Chapter Text
Arriving at his first McLaren meeting was nerve-wracking. He wasn’t showing it obviously but his palms were sweating like crazy and his stomach was tying knot around a knot proving it hard to concentrate on anything other than putting one foot in front of the other on his way to the office.
Joining a new team was always a stressful time packed with new faces, new rules, new terminology and the never-ending rush that made each decision seem life-deciding. It was exhausting so when it was finally time for him to formally meet the team with which he’d be working looking forward, he was already tired and craving a three day nap.
Some people he was more excited to meet than others but what definitely peaked his interest were the team officials and his teammate - Lando Norris. He’d had an opportunity to talk with Zak Brown before — he had to have been at the contract signing in the end but it was the first time he’d talk to Lando. He was supposed to meet the Brit beforehand but their schedules got mingled with and they eventually had to give it up altogether. They’d be racing together so that’s plenty of time to get to know one another.
Oscar knew Lando mostly through social media and his intent observing of the F1 races though he’s heard bits and pieces of information about the other through word of mouth and whatnot. From what he could gather the older was just a good-natured cheery though competitive guy which both eased and ruffled Oscar’s sanity because well — He himself was rather reserved and collected. To have a high-energy guy as his teammate was a bit of a gamble because… what if Lando dislikes his demeanor? It’s not like Oscar was rude or curt but he understood why some people considered him boring. So when his eyes landed on his teammate for the first time in person, beads of sweat began forming on his forehead.
He got through the meeting rather nicely he’d say. He answered any questions sent his way, got answers to some of his own and was overall warmly welcomed to the team and was drowned by praises of opportunities awaiting him with the McLaren family. He smiled, nodded and walked around the headquarters while listening to the management talking. Throughout it all he felt an intent, burning gaze on him. Lando was watching him. He knew because he casted the older a glance a few times and the other wasn’t even hiding the fact that he was staring but instead each time proceeded to just send him a big smile. Oscar always acknowledged him with a strained smile because he wasn’t quite sure what to do. He wasn’t built for this — meeting new people. He was always very aware and careful when it came to opening up to someone so even though from what he’s heard Lando was a nice guy, he couldn’t help his prudent personality.
The main gist of the meeting ended and Oscar could finally take a deep breath. His manager, Kim, clapped him on his shoulder before squeezing it reassuringly “How are you holding up?” he asked.
Kim was an older man in his forties that, in Oscar’s eyes, had his life figured out. Wife, kids, a nice house with a cute dog, a job he liked and a happy demeanor that put other optimists to shame. Oscar admired him in a sense and was grateful that he got to be a guy to help him crawl out of his shell every once in a while.
“I’m aight” Oscar sighed “But this still is a bit nerve-wracking”
Kim chuckled “You’d have to be a robot to not be affected at all. Hell, even I’m getting tired of all these meetings and calls!” It was Oscar’s turn to let out a soft chuckle and as his shoulders shook from the motion he heard someone clear their throat behind his back. He turned around and still with a dumb smile between his cheeks came face to face with his new teammate.
“Hi there” the Brit smile brightly. Oscar refused to believe he caught the shorter slightly checking him out.
“Oh, hi” The younger went back to that tight, uncomfortable wanna-be-smile he was doing earlier as his shoulders tightened.
“I just wanted to introduce myself properly since we haven’t had a chance to do that yet” the shorter announced with a happy voice and extended his arm towards Oscar.
“Oh, right” the taller joined their palms in a handshake “I’m Oscar Piastri”
“Lando Norris” the shorter smiled again, cheeks pressing onto his eyes. Oscar’s throat dried out “Sorry I couldn’t meet you in Monaco last month. I was actually planning to ask you to hang out but you were gone when I came back and well — It all just kinda didn’t work out so sorry about that”
Oscar finally managed a small but genuine smile “That’s alright. Don’t worry about it, I think you’ll have plenty of time to grow tired of me” Lando laughed.
“Aww don’t be like that. I’m sure we’ll get along just fine” he said reassuringly and something in Oscar’s heart tumbled down a metaphorical staircase.
“Yeah” he breathed out
They were in fact more than fine, at least from Oscar’s point of view. Lando was hard to dislike. A cheery guy with a good dose of level-headedness and determination which was quite inspiring. Oscar admired how he never blamed the team nor the car and always put the pressure on himself, his own performance and owned up to when he didn’t deliver.The younger even thought he was too harsh on himself sometimes but wasn’t sure if he should point that out, at least in the beginning of their relationship.
Because Oscar wasn't like Lando. He got frustrated and just tightened his lips, wanting to curse everyone around, including himself, out but ultimately always ignoring it all with a sigh. He wasn’t all smiley, didn’t have friends all around the world and overall, standing next to the Brit he seemed like a stone statue of tiredness and focus. He wasn’t cold but wasn't quick to laugh at every joke either.
And yet Lando didn’t ignore him. He had every chance to just brush the younger off, use his quiet demeanor and just go about his own days and yet — he never did. He’d always pop into Oscar’s room, pull a little chat out of him about how he was doing and leave with a reassuring smile. He’d bring Oscar coffee even though he himself hated the taste. He’d chuckle at Oscar’s shitty jokes and whack him on the shoulder if he said something stupid. Even if the Aussie was set on rotting around in his room and sleeping, somehow Lando would find his way onto his couch and sit there silently. He was always so nice for no reason and Oscar just couldn’t wrap his head around it. It made him conflicted because Lando’s actions made something within him bloom. Something raw and fragile and yet so beautiful. Something that made him smile and laugh, open up and slowly crawl out of his shy, stoic shell. Something that he knew, could name and yet refused to.
Because that was just how Lando was with everyone. It was in his nature to act this way. Oscar wasn’t special so it made him embarrassed to feel like he was. Each time those green eyes looked at him with adoration he had to remind himself that they could fix that gaze on anyone, not just him.
And so that soft little thing inside of him stayed in its place, longing for more while he gnawed at it to just leave him alone. He didn’t need it — didn’t like it. It made him pathetic and embarrassing and he didn’t need that in his career. It wanted attention but he locked it away in the deepest parts of his brain or at least told himself that he did.
Lando Norris didn’t need Oscar Piastri and Oscar Piastri didn’t deserve Lando Norris.