Work Text:
The inside of the building feels warm of human affection.
You're holding the cake you and your friends of the tifosi made for him, wishing him all success and many more victories, even if he doesn't win for your team anymore. You put it on the table towards him while he's sitting there with eyes full of gratitude and glee with a soft layer of bittersweetness underlied.
Because that's the person he is. Since you met him in 2021, he's been nothing but professional, or even more, devotional to you and your team.
He has been always there snce he came, in hpes of clutching the constructors and driver championships for him (for you.).
But then, everything must come to an end, no matter how unjust it sounds.
You shake his hand and smile at him, with eyes wet of tears.
He senses your emotions, and he pulls you closer cause taht's what he is- a touch-guy at heart, he must feel you to hold you.
So he gets up and pulls you into a hug. You feel the sensible, strong yet soft hold of his armas on your back. You can feel his cologne, slowly attaching itself to the fabric of your clothing as you hugs him back. He smells of wood, the mediterranean sea and goodbyes,
He says "oh don't worry i'm not gonna disappear, hopefully", and the whole room brekas out in laughter because he's so good at it. He's just has this way of smoothing out situations with his humour you can almost forget the situation you're in right now. Almost.
So you let go of the hug and just says "thank you." with a very soft, small shy voice.
He looks at you warmly, still holding your shoulder, and says: "its okay.".
and you know it's indeed okay, cause you dont have to say the words for him to know.
Even though you want to, so so badly.
The farewell goes on.