Chapter Text
Lando was a skilled dancer; he knew this. However, that didn't mean he wasn't nervous. He was extremely nervous, indeed. Dancing for the largest ballet company in Spain, and likely in all of Europe, had been his greatest dream since he started taking dance lessons at the tender age of six. Looking back, many things hadn't changed between the little six-year-old putting on his dance shoes for the first time at a small studio in Bristol and the now twenty-three-year-old slipping on his shoes at the audition room for the Ballet Ibérico. Both had been apprehensive yet optimistic, and both loved to dance.
Everyone there was composed and well-dressed. Lando had put quite a bit of effort into his outfit, but it wouldn't matter in the end. The best dancers would stay, and the weaker ones would be eliminated. It was as simple as that.
As the glass door opened and a few men entered the dance room, the British dancer felt his heart rate accelerate. He had been preparing for this moment for what felt like forever. That was it, right there. All the dancers formed a line according to the number they had been given. Lando was number four, which put him at the front of the line and in full view of the judges to, well, judge. He gulped and took a deep breath, which helped him calm down. He could do this. He was a talented dancer. He had nothing to be self-conscious about.
That line of thought was quickly replaced by a series of "oh my god" once he recognized who was in the room. Carlos Sainz Vázquez de Castro. The owner of the company, the actual owner of the company! He was there to assess them! Lando felt like fainting or running away.
Not only was Carlos an accomplished dancer, business owner, and millionaire, but he was also incredibly attractive. Without a doubt, one of the most attractive men Lando had ever seen. His hair looked amazing, brushed back and away from his face. It was probably so soft to the touch, with a deep chestnut color. His eyes were brown with a gaze so intense that would make anyone tremble. His face was clean-shaven, making his lips appear even plumper and more delectable than they probably were. All of that, in addition to the fact that he was wearing a blue suit with a white collar shirt underneath. He was like a prince. And he was the owner of the company, and he would be judging Lando in just a few seconds. Lando needed to pull himself together, and quickly.
Somehow, Lando managed to make it through the audition and performed quite well, at least in his own estimation. The process was somewhat similar to the other auditions he had attended. First, they were asked to perform a couple of steps and combinations, then some people were asked to leave the room. Lando couldn't help but feel thrilled and proud. He had made it past the first round. Then, men and women were divided into two groups, each given a brief choreography to learn and then perform for the judges. Eventually, some more people were asked to leave, and Lando was getting genuinely excited. Finally, they were paired with a dancer of the opposite sex and instructed to perform some tricks. Fortunately, the dancer he had been paired with was quite petite and lightweight, which made everything much easier. At the end of the round, some people had to leave, but the remaining dancers were informed that they had made it past the entire audition! Lando was overjoyed to cheer and clap in celebration with the other dancers. Now, all that was left was to wait for the callback.
Lando left the room feeling positive. He had danced his heart out, and that was what mattered most. He took his time to remove his shoes and stored them in his dance bag. When he looked up, the hallway was almost empty. Apparently, people had been eager to leave. He shrugged and continued getting ready to depart. While taking a sip of water, he heard someone address him.
“Excuse me, Lando, right?” The Spanish accent was thick, which shouldn’t have surprised him, given that he was in Spain. When he looked up, he was greeted by those intense brown eyes and a polite smile. He almost fainted.
“Ye-yeah” he coughed slightly. “That is me.” He nodded and smiled shyly, still not sure if this was real or not.
“My name is Carlos, Carlos Sainz. I am the owner of the company. I just wanted to give you some feedback, if that is okay?”
“Is this something you do with all the auditioners?” Lando mentally slapped himself for not thinking before speaking. “I am so sorry, I shouldn’t have asked that. I would certainly appreciate your feedback, sir.” Lando was sure his eyes were wide open, even though he was trying to appear normal.
“Please, don’t call me sir. I am not that old,” he laughed. He laughed! What!? He was so effortlessly pretty. Lando was, without a doubt, going to faint. “When you were dancing in that room, I… I just could not take my eyes off of you. You have great technique, you are very flexible, but most importantly, you dance with passion. Which is surprisingly hard to see around here.” Lando's heart was going to escape from his chest. There was no way the owner of his dream company was telling him such nice things. He appeared to be delighted, and so was Lando. “And for the record, no. I do not give all of the dancers this type of feedback, I actually rarely do so. So please mark my words when I say that you,” he stared deeply into the British eyes, “are something special.”
“I, ah, wow." He struggled to speak "Sorry, I don’t know what is happening, I am usually good with words. But thank you, Carlos. I truly appreciate this.”
“It was my pleasure, Lando. Now, you can go home and wait for the callback.”
“I will. Have a good evening, sir.”
“Did I not say I preferred you call me Carlos? Really. I am not that old!” Lando laughed a little and nodded.
“Noted, Carlos.”
“Evening, Lando! Thank you for coming to the audition.”
“Thank you for the opportunity.”
Once Carlos was out of sight, Lando actually jumped a little, feeling so happy and accomplished. He even felt his cheeks blushing at the thought of all the nice things the Spaniard had said about him. He had to pinch himself rather strongly to check that he was not dreaming.
When Lando got the call, he was both surprised and unsurprised at the same time. He knew he had done well, and he remembered what Carlos had told him - maybe a little too specifically, but that was not something to worry about. However, it was still pleasant and a bit of a shock to know that he had gotten into his dream company.
The first few weeks at Ballet Ibérico were incredibly busy and nerve-wracking for Lando. He felt like he constantly had to prove he was good enough to stay there while trying to be friendly and nice to everyone around him. Days were long and packed with classes. Sometimes, the British dancer felt like he had no time to do anything outside of dance. But that was what he had signed up for, and even if he was tired or stressed, he was happy because he was living his dream. Although at times, he couldn't help but think about Carlos, whom he had barely seen around the company. Given that Carlos was the owner, Lando had expected him to be around much more frequently, and he felt very disappointed when he accepted that that just was not the case. Deep down, he gave himself the "you should have known better" talk. What had he been thinking? Of course, the owner of a multimillion-dollar, world-renowned ballet company wouldn't have time to stick around and say nice things to Lando, even if he truly wished he would.
As show season approached, Lando felt a surge of excitement. This would be his first time performing with the company, and he was determined to get at least one solo. When everyone rushed to see the published paper with the official line up for the first four shows of the season, the British dancer followed suit and tried to peek his head over the crowd to search for his name. As he scanned the black ink, his heart thumped louder and louder. Finally, he saw his name right next to a solo called “the rising star,” and he audibly gasped. Overwhelmed with emotion, he turned around and rushed to the toilet, where he broke down in tears of joy. He knew this would be his time to shine.
Learning the routine was a challenge, but learning it while eight other dancers watched him with their “if you fail I will take this solo” expressions put even more pressure on the twenty-three-year-old. Thankfully, his dance teachers were fantastic and never failed to encourage him while still correcting his mistakes. After just a few days of rehearsal, he had already fallen in love with the piece. The solo started out calm and shy, but as the classical music sped up, his movements did as well, accompanied by his emotion. The piece felt like it was made for him, portraying his new beginning and his - hopefully - rise to fame by performing with the company.
It was a rough Monday morning for Lando as he walked into the studio feeling tired and drained. The coffee shop on the way to the company's building was closed for vacation, and he had stayed up too late the night before. To make matters worse, he had a private session at 7:30 a.m. He couldn't believe he had to be up this early. Most of the building was empty, and he expected his dance teacher, Melissa, to be waiting for him in the dance room. However, he didn't see her when he stepped into the room, although the usual lavender scent that perfumed the area was present.
As he turned to leave and check the other rooms, Carlos walked in, of all people. Really!? Lando didn’t know if he was excited or pissed.
“Hi! Lando! I am sorry you weren’t notified of this, but I will be covering for Melissa today, as her daughter is sick” Lando had to blink a few times, taking the information in. He was not mentally ready to deal with the fact that Carlos would be giving him a private lesson. Was he even able to exist in the same space as Carlos for more than five minutes without hyperventilating? He hoped so.
“Oh, okay! Are you sure you have time for this? Because I am sure you are super busy” He tried.
“Lando, do you think I would be here if I didn’t have time? Clearly not” He shook his head “Why don’t you start warming up? I will grab some water and I will be right back”
Lando stood there, processing what had just happened. He couldn't believe he had to dance in front of Carlos again, especially after everything Carlos had said to him during the audition. The pressure was on, and he knew he had high expectations to live up to. He decided to stop overthinking and start dancing, knowing that it would help him clear his mind. Lando was many things, but he was definitely not disobedient, so he began to warm up and stretch, patiently waiting for Carlos to return.
He could feel his palms getting sweaty and his throat tightening. Dancing in front of Carlos was not the same as dancing in front of Melissa, his usual dance teacher. It was a different kind of pressure, a pressure that came from wanting to impress the owner of the company he worked so hard to get into.
He took a deep breath and tried to focus on his stretches, but his mind kept going back to the solo he was about to perform. This was his chance to prove himself and show Carlos that he was worthy of the opportunity he had been given. The weight of that responsibility was heavy, and he knew it would be even more difficult to focus given that he could not help but find Carlos extremely attractive.
As Carlos returned with the water bottle, Lando looked at him. He was wearing dark blue pants and a white polo. His look was quite the change from the last time he’d seen him, wearing his formal attire. This Carlos was more laid back and casual. Lando loved it. When Carlos extended his hand out, holding the water bottle, Lando grabbed it and took a sip. He couldn't help but feel a sense of gratitude towards the owner. It was rare to see someone in his position take the time to help out in such a direct way. It made Lando feel seen and valued as a member of the company, and it made his stomach flutter.
"Alright, Lando, are you ready to show me what you've got?" Carlos asked, cocking a brow while placing the water bottle on the side of the room.
Lando nodded, trying to keep his nerves at bay as he walked to the center of the room. The music started, and he began to move. At first, his muscles were tense, but as he got deeper into the routine, he started to relax and let the music guide him. He poured his emotions into the dance, moving gracefully. When he got to the turn section, his heart started beating faster, and he felt the blood rushing through his ears. He knew this was a big moment, and he did not want to ruin it.
However, he made the stupid decision to look at Carlos, and it turned out to be a bad choice. The owner of the company was so captivated by Lando, looking at him like he was a piece of art. Lando blushed fiercely, feeling warmth all over his body. This would have been incredibly romantic if it weren't for the fact that it caused Lando to be off-beat and stumble during the first three turns.
As Carlos stopped the music, Lando's heart sank, and he felt his face growing hot. He knew he had messed up, and the look on Carlos's face confirmed it. The way Carlos was looking at him was almost intimidating, yet at the same time, Lando could feel his heart racing with excitement. It was as if he was under a spell, completely entranced by the owner of the company.
When Carlos approached him, Lando's nerves began to shake him, but Carlos smiled warmly and spoke gently. "What happened?"
"I'm sorry, I will do it again," Lando intended to get back into his starting pose.
"No, no, Lando," Carlos said, walking towards him. Lando started shaking. "You did not answer my question. What happened? You were doing so well."
Lando knew he had to come clean. "I just saw you and lost my ability to focus, I am sorry," he explained briefly, hoping he would not have to add further information.
"Mmm," Carlos said, picking at his lower lip as he thought. He was such a handsome man, and Lando could not take his eyes off of him. "Do I make you nervous, Lando?" his voice was low.
"Pardon me?" There was no way he had actually heard that right.
"Do I make you nervous?" Carlos repeated. Lando stared at him, clueless about how to proceed.
"I, uh, maybe a little," he admitted.
"That is not good," Carlos disapproved, and rather than feeling disappointed or sad, Lando felt endeared. He was so into this man. "Maybe we should spend some more time together, eh? That way you will feel more comfortable around me." Was that a real suggestion? What did he mean by "more time together"? Was this another of his not-so-standard practices with dancers?
"That sounds like it might work," Lando said honestly.
“Well, let’s see,” he started, walking back to his spot in the corner near the mirrored wall. “If you do the solo again and do it flawlessly, I might take you out for dinner sometime this week.”
This had to be a dream. There was no way that Carlos Sainz had just said that to him. What? Taking him "out for dinner"? As in, a date? Or as in a casual, friendly dinner between a multimillionaire owner of a ballet company and a dancer? No matter what the answer was, Lando was down for it. He thrived on the mere possibility of a dinner alone with Carlos. So he went to the center of the room and got into position.
Carlos started the music again, and Lando poured himself into the dance. He felt the sounds flowing through him, and he forgot about everything else. All that existed within him was the classical melody and the steps to go with it. When he got to the turn section, he nailed every single one, while still portraying his emotions. It did not feel long until he found himself finishing a rather flawless solo. He breathed out and smiled to himself; he was proud.
As he looked over at Carlos, he saw a small smile on the owner's face too. Lando couldn't help but feel a sense of pride in himself. He had done it. He had lived up to Carlos's expectations and showed him what he was capable of.
"Fantastic job, Lando," Carlos said, clapping his hands. "I'm impressed. You have a gift for storytelling through dance. Keep up the good work."
Lando beamed with pride, feeling a sense of validation wash over him. Hearing those words from Carlos meant more than he could express.
He looked at the clock; it was almost 8:30. The class was about to be over, and soon many students would be hanging out right outside of the room, waiting for their lessons. He decided to be brave.
"Oh, and Carlos?" he called. The Spaniard turned around and faced him, looking as beautiful as ever.
"Yes?"
"When are you free?" he started, smiling. "For dinner?"
"I see you do not take promises lightly. Neither do I," he ran a hand through his hair, making his shirt ride up a few inches and exposing his toned stomach. Lando felt like the temperature in the room had just risen a couple of hundred degrees. "How does Thursday sound? You can give me your address, and I will pick you up by eight." He sounded so mature, so sure of what he was saying.
"That sounds perfect," Lando smiled. "But are you sure you need my address? I am pretty sure the company has that information." He joked.
“You, Lando Norris, are a smart person. But I wanted to do it the old fashioned way. Or maybe, the non weird way”
“I see. So I assume this is, once again, not something you do with every dancer?”
“Not at all. I have told you before Lando, you are very special” He finished the phrase and winked before leaving the room.
Lando watched him leave, his heart beating faster than ever. He couldn't believe it. Carlos had just asked him out on a date and he had said yes, sort of. Okay, maybe it was not an official date, but the thought alone made him giddy with excitement. He would normally -and rightfully- be excited for a date with any man as hot as Carlos, the fact that it was, indeed, Carlos, the owner of the company, made it even more thrilling. He couldn't wait for Thursday to arrive.