Pit Stop of the Heart -Daniel Ricciardo bxb

City Strolls

The next day, Daniel found himself waiting in the lobby a bit earlier than planned. It was funny—normally, a day off after a race was all about sleeping in or lounging around. But today, he felt a kind of restless anticipation, and he realised it wasn't just about showing Lucas around. He was genuinely looking forward to spending time with him outside of the track, away from the endless noise and the rush of race weekends.

Lucas arrived right on time, dressed simply in a plain T-shirt and jeans, looking a little unsure as he walked over.

"Ready to go?" Daniel asked, a smile already on his face.

"Yeah," Lucas replied, giving a small nod. "Lead the way."

They headed out onto the streets, starting with a quiet walk through the city center. It was a sunny day, the kind where the streets were alive with people going about their lives, and the energy felt a world away from the track. Daniel led Lucas through some of the city's lesser-known spots—a quiet café tucked behind a row of trees, an old bookstore, and a local park where they could wander without anyone recognising them.

At the café, they grabbed a table by the window, and Daniel watched as Lucas scanned the menu, looking a bit overwhelmed by the choices.

"Want a recommendation?" Daniel offered.

Lucas looked up, a half-smile on his face. "Yeah, I think I need one. You'd think I'd be more decisive by now."

Daniel chuckled. "Alright, trust me on this—they've got the best iced lattes and croissants around. Simple but perfect."

Lucas nodded, going along with it. "I'll take your word for it."

When their drinks and pastries arrived, Daniel couldn't help but notice Lucas's reaction as he took his first sip—an appreciative nod, a hint of surprise at the quality. It was such a small thing, but it made Daniel smile.

"So, this is your idea of 'showing me around'?" Lucas asked, raising an eyebrow in mock suspicion.

Daniel shrugged, grinning. "What, you're not impressed by my café-picking skills?"

Lucas chuckled, shaking his head. "No, it's actually... nice. I didn't expect this kind of calm today."

They sat for a while, talking about nothing in particular. Daniel shared a few stories about other cities he'd visited, funny moments that happened with the team on race weekends, and even a few tales from his travels before racing became his entire world. Lucas, for his part, started opening up more than usual, sharing little pieces of himself—the quiet hometown he grew up in, the long drives he used to take as a teenager just to clear his mind, and his fascination with the engineering side of racing.

"So, did you always want to be an engineer?" Daniel asked, genuinely curious.

"Not always," Lucas admitted, a bit shyly. "I actually thought I might end up as a teacher or something. But then... I got my first car, and that was it. I was hooked on figuring out how it all worked. I guess that's what brought me here."

Daniel nodded thoughtfully, imagining a younger version of Lucas, more reserved but with that same quiet determination. "I can see it. You've got that 'focus' about you."

Lucas looked down, clearly not used to receiving compliments. "Guess I'm just wired that way."

They finished their coffee, and Daniel led the way out, taking them through a series of narrow streets until they arrived at a small park tucked away from the main roads. The park was almost empty, except for a few locals strolling by, and Daniel felt that rare sense of privacy that he hadn't experienced in ages.

They found a bench by a small pond, and for a while, they just sat there, watching the ripples in the water as the late morning sun filtered through the trees.

"It's weird," Lucas said after a while, breaking the comfortable silence. "I'm so used to the noise of race days that I forget what quiet feels like."

Daniel nodded, looking out at the water. "Yeah, I get that. It's like you spend so much time in the middle of chaos that when things slow down, it feels... strange."

"Exactly," Lucas replied, his voice softer. "But this is nice. Feels like a different world."

They sat quietly for a few more minutes, just taking in the peace around them. Eventually, Daniel glanced over, noticing the way Lucas seemed to relax, his usual guardedness fading.

"So, what do you do for fun, Lucas?" Daniel asked, genuinely curious. "When you're not working or reading technical manuals, that is."

Lucas laughed softly. "I don't know, really. I guess I'm still figuring that out. I've spent so much time focusing on work that I haven't thought much about it."

Daniel raised an eyebrow. "Well, we'll have to work on that. Life can't be all about work, you know."

Lucas looked at him, something warm in his eyes. "And what about you? What's your idea of fun?"

"Ah, now you're putting me on the spot," Daniel replied, grinning. "Honestly... it's a mix. Sometimes I just want to chill, like this. Other times, I'm all about going out, finding a place with music, maybe meeting new people. I think it's all about balance."

Lucas nodded thoughtfully. "Makes sense. I guess I could use a bit of that balance myself."

They spent the rest of the afternoon wandering through the park, talking and laughing as they discovered little hidden corners and overlooked statues. It felt refreshing, easy in a way that neither of them expected. As they finally made their way back to the hotel, Daniel felt like he'd uncovered a side of Lucas that he hadn't seen before—a lighter, more open side that he was glad to have glimpsed.

As they reached the hotel lobby, Daniel turned to Lucas, a playful smile on his face. "So, did I manage to make your day off worthwhile?"

Lucas nodded, a faint smile touching his lips. "Yeah. I didn't realise I needed this."

Daniel clapped him on the shoulder. "That's what I'm here for—keeping things balanced."

They shared a quiet laugh, a sense of mutual understanding passing between them. There was something grounding about the day they'd shared, and as Daniel headed up to his room, he realised that he was already looking forward to whatever came next.