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Love. Love can be described as an intense feeling of deep affection for somebody or something. It can be one of the most incredible things and feelings in the world when you manage to find it with the right person however, at the same time it can be one of the worst and most painful if you give your love to the wrong person. Love can come in different forms and you have different types of love too depending on who the other person is to you. You have the love that you give to close family members. The love that you give to friends (although this can vary and some friends could probably be classed under the love that you give to family members). Then you have the love that you give to a significant other. The last kind of love is the kind of love that most people dream of. It’s the kind of love that Lando never thought that he would have. It’s the kind of love that he had now got. Love is a spectrum and people in your life will be spread up and down that line/spectrum however not a lot of people get to put someone right at the top of that line as that is someone that you will love unconditionally. Your soulmate. Not everyone finds that especially so young yet here Lando was with his soulmate.
Love should be an amazing thing that can happily be shared with other loved ones in your life and overall just be shared with the world or be allowed out together and hold hands without horrible repercussions. It shouldn’t matter who you love, however, because of some people whose opinions shouldn’t matter, it does. That’s why Lando never thought that he would get or find the ‘significant other’ kind of love and that’s just because he’s a little bit ‘different’ to the so-called ‘normal’ people. Love between men doesn’t matter. Love between women doesn’t matter. Love between trans and non-binary people doesn’t matter. Truthfully, nobody really cares about your primary gender and therefore in that aspect it’s fine to date anyone that you want with zero hate or opinions as all anybody seems to care about is the secondary gender (alpha, beta or omega). Due to specific laws, all 3 secondary genders should be treated the same and not discriminated against however there are some stubborn old people who still look down on omegas and betas for that matter and demand that they stick to the traditional gender roles. That’s not the main problem for Lando though. The problem comes when talking about which secondary genders can or more like should date which secondary genders. For example, worldwide it’s alright for alphas to court and date omegas- well actually that is expected and beta’s dating other betas, alphas or omegas is also allowed but not preferable (more precisely betas dating alphas or omegas is not preferable) however omegas dating other omegas or alphas dating other alphas is often frowned upon. Legally they can happily date one another or even get married and adopt children however a lot of people in society frown upon this happening and therefore they are often shunned from the world so most people end up hiding that part of them. It’s safer that way.
People should just be allowed to love who they want and be able to be with them in public. That is in a perfect world though and unfortunately the world does not work that way.
Lando always knew that he was different from other kids. It started off back in his karting days as he was an omega who was karting which was very unusual. Not a lot of omegas did kart during this time because it was apparently ‘too dangerous’ and ‘too risky’ for them however Lando loved it and he was lucky to have two loving parents who supported him no matter what he chose to do. It was hard to begin with as he was a scrawny little, emphasis on little because he was extremely small for his age, omega and alphas constantly wanted to push him around and off of the track. They hated that the little omega was constantly beating them and most of them wanted to make his life a living hell but throughout the years he did manage to earn his competitors' respect and they stopped picking on him. Guess he was just that good. It did get a lot better when he made it into single-seaters as his competitors were all fine with him it was just the media and people behind the screens that were making comments about him being an omega but he knew that he would prove them all wrong when he makes it into Formula One and becomes world champion. The other way that Lando found out that he was different from other kids was when he made it to his teenage years and hormones and crushes came into the mix. All his omega friends were clearly attracted to the alphas and chasing them whilst his alpha mates were chasing the omegas. Lando never felt that kind of attraction towards alphas or betas for that matter but at the start he just brushed it off. He managed to brush it off until he had his first crush.
When he first got the feeling of butterflies in his stomach and felt nervous talking to this boy he was really scared but he knew that it was a crush as he had heard his friends speaking about it before. The only difference… the boy that he has this so-called crush on is also an omega. Throughout his life Lando had never heard of two omegas being together; it was always an omega with a beta or alpha however he must be feeling this way for a reason. After a couple of months the feelings still hadn’t gone away so having a little bit of courage after winning his race he went to ask this guy out. The response? The response wasn’t great. The guy just laughed before calling Lando all kinds of disgusting names and saying how two omegas dating was against everything and should never happen and omegas who date other omegas are the scum of the earth. Those words hurt Lando but he kept a straight face and shrugged it off. Luckily Lando managed to play it off as a friend thing and the guy never said anything about it after that. He couldn’t have anything ruin his racing chances.
Since that day Lando had never pursued any omegas again just because of the singular interaction and what other people had said and this was especially true when he made it to single-seaters and many more eyes were upon him. Nothing was going to stop him from getting into Formula One and chasing his dreams and if that meant suppressing a certain part of himself then so be it. He could be happy without a significant other.
It was that simple until he met a certain Monegasque omega called Charles Leclerc caught his eye.
Charles Leclerc was another omega who had managed to make his way to Formula One and catch Lando’s eye. Secretly Lando was absolutely obsessed with Charles. Charles was gorgeous, polite, and flirty in all the right ways. Charles was basically an alpha's dream and every alpha was chasing after him and thirsting after him too. It seemed like Charles had no idea that he had that effect on people though because he would just politely smile at them before moving on. He was just like the typical omega, everything that an omega should be and that is why Lando knew that he had no chance with him ever. Or so he thought. Lando never noticed the lingering glances or the lingering touches or the way Charles would always hover around Lando. Lando had no idea that he had a better chance than all of the alphas who were chasing Charles for attention. Way better.
It was after his crash in Spa back in 2021 when Charles had come to check on him in hospital. Lando was alone and Charles wanted to make sure that he was alright after the scary accident. Charles spent hours in the hospital talking and scenting Lando making sure he was happy and safe and he only left because the nurses ushered him out when visiting hours had finished (they had finished long before but none of them had the heart to push Charles out). But before he left he managed to ask one final question.
“How about after the race tomorrow I take you out?” Charles questioned.
“Like-Like a date?” Lando asked back. He was really questioning everything right now. Two omegas shouldn’t date yet here he was finding himself wanting Charles. Wanting to date Charles. One date couldn’t be wrong, could it?
“Yeah. A date.” Charles confirmed.
“Yeah. Sure. Of course,” Lando replied, starting to feel really giddy. Charles Leclerc. The Charles Leclerc just asked him on a date and he agreed. HE’S GOING ON A DATE WITH CHARLES LECLERC.
“I’ll message you,” Charles said, doing his horrible wink (can you even call it a wink?) before leaving the hospital and leaving Lando alone with his thoughts and excitement about the upcoming date.
The rest was history… Well not really. The two of them went on that date and shortly after they began dating. A year later the two of them got married in a secluded and secret wedding with only immediate family and best friends present as they were the only people aware of this relationship but also they wanted a small wedding. A small and personal one. It was partly so the media wouldn’t find out about the relationship but also they just wanted a small and intimate wedding. Anyway that is where the pair of them are at now. Married but the relationship is unknown to the public and truthfully that is what their main arguments are about nowadays.
“Why not Lando? Why do you care about what people have to say? We’re already married, we have teams that love us so we’re not going to lose our seats. We should show everybody that it’s fine to love whoever you want,” Charles ranted once again. This was a constant argument that the pair have had since they got married. Charles wanted out. Charles wanted to share his relationship, his love, with the world and show kids that it’s fine to love whoever you want and screw the repercussions meanwhile Lando wanted to keep the whole relationship private. He was terrified of the repercussions and what would be spread about them. The two of them were happy together so why did they have to potentially ruin their relationship and what they have by making their relationship public to the world. What if the comments get between them? What if Charles realises this isn’t what he wants anymore and that there are many alphas out there wanting a piece of THE Charles Leclerc. What if they lose their seats? What if everything falls apart? So many what-ifs. Too many.
“What if we don’t? We’ve worked this hard to get to where we are and this can potentially ruin it. Ruin everything we have spent years working towards and put so much money towards,” Lando replied, starting to hyperventilate. He was starting to turn red from frustration and because of the frustration tears were also starting to build in his eyes. Charles though. Charles though wasn’t going to back down because all he wanted to do was show off his incredible and beautiful husband and kiss him when either of them win races. Is that too much to ask for?
“We’re supposed to be role models Lando. Imagine how many people we can help by coming out. By showing people two omegas can happily be together and be fully satisfied, that we don’t need some knot-heated alpha,” Charles said, raising his voice. The smell of burnt caramel was making its way into Lando’s nostrils and making his nose twitch. This was the same argument happening all over again. The same argument that never seems to get resolved. It’s so frustrating and repetitive.
“But why? Why do I have to risk myself to be a role model to younger kids?”
“Because this is us, Lando. They deserve to know the real us and not some fake us that the media is trying to portray. You saw how many alphas I’ve apparently slept with this year. That’s a fake me and showing kids that I’m just a needy omega who has to sleep around with different alphas,” Charles continued to rant getting too frustrated to even continue with this conversation. He has to walk away before he does or says anything that he will regret.
“Aghhh,” Charles screamed frustrated. He picked up one of Lando’s quadrant hoodies and put it on before leaving Lando alone and making sure to slam the door behind himself and leaving the smell of burnt caramel. A smell that was usually comforting to Lando but now making him want to heave. He too had to get out of the apartment. Both to clear his mind and so he wouldn’t throw up.
Smelling a sad omega, George instantly perked up. He knew that it was Lando and that Lando was panicking about something and by the smell it was something really serious. When George saw his face that only confirmed his suspicions that something was seriously wrong. Lando’s face was all red and blotchy, tear stains were stuck on his face and his eyes were all watery showing that Lando had been crying. On top of that, Lando had one of Charles’ oversized hoodies on which basically drowned him and George knew him well enough to know that Lando only wore that specific hoodie when he needed comfort. With no words exchanged George opened up his arms and Lando instantly slipped into them, onto his lap, and basically hid his whole face in George’s neck. If people from the outside saw the two they would probably suspect that the two were dating and mated just because of the way that they acted but what they didn’t know was that Lando wasn’t into alphas at all and George was madly in love with another omega. The two were just best friends and that was it.
After a couple of minutes of silence George decided to speak up so he could finally see what the issue was and get it solved knowing that Lando would probably prefer to ignore the whole thing but that is not good for him so George will get him talking. George will get him talking and help him sort out his issue which he is guessing has to do with Charles.
“So want to tell me why you’ve come to my flat drowning in Charles’ hoodie and looking like you haven’t stopped crying in three days,” George spoke softly into his ear, rubbing one hand up and down Lando’s back trying to encourage him to speak up. Lando just huffed and wiggled trying to hide himself further into George, trying to hide himself in his scent but when he realised he couldn’t get any closer he pulled away slightly and prepared himself to speak. He already knew what George was going to say because they’d had this conversation a million times before. He and Charles argue about it, Charles leaves and goes somewhere and Lando goes to George, he rants to George, George tries to talk sense into him, he goes home to Charles, they talk it out, and nothing gets resolved. And then it’s that over and over again. That argument, makeup, repeat. That argument, makeup, repeat. That argument, makeup, repeat. It's that constantly.
“Me and Charles argued again,” He huffed out right on George’s neck making George shiver from the hot air.
“About going public?” George asked softly. He was trying to watch what he would say knowing that he could set Lando off at any moment but after this constant argument for the last year he had to get to the bottom of it as he has had enough.
“Yeah. Why’s it so important to go public? We have each other, isn't that enough?” Lando ranted.
“Have you asked him that question?” George retaliated. He doesn’t know what exactly has been said between the two so now is the time for him to work it out and actually give Lando some good and much-needed advice. He needs to figure out why Lando is so reluctant to come out and why Charles wants to come out so badly. He felt Lando shake his head and all George could do was sigh. The two of them just don't communicate properly and maybe George isn’t the best person to talk about communication but he is nowhere near as bad as the two of them.
“Maybe you should. Can I ask you a question? Why are you so scared about coming out?”
“I’m scared of what people will say,” Lando says without even thinking about it. It’s always been the same reason ever since Charles first mentioned coming out to the world. Well, that reason plus a million others but that's the main reason and a major fear of his.
“Why? You and Charles love each other, right? Why does it matter what everybody else says? The only people whose opinions should matter are yours and Charles alone. Nobody else should ever have a say in the matter. And if anybody does, you have 18 drivers behind you, all yours and Charles’ family behind you and I bet you will still have millions of fans backing you and supporting you. All of those worries are in your head Lando and most of those worries won’t even happen. Talk to your anxiety because sometimes the jump is worth it. Dating and marrying Charles was one risk you took and look where it got you. Eternal love,” George rambled on.
“What if I lose sponsorships and can no longer race?” Lando then said. So that was part of the problem. George had seen Lando’s struggles back in their karting days as well as racing in single-seaters so he could understand Lando’s hesitation with it. He had worked hard to get into F1 and push away all of the negativity surrounding Omegas in F1 (a lot like Charles did, it’s actually part of the reason as to how Charles and Lando got so close) so George understood him not wanting to lose it. Is the risk worth it? That is what Lando has to figure out.
“If your sponsors drop out then they didn’t deserve you in the first place and I bet there are a lot of other businesses that would sponsor you in a heartbeat,” George tried to reassure.
“Thank you Georgie, you’re honestly the best,” Lando said after a minute or so of silence like he was actually taking everything George had said. There is a first time for everything and maybe now he will actually talk to Charles and they will come to some sort of agreement.
“You’re welcome. Now go back to Charles and talk to him,” George said, quickly smelling Lando making sure that he smelt more normal before pushing Lando off him and towards the door so he could go back to his own home and talk to Charles. He needed to speak to Charles.
When Lando made it back to his home he took a deep breath before opening the door. A part of him was hoping that Charles wouldn’t be home yet as he wanted to delay this conversation a little bit longer but maybe it would be easier if Charles was home because then he has no time to talk himself out of this conversation. He promised George. He is having this conversation no matter what.
Walking in there was a faint smell of caramel and apple, his and Charles’ scents mixing together perfectly, and because it was a faintish smell it meant that Charles wasn’t home yet. Needing some comfort and a bit of security, Lando grabbed all of the blankets in the house along with some of Charles’ hoodies and he started to make a nest on their bed. Yes, it was messy and not neat like omega nests should be but it was Lando’s nest and comforting and he loved lying in it.
It wasn’t long after Lando laid down in the nest that Charles came back. The first thing Lando noticed was that he smelt a lot better than when he walked out a few hours ago. That was good as Lando hated knowing that he made Charles feel and smell that way. Charles should always smell the way that he does now because this smell is absolutely perfect and so calming. He felt the smile take over his face as he just knew that Charles was walking closer and closer. Lando’s eyes may have been closed but he just knew that Charles was walking closer and closer to him. He is just that attuned to Charles’ scent so can tell where he is very easily. Perks of being married to your soulmate and being mated to them.
“Charles,” Lando spoke out when he felt Charles’ presence right next to the nest that he had made. Charles is probably the only person in the world who thinks that Lando’s nests are perfect and one of the most comforting and comfortable places in the world. Lando knows that Charles’ nests are better but he will take the praise from Charles.
“Can I come in?” Charles cautiously asked and instantly Lando started nodding like a madman before moving to the side so Charles could slip into the nest.
“I’m sorry about pressuring you to come out. We should come out at a time that is good for both of us,” Charles said, staring right into Lando’s vulnerable and very telling eyes. Charles adored Lando’s eyes as they were warming and always told him everything… or so he thought.
“I’m sorry too,” Lando started off by saying and he took a deep breath before continuing on. Just remember what George had said.
“I wa-want I want to make our relationship public. I love you and we shouldn’t have to hide it. You were right this whole time and I was just scared about what people would say but George made me realise that I will never be able to control that and all I really need in life is you and our families and if nobody else can accept us then so be it,” Lando blurted out. Charles, for the first time in his life, actually looked speechless. It was like he didn’t think that Lando would ever agree to come out and to be fair neither did he but George was right.
“Really?” Charles questioned. Lando could see his eyes were sparkling and he was really excited about the prospect of coming out and being able to kiss Lando whenever he wanted to, especially after winning a race or, fingers crossed, a championship. Being allowed to hold Lando’s hand as they walk down the street or down the paddock. Being allowed to share a hotel room with Lando during race weekends so they don’t have to be apart. Charles really wanted all that and now Lando was agreeing to it.
“Yeah,” Lando said softly. Without a moment of hesitation Charles launched forward and connected his lips to Lando’s. One hand made its way to the back of Lando’s head whilst the other rested on his hip firmly. When their lips touched the kiss was instantly fast-paced and bruising. It was almost like they would die if they didn’t kiss at that exact moment. Lando opened his mouth slightly and Charles took the opportunity to push his tongue into Lando’s mouth claiming it. As they pushed for more the kiss got all wet and sloppy but truthfully neither of them cared not wanting to leave each other's lips. Slick was dripping down the inside of both of their legs and the room was strongly smelling of apples and caramel swirling together but right now kisses and reassurance was all they needed.
“When?” Charles asked breathlessly when they pulled away from each other.
“Can we post something now before I lose my nerve?” Lando shyly questioned and once again Charles found himself a little speechless because of his absolutely amazing husband. Charles leaned forward to place another soft kiss against his husband's lips before he went to grab his phone so they could make their relationship public. Make it public before Lando doesn’t want to do it anymore.
The two of them sat together in Lando’s nest, cuddling close as they discussed the best way to make their relationship public. Eventually, they both agreed that a hard-launching Instagram post would be best. After all, they have a few months off before the start of the season so they are able to turn their phones off and ignore the comments to just be with each other. Plus, Charles believes that the two of them have some cute photos which deserve to be released to the world and would be perfect for Instagram. So that’s what they did. They made one simple Instagram post before turning both of their phones off to just enjoy each other as husbands should.
They may have broken the internet and not known about it, but they are together. They may have gotten a lot of hate and not known about it, but they had each other (and another 18 or so drivers behind them plus a lot more). They may have also gotten a lot of support and not known about it, but does that support really matter when they have each other? They are happily married and have a known future with one another. They’ve got that significant other kind of love which they have dreamed of since they were children. They have found their soulmate which many people don’t get to have. They are very much in love and should share it with the world and not care what anybody else says.
Charles Leclerc and Lando Norris. Soulmates with the significant other kind of love.