Formula 1 One-Shots (II)

George Russell [Winter Hike]

A/N Suggested by MoaWallentin

TAGLIST: hannah15_f1, evabsmn, sooph-sooph-sooph, MegTheF1Weirdo, smallmonsterr, moonxxf1

WORDS: 1000

PROMPT: "Just think about how warm it'll be once we're there." "And how's that supposed to help me now?"
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 The wind is howling through the narrow woods, sending gusts of snow swirling down from the trees, only illuminated by the soft light of the evening. I pull my jacket tighter around me, breath visible in the frosty air. Every step through the snow feels heavier, and the trace we leave behind gets deeper and deeper with each step. Beside me walks George, his face flushed red from the cold, but his eyes fixated on the path before us.

"I know it's rough." He mutters, glancing over at me. "But we are almost there." George promises, making me grunt in response, staying focused on where I put my feet. The snow makes the journey even more difficult than it probably would be. I can barely feel my fingers or toes anymore, legs burning with every step and I wish that I had stayed home. My hair, which was once neatly tied to a braid is ruined, scattering around my face with frost on it.

George leads the way, determination not leaving him. He was always the strong one, maybe even the stubborn one. While I said we might just stay home he insisted on going on that hike. It will be breathtaking he said. Well, it is, but not because of its beauty, but because it is more than draining to my energy. George just powers through while I follow him.

"You're doing great!" George promises me, voice full of encouragement, but I can spot the exhaustion in it, even though he would never admit it.

"Yeah." I just mutter "Great."

We started this trip in the late morning, thinking we would reach our cabin during the afternoon again, but now it is nearly time for the sun to set and it gets darker in the woods. The path through the forest had been harder to follow than they expected, especially because it was marked as an easy to medium-difficulty hike. With every passing hour, the sense of time slowly leaves. Snacks empty and drinks slowly come to an end.

"Just think how warm it will be once we're there." George says as if the thought would ease the discomfort of this situation. I scoff and glance at George, eyes narrowing at his optimism.

"And how's that supposed to help me now?"

George stops in his tracks, boots crunching in the snow. For a moment I think he might snap, but he just sighs, shoulders slumping down.

"I know it is hard" He sighs "But we are almost there and just need to keep going."

I want to argue, tell him how wrong he might be, but instead, I just nod and continue walking. Hating how hopeful his words always sound as if he is positive, he could change a situation with his thinking. Sometimes I hate how he never seems to get tired of believing everything will be fine.

The path gets rougher and then it happens. I stumble in the snow, ankle twisting in the depth of it and I manage to catch myself with my hands before fully hitting the snow, but pain shoots up my leg, making me wince.

"Fuck!" I mutter, another wince leaving my lips, trying to get onto one knee to get my standing again.

George is beside me in the blink of an eye. "Are you okay?" Voice lace with stress and for the first time I noticed how much this trip tired him out. Maybe even as much as it did with me.

"I'll be fine." I say, even though I am not sure of it. "Just give me a second."

"Here," George says, pulling off my backpack." Let me carry it for you."

"No, I can handle it." I reply even though I am not sure if I even believe myself. My legs feel stiff and my body like it has been frozen into place by the cold.

George doesn't argue, but he doesn't leave my side either. Together we slowly continue up the hill, me leaning on him more than I dare to admit. My pride stung but the cold and the pain in my leg makes it hard to care about anything else. We are close to home now, just as George said and relief floods my body.

When we reach the top of the hill, I can make out a light in a short distance. Our cabin. It is small, but it looks like heaven in this weather. It will be warm, and the struggle will be over, giving me some strength to manage the last meters.

"We're almost there." George mutters, this time it's the truth. "Almost," I reply, voice hoarse and I am sure I will be sick tomorrow. The wind has picked up again since there are not as many trees around us. My muscles ache with exhaustion when we reach the door, and I sigh when the warmth engulfs me. George helps me to sit down in the entryway and walks to the fireplace to heat it up again.

"We made it." George says, pressing a kiss onto my temple before he helps me slowly get rid of the jacket, the heavy boots and the snow trousers. Then we walk over to the fireplace, cuddling in front of it.

"You, okay?" George asks, eyes full of concern and he presses me closer to his chest. I just nod, before a thought comes to my mind.

"I just don't know how you keep being so optimistic that everything will be okay."

George smiles and shrugs his shoulder. "I don't know, it is just easier for me to believe it will."

For a moment I look at him, tracing the exhaustion in his face with my eyes. Even though it is not always easy George is here to make me feel like everything is going to be good in the end. I cuddle myself closer against his chest and sigh, in the end, George was right again because everything seems to be okay right now.