Formula 1 One-Shots (II)

Lewis Hamilton [VIP]

A/N Suggested by MoaWallentin. Sorry if it is not my best work, but I kind of struggle to write about Lewis. Hopefully, you still like it!

WORDS: 956

PROMPT: "You're important to me. And I want you to know that." "I do know that but thank you for telling me."
_____

I have always loved the sound of rain against the windows. The rhythmic pattern has something soothing, especially on nights like this when the world outside seems so far away. Sitting on the couch with a cup of tea warming my hands, I watch the droplets race each other down the glass. My mind wanders: sometimes it's way too easy to get lost in my thoughts during these moments.

Across the room, Lewis sits at his desk, the computer filling the space between us with a soft humming sound. But apart from that and the rain, everything is quiet. He's working late again. I notice the way his shoulders are tensed, the frown on his face not leaving for a long time, and how he's staring at the screen without moving. It's been like this for weeks now. Lewis becoming distant in my life because he's so wrapped up in work. I can't help but wonder if the distance will grow further the longer the season goes on.

During the last hour, I've tried to fill the silence with small talk from time to time, making casual comments that usually brought laughter, but tonight I've only been greeted with silence. The space between us is not only physical, and I don't know how to approach Lewis again. I set my cup down on the coffee table and decide to walk over to him. His eyes barely flicker towards me, and he doesn't acknowledge my presence at all.

"Lewis, can we talk for a minute?" I ask, my voice quiet but firm.

Lewis hesitates, then closes his laptop and finally turns around to face me, a sigh leaving his lips. "Sure, what's up?"

I study him for a moment. His hair isn't as neat as it usually is, and there are dark circles under his eyes. He looks tired—not just physically, but emotionally drained at the same time. I've seen him like this before, and it always breaks my heart.

"Are you okay?" I ask gently.

Lewis rubs his face, avoiding my gaze. "Yeah, just... a lot on my plate. Work's crazy."

I nod, but I'm not convinced that he's okay. Sure, the situation with him leaving Mercedes after so many years was a hard decision, but he's being too hard on himself. "Is it more than just work? I can tell something's been off with you lately."

Lewis swallows and looks at me for a moment. I think he might brush it off again, but instead, he meets my gaze, and there's something vulnerable in his eyes that makes my heart ache.

"I don't know," he says softly. "I just feel like I'm stuck. Not sure what I'm doing or where I'll end up with any of this."

I sit down next to him, close but still giving him space. I want him to open up, but at the same time, I don't want to push him too hard. "You're not alone in this, you know. Whatever you need, I'm here for you," I remind him. Sometimes, Lewis tends to forget that he doesn't have to go through everything on his own and that he has a whole support system around him.

Lewis looks at me, then his eyes soften. There's still sadness in them, something he hasn't shared yet, but it seems like he's getting ready to.

"You're important to me," he says in a low voice. "And I want you to know that."

I feel a lump form in my throat. I've always known, deep down, that Lewis cares about me, but hearing it makes the feeling real again. The words are something I needed to hear. I've been waiting for him to acknowledge that I'm still an important part of his life, that he remembers and believes I will always be there with him.

"I do know that," I whisper, fingers brushing against his hand. "But thank you for telling me."

The air between us doesn't feel so tense anymore like the weight of something unspoken has been lifted. We sit in silence for a few moments, the rain still falling outside, but this time, everything feels more peaceful. I lean my head against Lewis's shoulder, breathing in the familiar scent of him, a form of comfort washing over me.

"I've been caught up in my head lately," Lewis admits, his voice barely above a whisper. "I didn't realize how much I was pushing you away."

I squeeze his hand. "I've felt it. I don't mind giving you space, but I also don't want you to feel like you're going through all of this alone. We're in this together."

Lewis nods, his forehead resting against mine. "I don't want to lose you."

"You're not going to lose me," I reassure him, my voice firm but gentle. "But we need to talk more. We can't let the silence take over."

"You're right. I've been shutting you out. I'm sorry."

I smile softly, carefully brushing my fingertips over his cheek. "You don't have to apologize. I just want to be here with you and for us to be okay."

We sit there for a while, just holding each other, the sound of the rain lulling us into a calm state. I feel a warmth spreading through my body, a feeling of connection that I've missed during the last few weeks. Lewis has always been my rock, but it seems like it's my time to be his.

We don't need to say anything more. The silence is now comfortable and no longer empty, as we find our way back to each other. And this is enough for now. The rain outside continues to fall, but inside, the storm has passed, and everything looks brighter again.