A race to your heart (Zarry AU)

3.- Victory 🏁

Harry's POV

The midsummer sun painted the racetrack in hues of gold as I drove down the straightaway at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, winning for my team. Again.

With focused determination, I maneuvered my F2 car flawlessly through each turn, clinching victory in the Spanish Grand Prix. Barcelona added to the series of triumphs that defined the first half of my season.

Next on the circuit was Silverstone, where the British crowd cheered fervently for their hometown drivers. Zayn and I. My car sliced through the curves, crossing the finish line.

The momentum continued as I almost conquered the challenging Spa-Francorchamps circuit where Zayn took the lead and won first place.

"This is one of the closest finishes ever seen!" The commentator said to me as I gave the post-race interviews. He was amazed that we crossed the checkered flag with half a second of difference, making Zayn the winner of this circuit.

Zayn's POV

"Like old times," I thought, seeing him from the corner of my eye while standing on the podium. My heart was pounding inside my chest.

We were there together but stranded at the same time, and that was exasperating, at least for me. I can't stand being near him.

The next Grand Prix victory was mine too. I led through the high-speed straights of Monza in Italy, securing the win with closing laps. An intense battle took place, wheel to wheel, as we ran the circuit's twists and turns. In the end, I won too.

With all the wins of the half-season, our reputation as the best drivers in our category echoed throughout all the racing teams. He was always there one way or another, and I hate it.

After winning amidst the noise of engines and the scent of burning rubber, the paddock buzzed with excitement.

We stood by the pit wall, our eyes locked in a silent exchange. I was drawn by his presence lately, flashbacks of our past haunting me every time I saw him.

We were best friends and now we are rival racers who share a history that still lingers in the air. "Nothing more"   I repeated to myself.

I didn't want to talk about it or remember what happened between us.

As we celebrated another victory on the podium, I saw him approaching me with that confidence he has always had. That bastard.

"How can he carry himself with such ease?" I thought annoyed. And on the other hand, I was feeling a mix of tension and anxiety as he came closer.

"Malik. Good race. Congrats," Harry said with his deep, raspy voice as he half-hugged me, and an intense feeling knotted in my stomach as he did it.

"Yeah. Fanks, Haz," I replied without thinking. "Haz" was the nickname I gave him. My heart filled with satisfaction as soon as I saw his smile when he heard it. And those dimples. "Why does he have to be that charming? And what the hell is happening to me? Why am I going soft for him again?" I questioned myself upset.

My all-time rival but also my best friend. Those times seem like ages ago. All of our shared victories and defeats were reflected in my eyes as we exchanged glances, celebrating with our respective teams.

"He looks... beautiful," I thought, shaking those thoughts away. I can't, I just can't go there again. Something's different now, I can't explain it, but I feel different.

A week passed and as the last weekend of the season wore on, we were in Abu Dhabi.

And I day before the Sunday race we found ourselves on the track, competing fiercely for the pole position again. And in a heart-stopping moment, our cars collided, sparks flying. The crowd gasped, fearing the worst.

"Bloody hell!" I yelled as Harry made a risky move and tried to overtake me, causing a collision that forced me off the track.

"Are you okay, Zayn?" Paul, my engineer, asked me through the radio.

After a moment, I replied, "Yes, I'm fine. How's... how's Haz? Harry?"

"Don't know yet..." Paul said.

My heart clenched, fearing the worst. But when the smoke cloud behind me faded, I saw his car through one of my mirrors. Those moments of waiting when you crash against the barriers are endless when you are racing, not only because each second that you lose affects the final result but also because of the imminent danger that we are always in. Every curve or straight we take at 300 km per hour can be fateful.

"Is everything alright? Can you resume the race?" Paul asked.

"Ye-yes. All good," I said, carefully returning to the racetrack, putting my head back where it was before. In the qualifying race.

After a few minutes, my team informed me that Harry emerged unscathed, our cars battered but still running.

"All okay with Harry," Paul said, and I felt relieved.

I smiled a little and said, "Okay" In a surprising twist, I found myself caring about him as before like when we were lads.

Harry's POV

The next day, as the sun dipped below the horizon over the Yas Marina Circuit, the paddock transformed into a quiet haven. Amidst the wreckage of the day's challenges, I took in the memories of our history. I couldn't get to shake the thoughts about him. He was everywhere. Fucking everywhere.

Ready in my racing suit and inside the car on the grid, I watched as the red lights turned on before me. Lights out, and I pushed the gas pedal to the floor, effortlessly maneuvering my car through the first corners and turns of the famous circuit.

I quickly overtook the cars in front of me, leading the race lap by lap, and after 23 laps I crossed the finish line, securing a triumphant world championship win for myself and my team.

World champion—what a title I got under my belt. Another accomplishment of my career but something was missing.

In the podium celebration that followed, I found him. The air buzzed with excitement, and in a spontaneous burst of emotion, I grabbed his shoulders and pulled him into a tight hug. Amidst the cheers and camera flashes, we shared a victory moment that sent me into a whirlwind of emotions. I made it and I had to share this moment with him even for a second.

Caught off guard, he hugged me back tightly amid the congratulatory chaos. That warm hug told me that he cared, that he still cared about me. And that brought joy to my heart.