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Getting 3rd place in Suzuka wasn't what Lewis wished for, especially during the most heated title fight he's ever experienced for himself. Nico won the race fair and square, and with four rounds to go, Lewis had no idea what to expect; would he be world champion for a fourth time or would it be a first for his childhood best friend?
Max joined them on the podium, talking to Nico as they drank their respective champagne bottles.
For some reason, Lewis didn't have one.
Not that he was upset, but cold liquid running down his throat sounded really good, especially after a race.
He tore his eyes away from them, looking at the crowd instead. Some people were cheering for him, others were not. He was used to it, because he knew he could never be everyone's favourite.
Just as he got lost in his thoughts, Lewis felt a familiar hand near his shoulder.
Nico had extended his arm, handing him his own champagne bottle. His eyes were kind, something he hadn't seen in a long, long time. He was sure he saw him already drink from it, so if he did as well, he would feel Nico's lips on his, even in this twisted way.
So he accepted it wordlessly.
When the bottle touched his lips, all he could do was let his eyes drop shut and resist the urge to groan. It was champagne, something he tasted every other weekend, but it was champagne that Nico's lips had touched. He could almost feel their sweet taste, or maybe he was just this desperate to feel them.
Once he pulled it away, he took a moment before opening his eyes. It wasn't enough; he needed more champagne, with or without Nico's lips on it.
An hour later, after he had bought the same brand of alcohol that was given to them on the podium, he sat on the grass behind the Mercedes hospitality, just drinking and looking at the sunset. He was still in his race suit, not bothering to take it off. It was a reminder of the only thing he and Nico still shared. Same team.
Nico was passing through the paddock, after many interviews which had exhausted him completely. As he walked among the teams' buildings and reached his own, he saw none other than his teammate sitting on the grass, legs sprawled across like he didn't have a care in the world. Which was entirely false.
He walked over to him, and Lewis looked up.
"What are you doing?"
Lewis took another sip and replied.
"Having some champagne. They didn't give me any."
"I did though, didn't you like it?" Nico asked as the other stood up.
Lewis closed his eyes again for a second. When he opened them again, he handed Nico the champagne. The moment he had seen him a mere 30 seconds ago, he knew he needed the taste of those lips again.
"Why?"
"Just have some. Please. My pleasure," he murmured.
Nico took it and after taking a few sips as well and removing it from his mouth, Lewis immediately took it back and drank until his lungs started to kill him. That ghost of a sweet taste wasn't there this time; he needed more. There was no hesitation, the look on Nico's face told him everything he needed to know.
Curling one of his hands around Nico's collar, he pressed their lips together in a kiss so deep he thought he could taste the champagne directly from the other's mouth.
Nico let out a small noise, definitely of relief, and put his hands on either side of Lewis' head, kissing him back with everything he had. Their eyes closed as their mouths moved in harmony, as if they were trained for each other and each other only.
When they pulled back, their foreheads rested together and as their eyes opened to look at each other, the hunger for each other that had been locked away for years was finally freed, their lips locked again.
One more hour later Lewis was sat on the grass again, this time with Nico, his Nico, by his side. The champagne bottle stood between them, almost empty unlike their hearts.
"You've no idea how long I wanted to do that. All of it. When you gave me your bottle back on the podium I supposed you had lost your mind. But then I thought that, as indirect as it was, I might never feel your lips on mine again. So I took the chance," Lewis said after a while of comfortable silence.
"I'm glad you did," Nico replied, lacing their fingers together.