peridot | lando norris

30|racing|

(side note : wdc and wcc predictions here -->)

-lando pov-
-11 years ago-

"are you out of your fucking mind right now?"

i winced,covering niamh's ears, who was asleep in my lap.

admittedly i have raised my voice at maeve before in different circumstances and i've seen her angry before but never heard her really yell like that before.

"calm down eve, please" i said lowering my voice and she shook her head. "lando!" this time she whisper yelled.

"it's my choice maeve." i say to her, keeping my voice low as our toddler curled up in my lap. i wasn't gonna put her down.

"well it's a stupid one." she said, crossing her arms as stood beside the bed where i sat with niamh.

"you don't get to judge that. i'm older and-" maeve scrunched her face and cut me off.

"lando, has anyone that you've spoken to about told you it's even a valid option? i refuse to believe it " she said and i felt the guilt prick even before i gave it time to sink in.

i'd been thinking about it for the past year now and with formula 1 brushing at my finger tips, i wasn't sure if i'll be able to do well there anymore. especially since i wanted to be here, a little more.

"no, you're the first person i've seriously told this to." i tell her,gently caressing niamh's cheek as she smiled a little in her sleep

"oh thank god. i'm not letting you do this" she said, sitting down this time.

"niamh's important, yeah but lando you can't quit racing. you're too good at it, you love it too much to let go. it'll ruin you." i shrugged at her words. if i acted like i didn't care, perhaps i really would stop caring at some point. maybe go back to school with her?

"i don't care. i love you and niamh so much more. and i don't wanna be a jackass of a dad who's never around. that's unfair to both of you." i said and she sighed.

it was true. until niamh was born, admittedly i wasn't the most open to the idea of living with a child but now, the past year we've basically become a family. i don't wanna have to leave them behind, and finding that balance was going to be difficult and i don't think i could split my mind like that.

"lando, you dont have to give up on your dream for niamh. please don't even think about it. you're gonna have to lie to yourself" maeve said, her voice a lot calmer than before as she rest both her hands on my shoulders, making me look away from niamh and straight at her.

"i know that you'll be a formula 1 world champion someday. give up if you want, but if you win, it's on me then. i have faith in you" she said with a smile. she didn't look mad, more so afraid. she was hesitant to move her hands as if i'd shatter and quite frankly i would.

"what if i don't?" i asked, realising i didn't quite believe it yet. racing, your belief is everything. you can only do it if you know you will. what if my prime ended in formula 2? that's happened to people before.