Chapter Text
For years Oscar had been incredibly good at hiding his classification as a little, keeping perfect control and resisting dropping into headspace in front of others. Over the last year however, he had found that now he had Lando as a full time caretaker, although feeling the overwhelming urge to drop into headspace at inopportune times was less common, when he did feel it, it was much harder to resist than it had been.
This was why little Issue was currently huddled up in the paddock of the Belgian Grand Prix, between the Haas and Williams motorhomes, shivering as the rain fell ever harder and day turned to dusk.
In the two weeks since the Hungary GP, he hadn't been…ignoring his daddy exactly. Just, not answering his texts, or his calls, or answering the door the one time he came knocking. Isolating himself in his own Monaco flat which he rarely spent time in. They had come face to face once at the MTC and that was it
They had talked about Hungary as coworkers, as friends, and seemingly things were just fine between them, but it had scared Ossie. Was there relationship as caretaker and little even sustainable if they were fighting it out on track? He wasn't sure he wanted to know. So he had taken the cowards approach, ignoring Lando, resisting dropping, until he had been walking through the paddock and his walls to his headspace had come crashing down, and he had taken refuge in this alley, alone, scared, and not knowing what to do. He wanted his daddy, so badly, but after this week, did his daddy even want him anymore?
Ossie buried his head in his knees, feeling salty tears mix in with the rain pouring down his face. He felt like he couldn't breathe, breaths coming faster and shorter, none of them filling his lungs with the oxygen he needed.
His vision started to blur around the edges and just when he thought he was about to pass out completely, a large, warm hand cupped the back of his neck
“Hey Ossie, you’re ok bud, can you try and breathe with me?”
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To say Lando was concerned was an understatement. His caretaker instincts were screaming at him, something was wrong with HIS little, but as he checked Oscar’s drivers room for the fourth time, he couldn't find Ossie anywhere.
He looked out the window at the pouring rain. He could only hope Ossie was somewhere safe and warm. He had tried to give Oscar his space all week, the other clearly not wanting him around, and Lando knew he hadn’t dropped all week. He didn’t really understand, he thought they were ok after Hungary, and maybe as teammates they were, but h e worried that Oscar thought he didn't want him anymore after that, and he had sworn to himself that he would let Oscar have his space between the races, but that this weekend he would make sure they talked and the other was reassured that nothing could override Lando’s caretaker instincts for Ossie. They were bonded now, and it would take something pretty horrible to break that bond, and a few on track incidents really wouldn’t be enough.
But Ossie hadn't dropped all week, and now he was in distress and somewhere in the paddock probably by himself, maybe even out in the rain. Lando winced as a rumble of thunder resounded from above, Ossie hated storms.
Pulling out his phone, he called the first person he could think of that might be able to help.
“Hey Daniel.” He greeted the older Australian, Max’s caretaker, as he picked up.
“Listen, you haven't seen Ossie anywhere have you?I can't find him anywhere, and I just know he's regressed and there's something wrong.” Lando choked out, feeling himself tear up as the stress kept building.
“I haven't seen him, but let me grab my raincoat and I'll go out and start looking around ok?”
“Thank you.” Lando said, “I'm going to do the same, let me know if you find him, I'll do the same.” He hung up, pocketing his phone, and pulling on his papaya rain coat before heading out into the rain.
It only took about 5 minutes before he felt his phone vibrating in his pocket, breathing a sigh of relief when he saw it was Daniel before picking up.
“Did you find him?
“Between Haas and Williams, come quick, he needs you.”
Lando was sprinting before he even hung up the phone.
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The hand on the back of his neck squeezed in and out slowly, and Ossie worked to control his breathing before finally feeling like he wasn't on the verge of passing out and was able to look up to find Danny Ric squatted in front of him
“Hey bud, you back with me? You’re going to be ok, your daddy is on the way.”
Hearing that his daddy was on the way, Ossie burst into even harsher tears, he wanted his daddy so badly, and if he was coming, maybe his daddy still wanted him too. Daniel looked startled at the sudden sobbing, rubbing his hand up and down Ossie’s back,
“Oh buddy, it's ok, we’ll get you inside and warm in a few minutes ok?” Suddenly, hurried footsteps were audible as Lando came sprinting around the corner, all but shoving Daniel out the way as he pulled Ossie into his arms.
Ossie felt his daddy nuzzle his face into his wet hair, and couldn’t help but push himself into the hug even more.
“Oh baby.” His daddy sighed, before pulling him to his unsteady legs, putting an arm around him to keep him upright.
“Come on, let's back to the hotel and get you dried off.”
Later, after a warm bath, and snuggly bundled in warm pajamas under the covers, being fed a warm bottle of milk in his daddy's arms, Ossie realized that maybe he had been overly paranoid. As the warmth began to put him to sleep he felt his daddy kiss his forehead.
“You’re my Ossie, and no matter what happens on track I'll always be here for you.” Ossie turned his face to snuggle deeper into his daddy's chest, drifting off into the first peaceful sleep he had had all week.