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Mick finds Oliver sitting on a pile of snow just outside the track layout they have used over the course of the weekend. The fans left the area a few hours ago. Most of them celebrating one of their home heroes winning the final race today. Some of the drivers took a similar approach and left shortly after the podium ceremony trying to get back home early or already on their way to the next competition. He and Seb are going to make the drive back in the morning and while Mick is ready to be home for a few days before the season preparation, he is not looking forward to the multiple day long journey. But right now they have one evening left to mingle with the remaining drivers and organisers.
He was just gonna take a short break from the heat and the noise of the buildings and tents the staff put up for them when he catches sight of a dark figure sitting on the snow pile. And before he knows what he is doing his feet decide to walk over to the person. Sitting alone in the cold might not be the best way to spend the evening and he decides to have a quick check on the person who he recognises to be Oliver when he is just a few metres away. The Swede is wearing one of the flannels and once again Mick asks himself how Oliver doesn’t feel cold.
Of course, Oliver notices Mick before he is even there and turns around with a small frown on his face. In his right hand the Rally Driver holds a can of beer. It’s one of the Swedish brands the organisers selected for the weekend. Mick tried some of them the evening before and while it’s not the same as German beer, it was pretty alright and he may have drunk one or two too much in the end.
“What are you doing here?” Oliver asks when Mick approaches him. The German debates how honest his answer should be and settles on the truth:
“Wanted to take a break from the noise. I saw you sitting here and wanted to see if you’re alright?”
“Fine, just a bit down after the weekend”, Oliver shrugs and takes a sip from his can of beer. After debating with himself Mick decides to take this as an invitation and lowers himself next to Oliver on the pile of snow.
“But you drove brilliantly? You should celebrate instead”
“Not really, lost it in the quarter finale when I should have just kept it clean in the last corner” Mick hates how bitter Oliver sounds when he makes that statement.
“But we’re racing drivers. Not pushing hard wasn’t really an option, was it?”
“I just… I feel like it should have done a better job this weekend”
“You won yesterday? That’s not a bad job”
“... and bottled it today”
“Still. Everyone was very impressed... I was very impressed” Mick feels the heat in his face at this inadvertently confession and hopes that Oliver will blame the cold for this.
“I just wanted to show that I’m better than my last season. This weekend felt like it could have been some kind of redemption weekend”, Oliver takes a short break where both of them just stare into the dark of the Swedish night. “I don’t know if you know… but I didn’t have a great last season. I’ve actually lost my Hyundai contract. And now I have to take a step back when I want nothing more than to just get behind the wheel again and show everyone that I can do better”. He shrugs again and takes another sip from his beer.
“I get it. Getting the reverse driver contract at Mercedes still feels like a dream after the mess of a season I’ve had with Haas. And showing everyone that I can actually drive and I’m not just there because of my dad feels like an ongoing battle”, Mick admits. And it’s true. Most of the time he tries to focus on the positive side and not let everything that went down in the last months get to him but sometimes everything just gets too much.
“You definitely deserve it. And you made it to the finale today”, Oliver replies.
“And still lost it”
“Against a professional off-road racer. You did great.” Mick belatedly realises that instead of consoling Oliver now he is the one being consoled instead. And maybe this is something he needed after the weekend where everyone talked about his dad all the time. It’s the reason he only mutters a short “Thanks”.
It’s nice sitting here with Oliver. Especially since the two of them gravitated towards each other over the course of the weekend whenever Mick wasn’t busy talking with Seb. It just feels nice being with someone who shares so many of the same experiences and who at the same time makes his insides flutter whenever they spend some time together.
“Maybe you should celebrate instead of sitting here with me”, Oliver's voice takes him back to the present.
“But I did… and right now I’m pretty happy sitting here with you”, Mick admits and it feels like admitting to something more.
“I’m also glad that you decided to come here”, the admission lies between them and before Mick can gather his courage Oliver slides a bit closer until their legs touch and he can lay his head on Mick's shoulder. It’s nice sitting here and just existing together. Slowly Mick puts his arm around Oliver which the short man takes as his opportunity to snuggle a little bit closer to the German.
“So, what are your plans for this year?” Mick breaks the silence once more.
“I’ll focus on my WR2 season and try to finish all of the races without collecting the wall”, he snorts before continuing “Gain some more experience with it and try to figure out all of the sponsor mess. And maybe come back stronger next year”
“You will show them how talented you actually are. I’m sure of it”, Mick doesn’t really know where the confidence comes from. He hasn’t actually watched much of the World Rally Championship but seeing Oliver drive over the weekend has shown him how good the Swede is.
“Thanks. You too, you know. You might not have a permanent seat but you will also show them that you belong on the grid.” It feels nice that Oliver seems to put the same faith in him and Mick’s heart decides to stupidly beat a little faster.
“Maybe next year we can meet here again celebrating our new contacts?”
“I’d love that. And maybe finally battle each other in the finale?”, Oliver cheekily asks and without a beat Mick answers:
“You can bet on it”. It’s impossible for him to see Oliver's face from his perspective but he can hear him smiling and he takes the opportunity to squeeze him just a tad closer.
“If you want to… maybe we could see each other before that?” Mick takes a chance and he can feel the heat rising in his face.
“I’d also love that”
“Have you ever been to a F1 race? I could show you around”
“I think I would really like that” Mick feels Oliver lift his head from his shoulder and when he turns the Swede is looking at him with a happy smile on his face. Oliver takes one of his hands and gently puts it on Mick's jaw:
“May I?”, he asks quietly and when Mick nods he shuffles forward and presses his lips softly on Micks.
Sitting in the cold snow of Pite Havsbad has never felt warmer before.