𝘴𝘩𝘶𝘵 𝘶𝘱 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘥𝘳𝘪𝘷𝘦 || 𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘰𝘴𝘤𝘢𝘳

he spoke, but we don't hear it

now you guys know the face behind the words 👀

~

"Alright," Zak said, setting down a few files in the center of the circular table that Lando and Oscar found themselves seated at, alongside Andrea and a few members of McLaren's PR team.

Lando was visibly the more nervous of the duo, fidgeting and picking at his nails as he waited for whatever was to be discussed in this meeting. They had anticipated this would happen, but that didn't make it any less terrifying. Despite the team's reassurance that they would provide nothing but full support, there was no possibility that this could be smooth sailing.

They had been the first ones in the paddock that day, wanting to avoid the journalists that were sure to swarm them with questions, as this was the fated media day of the race weekend.

"First of all," the team principal said, "I think it's important that the first thing we establish is that you two have our support in your relationship, and that at least for me it's more funny than anything else that you two went from despising each other to making heart eyes at each other the way you are right now." He grinned, arching a knowing eyebrow at the two of them.

"Sorry not sorry," Oscar fired back with a laugh, very explicitly taking Lando's hand from where it had been contorted into some weird grip on his coffee mug and interlacing their fingers together, anything to calm the Brit's nerves.

"We want you both to know that we are looking to keep you on the team, and that neither your sexuality nor your choice of partner will affect anything within the team, aside from the fact that there's a lot of paperwork you're gonna have to sign since you're the two most high profile people on the team," Zak continued.

That was a relief. They were both so concerned that the team would react poorly when they had haphazardly sent that message in a panic that the news would reach the team before they had the chance to do it on their own terms.

But the team had taken it in stride and responded in the affirmative, something that Oscar suspected was partially credited to the fact that McLaren saw Lando as their golden boy and had for a while, and that at times, his wish would be their command.

In this case, to see him happy and driving well seemed to be what they wanted from him, and if he could deliver then they would bend to sort his needs.

They had also started to do the same for Oscar. His requests were no longer just heard, they were often acted upon instantly. His opinion became increasingly powerful, and of course he wouldn't abuse the respect that the team had for him, but he certainly appreciated it.

For sure, his work in helping Lando win the championship the previous year had won over the hearts of just about every team member, assuming he hadn't done so before then.

"But," one of the PR representatives interrupted, snapping Oscar out of his spiral, "surely the world won't receive this as well as we have. And that's not to say that we regret being positive about this, since we respect both of you and are happy for you if you find happiness in each other. That being said, there's a lot we need to go over because you guys are now very familiar with the monster that the media can be."

The meeting dragged on, an hour felt like five. Oscar didn't let go of Lando's hand the whole time, only to sign the paperwork agreeing to confidentiality on certain things and establishing with the team what was to be shared and what was to stay private.

They had agreed not to share that they were in a committed relationship for the time being. It would be infinitely easier to explain that after the race, they had gotten drunk and kissed on the rooftop. It was a reasonable explanation, and that was the excuse that everyone had mutually agreed to.