Chapter Text
November 27th, 2016. Two hours after the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
Lewis's POV:
Nico had stolen the championship, I couldn't believe it... but yet I could. He had spent the past three years as Mercedes's second driver and watching me win title after title. As much as I hated him for it, I couldn't help but be happy for my teammate, so happy that I spent the last hour in my trailer practicing my apology speech. To be completely honest, I missed my lover... but I missed my best friend even more.
Me and Seb walk into the conference room together since Nico's already there. I don't dare make eye contact with the German as he watches me take the seat next to him. The three of us sit in silence as the reporters file into the room, I manage to steal a glance at Nico, tears glimmer in his eyes and I can't tell if there new or not. The past two years have been rough on the two of us, we went from whatever you would consider lovers to strangers who were on the same team fighting for a title.
The conference started and almost immediately were hit with a barrage of questions.
"Lewis," David Coulthard begins. "congratulations on the strong end to your season. Fairly straightforward grand prix for you really until the final laps when obviously... you were saying in the press conference earlier in the weekend that it was difficult to back the pack up but tell us your thinking in the final part of the grand prix?"
I sit up and prepare to answer. "Yeah, obviously happy with the win, it was relatively easy to get the win in the end. Great job by the team throughout the weekend and through the year so a big thank you to everyone there. I knew being in the lead I knew I was losing the world championship, I was hoping that Sebastian..." I look at Seb who is in his own world. "I heard the pace he was on and I knew I could do that pace exactly, so I was hoping that he would close up, but I guess he said his tyres were going off towards the end and Nico drove well to not make mistakes."
I look over at Nico who forces a smile as if the last 18 years of not only knowing but loving each other didn't matter.
"How do you feel then about the season, looking back?" David asks as if sensing the tension and seeing the tears Nico was holding back, tears I still didn't understand.
I tear my eyes from Nico and look back to answer. "Good. I did everything that I could, particularly towards the end and obviously Nico had a very, very clean year without any real issues to be honest and that's why we sit in this position right now. But he did a fantastic job, so big congratulations to him, it's a great feeling to win the world championship and I look forward to fighting with him next year."
In that very moment, Nico looked down to hide the tears that were threatening to fall. I wanted to ask him if he was okay but I realized we were far past friends that cared for each other.
"Thank you. Coming to you Nico, many congratulations. Obviously, a critical point in the race for you was the overtake on Max Verstappen. You were told by your engineer it was critical to pass him and it was very, very close. A heart-in-the-mouth moment for you?"
Nico's head snaps up as he tries to compose himself and still not make eye contact with me. "For sure. The feelings out there in that battle with Max... unreal, really unreal. I hope I don't experience that again any time soon. And the same again at the end, you know: pressure on from behind, Lewis driving slow at the front. It was a tough one."
I tasted blood on my tongue and felt tears forming. I wanted everything to be resolved between us, I wanted to spend a night under the stars like we did in Greece when we were teenagers. Nico was out for blood, still not satisfied with taking the championship from me.
"You've had your emotions and your whole psychology so locked down, you've talked about going one race at a time. Now it's all over, what was it like? Really, on the inside, mentally?" David asks, cutting a knife through my heart.
Nico's tears are quite clearly there now, anyone with a pair of eyes could see them. "It's crazy. The thing is it was so intense – the race – it's still going to take some time I think to settle it and come out because it was really intense out there and so tough in the end. Those last couple of laps with those two guys behind. If I dropped being them it's over so not enjoyable..."
There's a deafening silence as I look at Nico and he looks at me.
"Very well done. Sebastian, Ferrari have been criticized a number of times on the strategy front but today they absolutely aced it. Brilliant tactic – long second stint, attacking on the supersofts, tell us your feelings and particularly your decision-making process in the last couple of laps?" We both pry our eyes to Seb as the questions are now directed at him.
Sebastian looks stunned as his name is mentioned. "Well, in the last couple of laps it was clear. It was clear we would be able to make big progress but before it was difficult. Obviously with Max coming back, staying out so long, coming back to fight for the last podium spot, or the same positions as the group of Kimi, Daniel, myself, made it tricky. Then Max pulled in very early. That was one way to do it and the other way was to go long. When I was behind the two cars of Kimi and Daniel I was trying to save my tyres and trying to stay in reach but still having enough tyres to make it longer and once they pulled in it was clear that we would go long. Then I think those laps were really critical. Fortunately I had some tyres left and I could really make that count with consistent laps. I didn't lose too much versus the group that had pitted already. Once I came out the question was 'how long are these cars going to last' and it proved to be just enough. Daniel was fairly straightforward to pass, but then when I arrived behind Max, the problem is that you have car after car after car and you begin to slide, so my tyres got worse. Then I was behind Nico and I was faster, but I think also due to the fact that Lewis was slowing down. I tried everything but they were very, very quick down the straights. I think with the Red Bulls it was a little bit easier. I think also, Max didn't have DRS, whereas at the end I think Nico had DRS. The second straight was the spot I was having a look, but Nico defended well and closed the inside so I couldn't really go anywhere. I couldn't try something really stupid because Lewis was just ahead, so if I really dived down the inside or down the outside then I have a risk of hitting Lewis at that point. It as critical and I also saw Max coming back in the mirrors but for sure the last laps were intense, I was thinking also at some point to win the race as well, because I think the chance was there, but both of them did their job well at the end. Nevertheless, as you said, happy with the podium."
The other German having a lot to say was normal at this point, so I wasn't surprised when he didn't stop talking.
The press conference was then adjourned and the reporters began to leave, eventually leaving me, Seb and Nico alone to gather our things.
"I meant what I said..." The words come out of my mouth faster then I can catch them. "You did do amazing, after three years you-"
Nico cuts me off. "I don't need your pity. You hate me, I know that now... just don't take this from me by pretending to be nice and acting like the good guy"
His words have my tongue twisted. "Nico I-" He walks out of the conference room before I'm able to explain. "I'm sorry..."
Seb claps my shoulder. "He'll come around, just explain it to him..."
I shake my head and swallow, my eyes are just as heavy as my heart.
Nico's POV:
I practically sprinted back to my trailer from the conference, my tears were now streaming down my face as I lock myself in the trailer. I had heard Lewis's words, the quiet plead of "I'm sorry". The worst wasn't even that I was crying over a distant lover who was responsible for the distance, the worst part was that I believed that he was sorry.
A Minute or two there's a knock at the door, I figure it's my wife Vivian so I wipe the tears and get up, I walk over to the door and open it.
"Please let me in..." The plead of a voice I knew all too well broke me. He was the only person I could still recognized in death, his voice was embedded into my head. Surprising myself, I move to the side for him to come in.
Authors Note:
Hi!!!! This is my first fanfic and one I've wanted to write for awhile. I am fully a brocedes shipped but can never find good fanfics unless their one shots so I decided to write one myself.
If your following along please please please know I will try to publish chapters as often as possible but I do swimming on top of school so I don't have much time to myself. If you have any suggestions for scenes I should include comment them!
Anyways love you al XOXOX<3