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Nico hated dressing up for sponsor parties. He always had to present himself as neat and polished just as he had been trained to appear since he was a toddler barely able to string together sentences. As he looked at himself in the mirror he couldn't help but frown, the shaggy still wet hair, evident stress and deep violet under his eyes were not going to mesh well with his thousand-dollar getup. He couldn't bear to meet his own eyes and pulled out the makeup he kept hidden in the back of the drawers under the sink, like a shameful secret that Nico Rosberg has imperfections, visibly so.
He dabbed on the concealer under his eyes, a bit of blush on the apple of his cheeks to bring back the pallor of his skin and mascara to make his eyes pop and tried his best to avoid locking eyes with his reflection. He set about making himself look less like Nico and more like Nico Rosberg, son of Keke Rosberg, Omega mate to Alpha Three times World Champion Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes Formula 1 driver. He took a moment to steal a few breaths from the world so he would stop feeling like he would evaporate away.
Finally, he looked up and set a pleasant smile on his face, there he was, welcome back Nico.
He hoped Lewis would return before he had to leave; he couldn’t imagine what Toto would say if the two of them showed up separately. He hadn’t seen his Alpha or even heard a word from him since yesterday, he had left in a hurry yesterday afternoon claiming his brother needed his help. Hours later when all his calls went unanswered and his texts were unread Nico had given in and called Nicholas. The Beta’s normally confident cadence had taken on a shaky tone as he had reported that he wasn’t with Lewis and when pressed didn’t know where he was currently but that they had met up.
“He should be on his way back to you Nico”, he had reassured.
He was afraid Lewis might not be one of these days.
Their relationship was as strained as it had ever been. The last season had taken its toll on them as individuals and as partners to each other. Nico had never hesitated to show Lewis the ugly part of his soul, but now, he had to stop and think. He could not easily forget the fiasco that was the hat-throw . While he may have ended the season on a high he had still lost. It felt like he lost more than the Championship though. Felt like he was losing yet more still.
Nico didn’t know quite how to feel, he was turning 31 in six months and as the media kept claiming, he didn’t look like he once did. His eyes were duller, his hair more flat, less golden, his skin had stress lines, and his waist (or was it hips) was not the same. Lewis was in his prime, Nico couldn’t even win. He hadn’t won. Not like his father, the perfect Alpha, who won a World Championship and got mated and married to a beautiful Omega and they had a racer son. Was Nico the beautiful Omega? He was certainly no perfect Alpha, and he was certainly no Champion, he had a mating bite but no ring on his finger to show his Alpha never intended to bite another. He reached up to palm the years-old scar he had so proudly shown off at every opportunity. He wondered when was the last time his Alpha had taken care to re-open and deepen it.
Nico was startled as their apartment door slammed open and barks filled the quiet atmosphere. He could hear Lewis saying hello to the dogs who he had no doubt woken up. Lewis rustling around in the bedroom was his sign to leave the washroom finally.
Lewis seemed to be dressing in a hurry, as he pulled out his watches from his wardrobe messily. Nico eyed the mess. He leaned against the wall and watched on as his Alpha finally triumphed over the clasp of his too-expensive watch. Lewis met his eyes in the mirror as he finally looked up and gave him a sweet smile, absolutely nothing amiss except Nico knew him. He knew every breath that escaped him and every beat of his heart, he could spot the exhaustion of a sleepless night in his eyes, the tension in his shoulders, the barely perceptible sweat at his hairline, sweat that spoke of exertion. Nico smiled back at him.
“All ready darling?”
“Yes, Lewis.”
Lewis always drove Nico when they went to anything related to their jobs, it wasn't something they had ever agreed over verbally. It came upon like a natural consequence, he was the Alpha, the Champion and Nico the loving Omega. It didn't matter that Nico was a Formula 1 driver too. A race winner. A championship contender. It made it feel and look right when Lewis would park their obscenely expensive car and walk around to open the door for him. Nico always wondered if the smile on his mate’s face when he offered him his hand to climb out of the car was real or only there for the flashing cameras. Still, Nico knew his smile of appreciation came easily to him each time.
It wasn't only them in attendance. Almost the entire grid was dispersed throughout the room as Nico and Lewis finally entered the venue, arm in arm, escaping the flashing lights. The real scrutiny was yet to come however Nico thought firmly as he spotted every major sponsor of the sport and the teams in attendance. Old traditionalist Alphas would rake their eyes over him from head to toe, a glimmer of appreciation in their eyes compliment him on his beauty and bemoan the fact that he was a driver, not a breeder.
Nico tightened his hold on Lewis’ arm momentarily and could feel his Alpha’s concerned gaze on the side of his face. Nico gave him a small smile and minutely shook his head to indicate everything was alright, it had to be, they couldn't stick together not here. They had their parts to play after all, that was why Nico’s suit was more fitted at the waist and Lewis’ tight around his broad shoulders.
With a small kiss they separated, gladiators off to give a show.
Nico had to slink off to a hidden corner after almost an hour of continuous comments from people he couldn't do anything but smile back politely to. Why was Nico the son of a champion wasting his time? It's not as if his father lacked the money or resources to find a good match. Oh, but he had a good match already. So why was Nico the mate of a champion wasting his time? It's not as if his mate couldn’t provide for him or his children. Has he met their just as old yet unmated Alpha son or colleague? He would surely like them. Surely with hips like that he should refocus his attention elsewhere. To something more attainable, something more suited to someone like him.
Nico sipped at the champagne he had snagged off a passing waiter and tried to breathe deeply and steadily as he cast his eyes around, alert without appearing as such. A familiar laugh caught his attention and he turned his head to where the other Omega was.
Sebastian was everything Nico was not. Sure, they were both blonde and German but that is where the similarities ended. Sebastian was the beloved Champion, he was aggressive and passionate like an Alpha, assertive in his team, he had beaten Mark, and he was beating Kimi. Sebastian was the actual German born, he was not a perceived fake. He had the support of the best driver in the history of the sport, who was also German. The same driver who had shunned him. He had never been overly kind nor friendly with Nico, every joke more of a jab than something Nico could ever truly find funny. He had four straight years of unparalleled dominance. Forever etched into the history of the sport. He was not mated but he was younger and slighter. He surely had Mark falling for his charms, he had Kimi and Jenson too. And by the look of things, he also had Lewis.
Nico stared as his Alpha leaned in to whisper something into Sebastian’s ear, the blonde rearing back, shock and delight on his pretty face. Lewis seemed to have indicated something with his face, as the Omega’s face split into a wide smile and he threw his arms around the Alpha, his Alpha , who in turn wrapped his arms around his waist.
Nico turned away. He could not stand here any longer, just an idiot with a painted face taking up space. He walked back towards the sponsors with a pretty smile of his own adorning his face.
When the couple finally got back home, it was late though Nico didn't bother to lift his wrist and check the time. It was a post-dinner party as was the norm often, but Nico had not eaten dinner and he couldn't remember what he had for lunch either. Still, his body wasn't hungry so he refused when Lewis offered to cook. Instead, they ambled their way into the bedroom, and Nico delighted in the quiet intimacy of their domesticity as they got undressed together. Jewelry clinked as it was returned to its rightful place. Lewis slammed the drawer that housed his watches shut.
Nico gave out a happy sigh as Lewis kissed him, his big warm hands cradling his face, thumbs tucked under his jaw. He relished in winding his arms around those broad shoulders and in the little grunts that escaped Lewis as their tongues battled. He lost himself to the feeling of love and security his Alpha provided as he was swept into his arms and carried to the bed, his thoughts focused only on Lewis as he kissed him all over, as he plastered himself on him and then inside him. Nothing was on his mind except Lewis as his knot locked them together and Lewis rolled them around so they were back to chest, pressing little kisses and licks on his mating bite. Nico let out a happy hum and joined their hands together. Eventually, his Alpha cleaned them off as Nico basked in his sweet company. Lewis pressed a kiss to the crown of his head before slipping the covers over them both and engulfing Nico in his arms.
Hours later, his Alpha was clocked out, Lewis always slept like the dead after a night well spent. Nico struggled to wriggle out of his strong hold and shushed the Alpha as he grunted in displeasure even in his deep unbroken sleep.
He padded silently over to their wardrobe. Sending another glance at the mound of blankets in their bed, he slid the watch drawer open. There it was, shoved in the back haphazardly. Nico knew why Lewis chose to hide it here, they didn't share watches at all, due to differing tastes and sponsorship requirements. He pretended there wasn't a tremble to his movements as he reached for the nondescript bag- not the one it came in, and slid out the box.
There it was, the most gorgeous ring he had ever seen. It was everything he ever wanted. He looked away though because inside it, engraved in German, was a singular phrase. His heart dropped lower than he thought possible.
My Champion.
Perhaps he was the wrong German for this ring.