Chapter Text
The first time that George enters the garage as Lewis’s teammate, his scent is stronger than Lewis remembers. Lewis smiles, breathing in the sweetness of a happy Omega with hints of nougat that are pure George. It’s very different to Valtteri’s snow-fresh Alpha scent but George’s scent sits in the garage just as well. In fact, George already seems at home, his scent is practically blending in.
Lewis finds himself watching as George bares his neck briefly but respectfully to the Alphas who chat to him, shakes the hands of Betas, and greets the Omegas he knows with a kiss to the cheek, except for any who are mate-marked. With them, he waits for permission from their mates, which gets him a lot of silent approval and appreciation. The newest member of their pack is fitting in easily. It’ll make life, this new status-quo, a lot easier. Lewis makes a quiet approving noise
His own side of the garage all greet George cheerfully. It’s funny but at this point they probably know George better than George’s own side of the garage, having worked with him for one race weekend already. They all bare their necks to Lewis after talking to George though, which is completely unnecessary but their loyalty does warm Lewis deeply. He’s got an amazing pack here.
Bono sticks to where he is beside Lewis, though James gives him a nudge and a nod when Bono looks his way. Bono doesn’t look to Lewis for permission too but Lewis gets the weird feeling that that’s what Bono is waiting for. He raises an eyebrow, making it clear that it’s totally unnecessary, and tilts his head expectantly towards George. Something in Bono’s scent relaxes as he bares his neck to his mate and to Lewis before going to greet George. George grins and looks at James for permission before hugging Bono and pressing a kiss to his cheek. Lewis doesn’t need approval to be that close to Bono, he’s got the honour of permanent permission, and a pack.
George smells very content, and settled. It’s a scent that continues as he comes over with Bono to bare his neck to James and then to Lewis.
“You can’t borrow him for the race,” James tells the Omega, nodding to Bono.
George laughs but nods, “I should have tried putting that in my contract.”
Lewis grins, “Why do you think it’s in mine?”
George laughs again but dips his head respectfully to Lewis, without any hint of resentment in his scent. Lewis nods back and watches as George makes plans to catch up properly with Bono later and then heads off when he’s beckoned over to his side of the garage. Lewis’s gaze lingers on George’s slim Omega form just for a moment. There’s something amused and pleased in James’s scent when Lewis looks back at him.
“He’s fitting in well.”
“He’s a good fit,” agrees James, though his amusement sticks around.
Lewis shakes his head, he’s not going to ask. Bono is pressed against his mate’s side and has the weekend schedule and early data up on his tablet. Lewis pays attention to work again, like he was doing before the garage suddenly started smelling a lot more complete.
///
A day later, there’s something different in George’s scent. It’s mingled with coffee. Lewis breathes it in, it’s a good mix, coffee and nougat. He spots George stirring a coffee, laughing at something someone’s saying over his shoulder. Then he’s bringing two cups over to Lewis, offering one with a flash of his bare throat. A pleased feeling starts to growl behind Lewi’s ribs.
“Thank you, but you know you don’t need to do this,” he tells George, accepting the cup with a smile.
Lewis is sure that Williams don’t employ any kind of serving system where the Omegas wait on the Alphas. He knows that Toto isn’t interested in working with any team involved in something that archaic. George smiles in response.
“You mean I shouldn’t bring a daily tribute to the seven time world champion? I need to check my contract.”
“You can bring a tribute to the seven time world champion’s race engineer though, and his race engineer’s mate,” James suggests from behind Lewis.
“That’s not in his contract either,” Lewis replies, sipping the coffee, noting the oat milk and smiling with pleasure.
George laughs, “Yeah, and I got one for my engineer first.”
He nods over to his side of the garage where the smell of coffee there definitely isn’t as pleasing as the one in Lewis’s hand. George turns back to Lewis, notes of satisfaction in his scent. Lewis enjoys it as he takes another sip of coffee and George says,
“Enjoy anyway, before it does become part of my contract.”
With a final grin, he heads back to his side of the garage, sipping his own coffee which definitely doesn’t contain oat milk. Lewis tracks his movements, noting that George doesn’t give anyone else coffee. The pleased feeling behind Lewis’s ribs increases and curls possessively.
“That’s a first,” James murmurs to Bono.
“I’ll buy you a drink later,” Bono replies.
There’s a press of lips, the sweetness of a loving mating bond, but Lewis is still watching George chat comfortably with his team. Coffee without the accompanying scent of nougat isn’t going to be the same now.
///
Lewis can hear Roscoe’s happy barks over the noise of the garage. Once he’s finished going over something with James, he heads straight outside. It’s been a long morning and seeing Roscoe is exactly what he needs. He expects to find Angela with Roscoe when he rounds the corner. He doesn’t expect to smell George’s scent and to find him there too.
The Omega is dressed in workout clothes and is down on one knee, petting Roscoe who is pushing bodily against George to get more attention. George grins down at him and then up at Angela as she laughs and talks about the time that Roscoe almost bowled over some visiting VIPs. Angela’s scent is her usual clean Beta scent, it’s grounded Lewis more than once, especially before a race start. There’s a hint of George’s scent clinging to her now though, probably from a handshake, and George’s scent itself is mixed in with Roscoe’s. Lewis feels some of the morning’s tension drop away.
George looks and smells completely comfortable and happy with Roscoe trying his best to knock him over. He’s not acting like the bulldog scent is too much or like he’s going to want to wash it off as soon as possible. Lewis smiles, pleased, the possessive feeling inside of him curling a little more.
Angela notices him first and smiles welcomingly, “If you want an extra dog sitter, I think you’ve found him.”
George looks up, baring his neck immediately, “I’m available at race weekends, definitely.”
Roscoe bounds over to Lewis, jumping and shoving for attention. Lewis drops down with a grin, the rest of the morning’s tension and exhaustion melting away. He can hear Angela and George chatting quietly, Angela’s telling George about the times that her kids have met Roscoe. Lewis is silently surprised, Angela rarely shares those kinds of stories. Her kids are kept very separate from the paddock.
When Lewis looks up again at last, Angela is shaking George’s hand, saying, “It’s lovely to meet you at last, George. Hope everything goes well for you.”
“Thanks, yeah, same to you. I’ll see you later, Lewis.”
Lewis nods, as George comes close to pet Roscoe goodbye before heading off. The Omega’s nougat scent lingers, it’s richer than usual, probably from whatever workout he’d been doing before meeting Roscoe and Angela. It works well with Roscoe’s scent.
Angela clips a lead to Roscoe’s collar, “Aleix says he’s settling in well.”
Lewis gets to his feet, nodding, “Yeah, I think so.”
Angela smiles, smelling pleased, “Are you having any neck twinges?”
The conversation turns towards Lewis’s physical fine-tuning. Lewis’s thoughts feel clearer and more focused, the nougat scent remaining with him.
///
It’s one of the paddock’s rare quiet times, when the media haven’t started roaming with their cameras and no private moment is safe. Lewis is used to cameras being everywhere he looks now, but he prefers life this way; when everyone’s working and no one’s job is to scrutinise him.
The temperature is rising so he’s refilled his water bottle. When he heads out of the Mercedes motorhome, he spots George sitting at one of the tables on the decking outside. He’s shaded under a parasol and smells very fond. Lewis pauses to watch him, enjoying how George feels secure enough to sit with his back to the motorhome. Lewis’s gaze drags across the tanned nape of George’s neck.
He turns suddenly and goes to order from the drinks counter, returning with a tall glass of iced water. He places it on the table in front of George. George looks up at him, still smelling fond, and now surprised and pleased at the same time. Lewis breathes in the nougat scent and how the hot sun textures it. George tilts his head to bare his neck.
“Is this in your contract?” he teases.
Lewis smiles as he sips from his water bottle. He stays standing by George’s shoulder, they’re both shaded by the parasol now. George is watching Lando and Carlos. The mated pair are laughing with some McLaren staff, Carlos’s arm is slung around Lando’s shoulders and Lando is leaning into his Alpha. Their mating bites are uncovered and very vivid. Their scent on the breeze is happy contentment. Carlos smells of the Ferrari garage but there’s a strong tone of McLaren in his scent too.
George’s scent is fond as he says to Lewis, “Lando doesn’t have to worry anymore, about Carlos anyway.”
“Why was he worried about Carlos? If you can tell me.”
“Oh yeah, it was because of what the media have been saying, about his mate’s new pack not wanting him around or trying to separate them.”
Lewis frowns, “They’re mated, legally there’s nothing Ferrari can do.”
“It’s Ferrari,” George says simply. “So Lando worried that they wanted everything in house, and that they’d try to push him out or persuade Carlos to leave him. There were a lot of phone calls.”
Lewis looks over at Lando and Carlos again, at how easily the McLaren employees brush their hands against Carlos or nudge or bump against him, scent-marking him without any anxiety. It’s like he’s still their pack member but Carlos doesn’t smell upset or uncomfortable about it. He’s completely happy.
“Lando didn’t think Carlos would choose Ferrari over him?”
“A bit, Ferrari’s been Carlos’s goal since he was a kid. But I did tell Lando what an idiot he was being,” George grins. “Ferrari didn’t have any issue with him. They like the publicity of such a successful mated pair, and one between garages. The only thing they fight with McLaren about is who gets to release a story first.”
Lando is laughing now and Carlos is laughing too, looking at him with so much love. Their happiness is a good scent. Lewis smiles. Lando notices that they’re being watched and he turns to look at George and Lewis. He grins at them both and calls to George about being a loner. George points at Lewis, which makes Lando grin even more and his scent goes teasing. But the McLaren Omega bares his throat and then dips his head almost formally to Lewis, like a blessing. The feeling behind Lewis’s ribs, everything about him that’s Alpha, growls, pleased.
Charles joins Lando and Carlos then. Lando nuzzles him in greeting, after Charles flashes his marked neck at Carlos. Carlos loops an affectionate arm around his teammate, asking if Charles has managed to find Pierre. Charles’s happy scent answers the question before he does. His scent sits with Carlos and Lando’s like an old favourite.
“They’ve got a little pack going there too,” Lewis observes.
“Mmm, and Charles was worrying about not having Seb around,” George sounds amused. “Ferrari literally couldn’t have asked for a better teammate situation.”
“Charles wasn’t worried about being in a different team than Pierre?”
“They’ve always been in different teams, they’re used to it,” George’s grin becomes impish. “They have driver room access written in their contracts.”
Lewis laughs, his hand resting on the back of George’s chair. The sunlight continues to do good things to George’s scent, along with all the fondness he’s feeling for one of his best friends. It’s good for the paddock too when the drivers are settled, especially when they’re settled in their mating bonds. The weekend’s possibilities feel stronger this way. Lewis breathes it in, making a quiet contented sound as George’s scent stays happy and close, and George drinks his water. Lewis keeps his hand on George’s chair, as George’s scent grows in contentment.
///
Lewis expects the questions. He’s worked with the Communications Team on strategy and knows that George has done the same. So he smiles when Natalie asks how it is having an Omega teammate for the first time in years.
“Every teammate is different, if they’re Alpha, Omega or Beta. But George fits into the pack really well, like Valtteri did. It definitely helped that he had that race last year to have a preview of what it’s like to work here.”
“There’s been no teething problems then? Getting used to an Omega at the head of the pack?”
She’s not directly comparing this to when Lewis was Fernando’s teammate but that’s exactly what she’s not saying. And she’s definitely pushing for a reaction by describing George as being at the head of the pack. Lewis doesn’t drop his smile though, he’s learned how to keep every growl behind his teeth in the press pen.
“No, no teething problems that I know of. All the data’s being shared and it’s good to have him in the garage. He’s shown how much he can get out of a car near the back of the grid, so it’s gonna be really interesting to see what he can do with a Mercedes.”
The reporter nods in agreement and the rest of the interview flows around the usual topics – how the regulation changes are going to affect this season, who Lewis thinks might be competition this year, and when Lewis might think of retiring. The latter has been a regular question since before Kimi retired last year but it’s definitely gotten worse since then.
“I’m not retiring yet,” he says with a laugh. “I want to see what these new regulations are like.”
“But would you feel better about retiring with a driver like George thriving at Mercedes?”
Lewis’s smile grows, “I think he’ll be a really good garage leader. He’s used to holding that position at Williams and I think he’s only going to improve here, with the leadership our team has.”
Lewis already sees how the garage reacts to George. If he’s rejected any heat buddy or date offers there, no one smells bitter or hurt about it. And Roscoe definitely approves of George in the garage, he gets excited whenever he sees the Omega and George always makes time for him and Angela. He’s pretty good at not taking up too much of Angela’s time too. George wants the team to win. It’s the best kind of presence to have at the head of the pack, because it means that he and Lewis are aiming in the same direction.
In George’s interviews, the ones that Lewis watches, George gets asked the same questions over and over too - how it feels to finally be racing for Mercedes, how intimidating is it, does he think he can bring the fight to Lewis. George always answers with a smile but seriously too, striking the right relaxed balance as he talks up how welcoming Mercedes have been and how much he’s learning.
“I’m only going to get better racing alongside Lewis. I think that’s true anywhere in life, if you get to work with someone who’s achieved so much and is so good at what they do.
He never says whether he thinks he can beat Lewis but Lewis knows George will try if there’s an opportunity. They’re both racers, regardless of their secondary genders. It’s the way it should be.
///
“Lewis.”
Lewis knows that Nico is around this weekend, he’s already caught hints of the Alpha’s mint scent. So he’s happy, not surprised, to turn around and shake hands with his ex-boyfriend. He’s also not surprised when he sees people getting their camera phones out. Nico’s grin says that he knows it’s happening too but the two of them being seen going into a motorhome together for a private conversation would definitely make things worse. So they walk slowly through the paddock instead, stopping near Mercedes. At least that way any photos will have the motorhome with all its branding in the background and the media can’t claim that Nico and Mercedes are ignoring each other.
Nico always looks his best in hot weather. He’s wearing a pale blue shirt with matching shoes and white trousers. It’s a level of smartness that every pundit now has to aim for on camera but really, only Nico ever looks completely at home in it.
“How’s it going?” Nico asks, his head tilted towards the Mercedes motorhome.
“It’s good, a challenge.”
“Good for you then.”
They grin at each other. Lewis is grateful these days that Nico is back in the paddock and that they can talk like this again. At one point, he was sure that it was never going to happen. It’s not the same as it was before but it’s getting comfortable again. And it’s good to have someone around who knows that Lewis is going to enjoy the challenge of the Mercedes car this year and not resent not being at the front the whole time. Lewis has always loved a hunt.
“How’s the family?” Lewis asks.
Nico’s mint scent thickens with love and his eyes sparkle. His mating bite really stands out against the pastel colours of his clothing. Lewis knows that that’s intentional.
“Oh, they’re really good, thanks. Vivian said to send you her love, as did the girls. Viv has got so much work on right now, everyone wants to change up their houses after being stuck in them for so long!”
“Of course, yeah, she must have a lot on.”
“We’ve gotten into some vegan cooking though, I know you will be pleased to hear. There’s a couple of recipes we think you’ll like.”
Lewis smiles, it’s a kind thought. And honestly, hearing how happy Nico is makes him quietly happy too. Nico deserves it. “Are the girls karting yet?”
“Not seriously. They know it’s always there if they want to take part. They’re more interested in getting to be old enough to drive my Mercedes.”
Lewis smiles fondly, there’s a lot about Nico that’s surprised him over the years but the fact that Nico hasn’t pushed his kids into karting isn’t one of them. Nico’s not interested in using them to further the Rosberg motorsport legacy, he and his dad are both already F1 World Champions. And he’s still involved in motorsport thanks to Extreme E and supporting young drivers. He smells so content as he talks about how things are going in Extreme E and with all the conferences that he goes to around the world to further the green energy cause. Lewis can’t see himself being content with no racing in his life, but Nico’s scent doesn’t lie.
“And how is it with the new teammate? He’s got so much to live up to,” Nico asks genuinely, not a trace of teasing in his scent.
Lewis nods, “He handles the media like a pro right now and the garage like him.”
Nico smiles broadly, “That’s good. He’s got all the skill for it, I think, all the potential. God knows the press won’t let him forget it. I don’t envy him that for sure.”
Lewis agrees wordlessly and spots George making his way up the stairs in the motorhome. George spies him and waves, waving at Nico too when the Alpha turns. Nico’s scent goes a few shades more pleased when he turns back to Lewis.
“I’ll get those recipes for you.”
The nod he gives Lewis as he strolls away feels a lot like approval. Lewis looks up at the motorhome again and thinks about George’s nougat scent behind the branded glass and how it might smell in Lewis’s kitchen.
///
A day or so later, Lewis has had his shoulder worked on by Angela and has watched George play with Roscoe, happiness thick in the air. Angela catches Lewis’s gaze and tips her head towards the pair. Lewis smiles in a way that makes her smile back. Her scent is dancing with approval.
When she leaves with Roscoe, and George comes to stand beside Lewis out by the track, leaning back against the chain link fence, Lewis produces a couple of oranges from a hoodie pocket. George takes one with a smile, digging his thumb past the peel. It’s after one mouthful, citrus overwhelming most other scents between them, that his own happy scent turns thoughtful and cautiously curious. He’s looking towards where the Sky F1 team are setting up.
“Can I ask, is it weird, having Nico in the paddock again?”
Lewis appreciates that he checks first and nods, his foot resting near George’s, “You can ask, and how do you mean weird?”
George’s expression twists thoughtfully, “Like, distracting?”
Oh, it’s a good question. Lewis eats an orange segment, “It was to start with, but he didn’t come back immediately. It would have been more distracting then. Now, it’s good. He wants to be here, he should be here.”
George nods, “And now enough time has passed that it’s something you might not get asked about.”
“Yeah, exactly. Have you been interviewed by him yet?”
“A couple of times. He’s really…he doesn’t care that what he says could be too blunt, you know? He talks about stuff that we all think but don’t say and the others sort of dance around when they’re interviewing.”
Lewis grins, he knows what George means, “He learned that from Nikki.”
George’s smile softens and he presses his foot against Lewis’s, offering comfort as a question. Lewis nods fractionally, George’s scent is gentle with melancholy and an offer of concern. It’s not pity or patronising. Lewis savours it, he isn’t feeling tense but it’s still very relaxing. George’s arm brushes his, another question, and Lewis simply leans into the touch as an answer. Their sides press together, it’s a light scent-mark but deliberate. It’s new between them but it feels natural, like it’s always been there. It’s a taste of how their scents are together.
Lewis breathes them in with a quiet rumble, George hums for a moment. It would have been really good to see how Nikki might have mentored George.
George’s scent spikes suddenly with pleasure and affection, breaking through the comforting and comfortable atmosphere between them.
“Albono!” he calls.
Alex walks towards them, an eyebrow raised at Lewis, checking he can interrupt. Lewis smiles and nods, and so Alex bares his neck, revealing his mating mark. His scent is all anticipation and affection. He kisses George on the cheek.
“Do you remember where everything is? Do you need a tour?” George teases him, his hand rubbing along Alex’s arm, scent-marking him.
Alex laughs, “Yeah, I’ve forgotten since last year. Have you forgotten that I was still showing up on race weekends last year? Or are you getting a nose bleed from being so far up the grid now?”
George kicks him and Alex kicks back, laughing still, “You’ve changed, George, you’ve got people to remember things for you now, haven’t you?”
It’s all well-worn teasing and it feels a different kind of comfortable. Lewis smiles into it as George settles back beside him.
“It’s good to see you back, Alex,” Lewis tells the Omega.
Alex’s scent blooms with pleasure, which George doesn’t tease him about, “Thanks, yeah. It’s good to be back.”
“It’s funny, you and Kevin both coming back on the grid in the same year.”
“I know, it’s good to know it can happen though.”
Lewis nods. Alex and Kevin both fit in well in the paddock and the scent of people being pleased to see them again has been strong.
“You’ve got it worse though, dealing with the new boy,” Alex teases, turning laughing eyes towards George. “Have you walked into the wrong garage yet? Or talked about the wrong team principal?”
“Have you?”
“Oh, I don’t have as many interviews, being that far down the paddock.”
The scent between them is like pack. Lewis is sure that if Lando was here, it’d be even stronger. He eats more of his orange, drinking in the pack scent, and how his own scent is still mingling with George’s.
Then there’s a shout from someone approaching in a Williams shirt and Alex pushes away with a sigh. He nudges against George, careful not to jostle Lewis too.
“Lily wants to see you, when she’s visiting.”
“I’m not going to say no to a beautiful Alpha.”
George’s reply makes the possessive feeling inside Lewis stir but the pack scent has only gotten richer. Alex dips his head respectfully to Lewis.
“Good to see you, Lewis. Thanks for letting me borrow him.”
His eyes twinkle as he grins at George. George kicks at him again but Alex is out of the way now, laughing as he goes to rejoin his team. There’s a quiet question in George’s scent again as he looks at Lewis and presses his foot against the Alpha’s. The feeling behind Lewis’s ribs growls louder and he presses his foot against George's in response. He doesn't want George to feel like he has to keep asking, he wants the Omega to have permanent permission.
He rests his hand on George’s arm, waiting for a nod before deliberately, more firmly, scent-marking the Omega. His scent rich with pleasure, George purrs so quietly that only Lewis hears him. The purr gets louder when Lewis slips an arm around George's waist and rests a hand at his hip. The Omega smells incredible wearing his scent.