Formula 1 One-Shots (II)

Daniel Ricciardo [Safe Space]

A/N Suggested by emmathomlol

WORDS: 907

PROMPT: "I always feel safe around you."
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It had been a long day. The kind where the minutes stretch into hours, and every moment seems to last longer than the one before. I am sitting on a worn bench at the quiet subway station, my tired eyes watching the flickering light above me. It wasn't my intention to stay this late at the office, but deadlines drag me back to my computer.

I glance at my watch; the last train will arrive in fifteen minutes. A shiver runs down my spine—not from the cold air, but from the sudden feeling of loneliness that seems to cling to me every evening when night falls. The station is nearly empty, except for some people who seem lost in their own world, uninterested in engaging with anyone else. I wish I had someone to talk to, but the only voice I can listen to is my own.

As if my thoughts summoned someone, I hear footsteps coming from the tunnel leading to the station. I look up, and immediately, a smile comes to my lips. Daniel.

He is a familiar face, though our encounters have always been brief and somewhat accidental. I work in the same building where his management has its office. Our paths cross often at this station, but we barely speak to each other. Still, there is something comforting about him being here as well. He always seems so calm, like something steady in my life.

Daniel spots me and smiles while walking toward me. "Mind if I sit?" he asks, gesturing to the space beside me.

"Of course not," I reply, happy for the company.

He settles down beside me, and for a moment, the only sound is the hum of the city, which slightly quiets during the night. We sit in comfortable silence—two strangers, familiar in a way. I can't help but notice the slight difference tonight. His usual confident self seems a bit dented as if he is carrying a weight he doesn't want to show.

"Rough day?" I ask him, breaking the silence.

Daniel lets out a sigh and nods. "Yeah, you could say that. Things aren't working out like they're supposed to. So, it's just one of those days. You know?"

I laugh softly. "I know exactly what you mean. I feel like I've been stuck at my desk forever these last few weeks."

Daniel looks at me, warmth in his eyes that makes my heart skip a beat. I quickly look away, trying to ignore the comforting feeling. We barely know each other—what is my mind even thinking?

The train isn't due for another seven draining minutes, and the silence between us returns. But this time, it feels different. It's not exactly uncomfortable, but something unspoken hangs between us.

I look to the side. Daniel's face is a little more relaxed now, and his shoulders are less tense. I want to ask him more about his day, but then I feel unsure. Would it be too much from a stranger? He has his own life, his own world. What right do I have to ask him to share that with me?

Just when I decide to keep quiet, Daniel turns his attention back to me. "Do you ever feel like you're stuck in the same time loop?"

I blink, needing to think about his question, but then the words just bubble out. "All the time. It's like I wake up, go to work, go back home, and do it all again the next day. It can feel kind of empty."

Daniel nods. "Exactly. It's like everything you do just blends, and you forget what you're doing this for."

"I don't think I've really figured that out," I admit. "I just try to get through the day."

There's a pause before Daniel speaks again, his voice soft now. "I think it's sometimes the people who make it all worth it. You know? The ones who make you feel like you're not just another face in the crowd."

My chest tightens. I didn't expect that. It's a rare thing to hear someone speak so openly about feelings in a world where people mostly keep their thoughts to themselves. Looking at him, my voice is barely a whisper.

"I know what you mean."

And for a moment, there's silence again, but it doesn't feel empty at all. We both sit there—two people who understand something unspoken between us, a fragile bond but at least real.

The train's arrival is announced over the speakers, pulling me out of my thoughts. I stand up and grab my bag, preparing for the end of another long day.

Just as the train pulls into the station, Daniel stands up. He looks at me, his eyes soft.

"Hey," he mutters, his voice warm. "I just wanted to say... I always feel safe around you."

I blink, taken aback by the honesty in his words. I didn't expect him to say anything like that.

My heart flutters, and I smile, feeling the unexpected warmth spread through me. "I feel the same way."

Daniel begins to grin, his eyes sparkling with something I'm not able to name.

We board the train together, standing side by side in the quiet late night. As the doors close, I just smile.This night just proved that it isn't the destination that matters, but the people you share the journey with. And tonight, I don't have to be alone.