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1.
“I want you to stay,” the faithful words Oscar uttered all those years ago, at the time he had meant he wanted Logan to stay with him for a few more hours instead of going home. They were 14 and 15 then, there was nothing more in their racing focused brains other than running around the race track together then spending all of their pocket money on trashy arcade food and racing games with sticky wheels and gear shifts that didn't work half the time they were there.
“I have homework,” Oscar looks at him like he had grown two heads, “Next race! Promise I’ll stay,”
“I’ll push you off the track if you don’t!” Little Oscar pouts, Logan waves to him as he skips off to his mom,
“I said I promised!!” Oscar sticks his tongue out at Logan’s disappearing form.
*****
2.
“I want you to stay,” They’re older now, 19 and 20, his words now have completely different meanings, “Till I’m dead and buried” Logan laughs and shakes his head, “why not?”
“We all know I won’t make it without you,” he looks up from his phone and finally looks at his friend, Prema red jacket zipped all the way up to his chin, “bold of you to assume I’d make it to your funeral” he shrugged,
“Then who’s gonna carry my casket?” Logan’s eyebrow quirk up, he was silent for a beat then he smiled.
“Ok, fine. I’ll lower you into the ground when we’re 90 and old then my heart will probably give out. How’s that?” Oscar laughs, bumping their shoulders together,
“If you die first, I promise I’ll wait a few days before dying too” Fred who was sitting across from them was staring at them curiously,
“You two have a weird relationship,” he and Logan looked at each other as they laughed,
“I guess we do,”
*****
3.
“I want you to stay,” their hands intertwined, their words soft and quiet. “Please,”
“But Osc, Indycar will give me lots more opportunities, I’ll actually be racing.”
“Just one year please, stay.” Logan traces a heart then a star across Oscar’s bare shoulder,
“And what? Wish for George or Kimi to get injured or sick so I can have a chance to drive once or twice? I don’t know.” Oscar lifts his head off of Logan’s chest, it’s true what he said, Indycar will give him more opportunities than being a reserve driver even if it is for Mercedes. Everyone seemed to have left Mercedes even though they have been on an upward climb now tied with Mclaren for 3rd in the constructors with a few races left in the season. Lewis is leaving for Ferrari, their two reserve drivers signed a contract elsewhere, Mick signed with Alpine and Fred left to drive with Prema in indycar for 2025. Logan was their last choice, even if it was left unsaid, it was known.
“Think about it anyway?” Oscar stares at him and Logan sighs pushing his head back down towards his chest,
“Don’t look at me like that you know I can’t say no to those koala eyes of yours,” Oscar tries to lift his head again hoping batting his eyelashes at his boyfriend a few more times might convince Logan to stay with him in F1 for another year. Even if he’s not racing he’ll still be there every race weekend. “Stay down you, I promise I’ll think about it,” his large hand kept Oscar's head on his chest, before pressing a quick kiss to the top of his head.
*****
4.
“Do you think you’ll love me forever?” Oscar asks, the couch in his driver’s room is too small for two people so Logan’s sitting on the message table in the other corner of the room. Oscar has his eyes closed but he can hear the rustling of Logan’s race suit and his breathing.
“I don’t know,” he should be offended but he can tell from Logan’s tone that he is genuine with his answer even if Oscar’s not looking at him. “Maybe. I'd like to think so.”
“I don’t know either, all I know is I want you to stay, always, until you don’t love me anymore or until I die” He sighs, letting himself sink a little deeper into the couch, his P1 trophy resting gently against his thigh, his first grand prix win.
“I’ll stay, always. Remember when we promised to stay and carry each other's casket?” Oscar laughs echoing in his driver’s room, “I don't think I could love you more than I do right now,”
“Hmmm, that’s sounds good to me,” Oscar smiles even though he knows Logan probably has his eyes closed as well, “I’ll love you til the day that I die, Logan” he hears Logan get off the table after a ping from his phone, he kisses Oscar’s soft and warm against his forehead,
“I have to go, they want me back for debriefing– not really sure why they want the reserve there though,” he chuckles quietly to himself, Oscar peaks his eyes open and watches Logan smile at him– his cheeks starts to burn, wish Logan could see the way he looks at Oscar, all that pride and love. “I’m proud of you Osc, always. Congratulations!”
*****
5.
“Do you want me to stay?” Logan asks from his spot on the couch, Oscar who’s perched on his lap tries to turn his head to look at him.
“I want you to stay,” Logan keeps a tight grip around his waist so Oscar can’t see his expression, although they’ve known each other long enough for him to guess. “Just move in, or at least stay ‘till the season ends”
Mercedes had asked Logan to finish the rest of the season, replacing Kimi who couldn’t handle the pressure and had not been performing like everyone expected— he knows Logan feels bad for the kid, after all the exact same thing had happened to him at Williams. After the few weeks off they’re getting between Silverstone and Spa is when Kimi will switch to a development role and Logan will take over his seat for the remaining 11 races.
Oscar couldn’t help the little excitement bubbling in his gut, he’ll get to race with Logan again, actually racing with him— the W16 had proven a competitive car this year, putting George on podium after podium and Kimi a few of his own. Now it’s Logan’s turn, he looks good in any color although he thinks he’ll look amazing in Mercedes’ black, and he’ll look even better on the podium next to Oscar.
“Would I sound like a bad person if I say that I’m excited to actually be racing again?” Oscar laughs,
“Pot meet kettle, cause I was thinking the exact same thing”
*****
+1
“I want you to stay,” it’s usually Oscar’s line, but this time it comes from Logan. “Stay with me, be happy with me, forever!” He’s drenched in champagne from his very first F1 podium, his hair sticking in a few different directions, his face covered in tears. Oh how much he had sacrificed to get to this moment, the hate he’s got, the blood sweat and tears he gave to a team that didn’t deserve him, how much he gave for people who were never going to give back. Now it’s his turn, it’s finally Logan’s turn to be happy, surrounded by people who finally sees his worth, by a team that promised to have his back and they’re proving true to their words by offering him a multi year contract.
Kimi will move down to Williams, taking Bottas’ seat. Logan will stay at Mercedes for a few more years, he’ll race with Oscar for a few more years.
“Always,” he watches Logan closely, his trophy clutch close to his chest and Oscar doubts he’ll let go anytime soon. Toto might have to pry the thing from his hand. “I love you, Logan”
“Oh?” Logan stares back, eye wides, Oscar cocks his head to the side,
“of course I love you, don't act so surprised” he sticks his tongue out, “and of course I’m staying, I’ll always be here, for you, with you. Forever”
“Thanks Osc, I love you too” he finally peels himself off the couch, a little wet from the champagne from his race suit, his hand still wrapped tightly around his P2 trophy. “I need a shower,”
“Are you gonna take that into the bathroom with you?” Oscar points to the trophy,
“Oh.” He finally looks down to his hand like he didn’t even realize that he had been holding it the whole time, “I’ll take my other prize then,”
“No you prev!! I gotta get back to McLaren,” he pretends to put up a fight but gives in after Logan grins at him.