Noraa⁸¹

Liam Lawson was sprawled out on a sofa in the Racing Bulls motorhome, spending the time between FP3 and qualifying by scrolling on his phone.

He didn't even glance up when he saw his teammate enter the room; he only looked away from his screen when he noticed that Arvid was walking towards him.

"Hey mate, what's up?" Arvid asked.

"Not much, how about you?" Liam returned the question, and reached out to give him a dap.

Arvid was about to answer, but seemed to stop abruptly as he let go of Liam's hand. "Is that my ring?"

Liam looked down at his hand, as if it was the first time he'd seen it, and there it was: an unfamiliar silver band was sitting on his middle finger.

But he could remember picking it up from the small table in his driver's room... So how can it be Arvid's?

He supposed they must've swapped them accidentally when they were winding down after an exhausting practice in his hotel room yesterday. Nothing seemed to work out on Friday, so they decided to let off some steam by playing some video games together.

"Sorry bro, I didn't mean to take it," Liam said, reaching to take the ring off, but Arvid stopped him.

"Nah, don't bother, it looks good on you," he grinned, and turned to leave the room with that.

Liam let out a quiet groan as soon as he made sure he wasn't within Arvid's earshot anymore.

The young Brit has always had a way of getting under his skin. Yes, the crush that Liam has had on him ever since they first met as teammates in Faenza only made it worse.

He knew that wasn't supposed to happen. Arvid was 5 years younger than him, and probably didn't like guys either. But he couldn't help it, the unbothered, nonchalant charm that was there in Arvid's every move had him falling fast and deep. His teammate had to be aware of how attractive he is, and he had the audacity to say things like this, as if Liam's head wasn't spinning already.

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Arvid couldn't help but blush as soon as he was out of the room.

He had to admit, seeing his ring on Liam's finger was doing things to him.

He has always had something for the older driver, ever since he met him back in F2, when Red Bull had all their F1 and junior drivers together for an event.

The first thing he'd noticed was Liam's style, similar to his own, yet not entirely the same. While Arvid loved wearing multiple necklaces and rings, alternating them each day, Liam seemed to stick to one of each, which he wore all the time. Arvid's been determined to introduce Liam to more jewelry since.

It had been Arvid's idea to hang out together after the disappointing practices the previous day, and if he'd left his ring there on purpose, knowing Liam would be tired enough not to notice, then that was between him and god.

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Liam has been obsessed with Arvid's necklaces for no reason other than the fact that he was stupid enough to go and fall for his teammate.

The most noticeable was the silver chain made out of stars, the one that was matching with Nikola Tsolov's.

Liam has always been annoyed by both the necklace and the guy - why did Arvid have matching ones with his ex-teammate of 2 races, but not with Liam? Why did he still seem to be so close to him?

"You're staring, mate." A voice ripped Liam out of his pondering. "What's so interesting about my neck?"

"I wasn't staring, you idiot. I was thinking," Liam tried to get himself out of this one, because of course he'd been staring at Arvid while thinking of Tsolov and his stupid necklace.

"About?" Liam could've sworn the younger's tone was softer now than during his earlier teasing.

Liam just shrugged. "Next year, I guess." That wasn't entirely a lie either. The future of his career was constantly on his mind, and Tsolov played a pretty big part in that too. Not only did he keep stealing his crush, now he might be coming for Liam's seat too.

Arvid's expression softened immediately. "Don't worry about that, bro. I'm sure you'll be here next year too. What you're doing now is insane."

Liam still didn't know how to react to compliments like that, even though Arvid had been acting like it was his mission to drive Liam mad with them.

"Well thanks, but Tsolov is-"

"Don't worry about Nikola either. He's told me he's got options elsewhere if Max doesn't retire, they won't fire you," Arvid said, and leaned forward to squeeze the Kiwi's hand reassuringly.

Arvid has been touching him more and more lately, and Liam had no idea what to do with that. He squeezed his teammate's hand back, looking into his eyes to signal that he'd got the message.

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Liam kept wearing Arvid's ring. He didn't know why, maybe it was the memory of the younger's compliment that warmed his heart every time he looked at his hand. He absent-mindedly played with the ring as they were sitting in an excruciatingly boring pre-race meeting. 

"You're still wearing that?" Of course he'd notice. Arvid was sitting next to Liam, he wasn't paying his full attention to the strategy options either. 

"Yeah, I mean, it does go well with my necklace," he replied. "You know what?"

"Yeah?

"Do you want mine in return?" Liam regretted asking as soon as the question left his mouth. But he had to ask.

The thought of Arvid wearing his ring has been on his mind for days, and he wouldn't be proud to admit the things it was doing to him. 

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah, I am"

"Then yes, I'd like that," Arvid said, smiling at Liam. 

The older immediately broke out in a grin too, as he slipped his ring off his finger and handed it to his teammate, while he glanced up to make sure nobody saw they weren't listening anymore. Thankfully, the mechanics and engineers seemed too invested in tyre and weather data to care about them.

Arvid took the ring and put it on his middle finger. It fit perfectly. 

Yeah, Liam was right. Seeing his ring on Arvid's finger definitely awakened all the butterflies in his stomach.

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"What's up with that ring, mate?" Nikola Tsolov asked. "You've been staring at it ever since you sat down."

"It's Liam's," Arvid said.

He needed to tell somebody that his crush just gave him his ring, so given that the sprint race had been delayed due to the rain, he decided to sneak into the F2 paddock to see his best friend.

He and Nikola had only really been teammates for two weekends the previous year, but they were very close to each other, given that they had been part of both Campos and the Red Bull junior programme. 

"What, he proposed already?"

"No, you idiot. He gave it to me because I left mine in his room last weekend, and let him keep it."

"Arv, do you hear yourself? You spend every waking moment together, you wear each other's rings, and you still think he doesn't like you? Just ask him out, please, for fuck's sake."

Arvid could understand where Nikola's frustration was coming from. After all, what he was saying was true. But what if Liam was just trying to be friendly? 

"I don't know, bro. What if he doesn't?"

"He does, I'm telling you. You know what? If you don't go and tell him right now, I will."

Arvid knew he wasn't lying. He's witnessed Nikola threatening people with things worse than this, which he actually ended up carrying out. 

He sighed, knowing he had no way out of this. "Alright. But if he doesn't like me back, I'm telling him you dared me to say it."

"No, you're not," Nikola said, and he reached out for a dap as Arvid was standing up. "Good luck."

"Thanks," Arvid replied, and looked back at his best friend once again before turning to leave the sitting area next to Campos' trucks, and making his way back to VCARB's hospitality. 

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Liam was sitting in his driver's room during the delay caused by the bad weather when he heard a knock on his door. 

He had no idea who'd want to talk to him. If he remembered well, his trainer had said he doesn't have to do anything or be anywhere for at least half an hour. He stood up to open the door anyway. 

A lot of people crossed his mind, but his teammate wasn't one of them - yet it was Arvid standing in the hallway with a nervous look on his face. 

"Hey mate, what's up?" Liam asked, slightly confused, because he thought Arvid had gone to the F2 paddock to speak to Tsolov. Of course, it had to be Tsolov. No, Liam was not jealous.

"Can we talk?" The Brit looked very serious. Liam couldn't help but notice that Arvid was still wearing his ring from earlier that day. 

"Yeah, come in."

Liam stepped aside to let his teammate in, then looked at him expectantly once they settled on the couch.

"I have to tell you something." Arvid took a deep breath. "I like you. Like, really like you. I think I always have, at least since that Christmas party last year. And I totally understand if this is a lot, or you don't like me back, because-"

"Hey, shut up, will you?" Liam tried to keep a serious expression, but he could feel a grin and a blush spreading on his cheeks simultaneously. After all, his crush has just confessed that he likes him back. "I like you too. So much. I have since you first came to Faenza."

A matching smile started to appear on Arvid's face after hearing that. 

"Wait, really?"

"Yes, really." Liam cupped Arvid's jaw and leaned in, leaving just enough space for the younger to pull away if he wanted to. Instead, Arvid leaned in too, closing the remaining distance between them. 

At first, it was only a brush of lips rather than a kiss. Then Liam leaned closer, ringed finger still on Arvid's jaw, and kissed him more firmly this time. 

When they pulled apart for air, they stayed close, noses still touching each other's.

"This was your intention all along when you left your ring in my room, wasn't it?" Liam asked, only now realising what had happened. 

Arvid let out a quiet laugh at that. "Yeah, kind of. I needed to see it on you. It really looks nice, though."

"Honestly, same. You didn't really think I returned the favour out of pure kindness, right?"

"Yeah, I suspected something was going on at that point. Though it took Nikola's threat for me to actually come here," Arvid giggled. "He said he'd tell you himself if I didn't. He was so sick of listening to me obsessing over you."

Liam let out an exasperated laugh at the thought of Tsolov listening to Arvid talking about him. To think he was convinced Arvid liked the guy... 

"Well, I'm glad you did. I'd much rather hear it from you than I would've from him."

"I'm glad too," Arvid whispered. "Oh and also, you're so not getting your ring back."

"I'd be offended if I did. You can take them all, for all I care," Liam smiled, and leaned closer for another kiss.