⌞ the chain ⌝

⌞ forty-five : broken glass ⌝

"Wouldn't want it any other way."

_

I almost tackled Lando into a hug as we met behind the podium, both of us laughing like maniacs. We were high off that race and my first official win in F2. It was insane that I could do it with him and there was truly no one that I wanted up here with me. It was practically perfect. I knew the second I got back to my phone, it would be blowing up with messages from the grid fathers, Arty, and the boys back home. It made my heart swell to know that I had all these people who wanted me to succeed. Fuck my father.

"You did it!"

"I did!"

He pulled back, that same dorky smile on his face and I shook my head at it, not able to take the smile off my face. I leaned my head against his shoulder as we stood there, just waiting for all the bullshit to be done. Charlie was standing a bit in front of us, giving us the space we needed and I respected him for it. We had started to build that bridge between us but that didn't mean it was fully fixed.

Lando leaned his head against mine, arm around my shoulders. "We'll have to get you another charm."

"I thought it was per season?"

"It's a charm bracelet, there's no rules. Plus, this is important. You deserve to remember it."

I shook my head but I knew he was right. It wasn't like anyone had specifically said what could qualify as a reason for a new charm and since it was his idea, I wasn't going to argue. This was our little thing, the rules could be made up and changed whenever we wanted and it was a bit endearing.

"Alright, my name. See you up there in a second."

I nodded, my arm leaving from around his waist as he walked up to the podium. It was like he glowed. Not like how Jem did, not the arrogant and playboy smiling for the camera bullshit. No, this was pure joy and pride over his work in the race. I could feel myself smiling at him. And then my name. I could see Lando and Charlie looking over at me but my eyes traced the crowd for Damon. My eyes met his and he gave me a nod, a reassurance that I deserved to be on that top step. I took a breath and let my feet carry me into the spotlight.

_

"Coming off her first win, in Formula Two, Eilulia Bianchi-Leclerc leads the race today in Imola. After an almost-perfect qualifying session, she has led the race since the beginning. With almost seven seconds ahead of everyone else, I think with two laps left in this race, we have our winner here in the home of the TIFOSI. And that is the second win in a row for Miss. Bianchi-Leclerc!"

"And that's how it's done bitches! Woo! Make another notch in that belt, D."

"Alright, relax. Let's not get cocky now. See you in the pit."

"And we're at the famous Monte Carlo track and it seems that Redbull's Jem Wright is lead this race into the last lap with a very aggressive George Russell to take P2 and Lando Norris to follow into P3. A great success for Redbull today with Wright finishing in P1 and Bianchi-Leclerc still being able to secure points in P5."

"Fuck that little twink, I swear to god I'm going to tie his shoes together before he gets off the next plane."

"Lu, let's tone in the violence a bit. Still a good race. The track is different than the streets, we live and learn. See you in the pit."

"And it seems that the Leclerc twins are battling it out on the track today in Barcelona as we come into the last lap of the race today. It had been wheel-to-wheel all day with these two, pushing each other into what could be considered unsportsmanship behavior but I don't think anyone cares as it comes down to the battle of blood. But as we come around that last corner, it seems the battle of twins comes home by less than point five of a second with Eilulia Leclec!" 

"And that's how you fucking win, suck it Charlie. Woo! Champagne today, ladies and gents!"

"I think you just like beating Charles, at this point. And language, jeez child. See you in the pits." 

"It seems that the Redbulls are battling for dominance all race long but there can only be one winner today in Spielburg. Jem Wright is on the defense but it looks like Eilulia Leclerc is driving for not only a win today, but blood. We inch closer to that line and there it is, she pulls ahead! Eilulia Leclerc, a masterclass in offensive driving, wins the Austrian Grand Prix!" 

"Aye, aye, aye. Someone call Seb, let him know I'm about to be the best Redbull driver this place has ever seen." 

"I think he would hang up if he heard anyone but you from your phone. Take your lap, see you in the pit."

"It's a Silverstone podium for the ages! Lando Norris came across that line after using Eilulia Leclerc's DRS to take it home in his home, followed by George Russell in P3. Ladies and Gents, this might be one of the friendliest podiums we've seen, but all because we had defensive driving to protect those steps from the other Brit." 

"Someone find me a good charm place in Monaco so I can get that Brit a gift, I would kiss him if I could. I don't mind that today, D. P2 baby!" 

"Let's not let Lando find this radio, he would probably take you up on it. See you in the pit, jeez."

"They wanted it, they prayed for it, and today it's a reality. Charles Leclerc bringing home the win in the home of the TIFOSI. They will hold him up today and for the days to come, no one could be more proud than the late Jules Bianchi. Ferrari will keep that boy on high." 

"Well... you win, you lose. I didn't need this one. Still leading, still winning." 

"Be proud, P2 is good. You drove, that's all I can ask for you. Bring it home, baby girl. See you in the pit." 

_ 

"Eli- Eli, please. I need to talk to you. Eilulia!" 

I whipped around. I didn't want to talk to Charlie, not right now. I had wanted this one almost as much as Monte Carlo but here I was, walking off with P2. Damon had talked me down, told me there was more than a win, more than what could be done and with the way I was racing, there was a chance I would have more than enough wins here to come. But something stung about it. 

Jules would have been proud of him, Jules would have been proud of me. But to hear that Charlie was getting that praise over me just hit that still-healing wound. I would never be more than him. I could win more races, I could be leading the goddamn championship and everything would always find a way back to Charlie. Maybe I was overthinking it, but wasn't that what trauma did? Make you look at things through broken glass. 

"What, Charlie?" 

"It's... I know you don't really want to talk to him or anything. But it's Dad... he's not doing well." 

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a/n: you guys thought you were free, huh? i gave you some nice stuff before, little bit of L2. some good radios, some othes. come on now, we can't be mad at me for nothing now. you knew what you signed up for. oh, and apologies for the radio silence, life has been fucking insane but hey. season is back, lando win. lando leading the championship. it's all fucking great. as always, because i know you'll have some comment, love it or not :p