Work Text:
Fête de l'Association des pilotes de Formule 1 2021.
Dany swore it came around faster every year.
The annual driver’s event was always held in Monaco in the traditional three-week summer break period. The party, as the FIA liked to call it, was mandatory for all drivers. As much as many of them absolutely hated it, or it caused issues with family.
Although Dany could admit last year had been rather amusing with a very sheepish looking Romain and Marion glaring at him from the other end of the video call, for having forgotten it was also their wedding anniversary. Kevin probably hadn’t helped. The Dane had got into a drinking match with Valtteri and spent most of Romain’s call in the odd mix (for the normally reserved Dane) of teasing and laughing at them both for Romain forgetting in the first place and trying to steal Romain’s drink. In his own words ‘to correct him from even more of his own stupidity.’
He didn’t mean it of course. Romain and Kevin had all but become brothers over the years they had been a team together, but as Kimi once told him in his first year, you had two options. Grit your teeth when you were sat opposite your rival by pretending you didn't want to punch him for the incident last week or you could grab a glass, get drunk and just get on with it.
It had made it entertaining that was for sure. Although Dany had come to learn that an angry Marion Grosjean was a downright terrifying experience.
Normally, the yearly event ended up being a rather awkward dinner. Inevitable really. He never had worked out just what the FIA thought would happen otherwise. Given the whole concept relied on putting 20 drivers together in a room, with a 6-course meal, most of which wasn’t eaten because of various diets and/or dislikes.
He supposed at least this year he had good company.
“Dany, can you pass the wine down?” Pierre asked opposite him, as Dan and Charles continued their debate over which restaurant was truly the best in Monaco next to them.
“Sure. Here.”
“Thanks,” Pierre grinned as he poured another glass, Charles and Dan both pushing their glasses towards him in earnest.
“Is that a hint?”
“Always Pear,” Charles smiled, briefly interrupting his conversation with Dan, and brushing his arm across Pierre’s waist, squeezing gently.
“You want any more Dany?”
“It would be better if it was vodka.”
“Just not with a Red Bull hey?” Pierre winked, laughing as Dany scrunched his face in annoyance.
“Definitely not. It ruins it, plus I’ve had enough of that stuff to last a lifetime. You can keep it. Wine too, whilst you’re at it.”
“How do you cope with all the wine as these events then?” his former teammate teased.
“Simple. See Kimi at some point in the night. He normally finds a way to sneak some in.”
“Why does that not surprise me.” Pierre glanced down the table to where Kimi was talking Finnish and gesturing to a confused looking Lewis next to him, whilst across the table Valtteri and Seb both seemed to be struggling not to laugh.
“It’s Kimi. What do you expect?”
“Chaos, and confusion,” Dan interrupted next to them, leaning across to steal the last olive from the corner of Dany’s plate.
Raising an eyebrow Dany looked at him, “How do you know I wasn’t going to eat that?”
“Because you hate them,” Dan chuckled leaning in and kissing him lightly.
“How can you hate olives?!” Charles gasped, green eyes wide as his leant forwards across the table. Pierre cursing next to him as he nearly sent their drinks flying everywhere.
“How can you not? Disgusting things,” Dany shook his head, “Wouldn’t eat one even if you paid me.”
“Pear!” Charles turned to the amused Frenchman, “Like how?!”
“Each to their own Sharl,” Pierre shifted, pressing his lips to the startled Monegasque’s.
The sudden cry from Seb further down the table ended the conversation, as Pierre and Charles broke the kiss, and all four of them glanced down.
“YOU DIDN’T!” Seb exclaimed, leaning over the table to Lewis, his eyes wide, “I didn’t think that was possible. Michael boosted about everything but always said that couldn’t be done safely because of the Mistral.”
“Well, we managed it,” Lewis grinned, “And it was awesome Seb. It’s so beautiful there. You would have loved it. Dad was with me, and even he had never seen anything like it.”
“What did you do this time champion?” Dan asked, bouncing up from his seat and throwing his arms around Lewis’ shoulders.
“Don’t you go getting ideas Dan,” Seb shook his head, “Else you’ll give them all ideas,” as he glanced to where Charles, Pierre and Dany had leant forwards in interest, and down to the bottom end of the table, whereby Lando seemed to be doing some form of impression, judging by the way his hands were waving about, and how Max, George and Nicky around him, all seemed to be unable to stop laughing.
“Me?!” Dan feigned innocence, “Ideas. Never.”
Valtteri snorted, “Yeah right, if Lewis tells you what he did, you’re bound to want to do it. And you and Charles together, on a boat, along with those two brothers in all but name-” he glanced warmly at Pierre and Dany, “And you’ll just end up in some form of trouble.”
“No, we won’t. Pierre and Dany have brains between them if nothing else.”
“Hey!” Charles squawked, glaring at the Aussie.
“Teasing Sharl, I’m just teasing.”
“Sure, didn’t sound like it.”
“He has a point though,” Valtteri continued, “It would be Pierre and Dany that would get you out of trouble. Both of you.”
“They always do,” Seb agreed, nodding.
“What is this gang up on Dan and Charles day?”
“Maybe.”
“Anyway-” Lewis interrupted before Charles could argue back, “If I tell you where I went, promise me something.”
“What Lewis?” Pierre asked.
“Don’t tell Nico. I’m taking him there next week to do some diving for our anniversary.”
“It’s a promise.”
*************************************************************************************************************
There had turned out to be the Hyères islands and the Parc national de Port-Cros, and by the time Lewis had finished explaining how to get there and just what they’d seen and done whilst at the islands, Dan and Charles both had the idea of going there in the next few days.
“We’ve got to go, Pear come on please. All of us together, it’ll be fun?!”
“It’s not me you have to persuade babe, Dany’s the one who doesn’t like boats.”
“Dany, please!!” Charles turned, practically begging him with his eyes over the table.
“You want me to get on a boat?”
“Yes.”
“For you?”
“Will you do it for me if not for them?” Dan tilted Dany’s face as he pulled his chair back slightly and draped himself over Dany’s lap, placing light kiss on the annoyed expression and frown lines on Dany’s face, as he tried to smooth the lines out with his thumb.
“I hate you,” Dany rumbled, as he pulled the grinning Aussie closer and let the older man kiss him lightly, his always magic fingers trailing down the side of his jaw and stroking down his spine in the exact way that he knew would turn Dany’s brain into mush.
“No, you don’t, but you can be brave for me. I know how much you hate them, but I promise you kotya it will be okay.”
He never could say no to anything Daniel suggested after all.
Especially that nickname. God, he wishes he had never taught him Russian. He should have known Daniel would have found a way to find a pet name that was equally adorable and moving simultaneously. A nickname he couldn’t resist.
Sighing heavily, Dany pulled Dan close hugging him, “If I do this you better make it up to me solnishko.”
“Whatever you want,” kissing him lightly again, Dan climbed off his lap and into the seat next to him as the maitre d’ appeared through the main doors announcing the next course.
“Yes!” Charles exclaimed happily, “You’re the best Dan.”
“Don’t push it Sharl,” Pierre answered, his eyes meeting Dany’s across the table, in the unquestionable expression that Dany knew was ‘you sure?’.
Silent communication was something they had developed between them during the last few months of the highs and lows of being Red Bull drivers. Their own extra survival message against Marko and Horner.
The silent code, as they had come to call it, was their out. Their way of leaning on each other first as just teammates but then as friends, when the going really got tough.
Dany nodded.
Their code for, I’m sure and just looked at Pierre with the expression of 'this is going to go wrong.' He could the see look in Pierre’s eyes insisting it will be fine. He’s not so sure.
It turns out he's right.
***********************************************************************************************************
Two days later, the sun is shining and Dany genuinely has no idea how on earth they seem to have so much stuff in the car, as they travel further down the coast to the closer port of Toulon (also much cheaper to port) and take the small motor yacht Dan had commissioned fondly as 'Julio' after Jules, and head out of the harbour towards their destination.
The islands come into view after some time, and as they come towards them, Dan decided the final route.
"Dan what you doing? Just go the normal way!" Dany snapped striding towards his grinning lover, as Dan decided to cut down between the small gap between île de bagaud and île de Port-Cros rather than taking the normal route of just going around both islands, over to île du levant and then coming back around the top of the islands back to Toulon.
"It'll be fine baby, stop worrying."
"Why are we going this way anyway?" Pierre asked, sprawled out on a blanket with Charles half asleep curled around him.
"Awww c'mon guys where's your sense of adventure. Come on we can beat Lewis too whilst we're at it."
"Lewis?"
"The one and only. What'dya say Charlie, up for it?" Dan grinned, winking as Charles stretched, stirring and sitting up, Pierre's eyes instinctively locking onto the small strip of exposed stomach that was revealed.
"Why not," Charles grinned, "Dad used to come this way with me all the time, we'll be fine."
“What about the Mistral?”
“It’s fine Dany, the wind isn’t that strong today. It won’t be a problem.”
Famous last words is all that runs through Dany's mind when less than an hour later they find themselves trudging up the north east side of the island and scrambling up dry land.
He supposes at least there is no current for them to be swept back out into. At least they are sheltered on this site away from the Mistral.
"You know Pierre, when you said the other week in that interview you would go on an island with me, I wasn't thinking literally," Charles said, as he and Pierre, hand in hand, followed Dany up the hillock.
"I think we can safely say it was Dan not thinking literally," Dany grumbled, glaring at the back of Daniel's head as the ever-cheerful Aussie shouted from further ahead, "Would you look at that view! Get up here ya slow pokes, it's stunning!"
"I'm pretty sure we could have seen the view from the boat if we hadn't trashed it," Dany grumbled.
"It could be worse grumbles," Dan grinned as he approached, throwing his arm around Dany's waist, and kissing his cheek.
"How exactly?!"
"We could be dead."
"Humphhh, Dany snorted, "If we were dead at least I would get some peace from you."
"No, you wouldn't."
"Why not?"
“I'd haunt ya."
"Charming."
"You love it really."
"So, sorry to interrupt the moment, but how exactly are we getting out of this one?" Charles asked approaching, Pierre bent down a short way away tying up his shoe.
"International rescue of course," Dan shrugged.
"Who are exactly?", Charles rolled his eyes, "In case you've forgotten Lorenzo and Arthur are away this weekend."
"What about Stoffel or Norman? Mitch even?" Pierre asked, phone in hand as he approached.
"They're away as well."
"Max?"
"Not in a million years Pear!" Charles gasped, "We'd never hear the end of it."
"Alex then?"
"No!"
"Why not?"
"Because then he'll tell George, who'll tell Lando, and then it'll get back to Max, Lewis and the rest of the paddock before you can say lights out and away, we go," Dany grumbled.
"Guess it'll have to be the coastguard then."
Dany sighed as his pulled his own phone out, rubbing at his temples. He could already see how this conversation was going to go.
"Stop worrying," Dan grinned, "I have a plan B."
"Somehow that doesn't fill me with confidence."
Dan winked as he flopped down onto the grassy slope and leant back, "Ssseeeebbbbbyyyyyyy," he sing-songed down the phone as it was answered the other end," Help us pleassseeeeeee!"
Charles blushed, Pierre paled, and Dany couldn't help but facepalm. For fuck's sake. Of ALL the people he could have called, it just had be the Sebastian Vettel himself.
“What have you done now?” the exasperated sigh came clearly from Dan’s phone.
“What makes you think I’ve done something?”
“Dan, the last time you called me out of the blue, was when you decided to dye all of Max’s Red Bull shirts pink, and you wanted me to cover for you, whilst you hid in Cyril’s paddock office.
“Wait! That was you!” Pierre cried out, before doubling over in hysterical laughter in the background.
“It was worth it Pierre. Trust me mate it was worth it,” Dan winked.
“Pierre?” Seb asked, “Oh god if you’re not alone who else is with you. Wait,” he paused, “Don’t tell me …. Charles?”
“Guilty,” the Monegasque waved as Dan turned the phone video onto him.
“Who else is there?”
“Dany’s here too,” Dan answered, turning the screen so Seb can see him.
“Oh good, at least one of you has a brain.”
“HEY!!”
“So, what’s happened this time?”
“Well, there’s been a small problem,” Dan grinned sheepishly at his former teammate as Seb frowned.
“Such as?”
“Seb! Save us!” Charles whined over Dan’s shoulder, “We’re trapped.”
“Trapped? Where?”
“île de bagaud.”
“Excuse me? The place Lewis went to?”
“You heard him right,” Pierre sighed, “Dan and Charles decided they knew a short cut. It went wrong.”
“Fucking hell! Shit!” Seb gasped, “Are you alright?!”
“We’re all fine Seb,” Dany answered knowing the German wouldn’t believe anyone but him, “But some help would be good. The boat’s totalled.”
“For god’s sake you total idiots! Just don’t do anything else. Leave it with me. I’ll come back to you.”
“Seb, wait!” Charles cried out, grabbing at the phone.
“What Charles?”
“When you rescue us, can you bring some chips? I’m hungry.”
“Can I bring some …. Oh, for goodness’ sake Charles!” Seb glared as he saw Pierre’s grin in the background as Charles pouted at him down the phone.
“Pleeeeeaaaasssssseeeee Seb! We need food!”
“No,” came the short answer, “Just be lucky I’m helping you at all. Just don’t do anything else stupid whilst you’re at it.”
The call ended, silence descended momentarily, and Dany sighed deeply watching the waves crashing onto the shore below, “So now what do we do?”
“Simple, we wait, and do this of course,” Dan grinned, lunching forwards.
"DAN!!! STOP!!!" Dany looked up from glancing down the slope at the damaged wreck that was once their boat, at Charles’ shrill scream, just in time to see Dan shoving 5 seashells and what looked like a small crab down the back of Charles shirt for a laugh. Pierre bent double with laughter next to them.
Dany wasn’t sure he wanted to know where on earth he had found them up here, several 100 metres away from the water’s edge.
****************************************************************************************************************
Of course, only they could get stuck on an island.
He blames Pierre.
Clearly, he jinxed them by talking about it the other day in that interview. Well, unless this is some strange F1 ‘big brother’ style concept that they just don’t know about.
Hopefully not. That sounds like a headache.
At least he managed to save his trusty guitar if nothing else.
Then again, on reflection perhaps he should have expected something to happen. It was a boat trip with two of the loveliest but also stupidest drivers in the paddock, and the ever-chaotic storm that was Pierre Gasly.
It had seemed like such a simple trip. A sail on one of Dan’small motorboat (that Dan had insisted he had been taught how to use), just down along the coast.
Of course, only they could have ended up here.
On the île de bagaud – the island of the revolt.
Its name seemed very fitting given what Dany actually wanted to do at this point to his partner. He wouldn’t of course, he was many things but not a violent man, but he could think it. Even if it was just for five minutes.
Only Daniel, I know where we are, Ricciardo, could manage to miss the port they were aiming for, damage the boat trying to go through a shortcut between both islands, and end up marooning them on the one that was uninhabited.
Only Daniel.
Only his stupidly ridiculous Aussie.
“Finished being a grumbles yet?” Dan appeared back next to him, his ever-present grin firmly in place.
“Are you not worried?”
“Nope. It’ll be fine.”
“And how exactly do you know that?” Dany sighed rubbing at his temples.
“Simple really.”
“Hmmm, how?”
“I have you.”
With a shrug, Dan presses into him, still grinning as he kisses his cheek, and fuck, Dany hates the way sometimes Dan can make him feel. Strength mixed with vulnerability has never been his strong point.
But there’s a look of re-assurance in Dan’s eyes, and it gives him hope.
Maybe. Just maybe, they can get out of this in one piece.
And if not, those surprise tickets to Australia for their anniversary are being cancelled.
Maybe.
Possibly.
Not.
Fuck he hates how much he loves this moron sometimes.