when the visor goes down | formula one oneshots

bittersweet endings - carlando

Lando won.

He really did it.

Right now he was in his car, driving his cool-down lap as the new world champion.

He felt ecstatic, but something was missing. Someone was missing.

After doing his winning donuts, he got back into the pitlane.

His eyes were searching, but not finding the person he wished to see.

Instead he almost got run over by his team, which then proceeded to lift him up into the sky. When he came down, he saw his mother already crying and his dad looking more than proud. His siblings behind them too. He gave his mom a bone crushing hug first, feeling his throat close up a bit at her words.

He knew he was allowed to cry, but it was too early for that.

After hugging the rest of his family, most of the FIA personell was waiting for him, but George and Alex reached him first and embraced him into a group hug, which made him laugh for the first time in these crazy minutes after his win.

It felt like he was swarmed by the whole world but still, someone was missing.

Lando had no time to go deeper into that feeling because he had to shake hands, smile and say thank you to all the officials waiting for him.

So he did. 

It was already drowning after the third one, but he knew he had to do it.

That was until someone pulled him around. Unapologetically taking him away from the ones he was speaking to in that moment.

When he got turned around he saw the white suit and blue helmet he would recognize everywhere.

Carlos.

Before he could think about what would be the right interaction with his Ex right now, he got pulled into another soul crushing hug and this time quite literally.

He immediately sunk into him, his arms clinging onto Carlos like he was afraid of letting him go again.

"Lando, you did it. I knew you would. Oh my- I am so proud of you, cabrón."

All Lando could croak was a small "thanks" because everything inside him was going crazy. He knew that there were ten cameras around them and people watching, but he refused to let this ruin this moment with Carlos. He also refused to let go for another second, until he really had to.

Carlos hand was still on his helmet and he could see him smile through his half opened visior.

"Let yourself be celebrated today and enjoy it. I'll see and talk to you after all that alcohol is out of your system." Carlos said, a little smile on his face, of which Lando wasn't so sure it was real.

After that, his hand glided down on his arm, squeezed his hand a little and then he was gone.

Lando was too perplexed to go back to continue what he had done before Carlos came, but gladly Charles pulled him out of his daydreams with a short hug and smiley congratulations. Otherwise he probably would've stared after Carlos for way too long.

Everything else after Carlos though, only felt like a blur. He had to shake a few more hands, but was then escorted to the drivers room, or more like the champions lounge where Max and Oscar were already waiting.

After two congratulations more and a little talk, they were waiting for the celebrations to start. Of course not without Bin Sulayem showing up and ruffling Lando's hair, which made him highly uncomfortable, but of course he just laughed off.