My Brother's Teammate | Lando Norris

Worlds Apart

——— AUTHOR'S NOTE ———

I'm sorry in advance for this one 😬 thoughts and prayers for ya'll x

———🏎️———

Lando stumbled into the dimly lit hotel room, his steps unsteady and his face drawn with fatigue. The faint hum of the air conditioning was the only sound, and the room's muted colors only added to his weariness. He ran a hand through his damp hair, feeling the weight of the day's events settle heavily on his shoulders.

Alexis was sitting on the edge of the bed, her posture tense and her eyes fixed on a spot on the floor. She had been waiting for him, her mind racing through what they needed to talk about. The emotional distance between them seemed to stretch across the room, palpable and suffocating.

Lando dropped his bag by the door and exhaled deeply, trying to shake off the exhaustion that made his head throb. He glanced at Alexis, his expression conflicted. The silence between them was thick and uncomfortable.

"Can we talk?" He asked, his voice hoarse.

Alexis looked up, her face reflecting a mix of sadness and apprehension. "Yeah."

Lando's eyes narrowed slightly as he paced a few steps before sitting down heavily in the chair opposite her. He rubbed his temples, trying to ease the pounding headache. "I saw you talking to Charles earlier today. I didn't know you guys were... friendly."

Alexis' heart sank. Out of all things that her and Lando needed to speak about, she thought this would be the least of their concerns. "That was only the second time I've spoken to him, Lando. He's just being nice."

Lando's jaw clenched. "Nice, hey? It actually seemed like you were getting along very well. I especially liked when he touched your shoulder. That was really nice of him."

Alexis sighed, running a hand through her hair. "I was talking to him about some personal things. He was just helping me, giving me advice. Like a friend would do. That's all he is, Lando."

"A friend?" Lando's voice rose, betraying his frustration. "It looked like more than that."

Alexis huffed, and she fought back tears. "Well I'm sorry for seeking comfort from someone else, but you've been shutting me out completely. I can't even fucking talk to you without you pulling away. It's like... like I'm not even here."

Lando's face twisted in guilt. "I know I've pushed you away. I just... I don't know how to handle everything. It's all been so fucking overwhelming. And then seeing you with Charles, it just... it drove me up the fucking wall."

The vulnerability in his voice was raw, but it did little to ease the tension between them. Alexis took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. "I understand you're struggling... but you promised you would communicate with me. You can't just bottle everything up and expect it to go away."

Lando's eyes darted around the room, and he let out a frustrated sigh. "I know. I should be better at this. But... it's hard to talk when everything feels so fucked."

Alexis stood up, her body language pulling away. She took a step back when Lando reached out to touch her, flinching instinctively. "I don't know how to fix this," She said quietly, her voice trembling. "I don't know where we go from here."

Lando's desperation was palpable. "Baby, don't say that," He stood up, moving closer despite the distance she was putting between them. "I'll-I'll start taking better care of myself. I'll follow Jon's concussion protocols. I... I won't push you away anymore."

Alexis turned her face away, her heart warring with her mind. She was mentally present but emotionally torn. Her silence spoke volumes.

Lando's voice cracked with emotion. "I know I've fucked up. But I need you... I need us to work through this. I promise I'll do better."