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They were laying wrapped around each other in Oscar’s new Monaco apartament. It was cosy, still chilly even as the end of winter approached and they were using every last minute before the season started to be together. Their relationship was fairly new, Carlos having finally confessed at the end of 2024 making Oscar have a whole identity crisis before coming to terms with his feelings and requiting his confession. Only a few people knew about them. Because of pre-programmed training camps and family trips, they weren’t able to spend most of the break together, so these quiet moments were the most precious to them.
The day had been calm and uneventful. They woke up tangled together, the light streaming through the curtains they forgot to close the previous night, illuminating perfectly the brown hair that fell over Carlos’ eyes. Oscar had taken a moment to admire him, to rejoice in how lucky he felt to be in his arms and be his. It still felt surreal, especially when he was on the other side of the world in Australia and all they could do was text and video call, but now it was right here, in his bed. Real.
Soon after, Carlos had woken up, tickling the younger and making him laugh, before kissing him silly. They did their workouts and Carlos skipped his biking session for the day so they could cook lunch together and play some chess in the afternoon. The chess turned into FIFA and when that too became tiring they settled to watch a movie on the couch, wrapped around a blanket Oscar’s grandma had crocheted for his new house.
Oscar was infinitely happy in his new relationship but something kept rubbing him the wrong way. Ever since he knew the existence of Carlos, he knew about Lando. They came as a pack, everyone said. They are the most iconic F1 duo of recent years, everyone said. Carlando. And don’t get him wrong, Oscar is not a jealous man, never has been, but he is a bit insecure. Especially when he is dating a Greek god, like Carlos is in his eyes. And Lando is one of his best friends too, a great teammate also, but the amount of time they spend together kinda made Oscar uneasy. He kept remembering all the dinners and games and trips he saw them take on the internet and all the times he saw Carlos sneak in McLaren’s hospitality.
He couldn’t stop thinking about how it would be from now on, as the season started and they would be rivals again. He hoped Carlos could climb the grid and give him a good fight, but the real worry in his mind wasn’t their on track clashes. They hadn’t told Lando about their relationship yet, he didn’t have a clue. For all they knew, Lando still thought that Oscar hated Carlos, and the Australian couldn’t shake the feeling that his teammate had some unresolved feelings for his now boyfriend. His heart fluttered when thinking about the term now attached to Carlos’ name in his mind but he still felt his chest tighten thinking about Lando.
What if he felt something for Carlos? What if this development hurt him? Or hurt their relationship and therefore their team? Or the friendship between Carlos and Lando that was so precious for the both of them? Oscar didn’t want any of those things but he also wasn’t going to let Lando steal his man. He wasn’t jealous, no, but he felt quite possessive about Carlos. The man could be naive sometimes, not seeing people downright thirsting over him but Oscar always saw. And he would never give up without a fight. The anxiety was eating him up, little by little, but he couldn’t get himself to bring it up. Leave it to Carlos and his amazing boyfriend abilities to do it for him.
“What is it, mi amor? You’ve been quiet for some time now” Carlos asked while Oscar listened to his heartbeat, trying to calm down, his head on top of the elder's chest, laying between his legs.
“Have you and Lando ever been in love with each other?” He blurted out of nowhere. He felt Carlos tense up slightly and felt as he tried to control his reaction.
“Well, I can only speak about my own sentiments and I love Lando a lot, but as a little brother, nothing more or less than that. He is family to me. And I know that we both have this nagging feeling that he’s into men but too inside his head and fears to admit but he’s told me so many secrets about himself in the past that I think he would have told me if he was in love with me” Carlos answered sincerely, hoping to calm his lover’s heart.
“hm” Oscar kept quiet, thinking. He knew how much Lando trusted Carlos but he also knew how scary it could feel to fall in love with your best friend and not want to ruin everything.
“Why do you ask, cariño? Have you ever noticed something that made you think otherwise?” Carlos asked while stroking his pale arms with the points of his fingers, a soft caress Oscar has come to crave when he is feeling unsettled.
“I just can’t understand how someone could spend so much time with you and not fall in love” He replied, completely honest. Ever since he became a F1 driver, he noticed the closeness between the ex-teammates. Hell, even before that. Carlando was quite a trademark of the sport, inseparable even in separate teams. But ever since he became a driver for McLaren and began his friendship with Lando, he could see just how true the relationship between the brit and the spaniard was. He was pulled from his thoughts by the vibrations running through his limbs created by Carlos honky laugh.
“Just a few months ago you were saying the exact opposite” Carlos pointed out after catching his breath. Yes, Oscar took some time to get his head out of his ass and see that the older man was in fact brilliant and gentle, fierce and soft and, on top of that, exceptionally hot and he cringed every time he thought about the time he spent hating him. Oh how he wished he could go back. The Australian sighed.
“Yeah, yeah, I’m stupid, we all know that. But do you think Lando is too? I mean, you shared hotel rooms, spent holidays together, went to each other's family homes and parties, don’t you think that looks quite like a romantic relationship?” Oscar asked, letting his insecurities slip out a little. Even before he took any real interest in Carlos, when he was just a rookie trying to fill a big hole left by both Carlos and Daniel at McLaren, he had stalked the Spaniard a bit and seen all the things he and Lando always did together. The Brit even went to Caco’s wedding. Wasn’t that a lot?
“You are not stupid, mi amor. And I know me and Lando spent a lot of time together, and did a lot of things teammates don’t usually do together but we were two chronically single people who often got lonely and we relied on each other for company. Our friendship grew a lot through moments of homesickness and stuff like that, but I promise it was never more than friendship. We just didn’t have anyone else to take to family meetings and this type of stuff but that doesn’t matter anymore. Now I have you, Oscar” Carlos explained, his voice softening as he continued.
“You are the one I want to take shopping for christmas gifts, the one I want to take home for the holidays. I want to team up with your little sisters to annoy you and want to see my sisters pampering you. I want you to meet my dogs and to show you where I started karting. I want to meet your grandma and learn her amazing cooking skills just so I can cook for you when we are in Europe and you can be a little less homesick. I want to share hotel rooms with you and sneak around until we are ready to let the world see our love. And if we are never ready for that, I am happy to be with you every minute we are not in the public eye. Lando is always going to be part of our lives, he is one of my and your best friends and I just know he is going to be livid about our relationship. Por favor, no te preocupes cariño.” Carlos said, looking into Oscar’s honey eyes, filled with tears halfway through the speech.
“I- I can’t believe I hated you” Oscar stuttered, flabbergasted. Carlos chuckled.
“I think it was love in a disguise”
“That’s actually a great way of thinking,” Oscar said as he dried his tears on Carlos hoodie.
“I’m full of great ideas, cabrón” Carlos joked while he brushed his love’s hair out of his eyes, the younger closing his eyes in bliss. Some moments passed and Oscar let out his final thought on the matter.
“It’s just that… the media and the other drivers always say that you are a pack, a double deal, and cannot be separated. And I feel that maybe I can’t squeeze in there or shouldn’t because I don’t want to ruin a friendship that started way before I came into the picture. How could I compete with something so strong?”
“Oscar, listen to me please. It’s not a competition. And you don’t have to squeeze anywhere. You already have my heart. It 's yours to take. You and Lando fit completely different roles in my life, and your comfort and happiness will always come first to me. Please, never doubt that.” Carlos says and kisses his forehead. Oscar sighed deeply, making an effort to let go of all his anxieties. He now knew that Carlos would always be there to soothe them.
“Thank you, ‘los. I’m sorry for being so insecure.”
“Don’t apologise, cariño. Te amo. Mucho”
“I love you too.” Oscar laid back on his lover’s chest and they continued watching the movie. His heart was a ton lighter and he finally made a decision.
“I think we should tell Lando tomorrow,” he suggested.
“You’re sure?” Carlos asked, rubbing his back.
“Yes, I trust him.” Oscar concluded. Carlos hummed and nuzzled his head. There was a storm brewing outside the apartment, the wind blowing leaves onto the balcony and the windows shaked with the force of it but, inside, all Oscar could feel was peace.