火星

𝐣𝐣𝐤 𝐦𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭

𝐭𝐱𝐭 𝐦𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭

𝐳𝐛𝟏 𝐦𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭

𝐬𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐦𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭

𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐜 𝐦𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭

gives you rides home

the club is too dark and too loud. people surround you on all sides. their elbows poke into your ribs and their shoulders knock against your own. you half-stumble your way outside, blinking lazily in your tipsy stupor. moonlight illuminates your path from above. 

lewis finds you first. his braids have been pulled back away from his face into their usual bun, tucked into his cap. a t-shirt hangs loosely from your broad shoulders, complete with an old pair of baggy jeans that have lasted longer than some driver’s careers on the grid. 

you offer a bright, if not crooked smile at the sight. he’s quick to catch you in your drunken haze, wrapping an arm around your waist. your eyes flutter shut as you lean your weight against his chest. you let out a quiet sigh at the feeling of his heartbeat thumping against your ear. “lewis!” 

“hi, baby,” he chuckles. “did you have fun?” 

you hum. “was lots of fun.” you blink up at him lazily with a small smile. lewis raises a hand to gingerly brush a few stray strands of hair away from your face. you eagerly lean into his touch, almost chasing the warmth of his hands. “but i missed you.” 

lewis’s grin only grows. his arm snakes around your waist to rest against your lower back, coaxing you to stumble after him. the metal handle of his ferrari feels cool when he swings the door open. “come on, then. let’s go home.” 

helps you fix your clothes

your bathroom is not big enough for two people. it’s cramped and overflowing with a mix of earrings and towels and the counter doesn’t have enough room for you and lewis to get ready at the same time. your closet is barely better off. nearly your entire wardrobe is littered across your bed in outfits you can’t quite make sense of. 

you’re halfway between tugging off yet another top when lewis catches your wrist in his hand. you can’t help the gasp that escapes you at the feeling. his hands settle on your hips like they belong there, effectively trapping you in place. “relax,” he says quietly. “you’re panicking.” 

“lewis, i’m meeting your parents.” 

he simply hums. his hands run along your sides until they make their way up to your collar. his fingertips brush against the fabric gingerly. your breath hitches when he carefully tucks it into place. it is admittedly a nice change — the feeling of his hands tracing against your skin with so much care. 

“and they love you.” the words leave his lips like they make any sense at all. like it’s the most obvious thing in the world. lewis’s hands come to rest against your shoulders. his fingertips gently press at the pressure points near your neck, carefully soothing the tension from your muscle as much as he can. “because i love you.” 

you sigh quietly. you shift, taking lewis’s hand into your own. you trace your hands against the tattoos littering his skin. the ink stretches across the natural ebbs and flows of his anatomy. “thank you,” you murmur. “i love you, too.” 

makes coffee for you in the morning

you follow the smell of coffee wafting through your apartment like it’s a feast in a cartoon. sunlight streams in through your kitchen windows. beams of light dance across your countertops and stretch across the floor. hues of pink and orange still linger at the edge of the sky, slowly disappearing to give way to the bright blue you had grown so used to day after day. 

lewis smiles brightly when you catch his gaze. you rub a hand at the edge of your eyes, slowly blinking away the stubborn sleepiness of the night. he welcomes you closer with one arm wrapping around your side, almost unconsciously tugging you until you’re half-leaning against his chest. 

“morning, love,” he says, quiet and sweet. lewis’s lips ghost against your hairline when he leans in to press a chaste kiss against your forehead. you hum in response. “too early?” he chuckles. 

“‘m still asleep,” you mumble. your voice is hoarse and deep. the syllables scratch against the dryness of your throat. you grimace at the feeling, tucking yourself even closer to lewis as if to hide from the feeling. “the sun hasn’t even risen yet.”

“it has,” lewis replies. a smile tugs at the corner of his lips. his fingertips slip beneath the hem of your t-shirt, tapping rhythmically against your hipbone. you sigh softly at the feeling. you train your gaze on the floor in a poor attempt to blink yourself awake. “come on. i made you coffee.”

notes: please leave feedback if you enjoyed!! f1 reqs are open and greatly appreciated <3 not super happy with this tbh but i needed to finish this it's been collecting dust in my drafts for far too long, lewis means so much to me guys i love him sm, summer break needs to end soon i am starving for new races

he smiles softly. you twist just enough to crane your head to the side, finally meeting kimi’s gaze once again. his eyes shine the color of caramel in the sunlight. stray curls frame his sunkissed skin. he looks happier on the beach. more relaxed. it almost brings you back to when you first met him. 

you were just kids, then, wearing opposite-colored race suits but sharing the same dream. his hair was longer and straighter. your presence was smaller and quieter. but your on-track battles were just as fiery. 

and now, you found yourself relaxing in his arms all the same. 

you shuffle to the side of the chair, curling yourself into the edge of the chair. kimi follows your lead, sliding into place beside you. one arm finds the natural curve of your waist whilst he tucks his free hand beneath your head. his fingertips slip beneath the band of your swimsuit like second nature, gingerly trailing against your hipbone. 

“careful,” you murmur. you catch his wrist in your hand but don’t tug him away entirely. kimi meets your gaze with a small smirk. you lean into his touch when he leans in, peppering a few kisses against the column of your throat. your hand finds the back of his neck, gently carding into the curls at the nape of his neck. 

“kimi,” you whisper. he hums against your skin like a warning. like a promise. he pulls away just enough to meet your gaze through half-lidded eyes. “they’re watching us, you know. we’re not in monaco anymore.” 

“good,” kimi murmurs. he leans in, pressing another chaste kiss against your forehead. you lean into his touch, eagerly chasing the warmth from his calloused hands. his thumb swipes against your cheekbone. you sigh softly. “let them.” 

notes: please leave feedback if you enjoyed!! f1 reqs are open and always appreciated <3 thank you so much for the req!! i had this idea forever ago i'm so glad you sent this message, so sorry it's short and so bad i have no motivation guys ugh

“i wasn’t studying,” you protest weakly. your gaze falls away, almost ashamed. you try to ignore how he leans in even closer. the thought is enough to send butterflies throughout your stomach. “i was just… finishing an essay.” 

kimi murmurs your name through a soft sigh. his hand moves to instead cup your cheek, gently coaxing you to raise your head once again. you oblige just enough to meet his gaze. kimi smiles softly. the corners of his lips curl upwards into a small grin. his face is flushed, likely from the hours you had spent in the sun giving interviews and taking photos with fans at the track. 

“you’re impossible,” he whispers, almost fondly. you offer a sheepish grin in return, sparing a glance back at your still half-finished essay. whatever ideas and half finished sentences had been plaguing your mind had now almost entirely disappeared. instead, you busy yourself with leaning into the feeling of kimi’s touch. 

his hand gingerly strokes against your cheekbone, tracing over the expanse of your skin. you can’t help the quiet sigh that escapes your lips. admittedly, your head had begun to ache about an hour ago. the sharp pounding against your temple was a far less appreciated distraction from your work. 

“when is the assignment due?” kimi asks. 

“few days,” you mumble. “wanted to finish it before we leave so i don’t have to worry about it on the plane.” 

kimi frowns. his hand shifts again, now moving to brush a few stray hairs away from your face. his nails gently massage at your scalp. the feeling sends shivers racing down your spine. 

“come take a break, at least,” he finally says. “let me have you for a little while.” 

his offer makes you pause. you glance back at your still-open computer. the screen has gone dark from inactivity, now filtering through the screensaver. your shoulders had begun to ache at some point and your back was beginning to cry out from the uncomfortable hunched position you had undertaken without noticing. kimi notices, sealing the deal with a small kiss pressed against your forehead. 

you nod, finally giving in to your body’s need for a break. kimi takes the opportunity to close your computer as you stand. his arm finds the small of your back as he guides you towards the single bed in the middle of the room. it was a bit of a tight fit, but you could never complain if it meant curling up with kimi. 

you shuffle beneath the sheets almost in a daze. kimi is quick to follow. he tugs his team kit off for the first time since the morning, leaving him in nothing more than an old pair of your sweatpants. he reaches over, tucking the blanket around your body and tugging you to lay against his chest. 

you sigh contently, drumming your fingertips against kimi’s bare chest. his skin is warm beneath you. his heart beats steadily beneath your ear. you wonder if your breathing is synced along to its rhythm. 

“the press asked about you again,” kimi murmurs, tentatively breaking the silence. his hand wanders beneath your shirt to rest against your back. you had grown accustomed to his constant need for physical contact but the feeling sends shivers racing down your spine nonetheless. 

“yeah?” you blink up at him lazily. your hand finds the thin string of his necklace, absentmindedly twisting it between your fingers. “anything new?” 

kimi shakes his head. “just more rumors about our rivalry.” you can feel his hand move against your back, beginning to trace miscellaneous shapes against your skin. “someone asked if you resent that i’m leading the championship right now.” 

you can’t help but laugh, then. you glance up at him, failing to bite back an amused smile. “resent?” you repeat. “that’s a strong word.” 

kimi chuckles. “i know. i was surprised, too.” 

“you know it’s all just gossip, right? i won’t let anything happen to us.” 

for a moment, kimi stays silent. he looks down at you, lips curling into a soft, fond smile. your eyes flutter shut on instinct when he leans in, gently pressing his lips against your own. your mouths move in a familiar dance. you each take and give until your lungs are burning for air. kimi’s hand comes up to cup your jaw. he tilts your head to the side as his tongue glides against your bottom lip. you gasp into his mouth and he takes the opportunity to pull you even closer. 

you’re almost panting when you finally break the kiss. kimi’s hands roam, coaxing you until he’s hovering over your body, pinning you against the mattress. your breath hitches when his lips ghost against your neck. 

“i love you,” he murmurs. the words vibrate against your skin. your hands tangle into the curls at the nape of his neck, constantly chasing after his touch. you’re barely able to repeat the phrase yourself before kimi is stealing your breath away, silencing all of your worries for the rest of the night. 

notes: please leave feedback if you enjoyed!! f1 reqs are open and always appreciated <3 thank you so much for the req!! i hope you enjoy :)) and thank you for the kind words, had to throw in a mention of his biceps #needthat

slowly, you raise your hand to cup his face. your touch is soft. you gingerly trace your fingertips against his cheekbone, trailing against his flushed skin. “oscar,” you repeat, a little louder now. you coax his head upwards just enough to encourage his gaze to meet your own. 

his gaze carries a deep exhaustion that makes your own chest hurt. your hand falls from his cheek to instead rest against the column of his neck, settling just beneath his jaw. oscar takes a shaky breath, finally letting some of the tension escape. relief immediately floods through him at the little moment of relaxation. 

you carefully tread your fingers into the hair at the nape of oscar’s neck, gently scratching at his scalp. you tangle your hand into the overgrown strands, twisting them into little loops around your fingers. oscar shuffles ever so closer, letting his head fall against your shoulder. his hands come to rest against your hips, almost as if he’s using your body to keep himself steady. 

“let’s go sit down,” you murmur. you take a step back, coaxing oscar to follow your lead as you guide him back towards the couch. oscar follows you like a man blind. he blinks lazily, watching as you sit on the edge. “come here, osc.” 

for once, oscar moves without thinking. he half-stumbles onto the couch, stretching his body across the cushions. he can feel its metal framing through the cushions. they’ve been worn down through years of use as evidenced by the patches where the color has worn off. it’s not the most comfortable piece of furniture, but it’s enough for now. 

stray strands of oscar’s hair tickle against your skin when he lays his head in your lap. he curls his right hand against his chest and raises his left to rest against your thigh. a quiet sigh escapes him. you shiver at the feeling of his breath ghosting against your skin. 

“you did all you could today,” you say. oscar’s eyes flutter shut as you slowly begin to rake your fingers through his hair. your nails gingerly scratch against his scalp. the feeling sends shivers racing down his spine. 

“doesn’t feel like it,” oscar says quietly. his voice is gruff. it comes out as little more than a whisper, almost as if he’s ashamed. he opens his eyes once again, staring ahead at the blank wall. he lets his eyes go blurry. the off-white paint blurs until the world becomes little more than unfocused shapes. “i was so close.” 

“i know.” oscar lets his eyes flutter shut, allowing darkness to overtake his world. he turns just enough to hide his face against your thigh. his grip on your leg tightens ever so slightly. his fingertips trace miscellaneous shapes against your skin. “you gave it everything today. and i’m so proud of you. no matter what.” 

your lips brush against his temple, soft and sweet and more careful than he deserves. your movements never cease, still gently massaging the tension away from his body. the pounding in his head disappears into little more than an ache in his temples. slowly, his breath evens out. 

and for once, oscar lets himself forget. 

notes: please leave feedback if you enjoyed!! f1 reqs are open and greatly appreciated <3 not super happy with this tbh (?) very self indulgent bc yesterday's race was a journey oh man, mclaren bring back the white race suits pls he looks so fine in white (my wife)

using his hand to block the counter when you bend down

you don’t notice it. neither does oscar — lando does. 

the mclaren hospitality unit has lost much of its liveliness, settling into a somewhat peaceful post-race haze. debriefs and press duties and meetings had stretched well into the night. the sun has fully dipped below the horizon, leaving only a few stars sparkling in the dark skies above. 

you’re only semi-conscious of lando’s voice from across the table. he’s talking about an overtake on the back straight, complete with big hand gestures and a larger-than-life animation to his movements. oscar nods along beside you, only occasionally adding his own commentary when lando pauses for breath. 

at some point you lean down, fingertips tugging at the laces of your shoes. your body contorts as you fold yourself in half in an attempt to readjust their feeling around your feet. lando’s story abruptly stops. the sentence instead collapses into a soft chuckle. 

you sit up, only slightly confused by the sudden change. lando grins fondly but you don’t miss the teasing glint in his eyes. “mate,” he says, pointing across the table at oscar. “you don’t even realize you’re doing it, do you?” 

“doing what?” 

“you’re blocking the table’s edge with your hand,” lando explains. “you didn’t even break eye-contact when you moved.” 

oscar turns, glancing at his hand as if it doesn’t belong to him. his fingers are curled around the table, effectively blocking the corner’s sharp edges. his arm is outstretched towards your side.

you smile softly. oscar simply shrugs, though you don’t miss his bashful smile. “didn’t want you to hit your head,” he explains. “just in case.” 

you lean in, pressing a chaste kiss against his cheek. “thank you, osc.” you pretend not to notice the way the tips of his ears burn a deep shade of red or how he turns away from you, biting back a larger grin. 

“simp,” lando mutters. 

including you in conversations — even when they’re unrelated to you

sponsor events were always a drag. there were only so many pointless introductions you could exchange and glasses of overly expensive champagne you could drown your boredom in before you began to feel unsteady on your feet, just aching to go home. 

the ballroom is too cold and too humid for your liking. shivers raise along your bare skin as you offer yet another tight-lipped smile to a businessman you don’t recognize. you’ve been standing for too long, bouncing around between making idle small talk when oscar is pulled away and zoning out in the corner. 

the curtains are too long, dragging against the floor. the chandelier hasn’t been dusted in months. the waiters wander around you in circles, as if practicing a choreographed dance all of their own. you anxiously drum your fingers against your glass of champagne, willing the time to pass just a little bit faster. 

you almost startle when oscar returns to your side, sliding an arm around your waist like it’s second nature. an older man in a tailored suit follows him, effectively dragging your attention away from the furniture and misplaced decor. 

“this is my partner,” oscar introduces, gesturing to you briefly. you repeat the same pleasantries you have all night — shake his hand firmly, but not too tight, muster up the biggest smile you can, nod along as miscellaneous points, awkwardly chuckle when oscar does. 

you let their words flow in and out of your ears, little more than background noise. that is until oscar’s grip around your waist tightens ever so slightly, dragging you back into reality just quickly enough for you to register his words. “actually, my partner is interested in that as well,” oscar says with a soft smile. “right, babe?” 

making space for you in his life

“do you want anything from the store?” 

oscar glances up at you from his phone, eyebrows furrowing as he thinks the question over. he shakes his head after a moment. he shuts his phone off with one click before setting it down on the table in front of him. “no, i don’t think so. what are you planning to get?”

“i ran out of shampoo,” you shrug. “and i need some other stuff, too.” 

oscar blinks at you. “check under the cabinet, on the right side. i got another bottle for you a while back.” 

his words make you stop in your tracks entirely. you pause, turning to face him with wide eyes. he looks younger in the mornings — more human. the wear of the day hasn’t yet taken its toll. his movements are slightly more sluggish than usual and his voice rasps at the ends. a t-shirt hangs off his broad shoulders. an old pair of sweatpants drag along the floor behind each step. 

it’s domestic. almost sickeningly so. you can feel butterflies swarm throughout your stomach. your heart beats wildly in your chest. heat flushes your face. you can’t help the way your lips curl into an almost unconscious smile, overwhelmed by the casual affection underlying his actions.

“really?” 

oscar simply shrugs. he leans in to steal a kiss like it’s the easiest thing in the world. his lips are soft when they meet your own. you find yourself chasing the feeling, even unconsciously. “didn’t want you to run out.” 

notes: please leave feedback if you enjoyed!! f1 reqs are open and greatly appreciated <3 if this is incoherent it's bc i only got four hours of sleep to watch spa live (congrats kimi!!) i'm obsessed with this picture he's so cute, inspo from this fic by @sof1rs :)

you’re standing beside him, curling and uncurling your hands around the oversized champagne bottle. your hair is flatter than usual, disheveled from the balaclava you wore beneath your crash helmet. the sun slowly begins to dip below northamptonshire’s horizon. it coats the world in gold. the sky above mixes into hues of pink and purple. your eyes shine, features highlighted by the golden light filtering across the world. 

but charles isn’t looking at that. his gaze lingers on the tightness in your jaw. his eyes scan your movements. they’re too sharp. too slow. half a second behind as if your mind is somewhere else, drifting away from your responsibilities and into a quieter, safer place in your own head. 

the ceremony waits for no one. charles goes through the motions without complaint: he smiles for the photographs, generously douses you and lewis in champagne, chuckles along to his engineer’s jokes when they wander back to the ferrari garage. 

he doesn’t think about the feeling of your arm wrapped around his waist, curled around his side like you’re trying to keep him close. he doesn’t think about the half-smile you flash him when you playfully tip your bottle of champagne over his head. he doesn’t think about the butterflies swarming in his stomach when you meet his gaze for just a few moments.

IT’S WELL INTO THE NIGHT BY THE TIME CHARLES HAS THE TIME TO GO SEARCHING FOR YOU.

he had been caught between team debriefs and post-race interviews and interactions with the many fans who eagerly awaited a moment to ask for a photo or signature from a famed driver. 

the redbull garage has, thankfully, mostly emptied out. the cars are carefully disassembled and wrapped, ready to be shipped off for the next race. only a few stray mechanics and other staff linger. they’re preoccupied with gathering the last of the team’s equipment before the weekend officially ends. charles wanders behind them, quietly slipping into the hospitality unit with only one goal in mind. 

making his way through the building is easy enough — charles turns right, then left, then wanders down a hallway until he reaches a small, white door complete with a plaque of your name. a dim light is visible through the crack in the bottom of the door. hesitantly, charles raises a hand to knock. 

after a few moments, the door slowly cracks open. he takes a half-step backwards when you lean out from behind the wood. “charles?” 

“hi,” he says quietly. his mind races a million miles a minute, suddenly out of excuses for why he was knocking on your door so late into the evening. “i- uh, you seemed… stressed earlier. i wanted to make sure you were alright.” 

“oh.” you slowly open the door more, exposing more of the room behind you. a weighted blanket is draped across the small couch along the wall, folded over like you had kicked it off just long enough to answer the door. the light comes from a small lamp in the corner. it’s golden light crawls up the walls, barely bright enough to illuminate the room. 

“do you want to come in?” charles’s jaw nearly drops at the words. he blinks at you, surprised. you shift awkwardly. “i mean, only if you want to. thanks for coming by, anyways.” 

charles nods. he smiles softly. “yeah, of course.” 

the couch is softer than charles was expecting. the fabric is soft to the touch and the cushions give comfortably beneath his weight. you curl up beside him, leaning your head against his shoulder. charles shifts according to your movements. he balances comfortably on the line between pushing too far and pulling you away from your comfort zone. 

silence envelops the room. it’s quiet, but comfortable. charles tugs the blanket so it rests over both of you. you pull your knees to your chest before shuffling closer to him, closing the distance ever so slightly. butterflies swarm throughout his stomach at the thought. 

“thank you for coming,” you say, finally breaking the quiet. “the podium was louder than i was expecting. i just got a little overwhelmed.” 

“you did good today,” he murmurs quietly. charles’s touch is feather-light. he reaches up, gingerly brushing a stray strand of hair away from your face. your eyes flutter shut in response. you lean into his touch ever so slightly. a flush spreads across charles’s cheeks, tinting the skin a soft shade of pink. for once, he’s grateful for the darkness. “next week will be better.” 

you raise your head just enough to glance up at charles. he meets your gaze when you do. you focus on the streaks of hazel that break through the light green, almost like marbles. “will you stay?”

charles brushes a hand through your hair. he leans down, gingerly pressing a kiss to the crown of your head. “i’ll stay as long as you need.”

notes: please leave feedback if you enjoyed!! f1 reqs are open and greatly appreciated <3 thank you for the req!! i hope you enjoy :) sorry it's not exactly after the race that's my bad, this gets really self indulgent near the end lol oops, a charles fic for my update this week and as a belated silverstone celebration (sorry kimi)

“bad,” you whisper. you curl into yourself even further, tightening your grip on the several blankets draped across your aching body. kimi is quick to help, tucking the blanket around your back where you can’t reach. “head hurts. ‘m gonna throw up.” 

“because you’re taking meds on an empty stomach. have you eaten anything today?” 

you make a noncommittal sound, hiding your face into the crook of your elbow. kimi simply sighs, gingerly reaching up to brush a few stray strands of hair away from your face. you can’t help but chase after his touch. kimi lets himself linger, cupping your cheek in his hand. his thumb strokes against the edge of your cheekbone. 

kimi trails his fingers along your jawline, coaxing you to look up at him once again. outside, sunlight fights to break through the heavy cloud cover. the world is almost grey with the promise of rain. the noise of the city echoes through your otherwise silent apartment. 

“can you sit up?” 

the idea alone makes your entire body protest. your limbs are heavy, as if being weighed down by cinderblocks. the idea of food makes your stomach churn. everything is too bright, or too loud, or too much for you to handle. 

still, you force yourself to try. 

kimi’s hands are on you as soon as you move. he places one hand on your shoulder whilst the other goes to your side. you can feel the heat of his skin through the thin fabric of your t-shirt. your back is sticky with sweat but shivers still race down your spine. 

you lean your head against the back of the couch, all but slumping your body against the cushions. kimi offers you a soft smile. “here,” he says. he pulls your coffee table closer, exposing a steaming bowl of soup from behind him. “my mom said i should make some penicillin soup for you.” 

for a moment, you blink at him, surprised. for the first time that day, the heat flooding your face isn’t from your fever. kimi’s smile is almost bashful. his cheeks are flushed a soft shade of pink the way they almost always seem to be when you’re around. butterflies swarm throughout your stomach at the thought. 

“you made this?” you ask. your hand curls around the metal spoon, stirring the soup before you carefully raise it to your lips. it’s warm — just warm enough to settle the worst of your chills. it’s salty and savory, tasting of chicken stock and filled with small noodles. 

beside you, kimi watches expectantly. “yeah.” he raises a hand to awkwardly scratch at the back of his neck. a nervous habit he had never been able to break. “i just used whatever was in your fridge. i hope you don’t mind.” 

“you broke into my house to make me soup?” 

kimi laughs, then — a real, genuine laugh. his smile curls upwards and the corners of his eyes crinkle. the sound lifts a weight off your chest. you’d kiss him if you weren’t worried about being contagious. 

“i might’ve stolen some scallions from your neighbors porch, too. i can’t tell where the divide is between your apartments.” 

a laugh bubbles out of your chest before you can stop yourself. you have to hold onto the sides of the bowl to steady it as you shake your head, smiling brightly. kimi’s smile refuses to falter when he meets your gaze. the flush on his cheeks has deepened ever so slightly. 

“a robber and a thief,” you chuckle, taking another sip from the bowl. kimi hums as he settles into place beside you on the couch. he all but tucks himself into your side, closing the distance between you as much as possible. you’re quick to accommodate him. you raise an arm so he can lean his head against your shoulder. his curls tickle against your neck but you make no effort to move him off. “at least you make good soup.” 

“for you?” kimi turns just enough to glance up at you. he smiles fondly, now. his eyes almost sparkle in the sunlight. “always.” 

notes: please leave feedback if you enjoyed!! f1 reqs are open and always appreciated <3 thank you so much for the req!! i hope you enjoy :) wasn't really sure how to work in the driver aspect unfortunately but i hope that's okay, not super happy with this tbh but i feel like garbage so i fear this is the best it's gonna get, he's so fine when he's slightly confused

oscar jumps when the door clicks from across the room. he fumbles, setting his phone down on the off-white duvet. he swings his legs over the end of the bed just in time to hear the hotel’s heavy door close behind you. you wince when it slams, sparing a glance at the nearby clock as you wander deeper into the room. 

you’re holding onto a brown paper bag with your fingers because your hands are full with two drinks. soda, oscar presumes. you flash him a grateful smile when he reaches out to take the food from your hands, allowing you to set everything else down on the desk. 

“so, i got you two burgers because i know how you get after races. and before you tell me your trainer will scold you, you’ve had a long day. i think you deserve a little extra cheese for your effort.” 

oscar can’t help but chuckle. it feels light as it leaves his chest. the knot is his stomach loosens, even if only a little. you playfully knock your shoulder into his own as you drag a chair up to sit beside him. staying in a single room together had its perks, but the limited space was not one of them. 

“thank you,” oscar says. you shake your head, opening the bag and pushing two paper-wrapped burgers towards him. they’re still warm to the touch. he waits for you to gather your own food before slowly beginning to peel the coating away. 

“my friend showed me this place.” 

right. 

you say it offhandedly, almost like it’s nothing. and to you, it is. oscar stumbles for just a second, eyebrows furrowing before he can stop it. his smile falters in the blink of an eye. still, he pulls himself together enough to flash you a crooked grin. “must be good, then.” 

you blink at him, almost surprised. oscar can feel the way your gaze lingers on him. your eyes scan his features as if to analyze his expression. you had always been good at that; you saw through the polite exterior and broke down his walls with ease. it was why he fell for you, oscar thinks. why he stayed, even when everything was hard and you were forced to hide away from the public’s prying eyes. 

“hey,” you say, voice softer now. you reach across the table to rest your hand against oscar’s. your touch is warm against his own. gingerly, you trace your fingertips against his palm. your hand dances across a lifetime of callouses and experience, massaging the tendons near his thumb where his hands get sore from repeated practice starts. 

oscar turns to look at you, then. your eyes sparkle in the sunlight. he takes a shaky breath when you intertwine your hands together, letting the air fill his lungs for what feels like the first time that day. “you know you can talk to me, right?” you murmur. “you can tell me anything.” 

“i know.” 

oscar lets his gaze drift, now falling to where your hands are intertwined. “i just… wish we could go out together sometimes, you know?” he swallows, leaving the rest of the sentence unsaid. i wish i could hold you like this in public. 

you stay silent. the quiet stretches, long but not uncomfortable. oscar shakes his head. his hair falls into his eyes. you gingerly reach over, bushing the stray strands away from his face before he gets the chance. 

“i love you.” oscar turns to look at you once again. he offers your hand a gentle squeeze as he pushes his chair to be ever closer to yours. you return the gesture, limiting the distance between you as much as you can. “so much that it scares me sometimes. and sometimes i wonder if one day, you’ll wake up and decide you don’t want to hide anymore.” 

oscar takes a shaky breath. his words are careful, if not a little unsteady. 

“and i get scared that i’ll never be able to stop hiding.” 

“oscar.” you raise your free hand to cup his face, coaxing him to meet your gaze once again. your touch is gentle as you run your thumb against his skin. your fingertips trace against his freckles, taking extra care to linger on the largest ones. “i love you. i wake up every morning and i choose you, because you peel potatoes for me and you make soup when i’m sick and you make me happy.” 

oscar’s breath hitches. you lean in slowly, closing the distance with each passing moment. oscar’s eyes flutter shut just before your lips meet his, sealing your words with a sweet kiss. 

your mouths move in tandem, dancing to a rhythm you had learned through several years of knowing him and loving him through it all. he raises his own free hand to tangle into the fabric of your shirt, unwilling to let you pull away even if for only a second. 

he leans his forehead against your own when you pull away. you stay like that for a few more moments, breathing in the same rhythm, letting the sound of your hearts beating drown out the noise from the outside world. 

your food is cold by the time you finally get around to eating it. you steal a handful of the fries you had gotten for oscar despite having an order of your own. the outside world and it’s noise is still there. the pressure never ceases. there will always be another race, another post, another photo. 

but for now, in the golden light of the setting sun, oscar decides: this is enough. 

notes: please leave feedback if you enjoyed!! f1 reqs are open and greatly appreciated <3 thank you for the request! i hope you enjoy :) accidentally added a bunch of allusions to homophobia bc i'm projecting kinda whoops, oscar looks so fine in that one plane pic does he know i'm insane

kimi doesn’t say much. instead, he lets his hand fall to instead rest gingerly against your neck. he shuffles once again, this time letting his lips brush against your jaw. then your cheek. the bridge of your nose. your forehead. 

his touch is feather-light against your skin. kimi paints kisses across your features like you’re his personal canvas. you can’t help the chuckle that escapes you when he dips his head down to press a fleeting kiss against your collarbone. his curls tickle against your exposed skin, forcing you to flinch away from him even in your sleepy state. 

slowly, you blink your eyes open, finally shrugging off the last remains of sleep. kimi is half-laying on top of you, hovering so his face is just above yours. his lips are twisted into a fond smile. stray curls frame his features. he blinks at you slowly, much like a cat would. “morning,” he whispers. 

you let out a hum in return, twisting to stretch out your sore limbs. kimi chuckles as he resettles beside you, letting his hand fall against your cheek. he strokes his thumb against your skin, dancing across faded acne scars and the short hairs that have just begun to poke through. 

“your stubble is growing out,” he murmurs quietly. 

“is it?” he hums. kimi drags his fingers across your skin, almost outlining the areas where the hair has begun to grow. you drag your own hand against your cheek to get a rough estimate of how long it’s gotten in the week-long break between races. “i should shave.” 

kimi shifts, then, moving to sit up beside you. you watch through tired eyes as he finally pushes the blankets aside and slips out of bed. your gaze follows the natural flex of his back when he wanders around until he reaches your side.

“come on,” he says, taking your hand into his own. you follow his lead as he coaxes you up, all but dragging you away from the blankets in the process. “it’s time to get up. i’ll help you.” 

you’re half stifling a yawn when kimi turns on the bathroom light, flooding the small room almost immediately. you grimace, leaning your head against his shoulder as if to seek out more darkness. kimi simply laughs as he busies himself with gathering your razor and some shaving cream. 

you only move when kimi turns, using a hand to tilt your face upwards. you flinch when he gently begins to massage the cream against your skin. it sends shivers racing down your spine, not helped by your bare skin already being exposed. “‘s cold.” 

“i know. but you won’t get razor burn this way,” kimi responds. “now, don’t move.” 

each touch is gentle — almost cautious. kimi glides the razor against your skin with the same precision he drives with. he moves slowly, working in small chunks and being extra cautious around your lips and the curve of your jaw. 

you almost get lost in the feeling. you focus on the man before you, watching him through tired eyes. his eyebrows are furrowed and his lips have pulled into a small frown. it’s a familiar sight, though one you’re only used to seeing when you interrupt sessions on the simulator to bring him dinner or just after he gets out of the car when half of his thoughts are still on the track. it almost sends butterflies throughout your stomach. warmth fills your chest. 

“there,” kimi murmurs as he sets the razor down. he uses a towel to wipe away the last remnants of shaving cream, letting his touch linger on the now-smooth skin in its wake. “all finished.” 

you smile softly, leaning in to press your lips against kimi’s. he startles slightly before returning it. your mouths move in tandem. his hand rests against your chest as yours curl into his hair, cradling the back of his head as you take half a step forward to push his back against the door. 

you’re both flushed by the time you pull away, hearts racing and lips swollen. “thank you,” you murmur. you flash him a teasing grin as your free hand falls to rest against kimi’s hip, fingertips trailing against the hem of his sweatpants. you relish in the way his breath catches in his throat, heat spreading to the tips of his ears and pooling in his stomach. “how can i every repay you?” 

kimi cocks his head to the side as he pulls you even closer, limiting the distance between your bodies once again. “i can think of a few ways,” he mumbles. and before you know it, his lips are back on yours.  

notes: please leave feedback if you enjoyed!! f1 reqs are open and always appreciated <3 thank you so much for the req!! i hope you enjoy :) kinda running out of icons to use lmao, i love this idea i think it's so cute, lowkey trans reader but maybe i'm projecting, KIMI ON POLE IN SILVERSTONE!!!!

you chuckle beneath your breath, shaking your head. “no, that’s because of lotion.” kimi leans his back against the wall behind you, watching as you turn the water back on to wash it off. it’s a less than graceful process but his gaze never strays from your figure for too long. 

he passes you a towel like it’s second nature when you turn the sink off. “the cleanser helps with my acne,” you explain as you pat it against your skin. “it’s supposed to help with redness, too. i’m not sure it does much, though. my skin is still pretty bad.” 

kimi furrows his brows. he takes a half-step closer and uses his fingertips to lift your chin ever so slightly. you blink at him, almost surprised. “what do you mean? your skin is fine.” 

“it’s not,” you give a half-hearted chuckle, shaking your head slightly. kimi’s frown grows. the corners of his lips quirk downwards, almost into a pout. he runs his fingertips against your jawline, catching a few remaining droplets of water against his skin. “but i’m working on it. there’s supposed to be a good dermatologist near here. i was gonna make an appointment-” 

kimi cuts you off with the soft call of your name. gingerly, he raises his hands to cup your face in his hold. his gaze is soft but steady when it meets your own. beneath the glow of your flickering bathroom light his eyes are the shade of caramel. 

“you’re perfect,” kimi says. he cradles you gently, almost the way you would a precious artifact or a fragile art piece. his touch is soft, like you’re someone deserving of protection. like he doesn’t want to push too far. “i don’t care if you have perfect skin or not. i love you. and no amount of acne or breakouts will ever change that.” 

your heart catches in your throat. your teeth sink into your bottom lip as you blink, trying to will away the unshed tears that fill your eyes. kimi notices immediately — of course he does. gingerly, he runs a thumb against your bottom lash line, wiping away the few stray tears that do threaten to roll down your cheeks. 

“sorry,” you murmur. “i shouldn’t be crying. it’s stupid.” 

“it’s not.” kimi’s voice is soft. slowly, he coaxes you closer, pulling you into his chest until you’re leaning against him. your arms wrap around his waist. your eyes flutter shut as you let the feeling of his body heat surround you. it’s comforting, in a way. even more so when he slips his hand beneath the hem of your shirt to gently trace against your back. “it’s just how you feel.” 

“you know it’ll never go away, right?” you mumble, the words half-muffled by his shirt. “i’ll have the scars forever.” 

“i know.” 

silence falls over your apartment. you allow yourself to drift in the quiet. kimi holds you steady even when a deep sigh escapes you. it rattles your lungs and exposes how unsteady you feel on your feet. his fingertips never cease in their actions. instead, he traces words you can’t quite make out against your side. the sound of kimi’s heartbeat drums against your ears, only rivaled by the steady hum of rain tapping against your windows. it’s not perfect, but it’s enough. 

“you’re perfect,” kimi whispers. “please don’t ever forget that.” 

and for once, you believe him. 

notes: please leave feedback if you enjoyed!! f1 reqs are open and always appreciated <3 everyone get into cantopop now!!! pinky promise i'm working on reqs too ty all for sending me your ideas, this is very self indulgent, and FUCK everybody who comments on kimi's acne booooo tomato tomato tomato