Beyond the Track - Oscar Piastri bxb

Hiding in Plain Sight

The press frenzy after the leaked photo was relentless. Everywhere Oscar went, it seemed like there was a camera or a reporter lurking around the corner, ready to pounce on the next headline. His usual routine of going to the track, media sessions, and team briefings felt like a blur, overshadowed by the incessant questions, the intrusive whispers, and the pressure of having to maintain his composure in front of the cameras.

It wasn't just Oscar who felt the weight of it. Nick had been getting his fair share of attention too. The media had started digging into his life, trying to piece together the story of who he was and what his relationship with Oscar meant. Nick's usually calm, collected demeanor was starting to crack under the strain. Oscar could see it in the tightness of his jaw, the way his eyes darted around when they were in public, as if constantly scanning for the next paparazzi lurking in the shadows.

After the day's press event, they had both had enough. Oscar had gotten a message from Nick, suggesting they meet up at the hotel. Oscar didn't hesitate. He had been hoping for this—an escape, a place where they could hide from the public eye, just for a little while.

The door clicked shut behind them as they entered the dimly lit room. Oscar let out a long breath, feeling the tension in his shoulders start to ease as he stepped further into the room. He had spent the last few hours in front of cameras, pretending everything was fine, but the second he was out of sight, the exhaustion hit him. His mind was cluttered with the endless questions, the constant barrage of attention.

Nick stood near the window, looking out at the city skyline. He seemed deep in thought, his arms crossed as he surveyed the busy streets below. It was a strange feeling for Oscar—this sudden, overwhelming desire to keep Nick safe, to protect him from the world outside. He knew Nick was strong, but this was different. The scrutiny was something neither of them had prepared for.

"Are you okay?" Oscar's voice was soft, though his eyes betrayed the worry he felt. He walked toward Nick, standing just behind him.

Nick didn't immediately answer, his gaze still fixed on the view outside. For a moment, the only sound in the room was the hum of the city and the soft rustle of fabric as Oscar moved closer.

"I will be," Nick finally said, his voice low. He turned to face Oscar, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "Just... tired of the constant attention, you know? It's hard to pretend everything's fine when it's anything but."

Oscar nodded. He understood. Every time they stepped outside, they were exposed. Not just as athletes, but as people in a very public relationship that neither of them had anticipated. The walls of the hotel room seemed to offer the only refuge from the storm outside.

"Let's stay in tonight," Oscar suggested, his voice more certain now. "We can just... be ourselves. No cameras, no press, just us."

Nick's eyes softened as he studied Oscar for a moment, as if weighing the sincerity of the offer. The weight of the world, the media pressure, seemed to fade a little in the quiet of the room.

"I like the sound of that," Nick finally replied. "No interviews, no flashing lights. Just us."

Oscar reached out, pulling Nick closer until they stood face-to-face. The world outside felt distant now, almost irrelevant. In this moment, they were just two people—no drivers, no public figures—just Oscar and Nick, trying to navigate the whirlwind that had unexpectedly become their lives.

They sat down on the edge of the bed, the tension in both of their shoulders easing the moment they were out of the public's watchful eye. There was a kind of unspoken relief between them, the ability to just *be* without the weight of expectations. Oscar took Nick's hand in his, giving it a gentle squeeze.

"I'm sorry for all of this," Oscar murmured, his voice sincere.

Nick tilted his head, looking at him with a knowing smile. "You don't have to apologize, Oscar. We're in this together, right? No matter what happens, we handle it together."

Oscar smiled, feeling a deep sense of gratitude for Nick's unwavering support. "Yeah. Together."

The evening passed quietly. They didn't have to say much; the silence between them was comfortable, filled with the kind of understanding only the two of them seemed to share. They ate dinner, a simple meal they ordered in, and spent the rest of the night talking about everything and nothing. They talked about races, the future, their hopes and dreams, and, for once, they didn't talk about the pressure. There were no expectations to live up to, no cameras pointed at them. Just two people, trying to make it work.

Later, as the night wore on, the weight of the outside world seemed to melt away entirely. Nick stretched out on the bed, and Oscar joined him, the two of them lying side by side in the quiet darkness of the hotel room. The soft glow of the city lights filtered in through the curtains, casting a gentle glow over the room.

"You think it'll ever calm down?" Nick asked, his voice barely above a whisper as he turned toward Oscar.

Oscar ran a hand through his hair, staring up at the ceiling for a moment. "I don't know. But as long as we're together, we can handle it. Whatever happens, we'll figure it out."

Nick's fingers traced lightly across Oscar's chest, the simple gesture bringing a sense of comfort and closeness that neither of them had felt all day. In this room, away from the world, it felt like they could breathe again.

"Yeah," Nick said softly, "we'll figure it out."

And for the first time in days, Oscar believed it. For all the chaos swirling outside, for all the questions and the scrutiny, there was still this—*them*. And as long as they had each other, maybe that was enough to face whatever the world threw at them next.