✨VANNY✨

Nearly a week had gone by since their reconciliation. Dread loomed over Y/n as she typed away hurriedly onto her computer, attempting to finish her essay before Lando came home from the store. Not often did he find himself shopping for simplistic items, but with a flight to catch in the next twenty-four hours Lando was in dire need of new toiletries. It was somewhat domestic their come and go, knowing she had yet to sleep in her own apartment since Australia. In fact, Y/n had spent all of an hour in her own home, retrieving her necessities. Had an outsider gained entrance into the British Driver’s apartment they would believe he was living with a girlfriend. Which in a way he was. 

Quietly the door shut behind Y/n, who sat still diligently working at the kitchen table, The noise was quickly followed by the thud of shoes being discarded by the door. A saddened Lando approached her, hoping the noise would draw Y/n’s eyes toward him. Alas, all he got was a reserved smile he knew she was aiming to keep at bay, only encouraging him more. Lando leaned over her chair, dragging a hand up Y/n’s back, pressing his lips to her cheek to further distract her. 

“Hi,” was the only response Lando was given. 

He sighed, “You’ve been working for two hours, Love.”

Fully unaware of her surroundings Y/n finally glanced at the clock on her laptop, now reading three-forty-two. She had gotten more done in far less time before, why could she not find the words to say? Why was she so stuck in her schoolwork this semester? Perhaps it was the looming internship starting at the end of an impromptu season break or maybe it was simply spending the last week finally feeling secure with Lando. 

“I’ll take a break after I finish this paragraph.” She found Lando sauntering off to the kitchen, rummaging through cabinets, then the pantry. Eventually, she ignored his antics, but only until he was placing a cup of coffee next to her. 

“Take all the time you need, just don’t burn yourself out.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

Twenty-twenty 

Y/n sat bored in her London flat, her racing setup was missing its most vital aspect. The pedals. Sure, she could borrow her brother’s, except he was living in Monaco. So she was left to wait for the Amazon package to arrive. In the meantime, her time trials were trash from using a controller and poor-quality screens. However, things seemed to be looking up, others who had gotten stuck in London were beginning to quickly become online friends as well as those she could reach out to. Max occasionally would compete against his younger sister, but often found it rather annoying that she used a controller rather than set up so he strayed from games with her. Fellow gamer, Max Fewtrell, who had been in the Formula categories for a few years now was one of those she leaned on the most. When her brother was busy with his own team she begged the Brit to play with her. Of course, with one boy comes the gaggle of friends, namely Lando Norris. Y/n had known the name since twenty-sixteen when the teen had joined Redline for a season or two. Now he was the new hotshot driver of Formula One, another kid waiting for his chance on the podium. So as was typical for a thursday night during a pandemic the trio found themselves fumbling through another round of COD, the fifteenth in two hours. 

“Fuck!” Shouted both men at the same time. 

Y/n groaned at the sight of both of them being killed, “it’s like playing with five year old’s.” 

“Not my fault Lando is shit!” Complained Max.

The woman scoffed, “HA, you’re both god awful.” Within seconds the trio was erupting with laughter, struggling to ground themselves, losing whatever sanity they had left. Lando’s tears could be heard over his headset, where Max and Y/n attempted to find a way to breathe again. For a moment it seemed too quiet, then the rustle of two grown boys shoving each other brought Y/n back to a sad reality. Even though she could play around on games with the dynamic duo, they lived together and were able to maintaina relationship that was nonexistent in her life at the moment. 

“Earth to Y/n.” Lando’s voice broke through her deep thoughts, “you disappeared.” 

“Just overthinking.” A visible shrug accompanied her response, not that anyone could see. 

Another voice jumped in, “about what?” 

Y/n smiled at the care both men had, “I just miss people.” 

“Come crash here for a few days.” It was not a request or question, it was an out right statement from Lando Norris. An excited Max confirmed the geniusness of the idea quicker than Red Bull pitstop, begging the youngest Verstappen to come recluse in their shared home. 

“Is that not illegal?”

Another curt chuckle left the two boys, “only if we get caught.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

The Mclaren driver had not been kidding when he mentioned breakfast, after stopping by her apartment to allow her to change into something more airy the two rode together in the Jolly to the nearest cafe. Since then they had gone on three other dates, including a joy-ride up the mountains, followed by a quick descent down after Y/n got a bit too handsy. Things were normal and for all intents and purposes, the two found themselves living together. A healthy co-existence had begun, Lando would do his thing whether it be gaming or phone calls with the team, and Y/n would study her butt off just to be able to curl up in bed with Lando at a decent hour. However all good things must come to an end, the bubble of reality has to pop at some point and the real world has to encompass both of them. So after another two hours of work, Y/n was lounging on the couch, stretching her legs across the boy’s lap, with Chinese takeaway resting on her own. Again she discovered the longing for continuity.

“How do you think you did on that essay?” Offered Lando. 

With a shrug, Y/n responded, “Okay, I guess. I’ve just been distracted so my work is slacking.” Nearly every conversation they held this week had been stripped of lies and fibs, showing only the truth and as much as they felt necessary. Her work status was no different. 

“By what?” Questioned the driver softly, running a single hand haphazardly up and down her leg. “Talk to me.”

“Working with the FIA, I mean they’re shoving me into a flagship position. Which makes me wonder if they hired me for my teaching abilities or because my last name shows support from at least part of the grid.” Has she mentioned the Tutoring opportunity to anybody but Lando? No. So in turn he heard the brunt force of her insecurities with taking up the job. Mentoring F3 and F2 drivers who were still making their way through High school and secondary school, even occasionally giving aid to those diamonds in the rough who were attending university. “I mean the poster boy’s sister just happens to be finishing her teaching degree when they launch the program so why not choose her.” 

“Even if it was for who you are, you’re going to prove to them they made the right decision.” Reassured Lando with a grin, “Plus now your Dad can’t ban you from the grid. Kill two birds with one stone, Baby. What else?”

He knew, of course he knew that her troubled mind didn’t stop there, “It’s nothing.” 

“Lies.” Joked the Brit, “If it’s because I used the last of the peanut butter this morning, I’m sorry.”

“I didn’t even notice, this might be the first thing I have eaten all day.” To that she got an eye-roll, especially considering how much coffee she had consumed in that amount of time. “It’s just I don’t know how to feel about you leaving tomorrow. Every time you get on a plane we stop being us, and go back to nothing.” 

Despite asking for the truth Lando had not expected her to open up about the topic of them, thinking she would simply move on like she always did when he left. A habit that broke his heart nearly every time she wouldn’t respond to his messages or forgo leaving snarky comments on his posts. Yet, here they were about to have an adult conversation about their situation. 

“What do you want to happen?” Proposed Lando aloud to the woman. 

Her eyes widened, “I don’t know what I want to happen, but I know what I don’t want to happen.” 

“Elaborate.” 

“I don’t want you to go to London for the next week only for us not to communicate.” Began Y/n hesitantly, “Another thing I don’t want is for you to get there and think about finding someone else to sleep with, call me possessive, but I just want to at least try to work toward something. 

“It is about time we at least became exclusive, huh?” Another one-liner from Lando finally got a chuckle from her, placing the food down on the side table to make more direct conversation. Now criss-cross facing almost parallel to the boy, “I’m not saying we put a label on anything, and not that we go public or something remotely close. Though, it would be nice to come home and know I’ve got you waiting on me.” 

“Plus I’ll be in London a few days after you, so we do a trial run for a few days see how it pans out?” Optimism began to peek through Y/n’s eyes, approaching beaming when Lando took her hand to drape her fully across his lap. They found their arms wrapping their way around each other, settling into their typical position on the couch. 

“Sounds good.” Replied Lando with a kiss to her temple, “Now pick a movie before I do, because I don’t want to hear you complain through the whole thing.” 

“I do no–” Landing her with a pointed glare, the boy shut her excuses down. Simply tossing the remote her way. It was more for his enjoyment that she pick than hers, knowing a familiar classic would lull her to sleep in his arms.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

Jet-Lag. Nearly ten years of traveling from country to country, chasing a dream alongside her brother, and Y/n had yet to master jet-lag. Sleep was never her strong suit so add in confusing time changes and constant work hours and it became her worst skill. A year ago she found sleeping on an airplane her saving grace, but in current Y/n’s life, the one where graduation was mere months away. Sleep was a luxury. For the entirety of her two hour plane trip she spent revising lesson plans, tweaking essays, and replying to countless emails. So it was no shock when she was asked where she wanted to go that night that all she could muster was a groan. 

“We don’t have to go out.” Offered Lando, flopping down beside her, “honestly would rather stay here anyways.” Not only had the couple survived a few days apart while still keeping in touch, but they had become inseparable. To the point where even Max Fewtrell sat at his desk rolling his eyes at the couple laying behind him.

A clear of his throat caused Lando to flip the bird in his direction, “don’t start going at it while I’m in here.” 

“Mate, we aren’t that desprate.” Argued the Mclaren driver, “We have self-control.” 

Y/n giggled scooching closer to where she was inches from being underneath Lando, “he might Max, but this all black thing is working wonders for him and he doesn’t even know.” It was the streamer’s turn to pop his middle finger into the air at the couple. 

“Shut up,” he spun his chair in time to see Lando apply a lingering kiss to her forehead, “I thought you two were clingy three years ago.” 

Locking eyes the men exchanged more words than they ever dared to say, “I’m just happy we aren’t acting foolish anymore. We came to our senses.” Lack of joke led to the two swinging their attention to the lone female in the room, deep breathing and closed eyes giving away the brunt force of her exhaustion. 

“You’re legally obligated to stay there now.” 

Lando blew out a rush of air, “aren’t you streaming in like an hour?” 

“She’s mostly out of frame,” Fewtrell scanned the view from his camera, “her face is anyhow.” 

With his best friend’s reassurance Lando joined his Y/n in catching up on much needed rest. Being sick and having to be gregarious drained him far too much, worrying him for when he came back to Max’s to find Y/n waiting for him. However, her presence only soothed his social battery allowing his expectations for their relationship to soar into oblivion.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

Baku was a stark contrast to the cool Monaco air, but there was no escaping the heat this year with school excuses. Y/n was coming in full force to begin teaching this weekend, having only a few racers in need of help due to the large number of them being out of school. Even so half of her normal kids were on spring break so they did not require a catch-up lesson for their tests on Friday. Nonetheless, Y/n found herself getting ready in a small hotel bathroom, with Lando talking her ear off in the shower. He was ecstatic to finally be spending a race weekend with Y/n, the only downside was not getting to parade around with her to show everyone what he had finally gotten the balls to achieve. Officially the youngest Verstappen belonged to him, and him only. Once they exited their now permanent traveling bubble they would have to each take a piece with them, not letting it shatter before the weekend was done and over with.

“Do you think lunch would look suspicious?” Asked a curious Lando from behind the curtain, “Because I think it makes sense that we would have lunch, maybe we’re just catching up after the break.” 

For about the fifth time that morning, she giggled, “If you can stay on your side of the table.”

“Please, I’ve been controlling myself around you since I was seventeen.”

“I wouldn’t call it control, Love.” Sassed Y/n cheekily, “Anyways, lunch is going to have to be late. I’ve been called into a PR meeting with Max, again.” 

“Bummer.”

Running her fingers through her hair for a final time, Y/n reached for her phone that lay on the counter, lifeless. “I’ll see you around the paddock?” 

All at once the water turned off, the shower curtain opening to reveal Lando in nothing but droplets of water. A pout adorned his face, “You’re leaving already?” A brief nod was all he was given, seeing as it was all Y/n could muster without indicating to the boy how much she wanted to just stay in the room for the rest of the day. “At least kiss me.” 

Y/n rolled her eyes, pressing one hand lightly against his bare chest before applying the chastest of kisses to his lips. “Don’t touch me, I’ll get wet.” 

“Love, I don’t have to touch you to do that.” 

“Ew.” She backed away immediately, leaving the bathroom to retrieve her bag. “Not like that, you perv.” Lando chuckled loudly from the doorway, admiring the outfit his girlfriend had chosen. One day she would be leaving in orange-colored outfits and not the subtle hints of Redbull that were sprinkled in her outfit. Her Nike’s with red accents, her dark blue crop top, her yellow earrings all alluded to to her brother’s race team. 

“You look gorgeous,” commented a timid Lando, he wasn’t used to complimenting her so openly even after their three weeks spent as a couple. 

Y/n approached him, cupping his cheek with her free hand, “Thank you love. So do you.” Her statement was aligned with a short wink, preceding her trek to the door. 

“Who’s the perv now?” Shouted the man before she could shut the door, earning a glare from the older woman in the hallway. A tight-lipped smile got her past the lady helping her reign in the laughter as she got onto the elevator. The man who stood waiting for the doors to close gave her an intrigued look, questioning why she seemed to be bursting at the seams. 

Max merely shook his head at his little sister, not questioning her happiness. He had noticed the change after the race in Australia, watching her smile a little wider, and walk a little lighter. Even enjoying the travel to London for school work, Y/n on a plane was always grumpy. Not this time around, not to London nor on the way to Baku. It took a weight off his shoulders to see her filled with joy, knowing they had a meeting with their father later today. Knowing what that meeting was about. So whatever or whoever had brought her mood up in the past few weeks didn’t matter to him, because in just a few meak hours her life would flip upside down.

So with that in mind he kept his mouth shut until lunch, praying he could rescue his sister from what was to come. 

The hustle and bustle of the paddock made Y/n anxious, as it always had. Ever since she had been left at the hotel when she was thirteen. Forgotten again by Jos, getting a rather stern lecture from Max about speaking up for herself. Said lecture ended with Y/n in tears wrapped in her brother’s arms. Today was no different, her senses on full alert as soon as she scanned her pass, searching the crowd for any other familiar face. However, all she saw were silly fans trying to get a picture of her brother, forcing him to slow down. Y/n had learned his signals long ago, the double click of a pen instructing her to keep moving to the hospitality center. He took care of her, and she was forever grateful for her older brother’s protection. 

Mick was the first to come to her side, bumping into her intentionally with a goofy grin on his face. He was the only other driver Max trusted to guard his little sister, loaning his trust at only eight years old after they tag-teamed a prank on the poor girl. Of course, Y/n felt guilty having all these busy drivers guiding her through the paddock, but when it was her brother and her best friend her mind didn’t feel as bad about it. They had watched her grow up, watched her become the woman she was today, letting them protect her was the least she could do.

“Any updates?” 

She giggled, “On?”

“Your ever so boring love life.” Mick smiled widely, “Ever since the season started you’ve been on a man cleanse.”

A sassy glare did little to put the boy in his place, “You crave gossip like a high school girl. Go ask Lewis, I’m sure he’s been linked to someone else at this point.” 

“He’s in the spotlight enough.” 

Y/n shoved Mick playfully, stopping at the entrance of the Redbull hospitality, “Go find someone else then.” All she received was him sticking his tongue out in the form of an answer. 

She entered the building, waving when needed, pairing the gesture with a sweet smile to sell the part of an innocent sister. Her phone buzzed as her hand gripped the door handle to Max’s driver's room, Lando had lasted all of ten minutes before reaching out to her.

Lunch came quickly, meaning Y/n was sitting in a Redbull meeting room awaiting the rest of the marketing team. Half of them were there, including Max. A screen flashed pictures taken throughout the day of both of the drivers, even a few of herself. When the door opened she found the photos were not the topic of discussion today. Charles Leclerc walking through the door meant someone had messed up, severely. On both teams. Ferrari sat on the opposite side of the table from the team of RedBull workers, creating a standoff. No one was going to speak first, not unless it won them a championship. 

That was until Jos Verstappen sauntered into the room, a steaming cup of coffee in hand. Slowly he sat in a chair next to Max’s PR manager, sliding a typed document towards the men. One gave a nod of approval while the other maintained a straight face, tightening his fists into balls in the process. With confirmation the paper was good enough he slid it towards his daughter, mentioning something about her current non-disclosure agreements expiring in the last week and needing it renewed. Signatures had become the new normal since Max begun his career in Formula One, so Y/n signed without hesitation, without reading it because it had been the same information since she was eighteen and could legally sign for herself. 

Jos cleared his throat when he received the paper back. “I’m glad you could all meet me here on such short notice,” Started the eldest Verstappen with the clear of his throat, “It has come to my attention that we could all do each other some good.” Y/n peeked over at her brother for a moment, noticing his eyes glued to a spot on the wall. He was avoiding eye contact with everyone, namely her. 

Charles was the first to speak up, “How do you mean?” 

With a sly smile, her father continued, “It seems you don’t have the best reputation when it comes to women Mr. Leclerc. How did that article phrase it?” He feigned thought for a second before continuing, “Oh yes,  ‘A walking red flag.’ A solid relationship would do you some good after the pres you’ve been getting lately, and your racing is not exactly helping that.” 

“What does my reputation have to do with you?” Charles asked out of genuine curiosity, “or Red Bull in general?”

Before anyone on the Ferrari team had a chance to respond, Jos was beginning again. “I’m so glad you asked that.” He expressed turning his attention to Y/n, “Sweetheart, would you say you’ve been seen positively in the press lately?”

“I don’t know, my feed isn’t filled with pointless gossip, Dad.” 

A solemn nod, “But mine is. You see she’s been seen leaving, what seems like every other apartment in Monaco and London, after assumed hookups.” Y/n’s cheeks went red from fear. The only apartment she had left in the last month had been her own or Lando’s. “You aren’t subtle, Y/n. I have eyes and ears everywhere, seeing you find different beds to spend the night in is not how I want my little girl perceived.”

“What are you getting at?” Questioned Y/n accusingly, “I don’t sleep around anymore if that’s what your asking. I think we could have had this conversation a bit more privately, Dad.” 

When she swung her head in Charles’ direction, Y/n could see the gears turning in his head, attempting to comprehend the situation. Then all at once the curiosity disappeared and disappointment seeped into his features. A look around the room, first at Max who was stilling distracting himself with the animal on the wall, then at his own manager as if to confirm, then to Y/n to see if her brain had figured out what was happening. Lastly, he met Jos’ gaze again, sighing at his realization. 

“You want us to stunt a relationship, don’t you?” A simple question, yet it took Y/n a good thirty seconds to come to terms with what came out of his mouth. Now she couldn’t see her face, but she suspected the pink tint had all but disappeared. In fact she would be surprised if any color remained. 

Jos smirked, “He has some smarts. Something like that would be—-”

“Dad you can’t just…. I’ve been…” Every emotion Y/n had ever felt was zooming around the room, swirling around the chair she sat lifeless in. “What would we do?”

Just then Charles’ PR team began to speak, “We have a detailed timeline of everything, that we would go over once you agree.”

“Once?” Y/n choked out, “We don’t have a choice?” She pleaded with her father, hoping he would see the fear in her eyes. 

“Oh Sweetheart, you’ve already committed to this idea.”

Brow raised, lips pursed in a way that told Y/n not to test her father, “What? Was that the contract?” Y/n inquired towards her father to see his grin only confirming her suspicions. Her NDA hadn’t been an NDA at all. She just signed away all privacy in her life. Y/n reached for a lifeline in her brother, searching his eyes only to find him still engrossed in the wall. Of course, he knew. He always knew what was happening in her life before she did.  “Excuse me for a minute.” With that, she rushed out of the conference room, stopping just a few feet outside to gather her thoughts. Tears streamed down her face, so much so she couldn’t see the screen of her phone, meaning she couldn’t decipher the name in her contacts. An orange heart her only indicator of who she was calling. Phone pressed to her ear Y/n crossed her fingers that Lando would answer, but alas when his voice began the familiar words she slammed her phone back into her pocket. 

A click from the door caused her to hide her face withing the palms of her hands, cowering from the man who raised her. Yet when warm arms engulfed her sadness it took all of a millisecend to realize Max had come to rescue her breakdown. Silent sobs shook her body violently, meshing with the tremors in her brother’s body. Both were scared to defy their father, but lately Max had been able to keep Jos off his and her back. However, stalling only got them so far as children, where were they expecting it to take them now?

“I tried to stop him Y/n, he was so insistent.” 

She pulled back to look Max in the eyes, leaving him no doubt of her confidence in him. “I believe you, thank you.” Then as if the dread of telling Lando hit her again Y/n sucked in a labored breath. He was sitting somewhere in the paddock happily under the impression he was going back to the hotel to hear about her amazing day. Phone on silent meant he wouldn’t notice her call until later, making her completely rethink admitting to him over the phone what had happened. Everything was burning. It crashed when she put pen to paper mere moments ago. Hours earlier Y/n had woken up in the warmth of her boyfriend’s arms, shoving him over to wake him up. Now she had to spread the fire to his bubble as well. So much for attempting to stretch their allusion into the world of F1. 

Max’s manager stepped out seconds later holding a ringing phone, the golden boy’s himself. A brief separation was formed in order for him to take it from the other man. “Thank you.” 

“Who is it?” Questioned Y/n with a sniffle. 

Index finger in the air, Max informed his sister to wait while he answered. “Hey Mate, what’s up?” A murmur came through the speakers, causing the oldest of the Verstappen children to move his eyes to stare directly at Y/n. “She’s right in front of me, but now isn’t the best–” Another intervention of sound. “Yes, it’s just a bad time.” Again the voice spoke, “alright give me a second.” Max took the phone from his ear pressing the mute button, “Why is Lando Norris so concerned about your wellbeing?”

“Because I accidentally called him.” Answered the girl truthfully. 

A glare from Max, returning to the phone call, “I’ll let her know you’re looking for her, but you might want to give her a minute.” With that the conversation ended, but the accusing stare from her brother didn’t. “Will you please be honest with me?”

“Depends?” 

“Why are you really upset about this? Not that being lied to about a contract isn’t enough reason, but there’s more, Y/n”

Another breath, “What do you want me to say? That I fell for a driver? One of your best friends and mine.”

“If that’s what happened then yes.” Responded Max a hint of betrayal lacing into his words, “I thought you trusted me?” 

Y/n took a few steps forward, “oh Max, I do but this was more about feeling unbothered.” She swallowed, mentally prepping herself for a large confession. “We agreed to give it time before telling anyone.” 

“I get that.” 

She took her brother’s hand in an attempt to make him see her point, “Please don’t say anything. I don’t know where we go from here, with Charles in the picture now, but not a word.” 

A sigh left Max’s lips, “Y/n.” For the first time since the news broke he met eyes identical to his, “Just at least tell me what’s actually happening with Lando.” 

“Fair enough.” A few short nods followed her statement, seemingly preparing herself. “We officially got together,” Y/n peaked at the date on her phone, “roughly three weeks ago. That’s not including the off and on friends with benefits thing we had.” It was the first Y/n had voiced her relationship to someone who was not Lando.

Max made a face at the mention of his baby sister’s sex life, “TMI!” 

A short smile formed but within seconds disappeared, “You asked.” 

The door to the conference room opened once more, Charles hesitantly stepped out. “They want you back in there, specifically Jos.” Max clapped the Ferarri driver on the back, slipping back into the room, “Coming?”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

In a world where performance mattered to succeed, whether it be the amount of studying you put into a test or the focus you put into a drive around a racetrack, or maybe the way you pleasure the youngest mechanic on your brother's formula one team. Y/n had worked her way through the bachelor's in the paddock since Max had become more and more successful over the last year and a half. After his world championship win in twenty-twenty-one she had decided to shift her university work to an online option to follow her brother’s success. He enjoyed the company and it was better for keeping an eye on the youngest of his adult sisters. Along with supporting Max, y/n continued her casual hookup routine, expanding it to the mechanics and young media interns throughout. To her it didn’t matter whether they were Redbull or not, she was not trying to get attached to someone or settle down anytime soon. For the sake of her family name she strayed from the Driver’s, including the Formula two boys who roamed around during the weekend, she made them off limits. 

“Where’d you go, Love?” Questioned the British driver, grinning at her zoned-out state. Her rule had broken itself in Austin last year after a P6 finish for the Mclaren driver. Since then their meetings became more frequent as they were constantly in the same place. Y/n had found herself having genuine conversations with Lando Norris after sex after their third hookup. Now with the numerous one-night-stands turning into an on-and-off friends-with-benefits situation, she had lost count of the amount of times she had broken her rule. 

“Just thinking, this is the first quiet I’ve had in weeks.” Y/n confessed, “I’m proud of Max, don’t get me wrong, but all the parties and ceremonies are so draining.” 

Lando reached out to pull the Dutchwoman closer to him, basking in the time he got with her, knowing she would never admit to wanting to come back to him every few weeks. “You have to start taking time for yourself, he’ll understand if you can’t go drink with some old rich men for the fourth time in a week.” 

“I am taking time for myself,” argued Y/n adorning a blush, “being here is helping my mental health tremendously.” 

After Christmas the events had started to fill up the Verstappen family calendar, their father mentioning how it was an honor to be invited as a whole group and it would look great for their appearance. It was currently January second, and the teams were about to jump back into things in full force within the week. When the realization hit Y/n she showed up at Lando’s door unannounced last night, finding he had no plans until that upcoming Tuesday. Then he would fly out to the Technology Center and would put in the preseason hours, leaving their situationship on a hiatus. Then and only then would Y/n be able to start her semester off right with her full attention on her studies until March. 

“In that case,” began the driver, shifting ever so slightly to the point where his head hovered above her own. “I’m going to take the liberty of improving your mood for the week.” He touched her lips with his own, taking a moment to relish the tenderness of the morning's first affection. A ring of light around his blackout curtains provided no help to their intimacy, though they didn’t mind the darkness blanketing them. It felt like the world would never bother them or care that they were two people from the same world. In the quiet of Lando’s room, they were simply two people in their twenties ignoring the consequences of their actions. Y/n was the first to let a sigh escape her mouth after Lando slid his fingers down her sides ever so lightly, tickling her more than it aroused her. 

“Don’t.” 

Lando merely chuckled at her tense up, moving his hand back up the path it had just traveled, however before he could dig into her sides his phone rang loudly throughout the space. If knowledge of their relationship had been announced to the world, Lando would have ignored the call, but he had no excuse for not picking up without exposing the truth. It was a good reminder for the pair that in reality this bubble of perfection that surrounded them from dusk to dawn was only an illusion. Despite this Y/n pouted as the Brit plucked his phone from the charger, swiping his thumb across the glass to answer the waiting person. Aggressively he shoved the device between his ear and shoulder, fishing his boxers off the floor as he began to respond. His working voice took over the groggy tone he had kept when she was around, displaying his calm around the woman. 

“PR.” Mouthed Lando as he shuffled out the door, to busy himself with God knows what for the next ten minutes. 

Y/n took that as her sign to go back to being Max Verstappen’s little sister, slipping in and out of guy's beds at a moment's notice. Her fling with Lando needed to stop at some time, knowing it was now or never to leave him until the start of the season. If she continued now there would only be heartbreak and longing until they were seeing each other every other week for a race. So in an attempt to compose her racing heart and burning desire after the morning's make-out, she grabbed her sweatpants off the floor. Scouring the room for some item to steal from the young man, knowing he would tease her about it come to Bahrain. His Quadrant t-shirt was the perfect option seeing as she brought her own brother’s jumper from his line of clothing as her only shirt. It was simple enough to sneak it out with her, so long as she got out before Lando attempted to get her back in bed.  

With her phone slipped into her pocket she moved into the main space of the apartment, hearing the professional conversation coming from the kitchen. Lando always sounded happy on the phone when his team called, but she knew he was bored with the conversation. Senses peaking as the noise of the driver was joined by the smell of fresh coffee, meaning Lando intended on at least sharing breakfast before they parted ways. He loathed the brew as much as he did losing for the past four years, so putting in the effort to make it showed his dedication to the cause. 

“Of course, I’ll post it after lunch…. yeah I’ll be there…. see you then… you too, bye.” At the end of the conversation, Lando turned to see Y/n fully dressed, forcing a frown onto his face. “And here I was hoping you would walk out naked.” 

“In your dreams, Norris.” Scoffed Y/n as she approached the cabinet where she kept a travel mug after arriving incredibly early a few months ago. A sound of disappointment left the boy’s mouth at the sight. 

His front side pressed into her back, gripping at her hips simultaneously, “Stay for an hour at least.” Pleaded Lando adding a nip to her neck to persuade her more. 

“I have to finalize some registration stuff for next semester, otherwise I would.” 

Another nip, this time at Y/n’s ear, “You can do that this afternoon, can’t you?” 

“I have lunch with my father and Max at noon,” she informed with a sigh, “If I don’t have all my ducks in a row before then I’ll be berated by said father.” 

At the mention of Jos, the Brit let go of the topic and the girl at once, groaning as he crossed the kitchen to grab a bottle of water from the fridge. “In that case, I’ll leave you to it.” His voice brimming with bitterness, ingesting reality as Y/n had done moments ago. 

Anyway, they tried to convince themselves of not being bothered by the constant on and off of their relationship, neither would ever find satisfaction in just leaving after deep conversations and stints of pleasure over hours of being together. Even Y/n tried to brush off his annoyance radiating around the room, but if she acknowledged it was revealing to him how connected she felt to the man in orange. Creamer dumped into her cup along with the steaming liquid Y/n began her trek out the door, catching Lando’s hand as she reached the door. Words failed to come out, what could she say? Nothing would improve their moods in the fleeting seconds they had left, so in a mutual agreement, they met halfway with the simplest of kisses, sealing their situationship like one would a time capsule, except they both knew it would be cracked back open in three months.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

Loud laughs could be heard as Y/n opened the door to the Restaurant, her half up with a tan bow pulling back pieces behind her head. It was paired with one of her favorite of her so-called “teacher outfits” a name she gave to clothes designated for her future job. This always appealed to her father who despite his best attempt always managed to show discontent with her path of study. She could have chosen to race or be an influencer like her siblings but instead shoved herself into such a meak job. Max was the first to spot her, waving a little too enthusiastically indicating he had expected her to be there early so he had come to rescue her. Only to be met with their father without the younger sister, typical hero Max antics to find himself in need of saving. Neither sibling expected her of all people to be late, but by the time she checked the clock on her phone Y/n realized just how late she had woken up. 

“Look who finally showed.” Chuckled her father in an attempted joke. 

“Sorry, the time got away from me, I’ve got a busy semester ahead of me.” 

Jos was the first to smile at her comment, “I’m glad you’re all set for the next few months, this season is going to be groundbreaking for your brother. It’s best if he has someone like you there to help him out.” On his worst days Y/n still loved her father, because he had raised her though he insisted on favoring Max over her or Victoria, but as a little girl, she could remember the genuine excitement she would feel bursting out of her at the thought of seeing her Dad on a karting weekend. She felt so loved sitting on his shoulders while he watched Max zip around the tracks. Still with her growing up came the truth of him pushing for his son to succeed first before even thinking about supporting his other kids. 

“I plan on maximizing my studying before Bahrain, so I can be there come lights out.” 

However, even with the blanket of her success, there was no way to aid her in the blow that was about to come her way, from not only her father but Max as well. The younger, more successful driver shoved his phone into the girl’s hand, displaying an article from a trashy gossip site. The kind Jos followed only to make sure his son was keeping his focus on the track and not causing unnecessary drama. 

It was pictures of her arriving at an apartment complex, luckily not showing more than the glass doors, and the picture below it this morning leaving the same apartment in the same clothing. “What is this?” Y/n questioned with a tremor in her heart. 

“You got caught again, Nugget.” Max was coming in with a save, adding her childhood nickname to add innocence to her situation. “I don’t care what you’re doing with who, but…” 

“I do, Max.” Interrupted Jos with urgency, “She is with you at every race weekend and event. Her being seen as some common whore does nothing but bring down your already poor reputation.” 

The two Verstappen men stared each other down, Max’s fists clenching as a protective instinct. A want to show his father just how aggressive and like to him he could be, but also hide his anger to protect himself from his father’s rage. “Just be more discreet, Y/n.” 

“You have one more strike before you’re living in Belgium permanently, no more races or fancy events.” Whispered Jos as he got closer to his daughter, “If you can’t handle life with the adults then you’ll go back home to live some immature college life like you want to. Understand?” 

At a moment's notice, Y/n was nodding, admitting to herself that her behavior needed to improve. Races were her calm as much as they were her storm. Her friends were there, and with Daniel returning she would be able to enjoy her year even more at certain races. She wouldn’t vow to celibacy just yet, but her antics would have to quit. No more mechanics on the weekend and club boys during the week. She would see how far her post-Lando situationship would get her in terms of happiness. Then she could rethink her past choices with a clear head, go hook up with someone without the lingering thought of the Mclaren driver over her head. Maybe she would even get lucky and find a man who was willing to love her constantly, someone who lived in Monaco year round, not traveling constantly as her posse did. Someone she could come home to after being in her brother’s shadow for a week.