Like a moth drawn to a flame

Austin

*Luisa*

Austin had always been one of my favorite races. I loved the American Grand Prix and everything that went with it.
And today we could make the dream come true.
Charles could win the title today if he won the race. Just thinking about it sent shivers down my spine. He really could do it.
Meanwhile, I had been reassigned as Charles' race engineer. The whole thing with Pablo had gone further than we had initially assumed. He had still had contacts in our garage. Among others, Toni, who had reliably supplied him with information and also the locking codes for our box.
He had known what Pablo had planned and had been fired in the aftermath.
More people had left. However, that hadn't stopped us from scoring the necessary points. Charles did a great job.
I was incredibly proud of him and was happy to finally be able to contribute my part to the whole thing again. 
Finally everything was as it should be.
The last few weeks had been very emotionally upsetting and I had decided for myself that it was better to concentrate on work for now. I had been involved enough than I really had the head for a relationship right now.
Charles had taken the whole thing pretty well. He had followed up on what had started with Mirabelle and it was really looking like she could be the one for him right now.
It made me happy to see him like that.
Seb, however, worried me a little. He had completely withdrawn after the whole thing with me and the betrayal by Katharina. When it comes to work, we could rely on him, but otherwise he didn't talk to Charles and me anymore. He withdrew completely and I had only heard through third parties that he just laid pretty much every woman who ran across his path.
This wasn't the Seb I knew, but he wouldn't let me get close to him anymore. And as much as I wanted to be there for him, I also respected that he wanted nothing to do with me right now. The last few weeks had been anything but easy for him and that was my fault.
Still, I was glad when he just sat next to me at the command post and I was sure he was okay.
My gaze slid to the side. He had his brow furrowed deeply. I was about to lean over to him and ask what was going on when I heard Charles on the radio.
"Can you hear me cherie? Testing, testing."
"Clear and distinct cowboy. Ready for a little rodeo?"
"With you? Always." he laughed.
I had to laugh, too, and half-turned as they pushed him out of the garage. Laughing, I gave him the middle finger and could hear him laughing over the radio as well.
"I love you too, cherie".
"I love you too, little idiot."
"Me you more."
"Gross.", I laughed and then turned back to the command post.
"You're with me aren't you? The whole race?" asked Charles.
Now he sounded a little more serious "Unless something unexpected happens.", I replied and then leaned back.
Seb tensed up next to me. I put my hand on his upper arm and he winced.
"What's wrong Seb?", I whispered worriedly.
He wordlessly pushed his cell phone toward me. It took me a moment to understand what kind of email I had in front of me.

"Dear Mr. Vettel,
We hereby send you an official invitation for a paternity test. As soon as our client's child is born, we will contact you and invite you to give a sample.
Yours sincerely
Attorney Meyer and Sons."

I looked at him, frowning "Oh Seb, please tell me you didn't fuck around without a condom.", I looked at him seriously concerned.
"Only once or twice." he mumbled, lowering his eyes "It was... I was..."
"Seb, what's wrong? Seriously. I don't know you like that.".
He didn't answer me and kept his eyes lowered "Seb please, talk to me.", I whispered and reached for his hand.
"Later ok? When we get through the race."
"Promise me you'll talk to me then.", he squeezed my hand and then nodded.
"Promise?", I gave him another penetrating look and got a nod.
Then Fred joined us at the command post. I slid his phone back to Sebastian and focused on the screens in front of me.
Breathe, close my eyes once for a moment, count to five, open my eyes again and we were in the game.

My heart was racing. It was one of the most exciting races of the season. Max and Charles were engaged in a duel for first place. The Red Bull driver was a tough opponent and not willing to give up the world title today.
He really threw everything the Red Bull had to offer at us. But it would not be enough.
Charles, Seb and I worked together like well-oiled clockwork and knew exactly what to do. We had worked through every eventuality, every strategy beforehand. We had agreed on code words and phrases.
We were prepared.
Today we were going to clinch the title.
"Luisa, my tires," Charles said.
One of our code phrases. Seb's head immediately went up next to me.
"Two laps to go, Charles. We don't think Red Bull can keep Max out much longer," I returned over the radio.
We knew Red Bull was listening in. Everyone was listening in on everyone else's radio.
"I think my tires are getting worse if we don't get in now..."
"Two laps to go." the Red Bull mechanics, who had just gotten up, sat down again.
"Push Max, push. His tires are about to give way." was heard over the Red Bull radio.
Seb squeezed my hand. They had swallowed our tactics.
Charles drove full throttle ahead of Max and then, to everyone's great surprise, shot into the pits. Our mechanics were quick. We had gone over the radio messages with them. They knew what was coming and changed the tires in record time.
At Red Bull they were now getting nervous. This was our last set of tires and we would go through the race on them. Max still had to pit and we just came out in P3. There was only George and Max in front of us.
We would make it.
We would give everything.
I returned the pressure of Seb's hand and looked to the side. In his eyes suddenly burned again this fire. The fire that I was used to from him. It suited him insanely well. This will. The bite. I loved it when he looked at me like that.
And if we hadn't been leaning against the perches at the command post right now, my knees would have been weak for sure.
He pulled his hand back and looked at the screen again, then pushed the sleeves of his jacket halfway up.
Sometimes I forgot that this man had the power to look so incredibly good. I heard the cameras clicking wildly behind us.
There must have been a thousand women out there who would have loved to be in my place right now. Sitting next to Seb at the command post, his hand tensed on the console so that his veins stood out slightly, his warm arm touching me ever so lightly.
I leaned forward again and brushed his arm.
He gave me a quick glance and reached for my hand once more.
"We can do this." he growled, sounding so much like himself that my heart sank.
I hadn't seen or heard him like that in weeks.
"We can do this. Charles can do it.", I wanted him to be like that again and I would do anything to get that Seb all over again to sit next to him at the command post and push Charles forward together.