Pit Stop of the Heart -Daniel Ricciardo bxb

Back in the Paddock

The roar of engines echoed through the paddock, a familiar symphony of power and precision that always made Daniel Ricciardo's pulse race. He took a long breath, inhaling the smell of fuel and rubber as he adjusted the zipper on his fireproof suit. This was his element, the one place that felt like home, no matter which team logo he wore on his chest. This season, it was a new one again.

He took in the bustling scene around him: engineers crowded around laptops, pit crews working through their routines with the urgency of a hundred tiny, choreographed dances, journalists darting about with notepads and mics. It was a world he knew too well, but this year, there was a strange comfort in its familiarity. A part of him didn't want anything to change, didn't want to think about what lay beyond racing. He didn't want to think about how much longer he'd be here.

And then he saw him. Head bent over a tablet, wearing a team polo that hugged a lean but solid frame, was one of the engineers Daniel hadn't met yet. Probably new, he figured. The guy's brow was furrowed, lips set in a serious line, one hand resting absently on his stubbled chin as he scrolled through telemetry data.

Daniel had worked with a lot of engineers in his career, and most of them could be sorted neatly into one of two camps: the die-hard, stats-loving lifers who saw every race as their Super Bowl, or the quieter, introverted types who communicated mostly through numbers. This guy didn't fit either.

The new engineer seemed intense, but not in the manic, stat-obsessed way Daniel was used to. He looked composed, calm. The kind of person who had a million things on his mind but didn't let them show. When Daniel cleared his throat, he looked up, and there was an unexpected clarity in his eyes. They were a striking shade of green, made even more noticeable under the paddock's fluorescent lights.

"Hey there. You must be the new engineer on the team," Daniel said, offering his trademark grin. He hoped his relaxed Aussie charm would make a good impression—he was curious, though he couldn't exactly say why.

The man's lips twitched, like he was trying to decide if he should smile back. "Yeah, I am." His voice was calm, steady. "Lucas. I joined at the start of the season."

Lucas didn't bother to extend his hand, which wasn't unusual—most engineers didn't spend a lot of time on small talk. But there was something else in the air, a slight tension Daniel hadn't felt with other engineers. He shrugged it off, figuring Lucas just needed time to warm up.

"So, Lucas," Daniel said, trying to ease into the conversation, "you must be the brains behind the new setup, huh? I took a look at the car earlier—seems like someone's been tinkering with the steering. Trying to make me feel special or what?"

This time, Lucas did smile, though it was faint. "Not just for you," he said, tapping his tablet. "We're trying a few things. You're not the only one who'll benefit from better handling."

Daniel chuckled, already liking this guy's low-key humor. "Oh, don't worry. I know it's not all about me." He paused, tilting his head a little. "But you should know, I'm one of the few drivers who can actually tell the difference."

Lucas gave a small nod, his gaze unblinking as he studied Daniel, evaluating him in a way that was more analytical than judgmental. "I figured as much. That's why I wanted you to try it first. The telemetry's one thing, but hearing it from you—that's what'll matter."

There was something refreshing in Lucas's directness. He didn't seem to be caught up in the usual awe or fanfare. It wasn't that he didn't respect Daniel's experience—he did. But he treated him more like a puzzle piece that needed to fit perfectly into a machine he was meticulously crafting.

"Well, I'll let you know what I think after the test run. No promises, though," Daniel said with a wink.

Lucas's face softened, just a fraction, but it was enough. "Good. I don't do promises, anyway."

Daniel laughed, and for a split second, he caught something in Lucas's eyes—something like curiosity. Maybe even warmth. But just as quickly as it appeared, it was gone, buried behind the engineer's stoic focus.

As Daniel walked back to the garage, helmet in hand, he found himself wondering about Lucas. There was a lot he didn't know about this guy, but he sensed a story behind that quiet confidence, an edge to his calm exterior that intrigued him. It was rare to feel this way about someone on the team who wasn't another driver. Usually, his relationships with engineers were professional, simple, built on trust and mutual respect, but nothing more.

Lucas, though... there was something there. Something he couldn't quite put his finger on, but it drew him in all the same.

He was about to climb into the cockpit when he glanced back. Lucas was still at the tablet, seemingly oblivious to everything around him, his gaze intent on the screen, fingers tapping steadily. Daniel watched him for a moment longer than necessary, feeling a faint warmth in his chest that he chalked up to pre-race adrenaline.

But a small voice in the back of his mind, persistent and nagging, told him it wasn't just the race.