#nortrell ff

"C'mon, mate," Max repeated. His hand now gently pushing into the other's back, influencing him to move. "I'm tired. And so are you."

"I'm not."

Bullshit.

"At least step outside with me so I can hear you. I'm a decibel from going deaf, mate."

The second they were outside of the building and away from the sensory overload known as Lando's first WDC party, Lando slumped. He leaned right into Max's chest, and Max had to wrap his arms protectively around the man to make sure he didn't fall.

"You seem pretty tired to me, Bob," Max said gently, a hand finding its way to play with one of the curls on the back of Lando's head. "Aren't you ready to head back?"

Lando didn't respond immediately, and momentarily, Max wondered if Lando had fallen asleep standing there. He nudged Lando slightly, and finally got a response.

"Mhmm." Lando yawned. "Ready to go back."

"Alright."

Getting a car for Lando was easy. Someone on his team had already prepared for the fact that Lando was not going to leave that building sober enough to get behind a wheel, and within five minutes, the driver was there.

Lando had leaned his head over Max's shoulder, and was, assumedly, asleep. Max let him. He didn't say anything, just occupied himself with his phone, his hand settled automatically onto Lando's knee. He checked on him every time Lando seemed to stir, but relished in the quiet. For the first time since Lando was crowned the new world champion, Max had time to himself to think.

As the city just beyond the car window rushed by, Max thought about Lando and about how much their lives had changed. He used to race alongside Lando, and now he worked for him. Max thought about the different paths their lives had led, about how they managed to leave just enough room for each other.

Max was happy for Lando, truly, he loved that Lando had been able to achieve his dream. Still, he wondered. He wondered what it would have been like for this to have been his world championship, his name in lights. This was his dream too, and he had to wonder what his life would look like if he was known by the world as something other than Lando's b-

Max stopped himself.

These jealous thoughts, they weren't new, and Max knew if he allowed them to fester, they would ruin his relationship with someone who had been in his corner since the very beginning. Lando had achieved the dream. As far as Max was concerned, he did that for the both of them. The car slowed to a stop.

Max nudged Lando. "Cmon, Bob," he whispered, but Lando didn't move a muscle, "We're at the hotel, mate. Cmon, let's get you to sleep in a bed"

It took a while before Lando opened his sleepy eyes. Max could see himself in them. He watched unfocused iris come to, and watched Lando's pupils widen as his focus landed. He smiled. Max's heart fluttered.

"C'mon, Bob," He said softly, letting Lando wrap his arms around his shoulders.

Max gently lowered Lando onto the mattress. He'd had to carry the champion to his room. Of course he did. World Champion or not, that was just who Lando was. And right now, Lando was too drunk and sleepy to get himself dressed and ready for bed.

Luckily, It wasn't the first time they'd been in this position, and Max was able to help.

"There you go, Lan" Max whispered after practically tucking the other in, "sleep well, yeah?"

Before Max could pull his arm away, Lando opened his previously closed eyes. Max watched once again as his eyes focused, pupils dilating. Heart fluttering. "You stay," Lando muttered.

"Here?" Max asked. He knew that was exactly what Lando wanted. He always got like this when he was sleepy. Which, knowing Lando, was whenever they were alone. Still, he wanted to hear Lando say it.

"Here.." Lando repeated. His eyes locked onto Max's. He was pleading. Max knew what it meant. Lando didn't want to be alone.

"Alright Bob," Max pressed a kiss to Lando's forehead, "Let me grab some night clothes-"

"No. Stay." Lando's hand shot out, grabbing Max's shirt. His grip was too weak to pull him in, but Max leaned closer anyways. "Take it off. Too many layers."

"Bob-"

Lando made a noise between a whine and a plea.

"Lando…" Max's voice had softened by this point. He was losing his restraint. Lando gripped his arm a little tighter, and Max's resolve was gone.

"Alright. Let go of me so I can take it off, then, mate."

Lando obliged.

Max pushed his way into the bed and Lando instantly cuddled into his side. Max smiled, his lips meeting the man's forehead. "I love you.." Lando whispered, and it warmed Max's heart.

"I love you too, Bob."

And Lando was asleep.

Maybe Max didn't have everything.

Maybe he would never be a world champion, Maybe his name would never be in lights. Maybe Max would never see even a true fraction of the recognition Lando got on the daily. But did it really matter when at the end of the day, Lando recognized him? Lando relied on him, trusted him, and needed him.

In a moment like this one, with Lando's warm breath against his neck, Lando's body curled softly around his, Max knew that he was actually okay with not being known as anything other than Lando's Boyfriend.