Chapter Text
Lando is browsing through the flea market, when he sees her. His ex Nora. A relationship that ended as messy as it had started. They didn't work well together, they had known that. But with all the pressure of the public, they tried to make it work. Tried to make it look like a happy and healthy relationship, even though that was the furthest from the truth. She was controlling, jealous and overall manipulative. She asked and sometimes demanded things of Lando, she knew he couldn’t give her. She wasn't shocked when Lando had finally broken it off.
But even though it has been almost a year since they broke up. Lando can't stop thinking about it. Why can't he just find love? Find a healthy and loving relationship? Why can't anyone love him? Is he unlovable?
He really doesn't want to talk to her, he doesn't even ever want to see her again really. So he does the only thing his brain can come up with in the moment. He places his hand on the elbow of the person standing next to him. Hoping it would be someone his age, so that this absolute joke of a plan will at least be the feeblest bit of realistic.
"Hey, can you act as if were dating? My ex is approaching, and I really don't want to talk to her."
He says it while still looking at Nora. But what Lando hadn’t accounted for, was that the person standing next to him was a guy. Sure he was Lando's age, but it wasn't exactly what Lando had planned for either.
"Uhh, yeah sure."
When he hears a low voice respond, he turns his head at insane speed. Shit, he really hadn’t thought about this enough. Having a boyfriend wasn’t what he was trying to convince Nora of. The guy next to him sounds pretty unbothered though, like that wasn't just some insane, ridicule of a question to be asked on a random Saturday.
"Wait let me, gotta make it believable and all." The guy repositions Lando's hand, as to make it look like Lando is hanging onto his arm. Lando is too stupefied to realise Nora is currently stalking directly over to him.
"Hey, Lando! Long time no see."
Shit, shit. Lando had so hoped she wouldn’t have seen him, and instead have walked past without doing this. Especially considering he was currently hanging onto the arm of his supposed boyfriend.
"Hey, Nora. Yeah I guess it has indeed been a while."
He tries to sound cheery, even though dread is filling inside him. The guy next to him has stopped rummaging through the box of books he was dissecting and has redirected his attention to the conversation between Lando and Nora.
"Who's he?"
She points at the guy, Lando hopes this wasn't going to be followed by one of her belittling remarks. He wants to say something, but doesn't get to.
"Oscar, his boyfriend."
The guy – or Oscar – puts out his right hand, making a gesture for Nora to do the same. They shake hands, but Lando can see she isn't really paying attention to that. Because she is staring Lando directly in the eye. She has that disapproving and judgemental look in her eyes. A look Lando has become all too familiar with during the time they were dating.
"Boyfriend? I didn't know you were gay. Although that would explain some things."
And there it goes again, her degrading comments.
"Bi, actually."
"Hmm, sure. Whatever you say."
She doesn't believe him. Not the first time. But Lando doesn't know why it stills get under his skin so much. They were done five months ago, how does she still manage to reach where it hurts?
"Uhum,"
Oscar, who Lando had almost forgotten was present. Decides to make himself known again.
"I'm afraid I didn't catch your name."
It doesn't really sound like a question.
"It's Nora Davis." She says with that stuck-up and arrogant tone of hers, she somehow managed to perfect even further since Lando last saw her.
"Ah well Nora, it's nice to meet you. But I'm afraid we've got to cut this conversation short. We still have to find a present for the birthday of one of my sisters and the stalls will not be open for much longer."
Seems like Oscar read something in Lando, and decided to help him out of the encounter.
"Oh, well. Okay, see you next time Lando."
After one last look over, she walks away. Lando watches her until she rounds a corner and lets out a deep sigh. He drops his head against the guy's shoulder.
"Thank you."
"No problem, she seemed like a proper bitch."
"Yeah she really is."
Lando stands back up straight and looks at Oscar. For the first time he gets a good look at the guy, no distractions caused by Nora. Oscar is actually quite adorable. Unstyled swoopy brown hair, that looks like he woke up with it like this. Deep umber eyes, with a kind look to them. A small smile ghosting over his lips. And quite a few moles and freckles laid out over his face and neck, like stars in the night sky. He's actually very adorable, beautiful even. Not bad of a choice as a fake boyfriend.
"Are you okay? You look a little bit hazy."
The question pulls Lando back to reality.
"Mhm, yeah. Just Nora reminding me again of why we broke up."
The guy snorts and tilts his head slightly.
"How did you two even manage each other?"
"Honestly? Not. Like not at all. I for once just wanted a relationship to work out, so I shrugged it all off. Until she began to dig deeper and I couldn't handle it anymore."
"Sounds exhausting."
"Yeah it was, but -again- I appreciate your help."
"Oh, yeah no problem." He looks over Lando's shoulder and frowns. "Nora's still here, I'll help 'till she's gone."
Lando twirls around at that. And yes Nora is indeed still at the market. Lando can see her watching them.
"What kind of present were you looking for? You mentioned your sisters birthday."
"I was thinking like a book or LP, but I wouldn't know which one."
"What music does she like?"
"Everything really? I haven't heard her mention a favourite."
"Well, you can't go wrong with Queen or David Bowie."
Lando starts walking towards the stall that sells LP’s but then realises that he is still hanging on to Oscar's arm. But Lando doesn't unhook his arm, he can still feel Nora watching them. So instead he squeezes slightly. Which effectively gets Oscar's attention. He follows Lando's lead over to the other stall.
Lando is searching through one of the boxes when something catches his eye.
"Aha, Richy Mitch & The Coal Miners."
Oscar look unimpressed. An eyebrow ticked up slightly, but further than that, no reaction at all.
"Don't look so grumpy, their music is awesome."
"If you say so."
Lando puts the LP on top of the box next to him. If Oscar doesn't want it, Lando will definitely buy it himself. He continuous his search for something Oscar’s sister could potentially enjoy.
"What music do you listen to?"
"I don't know. Bit of rock and a bit of house, I guess."
That surprises Lando.
"Really? I wouldn't have guessed that."
Oscar hums noncommittally.
--
They eventually settle on a Noah Kahan, Busyhead LP for Oscar’s sister, and Lando buying the Coal Miners LP. They talk a bit more about their general music interests.
But the conversation gets interrupted when Lando's phone starts ringing. It's his PR-manager Lisa, weird time to call, but sure. He picks up and gets startled by the urgency in her voice.
"I don’t suppose you’re still at the market."
Hello to you too.
"Yeah, I am still at the market. Hold on, how do you know that I am at a market?"
"Somebody at the market has posted two pictures of you and a guy, in the first picture you are hanging on his arm. And in the second you are leaning your head against his shoulder. Normally I would suggest, denial. Saying it wasn't you or something else that could explain the situation. But there has also been a video posted of the guy introducing himself as your boyfriend and you saying that you are bisexual."
Lando doesn't know what to do. And apparently it shows because Oscar is looking at him very concerned.
"So I advise planning an emergency meeting, I'll talk with Zak, Andrea and John. Can you maybe ask the guy if he would be fine to join in?"
Lando feels numb. His sexuality has always been a part about himself he would prefer to keep locked away until he retires. He hasn't even ever done anything with a guy. Too afraid for it to make the news. But what he definitely hadn't predicted was that a conversation with Nora of all people. Would be the thing to ruin it. Why was somebody even filming the conversation? Why did this have to happen?
"Lando? I am going to need an answer."
But Lando is still too stunned to speak, so Oscar takes over Lando's phone and starts talking to Lisa.
"Hey, this is Oscar speaking."
Lando can't hear what's being said on the other side of the line. All he has are Oscar's facial expressions, which are not a lot of help.
"Yeah sure, I’ll join a meeting?"
He sounds nonplussed, he raises a questioning eyebrow at Lando. But Oscar doesn't get any response from him.
After a bit Oscar hands the phone back.
"Apparently we are expected for a meeting? She wouldn't really tell me about what though, just that it is urgent and very important."
"Yeah, uhm."
What the fuck. How did this even happen?
"Did she give you a time?"
"Yeah 4 pm. Which is," Oscar looks at his watch "in 34 minutes."
Lando feels so bad about pulling Oscar into this mess. "Shit. I am so sorry. You didn't ask for this."
"Yeah well, I still don't know what 'this' is a reference to."
"Yeah about that, I might just be a Formula 1 driver. And there have just been posted two pictures and a fucking video of us on social media. So everybody now thinks we are like properly dating."
Oscar looks quite baffled now.
"So yeah, sorry about that. But Lisa, the woman on the phone. Is my PR-manager and she wants to know what to do about the situation."
"What can be done about the situation?" Oscar wonders.
"Honestly, I have no fucking clue. I'm just trying not to have a nervous breakdown right now." Lando's breathing has been steadily inclining, he's about a minute away from full blast hyperventilation.
Oscar takes a step forward and guides Lando's head onto his shoulder. He places one hand against Lando's curls and the other one on his back, the latter starts to slowly rub up and down.
Lando is shocked by the action, but decides not to protest. So in return he wraps his own arms around Oscar's waist.
They stay like that for a while. Eventually Lando manages to get his breathing back to normal enough so that he can speak again.
"Thank you." He mumbles against Oscar's jacket. Oscar holds him for a little longer, but eventually let's Lando go. Oscar keeps a hand on Lando's waist as the other falls to his bicep.
"Better?"
"Yeah.”
“Are you sure?” Oscar sounds sceptical.
“Not really. Just, Why? Why did someone have to do this? I’ve been cautious about who I discuss my sexuality with for my entire life. Why was anybody even filming our conversation in the first place? I just don’t get it! Why can’t people just leave me alone while I am on my own time?”
He lets Lando ramble on, his hand on Lando’s bicep squeezing slightly. Keeping him from going back into a panic attack. But eventually Oscar breaks his silence.
“Sorry that I am going to have to interrupt your rambling there. But the meeting will start within 26 minutes. And I don’t suppose you want to take it right here in public.”
“Oh shit, has it really been that long? Uhm, my apartment is definitely not going to work if we want to make it on time.”
Lando’s apartment is more than a half an hour drive from the market. Even if he were to brake all traffic laws imaginable, they wouldn’t make it there on time.
“Would my place be okay? I it’s a 10 minute walk to my apartment.”
“That could work.” Lando is a bit hesitant about accepting to go to the apartment of somebody he’s just met. But it seems like all logic has disappeared out of his head.
-IV-LXXXI-
The walk to Oscar’s apartment had been quiet. Lando tried to avoid eye contact with the people passing by. Too busy in his own head, what is going to happen now? Somebody – for whatever reason – decided to record their conversation. And then when Lando disclosed something so personal, decided to take matters into their own hands. Broadcasted, for the entire world to see.
Why were people so cruel?
Why did they want to take away Lando’s right for coming out at his own time?
Why?
“Please ignore the mess, I didn’t expect to have any company.”
Oscar’s apartment is not that messy, there are just quite a lot of books everywhere. And a big stack of papers on the desk, plus the few that are lying on the coffee and dinner table.
“What are the papers for?”
“Most of them are projects I’ve had to grade. That stack right there,” He points to the neater stack on the desk. “Those are papers I still need to grade before Monday.”
“You look like you should still be in university.”
Oscar snorts. “Technically I am, just as a professor instead of a student.”
“Why?” It’s a bit blunt to say it like that, but it’s too late now.
“Why I became a teacher or why I decided to stay at the uni I got my own education?”
Lando didn’t knew about that last part, but he’s intrigued. “Both?”
“Professor Wilson, that’s the answer to both your questions.”
“That doesn’t help at all.”
“Professor Wilson was my favourite professor. He helped and inspired me, like an insane amount. But he was going to retire at the end of the year I was going to get my diploma. I wanted to help others like he had helped me, so I went to the school director and asked if I could be his replacement.” Oscar looks over his shoulder after hearing some clattering. “So yeah, that’s the story. I’ve been Professor Piastri for a few months now.”
“What university?”
“UCL.”
“UCL?! Isn’t that like the most prestigious university in London?”
“Yeah.” Oscar says it like it’s nothing, though he is smiling softly.
How can Oscar be so normal about studying at UCL? It’s literally one of those Universities that are known for only excepting geniuses.
“Just yeah? That’s all?”
“Is not that special is it?” Oscar shrugs.
“It kind of is, but sure Mister Humble.” Oscar chuckles slightly at that.
“Do you like your job?” Lando asks him.
“It’s not bad, I just don’t really like the grading part.”
“I don’t think your students enjoy writing the projects any more than you enjoy grading them, I know I didn’t.”
Lando hangs his jacket over one of the chairs at the dinner table. When a dog walks into the room, it’s beautiful. Striking blue eyes and patchwork fur.
“That’s Cassy, she’s an Australian shepherd, reminds me of home.”
Lando crouches down and puts a hand out. Cassy slowly approaches and sniffs his hand. Eventually she decides Lando is approved and lets him pet her.
“She’s good company, just doesn’t like the market. Too many people, too few interesting spots.”
The dog is adorable. But Lando gets reminded of why he’s here when his phone rings.
Lando is so, so tempted to just throw the phone out of the window and join it in its fall. But he doesn't, because he doesn't even know how bad it's going to be for him. Maybe it will be easy, that's what he is trying to convince himself of.
But who's he trying to fool? Of course it won't be easy, it will be proper hell.
"I'll set up my phone on your table. So that you can join in easily."
He stands up and takes his seat on the chair supporting his jacket. When Lando joins the call Lisa is looking slightly frazzled and anxious.
"Hey Lando, Are you okay?”
“As okay as can be expected I guess.”
“I’ll get straight to the point. Me, Zak and Andrea discussed some possibilities. And I've been keeping an eye out on what's been going through the media for the past half an hour. It's not exactly pretty, it's chaos really. A lot of different opinions both good and bad."
Lando hates the media with a passion. Why is it important what their opinion is? Why can’t he just live without his every move being scrutinised?
"What also doesn't help, is that there has been another video posted of you going into a panic attack. Which also very clearly in the video, gets calmed down by Oscar. It does seem like most people like him for that reason, so it’s not all bad. We however would have preferred to know that you had a boyfriend a bit earlier than this. That would have made this all a bit easier."
Right, they also don’t know Oscar isn’t actually his boyfriend, but just another victim of the situation. Or more like victim of Lando’s situation. "About that, he isn't my boyfriend. I wanted just Nora to leave me alone and so decided to ask the person next to me to pretend we're dating. But I only realised after I asked, that it was a guy."
"But you are bisexual?"
"Yes."
"Do you want to get a clear statement out about that?"
"Do I really have a choice? Preferably not of course. But considering all the 'evidence' and all, maybe it would just be better to do so. It'll be hard to deny it now anyway."
Lando doesn’t want this to become a thing, but sadly for him it already is.
"It really would be better to be honest about it. I think you should put out a statement sooner rather than later, so that you at least have some sort of control over the situation."
Lando doesn’t want to focus on this right now, so he diverts the conversation. "And Oscar. What is going to happen about that? Since people are now pretty convinced he's my boyfriend and all."
"That could be a tricky situation. There aren't really a lot of options. As I had said at the beginning, we’ve already gone through a few possibilities. But we hadn’t accounted for the fact you weren’t actually dating." Lisa looks over at what Lando presumes to be her note book, and scribbles some things down. "You could say that you’ve broken up because it got too much or it didn't work out, but to do that now would be a horrifying timing. People would presumably, see you both as assholes."
"Why would it make us look like assholes?"
"Because either Oscar dumped you at the time you needed him the most. Or you dumped him when the relationship would actually become of importance and meaningful. Both aren’t exactly great narratives."
"So what option do we have? Because that definitely doesn’t sound like a good idea." Lando is lost here, he doesn’t want the media to have even more reasons to scrutinise him. But what choice does he have?
"The only option I can come up with right now, is to pretend."
That sounds rather ominous. "Pretend to what exactly?"
"Pretend like you and Oscar are actually dating." Lisa says it in quite a hesitating tone. Like she’s not actually sure it’s a good idea.
"What?" Lando feels like somebody just knocked him over the head and broke his brain neurons in the process. "That's insane."
"We’re aware, but it's the only option we have that will not make the situation worse. At least in perspective of media." Lisa directs herself to Oscar. “I know it would be a lot to ask of you Oscar. But would you mind doing this for like 2 months?"
"Why 2 months though? What’s 2 months going to bring you?" Oscar sounds both curious and confused.
"In 2 months it will seem like you have been dating for a while. And you could just say it didn't work out, too much pressure or something like that. A natural break-up instead of a ridiculously timed one."
Oscar takes a bit to answer but after he and Lando make eye contact, it seems like Oscar made his decision.
"I'll do it."
"Great, well work on the backstory and everything. But Lando, what do you want to do regarding a statement?"
"What do you expect me to say in the statement?" It seems like that’s all the time he gets for avoidance.
"This is something you need to come up with yourself. It's your story to tell, not mine or anybody else’s."
Lando has absolutely no fucking clue what to do right now. He had planned for it to be at least 20 years later when having this conversation. Not counting all those times he had just considered taking it to the grave.
“Something about how this doesn’t change anything about who I am or what I do, maybe?” He suggests.
“We can work with that. I know you are not going to like this, but I think you should make a video recorded statement instead of a written one.”
“Why?” Oh hell no!
“It’ll be more personal, and with more meaning for both you and the people watching. It would also give you an opportunity to learn how to publicly talk about it. Which you will have to do now, especially considering you have to be in Italy in 3 days.”
“I guess that makes sense.” It does make sense, and that’s what is bothering him. Why can’t he just act like none of this has happened? Why can’t he just ignore the media and live his life, not taking into account what the press expect of him.
“Alright, then we can now maybe create a believable backstory to your relationship. Because one of the first things you will get asked is about how, when and where you two met. Oscar, have you travelled anywhere over the past few months?”
"No."
"Attended any events?"
"No."
“A place your frequent?”
“Not really.”
"Any possible places you two could have met, that would make sense?" Lisa sounds slightly irritated. And Lando doesn’t blame her, because Oscar isn’t really helping. It actually seems like Oscar doesn't leave the house at all with these answers.
"I don't know, probably not."
"Alright," Lisa sighs and rubs rakes her hand though her hair. "How about this market you were at. Is that an annual thing?
"Every second Saturday of the month." Oscar answers.
"Then we’ll use that." It seems like she pulls out her agenda. "Looking at date and considering we want your relationship to be going on for at least a few months. Would give us,” Lisa is searching through her agenda. “November 9th was a non-race weekend as well as January 10th, Lando on which of those dates were you in England?"
"At both of those I think."
"Well in that case, shall we go with November 9th? If we are saying you started dating a month after you’d met, it would make your relationship be about 5 months long now. Seems realistic enough.”
“I think that could work.” Oscar pipes up.
“Fantastic, we've got the most important point now. You two can figure out the rest of the story yourselves, something you have come up with together will probably come over more natural. Just inform us about what you come up with. And Lando, would 20 minutes be enough to film your statement? We would want to have it out by 5 pm.”
Lando nods, and Lisa hangs up. Lando is left numb. Is it too late to throw his phone out the nearest window and dive after it?
“Are you okay?” Oscar asks him, genuine concern laces the question.
“Why are you so chill about this?”
“It’s not like stressing is going to help me, is it?”
“No, but like still? You’ve just agreed to do this pretend dating thing with me. Most people would have run away the moment Lisa had called.”
Oscar hums and starts petting Cassy, who had settled at Lando’s feet somewhere during the call.
“What do you want to do about the statement?” Oscar asks.
Lando shrugs “Just get it over with I guess.”
He walks over to the couch, sits down and sets his phone on the coffee table. He's incredibly anxious, Lisa was probably right that it was best to do this in a video. More personal and real, than just some written text piece. Lando knows what he wants to say, but it's still so fucking scary. The world already knows, but actually saying it with the purpose of coming out to everybody. It's nerve wrecking.
He takes a few minutes to come up with something that would be a mix of PR approved sentences and his own personal input. He takes a deep breath and presses on record.
“Earlier today there have been video's and photo's shared that I didn't want to reach the public. But since denying is not going to work because of the nature of the posts, I am here to tell my own truth. I hadn't planned to come out this early, maybe even ever. But I don't have another choice. The pictures and videos of me and my boyfriend," It's weird to actually refer to Oscar as boyfriend, but as he is an important part of the story, Lando does so anyway. "Were posted without my or his consent."
“I am bisexual, and I am proud of that. I have known this about myself for a long time. It doesn't change anything about who I am or what I do."
He pauses, the rest of his preparational statement forgotten, completely disappeared out of his head.
He can see Oscar who's standing in the door opening, whispering to Cassy. Which leads to the dog walking over to Lando. She jumps up on the couch and drops her head in Lando's lap. He's confused at first, but the warmth of Cassy is grounding. He puts his hand on the dog's head and starts to pet her, it helps to calm him down. He look up to Oscar and mouths "Thank you." After a few seconds he feels secure enough to continue with his statement.
"I ask of you to respect our and our families privacy, and to not treat us differently than you would with other couples on the grid. I am still who I was yesterday. I haven't changed, there is no need to think I have. Just because I am the first F1 driver to come out while still actively driving, doesn't mean you can use that against me. Nor do I owe you anything."
He looks up at Oscar and smiles a little bit. Which gets him a polite smile in return. Lando doesn’t understand why Oscar is going through with this. Fake dating scenes are always chaotic and idiotic, or at least that’s how it always goes in the movies.
He returns his attention back to his phone. "I'll see you Thursday at the Italian Grand Prix, bye."
he stops the recording and feels like everything is floating inside his head. Cassy nudges her nose into his stomach.
"Thank you." He tells her.
"You did well." Oscar breaks their bubble.
"Really? You call that shit show well?"
"Wasn't a total shit show." Oscar counters.
"Then what would you define as a shit show?"
"You jumping out the window, and all the news outlets coming with the story that you've committed suicide within an hour of your sexuality becoming public knowledge. Don't think I haven't seen you eyeing the windows."
Lando pouts. Was he really that obvious?
“Alright sure, suppose it isn’t that bad?”
“That’s the spirit. Now can I offer you some food, or something drink? We’ll be here for a while longer if we want that dating story to actually make sense.”
“I could use something to eat, yes.”
Oscar gestures for Lando to come over to the kitchen, which he of course does. Because who would decline food? Not Lando.
“I don’t really have a lot left, Sunday and Wednesday are usually the days where on I visit the supermarket. But I do have some biscuits and chocolate or fruit, depends on what you are allowed to eat. Since you are an athlete I presume you have a meal plan.”
“I do have a meal plan, yes. But I think I’m allowed to have a bit of a cheat day.” He responds, wiggling his eyebrows and a mischievous smirk.
“All right, why don’t you look through the options, you want Cola or something?”
“Yeah that’s good.” Lando is looking through the cabinet when he sees the Jaffa Cakes. “Jackpot.”
“The Jaffa Cakes? Yeah about those, they’ve been collecting dust for a few weeks now. Bought them once to see what all the hype was about, but I don’t really like them. So please dig in, so that I have more space for Tim Tams.”
“Not liking Jaffa Cakes should be a crime.” Lando says it in an exaggerated tone, trying to make Oscar feel guilty, but he’s failing miserably.
“Mhm, sure count me as guilty than. Here.” He hands Lando his drink. "Okay so backstory. We’ve supposed to have been dating for roughly 5 months, meaning that our relationship could indeed mean something important to the both of us. Or at least mean enough for us to stay strong together throughout the current situation.” Oscar quips.
"We could just say that we met at the same stand as we were earlier today. Looking through the LP’s."
"Yeah, but how would we have connected there? I don’t think how we actually met is a good story for this." Oscar says it in quite a sarcastic tone.
"Uhm, maybe we could go for a Hallmark story line or something. That we reached for the same LP at the same time and tada, love at first sight."
Oscar looked almost disgusted for a second there. "No were not doing that. Is me a bit too cheesy and all."
"Oh how about Cassy, people bond over dogs often enough. Let's say you were at the market with her, and because I love dogs, I asked you if I could pet her, and then we started talking. That work?" Lando finds that a reasonable enough idea.
"We could do that."
"Have you send the video to Lisa yet?"
"Oh shit, no I haven't" Lando pretty much forgot about that after Oscar had offered him food.
"Why don't you do that first?" Oscar suggests.
"Was the video good enough though?" Lando is not sure what to think of the video. It was probably very clear that he was stressing, especially after Cassy had to help him calm down. But he doesn’t want to make it again.
"Yes, and if you want a second opinion, just ask Lisa for feedback. I'm sure she would happily provide."
After a bit of hesitation, Lando sends the video to Lisa. "Alright, fuck it all."
Oscar snorts.
"Do you think this is going to be a big deal and all? And I mean not just me coming out. I mean you being my boyfriend as well?" He says ‘my boyfriend’ while making those quotation movements with his fingers.
"Probably." Oscar deadpans the response.
"How are you so calm? Your private life has just been thrown out the window, you'll be a news perahia."
"Yeah well, if it means helping you. I'll do it."
"Why though?" Oscar manages to keep surprising him.
"I know what it's like to be the odd one out, both as a student and as a teacher. People always like to say that in this day and age people are getting more tolerant and accepting, but I can’t say I agree. If acting as your boyfriend will make it just a little bit easier for you, there is nothing I would like to do less."
Lando hadn’t thought about that, Oscar’s job will now also be ten times as exhausting as normal. "Oh shit right. Your job is going the be so much harder now. What's that going to be like Monday?"
"I'll deal, I've always been quiet about my private life towards all my colleagues and students. So they will only try to press more than usual, even though they should have learned by now that I won’t talk. The gossip will probably go up an insane amount, but nothing I can't handle." Oscar takes a sip of his drink.
"Are you always so calm and collected?"
Oscar shrugs. "I guess."
"That's kind of creepy." It’s not really that creepy, just unusual. Lando is always around people that are anything but calm, instead everybody is always running around and stressing about anything and everything.
"Sure. But we've gone off topic here, meeting story." Oscar tries to redirect the conversation back to what they were supposed to be discussing.
"I think what we have right now is good enough. We'll do the minor details later. Just help me get my mind off of things, I will be stuck on my phone doom scrolling on social media otherwise." Lando will trust Lisa to tell him about the important things happening, instead of going digging himself. That never ends well.
"Alright, wanna help me grade papers?"
"Absolutely not." Lando was so happy when he didn’t have anything to do with school papers anymore, why would he voluntarily go back to it?
"Worth a try." Oscar smiles softly.
"Did you ask me that, so you have less to do?"
"Maybe." He shrugs, the smile turns into something sly.
"I'll watch you grade, that good?"
"If it helps you take your mind off of the situation, sure. Maybe just keep Cassy busy, she usually gets grumpy when I am grading, not enough attention."
Lando is not going to say no, to cuddle time with a dog as adorable as Cassy. "I can do that."
"Great." Oscar walks out of the kitchen, the empty glass being abandoned on the counter.
Oscar sits down at the desk and starts grading, and Lando takes a seat on the couch alongside Cassy. They spend about 20 minutes like that. But of course that's also all they get in the peace and quiet. Because Lando's phone bursts to life, Lisa is calling.
Lando picks up and prepares for the worst.
"Hey Lisa."
"Hey Lando." Lisa greets him back.
"Just say it." Lando just wants to get it over with.
"Except for the few homophobes, it's actually bringing us more positive reactions than I had expected."
Well that’s definitely unexpected, though Lando is still sceptical. There’s no way it actually went okay. "Positive? What would that mean exactly?"
"News outlets have been decent, the general reaction to your video is support towards you, and anger towards the person who posted the pictures and videos. And the fact you had to come out forced."
That indeed doesn’t sound so bad, but he asks her the following, just to be sure. "So it's not horrible?"
"No Lando it's not horrible. Still not great, but it seems like it's going over okay enough. Which is why I might also mention the fact that people seem really happy about Oscar. They like him, like your relationship. So you might want to post something related to that soon, it'll take away some attention from you being out, to you being in a happy relationship. That might get you some more sympathy, if people see that you are happy and loved, they might just accept it more."
Well shit, it seems like this pretend dating scheme really doesn’t wait. "You want me to make a couples post? As in pictures and a lovely caption to go along with it?"
"Yes, preferably." Lisa states.
"I'll figure something out. But uhm, is it safe enough for me to look through my social media? I just kinda wanna know what’s being said.” Even though Lando trusts Lisa about it, he has this itch. The itch he always gets after races. The itch to know exactly what is being said about him.
“If you do it with somebody else present, yes. So you’ll have somebody to pull you out when dig too deep.”
“Oscar will help me, won’t he?” Lando can see Oscar nod, even though he is still grading the papers it seems like he has been listening.
“Okay, well in that case. I’ll call you if there is something else important to discuss, but for now I would suggest for you to rest as much as possible.”
“I’ll try, thanks Lisa.”
“No problem Lando, bye.”
“Bye.” He hangs up, feeling both lighter and heavier than before.
“You sure you want to look through your socials?” Oscar asks him, this time he is looking at Lando.
“Yes.” He’s not really all that sure, but he does want to scratch that itch.
“Okay, I’ll finish with this paper and then I will join you.”
“You’re serious?”
“As serious as I can get.” Oscar deadpans, now returned to the paper in front of him.
Lando doesn’t believe him, it seems like an absolute shit of a thing to want to do in your free time. Watching somebody else while they go through what the media’s opinion is about them. “You really want to sit in and watch me scroll about everything that’s being said about me.”
“Yes, because like Lisa said, we don’t want you to dig too deep. And it’s not just you, it’s us they’re discussing.”
“That makes sense.”
“I’m glad it does.”
After a minute Oscar drops his pen and stretches his arms. “Alright, let’s get cracking.” Lando tries not to laugh at that, but fails quite miserably. But like seriously, who says that?
“Okay what app shall we start with?” He asks Oscar, he doesn’t know which one he wants to open first.
“How about we avoid the whole of Twitter, and just start with Instagram?” Oscar suggests.
“That sounds like a good idea.” Lando is not going to complain about avoiding twitter, he always tells himself that he won’t look at it. Though he always does, and it never helps.
Oscar drops on the couch next to Lando, quickly followed by Cassy who repositions herself. Lando sighs and opens Insta. He is bombarded by an overflowing inbox, which he chooses to ignore for just a moment. Instead he opts to watch the video he had recorded earlier, and most importantly read the comments to the post.
There are very mixed reactions. A lot of people are congratulating him, but of course also the wide variation of slurs being thrown. It really is true that the negatives will stick with you more than the positives. At every degrading comment Lando sinks just a bit deeper. “Are you okay?” Oscar startles him with that question.
“Suppose.” He’s not though.
“You don’t have to lie.”
How the hell did Oscar notice that? Almost nobody ever does, they just take his word, and move on. “I’m not lying.”
“Sure, if that makes you feel better.” He scoffs slightly.
“Hey, isn’t it your duty as my boyfriend to make me feel better instead of worse?”
“Depends, am I a good or bad boyfriend?” He asks it in a quite sarky tone.
“If you were a good boyfriend, you would be comforting me.” Lando tells him, but he’s began to small slightly.
“Well in that case.” Oscar slings an arm around Lando and guides his body to lean against him. After a bit of shuffling, Lando’s back is laying partially against Oscar’s chest, and his head is leaning against Oscar’s shoulder.
“That comforting?”
“Not the comforting I meant, but yeah. It’s kind of comfortable.” Lando is confused as hell right now. Why does it actually feel nice to lay against Oscar? They aren’t dating, they didn’t even meet until 3 hours ago. So why does he feel so comfortable with Oscar this fast? While normally it takes Lando at least a few weeks, if not months to feel comfortable like this with anybody?
Lando now remembers Lisa’s request in regards to a couples post. This would be as couple-y as it could get right now isn’t it?
“Hey Oscar, is it okay for me to take a picture of us like this? Lisa said we should post something couple-y to take some attention away from my coming out and onto my relationship, people seem to like you.”
“As long as you include yourself with people, sure.” Oscar shrugs.
“Great.”
Lando clicks out of Insta and instead opens his camera. And shit. There is a difference between feeling and seeing. Up until now he didn’t see what he looked like cuddling up against Oscar, but now he does and it’s something. They do actually kind of look like a couple. With Lando taking up Oscar’s space and Oscar’s arm laying over Lando’s shoulder, with his hand laying on Lando’s side.
“You know smiling would help here.” Oscar’s face looks as impassive as ever. But Lando’s remark manages to get a small smile out of him, gotcha. Lando snaps a few pictures.
The pictures look good, Lando’s lips are a combination of smiling and smirking. While Oscar has a small almost bashful smile on his face. He’s looking at Lando, almost fondly? Lando decides to ignore it and sends one of the pictures to Lisa, accompanied with the text: This couple-y enough for you?
Lando goes back to Instagram, but this time goes to his feed. There are a lot of posts made by various news sites about him. Even the F1 account has put out a statement. Wherein they offer congratulations to Lando and ask the fans to be respectful. A bit ironic, considering the FIA is one of the – if not the – most homophobic sports organisations out there.
He scrolls down and sees a few sport news accounts posting about it, the F1 wag account has also decided to go big or go home. With all the photos taken earlier that day being displayed for all to see. The people in the comments are scolding the account manager for posting those. It’s kind of funny.
Lando decides to open google and search up his name. There are a lot of articles, where of quite a lot aren’t even sports news outlets. But instead national news channels and papers. The more he scrolls the more ridiculous it gets. The article titles are definitely also not helping.
Formula 1 driver Lando Norris comes out as bisexual
F1 star Lando Norris in a relationship with a man
Lando Norris, forced to come out after speculation
A new era for sports: Queer Current F1 driver
Silene to Strength: Lando Norris comes out
There really are quite a few ridiculous articles being written, Lando is tempted to just read a few of those, but decides against it. After a bit of hesitation, he clicks off his phone. Now that he has scratched that itch, there’s no reason to dig further until he finds things he doesn’t want to see.
“Are you okay?” Oscar asks him, sounding quite hesitant as he does so.
“Yeah, I think so.” He takes a deep breath, and somehow it feels like he melts into Oscar. Like their bodies were made for this, made to fit like puzzle pieces. Perfect and exact.