#kingsday

Lando groaned. —Hi, Ames. Nice to see you too.—

Amelie leaned closer to the camera, squinting at him. —Is that... a bandage wrapped around your face? Did you get into a bar fight or something?—

—No!— Lando said, exasperated. —I cut my nose on a broken glass. And before you say anything, it wasn’t my fault.—

—Oh, sure,— Amelie teased, her laughter bubbling through the phone. —So the glass just... jumped at you? Classic.—

Martin, still laughing, chimed in. —I swear, Ames, it was the most pathetic thing I’ve ever seen. He’s sitting there, trying to look cool, and bam! Broken glass, blood everywhere.—

—Thanks for the support, mate,— Lando said dryly, rolling his eyes.

Amelie was laughing so hard now that she had to set her script aside. —I wish I was there to see it,— she managed between giggles. —You’re such a disaster.—

—Well, I wish you were here too,— Lando said, his tone softening. —But, you know, not to laugh at me. To, like, enjoy the chaos. And maybe keep me from injuring myself.—

Amelie’s teasing smile shifted into something more affectionate. —You’d still find a way to hurt yourself, even with me there.—

—Probably,— Lando admitted with a grin. —But at least you’d kiss it better.—

—Bold assumption,— she shot back, though the playful glint in her eye betrayed her.

—Don’t act like you don’t like an excuse to baby me,— he said, leaning into the flirtation.

Amelie rolled her eyes but couldn’t hide her smile. —How’s the party? Besides the obvious injury.—

—Insane,— Lando said, glancing around at the packed boat. —You’d love it. Everyone’s in orange, the music’s loud, and the drinks are... well, apparently dangerous.—

—Sounds like my kind of chaos,— she said wistfully. —But instead, I’m stuck in Indianapolis, pretending to be in the Upside Down. Not quite the same vibe.—

—I’ll trade you,— Lando offered. —You can party with Martin, and I’ll fight some Demogorgons or whatever.—

Amelie smirked. —Tempting, but I think I’ll stick to my fake monsters. They’re probably less hazardous than your broken glass.—

—Fair,— Lando conceded. —But next year, you’re coming with me. No excuses.—

—It’s a deal,— she said, her voice softening again. —But only if you promise not to injure yourself next time.—

—No promises,— Lando said with a wink.

Martin, who had been quiet during their back-and-forth, finally interrupted. —You two are disgustingly cute, you know that?—

Amelie laughed. —That’s your fault for calling me, Garrix.—

—I regret it deeply,— Martin deadpanned, though his grin betrayed him.

—Alright, I’ll let you two get back to your boat shenanigans,— Amelie said, still smiling. —But, Lando, please try not to bleed out, okay?—

—I’ll do my best,— he said, flashing her a boyish grin.

—Bye, Amelie,— Martin said, waving dramatically at the screen.

—Bye, guys,— she said, blowing a kiss toward the camera before the call ended.

Lando stared at the phone for a moment after the call ended, a small, private smile on his lips. Martin clapped him on the back, jolting him back to the present. —Mate, you’re so whipped.—

—Shut up,— Lando said, but he couldn’t stop smiling.

The party raged on, but Lando’s thoughts kept drifting back to Amelie, her laughter still ringing in his ears. Even thousands of miles apart, she had a way of making everything better. Broken glass, bleeding nose, and all.

The party showed no signs of slowing down, and neither did Martin’s enthusiasm for filling Lando’s glass. The music thumped in time with the swaying boat, and the laughter of their group carried over the water like an anthem of carefree chaos. Lando had lost count of how many drinks he’d had; all he knew was that his mind felt light, his limbs loose, and his tongue dangerously unfiltered.

Martin was recounting yet another ridiculous tour story when he noticed Lando staring into his half-empty glass, the smile on his face softer than usual.

—You’re quiet,— Martin said, nudging him. —What’s going on in that drunk little head of yours?—

Lando laughed, the sound more wistful than amused. —Just thinking.—

—Dangerous,— Martin teased, taking another sip of his drink. —About what? Or, let me guess... Amelie.—

Lando’s cheeks flushed, and he looked away, trying to mask it with a chuckle. —Shut up.—

Martin grinned, clearly onto something. —Oh, come on, mate. It’s written all over your face. You can’t stop smiling every time she’s mentioned, or when she calls, apparently. You’ve got it bad.—

Lando hesitated, his drunken inhibitions clashing with his usual instinct to play it cool. He swirled the liquid in his glass, watching the way it caught the light, before finally speaking. —I don’t know, man. It’s just… different with her.—

Martin’s eyebrows shot up. He wasn’t expecting Lando to actually open up. —Different how?—

Lando exhaled deeply, the alcohol loosening his tongue further. —She’s… she’s not like anyone else. She gets me, you know? Like, really gets me. I can be myself with her, completely. No filter, no walls. And she’s just... amazing. She’s funny, and smart, and talented, and so, so beautiful. And when she smiles, it’s like... I don’t know, like everything’s right with the world.—

Martin blinked at him, momentarily stunned into silence. Then he smirked. —Mate, you’re not just whipped... you’re in love.—

The words hung in the air, heavier than the party atmosphere around them. Lando didn’t respond immediately, his gaze fixed on the shimmering water. He downed the rest of his drink before answering, his voice quieter now. —Yeah. I think I am.—

Martin let out a low whistle, leaning back against the railing. —Well, shit. I didn’t think you’d actually admit it.—

Lando shrugged, a crooked smile tugging at his lips. —It’s the truth. And, honestly, it scares the hell out of me. Like, what if I mess it up? What if she doesn’t feel the same way?—

Martin shook his head, his expression surprisingly serious. —Lando, if you think she doesn’t feel the same, you’re blind. Did you not see the way she was looking at you earlier? She’s just as into you as you are into her.—

—You think so?— Lando asked, his voice tinged with a rare vulnerability.

—I know so,— Martin said firmly. —Now, the real question is, when are you gonna tell her?—

Lando laughed nervously, rubbing the back of his neck. —I don’t know. It’s not exactly easy to drop the ‘I love you’ bomb on someone, you know?—

—Well, you’d better figure it out, mate,— Martin said, clinking his glass against Lando’s. —Because if you don’t, someone else might. And you’d be an idiot to let her go.—

Lando nodded, the weight of Martin’s words settling in his chest. He glanced at his phone, the thought of Amelie’s laughter and the way her eyes lit up when she teased him replaying in his mind. He didn’t have all the answers, but one thing was clear—he had to tell her. And soon.

For now, though, the night wasn’t over. The boat swayed as another wave of cheers erupted from the crowd, and Martin handed him another drink, grinning mischievously. —Come on, lover boy. Let’s make some more memories to regret tomorrow.—

Lando laughed, clinking his glass against Martin’s. —Cheers to that.— But even as he joined in the revelry, his thoughts never strayed far from Amelie.

-------------

liked by amesarchives, papayaprincess, and others

norrislando_fans: Lando today in Miami🇺🇸 (‘Tis but a scratch😅)

View all 1,153 comments

papayaprincess: NOT THE CUT ON HIS NOSE 😭 → raceweekendbaby: king’s day aftermath → gridtherapy: worth it tho

amesnation: “tis but a scratch” SIR WHAT DID YOU DO → softforames: amsterdam activities

lan4life: martin garrix better explain this 😭 → apexaddict: chaotic duo → orangehelmetclub: no supervision

papayalvr: the way it’s right on the bridge of his nose → raceglow: ouch

gridgirl444: he really went partying and showed up to miami like this

checkeredcutie: the fact fans immediately connected it to king’s day 😭 → apexheartbeat: detectives

pitlaneangel: imagine explaining that to the team → drszone: “i walked into something” sure

landoszn: he looks so unbothered too → orangehelmetclub: just a scratch

swiftiegrid: from partying in amsterdam to miami paddock in days

monacostarboy: someone bubble wrap this man → gridgirlie: please

gridtherapy: the lore behind this cut is already iconic → tyretemps: legendary

amesarchives: king’s day lando never disappoints → softforames: chaos every year

papayababy: at least he made it back in one piece… mostly

papayaprincess: the way he just showed up like nothing happened 😭 → raceweekendbaby: “just a scratch” energy → gridtherapy: iconic

amesnation: i KNOW that story is insane → softforames: we need the full version → monacodreamin: martin garrix tell us everything

lan4life: imagine him explaining this to the team → apexaddict: “i tripped” sure

papayalvr: lowkey looks kinda cool on him → raceglow: accidental aesthetic

gridgirl444: king’s day really took him OUT → tyretemps: annual tradition

checkeredcutie: the fact he still went out in miami like this 😭 → apexheartbeat: unstoppable

pitlaneangel: not him partying then flying straight to race week → drszone: built different

landoszn: ok but is amelie in miami too… → orangehelmetclub: asking the real questions → apexaddict: where is she

swiftiegrid: imagine her seeing the cut for the first time 😭 → erasangel: she’d be like ???

monacostarboy: if amelie is in miami i KNOW she’s teasing him about it → gridgirlie: 100%

amesarchives: every year king’s day gives us content → softforames: never fails

papayababy: i just know this is going to become a running joke → raceweekendbaby: “the scratch” era

-------------

The Miami heat hit differently.

It wasn’t just the temperature—it was the weight of it, thick in the air, wrapping around everything in that slow, heavy way that made even the simplest moments feel more intense. Lando stepped out of the hotel lobby, sunglasses pushed up slightly into his hair, a small duffel slung over his shoulder with just enough thrown inside to make it clear he wasn’t planning on sleeping in his own room tonight. Golf that morning had been easy, mindless in the best way—just enough distraction to keep him from checking his phone every five minutes, from thinking too much about the fact that she was landing today.

Now, though, now she was here.

He spotted her almost immediately.

Standing just outside by the curb, next to a black SUV, her attention fixed on her phone, one hand resting lightly against the door as if she had just arrived. The sunlight caught her in that unfair way it always seemed to, her hair falling perfectly, her outfit effortless in a way that made it look like she hadn’t even tried. And for a second, Lando just… stopped.

Because it hit him all at once.

The past few days.

The distance.

The late calls.

The I love you that had been sitting somewhere between them, unspoken in the daylight.

And then she felt him.

Like she always did.

Her head lifted, eyes finding him instantly, and the second she smiled—soft at first, then brighter—something in his chest tightened so fast it almost caught him off guard.

Fuck.

He missed her.

More than he realized.

And worse, he loved her.

The thought landed with a kind of clarity that didn’t leave room for overthinking this time. No spiraling, no hesitation, no trying to push it away like he had on the plane with Max.

Just… her.

Lando didn’t even remember fully crossing the distance between them, only that one second she was a few steps away and the next his hands were on her, sliding around her waist, pulling her close like there hadn’t been space between them at all. She let out a soft laugh, barely having time to react before he leaned down and kissed her.

It wasn’t rushed.

Wasn’t desperate.

Just warm.

Familiar.

Exactly what he needed.

Her hands came up instinctively, resting against his chest as she kissed him back, melting into it just enough to make his grip tighten slightly at her waist, like he was grounding himself there for a second longer than necessary.

When they pulled apart, it wasn’t by much.

Her smile lingered, softer now, her eyes scanning his face like she was making sure he was actually there.

—Hi,— she murmured.

—Hi,— he echoed, his thumb brushing lightly against her side before he finally let his gaze flick past her toward the car.

And that’s when he noticed.

The empty driver’s seat.

He frowned slightly, glancing back at her.

—Where’s your driver?—

Amelie’s expression shifted instantly—something brighter, almost proud—as she lifted her hand and dangled the keys in front of him.

—Right here.—

Lando blinked.

—You drove?—

She nodded, a little too pleased with herself.

—All the way from my hotel.—

He huffed out a small laugh, already reaching for the keys out of instinct more than anything.

—Alright, give me those, I’ll drive...—

But she was faster.

Her hand pulled back immediately, holding them just out of his reach as she narrowed her eyes at him.

—Excuse me? I drove here, I can drive us back.—

Lando raised a brow.

—That’s not how that works.—

—That is exactly how that works.—

—Ames—

She stepped closer again, cutting him off before he could finish, one hand coming up to cup his face, her expression shifting as her eyes flicked down to his nose.

—Hold on.—

Lando froze slightly.

—What—

Her thumb brushed lightly just under the small bandage, inspecting it like she had every right to, her lips pressing together as she nodded to herself.

—Yeah, you’re still an idiot.—

He let out a quiet laugh.

—Thank you, that’s really reassuring.—

She ignored him completely, leaning in and pressing a soft kiss right against the edge of the bandage.

Lando winced immediately.

—Ow... okay, that actually hurt—

She laughed, pulling back with zero sympathy.

—Good.—

—You’re horrible.—

—And you like me.—

—Unfortunately,— Lando shot back, but there was no bite to it, only that same warmth that hadn’t left his chest since he’d seen her standing there.

She only grinned, turning away from him like she’d already won, unlocking the car with a small click before slipping into the driver’s seat without another word. Lando stood there for half a second, watching her—watching the way she settled in like she belonged there, like this was just another normal thing for her to do—and then he shook his head under his breath, a quiet, disbelieving smile pulling at his lips before he walked around the car and got in beside her.

The second the door shut, he felt it.

That shift.

That small, enclosed space where it was just them again.

No distance.

No screens.

No waiting.

Just Amelie, right there next to him, adjusting her seat and reaching for the wheel like she had something to prove.

Lando leaned back slightly, one hand resting near his thigh, the other bracing lightly against the door as he glanced at her.

—You sure about this?—

She didn’t even look at him.

—Completely.—

The engine started smoothly, and before he could argue again, she was already pulling out into traffic and that’s when Lando realized this was actually happening.

For the first few seconds, he said nothing, watching the road, watching her hands on the wheel, the way she leaned forward just slightly in focus. It wasn’t bad, not really, but there was something about not being the one in control that made his body stay just a little too alert.

—You’re gripping the seat,— she pointed out casually.

Lando blinked, glancing down.

He was.

His fingers tightened slightly before he forced them to relax.

—No, I’m not.—

She shot him a quick look, unimpressed.

—You are.—

—I’m just… resting my hand.—

—You look like you’re about to jump out of the car.—

—I’m not going to jump out of a moving car, Amelie.—

—Good, because that would ruin my perfect driving record.—

He let out a short laugh despite himself, shaking his head as he leaned back a little more, trying—failing—to look relaxed.

—Perfect record? You’ve driven, what, twice?—

—Three times,— she corrected, very serious. —And nothing bad has happened. So technically, I’m an excellent driver.—

Lando hummed, glancing out the window, then back at the road, then back at her.

—Right.—

A beat.

Another turn.

She changed lanes smoothly, a little too confidently, and Lando’s hand found the seat again without him realizing.

—Lando.—

—Yeah?—

—Relax.—

—I am relaxed.—

She smiled to herself, eyes still on the road.

—You’re literally holding your breath.—

He exhaled immediately.

—Okay, that one was… temporary.—

She laughed softly, and something about the sound of it—the ease, the familiarity—finally started to settle him. His shoulders dropped slightly, the tension easing out of him little by little as the city moved around them, Miami loud and alive outside the windows.

And she was fine.

More than fine.

She was good.

Confident.

Happy.

By the time they pulled into the entrance of her hotel, Lando had stopped bracing himself entirely, his posture looser now, his attention drifting from the road to her again, watching the way she maneuvered into a spot with surprising precision.

The car came to a smooth stop.

Silence followed for half a second.

Then she turned to him, lifting her brows slightly.

—See?—

Lando looked around, then back at her.

—We’re alive.—

—Exactly.—

He let out a breath, shaking his head with a quiet laugh.

—Alright, I’ll give you that. That was… actually impressive.—

Her smile widened, clearly pleased with herself.

—Thank you.—

For a moment, neither of them moved.

The engine still running.

The world still buzzing outside.

But inside, it felt… still.

Lando turned slightly in his seat, studying her in that quiet way he did sometimes, like he was memorizing something without saying it out loud. She noticed, of course—she always did—but she didn’t interrupt it, just watched him back, softer now.

—What?— she asked after a second.

He shook his head lightly.

—Nothing.—

But it wasn’t nothing.

It was everything, really.

The way she showed up.

The way she fit into his life so easily it almost scared him.

The way he didn’t have to think about it anymore.

He glanced toward the hotel, then back at her, one corner of his mouth lifting slightly.

—You know…— he started, voice casual, but there was something under it. —I don’t really see the point of this.—

She frowned a little.

—Of what?—

He gestured vaguely between them, then toward the building.

—You having a room here.—

Her expression didn’t change at first, like she was waiting for him to explain.

So he did.

—Because let’s be honest,— he continued, shifting slightly closer, his voice dropping just a bit, more familiar now, more certain, —one of us is going to end up in the other’s room anyway.—

A small pause.

Her lips twitched.

—Probably.—

—Not probably,— he corrected softly. —Definitely.—

She huffed a quiet laugh, looking down for a second before glancing back at him.

—And your solution is…?—

Lando didn’t hesitate.

—My solution is that it’s time for Checo to stop asking Red Bull to book you a room…— he said, reaching over to gently take the keys from her hand this time, slower, easier, —and for you to just stay with me.—

The words settled between them.

Simple.

But not small.

Amelie’s expression softened in a way that made something in his chest tighten again, her eyes searching his face like she was making sure he meant it.

He did.

There was no teasing in him now.

No deflection.

Just that same quiet certainty that had been building for days.

—You’re serious,— she said.

—Yeah,— he answered just as simply.

Another beat.

And then she smiled.

Not the teasing one.

Not the playful one.

Something softer.

Warmer.

—Okay,— she said.

Lando blinked once.

—Okay?—

She nodded, like it was the easiest decision she’d ever made.

—Okay.—

And just like that, something shifted again.

Not dramatically.

Not loudly.

Just… settled.

Lando let out a small breath, a grin pulling at his lips despite himself as he leaned in, pressing a quick, soft kiss to her mouth like he couldn’t help it.

—Good,— he murmured against her.

She laughed quietly, nudging him back.

—You’re very convincing, you know that?—

—Yeah,— he said, already reaching for the door, —I’ve been told.—

But the truth was it wasn’t about convincing her.

It never really was.