Formula 1 One Shots (driverxdriver)

Winging it (LandoNorrisxArthurLeclerc)

Prompt: "I've got a hundred thrown-out speeches I almost said to you"

Couple: Lando Norris and Arthur Leclerc

I must have drunk more than I thought. I was almost sure I had spotted Arthur looking at me. And not just once either. Plus, another time he was talking to Gianluca and they both looked at me.

"Lando? Are you alright?" George waved his hand in front of my face, dragging me back to real life. I shook my head a little, trying to clear my slightly foggy mind.

"I'm good. Just a little out of it. I think I'm gonna go to the bathroom." George frowned a little at my words.

"Ok, if you need anything, I'm right here." I nodded and stood up. As I wandered towards the bathroom, I kept my head tucked down, I couldn't deal with anyone trying to speak to me right now.

Pushing the door open, I took a deep breath. I approached the sink and splashed some water on my face, attempting not to completely drench my suit.

"Ok Lando, get it together. You're at the FIA prize giving ceremony in Monaco, all your friends are out there, and he does not keep looking at you. You and I both know that's what you want to see, not what is actually happening. Pull yourself together. And stop talking to yourself in the mirror," I splashed some more water on my face before braving the way too full room once more.

××××

"Ok Ladies and Gentlemen, that concludes the ceremony. Feel free to leave or stick around and chat some more." Thank goodness. I was very much ready to leave. Despite my chat in the bathroom with my reflection, I swore I saw Arthur look over a couple more times from where he was sitting with some of the other Prema boys a table over. Being in this sort of close proximity wasn't good for my heart. But then again, how were the event organisers meant to know that I'm in love with my friend's younger brother.

I blame quarantine honestly. After the first game of F1 2019 with Charles, Alex, George, Alex's younger brother, Luca and of course, Arthur, we just clicked. We began playing more games together, some with the rest of the squad but often just us. And then came all the messages. There was barely a second of the day we weren't messaging. One night when neither of us could sleep, he proposed a face time which quickly became a nightly thing. Seeing him all curled up in bed made me want nothing more than to be tucked up right next to him. He usually fell asleep before I did and I won't lie, I didn't hang up for at least another hour. Instead choosing to just admire him. Imagining what it would be like to run my hands through his hair. To have him hold me. To have him simply love me. That's when it hit me, I had fallen, hard.

A hand clamped down on my shoulder. The owner burst out laughing as I loudly gasped.

"Oh my gosh Lando, you should have seen yourself. You jumped like a foot in the air."

"Yeah, ha ha, really funny Charles. What's up?" Charles recovered before finally remembering what he was there for.

"Oh yeah, most of the drivers and I are going to the after party at the club around the corner. You in?"

Before I could even get a word out, Charles was speaking again, this time beckoning to his brother.

"Arthurito, same offer. Wanna come to the after party?" Charles looked between the two of us, waiting for an answer.

"No thanks, Charles. It's been a long night. I think I'm just gonna head home. Thanks though." Arthur nodded in agreement with my words.

"Okay. I'll talk to you both tomorrow then. See you later." I watched as Charles walked towards Max, shaking his head slightly. When he finally reached him, Charles placed a loving kiss on Max's cheek. I couldn't help but smile at the sight.

"I have another option for you." At the sound of Arthur's voice, I turned back to him.

"And what would that be?"

"You let me take you somewhere. I want to show you something." I shrugged. His offer intrigued me. Where could he possibly want to take me at 1 in the morning?

"Ok, as long as you're not planning on murdering me or anything though." The loud chuckle he let out at my joke, that was definitely not that funny, made me melt. It felt like my entire body had caught on fire, which only worsened when he placed his hand on the small of my back and looked at me with a gentle smile.

××××

"Ok, close your eyes. I'm going to blindfold you once we get there. I promise I won't let anything happen to you. Trust me." I instantly closed my eyes. I trusted him with every inch of me, from the top of my head to the tips of my toes. I would follow this boy into the middle of a battlefield if he said it would be fine.

I heard the engine switch off and his door shut. The next thing I felt was his warmth as he reached over to unclip my seatbelt and I couldn't help but inhale slightly at the sweet scent of his cologne. I felt fabric cover my eyes and almost sighed when I felt his hand brush against my cheek. He carefully grabbed my hands and helped me out of the car before wrapping one of his arms around my waist to help me balance.

"Watch your step," he whispered. I tripped anyway. Right before I hit the ground, his arms enveloped me. "I told you I wouldn't let anything happen to you. Although maybe we should take the blindfold off." I giggled and allowed him to slip the fabric off my face. I immediately let out a gasp.

"Arthur, where are we? It's beautiful." He led me over to a bench, high up on the mountain, overlooking the entire city of Monaco.

"I like coming here to think or just to escape. I've never brought anyone up here before." He pulled me into his side, and I leant my head against his chest despite the fact that I could hardly believe what was happening.

"Land?"

"Hmm?" I could barely get a word out considering how breathtaking the view in front of me was, not to mention the boy next to me.

"I've got a hundred thrown-out speeches I almost said to you, but I've always chickened out so I'm just gonna wing it. When we entered the quarantine period, I knew I was going to spend most of it playing video games, but I wasn't expecting to meet you. I knew who you were obviously, after all, your name is plastered all over the internet and Charles never shuts up about "Lando and the boys". But I really got to know you, the real Lando, from just playing games with everyone else, to me absolutely destroying you in F1 2019, to the constant messaging and lastly the late night facetimes. And I realised something. I'm in love with you Lando. If you don't feel the same, it's fine but I couldn't live with myself if I knew I hadn't even tried. Maybe it's dumb bu-"

I cut him off by kissing him softly. A million fireworks went off in my brain and my cheek tingled when he placed his hand against it. Slightly breathless, I pulled away.

"I'm in love with you too Arthur. And I'm never letting you go again." He smiled before reconnecting our lips.

Yeah, this wasn't a happy ending for us, it was just the beginning. 

Author's note:

Uhhh, yeah. That's it. I hope you like it. Thanks :)