To fly you only need two wheels

Why Kariss Gasly?

*Marc*

The tests in Barcelona had been good. We had brought back good results and I was looking forward to the race at Mugello.

It had been a while since I had really looked forward to a race. It wasn't this tension I felt, but finally pure anticipation again, because I knew the bike was more in line with my preferences again.

Leo and Kari had done a really good job. Outstanding work, if one considered how badly the season had run so far. How badly the last season had gone. That the two of them really managed to give me confidence again filled me with infinite gratitude.

Especially towards Kari.

It seemed as if she had given the whole box a breath of fresh air.

Leo was bubbling over with energy and the other mechanics were also so motivated that I could hardly wait for the race. It gave me back the feeling that I had missed for so long. The absolute incentive to go to my limits again and to know that I could go beyond without falling.

Leo and Kari would make sure that the bike held me.

I trusted them completely. The two of them were already in the pit before me, discussing as they sat in front of the laptop.

I stood behind the two and put one hand on Leo's shoulder, the other on Kari's shoulder.

"You're already awake," I smirked and leaned forward a bit to see what numbers they were studying.

Immediately Kari's perfume rose to my nose again.

God those days in Barcelona had been different. We had worked so close together and I had always tried to be near her to watch over her. I wanted to make sure she was okay. That she was sleeping and eating, because if I was honest, I was afraid that I was to blame for her boyfriend ignoring her lately. Because I had practically told him that I would make sure that Kari forgot about him. That I was a better man than he was.

And even though I still felt that way, I didn't want her to suffer like that. She was struggling with herself and I could see that. I hated that there was nothing I could do about it. Just because this idiot couldn't get it together to treat her the way she deserved.

God this woman deserved the world and he treated her like a piece of shit. I hated it. But there was nothing I could do about it, because as much as she suffered from him not coming forward, it only made it clear how much she loved him.

Even if I didn't understand it.

She could have had so many other men and who did she choose? The biggest asshole she could find.

I hated it. But she loved him and if I got the chance to talk to him again I would try to make it clear to him once more what an amazing woman he had at his side and that he definitely had to treat her better.

"Of course we're already awake. You're lucky we slept at all." laughed Leo "Expectations are high." he smirked.

"We'll have to see how the set up compares to the others.", Kari looked up from the numbers to me.

Her eyes had that gleam. She wanted the win as much as I wanted it.

"I'm sure we'll look good.", I smirked and pushed myself up "I trust you guys.".

I could see in her eyes how much that sentence meant to her and Leo grinned a little wider too "You should. We are your only hope.".

I had to admit that I hadn't seen Leo like that in a long time either. He had made jokes like that more often in the past. He had teased with little comments in my direction and I had always teased back. I had loved it, but the more tense the situation in the box had become, the less this teasing had become between us.