Chapter 1: Hollywood Cherry
Chapter Text
Being in Hollywood has never been the plan. Being in Hollywood for a little F1 promo during some big event?
That sounds like a disaster.
And yet here is Oscar Piastri rubbing elbows with celebrities from all over the world in Hollywood to help give exposure to the sport. He's not the only one here, he's come with Charles LeClerc.
Oscar would love nothing more than to be at home back in Melbourne(or even MTC) instead of being in the middle of what could only be considered pandemonium. It was like the beginning of a race and how crazy everything is with 20 cars battling for position, except that lasts for a few seconds.
"Are you okay?" Charles asks.
"Peachy."
"That bad huh?"
Oscar and Charles have to jump out of the way quickly as photographers clamor to get a shot for some celebrity that just entered.
"I don't know why they thought I should be here to promote the sport."
Charles tossed him a consolatory smile, "You are the favorite to win next season. Everyone knows how fast your car will be."
Oscar rolled his eyes. He hated how much people just assumed he would win. He wasn't the only one racing for McLaren. Sure the other one was Daniel Riccardo, who set to retire this year after so many years of being a McLaren driver, but still. The pressure and expectations were a bit much even for Oscar who is good at remaining calm under pressure.
"Max is literally the 4 time defending champion. Lewis Hamilton is literally your teammate."
Charles laughed at the suggestion that his now current teammate could be here instead of Oscar. "You shouldn't have answered the phone like him."
What?!
Oscar was about to scream when a security guard approached him and Charles and asked them to take a step back.
The two moved out of the way as two more celebrities, singers this time, came on through. Their conversation was put on the back burner as a handler came by to help guide them to a position where they will take photos.
Oscar wasn't the most photogenic person, actually he felt the complete opposite of Charles who can pretty much wear a rug and dirt and still look pretty. The Australian felt inadequate but because he's a "rising star" in Formula 1 McLaren and even the F1 social media teams want him to be out there more in the spotlight. He intended on doing the bare minimum considering he wasn't even going to come here until he got Charles to come.
As the two posed for pictures Oscar looked at the corner of his eye to where they previously stood. The two other celebrities, a man and woman were standing taking photos as well.
"Who is that?" Oscar whispered mid-smile.
"Tate McCrae and her boyfriend."
Oscar obviously had heard of Tate McCrae but he had no idea what she looked like. He definitely didn't know who the boyfriend was but he was able to see him clearly. He had a delicate looking smile with dimples, brown hair that curled beautifully and...
"Oscar? Earth to Oscar?"
The Aussie shook his head out of a trance and replied with a, "yeah?" He turned his head and saw Charles standing there with the handler who was speaking into a radio.
Charles waved to him to follow adding, "We gotta go," and so they went. It was time to walk into the venue and get seated for the show.
"This shit is boring," Oscar said 1 hour into the show. Charles laughed but didn't say anything in response. Oscar didn't know half the movies being mentioned let alone most of the names being mentioned. He couldn't care any less if he tried to and he tried. For the entire 3+ hours he sat there trying not to pass out thinking about the start to the F1 season, which was occurring in 2 weeks time in Australia. It was his home race and he was nervous about it.
While lost in thought he peered over to the other side of aisle, one row down, and saw the man from before. He was talking to his girlfriend and someone other young looking man sitting on the other side of her. Whatever they were talking about came to an abrupt end when the host, Conan O'Brien came out to go on another one of his riffs. That's when he got up from the chair and went somewhere to the side of the stage.
It wasn't until a few moments later when Oscar saw him again coming out onto the stage with some other person. He had an envelope in his hand and began to spoke. Oscar didn't hear a single word. All of the energy in his senses were fixated on only what his eyes can see and what they saw was a beautiful man that Oscar would beg to break his heart.
He couldn't believe someone could be that attractive. He tried to distract himself, toiling away at his pants pretending that he was straightening them to asking Charles what time it was. Twice.
But then the man came back up the row to be seated back in his seat and Oscar's eyes lingered on him, for what he knew was definitely too long.
You know how sometimes you can feel when someone is staring at you? Oscar never believed in that but he did after the man he was looking at turned around and directly looked at him. He could've sworn their eyes connected but he looked away and pretended they didn't. In his peripheral he can see the young man with luscious curls stay his look at him for a couple more seconds.
"Mate, I think I just embarrassed myself."
Charles chuckled, "What do you mean?"
"You remember that singer and her boyfriend from before?"
"You mean the one you were staring at? Yeah, what about him?" Oscar looked over at Charles who was covering his laughter.
"Not funny, stop laughing. And I was not staring at him."
"You were staring at him like Leo stares at chicken." Leo was Charles' dog, a staple at the Paddock every weekend.
Oscar sighed. "Well I was staring at him just now and he saw me."
The Monegasque coughed to hide his desire to laugh. "I hope he says something to you." Oscar slowly shook his head and took a deep breath.
The show was about to end when Charles asked, "You ready to go to the Governor's Ball?" Oscar looked at him sideways. "Goodness you really weren't paying attention. We were invited to some post Oscar's event."
"Why would I want to go to that? I want to go to the hotel, sleep, then go home."
Charles rolled his eyes, "Free alcohol."
"Sleep can wait," he replies quickly as they get up from their seats. Oscar's phone drops out of his pocket and onto the floor in the middle of the aisle. Thankfully, the few people who were already walking up the aisle didn't step on it but as he walked over to go pick it up someone was already bending down and picked it up.
Oh fuck.
"Is this yours," the young man he had been staring at said with an accent that sounded British. Oscar looked down at the phone in the man's hand. He had long fingers that'd probably look good around his...
Now is not the time, Oscar!
The Aussie clears his throat. "Uh, yeah. Thanks," he says grabbing the phone out of the man's hand. His thumb briefly brushed against the warm skin of the other man's hand causing a jolt of warmth to flow through his own hand and into his arm.
"Not a problem, mate." The Brit flashed his perfect smile before turning away to grab his girlfriend's hand.
Oscar, now looking at Charles who was giggling, asked him to "hit me with a car please."
"Ask me again in two more weeks."
The two young man proceeded to the Governors Ball, which is the official post party for The Oscars. It's where celebrities can go to for some food, drinks and music. Although it's not the only post party for the event.
Oscar felt very out of place even as Charles does his best to keep his friend calm and busy. Both men grateful for the access to free drinks.
"I really do not belong here," Oscar remarks as he downs his drink. He waves to the bartender, motioning for another.
"Nor I." They clank their drinks and take a swig together.
"How long are we gonna stay here?"
Charles looks at the time on his phone, as the clock touches past 10PM. "They want us to take photos so I say we do that, finish our drinks and go back to the hotel." So Charles took out his phone and took a couple photos of them to add to the photos they took earlier. This is all for their social medias, which will be posted in the morning.
The two stayed for another 30 minutes before heading to the restrooms. Oscar looked at himself in the mirror and was straining his eyes, alcohol beginning to override his body. Whenever he drinks he has this pit of warmth in his chest that calms him while the rest of his body acts awry. He actually doesn't mind the feeling of his body being loose and lacking of control.
It's a change from the typical rigidness in the way he holds himself.
"I can't wait to get to the hotel room."
Charles hums as the two wash their hands, "You sure? You seem pretty content with drinking."
"Well it's not like I get many opportunities to relax and drink." During the F1 season Oscar likes to keep himself focused. There are a few guys who will drink alcohol during the season, even during racing weekends, but Oscar completely bans himself from drinking in season. One alcoholic beverage that is absolutely terrible to have is anything involving something sweet, which is every mixed drink. The sugar absolutely destroys whatever diet a driver is on and Oscar is on a strict one.
A couple teams outright put alcohol bans in their contracts.
The two leave the bathroom as Oscar begins to talk when the Australian bumps into someone and falls to the ground. It was all kind of a blur to him as he was looking over his shoulder at Charles when he felt a shoulder crash into his left shoulder and chest. He tried to stabilize himself but his foot landed on the foot of the guy who bumped into him causing him to lose his balance.
"Oh shit," he hears someone say surrounded by the laughter of Charles. "I'm so sorry, are you okay?" A hand pops up in front of his face.
I've seen that hand before.
He looked up and saw a face he's begun to learn well. "Yeah, I'm good" He grabbed the hand that reached for him. He was surprised by the strength of the grip, it stirred him to grip harder. Oscar couldn't help but think that the Brit with curls could rub his hand through his-
Please focus, idiot.
"I think I just had too much to drink," Oscar added as he was pulled up to his feet. He shot a look at Charles who was still giggling at his expense. The boy in front of him was now smiling, shedding his look of concern seeing that Oscar was in fact A-okay.
"Ah don't we all, mate. May I ask you something?"
Charles placed his hand over his mouth as they both worried what the Brit was going to ask. Oscar's heart began to race, flushing his face with warmth like he had just taken a shot of whiskey.
Don't ask about me staring, oh my god.
"Have we met before? You look familiar."
Phew.
Oscar shook his head with his lower lip sliding underneath his upper lip and teeth. "No, um, I don't think so."
The Brit cocked his head unsure if he believed him. "What do you do? Are you an actor?"
Charles cracked a laugh at the idea that Oscar could be an actor and quickly apologized. "God no. I'm actually, uh, we are actually formula 1 drivers."
The Brit's brows raised but Oscar couldn't discern if it was out of interest or confusion cause he's never heard of Formula 1. The latter tends to happen a lot. "We're just here to promote our sport. Showing up to these events, taking photos helps. Or so we're told," Charles adds. "Actually-"
Oscar glared at Charles. Don't do it.
"We would really like to take a photo if you don't mind."
The Brit turned and looked at Charles and seemed in different to the suggestion. He nodded, surprising both Charles and Oscar. "What's another photo?"
The man's whose name Oscar still doesn't know stood in between both of them, one arm draped around Oscar's shoulder while his other hand was up in front of him with a finger pointing up at the sky.
"You know what, why don't you two come to my after party. We're about to head over there now." Charles and Oscar looked at each other unsure of how to answer. "Come on, it's the least I can do for knocking you down," the Brit adds even though it was totally Oscar's fault. "Drink's are on me," the young man includes with a smile on his face.
Oscar wanted to say no. He really did. He wanted nothing more than to go back to the hotel room, watch some stupid movie and then go to sleep. But those dimples made it impossible.
"Yeah, sounds mega," Oscar answers. Even though he isn't looking at his friend he can see Charles shoot him a look.
"Perfect. My security guard, Edgar, will take you there. Oh and what is your name by the way?"
There it was again, a tight yet cute smile with those enchanting dimples. "Oscar Piastri. And this is my ever charming friend, Charles Leclerc."
The young man stuck his hand out to Oscar, "It's nice to meet you. I'm Lando Norris."
Lando Norris.
They shook each other's hand and maybe it was the alcohol, maybe he hallucinated it but he swore he felt Lando's finger brush up against his wrist just before their hands departed. The next thing that happened he definitely believes was the alcohol making him see things cause he saw the young Brit wink at him ever so slightly before walking away.
Hallucination or not but it stirred something inside the pit of his stomach. It was a fuzzy feeling he hadn't felt in so long he thought he never would feel it again.
"What happened to 'I can't wait to get to the hotel room'" Charles mocks with a bad Australian accent.
Edgar, Lando's body guard turned around and began to walk so they followed. "Shut up, Charles."
"You're still the same ole Oscar, huh?"
Oscar knows he didn't mean to but that hit a little too personally than he'd liked. Oscar must've not done well to hide it cause Charles swung his arm around the Australian and gave him that soft shake someone gives when they try to comfort you.
They followed this bulky security guard for a few minutes, zipping through hallways and then going outside. They crossed the street where there was a gathering of very rich people outside. Oscar noticed a couple celebrities like Joaquin Phoenix, Guy Pierce and Australia's own Cate Blanchett. There was an excessive amount of police, more than he's seen at an F1 race. Oscar made sure not to make eye contact with anyone because there was only one person he wanted to look at and that was the boy with the dimples.
They waltzed through a large crowd of people inside a bar and went through a back room. It opened up into large gathering filled with people Oscar doesn't know, but probably should. Well maybe not. A security guard looked at the man who lead them there and then looked at two newcomers. "They've been cleared by Mr. Norris himself."
The security guard left the two men without saying goodbye, leaving them feeling deserted in a place they have no business being.
"We've made a mistake."
"We? There was no we here. This was you because some guy flashed his pretty little dimples."
Oscar's phone dinged, "Yeah well..." he had no comeback. He looked down at the phone and saw that Charles' younger brother, Arthur, had messaged him.
Arthur: Hows it going in LA!"
Oscar: I've dragged your brother to an after party for some singer. He is not happy with me.
"Who is that," Charles asks.
"Arthur."
"What? It's like 5 in the morning. What is he doing awake?"
Oscar shrugged his shoulders.
Arthur: U getting up to any fun tonight? 😉
Arthur was one of the first people to find out about Oscar's sexuality. For much of Oscar's life he'd ignored his sexuality until he met someone a couple years ago before joining McLaren. He confided in the younger Leclerc and ever since then he's been trying to get Oscar to loosen up and have a little fun.
It hasn't exactly been easy.
Oscar: I'm at a party cause I saw a man with dimples. The only thing I'm getting is embarrassed.
Arthur: lmao. Who is the lucky man?"
Oscar rolled his eyes.
Oscar: It doesn't matter. He's dating Tate McRae.
His phone began to ring. Arthur was calling.
The music in the place was loud so Oscar walked to the back and into some hallway where it was slightly quieter. Charles, being strung along followed. He was starting to feel like he knew what Leo was dealing with when Charles brings him everywhere.
"Yes, Arthur?"
"You are at a party with Lando Norris?"
"I wouldn't say I am with him but yeah."
Arthur laughs. "Oh yeah, he's hot. Have you forgotten the meaning of the word 'no' yet?"
Oscar sighed. "Okay I'm hanging up now, mate. Bye." He could only hear the quiet laughs from the younger Leclerc as he hung up on him. He turned to Charles and said, "Let's go back to the room." He was shutting it all down. He was not going to go crazy over a man he can never get.
They went back through the door into the main room and walked towards the exit when someone tapped Oscar by the shoulder. "I was worried you stood me up and left."
The dimples weakened whatever resolve Oscar had and Charles knew it. The bar was over to the right and he muttered something in Italian while heading over to it.
"Oh no I just had a phone call and it was loud in here."
Lando pointed at Charles and said something in a low voice. Oscar couldn't hear him so Lando leaned in just next to Oscar's ear. The smell of Lando's cologne mixed with his natural odor and permeated through the Australian's nose. A tingle of excitement rushed his body. But it was short lived cause this time he heard Lando clearly.
"Is that your boyfriend?"
If Oscar had something to choke on he would've. He nearly panicked and said yes but a cough and a nervous laugh later, he replied, "No. He's just a good friend who I've dragged all the way here."
Lando hummed and smiled before putting his hand back on Oscar's shoulder. "Come, lets get you a drink."
For some reason Lando, a guy he's never met or seen before, stuck by his side. Oscar felt both trapped and comfortable standing by the side of the handsome Brit. Charles definitely felt stuck, but he was a good sport and mingled with the two as they spoke about Formula 1. Lando seemed surprisingly interested in it even suggesting he might go to one just to see what it is all about.
When we broached the subject of the F1 movie that would becoming out later in the year he asked if we were in it. "Um yes but not really. They filmed us but we're just there. It's all for show."
His brow raised, "Shame, you two are attractive enough to be actors for sure."
Charles lifted his glass, "Cheers to that!"
Oscar rolled his eyes but clanked his glass with him nevertheless. However, Lando's eyes were on the Aussie the entire time. Oscar didn't realize that until he looked over at him, saw the smile and watched him closed his eyes slowly before downing his drink.
What was that look? Lando hummed and ordered the 3 of them more drinks before they got interrupted by some young actress.
There wasn't a shortage of upper class people and celebrities that bristled by them to talk to Lando, and the Brit was more than ever enjoying the attention. He reveled in it. He wore a smile that could never go away as he laughed and took photos with people who were more like him.
Weirdly, his girlfriend wasn't there but Oscar didn't bother to ask about her.
This was certainly not a party for Oscar, but for some reason he could not leave Lando's side. Thankfully, Lando included Charles whenever he got Oscar and him shots. He stood between Charles and the Australian and that made Charles feel like he was so far away to Oscar. But he wasn't. Charles was exceptional in moments like these, quick to intrigue others with his half measured smile and eyes that demand your attention. He was one of the most likable people on the track for a reason.
Unlike Oscar, who frequently seemed unemotive and unemotional. It was a false narrative, but there was nothing he can do about it. He won't pretend to be more emotional to change a stupid narrative people have convinced themselves to believe.
However, Charles had to leave for a few because Max Verstappen had woken up back home and wanted to talk to him. Oscar wasn't sure if he'd go to the hotel room and ditch him but he wasn't left much time to think. Lando grabbed Oscar by the hand and pulled him into a hallway and kept walking. He didn't know what Lando was doing but he was beginning to get a little bit nervous.
By the time they got to a room, far away from the main party that the music was merely a thump in the ground and walls -- Oscar's heart had stilled. Lando walked to the far side of the room and pulled out a bottle of what looked to be bourbon. He also grabbed an enclosed jar out of this small fridge and plopped it right next to me on this mahogany wooden table.
The room they were in looked like it was the office to a mob boss. There were weird paintings on the walls of animals being hunted and even one that could've been a villa in Italy. It was a dark room, a lot of wood paneling, even the fridge looked like it was just a small cabinet with the wooden door.
A tension grew as Lando popped the jar open.
"This is the finest bourbon that I save for special occasions. 25 year old Michter bourbon. It's expensive so it's a little strange or even offensive to some to put cherries in them but I love nothing more than cherry soaked bourbon. He scooped a couple cherries with a spoon out of the jar and grabbed one by the stem.
There was unspoken dialogue said between the two as they looked at each other and Lando placed the soaked cherry in front of Oscar's mouth. When the Brit gave him a look that could only be interpreted as him telling Oscar to open his mouth, he did so. Obviously. Lando placed the cherry gently in his mouth and when Oscar locked his teeth around the cherry, the Brit pulled the stem out.
The bourbon that hugged the cherry was already coating the inside of the Aussie's mouth. It warmed his body even more than it already was. Then he bit into it and the strong oak flavor from the bourbon shot into the back of his mouth enflaming it, but the cherry's natural juices danced inside too cooling him. It was the perfect blend of flavors that packed quite a punch.
"What do you think?"
Oscar had been so lost in what was in his mouth that he didn't even notice that Lando was looking at him. "Oh um, can't say I've ever had that." He could feel his cheeks and nose warm. "I liked it a lot," he said softly.
Lando didn't say anything. He just smiled, more so than before like he was genuinely happy to have Oscar's affirmation, and then he put the spoon with the other cherry in his mouth. Oscar kinda wished he got to do to Lando what Lando just did to him, but maybe it was a good thing he didn't. The thoughts he was having were improper and dangerous.
The Brit then grabbed two small glasses and poured a little bourbon into each glass before putting the bourbon away. He lifted both of them, placing his hand on the bottom of one and handed it to Oscar. "Would you entertain me and have a small drink?"
Oscar couldn't help but evaluate and analyze the choice of words. He felt there was something more to them but he was way too drunk and tired to think what it was.
He also couldn't say no even if his body was telling him he had consumed too much alcohol.
"I'd be happy to." He grabbed the small glass, gently clanked it with Lando's and drank it.
Now normally Oscar wouldn't drink a beverage and look at someone, but something told him to look at Lando. Lando had a smile on his face but when he looked down at the cup before swigging it, his smile disappeared and his eyes closed. It took a little longer than it should've for his eyes to open like he was thinking about something.
But of course when they did open they were looking directly at Oscar's.
"You're doing it again," he says. A quaint smile eeked at the corner of his mouth.
"Sorry. I, uh, have a tendency to stare at people too much," he admitted.
Lando grabbed the cup out of Oscar's hand, his finger glancing Oscar's. "It's okay. I don't mind. I'm used to people looking at me."
"I bet," Oscar adds awkwardly. When the Brit took the cups Oscar quickly whipped his phone out to text Charles to let him know he's coming back. He didn't even know if Charles was waiting for him.
"It's fine. I mean most people stare at me because they just see me as a piece of meat. You can have all these fans in the world but what am I but just someone to look at for a few seconds until they get bored and move on."
The words felt like they were soaked in bourbon themselves, sitting inside like the bourbon sits in a cask. These were not words that had just come to Lando, but he's been sitting on them for a while.
Oscar, while he wasn't some big celebrity, was beginning to gain in popularity within Formula 1. He had seen how fans act with those who are more popular than him like with Max Verstappen, Lewis Hamilton and even Charles himself. They can be rabid and temperamental. One moment they love you and the next moment you are a failure they wished they never rooted for. Oscar had yet to truly feel that up and down and he didn't look forward to it.
A chink in the armor, Oscar thought he saw in Lando. He wasn't able to tell about bad it was cause Lando reverted back to how he was before the drink. The smile came out and that was all Lando was going to give him.
"Apologies, I've ruined the mood."
Oscar shook his head. "You don't have to apologize for that."
Lando smiled painfully. "I just met you. You don't need to hear my bullshit, mate."
"But I want to." Is what Oscar wanted to say if he wasn't such a coward. Instead he said nothing and let Lando shift them to a different subject. He pulled out his phone and asked to take a photo. He wanted to do it under the art piece of what Oscar thought was an Italian villa.
Oscar didn't say no. Cause why would he? No, how could he? Arthur was right, the word "no" was no longer in his dictionary.
Lando fiddled with his phone, swiping and tapping at it before looking up at the Aussie. "You said your name was Oscar Piastri, right?"
"Mhm."
"Piastri," he said sounding it out. "Is it spelt like Pastry but with an i before the a?"
Oscar couldn't help but chuckle. "Instead of a Y it's an I." He spelt it out just to make sure the Brit got it.
"There. I've followed you on Instagram."
The two walked out of the room and joined back with the party. Charles was sitting by the bar by himself when the two approached him.
"Ditching me, huh?" Charles teased. Oscar knew he didn't really care based on how Charles was looking at him. It was a big relief.
"I have to apologize for that. My manager is a huge fan of Formula 1 and just had to introduce Oscar to her," he lied.
Charles glanced over at Oscar quickly. "It's no matter. I've only been waiting for a minute."
Oscar was ready for the back-and-forth to end after Lando made it more awkward then it needed to be by lying. "Alright, I think it's time for us to get going, but we had a lot of fun."
Lando looked slightly disappointed, which made Oscar's throat twist. But like before, a smile wiped away the look of disappointment like it was a reflex. "I did too." The two locked eyes before Oscar started to walk away until Lando grabbed his hand. His hand rested softly into his that it almost made Oscar hold it. "Thanks for, um, doing that for me."
"Anytime, Lando."
Anytime...
Chapter Text
Oscar woke up with a massive headache. When they got back to the hotel Oscar was so drunk and drained he immediately dropped to his bed and passed out. He didn't have an ounce of water in his system so the dehydration hit hard.
"Morning sunshine," Charles said. The Monegasque is standing near the tv going through his luggage to find clothes to wear. His hair was a mess and wet after taking a shower. Seeing him half naked should excite Oscar but he'd become to used to seeing Charles without a shirt that it was boring.
Well only a little.
Charles was also off limits, not that anybody publicly knew that. Max and he kept their relationship a secret even if fans were already obsessed with the idea of them dating. Max secretly liked seeing fans talk about "Lestappen crumbs," whenever he and Charles interacted with one another on and off the track.
Plus, Arthur was more his type, but he too was off limits.
"What time is it?" Oscar asks.
"11. You should shower and I'll order room service unless you want to go somewhere for breakfast."
Oscar groaned.
"Room service it is."
Oscar slowly dragged himself out of bed and walked towards the bathroom, when Charles stopped him. "By the way, you have to post a couple photos on instagram and send the rest to social media teams. I sent you the one with Lando Norris, since it seemed you two got along amazingly."
The Australian waved him off. It was too early to deal with social media nonsense.
~~~~~
Lando didn't know what to do. He was as tired as he was hungover but had to go to a media event in South L.A.
He had looked on his phone to peek at his notifications on instagram. It wasn't something he did often, especially now with all of the attention being brought on him. He found it so draining how obsessed people were especially over his relationship with Tate.
Not to mention people have been clamoring for a new album but he was struggling with his creative spirit. Plus there was a little personal stuff clouding his mind.
Lando rarely cared for notifications on instagrams. Typically the ones that would pop up in his tab were from verified users but they also consisted of other celebrities he didn't care about. Lando had a way of being friendly with everyone but friends with nobody. He found the act of socializing in Hollywood to be fake; a game even. It was all superficial and even if someone was being real, he couldn't trust it.
So he never did.
Until last night.
One of the notifications he received was a tagged photo from the young man he met last night, Oscar Piastri.
oscarpiastri Had a fun time last night at the Academy Awards. Ran into this guy @landonorris.
landonorris This guy?
landoenjoyer04 Nah not Lando being this guy'd
runforthehills That's what I called him when he and Tate soft-launched 😭
Charles_Leclerc Awkward in real life and on social media. Never change, Piastri.
Lando liked the photo. He rarely liked photos of him that other people post nowadays. He used to when his career started.
He looked at the photo and couldn't help but stare at Oscar. He looked so out of place and awkward it was almost endearing.
It was cute.
To be honest he doesn't know why he gave the guy the time of day. Yes he was cute but there were a lot of attractive people he's run into. What made him so different?
He was so awkward. Lando caught the Aussie staring at him last night during The Oscars and it didn't bother him. Then by chance would have it Oscar dropped his phone and Lando picked it up. At first Lando wondered if he did it on purpose but the nervousness that gripped his face dispelled such fears.
And then bumping into him at the bathroom. Lando wasn't one to believe in fate but he couldn't deny how coincidental it was. He had to invite the Aussie and his friend.
But it was the spontaneous invite to the back room. Lando knew he lost the plot when he did that. Here was someone he had just met and he was taking him to a room he rarely brings anyone.
He was playing a dangerous game and it nearly got to critical mass when Oscar opened his mouth and accepted the cherry from Lando's hand. Lando didn't even expect him to do that but he did.
Oscar was intriguing and that excited Lando.
Max Fewtrell, Lando's manager walked into the suite. "Lando we have to get going."
Lando rolled his eyes. "Mate, can we just say I'm dying and not go?"
"Nonsense. Let's go."
"Did you do that thing I ask you to do last night?"
Max scoffed, "Oh yeah, mate, you mean the thing you texted me at 3AM in the morning? I totally did that."
Lando sighed. "Max-"
The other Brit waved him off. "I did. It was just delivered."
Lando smiled. "Good."
~~~~~
Oscar and Charles were out on the town getting some shopping done. Oscar wasn't exactly a shopper but Charles could shop for hours. He just liked being in his company.
The Aussie did his best to ignore the fact his instagram was blowing up. He had to turn off his notifications. The interaction with Lando Norris, who had about 25M more followers than he did, led to him gaining a significant amount of followers.
Oscar told himself it didn't really matter because he knows they'd probably not see each other again. This was a one time thing and as much as that nagged at him, it was the truth.
No, he didn't think Lando would actually go to an F1 race. It was one of those things someone says to keep a conversation going.
While walking in Beverly Hills a girl approached them. It wasn't out of the ordinary for someone to notice them but usually it was because they were F1 fans. This girl, who was maybe 15 or 16 noticed him because of the photo with Lando Norris.
Then this proceeded to happen multiple more times over the course of the afternoon.
"How do you like you new found fame?" Charles joked.
"It's temporary, Charles."
Charles whistled.
One thing that did nag at Oscar was the picture he took in that back room with Lando. Lando had interacted with his post on Instagram and even posted his own photos from the night, but not the photo they had taken. It slightly disappointed Oscar and he wondered if The Brit felt a certain kind of way about Oscar calling him "that guy."
No that didn't make sense cause Lando liked the photo. God, Oscar was getting into his own head over a stranger.
The two eventually made there way to a PUMA store at some outlet place in LA. Oscar didn't need any shoes but Charles "needed" to buy more shoes even though he has a couple dozen at home. Oscar was always surprised at how much the Leclerc men loved shoes. Arthur had a big collection of shoes that Oscar always made fun of him for because why buy shoes if you aren't going to wear them?
While sitting down he pulled up his Instagram on his phone and just looked at some of the comments under his recent post. There were thousands of comments, including from some verified people. One did clock his attention the most and then he clicked her profile.
Tate McRae was following him.
Her profile pic was a photo of her and Lando with Lando kissing her on the cheek. Oscar cursed himself for being jealous of her but he was. Immensely.
He wasn't following her so he corrected that for "appearances," or so that's what the social media team at McLaren says whenever a celebrity follows him. The mindless dance between using social media for fun to interact with fans and using it to expand the audience of not just himself but the team and the sport was tiring.
In some ways he understood Lando's rant the previous night but maybe not to such the extent as he did.
With Charles still picking out sneakers Oscar clicked through the app to go to Lando's page. It was a pretty generic celebrity page. Most of his posts were at taken at events, concerts, and vacations. Not a lot of personable ones.
But there was one taken just a few weeks ago. It was geolocated to Los Angeles. He was outside on a balcony, looking more unkempt than he typically did in the photos on his page, wearing a hoodie over a tank top. The caption is what actually caught his attention.
"It was cold in the summertime..."
There was another photo a week prior of Lando poolside not wearing a shirt. Oscar stared at his abs, soaked in water and sweat, glistening under the glare of the sun.
The caption beneath it said "Lost in the Valley of Heat."
"Oscar!" Charles barks next to him starling the Aussie causing him to drop his phone. Oscar glares at the man who is giggling. "You lack so much awareness I don't know how you are an F1 driver."
"Piss off," he responds. He bends down and picks up his phone when his heart drops.
Oh my god.
"No no no. Charles," he snarls. "I gotta delete my Instagram."
Oscar stared down at his screen which was still on the picture of Lando sitting shirtless poolside. He couldn't believe what he saw.
"What happened?"
Oscar shoved his phone as far as he can in Charles' face. The Monegasque had to stifle his laugh. "Oh. My. God. Why did you like it?"
"I didn't like it. You scared me causing my to hit the like button you-" Oscar's voice was getting a little too high as his heart was going into overdrive. He was certifiably freaking out. "What do I do, Charles?"
He shrugged. "Just unlike it. He's probably too busy to see his notifications." So Oscar did just that but that didn't cure the thrashing his heart was doing causing his face to go flush. "Damn he really has you flustered."
"Mate, now is not the time. I can't believe this just happened."
"It's not that big of a deal."
A popup appeared at the top of his screen: "landonorris liked a picture."
Oscar shook his head. There was no way he just saw what he saw, right? No it had to be fake. He clicked on his notifications tab just to check and...oh god. It was real.
"Charles..." he whispered as they stepped out of the store. Oscar clicked on the notification sending him to the photo that was liked. It was a photo he took in January at a beach near Mount Martha in Melbourne. It was a boring selfie of him he thought. The caption read "Beach Day." Oscar always hated captioning his photos so he always went with whatever came to his head.
"Why are you showing me a picture of you?"
"Look below the picture at the likes."
Oscar watched Charles' face shift from confusion to amusement and warned him not to laugh. Charles touched the screen causing it to refresh. "He unliked it," Charles' voice cut to a chortle. He was enjoying this way too much.
The Aussie turned the phone back to him and saw Lando's name was no longer there like Charles said. That's when he got another notification. It was a message from Lando.
landonorris: Beach or pool? 🏊♂️
Oscar had two options. He answers the question pretending that Lando isn't referencing the pictures they respectively liked and unliked or he deletes the app and throws his phone away.
Okay maybe that's a bit far.
oscarpiastri: Beach.
Lando quickly liked the message in chat and replied:
landonorris: Next time you go, invite me. 😏
I'm so fucked.
Oscar put his phone away and tried to erase the messages from his brain. What he couldn't erase were the abs and the moles that painted them and how he wish he could glide his tongue along them.
When they got back to the hotel all Oscar wanted to do was sleep. It was their last day in LA and he had just about had enough of it. He kinda wanted to forget about it all. However, there was a little surprise waiting for him at the hotel that was going to make sure it would be impossible.
When Charles and Oscar arrived at the hotel lobby, one of the staff members waved for their acknowledgment. They were then asked to go to the checking in desk, resulting in them both being confused.
"Hello, which one of you is Oscar-" she looked down at a piece of paper and then back at them, "Piastri?"
Oscar lifted his hand lightly, "That would be me."
The lady bent down and lifted up a basket, placing it in front of them. Oscar quickly scanned the contents of the basket and looked over at Charles. It didn't clock to Charles what the meaning of what was in front of them. But Oscar knew.
There was a bottle of Michter's Bourbon. The same kind that Lando had them drink last night in that back room. There was also a small card that came with it. It wasn't anything spectacular, it just said "For Oscar Piastry" with a little smiley face at the end of it.
Cheeky.
"Who is it from?"
Oscar shrugged not wanting to say anything in front of anyone else. The lady at the desk shook her head. "They didn't give us a name. A man walked in handed it to us and said it was for a man named Oscar Piastri. We did ask who it was from and all the man said was that it was from a good friend."
Oscar grabbed the bottle, leaving the basket and sped walked his way to the elevator leaving Charles behind. When he got to the elevator Charles was motioning to him mouthing "what the fuck?"
He almost didn't save the elevator for Charles.
"Is that from him?" Charles asked.
Oscar, unsure how to react and afraid of what will come out of his mouth, just nodded along.
"Oscar, he has a girlfriend. Can we acknowledge that?"
The Australian let out a sigh but didn't reply back. Obviously he thought about that. Obviously this behavior is weird. But what was he gonna do? It's not like they've actually done anything. There's been no kissing, no inappropriate behavior. Well maybe the whole cherry thing was a little inappropriate.
When they got to the room Oscar placed the bottle on the dresser next to the TV. Oscar took a photo of it with his phone and sent it to Lando in their instagram chat.
oscarpiastri: What is this about?
It took a minute but Lando reacted to the message with a heart.
landonorris: Ah you got it! I was getting worried I'd have to fire Max. 😁
oscarpiastri: But why??
landonorris: For letting me waste your time last night.
Oscar wanted to tell the Brit that he didn't waste his time and that he in fact appreciated it. But then Charles screamed about it being a $10,000 bottle of bourbon after looking it up.
oscarpiastri: $10k? Really?
landonorris: Just accept the gift, mate. ☺️
oscarpiatri: You are too much.
landonorris: Ya...I am.
Notes:
I'm so obsessed with this story. It's just the beginning but I'm cooking up something I think.
I haven't written a fanfic in a few years so I feel rusty but I hope this fic feels vastly different than my other one.
Chapter 3: A Melbourne Mess
Notes:
I'm going to use the 2025 season as a base whenever talking about racing and all that. Obviously I'll have to make up some as I go cause of no Lando but yeahhhhh.
So bare with me on that stuff. I don't care to be accurate, I'm going to play with the season to fit the story lmfao.
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
It was the morning of the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne. It was Oscar's home Grand Prix and he had gained pole position ahead of Max Verstappen the day previously. It was a nervy qualification drive but he was happy to get pole.
Daniel Riccardo had slipped to 3rd behind Max so the run down to the first turn will be hectic.
Oscar's family was doing everything they could to keep his mind off of things, making sure not to bring up the race at all. It didn't matter because it was all he could think about especially with the forecast of rain sometime in the middle of the race.
Typically before a race Oscar knows how to stay calm. He doesn't really get too high or too low and knows that his result is solely in his hands and nobody elses. Any race he loses he lost because he failed, not because he was beaten. It was this attitude or confidence, some may say, that helped him excel at F3 and F2.
He just hoped it would transfer to F1 too.
Before the race and ceremony Oscar made sure to dodge the pesky interviewers who walk and dart around the starting grid. He knew all they would do is ask about the WDC and the fact that it was his home race. After they took photos and did the anthem he quickly darted to the McLaren garage. He went into the back to go to the bathroom and look at himself in the mirror. He looked down at his hand and saw that it was shaking. He hated it.
Presently, this felt worse than thinking about the championship. Maybe it's because this race starts in 15 minutes and the championship won't be decided for many months.
Oscar looked at his phone just for a moment. It wasn't to do anything really important he wanted to put on music to relax him, which he rarely does before a race. He had enough time to listen to one song before having to get in the car, but for some reason he opened his Instagram app and saw he had a message notification.
He doesn't know why and it would perplex him until the start of the race but he clicked on his messages and saw the chat with Lando was at the top and it said 1 new message.
landonorris good luck on your race today 😉
It was the first time since Oscar left LA that the two had communicated with one another. Oscar really thought what had happened was a one off and they would never talk again, but he was wrong. Lando was not so easy to shake.
He had only just began to forget the night they had. The Aussie yearned so much to replay that moment when he put the cherry in his mouth how he wish he can experience that again. His body would ache when he thought about Lando, desperate to feel his body on his own.
He wondered multiple times if Lando was a body kisser or not. He hoped he was.
"Oscar, you ready?" His racing engineer poked his head into the back room and almost startled him.
Oscar looked down at the message again, took a deep breath, and put his phone away. "As ready as I can be."
"You got this, mate."
Sure
It was a dreary day, having rained for much of the morning and early afternoon. Everyone was to start on inters with expectations they'd be on them for a while. With a chance of rain ahead, Oscar knew it would be a whirlwind of a race. This was the kind of race where anything can happen. Anyone can win the first race of the season and it was both exhilarating and nerve-racking all the same.
Oscar would be lying if he said he wasn't nervous. He was expected to win but rain takes that expectations and tosses it to the side with no care in the world for anyone's nerves.
Oscar took in the crowd, his own people here and his home race. The Melbourne GP took place just mere minutes away from where had grown up. He recalled how as a kid he could hear the cars from his own backyard. Now he was in one of those cars and some kid nearby may be listening out for the roar of the engines. Oscar has gone from being inspired to potentially inspiring. It was just more pressure but that was good pressure.
The lights begin to light up.
He takes a deep breath and...
He bottles it. He struggles with traction at the start giving the lead quickly to Verstappen. Riccardo who was in 3rd had fallen behind George Russell and was in 4th now. His engineer came on the radio to tell him to relax and just drive, which went without saying but he understood why he did that.
Is Lando watching? He thought to himself as he stared at the back of Max's Red Bull. How ridiculous is it to be thinking about some celebrity who wishes you luck in the middle of an important race?
He let out a groan at himself.
Due to the track conditions there was no DRS so all Oscar can really do was stay behind Max and be patient. Either wait for a moment to come to him or hope Max makes a mistake, which was totally going to happen. Yeah. 4-time champ making a mistake? Easy.
In all fairness rumors and chatter were circulating about the state of the car not being quite up to snuff. But even so, it wasn't a good idea to expect Max to bin it.
No, cause it would Oscar who does.
Over 40 tricky laps in the race and Oscar finally took the lead from Max after he locked up 10 laps ago. The warning had come in that Class 3 rain was due at any moment. When it arrived it hit hard and Oscar took a turn too deep, hit a wet patch and went right into the gravel. He thought he could save it when he got back on track, but he had too much momentum.
And there it was.
The grandstands staring at him as he kept hitting the gas to try and get his car moving on the grass. It was humiliating and aggravating. His engineer said something on the radio but Oscar didn't listen, his heart beat echoing in his ear over everything.
He had just embarrassed himself in front of his home crowd.
Some inspiration I am, huh?
He was able to get the car going and the crowd roared for him. It didn't help the pit in his chest, it just made it rise to his throat. He didn't deserve their support.
In the end he was able to bring in points by coming in 9th but to him it was no different than coming in last. He was in first, he had tasted what would have been his first victory of the season but also a home victory.
Now he'll have to hold onto the shame for another year.
Of course Oscar was going to compartmentalize it all, it's what he does. In the sport of F1 the best mindset is to have a short term memory. You have a bad result, so what? On to the next one.
But this one stung.
He got through all the stupid interviews, talking about how disappointed he was and how he felt he let down his fans. But he tried to remain positive, or at least give that impression.
While back in the paddock, trying to relax and destress Oscar sat in his racing clothes still. He was sweaty, dirty, and sore. He put his head down and just stared at the ground trying to not think about anything.
But life had a different plan for him.
"So I come to a race and you muck it up?" It was a familiar voice with a familiar smile tinged tone.
Why?
He looked up and standing up against the wall, wearing a orange button down and black slacks was the man he thought he'd never see again.
"Lando."
"Yes I believe that is my name," he replied sarcastically.
They looked at each other silently, Lando's smile slowly dropping as he approach the frustrated Aussie. "Are you alright?"
"I'm fine."
Lando glared at him. "Why lie to me when we both know I can see right through you?"
Oscar ignored the question, "Why are you here?"
The smile refused to disappear off of Lando's face. "I told you I was going to go to one of your races."
Oscar tried to remember if he actually did cause he was pretty drunk when they were talking about f1 and only got drunker afterwards. "But why? I'm a nobody."
"You aren't a nobody. You are Oscar Piastri, and word on the street is that you are the favorite to become an F1 Champion this year."
The Australian driver sighed. He wanted to roll his eyes but for some reason he didn't want to be rude to Lando. The smile, no, the dimples were doing a number on him. It was disarming him in real time. "You're deflecting, Lando."
"I like the way you say my name," Lando was now sitting next to him and Oscar could see Lando's eyes dart down to look at his neck and then back at his eyes. "There's something about you that screams for my attention. I don't know what it is yet. Do you?" His tone turned seductive like he was trying to lure Oscar in.
Oscar's mood was beginning to flip, nervousness now replacing the disappointment he was filled with. "I wish I knew," Oscar replied getting up from his chair because sitting next to him was becoming a little too much. "I'm not interesting, Lando. All I do is drive cars."
"And willingly accepting cherries to be placed in your mouth."
Fuck.
Lando followed him up and closed the gap between them. "Do you ever think about that night?" he asked in a soft voice.
Say no, Oscar. Just say no.
"Yes."
Can't drive and can't say no, brilliant.
"Me too," he replied before gently licking his upper lip.
Oscar knew this was bad, it should be bad for Lando since he has a girlfriend but something told him that it was bad for only him. He had to shut this down.
"Lando, this isn't right."
Lando had grabbed his hand, almost causing Oscar to jerk away from him but the Brit held on firmly. "But it feels so right, no?" His voice was soft but his ears rang loudly with each syllable imprinting itself in them.
"What about Tate?"
He didn't let go and his face didn't flinch. If anything he was even more excited. He looked down at Oscar's hand and rubbed his thumb over the top of it. "You never did get to put a cherry in my mouth. I was so surprised you accepted my cherry that I was thinking clearly."
The Australian's eyes were locked on to the Brits'. The light in the room was dim so Oscar thought maybe his eyes were blue. A very light blue but it was hard to tell. But their grip on him was strong. No matter how much his brain told him to break it he didn't have the strength to do it. He was warn down.
His right hand lifted Oscar's slowly up while he looked at the Aussie. Oscar felt like he was looking into his soul, but what he was doing was completely tearing down his walls. Oscar doesn't do this kind of stuff with people. He's reserved, diligent, and careful.
But this wasn't that.
And what happened next made Oscar realize that Lando was never going away.
"You don't have to worry about Tate," he said with a smile. Oscar felt his hand get lifted even further until it was in between the both of them at chest high. Lando shifted his hand, loosening it and then bringing both of their hands closer to him. Oscar watched as the flirtatious Brit slipped his pointer finger into his mouth. It was warm and wet -- Lando's tongue swirling slowly around it as his eyes stared longingly at Oscar's.
When the Brit removed his finger from his mouth Oscar wished he hadn't. Actually, no, he wished Lando would slap his lips on to his own. He wanted to taste his lips so bad but Lando wasn't about to give him that.
"Mate, you are anything but boring," Lando remarked as he walked by the Aussie.
What was happening? What just happened? Why did it happen? Oscar's brain was swirling with so many questions even going as far as wondering if he was awake.
But it wasn't a dream. It was real life and there were real consequences for this. Maybe not now but later on there will be.
"Lando..." the Aussie called out faintly unsure of himself. He was worried about what will happen.
Lando turned around and it was like he knew what Oscar was thinking. "Trust me Osc."
And just like that he was left all alone to deal with the aftermath of Lando fucking Norris and the race he had forgotten about for 10 minutes.
Those 10 minutes felt like an hour.
Lando was trouble and Oscar welcomed it. But he needed to talk to someone.
Later that night he did just that and reached out to Arthur Leclerc who was his best friend. He knows everything there is to know about Oscar so who better than him to converse with about this shit-show?
🔒Messages and calls are end-to-end encrypted. No one outside of this chat, not even WhatsApp, can read or listen to them. Tap to learn more
Arthur
Arthur am I dreaming?
Hello, to you too Oscar
Please answer. Did I really bin it today in front of my home crowd?
Unfortunately
Is everything ok?
No.
That singer, Lando Norris, visited The Paddock and found me.
😂😂😂
They let him in?
Wait who told him where u were?
I don't know, mate.
But, uh, okay i don't know how else to say this.
He licked my finger.
Um excuse me? He did wut?
Okay he sucked on my finger and licked it.
And u just let him?
Mate, I don't know how to say no to him.
I was expecting u to be more upset about the race today but I guess not
What do I do?
Cry.
He's going to to make u cry eventually. Might as well practice
Oscar knew he was right but he didn't have it in him to avoid Lando. He was entranced by the Brit that he wanted more of him. It was so cliche cause Lando is literally the definition of forbidden fruit. He hasn't even had a taste of him but he wants more. The way his tongue glided around his finger was dream worthy.
But Oscar only had one dream and that was to become a Formula 1 Champion. It scared him how much he wanted to let Lando get in the middle of it.
Notes:
Sorry for the lack of a chapter lately. I wanted to post this yesterday but was sick.
I've written chapter 4 and 5 already. They'll both come this week for sure.
On a side note very excited for another 1,2 McLaren win. Happy for Lando obviously.
We are papaya strong here. It doesn't matter if I or anyone favors one driver over the other we should respect the other driver and not feed the toxicity. Just a shame how hard it is to enjoy a McLaren victory when the other one comes in 2nd cause it's always toxic.
Chapter Text
A lot of being a celebrity sucks. The constant attention to every little thing you do, the constant desire of fans to want something from you like they are entitled, and just the inability to have freedom. Now, while he's found a way to stop caring about the attention; mostly by ignoring social media, he did revel in it a little bit.
There's a saying: all publicity is good publicity. And it's true to an extent. Lando only hated the attention that made something out of nothing. Like before Tate McRae he was spotted getting lunch with Sabrina Carpenter. However, the lunch was for business to meet with their managers. They just so happened to have arrived the destination at the same time and walked in together. But fans and the idiotic paps immediately suggested that they were dating.
It ruined the deal they had to collaborate.
If Lando had to be honest it would've benefitted him more than her so it was no surprise he was more annoyed by the outcome than her.
As for the entitled fans, he only hates it a little. For all the gripes he has he doesn't mind taking photos with fans. It meant they'll post something positive about him and that would help make hide the bad stuff people say about him.
But he also loved seeing fans happy.
If meeting him made a fan's day that was always worth it. However, sometimes he couldn't take photos with fans. Sometimes he has important places to be and that means having to walk by a bunch of screaming fans.
He should correct himself. It's not necessarily the fans that are bad about it but the parents. The number of times he's had parents come up to him or say online how he should take the time to take photos with his fans cause "they made you who you are today." Or "You'd be nothing without your fans."
Lando never asked to be something.
Even so, if Lando had to ignore the downfalls of being a celebrity he did so with the positives. Yeah not having to worry about money, being able to buy whatever you wanted was great, but it had become to make him feel like a robot.
Then there were the parties and Lando loved his parties. Definitely too much because people have made demeaning and all encompassing comments about his partying ways. Yet unlike other celebrities he's never done drugs and has never been arrested for DUI or whatever other alcoholic related delinquency.
Lando just wanted to have fun in a world that's supposed to be fun but was increasingly not.
"What time was it?" the brown haired boy, whose name Lando never bothered to remember, asked while rubbing his hand up and down Lando's chest.
Yeah that was the other great thing about being celebrity. The way people threw themselves at him. Lando didn't always accept the advances of others but he liked how he can just decide he wants to have sex and it wouldn't be too hard to find someone.
Lando looked at his phone. "It's 11:32PM."
It was pretty of shallow of him to view people like this but he knew that these guys he invited into his bed or into the closet of his manager's officer or his manager's car or even the stall of a bathroom don't view him anymore than a piece of meat either. It was both easier that way and unfortunate.
It was his only option though.
Lando thought about the idea of being with other celebrities and he's hooked up with a couple but there's so much baggage it's almost not even worth it.
But also there was no chance of a real relationship with another guy. It was simply too risky even in the year 2025.
Fuck it.
Lando had annoyed himself so he texted Max to come to his room. Max Fewtrell was his best friend, his only friend. He was the only person in the world that knew Lando. He knew what made him tick. There was nothing he could hide from Max.
Unfortunately for Max, Lando could no longer say the same about his own value to his fellow Brit. Lando only hoped Max didn't know that.
Lando got up from the bed and stretched. "Okay so I think it's time for you to go. I have to get ready to go to the airport." He lied. It was such a lazy and rude lie but he knew the boy would believe him.
The young man got up from the bed, put on his clothes and shoes and approached Lando when Max knocked on the door. "Can I have one last kiss?"
The Brit rolled his eyes in his mind but kissed the stranger good night regardless. They were not the lips he wanted to touch.
There's only been one set of lips he's wanted.
Lando opened the door. "Hello Max!"
Max looked at Lando and shook his head. "Bro, please put underwear on." The other Brit looked over his shoulder, saw the boy, and then looked back at Lando with his arms crossed. "Really?" he whispered.
"Make sure he's taken care of."
Max shook his head. "You need to be caref-"
Lando brushed him off abruptly. "Just do it please. I don't need a lecture."
"No you need more than that," Max said tiredly.
There really isn't a normal protocol as it depended on the circumstances. When Lando brings someone home it typically ends up with Max either bringing the guy home or to a hotel where he would then call an uber. There was also the NDA, or a non-disclosure agreement, every guy had to sign it. Lando was of the belief that it didn't matter whether they signed one or not because in the end ain't a soul going to believe them unless they have pics.
But Max was there to make sure Lando didn't fuck up and Lando had to let Max do that.
After taking a shower Lando looked at his phone again. It was 11:53pm now. He had just heard Max come home so he'll be up to yell at him in about 95 seconds so that meant Lando had time. Time to put on the tv and watch the boy he's been thinking about for weeks.
Max walked in and he was about to yell when he looked on the tv and saw Lando had put on Formula 1. It was week 2 of the season which meant it was the Chinese Grand Prix. Lando thought about texting Oscar good luck but half of him thought he was bad luck after Australia and the other half thought it would be amusing to see if Oscar thought about him and was waiting for a message.
"Is this really what you want to watch?"
Lando grabbed a bottle of water out of his personal fridge and took a swig. "Yes. I think I like F1 now."
Max, no stranger to Lando's whims, seemed unamused. "All because of that Oscar guy?"
Lando snapped his finger and pointed at Max. "Bingo, mate."
"Can you at least approach him better than you do these random guys?"
"I have. You don't even know how I bribed one of those McLaren guys so I can get alone time with Oscar in Australia. Or the fact that I sucked on his finger." He hummed taking another sip of his drink.
Max's jaw was ever so slightly ajar. "You did what? Wait he let you put his finger in your mouth?!"
Lando shrugged and grinned at the same time. Yeah he was surprised by that too. "Do you want to know what he tasted like?"
"No mate, I think I'm quite okay without that knowledge."
"Almost like nothing. There was some vanilla scent potentially from a lotion but I think I mostly got dried sweat."
Max made a face of disgust. "Mate I said I don't want to know."
The race had begun and Oscar was off to a fantastic start holding onto first place unlike his race in Australia. Lando grabbed his phone and took a photo of the tv. Max said something but he ignored it while sending the photo to Oscar.
"What's your next move?" Max asked referencing Lando's obvious obsession with Oscar. Lando had already had a taste, there was no way he wasn't going to try and enjoy the full meal.
The thing is Lando didn't know how to answer Max because he didn't know what his next move was either. Like the night he invited Oscar to his after party and then brought him to a back room, everything with Oscar had been spontaneous. There was and is no plan.
And god did Lando love it that way. You think he planned to put Oscar's finger in his mouth? Hell no. He saw Oscar fidgeting and just wanted to hold his hand and when he saw the lust in Oscar's eye, then and only then did he decide to suck on the Australian's pointer. The one issue with doing anything is of course his fame. There are always eyes on him.
In order to get into The Paddock he had to use his celebrity status. There's nothing that can be done to keep that a secret. People will see you and talk about you, especially when it is the first time you've been to an F1 race let alone expressing interest in it. Lando knew Tate liked Formula 1 but he never paid attention when she talked about it. Okay he paid attention to be nice but he didn't absorb the information. He also never watched a race with her.
I swear I'm a good person.
So people talked about him being there in Australia. Of course he played it off by visiting Ferrari and taking pictures with some of the people there like Charles Leclerc, but that was it. And it was perfect cover because they both had a previous interaction. Nobody saw him with Oscar or even in the vicinity of the Australian. Whatever he did he needed to be at least a little secretive about it, not that he cared anymore if he was outed.
But he knew Oscar wasn't out.
Lando didn't want that on his conscience.
"My next move, huh? First things first I need some merch. So tomorrow we'll go buy some Ferrari and McLaren merchandise."
"Why Ferrari?"
Lando smiled and put his arm over his friend. "Ah, mate, you see I'm not as dumb as you think I am."
"You have no clue how dumb I think you are."
"Rude. Anyways, I intend to use Ferrari and Charles Leclerc to cover for my interest in Oscar. Eventually I will be able to post about both teams and racers and act like a generic celebrity."
Max rolled his eyes. "I'm sure it'll go exactly how you've planned for it to go."
"And why wouldn't it?"
"You really want to go down that rabbit-hole right now?"
Lando shook his head, "You're right. I don't and I never will so best keep it to yourself mate and prepare to do what you do best; clean up my mess."
"And what about Tate?"
Oh my god. Tate this, Tate that. Lando grew frustrated, "What's with you guys and asking me about her? She already knows about Oscar."
Max laughed. "Oh you told her everything, is that right? You told her that you put his sweaty finger in your mouth?"
Lando looked away and threw his empty bottle of water at Max who caught it and displaced it. "She said as long as I'm not messy she doesn't care." Max stared at him waiting for him to elaborate. "Oh my god, mate, you are so annoying." Max sticks his tongue out at Lando before he continues, "I am not going to hurt her."
Max looked like he wanted to say something but didn't. He just put his hand on Lando's still wet shoulder from the water droplets that have fallen off his hair and said, "Alright."
What a buzzkill.
Lando was serious about what he said though. While he seemed reckless tonight and all the other times he's slept with guys he's always trusted the system he and Max set up to deal with it. He's never once strayed from it even if he's pushed up right against the boundaries and the rules set.
But Oscar didn't fall into those rules. He was a different case that required Lando to adapt. it was one of those things that was equally scary as it was exciting.
Lando, somehow, was able to watch the entire race. He watched Oscar win, redeeming himself after that awful incident in Australia. He took picture of his tv screen and posted it onto his story with the caption "Am I an F1 fan now?"
Then he waited until they got to the award ceremony and snapped a picture of Oscar standing as the Australian national anthem played. He was just gonna send it to Oscar to show the Aussie that he had watched the entire thing, but, again, there is no plan here.
landonorris you look a lot hotter when you win 😍
oscarpiastri thank you
landonorris that's all I get????
landonorris do you want to see what I look like now?
oscarpiatri sure
Lando sent him a selfie making sure to include everything from the abs up. He had to wait 30 minutes to receive the first reply back from Oscar and another 30 minutes to receive one after the photo.
oscarpiastri oh
Lando rolled his eyes and turned his phone off. He was going to go to bed until he got a notification from instagram.
"oscarpiastri has liked a picture."
~~~~~
It was the start of the first triple header of the F1 season. The first leg takes place in Japan and then they head to Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. Oscar knows it's incredibly important to get off to a good start in the WDC by placing well in these 3 races.
He didn't do as well as he would've liked last year in Suzuka, coming in 8th. Daniel Riccardo beat him coming in 6th too. Unfortunately for him he came in 3rd place in qualifying so it wasn't going to be an easy start for him behind Charles Leclerc and Max Verstappen.
"You seem nervous," Daniel says as Oscar sits in the ice bath. He never liked sitting in the ice bath but the team tells him it's good for the recovery. Oscar wasn't in a position to say they were wrong so he sucks it up and purposefully freezes himself.
"Not really. More annoyed with myself than anything."
Daniel had gotten 9th in qualifying after driving off the last turn getting a track limits violation. To be honest Daniel wanted to retire last season but stuck it out because he knew the car was going to be good this year. It was also the last season with the current car regulations. The older Australian grabbed at his shoulder and began to rub it, grimacing in pain.
Oscar never said anything about it to the team but he knew Riccardo injured it in his FP1 crash in Australia. To the best of his knowledge Riccardo never told Zak or Stella.
"Ah you'll be fine. Just keep your head down."
If Oscar didn't know better he'd say that Riccardo sounded exhausted and it was just after Qualifying.
They didn't have too much time to talk because the McLaren social media people had walked in to the room. Oscar had already done social media obligations post qualifying but the team wanted to push a little more out and give insight into how drivers settle down post qualifying. Oscar kinda goes into cruise control when he does these videos for Instagram and TikTok.
At the end of filming Oscar saw Zak Brown sneak in behind him but he didn't think anything of it until he felt something crash on his head and neck and into the water surrounding him. It was more ice.
Oscar jumped up out of the bath as the ice water splashed into his face giving him a chill he didn't like. It's like going into a cold pool or the beach. You go in slowly, getting your feet and legs wet before committing to get your abdomen and chest wet. It take time to adapt to that and at all times you do not like it when water is splashed in your face whether it's by strangers or younger siblings trying to annoy you.
"Oh my god that's cold," Oscar immediately grabbed his towel and wrapped it around himself to warm up, which it didn't do quick enough.
The rest of the room was laughing, Emma, one of the members of the social media team, remarked that the video should do well.
Like I cared.
After taking a shower and finally getting time to relax for the rest of the evening Oscar pulled out my phone to check on the video. However, someone knocked on the hotel door loudly.
Oscar groaned.
"Oscar!" Arthur yells after Oscar opens the door. Charles was with him.
"What's up?"
The two Leclercs walked in with the older one standing back to show Oscar something on his phone. "You're friend, Lando, keeps liking our photos and my own. His manager contacted the team to get an invite to The Paddock for Miami."
This guy.
Lando and Oscar have chatted a few times on Instagram, each time he receives a message Oscar's heart flutters. "And did Ferrari give him what he wants?"
Arthur cackled. "Of course they did and then some."
"What is he up to?" Oscar thought out loud. As much as he tried not to think about it he knew that Lando would find his way back to seeing Oscar. How and when was the question.
Well not any more it seems.
"What I want to know is why isn't he asking McLaren for the invite?" Charles asked.
Oscar didn't know. "Lando is going to do what Lando wants and there's no point in trying to understand him."
"The question is, why is he obsessed with you?" Arthur asks with a devilish smirk on his face.
The Aussie rolled his eyes and sat down on his bed. He's asked himself that question a million times by now. No answer made sense so he stopped looking for one. For all he knew Lando could show up tomorrow at the race even if it seems the next time he'll see him is in Miami.
"Do you think he and Tate have an open relationship?" Charles asked.
"At this point yeah. I have to believe that. He kinda told me as much I think."
Arthur's brow raised and Oscar realized he forgot to tell him everything that happened. "What do you mean?"
Oscar groaned. "He just told me to trust him."
Arthur sat down next to Oscar and tapped his leg. "And do you?"
"Can I?" he asked before even thinking.
No of course not but Oscar was still incapable of saying no to Lando and clearly that meant he couldn't think negatively of the Brit either. It didn't matter how many times he tried to it was like when you read a sentence in a book over and over again but your brain isn't absorbing it. It's like you're reading a different language.
It was a waste of time.
Arthur and Charles didn't answer him but the non-answer was an answer anyways. And honestly, Oscar didn't care. He wanted Lando and if Lando wanted him he was going to pursue it or be pursued in this case. He had to trust Lando.
"Anyways it's time for us to go, we just wanted to bother you," Arthur joked. The two Leclercs got up and walked to the door.
"Oh Charles, can you do me a favor and take you and Max out for me."
Charles scoffed. "Heh, maybe I'll hold back at the start and run you off the track."
Oscar shook his head, "If I wanted that I'd ask Max."
~~~~~
"That's P3, Oscar. We'll get em next time."
"Yeah, nothing I could do there."
Oscar wasn't going to harp on coming in 3rd. 15 points is better than nothing. He kept himself out of trouble and drove a stress-free drive. He just couldn't do anything against Charles or Max. He had another race in a week and it was going to be in a more favorable track to him.
It didn't matter how calm he was because leave it to the media to try and make something out of nothing.
"Oscar, going into the year the McLaren car looked like the fastest on the grid, do you know why it seems so far that's not the case?"
Oscar always has to remember not to roll his eyes or react much whenever a reporter asks a stupid or loaded question.
But he sure did love giving them a shrug. "I'm not concerned. Season just got started and there are plenty of good cars on the track as you've seen."
"You are currently trailing Max in the Driver's Championship, are you worried?"
Oscar deadpanned at the reporter and replied with a simple, "Nope." He looked around at the gaggle of reporters but was soon ushered off to the next media appointment.
By the time media and social media engagements are done all he wants to do is go to sleep but he has a long day of traveling to do as he decided to leave Japan early. In his exhaustive state he took a photo of the plane wing and posted it on Instagram.
Posting something like that on his socials was labeled as an "Easy Exposure Post" or an "Easy Leverage Post," he's heard some on the team call them. These were posts that required little work from Oscar, which he appreciated greatly, and would get plenty of interactions. Such posts included: take a photo of the plane when flying out or arriving, photos of the McLaren and of course selfies.
"Fans will like any selfie you post. You don't need to look good, just post it," Emma had said in a meeting last year.
He roamed through Instagram mindlessly until he came across an old post from Lando. It was taken 3 weeks ago before Australia and it was of the mountains to the north of where he was. It was harmless enough. The caption read as "The Valley exists to inspire people to climb the Mountain."
Oscar wondered why he capitalized the V in Valley and M in Mountain. Then he wondered why he was wondering why Lando had some special reason for why he did anything.
He's a singer, not a poet.
He decided to look at his messages and only cared to look at the one he had with Lando. He had missed 2 messages from him.
4:31pm
landonorris You did well today mate!
8:17pm
landonorris Can I see a picture of your eyes?
No
He backed out of the chat and looked down at the notification that showed up for their chat in the messages section of Instagram.
oscarpiastri sent an image 1m ago.
He was hopeless.
Notes:
Definitely needed a chapter to give a little insight into Lando's POV.
Hopefully it was good lol
Next chapter should be up on Friday.
Chapter Text
Oscar had won Bahrain and came in 2nd in Saudi Arabia, the former in easy fashion. He was now leading the way in the Driver's Championship. McLaren was close with Mercedes in the Team Standings but mostly that was because of Riccardo struggling. By now the team had realized that he was injured so he was forced to get an MRI on his shoulder.
Thankfully for Riccardo it was just inflammation. Bad news is that it's unlikely to get better unless he takes a break and he wasn't about to take that respite. "Why take a break now when I'm retiring in 8 months?"
Oscar felt bad for Riccardo but it was ultimately something that wasn't on his mind. It was easier not to care then to care especially when the media asked questions about who will replace him. Zak had already told everyone that Pato O'Ward would likely take his spot. However, there was one glaring elephant behind the scenes. Max Verstappen and George Russell. There was all of this drama surrounding Max Verstappen and Red Bull that not even the drivers could ignore it.
Max would always say he'll see what happens later and that he's focused on winning right now with Red Bull. George was frustrated with it all even if he understood Toto would be a fool to pass up on Max. And therefore, Zak would also be a fool to pass up on either. But Zak was not someone who liked to leave questions lingering in the air so even if he was considering to make a run at someone if the cards gave him the opportunity to play em, he would deny it.
"Are you going to leave the hospitality area?" Arthur asked. Oscar was going over some of the data and video from Sprint Qualifying after losing to Kimi Antonelli. Really he was just delaying the inevitable.
"Is he out there?"
Oscar didn't know what to expect after he sent a picture of his eyes to Lando. But what happened after sending that photo changed their relationship ever so slightly. Oscar had surmised that Lando knew he had the Australian wrapped around his finger. Lando had started sending Oscar pics of himself. Sometimes they would just be random selfies and other times it would be more revealing. Usually just him without a shirt.
landonorris when do I get to see those abs?
oscarpiastri idk.
landonorris do you always respond like that?
oscarpiastri yes.
landonorris what about a bicep? Flex for me, Osc
oscarpiastri [photo of Oscar flexing is right arm in the mirror]
landonorris 😋
landonorris maybe that'll be the next part of your body I'll get to taste
oscarpiastri that's if I let you.
Lando was playing with Oscar like he was his toy and the Aussie simply submitted to his demands. There was a thrill to Lando's actions and words. The confidence he displayed in garnering and demanding the attention of Oscar.
He was only just starting to feel comfortable enough teasing the Brit finding it exciting to see how he'll react. The attention he gave was recognition he's never had, attention that fuels his body with warmth with a side of this fuzzy feeling in his stomach. There was only one time in Oscar's life that he felt something like this, albeit it was only a fraction of what he is currently feeling.
For years he had a friendship with a former fellow driver, Logan Sargeant. This friendship, due to the emotional closeness the two had from their karting to British F4 and eventually F1 career. However, when they became teammates in Perma Racing in F3, a stroke of romance built between the two. They never formally became boyfriends but they were physically involved nevertheless.
Unfortunately for Oscar that relationship didn't last long and they slowly drifted apart right up until Logan lost his seat. Even more so he found himself losing that friendship just weeks before the end of the 2024 season.
He tries not to think about it.
Oscar finally quelled his spiraling thoughts about Lando and his past. "Sorry, was daydreaming," he says to Arthur who wasp fixing his hair in the mirror. He looked over at the Aussie and shrugged.
"You should get some fresh air. Hiding isn't going to make you feel better.
Oscar shook his head. "I'm not hiding from him I'm-"
Arthur smiled and waved him off. "I know, Oscar. I know."
Right.
They stepped outside the McLaren hospitality together and just walked around The Paddock. Oscar wanted to clear his head and Arthur knew that. Oscar appreciated how Arthur stayed by his side even after when Charles called him to go to dinner. He didn't even ask him to stay but he knew.
Last summer was a very hard time for Oscar. He was just finally starting to understand the McLaren car and what he needed to do to best utilize it's potential. Then the fracture in his friendship with Logan occurred, which was then proceeded by Logan losing his seat.
Oscar had assumed that he and Logan can just stay away from each other for a little while, have space, and then eventually work things out since they'll be seeing each other frequently for F1. But that wasn't going to happen. Logan not only lost his seat but no team wanted to give him one.
It devastated Oscar who had to go about his life acting like it was nothing. So many people think that because Oscar looks cool, calm and collected that he is fine but what they don't see is how he manages his own nerves and emotions. They don't see how he fidgets with his thumb, often finding himself rubbing the top of it even just the edge of his palm. He doesn't scratch it like he use to when he was younger, but still the impulsiveness to fidget exists.
His mother also taught him to take deep breaths whenever he felt his emotions were getting too much whether it was anger or sadness. Several deep breaths will settle the emotions so the brain can remain in control leaving impulsion abated.
One thing he never did, though, was talk to people. He wasn't good at relaying his feelings. When he did he felt like he'd always choose the wrong words. Words that may not describe how he truly feels, the disconnect between emotion and words would only agitate him further.
Few people contacted him when Logan lost his seat. Actually only 2 people did; his sister and Arthur. Charles would go on to say something later on in person but still. Everyone knew something happened between Logan and Oscar, but like Oscar they probably assumed they'd work it out. Nevertheless, he cried when the news broke. He was forced to go on a run. It was just 1 day before they were going to go to Italy to get ready for the next race.
And that was the struggle.
Drivers had to keep getting ready for the next race and it didn't matter what was going on in your personal life. Formula 1 waits for no one and if you can't focus on the prize ahead you will lose.
No time to waste or you'll get crushed.
Within 15 minutes Arthur had called Oscar to see how he was doing. Oscar didn't know it at the time but Arthur was on a little date with a girl he had just met when the news broke. Charles told Oscar that he left the date to call Oscar. He thinks about that pretty frequently, especially when he is with Arthur. Why someone would go out of their way like that for him confused him but he was grateful for it because all Arthur did was listen to him cry for a half hour.
It's one of those things that happen in your life that you think about frequently but never talk about it. It's like you're trying to preserve the beauty of that memory and as much as you may want to bring it up with a friend just to say thank you again there's this faint feeling that the memory could be changed by talking about it.
And so Oscar never talked about it. He never thanked Arthur.
He never even checked in on Logan either.
"Oscar!" a voice he's missed said from behind them.
Speak of the devil.
He was dressed in Scuderia Red wearing sunglasses and a necklace. He had a couple bracelets and rings on his fingers as he waved at them.
"Hey," he answers. Oscar's heart began to pump faster.
"Long time no see."
Too long
"And whose fault is that?" Arthur queries with a smirk on his face. Lando's brow raised and licks his upper lip for just a moment before looking over at Arthur.
"Unfortunately, it is mine. I fear I hate flying."
Arthur hums. "Well I hope you don't mind but I have him for the night. You can have him tomorrow."
Oscar snapped his neck to look at Arthur. He had no clue what and why Arthur had said that. Lando seemed to be entertained.
"Is that so?" he asks Oscar, cocking a smile. "Well I'll be rooting for you tomorrow in the Sprint."
Arthur grabbed Oscar by the arm and walked away from Lando. Oscar could feel the Brit's eyes on him like it was burning a hole in the back of his head. Arthur grabbed an uber for the two of them and brought them to a local restaurant. After getting seated and ordering their food Oscar decided to ask what Arthur was doing.
Arthur shrugged. "I thought it would be funny if he thought there was competition. Oscar rolled his eyes but he had to admit to himself that he was curious how Lando would react. "Plus, it gives you a little power over him since all you do is say yes."
Oscar sighed and sipped from his glass of water. "I feel like he's going to do something to take away my power."
"Probably. You know if you were as strong willed with your crushes as you are in a F1 car you wouldn't have this issue."
"I know" Oscar groaned. "It's just, you saw his smile."
The Monegasque nodded. "And the dimples, I know I know."
When the food came Arthur told Oscar not to touch his food yet. He pulled out his phone and took a photo. He told Oscar to take a photo of Arthur and his good and to give Arthur his phone. Oscar didn't know what he was doing but when he got his phone he looked down and saw his Instagram.
"What is this?" It was the photo of Arthur and it had his Instagram user name tagged in the captain.
Arthur showed his phone and it was of Oscar and his food with the caption "Dinner date with @oscarpiastri.
"You are devious."
Arthur hit the post button on his phone and motioned for Oscar to do the same. "Make him jealous, Oscar."
landonorris liked your photo
"He's got your notifications on. He's just as down bad as you are and you can't even see it." Arthur showed his phone.
landonorris liked your photo
~~~~~
Lando watched Oscar from afar for much of the weekend. He watched as the Australian calmly won the Sprint, barely displaying much emotion, and then getting 4th in Qualifying. This is where he learned more about Oscar's display of emotion a lot.
It's his eyes. He doesn't show much anger or happiness with his mouth, usually displaying a typical smile or placid demeanor. When he does well he may pump his fist but that's about it. However, when he doesn't do as well as he wanted his eyelids look heavier almost like he is squinting. Really, Lando thinks he looks annoyed more than anything.
And then there are the recap videos that are posted on Instagram and TikTok. Oscar's biggest tell is the long breaks in between sentences, especially when he says "um" and "uh." He drags them out ever so slightly like his brain is loading his response but is trying to check any strong negative emotion.
Boring
It was 20 minutes before the race began and it was pretty crowded out there on the starting grid. Lando had gotten a pass to be there thanks to Ferrari but he tried to stay to himself for most of the weekend. Obviously fans recognized him and he was forced to take photos and sign autographs but he wanted to be able to observe Oscar.
"You're staring at him," Max Fewtrell said.
Lando smiled. "He's pretty, can you blame me?" Lando stepped away and walked in the direction away from Oscar.
"Why don't you fuck him and get it over with?"
"Max, come on. What's the fun in that?"
"I'm just saying, mate. I don't know why you are taking your time."
Lando sorta agreed with Max. He didn't know why either but he was only doing what his heart wanted. Lando wanted to take his time because he thinks Oscar is worth the time. That the longer he enjoys the ride the more the prize at the end was going to be worth it.
"Hmm did you ever think I've been bored and I'm just enjoying my time?"
Max scoffed, "Right, whatever you say mate. Just don't leave a mess I can't clean up. This isn't some scrub you pick up at a bar in WeHo."
Lando waved him off. He may deserve the harsh words but he didn't appreciate them. It made him want to handle Oscar better than his past flings in spite of Max's opinion of him.
Does a fling last more than 2 months, though? Is a fling really the appropriate term?
Lando found the start of the races to be stressful. The tension that grew as the red lights began was all a little bit too much for him he almost didn't want to watch. He was nervous, and not just for the drivers but specifically for Oscar. When they arrived at the first turn he squirmed watching the cars scrunch up like an accordion, nearly connecting at the front of the pack multiple times.
Oscar was able to inch up into 3rd pretty easily. It didn't take too long for him to dispatch Kimi Antonelli for 2nd leaving just Max Verstappen left to clear. Lando heard from the people in the Ferrari garage about how hard Oscar will have it to try and get by Max.
"He's gonna send him off into the wall," one engineer remarked. Lando felt something in his chest that was foreign to him, so much so he ignored it because it freaked him out.
The feeling happened again when he watch Oscar tried to get past Max but struggle. It looked like the two almost came close to crashing.
What is this feeling?
His chest and throat tightened. It reminded him of when he first released music. He was so scared that nobody would listen to his first single. It made him nauseous to the point where he got sick. It was a feeling he despised.
There was another close call but Oscar succeeded in getting past Max and gaining 1st.
Yes!
Oscar took the lead and never relinquished it. Lando couldn't help but feel excited for him. At the corner of his eye he saw Max looking at him confused but he ignored it.
Lando was determined to find Oscar. The last time he found him he found someone from McLaren who was easy to bribe. The man had a daughter who was a fan of his and he wanted a photo with him to send to her. He thought it would be harder to get to him but it was pretty easy.
He didn't want to go about it that way this time.
No that's boring.
Lando pulled out his phone and went to Instagram. He was going to see Oscar today.
landonorris Hey winner!
oscarpiastri Hi.
landonorris Are you busy tonight?
oscarpiastri No.
landonorris Perfect!
landonorris What hotel are staying at?
oscarpiastri The Marriot
landonorris See you then 😘
On the road there Max noticed that Lando's leg was bouncing up and down. It surprised Lando because he didn't realize it until Max brought it up.
Why am I nervous all of the sudden?
When they got to the hotel Max stayed with the car as Lando said he'd only be a few minutes. He could feel his face getting warm as he walked into the hotel and then made it to Oscar's floor. It was a different feeling than he was used to. It was just adrenaline from excitement but there was this nervousness that settled at his core. He didn't know what this meant and why he was feeling this way.
He took a deep breath but it caught in his chest causing him to clear his throat and take another deep breath. It wasn't good enough so he took another once he made it to Oscar's door. He closed his eyes, knocked on the door, and cocked a smile the moment Oscar opened it. He was wearing a cream color tee and black shorts. Both look tight on him.
"You're looking good,"
"Thanks," there was a brief pause as Oscar's eyes darted down and back up. "So do you."
Lando walked into the hotel room and looked around. He walked past the bathroom which was across from closet space and a body mirror an then into the open area of the hotel room. It was simple, nothing too fancy. It was very well kept, an empty bottle of water sitting on the table next to a open Chinese food container. There was a book on the table next to the bed and the bed was made.
He turned and saw Oscar near the bathroom slowly approaching him. Lando figured he was trying to figure out what he was going to do, which fed his excitement cause not even he knew.
"I hope you like chocolate," the Brit says showing him the box of Belgian chocolates that he grabbed on the way to the hotel.
Oscar looked at them and accepted the box as Lando handed it to him. "I love chocolate."
"Same. Although I'm a big fan of the kinder chocolate."
"In Australia we have this chocolate biscuit snack called Tim Tams. They're my favorite."
Tim Tams, huh?
"Congrats on your win again."
"Thanks." Oscar looked away and then back at Lando. "Do you really watch for me?"
Lando smiled. "Only for you."
Oscar licked his lips which sent a shiver down Lando spine but was replaced by a warmth that flooded his core and into his face. He saw how Oscar's neck tensed up and couldn't help but wonder how it would feel under his tongue. It was driving him crazy how Oscar made him feel. The rush of just looking at his neck, his arms, the vein that subtly goes from his wrist all the way up his forearm to the bridge of his sleeve.
"I've been thinking about how you said you were boring."
"Cause I am," Oscar replied quickly.
Lando shook his head, grabbed the box of chocolates out of his hand and tossed it on the bed to his left. "Come with me," he said as he grabbed Oscar's wrist. He wondered if the Aussie felt his thumb caress the side of his wrist as he held him.
The Brit took Oscar to the full body mirror, stood him in front of it and then stood closely behind him. He was so close to Oscar he could smell the fruity shampoo off his hair. He could tell that Oscar had showered but hadn't yet put on a cologne. He wasn't exactly sure what he'd do next but he just did it.
He placed his head right above Oscar's right shoulder and slid his left hand in between Oscar's left arm gently gliding his fingers up the Australian's body until he rested it on his chest. He can feel Oscar's heart thump in his chest ferociously. Oscar's eyes are trained on the mirror in front of him looking right at Lando's eyes.
"Would a boring person be okay with this?"
He lifted his right hand to Oscar's neck and gently placed his hand around it, stroking underneath his jaw with his thumb.
Lando hummed as he drew his face close to Oscar's neck and shoulder, the Aussie's body heat starting to radiate onto Lando. He looked down carefully at the area where the neck meets his shoulder and placed his lips gently down on it kissing it. The warmth smacked his wet lips and flooded his face. He pulled the Aussie close to him so he could feel his body on his. Oscar let out a ragged breath which only turned Lando on more as kissed higher up his neck.
He repositioned his hand so his fingers were caressing his jaw when he slipped one finger across Oscar's warm and smooth lips.
"Do you like this," Lando whispered in Oscar's ear. He already knew the answer feeling Oscar's heartbeat settle to a less frantic pace.
"Yes." His voice was so soft he thought he almost hallucinated it. It was just one word but it excited him. He was sure Oscar could feel it and that made this all the more hotter for him.
Lando brushed his finger against Oscar's lips once more and lightly pressed in, the Aussie not resisting and allowing the finger inside. Oscar was still looking at Lando through the mirror as he closed his lips around Lando's finger and teased it with his tongue.
Fuck.
"Good boy."
Lando lifted Oscar's right arm so that it was somewhat flexing underneath his chin. He spotted Oscar's bulging vein and like he was at a buffet his mouth began to water. The animalistic urge to lick his bicep and then kiss it going up to his shoulder was all too tempting. He enjoyed it and enjoyed hearing the stifled moans of the Aussie who had begun rummaging his fingers into Lando's hair.
Lando hummed before licking underneath Oscar's ear and then his earlobe. Every second his tongue and lips traversed Oscar's body was an hour in heaven. It lasted so long he thought he could stay there in that moment forever.
But also in that moment, Lando may have realized that Oscar was more than just a prize.
He slowly but regretfully pulled away from Oscar. Lando knew he was crossing a point of no return with the bed just a few feet away. He wanted Oscar bad and it was impossible to hide it. But he wanted to enjoy this. He wanted to enjoy Oscar and there was no reason to rush anything.
"See, you're not boring. You were just bored."
Lando caressed Oscar's cheek and once again rubbed his lips with his thumb. Oscar kissed it before The Brit pulled away and turned to the door.
"Lando," Oscar said in a labored voice. Lando stopped moving to hear what the boy had to say. "Will I get to see you again?"
The Brit turned and looked at Oscar one last time. He took in just how adorable he looked. He couldn't stand not kissing him right then and there but he knew this was the right thing to do.
"Only if you let me."
Notes:
The summer break has been painful, so I've been typing up new chapters.
Next chapter should be up on Sunday. I think. 0_o
Chapter Text
It was the middle of the two week break before the 2nd triple header of the season. The 2nd triple header consisted of going to Imola, the famed Monaco course and finally Spain. Oscar was using this period not to prepare for the triple header but to learn how to balance dealing with his feelings for Lando Norris while competing.
"Good boy," he replays in his head for the 73rd time since Lando whispered it in his ear a few days ago. He felt Lando's voice slap his ear drum stilling him. In that moment Oscar was his and there was nothing he was going to do to stop it.
He can't get rid of the feeling of Lando's hands on his body, the way Lando used his hand on his chest to bring him closer to his own. The warm wetness of his tongue on the Aussie's neck and ear was intoxicating. Nobody has ever done that to him but there was only one person he'd ever want to do that to him again.
Oscar was beginning to feel more comfortable talking to Lando even when the conversation delved into more sexual themes. Lando was actively sending him selfies and pictures of him shirtless, so much so that Oscar had his body memorized. One thing he appreciated from Lando is that Lando wasn't demanding. He'd ask for things but never demanded them and never asked for something explicit. It was like Lando was being respectful, even if in his own weird way.
Lando would ask Oscar for selfies and pictures of his biceps but that was it. Oscar knew he wanted to see more but he never asked. They did video chat once while Oscar was working out and that was just because Lando was curious what a driver does to stay fit. Every time he had looked at the camera while working out Lando was always watching even while he was making himself lunch.
There relationship had changed. Lando had changed. It wasn't bad but it was....different.
landonorris what's your favorite country to travel to?
oscarpiastri Croatia but I'd love to go to The Maldives.
oscarpiastri wbu?
landonorris The Maldives, huh? I've been there before
landonorris I love going to Portugal. It's beautiful
oscarpiastri have you been to Australia?
landonorris yeah for tour. Went to Sydney and Perth last year
oscarpiastri you should come to melbourne
landonorris invite me and I will, Osc 😘
They had conversations like this multiple times. Oscar felt like he was talking to a friend more than a crush but every so often Lando would sneak in some flirtatious comment. The flirty behavior still gave him a buzz of excitement but now the conversations were deeper. Lando Norris wasn't just some hot celebrity who he wants to sleep with.
The weekend before Imola Lando had video called Oscar while Oscar was working out. The Aussie was at the point where he didn't hesitate when talking to Lando. If it was a couple weeks ago he may have held his finger over the accept button but now he just accepts.
"Oh looks like I've called you at the right time."
"Yeah i guess so,"
He was in the middle of training his neck. There are multiple training exercises that F1 drivers do to train their neck. It's important to build strength in the neck muscles because of the g-forces that they have to endure. G-forces can be pretty extreme in corners and strong neck muscles allow drivers to keep their head as steady as possible, which is important when trying to drive on your line.
Because he didn't have the equipment he couldn't do any of the exercises involving elastic bands so he went with a more isometric training exercise. He rested his head on a padded step stool for a neck side plank.
"How long do you hold that position, again?"
"About 20-30 seconds." Oscar answered as he begun to the exercise.
Lando looked on and saw how much Oscar was straining towards the end, how the veins in his neck bulged out.
When Oscar finished he stretched out his neck and then rubbed it. He hated doing neck exercises cause they put strain on the most annoying muscles to strain. Oscar thought it apt to tease Lando a little by rolling up his sleeve to his shoulder and stretching them above his head. He looked down at the phone and saw the Brit looking with a grin on his face.
"Don't stare too much," Oscar remarks.
Lando hummed, "Mate, you should see what I do with the pics you send me."
Oscar choked on the water he was sipping causing Lando to laugh. "You always gotta one up me, huh?"
The Brit scoffed with a devilish smile, "Not like it's hard, well it is a little." He winked at the Australian whose jaw failed to rise and close his mouth.
Oscar assumed he was just joking because if he was serious it would drive him crazy and he would have to turn of the video chat. He decided to change the subject.
"When do I get to see you again?"
"How badly do you want to see me?" Lando asked in a soft and seductive voice.
"As much as I want to race." Lando's eyes widened. Oscar wanted to say more about how much he wants Lando to touch more of his body, whether with his hands or tongue. He wants that feeling of heat and electricity once again. He wants it to be more intense. He lusted for it.
Oscar watched Lando pick up his phone and tap away at it while humming and whistling. "Ah, I got it. Monaco. I'll rent a Yacht for a party and you can invite whomever you'd like."
"What if I lose?"
Lando shook his head, "I'll make sure you'll feel like a winner."
God Oscar loved how Lando spoke to him. The way he flirted so effortlessly. He was unfairly endearing and selfishly flirtatious. It was like a drug to Oscar and he was immensely addicted to it.
~~~~~
Lando had just wrapped up a brand meeting. He hated going to these but it was necessary to maintain his popularity especially when he wasn't releasing any music.
This issue came up in another meeting with his record label, Universal. He owed them another album and he owed it to them soon. He was supposed to get one out by the end of the year but that's clearly not happening. They gave him a 6 month reprieve but not even he thinks he'll reach that goal. He has a few songs done but he doesn't know what will be his first hit.
Nothing he has written or recorded means anything to him. They are all mindless pop songs with no real substance to them. But it's what his label wants from him because it's what they think will sell. Lando didn't think it was the best use of his talent nor was it the kind of music he also wanted to make. But nevertheless it was not his place to speak up and rock the boat. Or at least that's what Max tells him.
"1,000,000 US dollars for a yacht?" Max asks while going through Lando's financial statements. "Mate..."
Lando smirked nervously. "I promised Oscar-"
"To spend a million bucks?!"
"No," he replied quickly. "To have a little party on yacht. I had to rent one out for a week."
Max put the tablet down and crossed his arms, "Mate, there's no way you are doing this for a guy."
"Why not?"
"Cause spending a million dollars to fuck a guy is insane. Even you have to realize that."
Lando rolled his eyes and began to walk away from Max. "Who says I'm going to fuck him? Maybe I just like being around him."
Max chuckled, "Now you are bullshitting me. You're Lando Norris. You don't hang out with a guy unless you want to fuck him."
The Brit winced as he kept walking away, heading towards their shared kitchen. "This isn't true. I hang out with you."
"Yeah and you wanted to fuck me some time ago."
Lando opens the fridge door and grabs a bottle of water. "I don't want to fuck you anymore and yet you still remain my best friend, who by the way lives in 2 houses that I own." He smiled at Max teasingly before taking a sip of his water.
Max rolled his eyes but had a small smile on his own face. "So, what, you don't want to fuck this Oscar guy?"
Lando chuckles, "I wouldn't go that far, mate. I'm just taking your advice and treating him differently."
"C'mon mate, I know you. You don't just switch up like this."
"Maybe I have," Lando said earnestly. "Maybe I'm treating Oscar differently because he is different. Is that really so wrong of me, Max?" Max and Lando shared a long glance. Lando's eyes bowed first -- the Brit walked by his friend and put his hand on his shoulder. "I'm sorry for everything I've done for you to think so lowly of me."
His voice sounded more pained than he wanted to let on. He thinks he heard Max say something but he was already zoning out and putting his earbuds in. The day was already going long but Lando had more to do. Tate and her entourage were coming by because she had to go to a Late Night show to promote her brand new album and going with her would be good for appearances.
Regardless of the state of their relationship, Lando was always willing to support Tate when she asked. He didn't care when her publicist or manager would ask, but if she did he'd never say no. It was one of his rules to himself to make their relationship work. And earlier in the day she had called him and ask him to specifically come with her. And it wouldn't be one of those things where she sends a car for him, no, she was showing up at the house herself.
This either meant she wanted to talk about something important or that they were slacking on appearances and if Lando had to guess it was both.
"Take the long way," Tate said to her driver. She was making the final touches on her makeup, gently placing powder on her right cheek.
Uh oh.
Lando got in the car, it was just her and him in the back with the driver and her publicist in the front.
"So Oscar Piastri, huh?" she asked closing her small compact mirror that had Swarovski crystals on it. His throat closed momentarily.
By now one must be wondering what is this relationship that Lando has Tate McRae and it's complicated, yet somewhat simple. Everyone who follows gossip channels and celebrity rumors has heard of the idea of a planned relationship or a PR relationship. A relationship that occurs between two celebrities that their teams agree to.
The reason behind this can be for myriad of reasons. If a celebrity hasn't had a relationship in a while they may get into one of these "contracts." Some teams think a celebrity being in a relationship makes them more desirable, an idea that may be debatable. Then of course there is the mixing of fanbases that will inevitably grow both of them.
But these aren't the reasons for Lando. Lando is gay. Lando needed to have a cover, or a beard, about a year ago and Tate McRae was more than happy to come to his aid. They were hot together, he knew that, and he can acknowledge that she was a very attractive woman. Kissing her and being close to her physically in public wouldn't be an issue.
However, for Tate the relationship was to increase her brand. She can mess the relationship up but he can't, again that's what Max says. Tate's publicist also tells him the same thing.
"What about him?" Lando asks nervously.
"He's cute." She looked at Lando with a piercing look. She neither looked mad or happy. Lando couldn't discern her mood.
"I agree."
The mood was somewhat cold between the two but Lando was sure it was because of his anxiety.
Tate nodded. "We need to do more to show that we are happily into one another."
"I agree. What do you have in mind?"
"Sara", Tate's publicist, "Tells me that you are going to Monaco in a couple weeks. Is that true?"
Sara looked down at her phone and said, "He spent a million dollars on a yacht."
Max...
"It's true. Do you want to come?"
Tate smiled, "See, no matter what Sara and my team says, you are smart. This is why I let you have your freedom, Lando." Lando shot a look at Sara who whistled. "I cleared my schedule to go. That Thursday through Monday. We will go together and we will leave together."
Sara interrupted, "And any party you have she must be there and you two will take pictures of yourselves to post. Paps are prohibited in Monaco."
Lando looked outside the window at all the passing cars and palm trees. He hated this part of his life but it was necessary evil.
"No complaints from me, you know that."
"Hmm."
There was a long pause between the two until Tate looked at Lando. He could feel her gaze, but also saw it through the window reflection. She looked happy or maybe the reflection distorted her face, he didn't know.
They were driving in a circle now.
"Do you like him?"
Shit.
"No."
Tate chuckled. Sara let out a loud laugh before coughing to stifle herself. She put her hand up and apologized receiving a few chuckles from Tate.
"I don't know, Tate. He's not like other guys. So yeah I don't know."
"i understand Lando. Can you do me a favor?"
Lando finally turned and looked at Tate. "Anything."
She wore a tight-lipped smile, "Talk to me. Let me know how you feel so we can navigate this together."
His throat tightened suddenly. He nodded, afraid to talk, but when they arrived at their destination he told them to wait. His mind was racing. Lando has never been good at dealing with his feelings. His flirting obfuscates the immense insecurity he has.
"I'm worried." It was all he could say. There were other thoughts swirling up a storm of chaos in his head. It didn't matter how hard he tried the words could not make there way out of his mouth.
Tate placed her hand on Lando's hand and caressed the side of it.
"I know."
Notes:
Love to see people are enjoying the fic.
Still not sure how many chapters this will be. I'm thinking 15-17 give or take.
Next chapter coming either Wednesday or Thursday. It'll be the biggest chapter yet ^_^
Chapter Text
Oscar was reeling. The last couple weeks have been a whirlwind for him. He won pole position for Imola but then a bad strategy and misstep later got him 3rd. Social media was starting to become a landmine for him and the media wasn't pulling their punches.
While he had plenty of support on social media there were a lot of people that were questioning his ability to win, especially after Imola. While he remained calm about it all, people made remarks that his attitude made it seem like he didn't care. It bothered him how obsessed some fans were at trying to twist something into a negative. It didn't matter what he did there were going to be people looking to turn it on its head.
The media even joined in on it.
"How strong is your desire to win the championship this season?" A reporter asked him as he sat next to Charles and George.
It was a stupid question. A stupid question with the goal to insinuate that Oscar doesn't have any desire to win.
Oscar couldn't help but barely roll his eyes with a cocked smile, "my goal this season is to win. My dream is to be a champion."
Another reporter had a turn to twist the knife, "What is getting in the way of that currently?"
"Oh you know," he started off looking at Charles, "there's a lot of amazing drivers and I don't know if you know but Max Verstappen is a 4-time champion."
It gets a few snickers out of the reporters along with Charles and George. "I'm very focused on winning. I have full confidence in myself and the team."
Several other gaggles with the press went like this. It was a constant stream of bullshit and it only proceeded to get worse when Oscar came in 3rd in Qualifying for Monaco. Monaco is a very famous circuit in F1 but the track is notorious for being hard to pass other cars, especially as cars have gotten bigger.
While this year the FIA has stipulated a mandatory 2-stop race it is unlikely that Oscar will be able to come in first as long as those in front of him don't mess up. Even though this meant Oscar should at least get on the podium it was also another race where he wouldn't win. Both Zak and Stella have maintained that they aren't concerned if Oscar doesn't win because they believe consistency is key to winning but the media pressure is gaining.
The only silver-lining for this weekend in Monaco was going to be Lando. Lando was holding a party for Sunday night. Several drivers including, Charles, his brother, George, Alex and Daniel were invited. Lando also said that his girlfriend Tate was coming along with a couple of models. Oscar didn't dare ask why Tate was coming but Lando said she wouldn't be an issue.
Oscar thought that was wishful thinking. Maybe she wasn't an issue for him but for Oscar she was. Since the two started flirting he's been trying to ignore the complication of Tate and the fact that Lando seems okay, happy even, to cheat on her with him. The feeling dissipated a little when the Brit told him to trust him but Oscar was aware that he could just be lying. It's not like Oscar wasn't thinking very clearly about this with Lando.
He didn't want to.
But now Tate's presence alone will be too distracting. Even when seeing Lando throughout the weekend he has been distancing himself ever so slightly, and afraid to go up to him.
Okay maybe he's been slightly distracted and that's playing a role in his races. But nothing was going to change just yet. Oscar was intent on continuing to balance both his personal life with his professional life.
He wanted to win a championship.
He wanted Lando.
There was nothing shaking that.
It was a couple hours before the race and Oscar had been summoned to meet with Zak and Stella. It was strange to be summoned for a meeting especially after they just went over the strategy for the race with the team. He didn't notice anything to be wrong or awry but he was slightly distracted on his phone looking at the messages Lando had sent him.
Lando had sent him a couple drunken texts late last night including a couple pictures of him shirtless.
1:29 AM
landonorris I can't wait to see you tomorrow
2:04 AM
landonorris I miss the feeling of your skin on my tongue
Scratch that, he was very distracted. Now he was worrying the meeting was about him and maybe they've realized that he's been distracted.
"Oscar," Stella says in a calm Italian accent.
Oscar looks around and see Daniel is also there. It looked like he had been sitting there for a while. His face looked sullen, even the smile he wore looked like a frown.
Stella motioned Oscar to sit down in the chair across from him and Zak.
"Daniel has gotten a second opinion on his shoulder," Zak started. Oscar couldn't exaggerate the amount of relief he had to hear this meeting was about Daniel and not him. But as soon as that relief swept it, dread filled the void.
Daniel's injury had clearly not gotten better. He had told Oscar that his pinky and ring finger had gone numb in the middle of the race last week and during FP 1.
"He has thoracic outlet syndrome."
Oscar had never heard of that but the look on everyone's faces along with Zak's tone made it sound very serious. "He's retiring after Hungary."
Daniel finally spoke up, "That is if it doesn't get worse. Right now I'm going to get some physical therapy and take some inflammatories."
Zak let out a sigh. "Pato O'Ward will take the seat."
Daniel had been struggling through the season, inconsistent at best, but had done well enough to keep McLaren at or near the top of the Constructor's. Pato O'Ward was currently racing for McLaren in the Indy Racing scene. He was the unofficial but official reserve driver for the McLaren F1 team.
After discussing changes to the schedule next week, Daniel left the office but Oscar was told to hold back.
Please no.
"Who is this Lando Norris?" Stella asked.
Oscar cleared his throat and readjusted himself in his chair. "He's a singer and, um, my friend. Why?"
"Hmm. His team reached out to us. He wanted VIP access to our garage for Silverstone and he wanted to visit MTC afterwards. Do you know anything about that?"
Oscar shook his head. Lando never mentioned anything about contacting McLaren for further access.
"Well I assume you don't have any problems with him seeing the team. Emma tells us he'll be good exposure so she's a fan. We'll sign off on it."
And thus his personal life was going to be hard to ignore in the middle of his professional one.
Oscar loves the Monaco track but more for it's history rather than what it currently. It's hard to gain places and use strategy to do better but it was unmistakably the best setting for a race. There's a wow factor to racing in Monaco, from the densely packed and beautiful architecture to the pleasantly calmness of the sea nearby.
Charles and Arthur were born in Monaco, both living there. Last season Charles finally won at Monaco ending years of struggles and bad luck. He remembers how happy Charles looked after winning, how much of a dream come true that felt for him.
It's not the same but Oscar hopes he'll get to feel a fraction of that joy one day when he wins the Australian Grand Prix.
Sitting in 3rd place for so much of the race was frustrating. Whenever he thought about trying to dive in ahead of Charles, he knew it would fruitless and only risk him crashing and putting no points on the board. He couldn't dare risk DNFing. Social media and the media would be oppressively exhausting. So he settled for playing it safe, staring at the back of Charles' Ferrari. Even when Charles took a bad turn and locked up into turn 1, Oscar stayed back.
At the end of the race Oscar made no progress and finished in 3rd. Even with the two pitstops, and teams attempting to use strategy, it didn't matter. Not much changed from Qualifying to the race, as expected.
Post race interview came and gone, Oscar answering questions he'd already been asked many times before. He went onto Instagram and looked at the comments under McLaren's post.
skye.nelsson Oscar looks distracted
x.summer.sadness.x When will Oscar win again?
Luk3.Forrester Piastri's overrated 👎
Ugh
Oscar goes to put his phone away when he gets a notification. It was from Lando.
landonorris are you excited for tonight?
oscarpiastri yes
landonorris are you going to wear one of those boring tight tees you like to wear? 😏
oscarpiastri I can if you'd like.
landonorris I'd like you to wear nothing but ig that'll do
oscarpiastri You are too much.
landonorris you love it
oscarpiastri you don't know that.
landonorris hmm we'll see tonight, Osc
Arthur knocked on the door. Oscar was waiting for him to come bring him to the yacht in Port Hercule. This was yet another act of friendship from Arthur who knew of Oscar's anxiety to going to the party. When they were talking about it the night before Oscar had mentioned that Tate McRae was going to be at the party. He told Arthur how concerned he was about the attention it'll bring onto the party but also the unethical relationship he and Lando have. So Arthur offered himself up to go with him as his "date."
"Are you ready?" Arthur stood in front of him a black button down dress shirt that had the top two buttons undone.
"No. But lets go."
Arthur snickered. "I thought you'd still be excited to see Lando. I know he'll get you alone behind my back."
Oscar knew it was true too. "Can I ask you something? And I need you to be 100% honest even if it'll hurt me." Arthur hummed welcoming the question. "Am I stupid in believing and trusting Lando?"
Arthur face contorted itself as the Monegasque considered the question. "That's a hard question, Oscar." He looked up like he was searching for the answer on the ceiling, or rather hoping to delay answering until Oscar told him to forget about it.
But Oscar wanted his answer.
"Maybe. Maybe not. Oscar I wish I can give you a straight answer but I really don't know."
Oscar sighed and walked by Arthur to head out the door when the other boy grabbed his arm. "He's probably going to hurt you but I think he likes you enough that you'll get to choose if it's all worth it in the end."
Oscar looked down at the ground letting Arthur's words ruminate in his mind and heart. He knew his love for Lando endangered him. He couldn't believe that this is what he was feeling but it was unmistakable. It wasn't just lust. It was so much more than that and it pained him.
"Come on, mate. Let's go."
Arthur brought his arm up to Oscar's shoulder as they exited and held him close as they walked down the hallway.
On the way to the yacht they stopped to take some pictures with fans that were still in Monaco after the race. Thankfully there were no paps has they are prohibited in Monaco. It's also looked down upon for people to secretly take photos of celebrities and other well known people with intent to share online or with a publication.
"How are you feeling about next week in Spain?" Arthur asked.
Oscar shrugged. "I'm excited." Oscar didn't do as well as he would've like last season when he came in 7th but he was driving well. Regardless of what people said about him he was performing well and every weekend he expected to podium at the very least.
"I can't wait to see you shut up all the haters."
Oscar laughed. "Yeah and they'll rush to crown me."
Arthur chuckled. "Oh yeah, they'll never keep their narratives consistent. They go with whatever will get them more interactions."
"Daniel is retiring early," Oscar said to shift the conversation off of him.
Arthur didn't seem surprised. "What happened?"
"Something called Thoracic Outlet Syndrome. Apparently it's causing his fingers to go numb and effecting his ability at gripping the wheel."
"Hmm, are Zak and Stella worried about the constructor's then?
Oscar hadn't talked about it with them. This was something that went beyond Oscar's concern and they probably preferred it that way too. Currently Mercedes is the biggest challenger but Ferrari is also there. They just have car issues that may subside after an upgrade or two. Rumors have it that they'll be an upgrade for them around Spa or Hungary.
"If they are they aren't saying anything. I don't care, all I'm focused on is the WDC." Oscar was currently leading the way but Max, Charles and even George Russell were close.
Arthur whistled as the two walked the sanguine streets of Monaco. They were approaching the port where the yacht was and with each step Oscar's heart beat that much faster. There were several yacht's in the port having parties. They found the one that Lando had bought and just stared at it.
"That's a big yacht, right?" Oscar asked.
Arthur nodded. "Oh yeah. Easily several hundred thousand euro."
All this for him? Lando why?
A crew member welcomed the two boys to the yacht. They entered the main room of the yacht, which acted like the gathering area. It was luxurious with slate colored walls, windows on both sides and 3 large grey sofas. In the middle of the sofas was an elegant table in the middle. there was a large TV and entertainment center that acted almost like a divider between the gathering area and the dining room.
Several people were in the room drinking and talking including Charles, who brought Max to the party. They walked over to them first to get situated. Oscar looked around and wondered where Lando was. He noticed some women walking around, but none of them were Tate or any woman he knows of.
The 4 of them walked to the back of the boat where they passed another room. The back of the boat had a deck jacuzzi that was surrounded by lounge chairs. A member of staff walked by with a tray of chardonnay. Oscar grabbed one and drank it quickly.
"Nervous?" Charles asked.
Oscar grabbed another drink, "Only a little."
"Oscar!"
"Okay maybe a lot," he whispered at the 3 before turning around at the Brit who yelled out to him.
Lando was approaching him while holding hands with a woman, Tate, Oscar assumed. There was a pang a guilt scratching away at his throat. Lando was wearing a dark red, almost maroon colored, button down that exposed his upper chest and collarbones. "Welcome to the party," Lando says to everyone. They all toast their drinks and take a sip.
Well Oscar downs his drink instead and hands it to a staff member that was going around to collect drinks. He looks over at Lando who cocks a smirk and winks at him. Then he looks at Tate who doesn't seem to notice him at all. She then looks at her phone and excuses herself by kissing Lando on his cheek. Lando watches her leave and then turns his focus to Oscar.
"Can I borrow him?" he asks Arthur.
Arthur chuckles. "As long as you give him back in one piece."
Lando winks, "I will this time."
Lando taps Oscar on the shoulder and tells him to follow him. They go downstairs where there are a lot of rooms and then towards an open area with another dining area. There's a kitchen with chestnut colored cabinets. He approached one and pulled out a bottle of bourbon. It was a Michter.
"Remember this?" he asked holding the bottle close to his chest. He placed it on the marble finished island in the kitchen and grabbed two glasses. "Will you have some with me, Oscar."
"I've been waiting for this moment for more than 2 months."
Lando smiled and begun to pour. He handed Oscar his drink and placed his finger on top. "Just have a small sip."
Oscar, looking into Lando's eyes, which now looked light green, took a delicate sip of the bourbon letting it swish and warm his mouth before swallowing it. Lando did the same, Oscar watching his throat move as he swallows the drink. The Brit puts his drink down and then places his hand on Oscar's while also grabbing the glass. He maneuvers his fingers and takes the glass from Oscar and looks down at it. Smirking, he then looks up at Oscar before bringing the glass up to his mouth. Oscar can see the droplets left from his mouth and the bourbon at the top of the glass from when he took a sip.
Lando was drinking from the same spot he did.
This drove Oscar crazy.
The feeling in his throat that had been gently squeezing at it had let up, he looked down at Lando glass and picked it up. He briefly looks down to see where Lando drank from but then quickly regains his glare onto Lando's eyes. With the glass at his mouth he slips his tongue between his lips and lick the glass before drinking from it. They both chug their drinks and then clear their throat as the bourbon stings their esophagus.
Lando walks towards him and places his hand on Oscar's chest before stepping to the side of him. "The night is young Oscar, come lets rejoin the party." His fingers dance gently across his collarbone before dropping off his shoulder. Even though Lando's fingers weren't on him anymore he could still feel his touch like it was engraved on his skin.
Lando was right. The night was young and they did everything they could to make it last. Oscar stayed by Arthur's side for much of the night, sharing drinks and laughs with his friends and fellow drivers.
He stole glances from Lando who was with Tate and some guy he believed to be Max Fewtrell. He drank every time he thought about approaching Lando and taking him into one of the dozen plus rooms to make out with him and tear his clothes off.
The problem with drinking so much is that every drink made him want Lando more. When Tate left him again, he was so sure he was going to go grab Lando and bring him to a room, but he resisted it again. But this time he brought himself to one of the several bathrooms in the yacht. Whatever bathroom he was in was huge.
There was a shower in the corner blocked off by glass next to the longest sink he's ever seen. The was a small step down that led to a small jacuzzi. The ground looked weird to Oscar he thought he was hallucinating. It looked like the inside of an oak tree but with the rings stretched out. Then he noticed the small strip of lights that indented into ground from where he stepped down.
"This is way too rich for me," he said out loud to himself. He looked at himself in the mirror and noticed his hair looked a little disheveled so he attempted to fix it.
That's when he heard a voice on the other side of the door. He couldn't discern who it was or what was being said but when it went silent he stepped out.
He didn't even look around outside the door when he heard a woman yelp. He looked over and saw a woman sitting on a bed scared. He placed his hands up, "Sorry. I didn't mean to scare you."
He did a double check with his eyes and realized he just scared the shit out of Tate McRae.
Of all the people.
"Do you realize where you are?" She got up from the bed and flung her hair over her shoulder.
"Uh a bedroom."
She shook her head and walked to the dresser. She bent down and opened a small door, pulling out a glass container of water.
"This is the VIP room and that is our bathroom," she replied while pouring water into a small glass cup. She walked over to Oscar and handed him the glass. "How drunk are you?"
Oscar hesitated but accepted the glass of water and took a sip. "I'm afraid I got a little carried away."
"Yeah, he'll do that to ya," she muttered. Oscar pretended not to hear what she said and kept drinking the water. "Have you two fucked, yet?"
Oscar almost choked on the water.
Fucked? YET?!
Oscar's heart, which had essentially been beating in a sedated state was now borderline tachycardic. Meanwhile, Tate was staring him down with a grin on her face like she's trying to read his mind.
She knows about us. But how? Did Lando tell her? Did they slip up? Oh my god.
But Oscar knew there was no reason to lie or pretend he didn't know what she was getting at. "No. We haven't even kissed."
Tate sneered. "Don't insult me, please."
Oscar shook his head fervently. "No, no. I'm not. We really haven't. I swear to you."
"Hmm." Tate grabbed herself a glass and poured some water. "Maybe you really are different." Oscar was confused. "Lando is an idiot. He's a flirtatious idiot. He thinks I don't know how reckless he is with his random hookups, but I know."
She approached Oscar and looked him up and down. "He certainly has a type, that's for sure."
"Um," Oscar's throat barely let the word out. "I'm sorry, I know I shouldn't have let-" Tate placed her finger over his lips.
"No apologies are needed. He wouldn't have ever noticed you if I didn't bring you up all those weeks ago."
What?
Tate continued, "I saw the way you were looking at him at The Oscars. I don't think you even noticed me. But I told him that someone was fawning over him and I guess you thought you looked away in time. It was cute," she said with a chuckle. "But all you did was give him a reason to chase you. Or make you chase him, I'm not 100% sure what he's doing with you."
I don't know either.
"Why don't you seem mad at me?"
She smiled, "Hon, did he tell you anything about me?"
Oscar shook his head. "I asked once and all he said was to trust him."
She sipped from her glass, her lipstick staining the rim of it. "He was right. In a way. Our relationship is for PR purposes. He's 100% gay."
It all began to make sense to Oscar. Why Lando felt so comfortable fooling around and flirting with him. It was borderline disrespectful to Tate, but Lando didn't seem concerned. Because there was nothing to be concerned about.
"Why would you agree to be his girlfriend, then?"
She placed her glass down on the small end table next to them and walked away from him. She made it to the door of the room and turned back to Oscar. "Lando isn't just an idiot. Under all of that bluster and confidence is a genuine sweetheart. Not many guys like him out there." She then hesitated and looked away pursing her lips. "Can you do me a favor?"
"Mhm."
"Lando has a fear of losing people. When he feels like he is going to lose someone he loves, he hunkers down to protect his heart. Protect it from him."
She left Oscar in the room by himself swimming in the words from her heart. Oscar was too drunk to fully understand what she was saying, but sober enough to feel the relief she wanted to ease into him.
Oscar left the room with intent to find Lando. He searched the floor of the boat he was on and then went up to the main floor where almost everyone was. Arthur saw him, smiled and waved but there was a tinge of concern in his look. Oscar would have a lot to tell him but not right now. He went up another level and didn't see him so he continued to the top floor but then he heard a voice. The voice sounded angry and drunk.
"I'm fine. I don't need supervision."
It was Lando. Oscar didn't know who he was talking to. If there was someone with him they were talking too quietly.
"You are not my manager anymore, okay?"
His voice only increased in anger.
"Well why don't you worry about your life and I'll worry about mine!"
Oscar stepped down from the steps and decided to walk away. He didn't know what to do but he wasn't about to go up to Lando and give away that he was eavesdropping to whomever he was talking to. He decided to go to the kitchen area where Lando had brought him earlier when he walked by Max Fewtrell. They shared a glance and a nod.
So it wasn't him he was yelling at, Oscar thought to himself.
He went to the cabinet where he saw Lando grab the Michter from and saw that it was there behind a couple bottles of seltzer. He reached up and grabbed it, bringing it to the island. The glasses that he and Lando had drank were still there from earlier. He grabbed one and poured himself a drink.
He stood there by himself sipping slowly on the bourbon. That's when Lando walked in. He looked sullen but when he saw Oscar he smiled. It was a softer smile, shedding away the confidence that he always had.
"I was looking for you, mate."
Oscar was happy to hear that. He poured Michter into the other glass and pushed it gently towards Lando. They stood there together and took a long sip of their drinks. Oscar allowed himself to close his eyes as he drank the bourbon. It was like time stopped the moment the bourbon touched his tongue. He swallow the bourbon and let out a long but quieted breath.
"Are you alright?" he asked trying not to give away he knew something was off but also opening the door for Lando to step in and tell him.
Lando smiled again. "I am now."
Half step in, half step out.
A fire slowly grew in Oscar. He placed his drink down and didn't even think twice about what he was doing. He grabbed Lando's arm and pulled him into a room. He closed the door and gently shoved Lando up against it.
"Oscar," his voice trembled.
Oscar unbuttoned the brit's shirt exposing his tanned skin for the first time in for his eyes to see. It was as hot as it looked in the photos and in his memory every time he needed a little encouragement in the shower.
He brushed his hand along Lando's right shoulder exposing it from the shirt. The warmth of Lando's skin radiated and gripped his hand. He looked down below the man's chest and saw the trail of moles he noticed a long time ago.
Oscar leaned down close to Lando's body before he could feel the warmth on his face. His heart thumped slowly but loudly, he could feel each beat in his head and neck.
His tongue traced across the moles and skin up to his pec. His eyes were closed but he trusted his tongue and lips to reach the destination he yearned to touch. He felt the bulge of his collarbone, kissed it tenderly and then up to his neck. He desperately wanted to leave his mark but knew it would be a bad idea so he relented and pulled away as his tongue slipped under Lando's ear. He held himself there, letting out a breath that he had been holding for a while and finally opened his eyes.
Lando's eyes were closed.
"I want you more than anything."
Lando's eyes opened and a smile spread across his face. He put his hand on Oscar's chest and delicately pushed the Australian back onto the bed behind him. He looked down and saw Oscar's bare stomach exposed as his shirt had risen up his skin. A touch of hair trailing from his belly button down to the waist band of his underwear.
Lando got down, placed his hand on the bed next to Oscar and his other inside the man's shirt.
Oscar watched as Lando's head went down further before he felt the wetness of his lips on his stomach. It sent an electric jolt up his body causing him to let out a moan. Lando's hand was still gliding up his body until it settled tenderly on his neck. Oscar placed his hand on the Brit's just so he can feel his skin and let the Brit kiss and lick his abdomen.
Oscar moaned more as the Brit bit and sucked on his abdomen and then his chest. He couldn't explain this feeling even if he tried and he was wishing that he was wearing a size larger pants because it was getting way too tight.
Lando made his way to Oscar's neck where he peppered kissed all over. His thumb was caressing Oscar's cheek as the Aussie rested in a state of ecstasy.
"Do you still think you are boring?" Lando asked, his lips close to Oscars. The bourbon soaked breath smack Oscar's own lips. He could almost taste the Michter off of it.
"No."
Lando bit his lower lip, "Good boy,"
Fuck me.
Lando slipped back down Oscar body layering more kisses even amongst the sore marks of love that Lando littered on his body. Lando made his way back down to The Australian's stomach and traced the trail of hair with his lips.
Oscar's heart raced as he gripped Lando hand. Lando had moved his other hand to rest on Oscar's thigh, which then moved up and slipped beneath the Aussie's pants and underwear. The Brit's lips had reached the end of his body, but that didn't deter him. He pulled Oscar's pants and underwear down a little exposing more skin and he kissed it.
Oscar was being brought to the edge but Lando had stopped. His hand was no longer holding onto his clothes and Lando was no longer kissing his body.
"Not tonight." Lando pushed himself up and extended his hand. Oscar looked up at him longingly and grabbed his hand. The Brit pulled him up and brought him in close, there body's mashed together breath smacking breath. "Do you trust me?"
"Yes," Oscar whispered desperately.
Lando leaned in and kissed Oscar on the cheek. His lips were still wet even after all of the saliva he'd left on the Aussie's body.
Lando pulled away from Oscar leaving the Australian's body screaming in agony already missing the Brit's touch. He button up his shirt and fixed his hair.
"Come on, your friends are probably worried about you."
Oscar watched the Brit open the door and stand there waiting for him. The smile he had on his face was different than any smile he's ever seen. Oscar couldn't handle how much he yearned and ached for him. It hurt and comforted him so much he felt like a masochist.
Oscar looked down at his body and saw the wreckage of lust Lando had left. For as gentle as Oscar was with him, Lando was rough to him. Lando expressed their love together on Oscar's body.
Lando extended his hand once more for Oscar to grab and leave the room to go back to the party. He looked down and then back up at Lando, smiling at him, before grabbing the Brit's soft hand.
Notes:
I hope people feel the same way about this chapter the way I did after writing it lol.
Next chapter sometime this weekend. If I had to guess it will be Sunday.
Chapter 8: The Photo
Chapter Text
Oscar had just won the Spanish Grand Prix in the face of all of the wide-ranging criticism and rumors sparking up over the last week. He took to the top of the podium, enjoyed hearing the Australian national anthem and soaked himself in bottles of champagne. It was supposed to be a good thing -- to win a grand prix after all the talk that maybe the pressure was getting to him.
But no.
The F1 reporters mostly stayed on topic as they hardly cared about drama circulating Oscar post Monaco, but F1 had become a more of a bigger sport in recent years. This meant there were more general sports reporters intertwined with F1 reporters. There was nothing he can do to avoid it and even those the team asked if he wanted them to run interference, he didn't want to make a bigger deal out of it. Eventually people will get over it.
Oscar did not expect this would be happening after one of the best nights of his life.
Oscar had an amazing night after the Monaco Grand Prix. He got to party on a million dollar yacht, he got to party with his friends, and of course he got explore Lando Norris' body, something he'd been imagining himself doing for a couple months. That's all fine and dandy. Everything was on the up-and-up for Oscar.
Then the posts hit social media the next day after he got home.
f1_tearoom Who did this to @oscarpiastri? [insert photo of @oscarpiastri at the airport]
oscar81 someone is living my dream 😡😡
emilywashere do you think it hurts?!
josh_racing_16 didn't win the race but won in bed 😎
landoenjoyer04 the yacht party musta been HYPE!
In fairness to Oscar he didn't know about the post until Arthur messaged him.
🔒Messages and calls are end-to-end encrypted. No one outside of this chat, not even WhatsApp, can read or listen to them. Tap to learn more
Arthur
Uh are you awake?
Yes, why?
Have you been on IG yet?
Nope.
Good
Then I can warn you.
What happened?
Someone took a picture of you at the airport yesterday
At one point your shirt kinda rose up exposing your stomach...
and yeah...Lando's markings took center stage.
Mate, you're joking.
[insert link to f1_tearoom post]
Oh my god.
At this point Arthur just called Oscar. Oscar was beginning to panic. He knew that the hickeys and marks were still very visible that day so he made sure to wear a t-shirt and a hoodie that had a zipper. There would only be one moment where the hoodie would be off and thought he'll be fine. He had to lift his arm once and it wasn't even for longer than 2 or 3 seconds but in that moment someone, a fan, was snapping photos of him from a bench just 15-20 feet away from him. He didn't think his skin showed even when he felt his shirt rise up a little, but he certainly didn't expect someone to be taking a picture at that exact moment.
What bad luck is that?
"What do I do?"
"Nothing, Oscar. It's not a big deal."
To Oscar it was a big deal. He had seen the comment made by a lando fan. A LANDO FAN OF ALL PEOPLE POTENTIALLY PUTTING IT TOGETHER!? His brain was screaming at him. This was horrible.
Arthur must've heard Oscar begin to pant. "Oscar I need you to take a deep breath."
"Arthur, they're going to find out. It doesn't take a brain surgeon to realize that something went down on that yacht and there wasn't that many people there."
The Monegasque sighed. "Maybe but nobody knows who was and wasn't there. You are freaking out because YOU know what happened. But nobody is even going to suspect it."
Oscar wanted to believe him but every time he thought about it a voice in his brain said "They know!"
"I'm so stupid for messing with him. I shouldn't have taken him into the room and-"
"Stop," Arthur's voice was an octave higher. "Oscar, I promise you that nobody is going to know."
The Australian took a deep breath. "You don't know that." Arthur's voice went silent. This was unchartered territory for him and in the middle of the conversation it got worse. Oscar was furiously reading the comments and another Lando fan account made a comment that froze Oscar's heart.
Norris_my_beloveddd @landonorris do you know who did this to @oscarpiastri
landonorris a lucky lady
"Why is he commenting on it?" Oscar was in the middle of 3 emotions; scared, annoyed and now mad.
"He's helping you. Oscar people are going to forget about it. Just chill out."
Lando messaged Oscar while he was on the phone but Oscar's emotions were too raw for him to look at them.
"What do I do if people put it all together? And don't say they won't. What if they do?"
Arthur clicked his teeth and pondered his response a little longer than Oscar wished. "I don't know what you should do but all i know is that I will support you."
"Arthur that's not-"
"That's all I can say without lying to you. We'll get through it. I'm not going to go anywhere, I know Charles won't go anywhere, your family isn't going anywhere, and I'm willing to bet Zak and Stella will support you."
Oscar desperately wanted to have the same optimism as Arthur. And while he was depressingly dancing in the anxiety and fear of what was unfolding on social media, he allowed himself a moment of reprieve. He got off of Instagram and stopped doom scrolling. He focused on breathing deeply while Arthur stayed on the other side of the phone.
Arthur shifted the conversation away to food because he was cooking so he changed the call to a video chat. Oscar watched and listened to Arthur as he described cooking a meal. The Aussie didn't really hear or absorb everything Arthur said but he was relaxed just by hearing his friend's calm voice.
The lack of notifications was both a good thing and a bad thing. Oscar was laying there with this feeling of impending doom that notifications were going to flood his phone of people questioning his sexuality, but nothing happened. There was one more Instagram message but it was from Lando.
After about an hour of watching Arthur cook, Oscar had calmed down enough to be left alone. After hanging up he went to his IG to look at Lando's messages.
10:27AM
landonorris guess I got carried away
11:33 AM
landonorris are you okay?
11:38 AM
landonorris did I fuck up?
oscarpiastri I'm fine and maybe a little.
landonorris I'm sorry 😔
oscarpiastri it's okay.
oscarpiastri I'm going to try and ignore it
landonorris do you have anything to announce to distract people?
oscarpiastri no
landonorris Mate, they won't know about us. Trust me.
oscarpiastri Maybe less hickeys next time?
landonorris Or....👀👀
landonorris there is a whole other half of your body that is easier to cover up
oscarpiastri seriously, mate?
landonorris Yes
oscarpiastri ...maybe.
Oscar navigated the post-race interviews and mindless questions about his personal life by saying "I'm focused on racing not my personal life."
He didn't budge on the message but he did laugh at someone making it sound like he's some big eligible bachelor. He left no room for interpretation hoping things would die down.
And they did. Because the following day Daniel Riccardo announced that'll he'll be retiring right before the summer break. F1 media was all about Daniel Riccardo who was one of the most well-liked drivers on the grid. There were fans who were still speculating about Oscar, which Oscar had to become accustomed to. But all of them were referring to the person Oscar fooled around with as a "lady" or a "women."
Oscar rested his nerves accepting that them speculating who his female fling or even girlfriend is was a lot better than them speculating about his sexuality. He wasn't ready for that.
Oscar would be lying if he didn't regret his reaction. He did because he stopped interacting with Lando's Instagram posts for a week. On the morning of Qualifying for Canada he went to Lando's Instagram page and looked at the two photos he posted.
One was of Lando in the bathroom, shirtless as usual, looking at his mirror. The mirror in his bathroom had these small gaps because it was really made up of 3 different mirrors with medicinal cabinet space behind them. And the photo had his face centered perfectly in the middle of one of those gaps so that it almost perfectly hid his nose and mouth. Oscar also noticed that the light shined brighter on the right side of his face then his left. There was no caption, just the picture. It was one of those photos that Lando posted that expressed a different side of him that Oscar has yet to understand.
He wonders if he's ever actually seen that side of him either. Maybe just briefly at the party when Lando came down from the top deck of the boat to join him in the kitchen. Or was it after when they fooled around, the soft and small smile that Lando had on his face.
There was another photo, posted the day previously. It was a photo of some street on LA, he didn't really recognize it so he didn't understand the significance of it. The caption under the photo read as "Let me show you the way."
Oscar hit the like button on both pictures.
~~~~~
Lando found himself strolling up and down the hills of Los Angeles richest neighborhoods. He liked taking walks whenever he was searching for answers to problems that he couldn't disperse of quickly. He found being outside feeling nature smack his face and skin with nature's breath to be better conducive to thinking.
But he didn't want to think this time.
He wanted to escape.
No.
He wanted to be in Canada with Oscar. That was the truth of it. He wanted to be with the one person who could let him disappear and ignore his problems, even if it was for a weekend. He intended to be with Oscar in Canada after the little scare he had on social media. But Lando also had a scare. He got a glimpse into Oscar's deep-rooted fear of being outed. It was an all-too similar feeling for Lando.
He realized he hadn't thought about Oscar and how he'd course through the noise of his own sexuality. Well, he didn't want to think about it because that meant he'd have to think about his own. Lando couldn't bare with the fear of coming out so he went through with a PR relationship with Tate McRae, ignored his history and hid in the sheets with random guys nobody would believe.
There was a lot Lando wanted to ignore and the celebrity life afforded him many ways of forgetting what he wanted to. He had enough to swing around to do something that would divert his attention to different things.
His phone rang. He looked at the caller ID and saw that it was Max. It was the 3rd time he called. Reticently, he answered to phone without saying anything.
"Where are you?"
"I don't know. Somewhere near Runyan Canyon."
"Can you come back home?"
Lando snickered, "Why are you still by my side?" It was a stupidly offensive question for Lando to ask and he knew the moment the words slithered out of his mouth. He didn't give the other boy a chance to respond. "I'm sorry."
He heard Max clear his throat and take a breath. "It's going to rain. Just come home so we can talk."
Lando looked up at the greying skies when a drop fell on his cheek. He looked down the hill, where he was walking towards and finally turned around to go back home. "Does Tate know?"
"Yes. She is concerned for you."
"Heh, I'm sure she is mate. Listen I'll be home in 15 minutes."
"I'll call you in 20."
It took him 25 minutes to get home and he didn't answer Max's phone call. He ripped off his soaking hoodie and hat that he wore to obscure his identity out in public. He walked to the kitchen with Max trailing him and poured himself a glass of bourbon.
He held up the bottle to Max and asked if he wanted some. The other Brit nodded and together they drank from two glasses.
"So what are you going to do, mate?" Max asked Lando.
Lando licked his lips of the last of the bourbon that was left behind. "I don't know. I wasn't expecting them to drop me."
A couple hours ago Lando found out from someone at his label company that the executives had heard he didn't do a lick of studio work the last couple months. All while going on trips and of course renting out an expensive yacht. This led them to rethink their contract with him in a meeting the previous day. The person told him that they were incensed that he abused their good faith, especially after helping him get a chance to write and sing a song for an upcoming movie.
He lost that job too.
But he didn't abuse the good faith. Or at least that wasn't the intention. He wanted to write music and make his new album but he genuinely had no creative capacity. He's felt lost in that department for so long.
"Well mate, there's one thing we can't do and that is sulk. We need to turn the narrative around when the news breaks Monday," Max offered.
Lando pretended to care, "What do you mean?"
"We put out a statement that there were intense creative differences and you didn't want to make what they wanted you to. That you are going to enjoy being independent and making the music you want to make."
Intrigued, Lando didn't think it was a half bad idea. "Won't they be pissed about that?"
Max shrugs, "Who cares. They're ripping up the deal. Fans will stick by you."
Lando looked away, "What if I don't want to make music anymore?"
Max seemed stunned for a moment but then smiled, "Then you don't."
"You'd be okay with that?"
He nodded, "Lando, the only thing I want is for you to be happy."
Over the years, especially the last year, Lando had built up resilient walls around his heart. He'd been hurt and betrayed multiple times that he stopped trusting people. New people who came into his life had to put in effort to get close to his heart. For the longest time Lando thought he hadn't created these walls to separate himself from Max, but when Max said that, he knew that wasn't true. He felt something inside crumble and his body felt weak. His jaw began to clench, his throat aching in pain, it was all too much for him.
He felt something on his cheek and put his finger on it. It was wet.
He hadn't cried in a long time, coming close once in Monaco before Oscar eased the pain he couldn't see.
Max saw the tear slowly stroll down the cheek of Lando and walked over to his best friend.
Lando doesn't know why but the words, "I'm sorry," came out of his mouth. Lando fell into the arms Max and let a couple more tears flow.
There was something melancholic about not holding back his tears. For so long he'd been hiding them by doing a various of things. One of them has been treating Max horribly. He clocked it the last time they had an actual conversation, how far apart he felt they had suddenly become.
But it wasn't sudden, no. It seemed like it was to Lando because he'd allow himself to be so unaware on purpose. He was subconsciously trying to push away his best friend, the only person who has been by his side through everything.
The charade was over. Losing his record label deal took care of that. When he received the extra 6 months to make an album it allowed to him to ignore it like he had been doing. He convinced himself that he doesn't need to worry too much about something that he will get done, therefore he doesn't need to rush. It was a perfect, yet simple, recipe to allow him to live blissfully ignorant.
All of this together forces Lando to admit some more unfortunate truths. His vulnerability is only apparent because of Oscar.
That pretty boy he met at The Academy Awards. Things certainly have gotten a little out hand cause none of this was supposed to happen. He was never supposed to get this close to the Australian. Lando hates to admit it but Max was right. The only reason he invited him to that post show party was to sleep with him.
He didn't intend to fall for Oscar's shy smile and adventurous eyes. The way Oscar looked at him when he placed that cherry in his mouth. It was supposed to be a tease to initiate physical contact to then have sex. But it was more than that. Nobody had looked at him like that in so long.
So he didn't sleep with him that night.
Instead he pursued a strange rollercoaster of a relationship with the young Australian just to keep his eyes in his life. He wanted to see Oscar look at him like he did that night again and again.
Every moment spent with Oscar is a moment Lando never wants to miss; never wants to waste. He wants to feel his breath on skin, taste him, and love him. This feeling was scary to Lando and he was growing more scared to allow these feelings to fester. But it wasn't a fear of letting Oscar in and getting so close to him.
It was a fear of Oscar wanting out.
Chapter 9: What Was
Notes:
This chapter is going to be a little different structure wise so hopefully it's not disorientating lol
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
There's something about looking up at the nighttime sky that is inspiring but also overwhelming. When you look up you see the flickering of the stars and the dark expanse of space itself. There are objects out there moving at speeds your brain cannot comprehend and yet it looks so still. It looks like you are viewing a still image of the sky like time had stopped.
But in reality it's more like time has arrived. Most of what you see is what was in your what is. It's something people don't understand or have ever even thought about. They may have heard of the terms light year and the speed of light but they've never understood it.
One of the brightest starts in the night sky comes from the star named Betelgeuse. It's a supergiant star in the Orion constellation. And to put the term supergiant into perspective Betelgeuse is about 1000 times bigger than our Sun. From one end of Betelgeuse to the other is ~4 times larger than the distance Earth is from the sun. It's a monstrous object in the Universe
For many years scientists have believed that it was on the verge of going supernova, or exploding. Here's the thing that makes it really special being in our nighttime sky. What we see is the light from the star finally making it here after travelling for almost 700 years. We are looking at the light from Betelgeuse from 700 years ago, because it's about 700 light years away.
So Betelguese may have already exploded and we don't even know it yet because we have to wait for the light to make it to our little planet that is tucked away on a spinning disk in the middle of a vast universe nobody has seen the end of.
Lando finds the idea of what is out there to be so fascinating but the reality of us being so insignificant in the grand scheme of things makes doing anything feel almost pointless. He tries to live life inspired about what could be rather than what is because what is is usually boring and dreadful. If people settled for what is and not what could be then what really is the point? People want a purpose in life but to him it's clear the best way to live life is by embracing it. Embracing the life around you.
That means not allowing yourself to be tied down by people. People who want to live in the what is or what was. Time after time he's dealt with people who were so obsessed with "this is what it is so we have to do this." Lando hates that. It feeds this mechanical like existence of just going through the motions. If he wanted to go through the motions of living he would've went to Uni and gotten a 9-5. He didn't. He sought a life where he can chart his course with freedom and whenever people tried to tie him down...he resisted and laid ruin in his wake.
It also mean embracing those around you whether they are family or friends or even strangers. While he struggled with all 3 at times he never got too down to the point where it changed his faith.
But now he was entering a dangerous territory and it's with a boy from Australia who races cars and Lando's heart.
Lando wasn't going to let this moment pass him by though. He was going to chase it and stay with it and that meant he wanted more of Oscar. And not just his body.
Formula 1 has made its way to Great Britain for the British Grand Prix otherwise known as Silverstone. Lando had a place in London along with his home in LA. He didn't go to the UK often but he decided to go there for the Grand Prix and stick around in Europe for the Belgian and Hungarian Grand Prix. He was thrilled to go to another race but this time he was going to go as a McLaren fan. He was going to wear McLaren merch and be in their garage to root for Oscar.
But he had to run it through Oscar first.
landonorris can't wait to see you this weekend
oscarpiastri me too
landonorris can I ask you something, mate?
oscarpiastri anything
landonorris Can I openly support you?
landonorris I want to be in papaya clothing
oscarpiastri Didn't you already get the invite from the team?
landonorris yeah
landonorris but I want your permission, Osc.
oscarpiastri You have it. You always did.
It was race day and Lando was excited to go to the circuit early with hopes of seeing Oscar to wish him good luck. It was a rainy day at Silverstone and Lando didn't have a sweater to wear but he didn't care one bit. It was expected to rain during the race as well but thankfully he'll be in the back of the garage watching the race.
People, armed with ponchos, were already beginning to fill the stands. Lando made his way to the Paddock with his pass. He ran into a couple fans just outside of The Paddock and took some photos.
After news broke he was dropped by his label he and Max quickly put out a statement combatting the record label company. It won him a lot fan support, proving Max right. It also helped that People did a fluff piece on Lando. He thought maybe Max put them up to it by selling access but he didn't.
In the end all the worrying he had done was all for naught.
When he finally found someone from McLaren he asked where Oscar was and was given directions. Oscar was in the McLaren motorhome in a private room so he knocked on the door. The door eked open with Australian looking through the small crack he opened to see who knocked.
Lando waved.
Oscar smiled.
Lando's heart melted.
Oscar opened the door and let Lando in. It was a small little room with cushioned seating up again a wall, a chair and a table. There was a TV hanging off the wall too.
"Hey," Oscar said.
"Hey." Lando could feel the nerves building in his chest as he sat down next to Oscar who was peeling an orange.
They were so close together their knees were touching. Lando didn't move his leg and neither did Oscar.
"How bad is it raining?" Oscar asked.
He looked at Oscar's McLaren hoodie, "Bad enough I wish I had a hoodie."
"Oh they didn't send you a McLaren hoodie in the goodie bag?"
Lando shook his head as he watched Oscar suck on a slice of orange. He was in bad shape that he was eyeing Oscar's lips wondering how they'd feel on him and on places of his body he hadn't discovered yet.
Oscar looked at him and smirked. "We'll have to get you one then."
"I mean I could buy one, mate. I do have money."
"Still?" he quipped.
Lando elbowed him in the ribcage for that.
Oscar cut another slice of an orange and asked Lando if he wanted one. He didn't but because Oscar asked he said yes.
Instead of Oscar handing him the slice, Oscar put the slice in his mouth, lightly sucked on it and then handed it to Lando. He loved this side of Oscar. Lando took the slice gleefully and sucked the rest of the juices out. They looked at each for a few seconds and it took Lando every bit of patience to hold back from grabbing him by his collar and making out with him.
"You're trouble for me, Oscar Piastri."
"Good."
Lando chuckled. "Two months ago you would've hesitated and said thanks. What happened to that Oscar?"
Oscar looked away and rested his hands in his lap. "That Oscar met you." Oscar smiled as he looked down at the orange. "And this Oscar is glad he did."
Lando moved his hand towards Oscar's hands when someone knocked and opened the door. Lando, no stranger to awkward moments, adjusted quickly and grabbed the orange out of Oscar's hand nonchalantly. Meanwhile, Oscar's body stiffened up.
"Yo Oscar it's time for us to get out there, come on." It was Daniel Riccardo. The elder Aussie looked at Lando while Lando peeled off a slice of orange. "Oh hey. You're that singer, right?"
"Yes sir, guilty as charged." He took the slice of orange and sucked on it. Daniel had no clue what was happening nor did he see what was about to happen. They were in the clear.
"It's nice to meet you, finally." He looked over at Oscar and asked if he was ready.
Lando looked over at Oscar, who was a shade whiter than he was 3 minutes ago, and winked at him out of sight of Daniel. "That reminds me, I gotta get going. I probably shouldn't be in here." He got up from the seat and stepped out the door and looked back in at Oscar and nodded encouragement to him.
Daniel left ahead of Oscar and Lando who were just about to step out of the motorhome when Oscar grabbed Lando hand and pulled him back. "Why weren't you freaked out?"
Lando smiled, "I'm not new to this, Osc. Now go out there and go win for me."
"I will," Oscar replied confidently with a huge smile on his face. "Oh wait, here." The Aussie took off his McLaren hoodie and handed it to Lando. "I don't need this now."
Are we at this point now?
Lando wasn't going to deny a chance to wear his hoodie. He'd be lying if he didn't think about having Oscar's scent wrapped around him. He graciously took the hoodie and put it on. He follow Oscar out of the Motorhome and then to the track where they were going to do the pre-race festivities. He realized he hadn't had a chance to take a photo for social media so he went and found Oscar's McLaren and took a selfie with the car behind him.
While he may be more accustomed to the races he still found the beginning of races to be pretty stressful especially with the track being wet. The start went well for Oscar who was in second but, again, just like in Miami he was behind Max Verstappen. After 8 laps Oscar was finally gaining on Max as the dutchman slid a little taking a turn. As they headed down the straight Oscar zipped to the inside and took the following turn in first place.
Like in Miami he never relinquished the lead but unlike in Miami, there was an incident involving him. After a downpour and a virtual safety car Max Verstappen passed Oscar. This led to an investigation and a 10 second penalty that was issued Oscar.
In the end that 10 seconds was the difference between 1st and 2nd for Oscar. It was the first time Lando heard Oscar sound genuinely angry.
Lando didn't search out for Oscar until he knew Oscar was done with everything. He knew Oscar was still mad as he watched the snippets of the interviews be posted online. People were not exactly being kind or generous to Oscar, criticizing him for not taking accountability for his actions. Lando wanted to defend him but he knew as well as anybody that addressing criticism is stupid.
A couple of hours after the race Oscar had finally settled down. He was frustrated with the 10 second penalty even after understanding why he got one. He thought it was unnecessarily unfair and should've been 5 seconds. But even he had to admit that comes with the bias of knowing if it was 5 seconds he would've won the race.
He saw the telemetry data that was being posted online and all the comments about how mad he was. There were a lot of harsh comments of people making broad judgements of who he was as a person because of it like they knew him to begin with. That annoyed him more than anything. He displays anger and people rush to attack his character.
This is why people should do less judging online. It's silly and just creates a cycle of toxicity.
Oscar ran into Arthur, who seemed to be waiting for him, outside the garage.
"You alright?"
Oscar rolled his eyes. "I'm fine. It's whatever."
"So he really came, huh?" Arthur asked referencing Lando. They began to walk -- the rain had subsided a little to a drizzle making it tolerable.
"Did he stay?"
Arthur nodded. "He's waiting for you. He was in the garage for the whole race too. The broadcast showed him a couple times."
They turned a corner and there he was, texting on his phone outside the motorhome. He was wearing Oscar's hoodie still. Even though he was still frustrated seeing him there made him smile.
"Damn, you've fallen that bad huh?" Arthur asked. Oscar was blushing, he could feel his cheeks get warm.
"Am I fool?"
Arthur looked at him and then looked over at Lando. "Yeah."
Come on.
"But i think you'd be more a fool to this moment go to waste."
Oscar needed to hear that from him. He needed confirmation that he should listen to his heart and keep exploring whatever this is with Lando regardless of all the noise. Arthur left him so Oscar slowly approached Lando who was still on his phone.
Oscar pulled out his phone and snapped a picture of Lando. Lando must've heard the phone cause he looked up and smiled at him. Oscar took another photo.
"Hey,"
"Taking pictures of me, huh mate?"
Oscar looked down at the last picture he took on his phone and couldn't help but smile. Lando looked so cute in his hoodie it scared him.
"Sorry couldn't help it," he whispered.
Lando's smile widened. "What are your plans for the night?"
Oscar shrugged. "Nothing. Just going to sulk and read all the horrible things people are saying about me," he added. He rolled his eyes and watched Lando's face contort and look unsure.
"Um why don't you come with me to my place?"
Oscar began to feel uneasy, "You want me to stay the night?"
They began to walk to the parking lot, Oscar standing by the Brit's side. "Only if you want to, Osc."
Oscar had to ask himself if he wanted to stay the night. Really he was asking himself what that exactly meant. Were they just going to chill or were they going to do something more. His heart raced when thinking of the latter, but ultimately it didn't really matter. The answer was the same.
"Of course I want to."
Oscar let Lando lead him to his car where he got in. The choice was made and there was no going back from this moment. People saw him get in but Oscar didn't care. He trusted what Arthur said and that he only gets nervous about being close to Lando in public because he knows it's for romantic reasons but nobody else knows or even assumes that.
"Don't get mad at me but you were kinda hot getting all upset earlier."
Oscar rolled his eyes, "Do you want me to get mad at you?"
"Kinda," Lando said smiling.
Deep down Oscar loved when Lando said things like that. At first he thought the Brit was just saying for the sake of saying it to flirt, but now he was unsure. Lando made his feeling abundantly obvious in Monaco, the way he unforgivingly littered the Aussies body with so many love marks. There was no doubt in Oscar's mind that he belonged to Lando. The Brit marked his territory and Oscar never resisted it.
He decided to take a leap of faith and be more open about their friendship on social media. He was so tired of hiding it, afraid of people connecting dots they cannot see. He posted the picture of Lando on his phone smiling at him on Instagram. The best part of the photo was still that he was wearing Oscar's hoodie and nobody would know. It was a secret that they only knew.
oscarpiastri This guy is always on his phone @landonorris
landoenjoyer04 chat, is this friendship cute or what?!
Patty4Papaya Lando has good taste in teams 🧡🧡
Charles_Leclerc @landonorris is a TRAITOR!
Patty4Papaya CHARLES?!?! OMFG?!?!!?!?
After 2 hours of driving they finally made it to London where Lando had a penthouse suite. Oscar was completely spent when they walked in. It was a pretty barren penthouse with not a lot of furniture. Lando said that he doesn't really stay here and will probably have to sell the penthouse. There was a massive L-shaped sofa in the living room with a large TV.
"Oh my god this is so comfortable," Oscar said as he laid on the L part of the sofa. "I think I may just sleep here."
"No dinner?"
Oscar sighed. "Can we order in?"
"But Osc, I wanted to go out on a date with you." Lando had that intoxicating smile on his face that would grant unabated access to Oscar's body at any given moment if he approached him.
The Australian rolled his eyes but couldn't hide his smile, "Sorry, I need at least 24 hours notice."
The Brit jokingly scoffed at him. The two boys settled for some Italian food that they had picked up and delivered to the Penthouse. There wasn't a lot of talking while they ate dinner, the two boys settling for just being in each other's space. Oscar kept stealing glances at the Brit who was still in his hoodie. He wondered if Lando's scent had replaced his own by now.
After they ate Lando decided to go shower and he left the hoodie on the back of a chair so Oscar took it. He messaged Lando telling him that he was going to go to a local market to grab a few drinks and snacks. Oscar slipped the hoodie on and he was right, Lando's scent had completely covered his own and it turned him on a lot.
In all honesty Oscar didn't know what they were. They were certainly friends but obviously there was more of a romantic aspect between the two. For once, Oscar started to think what it would feel like if Lando was his boyfriend. If it meant getting to share hoodies like they did today it would be a pretty great feeling.
All of these feelings led to him questioning if he genuinely cared about what people thought. Being happy with someone should be more important than the hatred of others, even within Formula 1. He knew he would have the support of many people within Formula 1 and that should outweigh the disapproval of a few. He wanted the Brit to suffocate him. He wanted desperately to be wrapped in the arms of Lando Norris. He wanted to feel Lando's breath on his neck.
On the way back from the mini mart he was stopped by a couple fans of his who just so happened to see him.
"Oh my god it's Oscar Piastri," one of them girls said.
Oscar was in a very good mood so he flashed a smile. Fan interactions can be very hit or miss but he understands it comes with the job of being an F1 driver. His mom is on social media and often tells him about how many fans he has.
"Hello!"
"Can we take a selfie, please?"
Oscar didn't mind and took a couple pics with the girls.
"Have a good night girls," he said to them as he walked away with a big grin on his face. Ignoring the result of the race today he felt like he was in a world of bliss.
Oscar walked into the penthouse and didn't see Lando in the kitchen or living area so he yelled out, "I'm back. Met some really nice fans."
Nothing.
The Aussie put down his snacks and put the drinks in the fridge. He tried to listen for the shower but he didn't hear anything and it looked like the bathroom door was open as light beamed out into the hallway.
"Lando?"
There was a chill in the air that replaced the romantic and giddy warmth from before. The lack of a response unnerved him.
He called out again with a more shaken voice.
He heard what sounded like sniffles so he walked towards the sound. They were coming from Lando bedroom, the door was half closed so he peaked in. "Lando you in there?" he asked knocking on the door softly. He opened the door and didn't see Lando right away but when he stepped in he saw the Brit on the ground sitting up against the wall with his knees up. He had his phone in one hand and his other hand on his bare chest.
Oscar couldn't tell right away cause Lando's wet hair was partially blocking his eyes but he believed he was crying. When Lando looked up and weakly smiled, it confirmed that he was. It looked like Lando was embarrassed that he saw him in his current state.
Oscar didn't know what to do other than just sitting down next to him. He'd never seen Lando like this and he was only gone for maybe 15-20 minutes so he couldn't imagine what got him in this state.
"What happened?" Oscar asked Lando.
Lando looked despondent. "You know how Max is like my best friend, right?" Oscar nodded unsure where this was going to go. "He's also my manager, but he wasn't always my manager."
Oscar blurted out a singular, "Oh," without even thinking. He was immediately reminded of being in Monaco and hearing Lando speaking angrily to someone. His tone was uncertain and that brought the Brits gaze to him. "In Monaco I went looking for you and I literally couldn't find you. But then I was going to the top deck and I heard you yelling at someone saying they weren't your manager anymore and-" Lando looked away and down.
"It was my dad,"
Oscar moved a little closer to Lando bringing their shoulders together. "Okay and what happened?" He didn't want to press the Brit but he wanted to make sure he knew that he could open up.
"He was very controlling. He's actually the reason I even became a singer because he posted a video of me singing on tiktok. It got a lot of views. Flashforward a couple weeks, I got a contract deal and millions of dollars tossed my way." Lando's voice trailed so he cleared his throat. He could feel his throat tighten up as he tries to open up to Oscar.
Oscar grabbed Lando's hand and rested both of their hands on his thigh. He slowly and gently caressed the top of Lando's hand. He didn't know what to say so he said nothing and let Lando continue talking.
"I spent 80 hours a week to get that album out. I did a global tour that ruined me mentally. It ruined my relationships. I lost friends. And then I wanted to relax but he wanted me to do my next album right away. I refused and fired him."
Lando's grip on his hand tightened.
"He just called me to tell me I was a failure and that I threw away everything just to party." And just like that Lando choked up and let the tears fall again. Oscar let go off his hand, grabbing it with his other hand and swung his right arm around Lando, bringing him in closer. Oscar felt the other boy's body jerk as he tried to stifle his cries but he couldn't.
"I'm sorry Lando."
Lando was rubbing Oscar's middle finger and slowly interlocked his fingers with the Aussie's. Oscar loved how his fingers felt interlocked with Lando's much larger ones. Oscar began to rummage his hand through Lando's hair gently as he comforted Lando.
"You shouldn't let anyone call you a failure."
Lando lifted his head and placed it back up against the wall. He let a deep sigh, wiped away his tears and shook his head. "But I am. I didn't want to make another album. Not how they wanted anyways. I am throwing my career away."
Oscar looked into Lando's glassy eyes. "But why?"
"They want me to make a bunch of love songs because of my female fanbase. But I hate it. I want to do something I love." Lando closed his eyes and took long, deep breaths.
"What do you love doing then?"
Lando didn't answer him for a few moments but when his mouth opened Oscar's eyes were glued to them.
"Being with you."
The words hit Oscar like he was driving at 200 mph and slid off the track into a barrier. The raw and emotional words were too much for Oscar.
"Lando..."
Lando finally opened his eyes and looked at Oscar. His face dropped and he panickily got up from the floor and walked out of the room. Oscar jumped to his feet, "Wait Lando." He caught up to him at the end of the hallway and grabbed his hand. "Where are you going?"
The breath coming out of the Brit sounded like an engine being revved up. Oscar was still trying to adapt to this side of Lando but all he wanted to do was hold him. "I shouldn't have said that, Osc. I'm sorry, I know you aren't ready-"
He was hyperventilating.
"Stop talking," Oscar pulled him in and hugged him tightly. He held onto the Brit as tight as he could to make sure that he knew he wasn't going anywhere. He separated from Lando and wiped away a tear streaming down his left cheek. "Come here," Oscar said bringing them both to the sofa. The Aussie brought Lando in close as they cuddle on the sofa and took a deep breath.
I guess it's now or never, huh?
Oscar knew his love for Lando endangered him. Love was letting yourself be vulnerable with someone who can destroy you. He was handing his heart to Lando and hoping he wouldn't crush it.
"Before you there was another boy who I fell for. His name was Logan and we kinda grew up together karting." Lando hummed. "And, um, a couple years ago we began to get romantic. Long story short it didn't last long and our relationship fell apart last year."
Lando was rubbing circles in Oscars hand as he listened to his story. Their bodies were melting together into the sofa, Lando nuzzling his face into Oscar's chest.
The truth was Oscar used the failed relationship and the regrets he had as a buffer between he and Lando. When Lando came into his life, he scared him. In a way he still scares Oscar, but being scared isn't always a bad thing. Lando constantly finds ways to make his heart flutter like he's a dose of adrenaline. Every slick delivery of a word is a like a jolt of serotonin being pumped into his brain. It makes Oscar feel so alive he knows everything he's feeling is real.
His infatuation with Lando, his obsession with the way he looks at him, his unbridled lust when he touches him are all too real to ignore. But a part of him had been blocked off. Lando didn't know why Oscar was both hesitant and intrigued by him. Now that he knows about Oscar's past he knows Oscar was afraid to mess up but yearning for that feeling of being wanted all over again.
"Did you love him?"
"I don't know, Lando. I think I did."
"You miss him?"
Oscar wasn't sure if it was a question or a statement. It sounded like the latter to him and he wouldn't be surprised if Lando was able to put 2-and-2 together. "I do. He was my best friend in F1. We didn't talk to each other for weeks and-" Oscar's voice broke. No, he wasn't going to cry now. "Then he lost his seat in F1. I was too scared to talk to him after that. Every time I typed a text message I ended up deleting it. Every time i thought about calling him I chickened out. I hurt him, Lando."
Lando moved from rubbing circles in Oscar's hand to doing it on his chest below the frayed string of the hoodie. "Sounds like you hurt yourself too."
He was right. Oscar knew he was right. Oscar had grown so tired from the days events he just wanted to be still there in that moment until he fell asleep. He wrapped his arms fully around Lando, the Brit having flung his leg in between Oscar's, resting atop his left one. Their bodies couldn't get close if they tried.
But before Oscar could fall asleep, after several minutes of silence with only their slow and subtle breathing filling the air and noise, Lando said something else that would shake Oscar.
"Oscar?"
"Hm?"
Because the two were so close, Oscar was able to feel Lando's heart and breathing increase out of nowhere before he spoke, "I don't want to lose you, too."
There was more to Lando's story that Oscar hadn't plotted out. Pieces of his past, context that weaves it all together that were missing.
It was clear to Oscar that Lando wasn't completely honest with him and he was okay with that.
But it scared him. And not in the good way.
Notes:
Next chapter Saturday for sure. May put up two chapters this weekend, idk yet.
Also, I have 17 chapters planned. I may add one more but that's about it haha.
I started typing a new landoscar fic with a Royalty AU. Not sure I'll actually publish it cause I have no clue how it ends where as with this one I knew how it would end and I knew each of the main plot points before typing a single word.
Chapter 10: The Complexity of Love
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
There was still a lot of things left unsaid after the previous night in Lando's penthouse. The two woke up in each other's arms on his sofa and began their day. There was shift in their relationship, and it was obvious at the start when Oscar offered to go get eggs and make them breakfast. The way he spoke so softly to Lando and then asked if he was okay.
Lando wasn't sure if he was okay or not. He unloaded a lot all at once and nearly made a fool out of himself. He never wanted to show that side to Oscar and it was alarming at how incapable he was at turning off his emotions. He trusted Oscar and he knew Oscar would be supportive but Lando doesn't want to be too much of a burden. He doesn't want to be a burden at all and last night Oscar made it clear that he was dealing with pain from his past too. But the difference between the two of them is that Oscar is in the middle of a stressful year in his career. Meanwhile, Lando doesn't even know what to do with his own.
All of those feelings and emotions he was having are not good for Oscar and if he realizes that Lando has too much baggage for him to deal with in the middle of a championship battle, he may not want to be with Lando anymore.
So while he was watching Oscar cook, humming whatever house music he was obsessed with on that given day, Lando was worried if doubt was starting to seed into Oscar's brain. He got up from the sofa, took in Oscar's adorable smile and went with it to the bathroom where he fell to the floor up against the door and cried. He cried one last time. Today they were supposed to go to the McLaren Technology Centre and he was going to enjoy his time with Oscar.
He pulled out his phone as he stifled his cries and went to Instagram. He went to Oscar's profile and looked at some of the photos.
It was so clear Lando had fallen in love. The way looking at Oscar's smile whether it be in pictures or in person fills him with an indescribable feeling that he never wants to part with. For a while he wondered what that feeling was. It snuck up on him like a spider does when it climb down from the ceiling. By the time you notice it, you've already walked into its web and freaked out.
Last night he freaked out.
That won't happen again.
After splashing some water on his face he stepped out of the bathroom and went to his room to get some clothes ready just in case his eyes were still red. He could smell the food from the kitchen and the clanking of plates presumably as the Australian prepares to plate the food. So he exits his room, puts a smile on his face and heads towards the kitchen.
Oscar is still wearing his hoodie, the hoodie he fell asleep in -- the hoodie Lando cried and drooled into the last 12 hours.
"Smells good," Lando said as he sniffed the food next to Oscar.
Oscar glanced at him and smiled, "hope it tastes good too."
"I'm sure it will," he replied as he sat down. He watched the Australian sprinkle a little pepper on the eggs he made before he plated the food on the two plates he found in the cabinet. Thankfully he sat next to Lando instead of across from him.
They ate in silence.
The food tasted good.
This is what Lando wanted.
Lando didn't know what to expect from going to the MTC. Oscar didn't really give him any hints or ideas of what they'll be doing so he was going to go with the flow. The first thing that they did was look at all of the trophies they had, including the news ones that Oscar had won this year.
Then Lando was brought to some little hospitality area where there was food, tea and coffee. Oscar had to go to an important meeting to debrief and then he'd be free to bring Lando around. Even though he was brought to this area likely to keep himself busy, he was not limited to it. When they entered he was immediately made aware that he couldn't go past a certain point but the main lobby and even outside of the MTC were completely fair play. So he left the room with a cup of tea and stepped outside.
It was a dreary day, grey clouds hovering and threatening to dump a bucket of rain. There was a long singular road that branched out of a main road into the MTC campus. It wrapped around this man made body of water. The building looked like something that could be out of a movie or a sci-fi tv show, it's excessive use of glass windows that wrapped around the building giving an almost futuristic look.
He took a photo of the outside of the building from a side angle and then went to prop the phone to take of photo of himself outside of it when a woman walked out and asked if he needs help.
"Emma," she announced herself as. Lando had heard Oscar mention someone named Emma but he wasn't sure who she was.
"You know it's a pleasure to have you here."
"Ah the pleasure is mine."
She pulled out her phone after taking a picture of Lando in front of the MTC with his phone, "I'm head of the social media team here. Is it okay if I take a photo of you for our socials?"
Lando nodded, "I don't mind at all."
"Perfect," she says as she snaps a photo of him. "And it's good that you are wearing one of our hoodies as well."
It was Oscar's. He didn't tell her that but he looked down instinctively and rubbed at the frayed string that dangled below his left collarbone.
"Is there any particular reason why you have come today?" she asked.
Lando shrugged. He didn't really have a good answer for the question. The truth is he wanted to get closer to Oscar. He wanted a reason to spend the day with him. He wanted to get to know him better and see him in his own environment. But that's not a suitable answer to say out loud. "I was just curious about what Oscar does on a regular day here. Also, I heard very good things about this place so why not check it out."
It was the most superficial bullshit answer that he could come up with. Being a celebrity Lando had learned how to quickly come up with unassuming answers that both answer a question but not lead to more. If he can stroke someone's ego, even better.
However, Emma wasn't that kind of person. To this day Lando doesn't know if she saw right through his bullshit. She smiled at him and nodded but then she asked him, "Are you okay if i had you and Oscar take photos together for the socials?"
Her tone struck him like she was trying to say more than the words that were coming out of her mouth. Her smile turned to more of a smirk.
Lando sighed, "What do you know?"
Emma approached him and showed him a video on her phone. "We were filming for the socials as we always do, and well here." The video was of Oscar talking to Arthur the previous day. Oscar was looking at him from far away when he wasn't paying attention. He was smiling and even blushing. It looked like Arthur and Oscar were talking about him. "We didn't use any of this footage but yeah."
Oscar's smile was imprinted in his brain.
"We're not dating." He doesn't know why he blurted that out. Was it to protect Oscar? Was he panicking? Was it to set a record straight that didn't needed to be straightened? Was it to protect himself?
Emma shrugged, "Doesn't matter to me."
Lando looked away and closed his eyes. For a moment his senses focuses on the small spits of mist that hit his face. "You like him too, don't you?"
"Is it that obvious?"
Emma laughed playfully, "Only now it is. For what it's worth, I think you two would be cute together."
Lando agreed. It scared him but he loved how they looked together. He loved how he looked with him. "I appreciate that but-"
"I know. You're secret is safe with me."
I hope so.
"Why don't we go inside, they should be wrapping up with their meeting."
Lando was anxious to see Oscar again. He'd only been separated from him for an hour and he was getting this fuzzy feeling inside. The feeling grew as he saw the Aussie and the smile that appeared on his face momentarily. To pretend like they aren't together was a hardship Lando was struggling to endure.
He had to pretend like he didn't want to hug him right then and there. They shared a glance that said as much but that was all they could do.
For much of the day Lando tagged along as Oscar had to train and workout. He stood by and watched him to a various amount of exercises that looked awfully uncomfortable, especially the neck ones. Oscar was very different while he was exercising, often looking very focused and intense. Even when they went into the simulator he watched on at Oscar get frustrated if he didn't put in a faster time.
This older Italian man walked into the room as Lando was watching Oscar in the sim. He didn't seem to notice or care for Lando but suddenly made a remark about Oscar, "He's a very gifted person." He had distinguishable Italian accent but was easy to understand.
Lando didn't know what to say so he kinda gave the Italian a head nod. The man turned to him and introduced himself as Andrea Stella. He was the team principal for McLaren Racing.
"When it is all set and done he might go down as one of the greats." The word hung over Lando oppressively. He looked down at Oscar and saw the tense look on his face and it all began to swirl in his mind again.
"Is he really that good?" Lando asked.
"Hm, yes, Oscar is the kind of talent a team principal dies to have. He will win this year, I believe it so, but for years after this I believe he will contend as well."
The way Stella spoke about Oscar was like a proud father watching his son succeed and do whatever it took to become better. Stella had a short but confident smile on his face.
Stella may not have meant to but he left Lando to simmer in his words. The gravity of the season and the future for Oscar were things he'd have to think about now. Oscar is in the middle of a title fight, a dream can be clutched and history can begin this year.
When he watched Oscar step out of the sim and wave to him Lando promised himself he wouldn't ruin Oscar's chance at chasing his dream. He wouldn't do to Oscar what he was currently doing to himself. He made sure to hide his feelings from Oscar because he didn't want to worry him.
After a long day they took a few pictures together for their own social feeds but also McLaren. They all coordinated their posts together to optimize the interactions.
Under his own post he and Oscar both noticed a few comments that were shipping them.
landofan04 Is it me or are they cute together? #landoscar
PiastriMyBeloved_81 YESS!! And do you see the way Oscar looks at him?!
its_raya18 Does @oscarpiastri know he loves @landonorris?
MaxFewtrell If he did he'd be institutionalized
landonorris Uncalled for mate!
oscarpiastri any tips on how to deal with him?
landonorris I have terrible friends
Lando was so happy to see Oscar not freak out about the comments after what happened after Monaco. He seemed to had done a complete 180 and was trusting that they can hide just enough that people won't truly believe they are involved.
The label for them was complicated, Lando realized. And so did Oscar.
Oscar had a lot thoughts going on in his mind when it came to Lando. He had fallen hard for the Brit, that much is undeniable. He wanted to be with him every second of the day but not just with him...surrounded by him. Being away from hurt started to actually hurt and while that scared Oscar it also excited him.
Lando was this enigmatic person that he couldn't get enough of. The more he got, the more he wanted and his appetite will never be satiated.
But what were they?
"What are we?" he finally asked Lando after they got back from MTC and dinner. He'd been dying to ask Lando that for a day and now that they were back in his penthouse they can finish off where they started yesterday.
Lando looked at him incapable of hiding his uncertainty. "I don't know, Osc." Oscar wanted to ask him if he was his boyfriend but his throat closed up and couldn't. "I want to figure it out too," Lando whispered. "But I want you to be able to breathe."
The Brit's eyes were staring into his own. It was somewhat funny to Oscar that a relationship that started off so fast and so physically had come to a hold like Lando was afraid to be too much for Oscar. Their feelings from the prior night were still raw so he understood and didn't press it.
The glances that they shared, the words that they said, and the words that didn't say said a lot more than maybe the two of them could handle. For a while they had become very comfortable with each other but a lot of that was talking behind screens or moments of physical touch that were born out of spontaneity.
Now it's different. It's like they've entered a new stage of their relationship and they're trying to discover one another all over again. Oscar found it cute how Lando would look at him now; with softened eyes and wonderous smile. His concern for wanting Oscar to breathe yet for nearly 4 months he's done everything to smother him. He was smothered with kisses, love bites and the feel of his hands and tongue. Lando pushed and pushed clawing away at Oscar's boundaries and insecurities.
But not once did Oscar say no. Not once did Oscar deny his advance or wish he would stop. Not once did Oscar feel like he was going to choke or forget to breathe. Lando's affection and love wasn't a detriment to his life, it was a reason for it. It was a reason to live and be happy. It, like racing cars, is what helps Oscar Piastri breathe.
Oscar wanted everything. Lando couldn't be too much for him. He wanted his happiness, his joy, his sadness, his anger, all of it. He wanted Lando Norris but he didn't know how to get the boy to give him that. He didn't care about whatever problems Lando was going through. He wanted to be a place for Lando to unload that pain onto him, to use him as a cushion to land when the fall becomes too great. He wants to be the emergency break Lando needs when he loses control of everything.
He wanted to feel the weight of who Lando Norris was on his shoulders because he knew he loved him.
Love.
It was a stupid notion to have weeks ago but now he knows it to be true. He's fallen in love with a man who he hasn't even kissed and it's so silly but love is silly. Love is complicated yet so unbelievably simple. When you feel it, it oppresses you and never lets up. It steals your breath like you have an infinite supply, but you don't. It's rips you into pieces and rearranges your heart and soul.
It fills your life with an unspeakable amount of warmth and joy. It crushes the pain with laughter. It warms the coldness of your bones.
Love puts your pieces back together like a puzzle, and you're grateful that someone loves you enough to keep doing your puzzle instead of tossing you into the closet never to be touched again. Oscar's puzzle wasn't ready to be thrown away. It was ready to grow and have more pieces added to it. And not just at the fringes, the easy pieces you place down on the table. No, he wants the pieces at the core, the ones you struggle to place, the ones that make it all the more satisfying when you've found where they belong.
Oscar didn't know what they were, but he knew he loved Lando Norris. He knew Lando Norris was an important part to his puzzle.
Notes:
next chapter tomorrow ^_^
Chapter 11: What Is
Notes:
Couldn't wait to write this chapter. I wrote the 2nd half of the chapter(right after the bar scene) listening to Ready For You(Acoustic Version) by Olly Alexander.
https://open.spotify.com/track/4EFtTt7BrI0UoqXtKy6zWq
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
It was a week before the Belgian Grand Prix, otherwise known as Spa, and Oscar was preparing for a charity event in London. He was originally planning to go by himself but at the last minute he was able to get Arthur to agree to be his +1. Arthur was also acting as a cover because Lando was also going to be at the event but for as close as they've gotten in recent weeks they decided a little separation at a public event would be beneficial.
There will also be some F1 guys there like Alex Albon and George Russell.
"How do I look?"
"You look like you have too many clothes on," Lando answered.
Oscar rolled his eyes.
Lando has stayed in London for the last couple weeks and Oscar has been spending a lot of time with him. He hasn't been living out of the penthouse with Lando, again as precaution in case people put 2 and 2 together about them. He's been splitting his time between his own bed at his home outside of London and the couch in Lando's penthouse.
Their relationship is still unlabeled and slightly in a weird place like they're both afraid to take it to the next step. In reality Oscar puts it squarely on Lando. Oscar wants Lando to initiate because it was him who wanted to slow things down. It's not all bad, or even a little bad, because when they are together they are blending in and out of each other's space effortlessly. It's not awkward, it just is. There's a lot of cuddling on the sofa watching movies and tv shows together.
One of the things Oscar loves is when Lando lays down and rests his head on the Aussie's thigh. He gets to freely rub his fingers through the Brit's curls. It wouldn't always just be that though, sometimes Oscar would rest his head on Lando's chest and Lando would brush his fingers on the nape of Oscar's neck. He loved how that felt and could lay there for hours as Lando did it.
"Come on do I look good for this charity?"
Lando checked him out. Oscar was wearing a light blue shirt under a black blazer with a black bow tie. The bow tie was Lando's idea. "You look great," he replied softly. "Wait come here," suddenly he was closer to Oscar and face-to-face. He readjusted Oscar's bow tie straightening it and then patted down on both of his shoulders. "Now you look perfect."
Oscar looked into Lando's eyes. He had long given up trying to figure out what color Lando's eyes were. There are times they look light blue to a shade of green or even gray. Lando was wearing a white shirt under a dark blue blazer but wasn't wearing a tie. Ties weren't his thing.
"Thanks," Oscar whispered softly.
Someone knocked on the door. "Ah that should be Arthur."
Lando opened the door to Arthur while Oscar fixed his hair.
"You ready for our date?" Arthur joked. He winked at Lando.
In some way Lando and Arthur were similar. They were both very attractive and confident men. They knew how to smooth talk anyone. Their fashion sense was also similar, Oscar clocked how both had unbuttoned their top button going for a less formal look. Oscar was more of the nervous type when it came to formal events, unsure if he was dressed right. He wanted to look good and formal but people like Arthur and Lando had more than enough confidence to wear whatever they wanted and how they wanted.
Oscar honestly hated formal events. He didn't like doing a lot of the extra stuff that came with Formula 1 even if it opened up opportunities. With that said he wasn't going to turn down a charity event either. He didn't mind putting down the 500 euros for a plate. It wasn't so much that he despised the events themselves but he didn't like all of the cameras and attention nor did he really care for intermingling with other athletes or celebrities. Sometimes talking with other top athletes can be intriguing because these are people at the top of their sport and you can pick their brain for tips on how to manage pressure.
But Oscar wasn't going to do that here.
There were a lot more demands for photos as excitement and hype over him had grown in recent weeks. He was sitting atop the championship lead with Spa and Hungary next. Spa is one of his favorite tracks of all time and he won at Hungary last season. It was the perfect time to extend his lead before the summer break.
Alex and George showed up with their dates so some photographers asked for them to take photos together.
"How long you've been taking photos?" Alex asked.
"Mate, I'm going blind from all the flashing lights."
George looked over at him, laughing, "You want to switch places? I'd love to be in 1st mate."
Oscar shook his head, "No no you stay in 3rd and keep being a pain in the ass to Max, please."
The Brit scoffed, "That's what I thought."
After finishing up with the photos and socializing the guys went to their table to get read for dinner. Much of what will happen at this gala involves donating, spending money on auctions and then socializing more for potential donation opportunities.
Oscar was donating his helmet from Silverstone for charity while also pledging to donate £25,000 to a local children's hospital. Oscar took pride in donating money. He considered himself lucky to have a career that pays him handsomely and always wanted to give back when he can. Oscar was partner with the Great Barrier Reef Foundation and often donated money to it to help raise awareness about the bleaching of Australia's famous Great Barrier Reef.
The Charity Gala went on for over 4 hours but they had raised millions and Oscar felt really good about going even if formal events weren't his favorite.
Lando came up to Oscar and the rest of the F1 guys and invited them to a local bar to end the night.
In the nearly 2 weeks he's been with Lando in London he hasn't once enjoyed the nightlife with him. They've been so content with relaxing together there was no reason to go out and party.
"Shots everyone?" Lando asked everyone as they get to the bar. The bartender shook his hand, so they knew each other which was good in terms of what service they'll receive.
"I'm down," Oscar said with a smile. Lando bought them all a round a shots and pitcher of beer. It was a Sunday night so there weren't many people at the bar but there was some there that recognized them. So Oscar brought them all drinks in hopes they'll respect their privacy.
And for most of the night it did work.
Sometime after midnight Oscar found Lando texting in the hallway outside of the restrooms. Lando was feeling pretty drunk but when he saw Oscar at the corner of his eye with his own drunken smile it was like he sobered up a little.
"You alright?" Oscar asked him.
"Yeah just texting Max for tomorrow." Lando was heading back to Los Angeles after the elongated stay in the UK.
"Why didn't he come with you?"
Lando shrugged. "Max is busy. I hate to admit it but he does a lot for me and I wanted him to be here tonight but he was sick earlier in the week. So he wanted to relax. Can't blame him."
Oscar looked away from Lando like he was looking to see if anyone was coming there way and then looked back at the Brit. "Can I ask you something?"
"Anything, Osc."
"Um you and Max. Were you two ever-"
Lando shook his head. "No, god no. I mean," he paused. "I had a crush on him years ago, but I got over it quickly."
Oscar laughed. "You got over a crush quickly?"
Lando elbowed him, "Okay he turned me down and I had to get over it. Happy?" He could tell that there was more Oscar wanted to ask him so he waited.
"You haven't told me your whole story have you?" Oscar asked it like he didn't mean to but did anyways.
"Is it okay if I say no?"
Oscar turned to him and looked into his eyes. Guilt flooded Lando's body. "Lando, any answer you give is okay. I just want you to know I'm not going anywhere." Lando chest began to tighten. "I like you a lot. More than I've ever liked anyone. I want you to know that."
Lando throat was completely closed up.
Say something.
But nothing could breech the impenetrable wall his throat had formed. It was painful, almost choking him. Oscar slipped his hand into Lando's like he could read his mind.
It happened so quickly, Lando didn't expect or even have time to process it. He was looking down and had closed his eyes because he could feel his anxiety begin to creep in. Oscar's hand tightened ever so slightly and then he felt something warm and wet on his cheek. Lando opened his eyes and looked at Oscar who had a tear forming at the corner of his eye.
"I'm going to go up to the penthouse, sorry." Oscar let go of Lando's hand and walked away rubbing at his eyes.
What do I do?
Lando knew he should've followed Oscar but he was so nervous if people saw them together. But Oscar just kissed him on the cheek so he didn't know what to do. That's when Arthur showed up looking confused.
"So what did I miss?"
"Honestly I don't know."
Lando hadn't had much interactions with Arthur but knew he and Oscar were pretty tight. There was a time where Lando even thought they were together too. "I think I fucked up and he kissed me on the cheek."
Arthur's brow raised. "Seems like a lot. Can't say I've seen him cry much. Not since he and Logan broke up." Lando didn't say anything. "Do you like him?"
"Yes, very much so."
"So why are you here, Lando?"
He shrugged. "I don't know what to do. I'm scared to do the wrong thing."
Arthur smiled and patted him on the shoulder. "You know, a couple weeks ago Oscar asked me if I thought he was a fool for being into you. Do you want to know what I said?"
"He is a fool," Lando answered softly.
"Yes, but he likes you so much he'd be a bigger fool to not chase after you."
Lando didn't believe him. "I don't want to hurt him." He was in a fight against himself. His heart was telling him one thing and his brain was saying another.
"Then go chase him. Don't be a bigger fool than him!"
Lando looked up at Arthur who had broad smile on his face. And just like that it was all simplified to Lando. He was going to follow his heart.
Lando made his way to the exit of the bar, which was a couple blocks away from his penthouse and ran. The adrenaline cleared his mind and body from the effect the alcohol was having on him. His legs felt like they were floating as he coursed through the sidewalk almost running into a group of guys who had exited another bar. He didn't bother to wave and apology he just wanted to get to Oscar.
He stormed into the building, and saw the elevator door close. He slammed his hand repeatedly on the up button thinking that Oscar was on the other side of the door. Lando looked up to see where the elevator and watch it go to the floor of his penthouse. The other elevator door opened and he wasted no time to hit the button to his floor.
The wait was excruciating. A million different thoughts were doing back flips and somersaults in his head. How was he going to approach Oscar? What was he going to do? What was he going to say? How would Oscar react?
He smacked his head to stop himself from overthinking everything.
When the elevator door opened he ran to his penthouse door, fiddled with his keys, and dropped them.
"Dammit." He bent down and grabbed his keys, went to place it in the lock when the door opened.
In front of him stood Oscar who had already taken off his shirt. His eyes were red and the skin under them looked irritated like he was rubbing them.
"Lando, what are you-"
"What do you want us to be?" Lando asked pushing himself into the doorway. Oscar looked at him confused. "Can i be your boyfriend?"
Oscar's eyes widened, a smile broke through, and his shoulders dropped. "Yes."
Lando pushed further into the penthouse, closed the door behind him and cupped Oscar's face with one hand. He gently pulled the boy toward him and smacked his lips on him. It was wet and sloppy but oh my god it was amazing. It was everything he had imagine it and more.
Oscar's lips were so soft he couldn't help but suck on his lower lip and pull on it.
They dragged themselves to the couch, kissing each other with no rhyme or reason, just a disorganize mess of skin and saliva like they were starving for one another.
And they were.
Lando fell on top of Oscar, whose hands were exploring the Brit's back. Lando placed his hand on the warm skin of the Aussie and moved to kissing Oscar's neck. The sound of Oscar whimpering under his lips turned him on, he couldn't help but leave a mark just above his collarbone. He continued down to his chest where he realized he hadn't taken a breath this whole time.
Oscar had one hand on the back of head and neck while using his other hand to pull Lando's up to his neck. Lando looked up at Oscar and kissed his chest, keeping his eyes on the Australian who was biting his lip.
Lando laid his tongue out on Oscar's skin and licked his way back up to his neck before separating, hovering over Oscar's mouth, feeling the warmth of his breath on his lips.
"You okay?" Oscar asked him.
"Yes. You?"
Oscar, rubbing the nape of Lando's neck with his thumb, nodded. "Make me yours."
Lando kissed him. It was smoother than first time. Oscar slipped his tongue into Lando mouth, who wasn't going to deny him. Oscar's hand further explored Lando's body going down his abs before wrapping around to his lower back. As the Aussie explored Lando felt their kissing begin to ramp up into the more ferocious kind they had originally. Oscar pulled Lando closer to him to the point where they could feel just how excited they were.
Lando couldn't ignore what he was feeling and when Oscar slipped his hand underneath the waistband, grabbing Lando's butt, he began to grind his body slowly onto Oscar's. He didn't want to stop kissing Oscar's lips but he wanted to trek down the Aussie's body once more. As he slithered down Oscar's body he could feel Oscar straining in his own pants.
Oscar was breathing heavily and holding onto Lando's hair as Lando kiss his stomach. The intensity of the gaze they shared made Oscar melt. Lando had been here before -- on the yacht in Monaco where he went as far as he ever had with Oscar. Now he is staring down at the same place he was at when he left him then. He wasn't leaving him now. He unbuttoned Oscar's pants, looked up at him for the green light to continue. When Oscar slid his hand down Lando's cheek he took that as a sign that Oscar wanted Lando to continue.
And Lando wanted to continue.
"Make me yours," replayed in his head as he leaned down and kissed the head of Oscar's bulge. Lando lifted his head again to looked down and take in the Australians fit body. He'd seen many bodies similar or even better but none were as special as his. He's never wanted to cherish and breathe someone's body like he does Oscar's.
Is this love?
Lando leveled his head down again, with Oscar gently leading him and took the Australian in his mouth. It was euphoric sliding his tongue across the glands of the Australian's member, hearing him moan. The warmth and the taste made it nearly impossible for him to contain himself. It had taken him 5 months to get to this moment, but it doesn't matter how much he's imagine himself bobbing his head up and down the real thing was ecstasy.
Never had waiting for something been so unbelievably worth it but for Lando, Oscar was worth all of it. Oscar was more than just a piece of meat. He was more than a pretty face, fit body and legs that Lando wanted wrapped around his neck. He was kind, affectionate and an amazing friend.
A better friend than he deserved.
Lando could feel Oscar's body jerk and contort itself as he tried to compose himself under the mouth of the Brit but Lando was transfixed on bringing him to his climax. He could feel the Australian pulsate trying to resist Lando but a few swirls of the tongue and Oscar couldn't hold back. He gripped Lando's hair tighter but Lando wasn't going anywhere.
Lando teased him with his lips kissing and brushing around his sensitive skin causing Oscar to giggle and jerk. He peppered kisses all the way up Oscar's love plagued body before looking down into the eyes of the man he's wanted for so long.
"You are mine."
"I am yours," Oscar replied before wrapping both his arms around Lando bringing him into a kiss.
Lando could still taste Oscar in his mouth as he kissed him. His jaw and mouth had grown tired so he shifted down Oscar's body and rested on his chest. Oscar kissed him on the head while grazing his shoulder with his fingertips.
They laid there for 10 minutes without saying a word, melting into one another.
"You awake?" Lando asks. Oscar's heartbeat had finally slowed to a calm rhythmic hum that relaxed Lando.
"Yeah."
"You've ever had a dream where you were like conscious that you were dreaming?" Lando was taking his finger along one of the hickey's he left on Oscar's abdomen and circling it like he was proud of the mark he left.
"Yes. Scares me sometimes especially when I have to go to the bathroom." They chuckle.
Lando moves his hand over to Oscar's side and interlocks his fingers into his. "That's how I feel with you. I don't want to wake up from this dream ever." Oscar didn't say anything but he didn't have to.
"You are the mountain to my valley, Oscar Piastri."
Notes:
I am not a smut writer but I felt like I had to do a little something for this fic haha.
I hope y'all liked this chapter cause I thought about it so many times even before I started writing the fic.
Originally this was supposed to happen in chapter 10 but when writing chapter 10 I felt the characters were not fleshed out enough to EARN the scene at the end of this chapter.
Next chapter Wednesday I think. Gonna shoot for a Wednesday, Friday and Sunday rollout for the next 3 chapters.
Chapter 12: The String
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
Lando had to make some important decisions and one of them meant finally ending things with Tate. While she greenlit his option to explore being with Oscar, he had just recently told Oscar that he wanted to be his boyfriend.
It wasn't fair of him to keep Tate from doing the same with whomever she was exploring with, which meant ending their PR relationship. There would have to be an agreement on how they were going to go about announcing the separation.
Tate knew something was up when Lando asked her to go on a date. When they sat down in a private room they sat in silence. Lando was nervous knowing that Tate was waiting for the waiter to come and ask for their order before striking up any important conversation. Being in the private room with Tate was quite the dichotomy to what happened outside of the restaurant. There were some fans there and even paps, suggesting that Tate's team gave the paparazzi a heads up.
They were looking happy. But they were about to break up.
"So what's going on Lando?"
Lando exhaled deeply. "I want to end our relationship."
Tate sipped from her water and adjusted herself in her seat. "Why?" She asked like she already knew.
"I'm falling for Oscar and it's not fair to you for me to string you along in our PR relationship."
She smiled, almost giggling in a mocking way. "Okay first don't do that. Don't try to make it about how unfair it is to me."
"I'm sorry," Lando said awkwardly.
"It's fine. I get it. But you do this a lot Lando. You are so afraid to be 100% honest and you think making it about what's fair to me makes this better. It doesn't. I expressed to you to not make me look like a fool. And you are honoring that. Just don't belittle me because this is what I want. I want your honesty."
Lando didn't know what to say. He didn't know if Tate was mad, sad or happy. She was definitely annoyed.
She clasped his hand in hers. "You are so afraid that honesty hurts the most but it's the obfuscation of the truth in order to alleviate a fear that doesn't exist that hurts the most."
There was an overwhelming amount of truth and bite in her words that Lando wanted to move past. He didn't want to relitigate the past now. "I'm sorry, you're right. You've been very generous to me, even with this relationship, and I should be more respectful of you."
She nods, "Yes you should. Now," she pauses to sip from her glass. "Tell me about your love life. I guess you two finally slept together and that's why you're dumping me." She shot Lando a wink.
"Actually, we still haven't gone that far. We're close but I'm just taking it one step out of time."
Tate looked shocked. "Oh wow. You really have fallen for him. Does he know?"
Lando shook his head. "I don't think so. Like he knows I want to be with him but he doesn't know how much it hurts when I'm not with him."
"That's amazing, Lando. I'm sorry for thinking you'd just have your way and be done with him."
"Honestly, I'm surprised too. Sometimes I can't believe how deeply I feel about him but all I need to do is see his smile and it all makes sense."
Tate encouraged him to make the most of whatever relationship he thinks he can have with Oscar. She stressed that he communicate honestly with Oscar and promised that she still wanted to be his friend.
The truth is, she was a friend before a pretend girlfriend. She was there for him at a low point, picked him up to glide through it and get to a point where he can find someone else.
They both agreed they'll announce their breakup in a few days and that it'll be a mutual breakup.
~~~~~
Things in F1 are going as smooth as they could possibly go for Oscar, who sits atop the WDC with a 40+ point lead and now he's in the middle of what is called "summer break." It's a period in the middle of the year where essentially everyone in F1 stops working for a couple weeks.
This period is used to relax, disassociate from work and maybe go on vacation. Some drivers choose to go back to their home country to be with their family and friends.
For Oscar, he's completely shutting his brain off and, to an extent, his phone. He doesn't want to think about F1, the championship race, anything. He wants to sit back and relax with family and friends back in Melbourne, where he arrived a few days ago.
"What time are we going, Osc?" Lando asked.
Yeah he's in Melbourne too.
Lando arrived the previous night after Oscar asked him to come. They hadn't seen each other since the night of the charity gala when Oscar let Lando go down on him. He craved for Lando's touch again but most of all he wanted to touch Lando.
Even though Oscar said yes to Lando when he asked to be his boyfriend, they were intoxicated on alcohol and lust. They haven't recircled that topic again but they haven't exactly been walking on eggshells either. When they are talking to one another it no longer feels like they have to hold back, which is good because in public they have to. At least for now. Oscar wanted to be out and proud with Lando but there were a few issues at hand.
Firstly, Oscar was still in the midst of a championship fight and while he is healthily in the lead the story of a top F1 driver being gay could take a life of its own. Not only would it be a distraction for him but also for the team. He's waited this long to be with Lando, he could wait a few more months to be public with him.
Secondly, Oscar wasn't sure how he was going to go about coming out. He put a little thought into it. Does he make a basic post on Instagram with some long winded statement? Does he just post a picture with Lando?
There weren't many people who knew about his sexuality, just the Leclerc brothers, his sister and obviously Logan Sargeant. He also hasn't told anyone but Arthur about him and Lando, mostly cause Arthur was nagging him the day after the charity event.
Lastly, and maybe most importantly, Lando's personal life was complicated. Lando had informed him that the two were breaking up but it would need some time for Lando and Oscar to be official if they indeed wanted to be public about it.
And well, that process had already begun. The day before Lando came to Melbourne news broke that Tate McRae had broken up with Lando. The story is that they had been broken up for a period of time but it was undetermined publicly, but the break up was mutual. The two were still friendly even posting a picture on both of the IG's joking about being "New Exes." It wasn't a complete solution to the issue because if anything were to come out now about Lando and him it could complicate the current story Lando and Tate concocted.
Funnily enough the story also gives them leeway. The lack of a specific time of when they broke up allows Lando and Tate to fill in that blank later on for Lando if necessary.
Lando wasn't upset about the break up, or at least he seemed happy to Oscar.
"Hattie said she'll be here in 10 minutes." They were going to the beach, something Oscar loved to do. "Are you sure this is going to be okay?" Oscar was concerned that Lando coming with his family could lead to some rumors about them circulating.
Lando walked over Oscar and put his hand on his cheek and kissed him. "I think it's going to be fine. I want to be with you, I don't care about all the noise."
That was all he needed to say. It may be counter-productive but they are friends and there's nothing wrong with friends hanging out.
Lando and Oscar drove with Hattie, Oscar's sister, to the beach and will meet up with his family there. When they arrived they both collectively took a deep breath and stepped out. Most of the people in Melbourne were respectful to Oscar and his family but it was natural for him to be stopped and have to take photos. After finishing up with fans they went down to the beach and joined up with Oscar's parents and other sisters. Oscar was pretty nervous having his family but did his best to remain calm.
He is just a friend today.
He almost lost himself when he asked Lando to put sunscreen on him. Lando's touch was tender and he had been yearning it so much he forgot what it felt like.
The two took a picture together for Oscar to post on Instagram. Oscar didn't want to hide their friendship out of fear of potential speculation. If they act like friends publicly they should be fine and friends always post photos with each other.
When Oscar came in from the water after an hour he set himself down on the towel next to his sister who was in a beach chair.
"You seem happy." Oscar couldn't see beneath the sunglasses but he believed she was looking at him.
"I am."
She smiled. "Is it because of him?" She pointed towards the water. Lando was playing a game of keep away with their sisters and parents. He was smiling and laughing a lot that it made Oscar smile. How could he not? "I'll take that as a yes," she added with a laugh.
"Is it that obvious," Oscar nervously laughed.
"You're brimming with happiness, I don't think I've ever seen you this happy."
"I don't think I've ever been this happy. Nobody has ever made me feel this way. He brightens my day every time I talk to him."
"Aww I love that for you, Oscar. Truly, you deserve to have someone who makes you happy."
Oscar didn't know if he could smile greater than he already was. He was bursting with warmth and joy he couldn't contain it. He was at least happy he could be open about it with someone. Hattie was one of the few people in his life that he trusted completely. She understood him.
"I want to tell mom and dad but Lando and I need to talk more."
"You may not even have to tell them. They'll figure it out I'm sure, especially if you keep smiling like that."
Oscar sighed with a smile on his face. "I think he may be a better prize than winning the championship."
Hattie slapped him playfully, "Don't lie."
"Okay okay, maybe not but it's pretty damn close."
There was something about seeing Lando quickly blend in with Oscar's family and the way they accepted him that made it all feel the more real. They may not be public and the family doesn't know but at the very least this assuages any potential concerns he may have that his family won't like Lando.
In a way he couldn't even believe this was happening and that they could be together for a long time. He doesn't want to get ahead of himself but it was a nice feeling that he wanted to savor for a moment.
Even if it was foolish.
~~~~~
It was a long day and night with Oscar's family. When Oscar invited him to Melbourne he didn't think about it. Lando immediately said yes and made immediate plans to go. He was nervous to be around Oscar's family but with Oscar there he knew he'd be okay. It helped that Oscar's family was nice. A lot nicer than he ever expected.
He kept seeing Oscar look at him every time they were apart, whether it was at the beach or at his family's home eating dinner. Oscar was constantly finding ways to touch him by tapping his feet under the table or sneaking pecks on the cheek when he was out of his family's vision.
For Lando, Oscar was his boyfriend. There wasn't a doubt in his mind but he understood the secretive game they were playing. Lando wasn't fussed with complicating anything about his PR relationship with Tate and the lie that was concocted for the break up. In all honesty Oscar cared more about it then Lando did, but Lando was reckless and Oscar cared too much about him. Kinda like Max in a way.
The lack of a timetable giving for their breakup was the one and only gift to Lando who was willing to eat all of the negative aspects of the break up. He was the one who went to Tate and asked for the break up. He was the one who initiating breaking their "agreement." Tate was okay with it, to an extent, but was concerned about how it would appear. Her publicist was concerned the damage it could do to Tate, which is why Lando offered for their statements to include that Tate broke up with him. This would make Tate look more independent, which makes the break up a win-win for her.
Lando just wanted freedom and a chance to maneuver between lies to protect Oscar.
After dinner, Lando grew very tired. He was still a little jetlagged and he had been overwhelmed by being with the Piastris. He was letting himself live in the moment, enjoying the comfort and the presence of someone he loves. He watched and listened as they talked about Oscar's childhood and how he would run outside during the Melbourne Grand Prix to try and hear the cars driving around the circuit. They shared stories and memories close to their heart that maybe he didn't deserve to hear but did. He enjoyed them.
He looked over at Oscar who looked just as tired as he felt and shared a smile. A smile he's cherished since the beginning. He looked down at the sofa where Oscar's hand rested between them and grabbed it. Oscar didn't pull away but he shot him a glance.
Lando didn't know if it was the right thing to do in that moment but he just did it. He had to. He wanted to.
Oscar smiled at him and made it feel like it was the right decision.
Lando waited for his family to react but they didn't. They saw, but they continued about their conversations. Hattie smiled at him, his mom nodded at him and that was it. It was like they knew or maybe they didn't care because Oscar was their son and their brother. All they wanted to see was his happiness, they didn't care who it was with as long as he was content.
It was unnerving.
No, not now.
Lando shut down whatever emotion that was spurring in his chest over his own family issues. He would not ruin this moment. Not for him. Not for Oscar.
It wasn't until 1:30 in the morning did they leave and go home. Lando was exhausted but that didn't mean he couldn't kiss his boyfriend when they stepped into the house.
"Tell me tomorrow we're sleeping in," Lando slouched on Oscar as they walked into the bedroom.
"If you want." Oscar kissed his cheek that rested his shoulder.
"I do. Just you and me. And maybe some ice cream."
Oscar giggled, "Today wasn't that bad was it?"
They both sat down on the bed together, Lando resting his head on Oscar's shoulder while the Australian rubbed the inside of Lando's wrist.
"No, it was great. I'm just exhausted, mate."
Oscar lifted his head up and kissed him gently on his lips one last time before getting up. Unsupported and too lazy to stay up Lando fell to the side onto the bed. "I'm going to take a shower."
Lando let out a groan. "Okay, I'll join you in a few."
Oscar left Lando alone in the bedroom, the latter struggling to gain the energy to get up. He pulled out his phone and saw that it was low on battery so he plugged it in. After doing so decided to check on Instagram when he was met with a post from a fan account.
He'd recognize the fan account before. They were a serial poster in both his and Oscar's posts. They were also one of the biggest gossips.
Landofan04 This is why I think Lando and Oscar are dating:
It was a long post with several paragraphs that went with a bunch of pictures that acted as evidence.
Lando's heart sank.
He looked at each picture and the explanation that went with them and they were speculative at best. Nothing concrete. They mentioned how Lando suddenly became a McLaren fan after being a fan for Ferrari. They reposted the infamous picture of Oscar's stomach at the airport that showed multiple hickeys. The connection to Lando was weak but it was also a supporting piece of evidence because there weren't many people at the Yacht party based on the pictures people posted. The poster explained how so many party goers were already in relationships.
Then came the video of Oscar looking Lando with what the poster described as a "look of yearning." It was footage from Ferrari's tiktok of Charles walking away with his dog, Leo. In the back ground Oscar was standing with Arthur, Oscar staring and smiling while looking in the direction of Lando who was barely at the edge of the screen. It was circumstantial but the following picture showed them together soon after. The picture came from a Mercedes photo dump.
The last set of photos were the damaging ones.
They were all about the McLaren hoodie that Oscar let Lando wear. The photos contained pictures of both Oscar and Lando wearing it but the attention was specifically drawn to the left string. It was frayed, like if someone chewed on it. It showed Oscar wearing it when he arrived at the grand prix in the morning and then Lando was wearing it. But then, it was the 3rd picture that came off of another fan's Instagram that sealed the deal. Oscar was outside, a couple blocks from Lando's penthouse, taking a picture with a fan. He had the hoodie on.
There were over 1000 likes and 130 comments. The comments were all over the place. Some were expressing happiness that Lando and Oscar may be dating. Some were confused. And some were then dragging Tate McRae into it because "obviously Lando cheated on Tate with Oscar."
Oscar walked into the room in just his underwear. He had a smile on his face, oblivious to what people were talking about online about him, but it slowly dropped when he looked at Lando.
"You alright, Lando?"
In that moment Lando couldn't no to Oscar. He clicked the off button on his phone, set it aside and got up.
"I'm fine. Come on."
Notes:
It is race weekend after such a long and painful break. Gonna try and get two chapters out for the weekend.
Mimi123123 on Chapter 1 Tue 29 Jul 2025 03:01AM UTC
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fireside23 on Chapter 1 Tue 29 Jul 2025 03:18AM UTC
Last Edited Tue 29 Jul 2025 03:19AM UTC
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Empty_bottle_of_nailpolish on Chapter 2 Thu 31 Jul 2025 03:07AM UTC
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Mimi123123 on Chapter 2 Thu 31 Jul 2025 04:49AM UTC
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AgirlthatusedAO3ashertherapy on Chapter 3 Sun 03 Aug 2025 11:01PM UTC
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Evelyn0308 on Chapter 5 Sat 09 Aug 2025 03:19AM UTC
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Landosblueberry4 on Chapter 7 Fri 15 Aug 2025 09:38AM UTC
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fireside23 on Chapter 7 Fri 15 Aug 2025 05:11PM UTC
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imactuallyizzy on Chapter 8 Mon 18 Aug 2025 12:23PM UTC
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Reebecool on Chapter 9 Thu 21 Aug 2025 10:09PM UTC
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Landosblueberry4 on Chapter 9 Fri 22 Aug 2025 09:37AM UTC
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morgan81 on Chapter 11 Mon 25 Aug 2025 02:30AM UTC
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