Chapter Text
Kimi didn't know when it all started.
He already knew Ollie for a few years, being drivers under the same team, but of course they weren't close, they never drive in the same category until now. Their only interactions was when they met in Prema office, when they forced to make a video or doing photoshoot for all the drivers.
Kimi knows how nice Ollie is, always saying hi to everyone first, asking how they are doing with a smile in his face. Ollie even be the first ones to congratulate him on his move to F2 and said he can't wait to be his teammate.
They only talked properly for the first time in Abu Dhabi, when Kimi came to the last race of the season ahead of his first testing with the team. Ollie told him about the car, gave him tips about the track without being asked.
Kimi remember Ollie cheerfully said, "just come to me if you need help or just want to ask about anything" and he really don't understand. Yes, they are teammates, but aren't teammate supposed to be the first rival to beat? And did Ollie forgot that they are junior drivers under rival teams? Seriously, he didn't know Ollie is this nice.
Maybe that was when it all started. That was when Kimi started to unconsciously take a glance at the older boy everytime he is near. Kimi didn't know why, but he feels more at ease when he knows Ollie is there.
It's a normal thing, really. He just like the fact that he has a nice teammate who he can get along well with. Kimi can say they are friends now, not in the level of best friend like Ollie and Dino yet (and no, he definitely not wondering how long it will take to be in that level, no) but they are pretty close as a teammate. So yeah, everything is good.
Well, his first race didn't go as smooth as he hoped, but they worked on it and finally see some prospect here in Jeddah. Ollie got pole, and he qualified P6. He just need to work a little harder so maybe they can share a podium on Sunday.
At least that was what Kimi thought, until he was greeted with an empty garage in sprint day. He found out that Ollie has been called by Ferrari to replace Carlos Sainz and will spend the rest of the weekend in F1 paddock.
It's only their second race of the season, but still it feels weird. Kimi feels weird not to have Ollie in the other side of the garage, it's weird not to see his teammate in front of him for drivers briefing, and it feels weird to hop on the car without Ollie's pat on his shoulder while wishing him a good luck.
But the strangest feeling is to see Ollie on the TV when he is sitting in his hotel bed on Sunday night. It's weird to see him in Ferrari red instead the usual Prema red. Kimi isn't jealous about Ollie debut in F1, he knows his own time will come, so no, this is not jealousy. He actually proud and excited for him, like every other members of their team.
It just... Kimi is kinda sad, because no matter how long he stare at the boy on the TV, he will never look back and smile at him like Ollie usually did. His teammate never felt so far and unreachable like this.
He knows it's not something he should feel when his friend is finally achieving his dream. And it's not like Ollie will forget him. He even called Kimi last night (so late at night when Kimi was ready to sleep, three hours after F1 qualifying ended) and said sorry for not replying his messages and not telling him first about his move to F1 (Kimi jokingly complained about that on his message).
It was their first phone call, and they talked for half an hour. Ollie told him about his hectic day since he got call from Ferrari, all the briefings, the interviews, the test with FIA, until the moment he got into the car.
"I don't know how I did all those things today. Now that I can finally take a breath and rest, I'm scared it was actually a dream." Ollie sounds excited but Kimi can hear the exhaustion from his voice too. Kimi wished the other boy is next to him so he can see his face, to make sure he is okay and maybe give him a hug.
Ollie asked him about his race, told him he will get the podium tomorrow, which he didn't and he was so disappointed about it. But Ollie texted him after the race (even though Kimi hadn't read the previous good luck message he sent before the race), and said it's okay, he worked hard and he will get there soon.
Ollie is still being the best teammate even when he wasn't there with him, so he shouldn't feel like this. But when he see Ollie on the TV again, now getting ready to get into the car, suddenly his heart beating so fast. Kimi never felt so nervous when watching a race, and deep down he knows there is something else tugging his heart.
Maybe this is when Kimi started to realize. Maybe he likes his teammate a little more than a friend....
It was so natural that we were always together
I didn't think it was special
didn't know - DAY6