#eye.write

ynplaysbass has 1 new post!

ynplaysbass two days before d-day :) can't wait to see you guys from the stage again. wish us luck for rehearsals

tagged: casslovesguitars

liked by casslovesguitars, drumgirlaisha, alex_albon, and 2.5k more..

casslovesguitars Rare YN sighting! Glad to see you on my feed again sweetie <3

♡ liked by ynplaysbass

⤷ ynplaysbass thank you for your kind words and the free coffee, cassandra :) love you

♡ liked by casslovesguitars

⤷ erinyesfan.01 i wish cass would give me some free coffee too

⤷ casslovesguitars Come to our show early and maybe you'll get some!

drumgirlaisha YOU FINALLY REMEMBERED YOU HAVE INSTA!!! LET'S GO

♡ liked by ynplaysbass

⤷ ynplaysbass you kept pestering me about it lol

⤷ drumgirlaisha just wanted to feed your fans 😁

⤷ erinyesfan.02 THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AISHA 🙇‍♀️🙇‍♀️🙇‍♀️

♡ liked by drumgirlaisha

erinyesfan.03 good luck for today, yn! can't wait to see u at the front row <33

♡ liked by ynplaysbass

erinyesfan.04 I wish I could come see you guys 💔 I'll be cheering you on from home

♡ liked by ynplaysbass

⤷ ynplaysbass thank you for your love, i know you'll see us someday

erinyesfan_05 that likes section is so interesting.. alex what are you doing here..

⤷ erinyesfan.06 alex?? you mean alex albon?? the f1 driver??

⤷ erinyesfan.05 yeah.. what is he cooking.. why is he lurking..

⤷ erinyesfan.06 maybe he's a new fan idk im surprised someone from that space knows erinyes lol

bff4ever THAT'S MY BASSIST!!!!!

♡ liked by ynplaysbass

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⟡ chatting with the bestie...

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alex_albon has 1 new post!

alex_albon It's finally race week again, this time in Zandvoort!! Can't wait to see you guys on track ✌️

tagged: carlossainz55

liked by carlossainz55, williamsracing, lando, georgerussell63, charlesleclerc, ynplaysbass, and 290k more..

carlossainz55 Good luck to the both of us cabron

♡ liked by alex_albon

⤷ alex_albon Let's hope the car doesn't set on fire again before we even start 😅

⤷ f1enjoyer.01 ALEX DONT JINX IT PLEASEEEEE

⤷ f1enjoyer.02 if the race goes to hell i know who to blame

⤷ f1enjoyer.03 When the time comes, I will jump from the grandstand and chase down James Vowles into the paddock

⤷ alex_albon Guys please don't threaten my boss 😭

⤷ f1enjoyer.01 you can't stop us all alex

lando not even crediting me for my amazing photography smh

♡ liked by alex_albon

⤷ alex_albon I'm sorry you're just so demanding with my poses.. can't even understand your instructions 😒

⤷ lando THATS FOUL OF YOU

⤷ f1enjoyer.04 GET HIM ALEX!!!!

⤷ georgerussell63 You're lucky you're photographed by Lando. He hasn't come up with a camera to my face yet.

⤷ alex_albon I'll make sure he'll do that for you Georgie

♡ liked by georgerussell63

f1enjoyer.05 yn liking this after alex liked their post is so cute wtf when will they interact

♡ liked by alex_albon

⤷ f1enjoyer.06 who's that?

⤷ f1enjoyer.05 they're the bassist for an indie rock band called erinyes!! they're on the european leg of their tour rn :D

⤷ f1enjoyer.06 i'll be sure to check them out, they sound sick :))

⤷ f1enjoyer.07 did you know that their venue is like a couple minutes away from the track

⤷ f1enjoyer.05 WHAT HOW DID I NOT KNOW OF THIS TYSM?? I HOPE THERE'S STILL TICKETS

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★ chatting with the boys...

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⚡︎ chatting with the girls...

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2 DAYS LATER. . .

alex_albon has 1 new post!

alex_albon Decent practice sessions for today 👍 The car felt good, but more improvements are needed. Still happy with the results though 😄 See you tomorrow for qualifying!

liked by williamsracing, georgerussell63, ynplaysbass, lando, f1, and 231k more...

f1enjoyer.01 stop giving me heart attacks during fp1 istg alex

♡ liked by alex_albon

f1enjoyer.02 Your pace was so damn good today

⤷ f1enjoyer.03 ikr, we might have a chance this weekend!!

⤷ f1enjoyer.04 Doubtful. Alex was having too much understeer and had problems with grip. He almost spun out too

⤷ f1enjoyer.05 i think he'll be fine guys don't be so pessimistic all the time

⤷ f1enjoyer.06 you people are the reason why you keep having faith in weeyums and eventually get disappointed again lmao. the car's not great and they're gonna be more focused on 2026 so pack your bags

⤷ f1enjoyer.07 Take your negativity somewhere else ty, we dont need you here in the comments section

f1enjoyer.08 omg yn is liking alex's posts again

⤷ f1enjoyer.09 they've been on a liking spree ever since they followed each other back AHAHA they're so cute i can't take it!!!!!!!

⤷ f1enjoyer.10 I hope they meet each other one day, they seem like they'd click

⤷ f1enjoyer.11 imho i don't see it yet.. they're way out of each other's leagues but whatever floats your boat

⤷ lando watch this space 👀

♡ liked by alex_albon

⤷ f1enjoyer.08 WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE LANDO

ynplaysbass good luck this week, alex :)

♡ liked by alex_albon

⤷ alex_albon Oh! Thank you so much, YN 🫣💓 Looking forward to the concert later 😊

♡ liked by ynplaysbass

⤷ ynplaysbass cant wait for you to see what's in store tonight ;)

♡ liked by alex_albon

⤷ georgerussell63 What the hell is this blatant flirting on my feed. Go to your DMs 🙄

♡ liked by alex_albon, ynplaysbass

⤷ lando i cant believe im witnessing this live

⤷ f1enjoyer.12 OH MY GOD IT ACTUALLY HAPPENED?!?!?!?!?!? THE CROSSOVER OF THE CENTURY

⤷ f1enjoyer.10 what is happening here oh my god

⤷ f1enjoyer.13 I guess it's time for me to get into Erinyes. What song should I listen to first?

♡ liked by alex_albon

⤷ alex_albon I recommend Hell You Call A Dream from their latest album! It's fire, like the rest of their songs 🔥🔥

ynplaysbass has 1 new post!

♫ Erinyes • DISCIPLE

ynplaysbass d-day is finally here! i hope you're ready for erinyes, zandvoort. we'll rock your world tonight :)

tagged: casslovesguitars, drumgirlaisha, erinyes.official

liked by drumgirlaisha, casslovesguitars, erinyes.official, alex_albon, lando, and 3k more...

drumgirlaisha WE'LL SHAKE UP THE STAGE TOGETHER Y/N!!

♡ liked by ynplaysbass

⤷ ynplaysbass can't wait for you to smash your drumsticks again

⤷ drumgirlaisha i'm not going to claim ur energy!! i'll steal your horchata

⤷ casslovesguitars Hey, let's play nice okay?

erinyesfan.01 can't wait to see you today AAAAAA im gonna have so much fun omg i've been waiting for so long

♡ liked by ynplaysbass

erinyes.official looking good, yn! ⚡ zandvoort, here we go!

♡ liked by ynplaysbass

erinyesfan.02 i secured the tickets chat!!!! let's see if my favorite songs are gonna be played..

♡ liked by ynplaysbass

⤷ erinyesfan.03 do u think they'll play six feet deep

⤷ erinyesfan.02 with how cass keeps saying that the song feels "slow," im not sure </3 i rlly love it tho!

⤷ erinyesfan.03 let's see! i hope i see u tonight oomf

erinyesfan.04 seeing alex albon and lando norris in the likes is still smth i gotta get used to.. wdym f1 drivers know who my girls are❓❗

⤷ erinyesfan.05 Honestly, i'm glad they're getting the exposure they need. Its been years, Erinyes deserves it. Even if it comes from f1 drivers

⤷ erinyesfan.06 u speak nothing but facts!!!

⤷ erinyesfan.04 it contradicts money so bad but i love it LMAO

♡ liked by ynplaysbass

erinyesfan.05 why are you so hot yn please just one chance..!!!!!

⤷ bff4ever I HAD THEM FIRST?? GET IN LINE

⤷ ynplaysbass girls, you're both pretty..

alex_albon Can't wait to finally meet you, YN 😁 Kinda nervous ngl

♡ liked by ynplaysbass

⤷ ynplaysbass you'll be fine, alex. just have fun and enjoy the show :)

♡ liked by alex_albon

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You could feel your bandmates' nerves even from here— the venue was all but full, and the band hasn't performed in Amsterdam before. Everything's all new, but there's a rush of excitement running through your veins. This is what you're made for, and you're ready to give it your all.

..Well, after the front row photo ops, of course.

There were quite a few of them, but all were equally excited to take pictures with you and your girls. Some brought physical copies of your latest album to sign, and others came in wearing your merch. They all looked so good, and you can't help but feel emotional. It feels good to have people to support you no matter what.

The warmth from these interactions made you feel more pumped up, hands lightly shaking from every moment you shared with the fans. It was enough to distract you from the biggest thing to happen in your life right now.

Your manager calls the last people in, and out comes Alex Albon and his fellow drivers. Their names come to you easily after hours of listening to your best friend rattle on about F1: Lando Norris, George Russell, and Charles Leclerc.

However, your eyes were locked on Alex, and only Alex. Who could blame you? He was a head taller than most people in the room, and there's a kind of magnetism that's rare.

Like the other three, he was dressed casually. Sporting a sage green hoodie, black jeans, and white trainers, he looked soft and relaxed. He was here as a fan, not as a driver.

And that's what struck you about him. How.. normal he looked. He looked like somebody you'd be friends with in high school but eventually drifted apart. Alex's sparkling eyes and excited smile makes it worse.

Oh God. He's so cute.

"Wow, I.." Alex chuckles sheepishly, rubbing his nape. "It's really nice to meet you, YN. I'm- I'm a big fan. Really." He gives you his hand, expecting you to shake it. "I'm Alex."

From the corner of your eye, Cassandra and Aisha are huddled in the corner with the other drivers, whispering amongst themselves. Aisha is barely restraining herself from holding onto Charles. You pay them no mind. Even if you can hear a camera shutter.

You smile at Alex's nervousness, giggling. "It's nice to meet you, Alex. I'm glad to hear that you're a fan." You take his hand, your heart skipping when you realize that his hand's bigger than yours. "I hope you'll enjoy the concert later. We've got some great songs lined up— sorry in advance if your favorite didn't make the cut."

Alex grins, his nervousness melting away. For some reason, he hasn't let your hand go.

There's chatter around you two, but no one bothered you. It's like they knew this moment belongs to you and Alex.

"Are you kidding? I love all your songs, YN. They're the best when I'm angry at the world and I want to disappear." His voice started off excited, but melts into a mellow tone, like he's murmuring a secret. "I especially love Escapism. I relate to it a lot. It reminds me that I'm not alone— when the world feels too heavy, someone else feels the same."

If his words didn't convince you that he was being sincere, it was the way he looked at you; devastating in the best, most tender way. Escapism was a song you co-wrote with the girls, and not many people knew that. It was as personal as it could get in a song.

He cradled your hand — the one with all the callouses from plucking the strings of your bass — as if it was a treasure, the music you play a gift to the world. And in a way, it was. You knew that he knew it, even without saying it.

He saw you. And it was freeing.

The moment shatters when your manager yells to hurry up, since the time to start the concert was near. Both of you startle, and laughter fills the room. You sneak a glance at Alex, and you reciprocated his smile.

"Alright, lovebirds! Let's get into position for the camera. We'll be taking four pictures, and it'll be handed to you after it's printed out." The cameraman instructs, and you fall into position with the group.

You stand next to Cassandra on her left, while Aisha's on her right. Charles is next to her, and you didn't hide your laughter when you noticed that she was hyperventilating and blushing. She glares at you, while Charles glances at Alex with a sly smile, who stood next to you. Lando and George decided to sit on the floor, tall enough to be seen by the camera.

Alex squeezes your hand, hidden thanks to George's back. You look up at Alex, and he looks down at you, a smile on his face. You squeeze back, and he interlocks your fingers together.

You face the camera, still feeling Alex's hand in yours as you strike a pose and smile. Nerves are still settling in your veins, but with a true fan in the front row, you know you'll perform well.

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It was nothing like you've ever seen.

The Dutch crowd was electric, screaming every lyric of your songs like it was a prayer. You didn't know what to expect, but this was something else entirely.

You returned their energy with every strum of your bass and your vocals, the crowd screaming when they realized that they could hear you clearly. It was very satisfying to be heard, even if you don't share Cass' talent in singing.

But even when you were performing, your gaze keeps coming back to Alex. On CHOKE, you catch him laughing at George and Charles who were gobsmacked by the performance. They probably didn't know what they were about to witness. In Escapism, you directly look at him while singing along with Cassandra, and he looked back. You did the same when S!CK came on, adrenaline pumping in your veins.

You could tell he was flushed even if the lighting was a little off in the front row. You smirked, winking at him as you go off the center to rock out with Cassandra on the instrumental. Every bit of that concert made you feel the most.. alive you've felt in a long time.

It's probably why you still had enough energy to hang out with Alex after the concert.

Somehow, you two shared the same hotel. You caught him in the elevator, having left the girls earlier. The guitar case was slung over your shoulder, your hoodie practically drowning you while you held a half-drank water bottle.

He holds the elevator open with a grin, letting you in before it closed. You step in slowly, trying to gauge what he wants.

"What floor are you staying in?" He asks, leaning against the wall as he looks at you. The sparkle in his eyes never left, as if the stars were permanently embedded in them.

"I'm on the 22nd. You?" You tried to act nonchalant, sipping on your water as his gaze burned into your eyes. Maybe your heart was racing for another reason, then.

You see the mischief in his face without even realizing it. "I'm on the 23rd, but that doesn't matter." He pauses. "Wanna hang out at the balcony? Since it's late, we're gonna have enough privacy between us." His words lower into a murmur, his grin softening. "I.. want to get to know you better. Not, like, as an obsessed fan or an F1 driver or anything— just.. just as me."

It was pretty tempting. Your body screamed at you for rest, your hair begging for a shower, but who cares? Alex doesn't. You don't either. Something in you tells you that you might not have this chance again.

"Sure, why not?"

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The elevator ride was charged with tension. It was quiet, like there was a space to breathe amidst all the chaos. You both were still reeling from it all: finally meeting each other, looking into each other's eyes, the concert. The next minute or so was a blessing. You feel like you could let out that breath you were holding in, and it seemed like Alex felt the same.

An echoing ding! jolts you from your thoughts, and the elevator automatically opens. You look at Alex and he motioned you to go out first, and you did.

The cool air of Zandvoort hits you, and you instinctively shiver. Thank God you're wearing your hoodie. Alex was right— the balcony was blissfully empty. You walk to the railing, exhaling slowly as you lean on it.

He stands there for a moment, as if drinking in the moment. You wouldn't blame him, really. It's not everyday you meet someone you're used to seeing on a screen, much less see their vulnerable side.

It must've been two minutes or two eternities before Alex approaches you, relaxed as his serene face comes closer. He stands next to you, hands in his pockets as he leans back. For a moment, neither of you say anything. But you break the silence, the unexplainable feelings in you asking to be expressed.

"You're a racer. You're supposed to be lounging in a yacht, laughing with your friends and pouring champagne over them before the race weekend. But instead, you.. you're just a normal guy. You listen to an indie rock band that wouldn't be in an F1 driver's radar. You dress like you're just out to get ice cream." You turn to look at him fully. "I.. I don't get it. Not really."

The concept just messes with your head a little, confusion making its way to every part of your body. Alex looks at you like he just knows. Are you that easy to read, or was Alex just that perceptive?

He chuckles, but it wasn't all that happy. He sounds.. tired. "You've got it a bit inaccurate, but yeah. I am a normal guy. Out of the four of us, I'm the one who doesn't have a yacht. I have an apartment in Monaco, sure, but it isn't like, I don't know, Charles' place or anything like that. The parties I only go to are birthdays, podium celebrations, and obligatory end-of-the-year dinners with the whole grid. I'm not really cut out for that luxurious lifestyle, YN. I'm just here to race and improve."

Alex sighs, shaking his head as he stares off into the distance. "I've been racing since I was a kid, and only reached Formula 1 back in 2019. It isn't easy, you know?"

He turns to look at you, his downturned eyes full of something bone-deep. "People said I wasn't as talented as my peers. The media was hounding me when I got dropped from Red Bull back then. It's like they forgot that I was the one winning karting races when we were younger, and that I'm the second Thai driver to get to Formula 1. I know I have that talent in me, it's just.."

He pauses, taking a few deep breaths. Neither of you look away from each other. You hope that he finds comfort in your eyes. Your fingers brush against his knuckles lightly, and he glances down at it before returning eye contact, a small smile on his lips.

"This sport is tough. Everyday, you wonder if what you're doing is enough for the team, for the fans, for your family, for yourself. You invest so much effort and time in it, but the results don't match your expectations," he continued. "But I still want to keep going. Nothing ever seems enough, but that's just half of the fun, you know? It's addictive, and I know in my heart that I'll keep going until I can't."

You freeze.

"That's exactly how I feel," you start with a whisper. How is your voice still steady? "I wonder when this would be worth it. The three of us, we've been singing and writing songs since we were kids. We busked, we performed at some small events, everything. When we started getting attention, everyone seemed to be looking at the guitarist whose vocals were out of this world and the drummer who lights everything up."

You chuckle bitterly, but it's not towards Cassandra or Aisha. You love them, you do, but.. "Then, I'm just there. The bassist who is barely heard when performing live backing vocals. My notes, too— I can barely hear it over Cassandra's guitar or Aisha's drums. It's a miracle our tech guys took us seriously this time."

You sigh, shaking your head. You take your time to find the right words, and Alex looks at you with so much warmth the whole time.

"I've opened up to them about this, actually. I told them what I felt about going unnoticed, about all the wrong kind of attention I've been getting.. they understand my concerns, of course, but still.."

"It's something they can't exactly relate to," Alex finishes for you, and you hum in agreement. He smiles, lightly interlocking his fingers with yours. "Good thing we're on the same boat, then? We're just two kids wanting to prove everybody wrong."

You chuckle, nodding as you secure your grip on his hand. "Mhm. We are. We'll reach to the clouds and everybody will wonder if we'll ever get back down. But we can't, because our dreams are up there, and if we don't go up, we'll be stuck. Does that make sense? Fuck, I'm rambling.."

Alex laughs as your cheeks flush, embarrassed at the direction your thoughts were going. You turn your head to look away, but he uses his free hand to gently steer you back to his gaze. Even now, he's still smiling. No wonder he's called the sunshine of the paddock.

"You're fine, YN. I get you. Had to deal with worse nonsense than this over the years." The two of you share a laugh at this, the lingering tension in your body disappearing into the cool air.

You exhale, relaxing as you sway a little into Alex. He catches you with little to no effort, pulling you into his arms. You squeak, heart spiking a little when he hugs you, but you immediately realized that.. you didn't mind this at all.

It may have been the first time you and Alex have met each other, but with how you two understood each other even with little words, you'd think you've known Alex for years. Was it because of your similar experiences? Or was it because you two were fated by the universe?

You weren't sure. But there was one thing you do know— you didn't want Alex to slip through your fingers.

You breathe him in, listening to his pulse after pulling him closer.

"I don't want to let go of you," you murmur, your voice muffled against his shoulder. "We just met, but.. there's something in me that tells me I shouldn't waste this chance I have with you."

You feel him smile against your hair, pressing a gentle kiss on your temple. Your heart flutters.

"I don't wanna let go, either," he whispers. "When I was watching you on stage, I kept thinking, 'I want to keep seeing them, I want to go to more of their concerts.' But now? I want to keep seeing you, period. I.. I want to be there when you achieve your dreams. I want to be there when you're happy, sad, tired.."

He trails off, and you look up at him with a meek but happy smile on your face. God, Alex never knows how to stop endearing himself to you.

"Then let's be there for each other," you suggest. You tighten your arms around him. "I wanna be there when you get another P5, when you annoy the other drivers because you're so good at defending your position, and.. I want to be there when you get your first win."

"Damn, are you a fan of me, too?" He chuckles, lighthearted as he nuzzles your nose. You laugh, hitting his shoulder. "But yeah. I want that, too. Let's stay in touch, and.. maybe I could take you out on a proper date one of these days?"

You smirk, pinching his cheek. "Only if I get to ask you out before you do."

"Oh, it's on, YN."

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You two talk the night away, laughing over old pranks and teenage angst and frustrations over your passions. His eyes never left yours. It tugged at your heartstrings, the utter adoration of it all making you feel like the luckiest person in the world.

Even as you both walk out of the balcony and back inside the hotel, he never strays far, still talking and listening like nothing else interested him except you. Seeing him shed his public persona and be as relaxed as you are.. you cherish every bit of it as you can.

And as Alex brings you to your floor, he kisses your knuckles and smiles.

"I guess this is good night, YN," he says, his hand slowly letting go of yours before cradling it. "I would invite you to the paddock, but.. I think you'd be overwhelmed by it. Especially with the media."

You chuckle, squeezing his hand as you return the kiss. "And I would accept. But maybe for your next race— I'm still on tour with the girls, so.."

You shrug. He giggles.

"Then I'll see you when I see you, YN. Thank you for today."

You go on your tiptoes, reaching up to bring Alex closer for a kiss on the cheek. You go back on your feet before he could do anything, grinning as you swiped the card for your room. "Good night, Alex. I'm glad that I met you." You pause, winking at his flustered face. "See you next time."

The last thing you see before closing the door was Alex holding his cheek, eyes wide before he settles, grinning back at you shyly. How's that for an unforgettable night?

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♡ chatting with him. . .

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A FEW MONTHS LATER...

f1gossippofficial has 1 new post!

f1gossippofficial New WAG in the paddock? 👀 Let's gossip! 🗣

YN LN, bassist from rock band Erinyes shocks the F1 world by walking through the Las Vegas paddock with their band members and team early this afternoon for race day. If you remember, rumors about their apparent "connection" with Alex Albon spread after he was spotted attending the band's Zandvoort concert with friends and fellow drivers Lando Norris, George Russell, and Charles Leclerc, and many fans noticed that they seemed to be flirting the whole time! 🤭

And when Alex arrived at the paddock, interviewers immediately asked him about them! The only thing he said was "They're someone close to me, they asked if they could watch the race and here they are!" He couldn't stop smiling when he spoke!!

Alex starts on an impressive P5 today!

Why do you think YN is in the paddock today? 🤔

1 - Alex wasn't lying and YN is actually his partner (our opinion)

2 - They're just good friends and Alex did them a favor but left their relationship purposefully vague

3 - It's for the band's PR/exposure since they have a concert in Las Vegas on Monday

4 - They just wanted to stir things up 😂

First slide photo credits @/kymillman

tagged: ynplaysbass, alex_albon

liked by f1enjoyer.00, f1enjoyer.01, ynplaysbass, alex_albon, and 25.6k more...

f1enjoyer.00 4. Knowing Erinyes' habit of messing with the media (esp if they're annoying af), I wouldn't be surprised if they were there to keep the rumor mill going

f1enjoyer.01 it's 1, i swear!! i was behind the drivers during their concert and istg yn couldn't keep their eyes off of alex the whole time

♡ liked by f1gossippofficial

⤷ f1enjoyer.02 IKR?!?!?! i saw some video clips going around on twt and theyre both down bad for each other it's crazy

⤷ f1enjoyer.03 I think U guys are kinda delusional.. YN is good at hyping the crowd up and I think they acted that way bc Alex was in the front row

⤷ f1enjoyer.04 you wouldnt know cause you werent there, loser 🤪

⤷ f1enjoyer.05 You also have to take into account both of their social media posts lately.. the allusions to each other, the mutual likes in all their posts after the concert, their comments.. you can't deny that there's Something going on.

⤷ f1enjoyer.01 YOU GET IT!! THATS PART OF THE REASON WHY THIS IS SO COMPELLING

f1enjoyer.06 maybe 2?? idk how to feel about this tbh, it's so random

f1enjoyer.07 TELL ME WHY THEY'RE BOTH IN THE LIKES. WHAT ARE YOU TWO DOING HERE.

♡ liked by alex_albon, ynplaysbass

⤷ f1gossippofficial Oh no, they've found the post! Everyone, hide! 😱

⤷ alex_albon We're both gonna stay silent for this 🤐

⤷ ynplaysbass don't mind us guys, we're just lurking..

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A FEW HOURS LATER. . .

ynplaysbass has 1 new post!

♫ VENUS GRRRLS • Divine

ynplaysbass seems like you guys noticed me pretty quickly. is the band that famous already? i feel honored lol

thank you to @/williamsracing for allowing me the opportunity to cheer my boyfriend on. f1 is pretty cool, i guess! it was nice to meet all of you lovely people. thank you for welcoming me warmly :)

and of course, congratulations to my podium finisher @/alex_albon <3 i love you, you absolute menace. here's to more podiums for all your seasons 🍀🍀

(to our vegas furies, see you tomorrow!)

tagged: alex_albon, williamsracing

liked by alex_albon, williamsracing, iamrebeccad, drumgirlaisha, casslovesguitars, and 89.2k more...

alex_albon Why did you post that picture of me..

♡ liked by ynplaysbass

⤷ ynplaysbass you looked really stupid and cute. i like that in a man

⤷ alex_albon Glad to know I'm your type, babe 😅

williamsracing Thank YOU for giving us your time, YN! We're officially part of the Furies from now on🤟

♡ liked by ynplaysbass

iamrebeccad so so nice to meet you, sweetheart 💕 i'm looking forward to seeing you more, yn!

♡ liked by ynplaysbass

⤷ ynplaysbass it was so nice to meet you too, rebecca :) you're even prettier in person. let's keep in touch

♡ liked by iamrebeccad

carlossainz55 You have my stamp of approval 👍 Welcome to the F1 madness, YN

⤷ ynplaysbass muchas gracias carlos :) congrats on the points

♡ liked by carlossainz55

f1enjoyer.00 oh my god im sorry for bothering u when you were talking with alex queen 😭😭😭 I JUST COULDNT BELIEVE MY EYES SLJFLFLJSFLJL

♡ liked by ynplaysbass

⤷ ynplaysbass don't be sorry, thanks for recognizing me :) hope to see you tomorrow

f1enjoyer.01 It was so nice to see you, YN 🥺 You're even sweeter in person!!

♡ liked by ynplaysbass

f1enjoyer.02 welcome to the wag life, you're officially the first rockstar of the paddock

⤷ f1enjoyer.03 Damn, they're even a legit rockstar. They've got the skills to back it up

⤷ erinyesfan.00 this is why we stan even harder!

f1enjoyer.04 ngl this makes me wanna check out their music.. are the tickets still selling

⤷ erinyesfan.01 YES THEY ARE!! GET THEM BEFORE THEY SELL OUT

georgerussell63 Lovely to see you again, YN! Thanks for not stealing my girlfriend right under my nose.

♡ liked by ynplaysbass

⤷ carmenmmundt She's my one true love, Georgie! You can take Alex if you want a partner that badly 🙄

⤷ ynplaysbass finally, galex can become a reality after 24808038453058028048230 years.. thank you, carmen

⤷ alex_albon What is up with you and your Galex agenda, YN

⤷ ynplaysbass be fr. if you weren't with me, you'd be with him

lando it was so ffucking hard to keep this secret i literally sighed in relief when i got the notif that you hard launched

♡ liked by ynplaysbass

⤷ ynplaysbass sorry not sorry ;) i enjoyed the emotional distress these past few months

⤷ alex_albon You were God's strongest soldier. Thank you for your service, Landito 🫡

drumgirlaisha FINALLYYYYYY!!! glad to see that you learned your lessons in a hard launch masterclass

♡ liked by ynplaysbass

⤷ ynplaysbass thank you, thank you, i had the best teacher to help me after all. now when will you finally talk to charles leclerc

⤷ drumgirlaisha STOPOPFKSFLSFJFJLSJFJSDLJ

⤷ erinyesfan.02 @/charlesleclerc you gotta see this

⤷ charlesleclerc i have been summoned?

⤷ drumgirlaisha WHAT THE HELL

casslovesguitars So proud of you for going out of your comfort zone! <3 Wishing you and Alex tons of happiness

♡ liked by ynplaysbass

⤷ ynplaysbass stop you're gonna make me cry it's so embarrassing, alex will make fun of me

⤷ casslovesguitars Don't worry!! I'll make sure that he won't make fun of you anymore

⤷ alex_albon I've never had a big sister before.. is this what it's like?

⤷ ynplaysbass unfortunately, yes

alex_albon has 1 new post!

♫ Måneskin • THE DRIVER

alex_albon Well, I *definitely* didn't expect that P3 😅 Could've gone higher, but this is the best we can do. Thank you for your endless support and for never giving up on me. And for voting me for Driver of the Day. Huge shoutout to the team and for Carlos in getting in the points! Double points finish babyyy 🤙

And of course, since you guys kind of caught on.. yes, @/ynplaysbass is my partner, and they're bass-ically my lucky charm 🍀🍀 Treat them kindly or else

tagged: williamsracing, ynplaysbass

liked by ynplaysbass, williamsracing, carlossainz55, lando, yukitsunoda0511, zhouguanyu24, and 740k more...

ynplaysbass i didn't realize you took that 5th picture.. 🫣

♡ liked by alex_albon

⤷ alex_albon I had the best view ❤

♡ liked by ynplaysbass

⤷ ynplaysbass you have the nerve to say that when i couldn't look away from your handsome face the entire night

♡ liked by alex_albon

⤷ georgerussell63 Oh blimey, the flirting's gotten worse.

lando you still havent paid me back for buying your tickets last timeeeee (congrats on finally hard launching i am sick of you albono)

♡ liked by alex_albon

⤷ alex_albon Mate, I literally said I got us tickets yesterday

carlossainz55 Thank you, Alex 💪 We did amazing today, and congrats to you and YN

♡ liked by alex_albon

⤷ alex_albon Carbono teamwork goes crazy 💪💪

yukitsunoda0511 so this is the person you couldn't shut up about.. i see it now

♡ liked by alex_albon

f1enjoyer.00 WE GOT THE ALBODIUM AND WILLIAMS DOUBLE POINTS!!!

f1enjoyer.01 this is the hard launch of all time

♡ liked by alex_albon

georgerussell63 A little more and we could've shared a podium. So damn proud of you anyway, Albono ❤

♡ liked by alex_albon

⤷ alex_albon We'll get it next time, Georgie!!

f1enjoyer.02 The camera cutting to Alex's giddy face when it showed YN was gold

⤷ f1enjoyer.03 peak golden retriever bf energy tbh

⤷ f1enjoyer.04 don't forget when they showed YN and it only said "Bassist in Erinyes, Alex Albon's ???" it was so funny i fell off my chair

⤷ f1enjoyer.05 he's so gone for them.. we love loser loverboys!!!

zhouguanyu24 Congrats on the P3, Alex!! 🫶🏼 It was nice to see you and meet YN for the first time! 😄

♡ liked by alex_albon

⤷ alex_albon Thank you, Zhou!! Miss you lots man. Let's meet up for dinner soon! (Bring Sweetcorn, YN wants to meet her 🐱)

🏎️. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ .

— fin ♡

You know that fallen angels aren't supposed to be real. They’re the stuff of legends and myths— what was once glorious and beautiful becomes stained by sin, cast away from heaven and into the depths of hell. The books say that the devil was once an angel, too. Even the most beautiful, most glorious angel is still capable of sin, huh?

But you also know that there are humans who are far worse than the devil, so you easily dismiss all of that. You thought that it was an allegory for humanity’s capacity to fall to sin, serving as a warning to what could happen to youngsters who dare disobey, et cetera et cetera. Or rather, just a general reminder to keep your conscience clean.

Whatever. It’s all fiction.

But that belief is challenged the moment you hear rumors about it during race weekend.

You’re a junior member of the Mercedes strategy team, poring through lap times and evaluating how well Kimi Antonelli or George Russell did in a simulated Singapore, doing your best to translate it to possible results. You were writing down notes on your notepad, jotting down observations and suggestions to bring forward to the team, hoping that the drivers would understand your gibberish and jargon.

That’s when you hear your colleagues whisper. They probably thought no one would pay attention to them, since they’re speaking quite lowly. But you can’t help but tune in, anyway.

“Hey, have you heard about the fallen angel thing?”

“Yeah, but I don't really get it. Aren't fallen angels supposed to be fictional?”

“That’s the thing. There’s this fan posting online about how she claims to have a “sixth sense” for the supernatural or whatever. After attending a few races and even meeting the drivers, she said that one of them have this kind of.. energy to him that feels off.”

“Huh? Off in what way?”

“I dunno. It didn't make much sense to me, but I think she said that this driver, whoever the hell he is, just feels unnatural, like he shouldn't belong here with us humans. She didn't say a name or whatever, but she gave a clue..” He lists the reasons one by one with his fingers. “The driver is insanely beautiful, and if you look at him, you wouldn't think he’s a fallen angel. “He’s too sweet to be a fallen angel,” she says. She also said that he’s young, but has an old soul.”

“Wouldn't be surprised if it was George or Leclerc, t’ be honest. Both of them have the looks and the attitude for it. Can’t really explain why, but if there’s anyone in the paddock who’s a fallen angel, it’s either of them.”

“Yeah, I guess. Still just rumors, though. The girl probably wanted some clout.”

“Let’s bet on it anyway. My money’s on George.”

You try and focus on the lap times in front of you, but it’s all derailed thanks to the conversation. They might be right— a lot of fans tend to look for clout online, trying to garner attention for something that isn't true. It’s happened multiple times. But the voice in your head tells you otherwise.

What if that girl was saying the truth? What if she wasn't wrong?

If you were going to look for proof about it, you already know you’d fall into a rabbit hole.

You might as well jump in, anyway. But work comes first. You don’t want the team to fail, after all.

˚₊‧꒰ა ✦ ໒꒱ ‧₊˚

It took a while, but the team meeting went by smoothly. You managed to not stutter through your suggestions and managed to get a nod of approval from the senior strategists. Even Bono and Toto were impressed, which made your ego grow only a little bit.

Aside from listening to tire management strategies and possible set-up changes, you leaned against your seat and observed the two Mercedes drivers. You’re nosy like that. After that accidental eavesdropping from earlier, you were curious if there was some truth to the rumors, so you took to glancing at George and Kimi. You didn’t really know what signs you were looking for, but you wanted to gain something out of it, at least.

If there’s anything you’ve noticed while people-watching at the hospitality suite, you know that George hides his cards close to his chest. He may smile, laugh, or maybe even offer to buy snacks for a Mercedes guest, but it wouldn’t necessarily be what he really feels about them. At least in racing, he’s honest, if a little arrogant sometimes. But he has a reason to be arrogant, so you don’t totally blame him for that.

And then there’s Kimi.

Somehow, he’s an open book. You can see that he’s listening carefully when he’s staring into space, nodding every now and then at the suggestions being thrown. His dark brown eyes darted about the room, head tilting a little as he considers something before speaking his mind on it.

You can’t tell if Kimi is this transparent because of his age or if it’s just in his nature, but it scares you how vulnerable he seems sometimes. He brightens visibly whenever someone agrees with what he says, or if he gets a good lap in despite ending at, like, P7 or something. When he’s frustrated, his brows furrow and he looks older than he really is. He’s only nineteen and still, he carries the weight of someone who knows what high risk can offer.

Maybe that’s why he was so good during free practice.

You’re pretty damn sure that Kimi was driving like he wanted to prove something. It’s one thing that all the rookies have in common, but this fire burns brighter when it comes to Kimi.

..Actually, now that you think about it, this kind of fire has been in Kimi since the first time he stepped into the Mercedes HQ as a full-time driver. It’s like he looked at the world like it owed him something. Or rather, he wanted to meet expectations and more.

Your eyes were glued to the screen as Kimi pushed the car to its limits, making sure it won’t mess with the tires. He was fast, but he knew how to control it. His first race in Singapore, and here he is, topping the time sheets like it’s nothing.

All you could think of was: what the hell?

Thoughts of fallen angels and myths faded from your mind in the face of good racing.

(But maybe you shouldn’t have.)

˚₊‧꒰ა ✦ ໒꒱ ‧₊˚

“Hey, did you see where Kimi is?” There’s a post-quali debrief in 15 minutes, and you were the next strategist on rotation to find the Italian. Mechanics and engineers shook their heads when you ask them, and you try not to pop a vein.

It’s not like you’re mad at Kimi for disappearing after sessions, but this has been going on since at least Bahrain. Personally, you’ve only witnessed it on Baku. The post-race debrief got delayed because staff scrambled to look for Kimi, who wasn’t found until his physio tiredly brought an embarrassed and flushed rookie. “He was hiding in the Ferrari hospitality, of all places,” he said, exasperated. “Had to wrangle him away from Lewis when I found him.”

Well, it doesn’t happen every race weekend - or so the senior members have said - but it’s been common enough for the team to just roll their eyes and stand up to look for him.

At first, you thought their reaction was because Kimi’s young, but that’s not it, really. It seemed like Kimi was good at hiding under the radar even off-track. It’s so hard to find him. So you pray to God that you’d find Kimi, or else another disaster might happen the next day.

You left the garage and walked back into the paddock, squinting a bit at the brightly-lit LED lights littering the area. It’s properly nighttime now, and yet, it was still full of people ranging from guests to staff members in team kits. It vaguely reminds you of the city, but you have no time to really dwell on that now. You have to find Kimi.

The Mercedes motorhome blended in the darkness of the night, but you still spotted it thanks to the striking logo of the Silver Arrow. You step inside, no one really batting an eye at you. Still, you approach some people, asking the same question: where’s Kimi?

They gave you different answers. I didn’t see him come in, sorry. I don’t know. No. Did you check every room in the garage? Have you went to the Haas hospitality? You were this close to exploding, but you held it in.

A blessing came in the form of Mariam, one of the chefs from catering. She notices you pacing about by the bathroom entrance, running nervous hands through your hair and calmed you down with a touch of your shoulder, making you turn around to face her.

“What’s wrong?” She asked in that warm, maternal tone you’ve come to associate with her. “Did something happen?”

You smile sheepishly. “N-Not really. Just thinking of where Kimi went. We have a debrief soon and he hasn’t shown up yet. I can’t find him anywhere, and I’m just— I don’t know, sorry..” You pause, letting out a few breaths. God, you feel so tired. “Do you know where he is, Mariam? You must’ve noticed him if you have.”

She blinks, as if processing your words for a few seconds before smiling. “Ah. Yes, I have.”

“What?! Where is he, then?” You didn't mean to shout, but you shouldn't have been surprised. Nothing gets past Mariam.

She chuckles, beckoning you to lean forward so she could mutter in your ear. “He’s in his driver’s room. He came here looking exhausted, the poor boy.. I was at the counter when he arrived, and told me to not let anyone in for a little while.”

That’s a weird. He thrives with people. “No one? Not even Sergi or his PR manager?”

Mariam shakes her head. “He insisted that he wants to be alone. He said he’ll text eventually.”

But— “He isn't answering our texts and calls..” You hesitate, fidgeting with the charm attached to your phone. “Would he get mad if I bothered him?”

At this, Mariam chuckled, patting your head like you were a child. Strangely, you didn't feel coddled. “I don’t think he will. In fact, if he sees you, I think he’ll thank you for it. Why don’t you try?”

That warm smile of hers never faded, and it gives you a small boost of confidence. Mariam’s faith in someone really does make you believe everything will be just fine. Her instincts are unparalleled, after all.

Still. “If he gets mad at me, I’ll blame you.”

Mariam laughs, not offended by your words. She squeezes your arm, saying, “Alright, I’ll take the blame. But you were the one who knocked on the door.” She winks before leaving you be, manning the kitchens once more.

You shrug, smiling at her retreating form before you make your way to the driver rooms, greeting fellow staff and gently accepted gifts and friendship bracelets from fans who had a paddock club ID.

It must’ve been a ten minutes or so before you noticed something. There’s a weight in your pocket though. You quickly fish for it as the hallway’s empty, and your fist curls around a jagged object, weirdly shaped like..

“A key?”

You pull it out, and there it was— a singular key, clearly taken from a carabiner of some sorts. There’s some tape on the key with KA12 written on it with a marker.

You look around, trying to see if there was someone who dropped it in your pocket, but there’s no one there. Well, you can’t really think about it too deeply right now. You still need to find Kimi, after all.

Hopefully, he’ll be there. If not.. well, at least you tried.

˚₊‧꒰ა ✦ ໒꒱ ‧₊˚

Unlike last time, the names of the drivers were actually on the door. The clear, sleek lines of Andrea Kimi Antonelli in white stands out, the black sign contrasting the off white door of his driver room.

You were finally here. Your heart can’t stop beating against your chest, your pulse getting faster. There’s a sinking feeling of something that would happen, but you weren't sure what that is.

Your hand was shaking as you lift to knock on the door twice. “Kimi?” You called out. “Are you there?”

Silence. You try again, this time knocking a little louder. He usually responds a lot quicker like that, but nothing.

“Kimi? Are you okay?” You raise your voice a little. Did he hear you? Was he asleep? Were his headphones blasted all the way up to the max volume before his phone warned him to not put it any higher? Was he ignoring everyone on purpose? Had he—

“..Haaah.. haah.. I-I’m fine.”

Fuck. He sounds so tired. Maybe you shouldn't bother him. But Mariam’s words come back to you unbidden, and you bite your lip. Logically, you should let him be. Tell the team that Kimi wasn’t feeling good or something along those lines. But..

“Are you sure? I’'ll get you something if you need it. I can even tell the team to postpone the debrief until tomorrow morning.” You’re not entirely sure of that one, and it sounds like a terrible idea. Your fellow strategists would be mad. But at the same time, you’re willing to take the risk and find out what’s wrong.

There’s a puzzle here waiting to be solved. The pieces are laid right in front of you, but you don’t know how to put them all together.

You can only find out once you open the door.

Kimi’s answering voice interrupts you from your thoughts. “It’s.. it’s okay. Please. Don’t worry about me, I.. I just need some rest.”

With a voice like that, you can’t help but not trust his word. He sounds like his chest is heaving, probably sweating even though all the rooms are sufficiently air-conditioned, and there’s no shortage of ice packs to deal with the sweltering weather.

Someone did anonymously give you the key to his driver’s room. Kimi is behind this door. You could find out why Kimi’s being so secretive about something that his trainer or manager should be aware of. They should be in there with him right now.

This goes against everything you know is fundamentally right. But if not you, then who?

You take a deep breath, and—

“I’m sorry. I’m sorry. Please don’t be mad at me—”

“H-Hey, wait—!”

You put the key in, twist the lock, swing the door open, get in, and you stop in your tracks.

Kimi’s dark brown eyes, wide in initial surprise, snaps to you, his teeth bared— quite literally. Fans have always noticed how his canines are fang-like, and seeing it like this makes you wanna believe them. Except, they look sharper. His brows are furrowed, the shadow from the lights making him more threatening. He was sitting up on his cot, race suit bunched down to his waist. He’s sweating and flushed from the Singaporean heat.

“Close.. the goddamn door.. now.”

His accent went deeper, voice taking on a different, growly tone than normal. It isn’t something you can readily describe; you can feel years upon years of sheer.. power laced into it, as if it was natural for him to sound like this. You felt compelled to listen, to follow his every word like it was law. You were at his mercy.

Instantly, you shut the door and locked it, hands shaking as the key falls to the floor. Now that there’s no risk of anyone seeing him like this, you properly took on the gnarly sight that greeted you.

Your voice trembled as you spoke, almost faint.

“What.. what happened to you?”

Kimi didn’t answer, too busy growling at you in barely controlled rage.

He doesn’t have his fireproofs on. His back is in your full view. His nails are digging onto the pillow, one hand gripping at his own honeyed skin, breaths coming out harsher now.

And at the center of it all?

Long, twin scars on his back. Large ones that made you shiver.

It hurts just looking at it. They were jagged thin and dark, almost fresh-looking if you weren’t looking close enough. The skin surrounding it was raised a little, like there was something ripped off of Kimi’s back by force. Light scarring surrounds it. Burn marks, your mind supplies, intimately aware of the scars mechanics had when they handle equipment recklessly. It looked quite similar to that. There’s also what seems like dried blood on some parts of his skin, flaky in its crimson glory.

The unmarked skin was flushed red like his cheeks, the sweat irritating it. You could almost feel it yourself, the intense pain that Kimi is going through. He’s clearly struggling to stay calm because of it— no wonder his fireproofs were nowhere to be found.

Gulping, you slowly step away, backing yourself up against the door. Your heart’s racing, even faster than it did in today’s session. Kimi doesn’t move from his position, holding onto himself tighter as he turns his head to look at you, curls matted against his forehead, sticking onto sweaty skin uncomfortably.

You both don’t say anything until Kimi couldn’t hold it in anymore.

He sobs, his trembling body all but collapsing on the bed as he clutched at the pillow, trying to breathe but failing. Pained whimpers leave his lips, intertwined with tears cascading down his cheeks.

“It hurts.. please..”

It spurs you to action. You rummage through drawers and cabinets, thanking whichever God was listening that someone remembered to stock the room with cool drinks and enough towels for the drivers. You dampen the towel with the cool water, making sure it’s wet enough before you kneel next to Kimi, voice low.

“I’m here to help, Kimi,” you murmur, your hands still shaking, but you curl your fist in an effort to stabilize it. “I’ll be wiping you down, okay? Is- Is that alright with you?”

He nods, sniffling as he turns his head away from you, hiding his face on the pillow drenched with tears. “Just.. get it over with.. please..”

You nod even if he can’t see it. You set to work immediately, mindful to start at his upper back before sliding the damp fabric of the towel onto his skin. He flinches at the sudden cool sensation, a pained cry leaving his lips. He’s trembling now, akin to a lamb lost in unfamiliar pastures.

You take your time helping him cool down, using two different towels to clean him up: one for his back, and one for his face. You push his curls away from his face as you wipe away his tears and lingering sweat from his face, seeing the overwhelm in his face slowly bleed away. He still hiccuped some sobs and tears continued to flow as you tried to not put too much pressure on his scars. They were already so irritated, and you didn’t want it to get worse.

Before you knew it, you were done. Kimi looks more relaxed now, the tension in his body dissipated as much as he could. He’s curled onto himself, finally moving his body to lay on his side, but you appreciated that he didn’t stray away from your help.

You gave him some water to drink, and he wordlessly accepts it. You watch as his eyes flutter tiredly, puffy from all the crying and holding back. His eyes looked more resigned than anything, heavy with an unnamed, unknowable emotion that would stick with you for a long time.

You’ve never seen anyone this pained before. It scared you, how his sunshine dimmed into a cold, moonless night, weighed by scars that were more than just the physical ones.

Kimi sniffles, and you instinctively wipe it away with your thumb. His half-lidded eyes looked up to yours, staring at you for a moment, as if he was ruminating something in these few seconds.

He sighs quietly, nuzzling onto your touch as his eyes flutter to a close, lashes barely touching your palm.

“I know you have a lot of questions,” he starts, voice in a tired rumble. He gulps around nothing. “But I have my own.”

He pauses.

Kimi opens his eyes, still half-lidded as if he’s fighting the urge to rest. He waits there, watching your every move.

“Do you know what I am?”

You look into his eyes, trying to see what Kimi's expecting from you. Your breath hitches. Kimi’s gaze felt older than it should be. You felt compelled to say something, anything, but you don't even know what to think about it all. You didn't want to believe it. They’re not supposed to be real.

Still, you speak slowly. You still can’t believe your eyes. Your heart pounds against your chest. “You’re.. you’re the fallen angel, aren't you?”

Tiredly, Kimi smiles, rubbing at his eye a little. “Yeah,” he answers. “I am.”

It was all so simple. Just three words, but it renders you speechless. Kimi chuckles at your expression, yawning as he made himself comfortable as much as he could without irritating his back.

“I’m surprised there’s people who could, uhh, sense something like that,” he mutters, lips still curled into a small, meek smile. “I wasn't in danger, not really, but I still felt like I should hide. But I couldn't really hide my scars forever.”

Afterwards, he falls into melancholic silence, fingers picking at the zipper of the pillowcase, decorated with little stars.

It doesn't explain anything.

“How did you even manage to get here, Kimi? Shouldn't have more people found out about you?” You pause. “How old are you, Kimi? Is that even your real name? I—”

“Shut up for a sec. I tried so hard to not pass out, but you’re overwhelming me,” he interrupts dryly, his eyes falling shut as he sighs.

He opens them again, but he doesn't look at you. He seems more interested in whatever negative space lay between you two, unfocused but aware.

“I’ve stayed here on Earth for a long time now. We see time differently, even if we fell. I.. only started taking count recently, so I am nineteen, technically. I have a different name, but I don’t like it anymore, and I like being Andrea Kimi Antonelli. Uh.. what else..”

He groans, rubbing his temple in frustration. “Can we just.. drop the topic for now? All you need to know is that the people who know are my team, my parents, Sergi, Bono, Toto, Susie, and Lewis. That’s it.”

You two fall into a heavy silence, weighed by the secret that you uncovered. A fallen angel hiding in plain sight, anonymous in a sea of faces in the paddock. How on earth..?

As you look closer, you realize that the girl from that TikTok was right. The archaic hurt in Kimi’s eyes, the beauty that’s impossible to ignore. His undereyes were lined with something like stress or tension, something that should not be on someone as young as Kimi.

Questions swam in your head as you realize just how terrifying this is for him. Everyday, he’s at risk of revealing himself. Everyday, he has to hide parts of himself that would scare the normal person.

But instead of being scared of him, you’re.. scared for him, if it makes sense.

You couldn't stop yourself from asking questions. “Not even George knows? He didn't notice in Miami?” How in the hell did he not get caught all the way back then? That video of Kimi being shirtless while being congratulated by George kind of burned itself in your brain at this point.

Kimi laughs, sunshine breaking through his for the first time since you barged into his room. He scrunches up his nose, embarrassed at remembering that moment. “Listen, I didn't expect him to come in when I was shirtless. We aren't close like that yet! I had to make sure he didn't notice that I had scars, you know. Sergi was laughing at me when George left.” Kimi huffs. “So mean. He doesn't give a shit about me and my mental wellbeing.”

The way he spoke just makes you stifle your laughter. He sounded so.. annoyed. Like he doesn't like thinking about it, and now that you’ve brought it up, it’s now inconvenienced him.

He narrows his eyes at you, noticing you laugh, but the corner of his lip twitches. “What are you giggling for? It’s not very fun to almost get caught by your teammate, you know.”

You just laugh even harder. You don’t know why you’re so amused by it all— it’s probably a mix of his tone, his expression, and the general absurdity of the situation. Finding out that your coworker is a fallen angel but still finding a way to make things lighter was..

You smile at him.

“I’m honestly just surprised not many people have found out about you. I just—” You sigh, trying to find the right words. There’s a delicate balance you need to maintain here. “You’ve been hiding this for so long, haven't you?”

Kimi sighs. “Mhm. Too long.”

And then, silence falls. You don’t need that much words, now.

The weight of Kimi’s revelation was enough.

˚₊‧꒰ა ✦ ໒꒱ ‧₊˚

Not much changed since then, really. You’re still hard at work learning how to work out good strategies that works for both drivers. Kimi is still learning, still pushing the limits of what the car can do while smiling and pushing cake on his colleagues’ faces on birthdays.

His secret weighs down on you, heavy like keys in your pocket. Still, you were grateful that you’re part of the very small circle of people that knows Kimi’s real identity. But..

There’s this.. magnetism that draws you closer to him. You seek him out, eyes searching for him every time you step into a meeting room in Mercedes. You think of him and his scars, wondering if he was coping well after Singapore. The heat was too much for his still-fresh scars, after all, and you aren't sure if he was telling the truth when he told you this.

There's still so much you don’t know. Why does Kimi’s silhouette against the sunlight still form a gentle halo around his head? What happened for him to fall in the first place? Why does he smile at you like he’s known you since the beginning of forever?

It all came down to a head in Austin.

You and Kimi managed to sneak out after a long and, frankly, boring meeting. Too much data swam in your head, and Kimi texted you with a cheeky let’s get out of here paired with a mischievous glint in his eyes. And before you knew it, he’s grabbed you by the hand the moment it ended and you two booked it.

Your shared laughter fills the slightly cooler night, a bit unexpected for a place like Texas, but you take these small blessings. He squeezes your hand tight, warm and reassuring as he leads you to an ice cream shop he found while exploring with the social media staff. Somehow, it was still open at this hour. It was kinda late for normal people, after all.

He orders you your favorite flavor without batting an eye, smiling at the cashier as he pays with money from his own pocket. You look at him incredulously. You haven't even told him that you liked this specific flavor that, somehow, the store sells.

He senses your gaze and glances at you, shrugging as he smirked. “My treat. We’ve been working hard lately.”

As if that could explain it. You say as much, and he giggles. The bastard.

Your meager annoyance melts away as you eat your ice cream, a matching smile making its way to your face. Kimi gets the brilliant idea of eating them on the benches outside, even though you both knew that there’s a nonzero chance some paparazzi would catch the two of you and frame it as a date.

Somehow, it didn't matter. There were other important matters, such as unravelling more of the mystery behind Kimi Antonelli.

It scares you a bit, how well he matches your energy. It’s like he knows who you were, even before you met him.

You think back on your first meeting with Kimi, all the way back in 2024 when you were an intern and he was still in F2. You saw him from time to time, working in the paddock and learning how everything worked. Data flew around so fast, numbers being crunched as soon as four wheels touch the track’s tarmac.

It overwhelmed you, the world of F1. But when you saw Kimi, fresh from F2 and ready to take on his first-ever free practice session in Monza. When he lifts his eyes and met yours, curls messy from almost running late all the way from hospitality and to the garage, you swore there was a spark of recognition igniting in you. Was it from a dream? Or from a childhood memory you could no longer remember?

But the demands of the track kept you apart. From a spin 10 minutes into the lap, focusing on the F2 championship, and gradually working a way up the Mercedes ladder, Kimi’s familiar gaze faded away until it was confirmed that he would replace Lewis after the latter moved to Ferrari.

“Hey.”

You startle, Kimi’s voice close to you as you turn to look at him. You’re still holding your ice cream, and he’s still holding his. You exhale shakily, blinking away your thoughts.

“You okay?” He murmurs in that gentle tone of his. “You’ve gone quiet for a while. I was worried you’d get lost in your thoughts for the night— that would be kinda sad.” He smiles, trying to aim for cheeky and lands on awkward. You giggle, nudging his shoulder a little and he nudges back. “But seriously, is there anything bothering you? It’s only you and me. No one’s really looking for us now.”

“I doubt that, but sure,” you answer automatically, and he laughs, scrunching his nose in disbelief. You sigh, slumping against the bench with a kind of defeat that happens only to people who just don’t know what to do anymore. You’d know, since you’ve been ruminating on this for a while. You stare at the quiet city before you, the streets empty and the lamp lights dim.

It takes you a bit before you answer. “I just.. I don’t know, Kimi. There’s something about you that feels.. familiar to me. Like I’ve seen you before, but I can’t really remember.” You turn to him, a frown lining your lips as you weakly scoop some ice cream, trying to leverage some of the lingering sweetness of the melting dessert. “Have we met before, Kimi? Were we, I don’t know, childhood friends or something like that? I’ve always felt like I’ve known you for a while, and I know you feel the same, but it’s all just so weird to me. Like, who finds people that gives you deja vu? It’s not common, that’s for sure—”

Kimi sighs. You can hear the fond eye roll as he stops you from stabbing the paper cup of the ice cream with the spoon, his warm hand enveloping yours. God, it was so much bigger than yours, but it didn’t feel intimidating at all.

You meet his gaze. Like always, those golden brown eyes were steady, uncountable years making him shrewder beyond what everyone sees. He smiles sadly, glancing down at your hands, and he sets his ice cream cup down before taking your hands into both of his.

“Guardian angels are the most recognizable among all angels,” Kimi starts, patient as he slowly uncurls your fist from the plastic spoon, gently pulling your fingers away from it one by one. “When someone says the word “angel,” that’s the kind of angel they think about. Warm, friendly, and the closest to humans. All of that is true.”

As your hand comes free, he interlocks it with his own, his breath stuttering a little. You can’t tell if it’s from the cold or from the heavy weight in his heart. You squeeze his hand, and a smile curls his lips.

“I was one of them, once. One of the youngest. I was bright, curious as I watched humans go about their daily life. Back then, I was fascinated, as most guardian angels were— they are weak compared to us, but they are just as powerful. They are capable of anything, so long as they set their minds to it. It was.. something I’ve always loved about humans. They never stopped giving up.” His smile turns soft, wistful as his eyes now look into yours.

“Guardian angels are assigned a human. It’s a random process, one that higher-ranking angels do in order to maintain peace and guide humans to God’s embrace. There are millions of guardian angels, assigned to all sorts of people.” He falters for a moment, but he presses on. “Many guardian angels tend to be assigned to a single human that is born and reborn through the centuries. I can’t say I know why, but it’s just how it was. It was normal.

“There were many rules. You could say it’s like how the Queen of Hearts has 810 rules in her queendom,” he jokes, chuckling. You smile, too, getting what he meant. “But the most important of them all was to stay detached to your assigned human. You cannot change the course of their destiny, interfere with their lives beyond what is necessary, and to never be swayed by them.”

Kimi falls silent, his voice coming out quiet like a secret. Fragile, much like the moment you saw him in his driver’s room all those weeks ago.

“My human.. I watched them for a few hundred years. Must be close to 200, but I can’t really remember. At first, I did what I was told— guard them away from evil and temptation, face the devils that try and drag them to a life of pure sin. Many said I was a brilliant guardian angel, protecting them with what I can and making sure they were safe. I was proud of that— and I still am. Until one day..”

He pauses, tears gathering in his eyes. You widen yours, moving closer. “Kimi, you don’t have to—”

“But I need to,” he counters, holding your hand tighter. His look was resolute. You knew he was stubborn, much like an actual teenager, and there’s no stopping Kimi from doing what he thought was right. You let it slide, and he gives you a grateful but slightly embarrassed smile. It morphs into something inexplainable. “If I don’t say it out loud, it doesn’t make it real. If.. If I don’t tell the truth to you, it wouldn’t give you justice. Please, let me finish.”

“Of course,” you murmur. “I’m sorry. You can continue.”

“It’s okay,” he chuckles. “I know you mean well. Thank you for caring for me. I appreciate it.”

Kimi takes a deep breath, steadying himself as he continues. “One day.. I found myself.. longing to become human. I asked myself, ‘What would it be like if I was a human?’ For a moment, my heart stopped. I shouldn’t want to become something else, something that was not part of who I was. But I was curious, anyway. I followed my human through their daily life, quietly watching from the shadows. Humans cannot normally see guardian angels, but somehow, I revealed myself to them.”

“What? How could you just do that?”

“I don’t know, okay,” Kimi sighed, all-suffering and cringing at himself. You had to stifle laughter by how annoyed he is at his past self. “I was a lovesick fool, I think. But they didn’t react badly to me. In fact, they.. they smiled so happily at me. I still had wings, mind you, but they didn’t care for it and offered me some fruits they were picking.” He pauses, smiling privately at memories. “After that, I found myself wanting to be by my human’s side, always, to learn the ways of Earth and protect them from evil. I was no archangel, but I wanted it anyway.”

You vividly picture Kimi, clad in all-white and golden like the sun, trudging through the clouds of Heaven and yearning for something he loved yet did not wholly understand. He was much like a lamb like that— innocent, yet all-loving. It makes you smile, your heart warm. Nothing much changed, really.

He leans his head on your shoulder all of a sudden, eyes shut as if he was in pain. He wasn’t making any sort of pained sounds, you think, but there was something in his next words that made you realize that he was hurt for a different reason.

“And then, as it always does, death came to my human. Their life was taken unjustly, and to this day, I don’t know why the perpetrator did it. I was there, witnessing as my human was taken from their family and into the shadows. All that was left was their body, mangled and.. and bloody.” Kimi shudders, and you wrap your free arm around him, clutching at him like he was clutching you. You can feel your jacket get wet with tears, but you don’t say anything. “I-I was angry. I had the power to stop them from that kind of death. I knew I could prevent it if I wanted to! Death is natural, yes, but- but they didn’t have to die like that. They- they had such beautiful dreams, and.. it was all taken in an instant..”

Kimi heaves out a sob, centuries of grief pouring down as he cried on your shoulder.

“Their soul was reborn in another body, and still, it didn’t feel the same, even when I was happy to watch over them as a child. I-It was unfair. I asked my fellow guardians, my superiors, even.. why did they have to die like that? Why do we angels have the power to save humans but we cannot use it? I-I did not understand. I-I still don’t.” He coughs a bit, and you rub at his back in an attempt to comfort him, making sure you don’t accidentally touch his scars. He sniffles. “Over time, I just got angrier and angrier. How could my friends watch as their humans die such horrible deaths? Why would the forces of darkness take our humans away and we cannot even fight it? Why were there so many restrictions placed upon us when we could help humans much better than we could now?”

“They were furious. They- they called me a traitor, for thinking that way. They called me a failure, b-because I accidentally broke many important rules. And most of all.. because I questioned why.” Kimi’s breath was shakier now, and he couldn’t stop his sobs even if he tried. “I.. I was brought to trial. They listed out my crimes, and.. and..”

He stops, hugging you tighter as if wanting to disappear from it all. You gladly hold him close. It’s the least you could do.

“..They.. they brought me to the center, after finding me guilty. Two of my old friends held my arms, away from my back. They had me restrained, a-and.. it all happened so quickly. One moment my wings were held together in a single fist, and in the next, I was— I was screaming, m-my wings cut clean from my back..” He whimpers, pressing closer as if the pain still lingered. It did, in it’s own way. “There- there was so much blood.. nobody came to my defense, nobody- nobody cared enough for them to even mitigate my punishment..! It hurt so much, and I-I hate remembering it. I didn’t do anything wrong, but why did they take away what was part of me? Why did they punish me like so? Other fallen angels had done worse things than I have— I did not try to hurt another angel, nor did I even insinuate that I wanted to have power, but..”

His energy leaves him, and you hold him close, silent tears falling down on your cheeks. You play with his hair, knowing that it comforted him in some way or another.

“I’m sorry you had to go through that,” you mumble against his temple, kissing the soft patch of skin. “You.. you don’t deserve it. You just wanted to make things better.”

He hums, wordlessly accepting your flimsy attempts at comfort. Even without saying anything, you knew he wouldn’t be offended by that. He lifts his head up weakly, offering you a fragile smile.

“It’s alright. I’m.. I’m doing much better now than I did before. When I was falling from heaven, I.. I felt lost and was full of sorrow. I didn’t know what to do now— I barely had any powers, and I no longer have the divinity being an angel offered to me.” You wipe away his tears, and he nuzzles your hand, his smile growing softer yet it did not waver. “I wandered the world for a while, confused and alone. I hid in the shadows, ashamed because.. because somehow, I failed, and I was cast away from the well-loved flock.” Tears continued to flow from his eyes. “I did not want to interact with humans for a long time. I.. just existed, somehow surviving a world I did not know how to navigate.”

He snorts, rubbing at his eyes, a quirk of amusement in his smile. “I bumped into my papa by accident. He was buying groceries, and he spotted me hiding from the shopkeeper, feeding myself fruits. He told me that a good kid like me didn’t belong in the streets, so he took me in. Mama was.. she didn't expect that her husband would come back with a depressed kid in tow, but.. she took care of me all the same. When they asked me where I was from, I couldn’t lie to them. I didn’t tell them everything at once, of course, but I was family all the same.”

“They gave you your name, didn’t they?” You ask, smiling as you leaned against Kimi, sticking close to him as much as he was sticking close to you. A night with murmured secrets needs good company. Kimi nods, trailing his fingertips over your knuckles.

“Yeah. They did. And a few years into karting, they also gave me Maggie. I was happy to experience human life like this, and.. still, I didn’t know where my human was. All I knew was their name.”

His eyes suddenly felt more intense, looking deep into the windows of your soul. When he spoke next, his voice was soft.

“It was yours. And the next thing I knew, I met you in Monza, all grown up.” He smiles, nuzzling your hair. “I still remember when I guarded you. You were six, I think. Children are the only humans that can see guardian angels without repercussions, and you saw me just fine.” He drew mindless shapes on your hand, little swirls and waves coming from his fingertip. “I watched you play with your mom’s model cars, running around the house and tripping over furniture. You had a plushie that looked exactly like your pet, and I thought it was the cutest thing ever.”

You freeze. What the hell?

First of all, why did he remember that really weird moment of your life when you were excitable and clumsy all the time? That’s very rude of him. Second, you feel like exploding because he thought your childhood plushie-pet-thing was cute. Why did he think that was cute? And third—

“You were my guardian angel?!”

Kimi covers his mouth, trying so hard not to crack up. “Pfft- Why do you sound so surprised? Did you expect it to be someone else?”

“Well, no, but—” You pause. You hate that his story lines up with your foggy memories of your childhood. You remember peeking through the trees of the backyard and seeing this boy with gorgeous, white wings wearing a mischievous smile, telling you to go back before your parents start looking for you. You remember that you had a phase where you tried convincing your mom that you had a friend that was standing right next to you, but she dismissed it as an imaginary friend.

He’s not imaginary, mom! You hear your kiddie self yell. He’s right here! He’s like a dove and he’s really sweet!

Oh God. Kimi would definitely remember that.

“Dammit, why did it have to be you?! Now you’re gonna make me relive all my cringey experiences as a kid!” you all but whine, hitting Kimi’s shoulder weakly. His body shook with silent laughter, the tension from such a heavy topic lifted for but a moment. “Don’t laugh, Kimi! I’m gonna get back at you one day, I just know it!”

“I don’t think you will, but whatever you say,” he relents, giggling as he pinches your cheek. “I like every version of you, anyway. But this one’s my favorite.”

You fall silent at that, your cheeks turning rosy pink at the random declaration from Kimi. A fallen angel was still an angel in some way, after all.

“Idiot,” you murmur halfheartedly. “You open your heart and the best thing you do after that is tell me that you were my guardian angel and you might remember every embarrassing thing I did. Real cool of you to do that.”

“Mm, thank you. I try my best to cope, and humor is a good way to do it,” he answers, patting your head gently. “And besides, it’s easier to say it all to you. You won’t judge me, and you treat me like you treat any other person.” His eyes soften as he looks at you, his hand lingering on your shoulder. “I’m glad you broke into my room, then. I don’t think I would’ve handled it well if it was anyone else. And I’m sorry for dumping all this to you— it’s.. it’s heavy, right? You don’t have to carry it if you don’t want to.”

You smile, stroking Kimi’s open palm gently. “It’s okay. I.. I feel honored to know your truth, Kimi. It’s brave of you to do that.” You meet his eyes, wanting him to see how sincere you are. “It’s heavy, yeah, I’ll admit that. But it’s better for me to know than to keep wondering why you look sad sometimes. I.. don’t really know how to comfort you, or to make you feel better, but.. I’m here. As long as you’ll let me, I’m here. I’m staying with you, because you deserve it. You’ve done nothing but good. You are good, Kimi.”

You reach up to kiss his forehead, tender like a benediction. A small gift for someone who’s done his best for you this whole time. His eyes close when he receives it, a single tear falling down his cheek.

“Thank you for your hard work. You don’t have to be alone in this world anymore. You.. you can rest, with me.”

When you pull away, Kimi’s eyes fluttered open, glassy and transparent with emotion. You gently stroke his cheek with your thumb, and his hand comes up to rest on top of yours, loosely interlocking them together.

His smile is dazzling, even when the two of you were alone in the dark recesses of a city you don’t belong in. There’s a certain kind of comfort in it, something like the sun when you were out playing with your friends.

You remember the feelings he stirred in you so clearly now, the image of his past self coming to you unbidden— the flutter of white feathers, a gentle hand helping you up, and arms that cradled you when you had nightmares.

That Kimi and this Kimi are so vastly different. The Kimi in front of you now is weathered from the pain he felt all these years, tucked away in his heart and kept it that way until someone showed him unconditional kindness and care. He was older — is older — and wiser, but he still had an air of innocence and warmth that was somehow not tainted from his fall.

You’re pretty sure you like this version of Kimi more; he’s bold, sometimes a little reckless, mischievous, and sweet. You say as much to him.

He grins. “I’m glad you do.”

And that was it. Simple as that. He’s Kimi, and you’re you. That’s all that mattered in the end, really.