#piantonelli

"No, it's nothing important. I just wanted to say hi to you," Kimi chirps, bouncing on the balls of his feet. He looks up at Oscar expectantly, and Oscar blanks.

"Okay..." Oscar blinks, then says, "Welcome to Formula One, I guess?"

Seriously, was that the best he could've come up with?

But the rookie doesn't seem deterred by Oscar's lack of enthusiasm. If anything, it only seems to spur him on further.

"Thanks," Kimi grins. "I'm very happy to be here."

Oscar smiles at him then, because two years ago isn't exactly a lifetime away. In the distance, someone from the team motorhome calls him over.

"Well," Oscar says, tucking his bottle under one arm. With the other free one, he pats Kimi on the shoulder in what he hopes comes across as a reassuring gesture, because he truly does mean it. "Good luck."

What he doesn't expect is for Kimi's eyes to meet his, all teasing. "Is that just for this race? Or all of them?"

Oscar huffs out a laugh, shaking his head.

"I'm kidding," Kimi says, incredibly boyish. Just as Oscar thinks he's experienced the most from this boy, Kimi lowers his voice down to a hushed whisper, and goes, "Don't tell anyone, especially George, but you are my favourite driver, okay?"

And honestly— What's Oscar supposed to say to that?

Kimi grins up at him, index finger pressed close to his lips. A secret.

Then he's skipping away, leaving as abruptly as he'd arrived, without so much as a goodbye. Oscar watches him for a second, before dipping his head low, head shaking with a smile in incredulous disbelief.