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“Lando, meet Oscar, he’s your new mechanic as we mentioned a few weeks ago” Andrea said and motioned to the guy.
Lando looked at the guy, up and down. He was…very young, or at least looked like it, he had fluffy hair, his eyes were a pretty shade of brown, his whole face was filled with small moles, they looked pretty on him.
“Hi, i’m Oscar, your new mechanic for a while” Oscar said, extending his hand with a small, polite smile.
Ah, he has an accent, Australian. Usually Australian accent’s irritated Lando, Oscar’s accent though, was doing something to his brain, mushing it, it sounded pretty for once.
“Hi Oscar, nice to meet you. How old are you? Ya look very young” Lando explained, shaking Oscar’s hand, it was warm and a bit clammy, he wanted to hold on to it for a bit longer, he couldn’t.
“M’ 22, so yeah i’m quite young i guess” Oscar mumbled.
“Hm, well that’s going to be a breath of new fresh air then, you’re young and have the brains for it hopefully, i’m getting sick of these old men in my ear all the time” Lando joked and winked.
Oscar seemed so blush slightly at Lando’s statement, yet he replied “I’ll try my best” with a neutral face.
“Well this man is going to be tough to read and to break” Lando thought, challenge accepted then, he smirked.
Oscar seemed to raise an eyebrow, but didn’t say anything.
“Guess i have another reason to stay at mclaren for a while longer now, considering i have a new pretty mechanic” Lando said, because he liked teasing people and because he was a little shit.
There was a small glint of amusement visible in Oscar’s eyes, yet it was gone at the same moment, his face back to neutral.
“Don’t let me distract your driving, Norris” Oscar said.
“I would never, plus i’m great at multitasking” Lando said and winked.
Oscar looked unimpressed, his arms were crossed.
“Definitely a tough egg to crack” Lando thought again.
“Okay then, i think that’s enough introduction for now, Oscar i need to talk to you about work stuff, also for you to sign some more paperwork, since you’re starting on friday, let’s go” Andrea cleared his throat, looked back and forth at the two guys and gestured for Oscar to follow him.
With one last glance at Lando, Oscar turned around and followed Andrea.
And at that moment Lando realised.
Fuck i need him.
-~-~-~
Friday rolled around sooner than Lando expected, he didn’t see Oscar after they got introduced, but he will definitely be seeing him today, since it’s fp1 and fp2, his nerves were buzzing more than usual, a certain aussie definitely had nothing to do with it, nope.
He climbed into his car and slid into the seat, waiting for the mechanics to fully tuck him into the car.
The free practice had started, cameras and people everywhere, one of the mechanics gestured for him to drive out of the garage, he did so.
When he left the pit lane, the radio came through.
“Okay Lando, radio check” Oscar’s voice came through the earbuds.
“Loud and clear baby” Lando replied, he was smirking and if anyone could hear his radio, well he didn’t care, that’s his and Oscar’s business.
There was no reply for a bit, so Lando just drove in silence, the sound of his buzzing car was the only thing filling his ears.
“Great” Oscar replied after a bit, Lando didn’t know if he was annoyed or not.
“Wanna play 20 questions?” Lando suddenly asked.
“….just drive Lando” Oscar sighed.
“i am thank you very much, i told you i can multitask, remember?” Lando replied, turning his car.
“I’m gonna need a raise as soon as this is over” Oscar mumbled.
“So yes or no?” Lando asked again.
“Drive Lando” Oscar’s voice was firm, but it wasn’t harsh and it didn’t sound like he was pissed off, so that’s good.
“Fine” Lando mumbled.
After a few laps in, a message came through again.
“How are the tyres?” Oscar asked.
“Could be worse, i think were fine for now” Lando replied.
“Copy that” Oscar said.
Lando was turning into turn 1, when suddenly out of nowhere a ferrari car was in front of him, almost pushing Lando off of the track.
“Mate, what the fuck was that?! What is Sainz doing?” Lando yelled into his radio.
“Copy that, we saw it. Not much we can do considering it’s free practice” Oscar’s voice came through, somehow Lando’s tense body seemed to relax a bit at the aussie’s voice, this was weird. Usually shit like that made Lando even more tense.
Lando sighed.
“Careful at turn 3, there’s some traffic there” Oscar said.
“Noted” Lando mumbled.
“How’s the front wing, do you think we could change the rear wing settings a bit?” Oscar asked.
“yeah, i’m not sure if it will change much, but we can try” Lando replied.
“Okay box, we’re gonna change the tyres as well” Oscar said.
“Copy”
-~-~-~
The free practices went fine, they’re still very slow at the straights, which is annoying, but other than that it was fine.
It was already late in the evening, almost everyone had gone home or to their hotels, only a few people left at the paddock, Lando had stayed back a bit, it was nice to just go and walk around the paddock when it’s quiet and dark.
He stepped out of his drivers room and was about to go out, he saw a figure in the garage though, Lando stopped dead in his track, when he saw who it was, Lando raised an eyebrow and quietly walked over.
“You working overtime or what?” Lando asked.
That seemed to startle Oscar, who jumped and whipped his head around.
“Jesus, you scared me” Oscar breathed out.
Lando giggled.
“No, but seriously. The hell are you doing here this late?” Lando questioned, sitting next to Oscar.
“well i could ask you the same thing” Oscar said.
Lando stared at him with a soft glint in his eyes, they made eye contact.
“But…” Oscar looked away “i’m just analysing data and stuff, i’m trying to figure out why we’re so slow in the straights and how the hell is a williams faster than us” Oscar mumbled, staring at the computer.
Lando snorted.
“Yeah, good luck with that” The brit laughed.
Oscar’s mouth went into a straight line.
A pause, Lando shifted forward and raised an eyebrow.
“Did you actually find something?” Lando asked in disbelief.
Oscar looked away, nodding.
“I might’ve” Oscar mumbled.
“Oh my god? Well c’mon then! show me” Lando shifted closer to the screen.
Oscar hesitated, but motioned to the computer nevertheless.
After a lot of research and data analysis it seemed like Oscar did actually figure out a lot of information that could help them.
“Oscar you’re a fucking genius, like i could actually kiss you right now!” Lando yelled excitedly and leaned forward.
Oscar gave him a look.
“But i’m obviously not going to, haha” Lando retreated. Making Oscar shake his head in amusement.
There was a pause. They were close to one another, their thighs were basically touching, Lando was staring at Oscar with awe, while Oscar was staring at him with an unreadable expression. Lando cleared his throat.
“So do you think it’s possible this race or do we have to wait for the next one?” Lando asked.
Oscar stared at him for a little bit more.
“Dunno, if the team works hard enough we might get it done by the race, i’m not sure if it’s possible to fully fix it until the qualifying, only a part of it, we still need to order new parts then, which will come the next race best case scenario” Oscar replied.
“Worst case scenario?” Lando questioned.
“Well…probably Japanese gp or Andrea won’t even agree to this idea in the first place” Oscar said, he seemed a bit insecure about that.
“Oscar, you literally don’t even have to worry about the second part, i’ll make sure he agrees to it, you’re literally a fucking genius, and like probably the only one who actually is this dedicated to the job, i’m impressed and amazed” Lando reassured.
Oscar smiled.
Silence again.
“Theres uh- it’s quite late and i guess i could tell you why i’m also still here at this time” Lando started.
Oscar stared at him, like he was thinking, then nodded for Lando to go on.
“I uh, i like to stay back a bit sometimes, i usually walk around the paddock, it’s kind of relaxing when it’s all empty and just…quiet. I can clear my mind that way. Usually i walk around the track as well, it’s nice to analyse it” Lando explained.
Oscar kept staring at him, like he was trying to analyse Lando’s face.
“And i was actually on my way to that, before i saw you sitting here” Lando continued, Oscar’s gaze on him was making him shift in his seat uncomfortably, it was like it was burning him.
“You want to go then?” Oscar asked after a while.
“With you?” Lando hesitated.
“I mean, if you want to” Oscar shrugged, turning to stare at the computer.
“Yeah, yeah i want to” Lando mumbled, making Oscar turn back to stare at him.
“Really want to” Lando whispered under his breath, Oscar smiled.
“Okay, let me send the email to Andrea real quick and then we can go” Oscar said. Lando nodded.
-~-~-~
“Have you always been this smart? The hell did you study in school?” Lando asked. Both him and Oscar were now walking around the quiet track, the only thing they could hear was their shoes grazing against the asphalt and a faint sound of cars somewhere in the distance.
“Well i studied engineering, obviously. I was really good at physics and maths, my english grades were decent as well” Oscar explained, his hands were in his pockets, Lando was walking right by his side.
“Damn, big brains you got there. I could never, i mean- i literally dropped out so” Lando said, making Oscar snort beside him.
“You’re not stupid though, you’re decent” Oscar said.
“Only decent?” Lando questioned, turning to Oscar and smirking.
“Yup, considering you calling me baby through the radio and then asking me to play 20 questions got us trending ok twitter with the caption *Lando got a new mechanic and they are already arguing like a married couple, Max and GP have competition* so yes you’re only decent” Oscar said.
Lando bursted out laughing. Making Oscar roll his eyes.
They started walking again in silence.
“So, you fully an aussie?” Lando asked.
“I mean, i have Italian, Chinese and Yugoslavian heritage, but yeah I’m Australian” Oscar replied.
“Ohh, that’s interesting, do you know any other languages then?”
“I mean not really, i know a few words in french and Italian, i can also ask for your phone number in Japanese” Oscar said. Lando snorted.
“Well will you ask me for my phone number then? I’d gladly give it to you” Lando laughed.
“I can get it without asking for it, no?” Oscar raised an eyebrow.
Lando opened his mouth to say something, then closed it again, sighed, closed his eyes, opened them and saw an amused Oscar staring at him.
“Give me your damn phone” Lando mumbled.
Oscar laughed.
-~-~-~
The next day when Lando came back to the garage he saw the guys working on his and Liam’s cars. He walked over to where Oscar was sitting, staring at the computer once again, Lando got sort of a deja vu, except this time there were a lot of people around.
“So, the plan worked i take?” Lando asked, sitting next to Oscar, just like he did yesterday.
“This is giving me deja vu” Oscar made a face.
“I thought the same thing” Lando laughed.
Oscar stared again.
“to answer your question, yes, the plan worked” the aussie replied with a small smile on his face.
“See, i told you it would!” Lando nudged him.
“mhm” Oscar hummed.
“So, is it possible for us to be at least slightly quicker today?” Lando questioned.
“Well if the mechanics do the job well then yes, you should” Oscar replied.
“Great, i’m going to get ready then, see ya” Lando patted Oscar on the back and left.
-~-~-~
Last free practice session was okay, the tyre deg was also doable, they were slightly faster, Lando finished in p7 while Liam finished in p9. The mechanics still had some work to do before the qualifying, hopefully by then they’re even more faster.
“Fancy joining me for a lunch break?” Lando questioned, walking up to Oscar.
“I have to work Lando” Oscar replied.
“Excuse me, you literally worked overtime yesterday AND you literally helped the team, were faster now. I don’t care, you’re coming with me” Lando said, pulling Oscar up from the computer and guiding him through the hallways.
“Uh, Lando. I don’t think this is where the cafeteria is” Oscar mumbled.
“Of course not, you’re coming to my drivers room” Lando replied.
“Why exactly?”
“I need to take a shower, i’m all sweaty”
“Well couldn’t you’ve done that before coming to get me?”
“Nope, you’re gonna wait while i shower, unless you want to join me that is” Lando smirked.
Oscar’s face was neutral once again.
Lando sighed. “Damn you and your unreadable facial expressions” he mumbled.
He saw the corner of Oscar’s mouth slightly lift, barely visible.
Lando opened the door to his drivers room and pushed Oscar onto the small sofa.
“Wait here, don’t runoff or i swear-“ Lando lifted an accusing finger at Oscar and sighed, then turned around and left to the bathroom.
-~-~-~
“Please tell me my chicken salad wrap does not have any seafood sauces on it” Lando whined.
“Why?” Oscar asked.
“I hate seafood” Lando mumbled.
Oscar’s eyes widened.
“You’re a menace, i don’t want to be your mechanic anymore” Oscar said.
“What?! You can’t do that!” Lando defended.
“I wish i could” Oscar mumbled, taking a bite out of his own chicken wrap.
“Hey, can you taste mine and tell me if there is anything to do with seafood in here?” Lando asked.
“Why would they add any seafood if you didn’t ask for any?” Oscar raised an eyebrow.
“Well i saw them add this suspicious looking sauce” Lando mumbled.
Oscar rolled his eyes and took a bite out of Lando’s wrap.
“Nope, no seafood” He mumbled.
Lando sighed in relief. Then he noticed some sauce stuck on Oscar’s mouth, he didn’t even think twice before leaning over and wiping it with his thumb, then placing it into his own mouth.
Oscar was staring at him like he just grew a second head.
“What?” Lando asked, biting at his own chicken wrap.
Oscar looked like he was fighting an inner crisis, he shook his head.
It finally dawned on Lando, on what he had just done.
“Oh, sorry. Kind of a muscle memory i guess” Lando mumbled.
Oscar was still staring at Lando like he was crazy.
“All good” He replied eventually.
-~-~-~-
It was time for qualifying, nerves were kicking in, they should be faster now, the mechanics did more to the cat after the last practice session, which Lando is slightly worried about, what if they fucked it up and now it’s worse? He wouldn’t know now, not until qualifying starts. But then he also very much trusted Oscar and his smart ass. They should be fine.
Lando put his helmet on and climbed into his car. His mechanic motioned for him to go out, he did so.
“Okay, radio check” Oscar said.
“Uh, yeah, loud and clear” Lando mumbled.
Oscar seemed to sense that Lando was not okay.
“You got this, everything will be fine. It can’t be worse than it was before” Oscar reassured, Lando’s tense body relaxed. Thanks to Oscar’s voice once again.
Fuck he was so gone.
Lando breathed in, green light.
Show time.
…..
Q1 was fine, both Lando and Liam got through, the car was definitely faster, especially in the straights, that was good.
“Okay Lando, there’s actually slight rain expected in the next 5 to 10 minutes, don’t think inters will be needed yet” Oscar’s voice came through.
“Copy”
It was almost Q2 time.
…..
The rain started in 6 minutes, the track was getting more and more wet, the softs managed to do the job well.
Lando was on a fly lap, until he almost crashed into a ferrari.
“Mate! Literally what the fuck is Sainz on?! Second time this weekend!” Lando yelled into the radio.
“Stay calm, we notified the stewards, you still have time to do another lap, though i would suggest to do your best on it” Oscar’s calm voice came through, Lando sighed.
Lando did as he was told, he managed to put the car into p3, Liam was p5. They we’re doing much better, all thanks to Oscar and the mechanics.
Final Q3 was right around the corner.
“Heavy rain expected in the next 5 minutes, this might get messy” Oscar said.
“Do we go on inters or?” Lando asked.
“No, not yet. We don’t want to risk it, the track is still quite dry, but as soon as it starts pouring, then we can do inters” Oscar explained.
“Noted”
…..
Q3 started, the rain started pouring like crazy.
“Okay Lando box now” Oscar informed.
“I think i can get a lap in on softs” Lando replied.
“Lando, don’t be stupid.” Oscar’s voice was firm.
“I mean the track isn’t that bad yet”
“Lando, box! You are not putting yourself or others in danger” Oscar was definitely pissed.
well fuck.
“Copy” Lando mumbled.
His car got switched to inters, he went out again.
Good thing he listened to Oscar, the rain started pouring even more and 5 minutes into Q3 someone managed to crash.
“Red flag, come back into the pits” Oscar informed.
“Who was it?” Lando asked.
“A haas, Magnussen i think” Oscar replied.
Lando drove back to the pits.
The weather was getting worse and worse, the rain was pouring like crazy, the whole track was wet.
“Do we switch to wets?” Lando asked.
“No, Fia postponed the rest of the qualifying until the rain stops a bit, it’s to dangerous to go out there right now, you can get out of the car if you want” Oscar informed.
Fuck sake, Lando wanted to get this over with. He climbed out of the car and walked over to where Oscar was.
“Well that’s annoying” Lando mumbled.
“Lando i would rather have you all in tact and safe, rather than you in half, cause you hit something or someone” Oscar replied.
“Aw, you care about me?” Lando teased.
“You know i do” Oscar mumbled.
Lando stared at him, then smiled.
He was so so gone.
-~-~-~-
After about 30 minutes they were able to get back into the cars and drive, the track was still wet, but not too wet to the point where it was un drivable.
“Two minutes left, push it, but not too much” Oscar informed.
“If i get this on pole, you know how much i love you right?” Lando mumbled.
“Concentrate Lando” Oscar replied, sighing.
“I am, i’m great at multitasking, remember?”
No answer, okay then.
So Lando pushed, as much as he possibly could, some turns were tricky, some were easy to do.
He was at the last straight, few seconds from hitting the finish line, he pushed.
There were roars coming from everywhere.
“For the love of God, tell me i go it?” Lando whispered.
Silence for a moment.
“Oscar, tell me i got it!” Lando yelled.
“Pole position Lando, you’re on pole” Oscar spoke up finally, his voice was weird, Lando couldn’t decipher it.
“Fuck yes baby!!!” Lando yelled.
“Where’s Liam?” He asked.
“Liam’s p2, Charles is p3”
“Mclaren 1-2, let’s fucking go! Oscar i literally love you and for all the work you guys put in today, jesus. You are incredible” Lando whispered.
“We’ll talk when you get back here, go celebrate now” Oscar said.
Lando did as he was told.
-~-~-~-
After the photos and signings Lando pulled Oscar to his drivers room.
“What are you-“ Oscar didn’t get to finish. Lando smashed his lips against Oscar’s. The aussie gasped in surprise, which allowed Lando to shove his tongue into his mouth, Oscar tasted like victory, even if the race is tomorrow, Lando didn’t care. The man who got him the pole was standing right in front of him, kissing him back just as eagerly, it was everything Lando could’ve asked for.
Lando pulled Oscar flush against his chest, breaking the kiss and trailing his mouth down Oscar’s neck, kissing and licking it.
He bit into the flesh, making Oscar jump and gasp.
“Lando, no hickies! Not here at least” Oscar yelled, running his hand through Lando’s wet, sweaty hair.
Lando latched his mouth back onto Oscar’s, placed his hands onto the aussie’s waist and squeezed hard, he hoped it would leave bruises, Oscar moaned into his mouth.
“I fucking love you, seriously. From the moment i saw you, i literally never doubted that you will fucking nail your work here. You’re amazing, in every way possible” Lando confessed, pressing his forehead against Oscar’s.
“Don’t you think it’s too soon? we know each other for like five days” Oscar laughed.
“Those five days felt like months, you drive me insane, i literally need you so bad you have no idea” Lando groaned.
“I think i have a slight idea by now” Oscar smirked and kissed Lando again.
Fuck, Lando was addicted to Oscar’s mouth now, the aussie was like a literal drug.
“God, Oscar” Lando mumbled.
“I’m a God now?” Oscar joked.
“Yes, yes you are, everyone in mclaren should kiss you right now, obviously i wont allow it, they wish” Lando said, Oscar snorted.
“Oscar, will you be my amazing mechanic slash boyfriend slash love of my life?” Lando said.
Oscar bursted out laughing.
“I will if you go and take a shower, you’re all sweaty, it’s gross” Oscar joked, running his hand through Lando’s damp, sweaty hair once again.
“Anything for you” Lando replied and pecked his lips, turning on his heels and running to the bathroom.
Oscar sat down onto Lando’s small sofa, with a huge smile on his face, his lips were still tingling.
-~-~-~-
Race day.
“Radio check” Oscar’s voice came through, Lando was addicted to it.
“Loud and clear baby” Lando said enthusiastically.
“Good, go and win this baby” And this time, Oscar finally replied.