Formula 1 - One Shots

Lando Norris - "I got you babe, you're safe"

A / N: For archivebooks 🧡 I suffer from social anxiety myself and instead of writing about a car accident or something scary happening that would fit this prompt, I decided to make it more personal. That's why it took a little longer to write. Hope you like it!

P R O M P T: "I got you babe, you're safe"

W A R N I N G: anxiety, panic attack

'A whirlwind of thoughts and you can't seem to grasp just one of them, to understand what it is you're actually worried about. A tornado of worrying and you can't focus on just one thought alone'. That's how you always describe your anxiety when someone asks you how it feels. But that's just the beginning. Next to that, there is the lack of sleep, the awkwardness in social situations, the constant fear of failure, the nausea, the nervous feeling, the headaches and so much more. You have been struggling with anxiety all your life, but you had no clue what it was you were feeling until you did some research on the internet and decided to speak to a therapist. The last few years it had mainly turned into social anxiety, which caused you to avoid most events, parties and other things teens and young adults went to so you were pretty much alone most of the time.

A few months ago, you started dating Lando, who you met on a go-kart track your dad brought you to. It was scary to open up to him at first, but his calm and understanding response made you trust him almost immediately. He had been your rock ever since, mostly spending your time at home together. However, today would be a very important day for him because he was being honoured at the FIA Awards for coming third in the Formula One driver's championship and you wanted to come with him to return the support he has shown you over the past few months. You felt the nerves bubble up in your stomach when you were getting ready. It wasn't the fear of being seen in public with Lando, because you were immensely proud to be with him but the small things like: 'What if someone starts talking to me? Do I just smile and clap when he receives his award? Will there be cameras on me?'

You brushed your hair through once more when you finished your makeup and looked at yourself in the mirror. You let out a deep breath and closed your eyes for a second, trying to focus on one thought but the whirlwind was already going. Before you left the bathroom, you opened your eyes again and practised your big smile, trying to picture how others would see you. "Are you ready, babe?" Lando asked when he came into the bathroom. He looked amazing in his suit and you turned around with a soft smile on your face and nodded. "It will all be okay. You look gorgeous and I will be by your side the entire time, I promise". He said and you gave him a loving kiss before you headed towards the front door. Lando collected his keys and handed you your purse.

The drive over wasn't that long, which you were thankful for because it gave you less time to overthink the upcoming situation. Once you arrived and Lando had handed over the keys to the valet parking staff, he walked up to you and intertwined your hands together. "You are the most beautiful girl in the world.." He whispered in your ear before you entered the red carpet full of photographers. This was exactly what you needed to relax and smile and together you walked from left to right, occasionally standing still for a photo. All of a sudden there was a woman with a microphone on the end of the red carpet, who decided she wanted to ask Lando some questions. You felt the knot in your throat starting to form, but Lando's thumb was rubbing circles on the back of your hand in a comforting way.

"So Lando, third in the driver's championship this year. That must be an amazing feeling.." As you were trying to listen to your boyfriend's reaction to the question, the whirlwind in your mind started to accelerate. 'What if she asks him about me? Or even worse, what if she asks me a question? Am I allowed to say everything about our relationship? Will I even be able to speak at all?' You hadn't noticed that Lando had finished speaking until he gently squeezed your hand and you focussed back on the pair in front of you. "And who is this lovely lady next to you?" The reporter asked and your heart started pounding. "This is Y/N, my girlfriend. We have been together now for a few months and I'm so happy she's here to support me tonight". Lando answered and you saw the eyes of the reporter going your way. She opened her mouth and you felt as if someone had wrapped their hand around your throat.

"You must be very proud of him". She said and you started sweating. You were expected to give at least somewhat of an answer and although you didn't even have to think about if you were proud of your boyfriend, the right answer just didn't seem to pop into your head. You had a pounding headache by now, trying to keep all the thoughts separated and you weren't even sure you would be able to press out a sound of your throat anyway. But you didn't want to embarrass yourself and be supportive of your boyfriend so you gathered all your strength and courage to squeeze out: "I-I'm incredibly proud of him". The lady smiled and wrapped up the interview and you carried on walking the last bit of runway with Lando. The overwhelming feelings that had piled up a few moments ago started to take their toll on your breathing and you felt yourself getting dizzy.

When you entered the hall, Lando took you aside to a quieter spot. He knew what the reporter's question would do to you and he felt your hand squeezing him tighter and tighter back there. "Lan.. I can't.. breathe". You tried to communicate but he urged you not to speak. "Shh, I got you babe, you're safe". He said while he looked down at you, his hands placed on your upper arms, not wanting to get too close to your face right now. He helped you through one of the breathing exercises that you had taught him, trying to get back in control of yourself. You slowly breathed in and out while looking straight into your boyfriend's eyes.

When you felt a little better, Lando walked you over to one of the bars. You waited in the corner next to it, trying to hold it together until he came back with a glass of water. He handed it to you and you took it with shaking hands, taking a sip to try and calm down. "You did so well babe, you answered so confidently". He said and you looked at him with a confused look. One thing he had told you before was that you didn't come across as scared or weird at all when you were talking to people. He didn't want to say it was all in your head, but the way you pictured it was way worse than how it actually looked for other people.

Lando brushed a few hairs out of your face and your eyes fluttered closed at the contact. "I'm so sorry.." You said to him when you felt yourself getting more comfortable again. "I really didn't want you to have to do this tonight. We're here to celebrate you and I'm not even 1 minute in and I'm causing a scene already". You had your head down and were fiddling with your fingers when he placed his hand under your chin, guiding your face to look up at him. "I wanted you to be here. And I wanted the real you to be here. I love you, for who you are, with or without anxiety, with or without panic attacks. I promise".

Your eyes welled up with tears because of his response. Lando had never told you he loved you before. And for him to do it, in a moment like this, made it so much more special. "I love you too, Lando". You answered and a big smile grew on his face before he leaned in to give you a quick kiss. "Come on, let's go find our seats. I'm feeling a lot better". Lando intertwined his fingers with yours again and together you sat down at your designated table, waiting for the event to start. You were happy to see his trainer Jon and some of Lando's management at the table, you had seen them many times before so it wasn't scary to talk to them at all.

When the show finally started and the presenter called your boyfriend on stage, there was nothing else on your mind other than him. You smiled and clapped, without worrying about the cameras. Just looking at the handsome guy on stage that had been outperforming everyone's expectations all season and was now handed the trophy for third place in the driver's championship. The whirlwind of thoughts had stopped. There was only one: 'I love you so much..'