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Lando was hearing his heart beat in his ears – using superglue to stick down the school bullies to their chairs seemed so badass at first, but now that he was actively trying to look for a hideout to escape the angry boys, he was seeing it wasn’t his and Oscar’s smartest ideas.
He suddenly found himself in a no end corridor, the footsteps and voices of the enraged lads on his toes. The brit started to mentally pray to all the saints possible until, until he heard a faint psttttt on his right. Looking at the origin of the sound he found his best friend, the one and only Oscar Piastri, peeking through the door of what seemed like a random storage room in the corridor.
With no time to lose, Lando plunged himself into the room and quickly closed the door behind him, trying – unsuccessfully – to not make any noise. Once inside the small room, the only thing that could be heard was his and Oscar’s heavy breathing. Nearly immediately, they both heard the voices of those who they were running away from start to say:
Ugh, those bastards are gonna know what it means to mess with us.
Mate I literally have a hole in my trousers because of them, I hate them with all my guts.
In the midst of the moment, Lando let out a soft squeak because imagining Rob with a hole in his trousers was oh so very funny to him.
Oscar’s eyes grew wide, but they were soft, the kind of look he always gave the brit whenever he thought he was hilarious but also extremely inconvenient, just like today. With that he also signalled Lando to shut it, bringing his index finger to his lips.
The other boy nodded, all the whilst the other guys started to suddenly shush each other because, indeed, they had heard the other boy’s sound.
Mate, what. what if they’re in here...?
The boys inside the room felt as if their soul was about to leave their bodies, they were ready to get beaten the shit out of it, until.
BOYSSSS, WHAT ARE YOU DOING OUT HERE WONDERING ABOUT THE CORRIDORS?
Ah, reliable Mrs Bowers, always in the nick of time!
N-nothing Mrs Bowers! Came a sheepish unison reply.
Nonetheless the bullies turned towards the door of the storage room and whispered
This isn’t the end of it, you’ll hear from us again!
It wasn’t until a good five minutes had gone by when Oscar and Lando let out a whoosh of a breath that they were holding.
“That was one of the tensest moments I’ve ever experienced, for the love of God”
“I thought we were gonna get beaten up for real.”
“Yeah me too, but you know what, it would’ve been worth it because someone needs to stand up to these little shits” the aussie said, with a stern look.
“I agree! Even if it means we have to constantly hide, I wouldn’t stop looking out for others, just like you did for me when they started bullying me. I will never forget that, Osc!”
It’s true. Rob and Canaan had started to pick on Lando since the start of high school because of his dyslexia. The brit did have times in which he was doing okay with it, but other periods of time he really had a tough time with it. Obviously, being bullies at heart, the other boys quickly picked this up and decided to make Lando’s life less enjoyable by constantly making fun of his inability to figure out words or continuing a phrase whilst reading out loud in class. Oscar also didn’t waste any time in acting like the brit’s knight in shining armour and going out and over to defend his best friend – even if that meant having lunch in the loo’s or staying in the library to avoid any type of contact with those gremlins.
“I will always be there for you, Lando” the aussie smiled, small crinkles forming in the corners of his eyes.
Lando had known Oscar since they were 4, and they had been inseparable ever since. It was friendship at first sight. Gosh, if Lando wasn’t mistaken, he didn’t even recall them ever actually fighting. Only maybe about that toy car they both wanted to use on their first ever encounter.
“Me too, Osc” the brit beamed at him, cheeks slightly tinged due to the sudden sentimentalism they were sharing.
That was them, though. They could be taking friendly digs at each other, teasing the hell out of one another, but they were also capable of constantly showing the other how much their friendship meant. Because they were so grateful of having one another, and they weren’t scared to show it between them and to the world.
**
There was a dim light that was filtering the room due to the rectangular visor that adorned the copper coloured door. It was very poor lighting, but it was enough for Lando to observe the way his friend’s hair was swooping into every direction possible. Funny thing, Oscar’s hair; seemed as if it had a life of his own.
“I wish I could’ve seen Rob’s face when he realised his trousers had a friking hole in them!!”
“Yeah I could see that! Your mouse squeak nearly got us caught you dumbass!”
Oscar’s hands surged forward and started tickling Lando’s sides.
“N-no, Osc, please, n-not my s-sides!” he said between hiccups.
“Ahh, this is what you get for nearly provoking our death!!”
Lando’s legs started to weaken because of the aussie’s tickle attack and he fell – bum first – onto the floor, leading the other boy to follow, and lazily tumble on top of him.
They were a mess of limbs on the floor, surrounded by cleaning and other school supplies.
Once they had settled, they both burst out laughing.
That was also such a them thing to do. If their friendship had to be described in one word, it would definitely be laughter.
The first time Lando had had a laughing fit in front of Oscar was when they had their first sleepover together, and, because Oscar had wanted to make it extra special, he had asked his mum to buy them fizzy drinks, as a treat for Lando, because he knew how much the brit loved them. Problem was that the aussie wasn’t used to having these kind of drinks and he had an enormous fit of burps that caused Lando to nearly pee himself, because Oscar’s face was a pure show, the poor boy didn’t know where all those gasses came from!
On the other hand, the first time Oscar had a laugh fit in front of Lando was when he tried to rizz a girl up in fifth grade – guy was pulling off the interesting-looking dude, even leaning against the wall and looking sooo nonchalant. The girl just looked at him up and down, turned on her heels, and left. Lando was left dumbfounded wondering what had happened, until Oscar realised that he had a piece of wet toilet paper stuck to his shoe. The aussie doubled up and tears rolled down his cheeks.
Since those moments onwards, they treated everything as a joke, and it made their relationship even more enjoyable. The banter, the teasing, the chemistry, it was so amazing.
The brit looked up to his friend, who had a piece of his fringe slightly brushing his eye.
“Osc, your fringe…”
Lando’s hand shot towards the other boy’s strand of hair and he pushed it, so it rested behind his best friend’s ear. He put his hand down, to his side, mirroring his other one, palm flat on the cold floor of the room. Oscar was looking down at him, with his arms bracketing the brit’s. Lando felt how Oscar’s pinkies spread out to touch his, and he immediately linked their little fingers together.
They stayed like that for a while, in silence, simply enjoying each other’s company and proximity.
After a while, Oscar got up from his knees and offered Lando a hand, the latter taking it and shooting upwards to also stand up.
Facing each other, the brit was surprised by the sudden engulfment of the aussie. Oscar had pulled him into a hug.
Out of the pair, Lando was the one who was big on physical contact. Oscar was more the one to show how he felt with actions. Still, the first of the two always got the other to hug him back and agree to all his affections. But this – Oscar initiating a hug – was certainly something that didn’t happen often.
So Lando decided to make the most of it and hid his head in the crook of Oscar’s neck, snaking his hands around the other boy’s waist, Oscar also mirroring his movement.
“Lando…I love you so much, I really hope you know that” the aussie whispered, barely audible.
The brit’s insides started doing backflips and somersaults.
“I do. And I love you so, so much, Oscar” the other answered, completely honest.
The words hung heavy in the air, and it was compensated with a big squeeze from Oscar, tightening their hug, pressing them even more together, if that was possible.
After a bit they broke their embrace, Lando mourning the loss of contact, Oscar directed his arms towards the other’s face and held it, lightly caressing.
Lando thought he was in a dream. Who, when, where and why was Oscar Piastri acting so strangely? He was. Being. Touchy-feely. With. Him. He was obviously NOT complaining about it, but, it was so foreign – but it felt so right.
The aussie cleared his throat.
“Okay, so. You know how we agreed on sharing our thoughts, right?”
“Yeah?”
“I have something to tell you but I’m scared about how you’re going to react about it”
Lando’s eyebrows screwed up, knitting themselves together.
“I really like you, Lando” Oscar sighed, and dropped his hands to his sides.
Lando nearly squealed when the cold air hit his face, sad about Oscar not keeping his hands on him.
“Um? Me too? You’re like my best friend you muppet!”
“No, Lando. Um, not like that” he sighed and ran a hand through his hair.
The brit, once again, screwed his brows in sign of confusion.
“Then like what?”
“Like. As in. Like I like you as in. I love the way you always cross your fingers before they give out exam results; I love the way you always throw away the liquid in your yogurt because you absolutely despise it; I love the way you tie your left trainer on first, and then your right before every football game, because you think that if you do it the other way around, it’s gonna affect the team’s result; I also love how I always call you to ask if you’re ready and you lie to me and say you only need five more minutes and you’re not even dressed; and I even love the way you snore-“
“I do not!!”
“You do! Now let me finish! But, if I had to choose the thing I love most about you, is the way you’re always making it your mission to make sure people are comfortable around you, the way you’re so altruistic in all your relationships, how you put others in front of yourself (we need to work on that, though), but you’re just the best person I’ve ever met, Lando Norris. And I apologise if this is too much, but I’ve been holding onto this feeling for ages, and I felt like I was lying to you the more I kept it a secret. So, yeah…”
Silence.
More silence.
But then.
“Oscar Jack Piastri, have you just admitted you have like the biggest crush on me? Am I hearing this right?”
The other boy was too stunned to speak.
“So I’ve basically said the most romantic shit ever and the only thing that’s stuck to your little ass, is that I have a big fat crush on you?”
“Yes”
“Oh fuck off, Lando Norris!”
The brit started having a big laughing fit in front of the man that had poured out his heart to him.
Oscar was full on scowling at him at this point.
“m sorry Osc, I really am. I’m just so fucking nervous because the guy I’ve liked for ages likes me back, but he also just appears to be my best friend so that was definitely a train of thought and feelings I did NOT want to feed and I thought I had to bring this secret with me to the grave but now that you’ve also basically said that you feel the same way then mmpf-“
Lando Norris didn’t have the opportunity to finish the sentence because a pair of hands plunged towards him and he suddenly found himself kissing his best friend. His collegue? His lover? Oh wait, stop it right there, maybe that’s too much. How about, boyfriend?
In the middle of the sea of thoughts that was the brit’s head in that instant, he was grounded by the soft feeling of Oscar’s lips on his own. The way they shyly moved in synch, little sighs escaping the aussie’s mouth. Lando smiled a big smile, converting the delicate kiss in a mess of clashing teeth, a slight bit of tongue and roughness. His smile made Oscar smile, which made it a tad bit difficult to kiss, but they got there.
After that it was all softness and small pecks and chaste kisses and fuzzy belly feelings.
Lando thought that if it were the case, he might even cough up sugar from all the sweetness of the situation, but oh boy he wouldn’t change a thing about it.
“So…can you say all that again so I can record it and remind myself on how the hottest guy at high school is head over heels for me?” Lando started, fluttering his eyelashes at Oscar.
“Oh you wish! Baby, that was a one-time thing, I am not saying that again”
“Oh we’re doing pet names, are we now?” the brit bit his lower lip.
Oscar’s face turned beetroot red. Lando was loving the sight.
“Okay baby, good thing I have a great memory and will have your words engraved in my mind til’ the rest of my days” he teased.
The aussie sighed, but the cheesiest smile was hanging on his lips.
“Guess having a bratty boyfriend is part of my job now” Oscar rolled his eyes.
Lando was beaming at the use of the word.
“Guess having a nerdy boyfriend is part of my job now” he mirrored his significant other.
And this was also so very them. Making a (potentially) stressful situation into something fun, wholesome, flirty and always with the constant banter. And I think that sums up very well Lando Norris’ and Oscar Piastri’s relationship.