Chapter Text
Lando bites his lip looking at where Daniel is currently spread out on his bed, the other had insisted they go to his hotel room since he has brought one of his speakers from home. He always does just in case.
Lando hadn’t argued, still trying to come up with a smooth way of asking to cuddle. So far he’s got nothing.
He’d let Daniel take the first shower, ignoring the way he himself flushed when Daniel had stepped out of the bathroom with a cloud of steam only in a rather short towel.
Daniel had seemed a little flustered himself but in true Ricciardo style played it up instead with an exaggerated smirk and wink as he’d gone to his suitcase to find some comfortable clothes, no doubt from his newest merch drop.
The second Lando had caught a glimpse of his naked ass when he dropped the towel, he had made a beeline to the bathroom so quick he forgot he didn’t have any clothes with him to change into.
Getting out of the shower reality had hit and Lando roughly dried his hair and pinned the towel around his waist, looking at at himself in the mirror like he’d magically figure out how to get what he desperately wants just by staring.
“Just say he lost the bet. That’s all you gotta do.” he whispers to himself and takes a deep breath before exiting the bathroom, walking towards where Daniel has spread out like a starfish in his signature oversized hoodie and sweatpants with a soft smile on his face and his eyes closed.
It takes Lando a few seconds to pick up on the low music playing from the table next to the other’s suitcase and he grins a little, it’s one of the songs Lando has on his secret “Danny’s songs” list that the other has insisted he listen to.
“I put some clothes that should fit you next to the suitcase.” Daniel finally says, breaking Lando from where he’s been staring almost transfixed, drinking in the sight of Daniel at ease and content.
“Thanks,” he murmurs and shuffles towards the neatly folded clothes on the floor, he finds a soft pair of briefs and a pair of enchante sweatpants along with a hoodie that makes him grin in spite of himself. Normally he’s been very against wearing others' merch, sticking to his own quadrant stuff whenever possible but he’s been wanting to expand to include Daniel’s for quite some time. Not knowing how to go about it without it being weird. Now if Daniel thinks he'll be getting this outfit back however, he’s sorely mistaken.
Finally getting dressed and feeling appropriately cuddly —yes that is a thing shut up— Lando moves slowly towards the bed, Daniel still has his eyes closed but has moved to the left leaving half the space empty and that just won’t work.
Lando kneels on the bed and sees Daniel tense for a second and relax again. He wonders —not for the first time— if he’s been ignoring the signs on purpose to keep himself freaked out or not.
He lays down next to the other, making sure to be on his side and as close as he can be without actually touching despite how badly he wants just that.
Daniel turns towards him, mirroring his position as he opens his eyes and warm honey browns meet warm teal with a ghost of a smile on those tempting lips.
“Hi.” Lando whispers, unable to speak any louder and Daniel’s smile widens.
“Hi,” he murmurs back and Lando smiles too while his heart thumps steadily in his chest. They spend the rest of the song looking at each other, enjoying the other’s company more than anything else.
Lando bites his lip and inches a little closer, seeing Daniel swallow but stay unmoving and takes Lando decides to take his shot.
“You lost the bet.” he says slowly and it takes a few seconds before it sinks in but when it does Daniel lets out a surprised chuckle.
“That I did.” he grins and turns his back to Lando, gently scooting back until they fit together like two puzzle pieces.
Lando feels electric, like there’s a current flowing through them where they fit together snuggly and he sighs happily, taking another chance by nosing the back of Daniel’s neck softly. Smiling big when he feels Daniel relax completely in his arms with his own soft sigh.
Lando uses one arm to hold around Daniel’s surprisingly small waist while he uses the other to fit carefully under the other’s head, stretching it out fully and being completely overwhelmed in love when Daniel fits their hands together making sure they stay put.
They lay like that for a while just listening to music and Lando enjoys the intimacy as much as he can, but there’s still a nagging thought in his head he needs to get out. Although being more than willing to accept this as the limit to how close they’ll ever get he just needs to know.
“Danny,” he whispers softly, unsure if the other has fallen asleep or not yet.
“Mmm what’s up bear.” Daniel murmurs sleepily and Lando’s heart clenches at the gentle tone.
“I- uh- how come you never come to me when you’re tired.” The second it's out of his mouth Lando wants nothing more than to slap himself, Daniel tensing up in his arms immediately and Lando nearly whines when the other turns around in his arms. Honey browns meet glimmering teal once more, searching for something Lando wants to give but doesn’t know how.
Daniel looks at him for a couple more moments and his face flushes a beautiful hue of red much to Lando’s surprise.
“Uh-” Daniel chuckles hollowly and Lando bites his lip hard to stay still.
“I like you,” Daniel confesses finally and looks about to runaway from the situation so Lando tightens his arms purely on reflex, moving himself closer in the process so their noses are almost touching.
“You do?” he really needs someone to tell him to shut up jesus christ come on Lando.
Whatever hesitation Daniel had bleeds away when he sees the sincerity in the other’s eyes and he grins.
“Of course I do little bear.” He sighs and uses a hand to cup Lando’s cheek, thumb moving softly back and forth on his cheek and Lando melts into it, feeling all kinds of love drunk.
“I like you too.” he smiles and Daniel giggles.
“I figured,” he teases gesturing to where Lando still has a steel grip on his body, holding him close.
Lando flushes and lets out a high pitched laugh, he feels so elated he could soar into the skies and never come down. He leans in to nudge their noses together earning another giggle before finally doing what he’s been wanting to for months and captures those full lips with his own.
They move against each other like a rehearsed dance and Lando groans happily when Daniel’s hands make their way towards his hair, gently pulling to fix the angle a little and he can’t help but open his mouth slowly to deepen it.
Breaking apart to breathe the two look at each other for a few of seconds before breaking into giggles and Lando never wants to leave this space.
He can’t remember ever feeling this good before and it looks to be mirrored by Daniel who keeps running his fingers through Lando’s curls while moving in to place kisses all around the other’s face making Lando’s heart thump hard in his chest.
Capturing his lips once more after a round of kisses everywhere else on his face Lando is struck with a realization.
“Wait-” he breaks off a little and has to give in for another one when Daniel whines unashamedly at the loss of contact.
Far too many kisses later Lando finds his way back to what he wanted to know.
“You didn’t answer the question.” he says finally, pulling away far enough that Daniel can’t easily reach him and the other huffs a little and lets his head hit the pillow again.
“What question?” Daniel pouts a little confused and Lando just has to kiss him just once, pulling away quickly while Daniel narrows his eyes at him mumbling about a tease and Lando laughs a at the absurdity of what’s happening as he lays his head down too.
“Seb told me why you go to the people you do when you’re exhausted,” he starts softly and moves one hand to cup a stubbled cheek, mirroring what Daniel did earlier.
“I just don’t understand, you like me and I like you” -love you more like but they’ll get there- ”so why not me?” He tries to keep the hurt out of his voice but can tell he’s not being very good at it when Daniel looks at him sympathetically.
“It’s because it’s you.” Daniel smiles a little sadly and Lando looks at him confused waiting for him to elaborate.
“The other’s are- they’re safe y’know, they’re friends it doesn’t mean anything they’re just helping out. But you-” Daniel clears his throat and closes his eyes. Lando moves in closer, touching their noses together once more just for the grounding effect it seems to have.
“It would never be just helping out with you because I like you. It would mean more,” he whispers and Lando smiles and nudges him again waiting for those honey browns to open.
“How much more.” he asks and Daniel opens his eyes, wide eyed and so sincere it’s painful.
“Everything. It would mean everything.” he says finally and Lando surges forward for another kiss, doing his best to put everything into it. The other groans against his lips and it’s probably too rough but it does the trick.
“I want that, I want you more than anything. Please let me, let me have you.” Lando pleads and Daniel nods in agreement, pulling him back in like he’s the air and Daniel is drowning.
They fall asleep tightly wrapped around each other that night, and every night they can after that. When Daniel unfortunately hits another exhaustion spell nobody hesitates to point Michael in the direction of Lando, who is happily walking his boyfriend to their shared room for a night’s rest.
He might not be able to prevent Daniel from burning himself out from time to time -yet, he’s working on it- but he’s doing his best to be the first one to be there to help whenever he does. After all, he wants his future husband happy and healthy for as long as possible.