Work Text:
Seb has always had admirers. Those that want him for what they perceive him to be. Lando, Chris, Michael, hell even Charles had had a crush on him at some point, and Kimi can understand it. He really can. Sebastian is one of those that can just draw anyone to him like a moth to a flame. But there is something, they don't know. Something that Sebastian would never reveal to those who didn't truly know him.
The public always saw him as their darling. The beautiful and talented Omega they had torn stereotypes apart and reshaped them in his wake. To a certain extent that's who he was. But there was also another side. A secret side Kimi knows he is lucky enough to know Seb as he actually is. The omega that needed reassuring almost continuously, especially now they had a child of their own. Ben seemed to bring out both the best and worst in Sebastian at times.
He was an incredible father, that had never been in any doubt, but it was like his son’s cheekiness had brought out Seb’s own insecurity and more than not Kimi had needed to find the time to help his mate out of the darkness. Luckily, they had a whole group of babysitters. Even if only one or two in the current paddock knew they had had a child at all, let alone that their son was nearly one.
It made life easier in a way that they had those they could call on at a moment’s notice and if they could help they would. It meant that Kimi could be there for Seb when he truly needed him, without the worry that he couldn’t do what Seb needed without an audience from their son.
It wasn’t often Pierre got to be babysitter. Mainly due to the fact he was often rarely around, racing rarely meant an extended period of family time after all, but also when he was around Seb and Kimi had always had their own system that meant he wasn’t usually needed.
It wasn’t that he didn’t like kids. Secretly, although he had never outwordly declared it, he loved them and spending time with all his nephews and nieces was just a lot of fun. He got the chance to be the favourite uncle who showed how them to prank their parents but also how help support them, and it was great. It was fun to have the chance to spend more time with them. That love had just passed on to kids in general and Ben was no exception. He was the spitting image of Kimi but with Seb’s soulful eyes and curly locks and seemed to instinctively share the same love as his father’s.
He could be screaming one minute but put a race on TV, and his eyes would light up and he would become fixated. His gaze barely leaving the cars, following their movements directly, even ignoring things like feeding times which should be almost impossible at such a young age.
And Pierre knew, once Ben was older, if he still was fascinated, and with his parent’s permission, he would take him karting. Racing ran through Vettel and Raikkonen veins after all.
They weren’t often anywhere near the F1 life of old now, and it was unusual that they had entrusted Ben’s care to him. But they knew he loved kids and he was determined to begin to show him the world his parent’s had come from. And so, now that the chaos of the Monaco weekend paddock was starting to die down a little, this would be the perfect opportunity to show him first hand, the world they had all come to love.
Shifting Ben higher up onto his hip, he moved down the stairs, gripping the handrail. Reaching the bottom, and heading onwards, it only took precisely 5.4 seconds before the first squeal was heard and Daniel appeared in front of him.
The older omega’s eyes were wide, brown curls still slightly damp from what he assumed was a recent shower.
“Mate, where have you been hiding him! Hiiiiiii!” The Aussie chirped, his fingers brushing against Ben’s cheeks, grinning as the baby boy gripped a finger with his own, sucking it into mouth like a pacifer. His large blue eyes blinking up at him.
“Hope you weren’t planning on going anywhere Dan,” Pierre laughed, “You’ll be there all day now.”
“Not a problem,” Dan winked, brown eyes sparkling as he began to coo at the baby, tickling him lightly with his other hand. Ben kicking out and squealing in happiness as he released Dan’s finger from his mouth.
“Who’s a clever boy hey. Who’s the cutest.”
“Do you want him to get a big ego?”
“Nah, he’s fine,” Dan grinned up at he, “He still has a long way to go to match your’s.”
“Hey!!”
“Maxy! Lando! Charles! Get over here!” Dan suddenly shouting, waving like a lunatic across the paddock, gesturing them over as the little one blinked and continued to suck his thumb.
As more squeals echoed across the paddock and Ben was surrounded by the majority of omega drivers, from afar Kimi and Seb watched on and knew that he would be ok. Their boy was in safe hands for now.
“See,” Seb said with a soft smile, “I told you not to worry. He’ll be absolutely fine.”
“Funnily enough I seem to recall it was you worrying and not me.”
“I never worry.”
“ You delude yourself.”
“I don’t.”
“Really?” Kimi fixed his husband with a look.
“Positive.”
“I am not convinced.”
“You never are.”
“That’s because of your habits.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Your habit of stressing yourself out and worrying about him constantly.”
“He’s my son, what do you expect me to do? Not worry?”
“Of course not. I just want you to remember to look after yourself as well.”
“I do!” Seb protested, flushing as his alpha fixed him with a firm but all knowing gaze.
“I didn’t say your habits were bad Seb. They just make you who you are.”
“What irritating?”
“No.”
“Loud. Annoying. Confusing…. The list could on and on here.”
“You.”
“What?” Seb frowned completely confused, “What are you talking about?”
“I told you. You.”
“Huh?”
“You being you,” Kimi’s lips quirked upwards at the expression on his mates face.
“I still don't get what you mean.”
“The meaning is simple kulta. Your best habit, is the habit of being you. Only you.”
Sebastian flushed again, but this time he stepped forward and let the alpha hold him in his arms. Time together was short but it was moments like this when he remembered why he had chosen to call his alpha his mate. Even in doubt he always loved, and even in darkness, he knew how to make him shine once more.
“Do you know what yours is?”
“What? Habits?” Kimi questioned.
“Yes.”
“Tell all then kulta.”
“You being you. For it’s you that makes the best version of me.”
And as Kimi pulled him close and kissed him, Seb knew he was loved, and would always be loved forevermore.