VIPER || Oscar Piastri

Chapter 58

Two out of three hearts stopped.

Andi and Oscar froze, before they both snapped their heads towards each other  — their faces painted with the same look of pure, unfiltered, panic — like they'd just been caught in a lie.

Because, well, they had been.

Lando, oblivious to the sudden shift in atmosphere he'd caused, started pushing the door open, expecting his words to land with a laugh or at least some kind of casual response. But when no laughter followed, he turned back. Lando blinked, his smile faltering. "...What?"

Both of them stood there, pale, staring back at him like he'd just told them the world was ending.

He started looking between them, taking his hand off the door handle, forehead creasing in confusion. His grin started to slip as he processed their reactions.

Then, it hit him.

Andi and Oscar remained silent, still frozen — and growing paler by the second — and Lando's eyes narrowed at them. "Wait," he said. He stepped forward, completely caught off guard. "Wait—" he repeated, a lot louder this time.

Andi had no choice but to snap into action as her life started flashing before her eyes. "No, Lando it's—"

"Wait—" he held a hand out, stopping her from coming any further, his eyes widening in horror.

There was a pause.

And then, Lando's pointed at Oscar, his voice cracking with pure disbelief. "OH MY FUCKING GOD—"

Before he could finish the thought, Andi shot forward, her hands flying to cover his mouth, her body stiff with urgency. "NO—!" she hissed, her eyes wild as she tried to physically silence him.

Oscar, in the back, had his hands on his head, pacing in tiny circles like he wanted to disappear.

"WHAT THE F—" Lando started again, muffled by Andi's hands. "WHAT—"

Andi's grip tightened. "Lando. Stop. Now." she whisper-yelled, her fingers almost digging into his face as she gave him a look that could've stopped a charging bull.

Lando, though, didn't (and wasn't going to anytime soon) stop.

It took both Andi and Oscar to drag Lando away and back down the corridor. It wasn't a matter of convincing. Or guiding. They had to physically manhandle him. Oscar had one arm locked around Lando's shoulder like he was subduing a suspect mid-arrest, while Andi gripped the back of his t-shirt, steering him like an out-of-control toddler. Lando was flailing, still trying to put words together between bouts of frantic disbelief.

"I just CANNOT belie—wait, WAIT, back up— Holy shit. That was all LIES?! I told Max he was insane but YOU'RE THE INSANE ONES—"

"Lando," Andi hissed through gritted teeth, "I will staple your mouth closed if you do not SHUT. UP."

They reached the door to a small, rarely-used briefing room — empty, quiet. Ideal. Oscar pushed it open, leaned in quickly, and gave it a glance. "Clear."

Andi nodded. She then started to push Lando in.

Lando saw what was coming.

"Wait— WAIT—" he gasped, skidding to a halt. He threw his arms out and planted his palms on either side of the doorway like a man being dragged to prison. "I HAVE RIGHTS. I'M INNOCENT. I DEMAND A LAWYER—"

Oscar pulled a face. "You're not on trial—"

"I AM A FREE MAN!" Lando shouted dramatically, still bracing both hands against the doorframe as Andi aggressively shoved him.