THE END | Oscar Piastri

29. endless empathy

sav's pov

Since the start of the season, Lando's confidence hasn't gotten much better. He's been finishing on the podium every race, but hasn't beat Max yet.

It's getting to him. I can tell. But he hasn't talked to me about it, and I don't want to bring it up because maybe he'll feel he has to talk about it then. I don't want to pressure him into talking about it if he doesn't want to.

He's been spending more time with the sim now, too. I can't be mad at him for it, not for putting his career first. Though, I also can't help but wish we could spend that time together instead.

It's May now. The Miami gp is today, and the opening show of my tour is later tonight.

Lando's freaking over his first pole position since the start of the season, and I reiterate the same things I've told him since preseason testing.

"You're a talented driver. You're just in your head right now." The same thing I've told him for the past two months. "Take a deep breath. Clear your head, you're going to do great." I continue, taking three deep breaths with him. He thanks me, bending down to leave a gentle kiss on my forehead before climbing into his car.

He peeks over the halo of the car to look back at me, showing his adorable smile and giving me a thumbs up. I give him two thumbs up in response, and an even bigger smile.

"Do you want to watch from the pit wall?" I hear the question come from behind me. Turning to the voice, I realize it's Christian asking me the question.

At the same time, my eyebrows furrow and my eyes widen. "I didn't realize that was even allowed." I say with a laugh. Christian glances at Lando, then looks back to me. "It usually isn't, but Liam isn't here so his seat up there is open." He explains, an expectant look on his face.

"Well then yeah, absolutely I'll sit on the pit wall." I nod enthusiastically, glancing back to Lando who's giving me an odd look. Christian is gone when I look back to him, he's already started a new conversation with some mechanics.

I make my way over to Lando, almost leaning on the halo. He stops me before I do. "Shouldn't touch the car. These guys might lose their heads if you do." He reminds me with a laugh while someone passes him his helmet.

"I've been given a spot on your pit wall." I tell him. His head tilts in question. "Well, only temporarily. Liam's not here so Christian offered me his spot." I explain with a shrug. I go to rest my arms on the halo again, forgetting already, and Lando reminds me with a look.

He slips the helmet onto his head as Christian appears beside me. "Enough flirting you two. It's race time, Lando." He points accusingly between the two of us, finger lingering on Lando at the last part.

When he disappears out of the garage, I turn back to Lando. "Good luck and I love you." I tell him, a renewed smile on my face. He reaches an ungloved hand out toward me, and I interlock our hands.

The corners of his eyes crinkle, the blue of them brightening and glimmering as the sun hits them at just the right angle. A muffled "I love you, too" coming from beneath his helmet.

-★-

"P2 baby!" I cheer when Lando comes down from the podium. He doesn't look remotely as happy about it, a strained smile on his face.

I don't bring it up until we get to his drivers room.

"You don't look happy." I shake my head, sitting on the small sofa in the room. He also shakes his head, hands making quick work of unzipping his race suit. "Because I'm not." He states bluntly, offering no further explanation.

I take a long inhale through my nose, my index finger and thumb pinching the bridge of my nose. Time to reiterate the same speech, again. "Lando, a p2 is still great. You were right up there with Max." Thought the repetition frustrates me, my words are still sincere.

He rips his fireproofs off hastily, exposing his toned torso that I just can't help but stare at. "That's the problem. I was right there but I just couldn't-" he stops himself mid sentence. When I look up at his face, he's making direct eye contact with me, a stupid grin on his face.

It's then that I notice the messy curls on his head. The sweat has caused some of them to curl up tighter, the others are stuck to his forehead. His face is flushed, too. A result of the heated race.

I force my eyes away, not so subtly switching to looking around the room. "Great decor." I comment offhandedly, a poor attempt at changing the subject.

He laughs.

"I know what you're trying to do." A half dressed Lando takes a step toward me.

"You about done? I wouldn't want to be late to my own concert." Another attempt at changing the subject, an awkward laugh following.

His face drops. The smug expression that was there moments before can no longer be detected. His hand goes up to cover his eyes, lips retreating into his mouth, making a thin line.

"Fuck, Savannah I'm so sorry." He apologizes, kneeling down right in front of me. He takes one of my hands in his and rests his forehead against our entwined hands.

Eyebrows furrowed in confusion, I try to pull him up to look at him. It doesn't work. "It's fine I'm not late yet I've still-" I try to sooth out his worries but he cuts me off.

"No I told Christian that I would put more sim hours in after the race." He looks up at me apologetically. My face is the one to drop this time.

"Oh." It's all I offer.

"I'm sorry. I forgot that was tonight." He starts apologizing again.

"No, it's fine. It's fine." I say quickly.

"I'll be there as soon as I'm done here. I promise you." He says, taking both of my hands in his. His eyes are so wide and apologetic as he looks up at me.

"That's fine. It's okay. Your career comes first." I nod reassuringly. "You go do that now and I'll get an Uber." I tell him with a smile.

"No I can-" I give him a look and he shuts right up. He nods, standing up and dragging me up with him. "I'm so sorry. I love you so much." He says, head shaking.

I nod along with his words. "It's fine. I get it. Now get to work so you can be done sooner." I urge him with a smile. He gives me a sad smile back, before nodding and hurrying out the door, slipping a shirt on while he does.

I take a seat back on the couch, head in my hands. The silence of the empty room makes my ears ring. I curse silently. I told him it was fine, it was okay. It wasn't, not really. How do you forget something like that? I had been talking about it for the last month.

But I can't blame him too much, I know everything's been really stressful for him lately.

I get up from the couch and slip out the door quietly. I don't want to get caught up in conversation. I order my Uber while I make my way through the paddock, a shorter walk than it was last year. I had texted Logan to ask for a ride, but he had already left and I didn't want to make him turn around.

The estimated ten minute wait lead me to take a seat on the curb of the parking lot. Logically, I probably should've ordered it while in the hospitality, but I'm not that smart.

"Sav?"

★—————————————————★

A/N - I have the moment I knew stuck in my head