage.” Beatrice finally replies with shyness as she looks to the ground, trying to cover her blush at Ava wanting her in there for moral support after Ava's boyfriend, James, a famous actor, couldn’t make it this week due to filming a new movie.
“A prime spot next to Vincent watching the race is VIP, you dummy; that’s usually reserved for James only."
Beatrice winces at the audible mention of James; she isn't his biggest fan. Such a warm and inspiring person as Ava can do so much better than being with a snob like him, but it’s Ava’s prerogative who she dates. Mary often reminds Beatrice
“I guess you’re right; it was kind of cool to see the mechanics work on her car up close."
“Did you get to see her after the race?"
"No, I didn’t want to intrude on her celebrating with her team and everything, so I left before she got back to the pits." Beatrice replies as she watches Vincent walk by with Reya, his press secretary, in tow, running behind him like a lost sheep.
He’s a good team leader for the OCS, but she always senses he’d rather Michael be fighting JC for the title this season. He would’ve garnered less media attention with him being a man and everything. While Ava is a woman in a male-dominated sport trying to make history as well and to do what her father tragically couldn't, which also inevitably catches the media’s attention.
“Here she comes.” Mary turns as Ava exits the building behind them, drinking from a water bottle through a straw while her tied-up brunette hair is a bit dishevelled, which is of course inevitable after spending over an hour in the cockpit of her car with her helmet on in that intense heat. Every race Ava loses weight due to the strain of driving an F1 car. Ava’s neck, like all the F1 drivers, is bigger and more muscular than your usual person to handle the massive lateral g-force during high-speed cornering and braking.
And the effect of that g-force is clear on Ava again today.
“Hi Ava, congratulations on the win.” Beatrice greets Ava with a smile.
"Thanks, Bea. Did you like your time in the garage? I didn’t see you after the race."
Ava enquires as she finishes taking a gulp of water, then walks by her and Mary to head to the press area. With them both then beginning to follow her.
“I did; it was interesting to see how everything works behind the scenes.”
"And why weren’t you there to celebrate with me? I wanted you there; that’s why I invited you. You know how important this race was to me.” Ava replies back to her with a flicker of annoyance in her tone. Ava then moves her water bottle away from her mouth and holds it by her side as she walks. “You know my father died on this track. I really needed you there today.”
Beatrice sideways glances at Mary awkwardly. “I didn’t want to get in the way. I thought you would want to celebrate with your team.”
Ava abruptly stops, then turns to Beatrice with warmth in her eyes. “You are my team, silly; you’re more than that; you’re one of my best friends.”
“I…I am?” Beatrice gulps, and her heart races. One of Ava’s best friends? Really? She’s never seen herself as one of Ava’s best friends. But then again, besides seeing James and spending a lot of her time with Camila, her lead engineer, Ava is so laser-focused on winning the title for her father and female representation that she never really socialises. So maybe she is and just hasn’t realised it until now.
Ava pats her arm. “Of course you are.” Ava then looks at Mary. “Both of you are—never feel like you’re not okay."
"So, am I getting VIP treatment next?” Mary asks with a teasing tone.
“I think James is at my next race, but the next time he isn't, I’ll be sure to get you in, Mary.” Ava winks, then turns back around to walk again.
"Thanks; I was beginning to think you liked Beatrice more than me.”
"Oh no, we wouldn't want her to think that now, would we, Bea?" Ava looks back at Beatrice and smirks with a teasing sparkle in her brown eyes that Beatrice has never seen in Ava’s eyes before. The sun almost gleams off of them and her pale skin.
"Um, ahem, no, of course not.”
“I better get to it; see you in a bit.” Ava begins to leave them with a skip in her step, clearly happy with her win, to go handle her media responsibilities.
“Okay…bye, Ava." Beatrice watches her go with a different feeling than she usually has when she watches Ava do well—anything. Her whole body tingles, and her heart races. She should follow Mary to wait for Ava just outside the press zone gates, but her eyes stay on Ava, and she stays rooted to the spot as Ava greets a fellow driver with a smile. That look Ava just gave her is making her feel something. Something she shouldn’t feel. Ava’s her boss. She’s worked for Ava for years; why did that look—that sparkling look in Ava’s eyes—suddenly change things? Look away, Beatrice—no, her mind replies. Oh no, this isn’t good. She can’t feel like this; she can’t. Switch it off now. Her body doesn’t obey, and her cheeks begin to burn hotter than she’s ever felt them burn.
—
Later that night, at the famous Amber Lounge Grand Prix afterparty, still wearing a casual hoodie, which still feels strange to do as she’s at work, Beatrice watches Ava dance and surprisingly unwind after a race weekend, which Ava never does, with the same feeling she felt earlier that day.
It's actually intensified if anything. Her heart races at a furious pace. It basically beats out of her chest. Her whole body now feels like jelly.
Bambola by Betta Lemme.
“Come on, Bea! Join me!” Ava shouts to Beatrice from the dance floor as she bounces up and down on the spot, in time with the roaring music overhead.
“I can't! I’m working!"
"Yeah, for me, dummy! And as your boss, I demand you dance with me!”
Beatrice looks at Mary nervously. “Go on, you heard her; she’s the boss."
Beatrice tentatively lets her feet step towards Ava on the dance floor. The strobe lights beam down on Ava’s smiling eyes, jumping on the spot in her tank top, revealing a healthy amount of cleavage. “Don’t be scared, Beatrice!”
“I’m not!” Beatrice shakes her head, not knowing what to do with her body other than to sway a bit to the music.
Ava stops jumping to take Beatrice’s hand. “Just copy me!”
“You want me to jump up and down!?” Beatrice chuckles and shouts over the dance music.
"Sure, why not!? If I can let loose for once, you definitely can!” Ava starts to jump again on the spot, never letting go of Beatrice's hand while she does.
Time feels like it slows down for Beatrice. She just watches Ava smile widely and dance with no inhibitions for once. She’s so beautiful. Objectively, she’s known for how beautiful Ava was before now. It’s obvious. But something has changed; something feels different. Beatrice’s heart never beat like this whenever she watched and protected Ava before. In fact, it’s barely beating at all. She admires Ava so much; she’s so kind to her and Mary, but now it feels like admiration has turned to adoration. She may have just fallen for Ava Silva. The same Ava Silva, who has a boyfriend and whom she works for and protects every day wherever she goes. Shit. This isn’t good or wise.