F1 One Shots II

#85 Pierre - Falling hearts

NARRATOR POV: Pierre Gasly, a cheeky, Frenchman obssesed with social media, who's currently driving for the Alpine Formula 1 team, had always been known for his unwavering focus and determination on the track, especially when things were going wrong for him. But behind the scenes, there was someone who played a crucial role in his success — his engineer, Katelynn Chalamet. The sweet but passionate redhead is always ready for anything and is not a person to back down easly. THat's why they make such a good team...

.....
One bustling race weekend, Pierre found himself in the Alpine hospitality area, preparing for the upcoming event. As he navigated through the crowd, he accidentally collided with Katelynn, causing a stack of papers she held in her hands to tumble to the ground.
-Shit! Sorry!- both Pierre and Kat quickly dropped to their knees to retrieve the scattered papers, their hands brushing against each other as they reached for the same sheets. In that fleeting touch, an electric current passed between them, awakening a feeling that neither of them could explain.
-Do you... you have everything?- PIerre cleared his throat, meeting her gaze and holding her elbow, to help her stand up.
-Yeah. merci- she agreed and her cheeks were soon covered in deep blush -We need to go...
-Yeah- Pierre agreed with her and they went, side by side, to the engineering room, for "pre-Quali" meeting.

....
After 2 hours long meeting, they left the room together, still talking about the strategy for later. But turns out their pace was too slow, and a moment later, Pierre got pushed in the back by someone walking behind them, making him crash to the ground, pulling Kat with him, as he caught her elbow to stabilise himself. He fell on his back and Chalamet landed on him with joined "Ouch!", muttered between them. 
In that moment, their faces were impossibly close, mere inches apart. Their breaths mingled in the air, and a charged silence enveloped them. But before they could fully process the situation, a feeling of another push from behind by some teammember jolted them apart. Their lips barely brushed against each other—a fleeting touch that ignited a fire within them.
Quickly regaining their composure, Pierre and Kat stood up, helping each other, as their faces flushed with a mixture of embarrassment and desire. A wave of awkwardness washed over them, and they silently agreed to refrain from discussing the incident, allowing their hearts to silently wrestle with their newfound emotions, as they focused on the task ahead - do good quali...

.....
For the following 2 weeks, Pierre and Kat tiptoed around their unspoken connection. They exchanged shy glances and fumbled conversations, each too afraid to broach the subject that consumed their thoughts day and night. But as the days passed, the void left by their unspoken desires grew deeper, forcing them to confront their feelings head-on.
During a rare moment of solitude, Pierre found himself observing Kat from a distance. Her dedication, intelligence, and unwavering support for him shone through in her every action. As he watched her, he realized that his heart had fallen for her, and it had fallen hard.....
Meanwhile, Kat was experiencing a similar internal struggle. Pierre's talent, determination, and genuine kindness had captured her heart. She couldn't help but long for his touch, his presence, and his unwavering support.

HUNGARIAN GP
SATURDAY
AFTER QUALI
Long after qualifying Kate sat on her stool on the pit wall, analysing the data they gathered. She didn't even realised how late it got, as the sky got dark and the paddock almost deserted, all the team members long gone to the hotel.
-Kat? Why are you still sitting there?- Pierre hopped onto the pit wall next to her, concerned.
-We need good strategy tomorrow, so I need to understand all those numbers..!- she vauglely replied and looked at the screens again.
-Have you eaten anything yet?- he asked next, but loud rumble from her stomach told him enough.
-Ok. That's enough for today...!- he decided and started to gather the papers.
-Why? I still have some pages left...?!
-You need food and good sleep, as I need you full of energy and atentive tomorrow! Come on! Let's go back to the hotel and put some food in you..!- his tone suggested no argument, so she complied for once, suddenly feeling tired herself, and helped him finish pack her stuff. Then Pierre swinged the bag over his shoulder, stepped down from the pit wall and turned to her, offering his hand.
-I might be hungry, but I'm still alright- she refused, playfully and got down from the stool by herself. Or tried to, is a better word, as she stumbled and only Pierres' quick reflexes saved her from falling to the ground. Gasly swiftly pulled her to himself, holding the bag in one hand and her waist in the other, making their noses brush. 
But before she did or said anything, Pierre pulled her even closer and crashed their lips in sweet but passionate kiss. Kate returned to her senses rather quickly and returned the intense kiss for a few seconds, but then hastly pulled back.
-Non, Pierre, we can't...- she said, avoiding his gaze and taking advantage of the shock he's in, pulled out of his embrance -I'm your engineer, we can't....- Katelynn said and started to walk away from him.
-Kate...!?
-Non! We're not doing that!- she yelled back, turning around on the spot, looking at him.
-We can't keep ignoring this!- he stood his ground, looking her deeply in the eye.
-I don't know what you mean...
-Something happened between us, and it's become impossible for me to stop thinking about it. I know you feel it too! We both do!
-I do, indeed. But I'm...- her words got swallowed in another deep and hot kiss, along with next protests she wanted to voice.
-Our hearts fell too hard for this to be just a passing moment, don't fight it...- his voice was just above whisper, as he pulled back after few seconds and looked deeply into her sparkling eyes, holding her strong to himself.
-I know...- she admitted, her voice trembling slightly. With those honest words, a sense of liberation washed over them. They finally allowed themselves to delve into their emotions, to explore the depths of their connection.
From that moment on, their hearts were open, ready to embrace the love that had silently bloomed between them, even though hiding from the whole team, and especially Esteban and Charles was extriemly difficult. They both knew that even if they wanted it very much, they needed to keep it on the down low for now, not willing to risk their jobs nor happiness with the other....

.....
As the season progressed, Pierre and Kat's relationship flourished, both on and off the track. Their chemistry was undeniable, and their connection only grew stronger with each passing day. They found solace and strength in one another, their shared passion for racing serving as the backdrop for their love story. And as the time flew, hiding the truth also got easier, as they allowed themselves to be more and more creative in excusses and answers, to steal only a few minutes of "together" without any bariers between them...

Finally, the time came for the last race of the season. It was a cool evening, and the sky was blanketed with darkness. With almost no one left on the track to witness their final moments together, Pierre stood in front of the pit wall, his eyes fixed on the road ahead.
Sitting on a nearby chair, Kat felt a mix of anticipation and nerves. As she attempted to hop off the chair, her foot missed the tiny step, and she began to fall. Also this time, Pierre reacted swiftly, catching her in his arms and holding her steady, making both of them laugh and remember quite similar situation from awhile back and what it caused..
In that moment of perfect balance, neither of them could ignore the electric current running through their veins. Without thinking, Pierre leaned in and kissed Kat with a passion that reflected the depths of their emotions. It was a kiss filled with love, longing, and the promise of a future together.
As they pulled away, their eyes locked, and the words spilled from their lips.
-Je a'taime (I love you)- they whispered in unision, joining their foreheads together and smiling to the other, feeling the happiest on the planet earth. They knew that their love story had found its home, and together, they would navigate life's twists and turns, hand in hand, their hearts beating as one, sharing a passion and team for once looking in their favour....
THE END

Another racing fluff with Pierre and Kat!
It's something a little different and might be weird to read, but I still like it...
I hope you like it too...
Have a nice day! / Goodnight!
F.