Work Text:
One-Shot: Hyperactive and Clingy Vampire—That’s My Boyfriend
The car glided down the road as the city began to glow with its nighttime lights. Exhausted after another race, Oscar leaned his head back against the seat and let out a heavy sigh. His mind was still buzzing with adrenaline, but his body only wanted a bed.
Lando, however, seemed to have received a sudden burst of energy.
— Man, I’m starving. Do you think we have chocolate at home? — Lando asked, fidgeting with his hoodie as if he couldn’t sit still.
Oscar blinked slowly, too drained to answer right away. The problem was, just a few hours ago, Lando had been the complete opposite—sleeping between training breaks, barely able to keep his eyes open before the race. Now, he was squirming in his seat, tapping his feet, and messing with the radio buttons like he had been plugged into an electrical outlet.
Before Oscar could question this sudden shift, Lando leaned toward him out of nowhere, wrapping his arms tightly around his waist in a firm hug.
— Lando, what are you doing? — Oscar mumbled, catching the scent of shampoo and something faintly sweet on his friend’s hoodie.
Lando didn’t respond right away. He simply buried his face in the curve of Oscar’s neck and inhaled deeply, exhaling a contented sigh.
— You smell… cozy — he murmured, smiling against the Australian’s skin.
Oscar closed his eyes, trying to summon patience. It was always like this. Lando’s weird habit of sniffing his neck at random moments. But Oscar was too tired to react.
— You really need to stop doing that — he said, his voice dragging with exhaustion.
— But you smell nice! Kind of woody… and kind of… warm. Like freshly baked cookies.
Oscar groaned in frustration.
— You’re comparing me to food again.
— But you smell like good food — Lando chuckled, still clinging to him like a lazy koala.
Oscar allowed himself to relax for a second. After all, this was just Lando being Lando… right?
Right.
Only, something inside him was beginning to suspect that the answer to this behavior was far stranger than he wanted to admit.
The car smoothly rolled up to the hotel entrance, and Oscar let out a relieved sigh. Fatigue weighed on his shoulders like a soaked blanket, and all he wanted was a quick shower and a bed.
Beside him, Lando was still in his hyperactive mode, drumming his fingers against the car dashboard in an upbeat rhythm, as if he had a song playing in his head. Oscar couldn’t understand how he could be a zombie during the day and a ball of energy as soon as the sun went down.
— Hurry up, let’s go! — Lando grabbed Oscar’s arm as soon as they got out of the car, practically bouncing toward the hotel entrance.
— You could at least pretend to be a little tired, you know? — Oscar grumbled, dragging his feet as he pulled his suitcase.
— But I rested all day! — Lando shot back with a mischievous grin.
Oscar rolled his eyes but didn’t reply. The truth was, as weird as it was, Lando really did seem to come alive at night.
Check-in was quick, and soon, they were inside the room they would share until their flight the next day. The space was cozy, with two twin beds, a balcony overlooking the glowing city, and a small side table.
Oscar dropped his suitcase on the floor and went straight to the bed, burying his face in the pillow without even bothering to change clothes.
— Don’t sleep yet! — Lando protested, dumping his stuff and jumping onto the bed beside him, then rolling over to get closer.
— Lando… — Oscar started, but he didn’t get the chance to finish.
Lando, once again, invaded his personal space without the slightest warning. He lay beside Oscar and pressed his face into his shoulder, taking another deep breath.
— Ah, you still smell like cookies — he murmured, satisfied.
— Oh my God, Lando! — Oscar pulled away slightly, turning to face him with a tired glare. — You seriously need to stop doing that.
— But it’s comforting! You’re comforting — Lando replied, an amused smile on his lips. — And besides, I need to recharge my energy.
Oscar raised an eyebrow.
— You recharge… by hugging me?
Lando blinked a few times as if he had said too much. Then, he brushed it off with a small laugh and shrugged.
— Yeah, something like that.
Oscar stared at him for a moment, his mind working through the exhaustion. Something didn’t add up.
— Lando, why do you hate green food?
— Because it’s green. Ew — Lando replied automatically.
— And why do you only eat red, orange, and pink things?
— They taste better!
Oscar sighed but kept going.
— Why do you sleep so much during the day but turn into an uncontrollable menace at night?
Lando blinked again, his smile looking a little less confident.
— I just have a… different biological rhythm.
Oscar narrowed his eyes.
— And why do you always feel the need to sniff my neck?
Lando hesitated.
The silence lasted a little longer than it should have.
— You’re not… connecting too many dots, are you? — Lando asked with a nervous smile.
Oscar studied him carefully, feeling a shiver run down his spine.
— Lando… what are you?
The Brit opened his mouth to answer, but instead, he just flashed a playful smirk.
— I’m hungry. Can we order chocolate?
— Lando! — Oscar groaned, frustration clear in his voice.
Lando, however, paid no attention. He kept bouncing around the room, chaotically unpacking their luggage while humming some random tune. The Brit seemed incapable of staying still, as if all the energy he had stored up during the day was now bursting out in pure restlessness.
Oscar, on the other hand, remained buried in the bed, watching his friend with an irritated expression. He wanted to sleep. Needed to sleep. But, as always, Lando was determined to make that an impossible task.
— You’re unbearable — Oscar muttered, covering his face with the pillow.
— I’m charming! — Lando shot back, tossing a random sock into his suitcase before grabbing the hotel phone. He quickly dialed reception and waited a few seconds before speaking to the staff member.
— Hi! So, I’d like to order food. Do you guys have chocolate? Anything with chocolate. Cakes, pies, milkshakes, bars… Oh! And fries! — He looked at Oscar expectantly. — What do you want to eat?
Oscar just stared at him, brow furrowed in exhaustion and annoyance.
— Peace.
Lando laughed.
— That’s not on the menu, Ozzy. Try again.
Oscar sighed, defeated.
— Any sandwich.
Lando repeated the order to reception and quickly hung up, returning to his clumsy dancing around the room. Oscar watched him for a moment, grumbling softly about how ridiculous Lando was. But, much to his own dismay, the next thought came automatically.
— And how adorable he can be… — he murmured, almost unconsciously.
Even if Lando never let him sleep as much as he wanted. Even if he insisted on sneaking into his bed in the middle of the night, all clingy and full of energy, like an overexcited puppy that didn’t understand the concept of personal space.
Oscar sighed again, closing his eyes for a moment.
He wasn’t sure if he wanted to punch Lando or pull him into a hug. Which, deep down, pretty much summed up the effect the Brit had on him.
Before Oscar could react, Lando threw himself on top of him with all the force and energy in the world.
— Lando, for fuck’s—! — Oscar groaned, feeling the full weight of the Brit crushing him.
Lando just laughed, his excited grin plastered on his face as he got comfortable on top of Oscar like he was a human pillow.
— This bed is so comfy, but you’re even better! — Lando murmured, resting his chin on Oscar’s chest.
Oscar closed his eyes, trying to ignore the urge to complain any further. Deep down, he knew Lando wasn’t moving anytime soon. And, to be honest, he didn’t have the energy to push him away either.
Silence settled between them, and Oscar, still exhausted, started to believe that maybe Lando had finally calmed down.
Wishful thinking.
Barely two minutes later, Lando suddenly shifted and sat up, fidgeting like he had just remembered something very important.
— Where’s the TV remote? — he asked, starting to rummage through the pillows and nightstands.
Oscar cracked one eye open, watching the scene with little patience.
— What do you want to watch?
— A Disney movie! — Lando replied enthusiastically, not stopping his frantic search.
Oscar let out a long, heavy sigh. He knew that if he stayed there any longer, he’d end up getting sucked into Lando’s chaotic energy. So, he made the only sensible decision.
He got up from the bed, ignoring the Brit’s curious gaze, and went to his suitcase. He pulled out some comfortable clothes: a pair of light gray sweatpants, a black Quadrant hoodie (which Lando had gifted him, refusing to take no for an answer), and a pair of warm socks.
— Where are you going? — Lando asked, holding up the remote he had finally found.
— Taking a shower, — Oscar replied simply.
Lando pouted dramatically.
— But what if the food arrives and you’re not here to eat with me?
Oscar shot him a deadpan look.
— You literally ate chocolate before we left the paddock.
Lando shrugged.
— And your point is?
Oscar shook his head, grabbing his clothes and heading straight to the bathroom.
He had already accepted that he would never win an argument against Lando Norris.
Oscar walked to the bathroom in silence, holding his clothes against his chest. Behind him, Lando followed like an overexcited puppy, chattering nonstop about what they should watch first.
— I think Tangled would be a great choice. I mean, Pascal is obviously the best character. Or maybe Ratatouille, because, dude, a rat cooking? Genius! But then there’s Frozen, which is a classic—
Before Lando could go on, Oscar stepped into the bathroom and shut the door in his face.
Outside, Lando huffed, but that didn’t stop him from continuing to talk.
He simply sat on the floor, leaning his back against the door, and resumed his conversation as if nothing had happened.
— You’re so rude, Oz. Here I am, sharing my vast cinematic knowledge, and this is how you treat me?
Inside, Oscar rolled his eyes as he tossed his dirty clothes into the hamper and pulled his shirt over his head.
— Mhm, — he mumbled, his voice heavy with exhaustion.
Lando grinned, satisfied. Oscar could pretend he wasn’t listening, but he still responded, even if it was just with monosyllables.
The rustling of clothes being removed echoed through the bathroom, followed by the sound of the shower turning on. Lando tilted his head back, relaxing, and kept talking.
— Have you ever thought about what it’d be like if we had a rat chef? Like, imagine, we could open a secret restaurant in our apartment. Nothing fancy, just a little bistro with a ten-centimeter-tall head chef. I bet Pierre would freak out if he found out!
— Mhm.
— Or maybe we should train a duck to deliver food. Like, a real duck. He could carry a tiny backpack with our orders.
— Mhm.
— I knew you’d agree with me, Oz! You’ve got great ideas.
— Mhm.
Lando chuckled, swinging his legs happily. He liked talking, and he liked it even more when Oscar listened, even if he was clearly exhausted.
A few minutes later, a soft knock at the door interrupted his stream of thoughts.
The food!
Lando jumped up with renewed energy.
— The food’s here! I’ll get it!
And without waiting for a response, he ran to the door, opening it with a huge grin.
Nothing like chocolate and fries to complete the night.
Oscar stepped out of the bathroom feeling slightly more human after the hot shower. His body was still tired, but now he felt refreshed, his mind clearer, and the pleasant scent of soap mixed with the fabric softener of his comfortable clothes.
He rubbed the towel over his damp hair as he walked into the room, and the first thing he saw was Lando.
The Brit was sitting cross-legged on the bed, doing a little happy dance while holding a French fry like a conductor’s baton, as if he were leading an invisible orchestra. The huge grin on his face made it clear just how happy he was, like this was the highlight of his night.
Noticing Oscar, Lando lit up even more.
— Finally! I thought you got sucked down the drain!
Oscar raised an eyebrow, tossing the towel onto his suitcase.
— Maybe I should have been.
— Don’t even joke about that! Who would eat fries with me?
Oscar sighed, but a small smile tugged at the corner of his lips. He walked over, sitting on the bed next to Lando, who was already shoving a sandwich in his direction.
— Here, eat before I steal yours too.
— That wouldn’t surprise me, — Oscar muttered, taking the sandwich and leaning against the headboard.
Lando laughed and picked up the remote.
— Okay, so… Tangled or Ratatouille?
Oscar shrugged.
— Whatever, as long as you shut up while you eat.
Lando popped a fry into his mouth and grinned mischievously.
— No promises.
And with that, he hit play on the movie, as excited as if this were the perfect way to end the night.
⋆ ✦ ⋆
The morning arrived silently, with the soft sunlight filtering through the hotel room curtains. Oscar blinked a few times, slowly waking up. His body was still heavy from the accumulated fatigue of the past few days, but something warm and comfortable kept him from moving completely.
It was then that he noticed.
Lando was clinging to him like a koala.
The Brit’s face was buried in his neck, his breath slow and warm against his skin. One of his legs was draped around Oscar’s waist, as if he were a human pillow and any attempt at escape was out of the question.
Oscar blinked again, trying to process the scene.
He could just push Lando away, but for some reason, he didn’t. Instead, he stayed there for a few minutes, watching his friend’s relaxed face. Without his usual chaotic energy, Lando looked absurdly peaceful, almost... adorable.
But then, something caught his attention.
Little fangs pressed against Lando’s lower lip.
Oscar frowned. For many, this detail would go unnoticed, but not for him. They weren’t exaggerated fangs like the ones seen in horror movies, but sharp enough to seem... unusual.
Like a kitten’s.
But Oscar knew very well that Lando Norris was not a cat.
Although he acted like one most of the time.
The pieces connected in his mind so fast that every trace of sleep vanished in an instant.
A vampire.
A fucking vampire.
Oscar held his breath for a second, just to confirm that he was still alive. Lando’s weight was still the same on top of him. His neck was still intact, with no bites or any suspicious marks.
But still...
— Son of a bitch... — he murmured softly, just to himself, so he wouldn’t wake the curly-haired guy clinging to him.
If it were anyone else, Oscar would be freaking out.
But it was Lando.
And for some reason, that made sense.
Of course he was a vampire. Of course that fit him perfectly.
Oscar closed his eyes for a moment, exhaling slowly.
He definitely needed a coffee before dealing with this.
Oscar stayed there for a few more seconds, processing everything. The fact that Lando was a vampire — or something close to it — shouldn’t be so easy to accept. But somehow, it made sense.
After all, he had always been weird.
Addicted to chocolate. Full of energy at night but sleepy during the day, even during races. The strange fixation with sniffing Oscar’s neck. The irrational disgust for green foods.
It was obvious.
And yet, he had never connected the dots.
Oscar sighed, trying to ignore how Lando seemed to snuggle even closer to him, letting out a low grunt when Oscar shifted a little.
That was another strange detail: why the hell did a vampire need to sleep so much? Weren’t they supposed to be mysterious creatures of the night who never rested?
But there was Lando, softly snoring against his neck, his fangs pressing against his lower lip.
Oscar narrowed his eyes. He needed a plan.
Carefully, he began trying to untangle himself from Lando’s arms and legs, moving slowly to avoid waking him. But as soon as he managed to free one arm, Lando groaned and clung even tighter, squeezing Oscar as if he were a teddy bear.
— Hm... warm... — Lando murmured, his voice hoarse with sleep.
Oscar froze.
— Norris, let go.
— No... — came the muffled reply against his shoulder.
Oscar rolled his eyes, already out of patience.
— You’re a vampire. You don’t need human warmth.
— You don’t know how it works... — Lando grumbled, still with his eyes closed, only then realizing what Oscar had said. — Oh, so you’ve figured out what I am?
— Yes, Lando, it wasn’t that hard to connect the dots.
Finally, Lando opened one sleepy eye, blinking a few times before smiling lazily.
— Good morning to you too, Ozzy...
Oscar took a deep breath.
— Good morning, Lando. Now, can you let go of me?
Lando furrowed his brow, as if just realizing how tightly he was holding on. But instead of pulling away, he just buried his face even deeper into Oscar’s neck and laughed softly.
— Nah. You’re comfortable.
Oscar closed his eyes for a moment, gathering all the patience he had.
— Norris, I swear to God...
— What’s wrong? Are you really going to complain about a cute vampire hugging you?
Oscar opened his mouth to retort, but nothing came out. He just stared at him for a few seconds.
Because, damn it. Lando had a point.
He really was a cute vampire.
And Oscar didn’t know how to deal with that.
Oscar rubbed his face, exhaling slowly. There wasn’t enough coffee in the world to deal with this.
— Okay — he began, trying to stay calm. — You’re going to let me go, I’ll get up, grab a coffee, and then we’ll talk about this... absurd situation.
Lando raised his head slightly, his eyes still half-closed and a smile playing on his lips.
— Absurd situation? You’re talking like I’ve committed a crime.
— Lando, you’re a vampire. An overactive, chocolate-addicted vampire who acts like a needy cat. That’s not normal.
Lando blinked a few times, then grinned widely.
— Ah, so you noticed!
— OF COURSE I noticed! — Oscar exclaimed, incredulously. — You sleep like a dead person all day, go full throttle at night, keep rubbing up against me, and to top it off, you have fangs. How didn’t I notice sooner?!
Lando laughed and finally pulled away a little, sitting on the bed and stretching as if it were the most normal morning in the world.
— Well, at least you didn’t freak out. That’s progress.
Oscar glared at him as if he wanted to strangle him.
— Oh, I’m going to freak out. I’m just waiting for the coffee to do that.
Lando shrugged, bouncing off the bed with an energy that was completely inconsistent with someone who had practically passed out a few hours ago.
— Okay, okay. I’ll order coffee for you. But only if you watch a Disney movie with me while we talk about this.
Oscar rubbed his temples.
— You really don’t have priorities, do you?
— Of course I do! But discussing my supernatural condition is much more fun with a musical playing in the background.
Oscar stared at the ceiling as if pleading for patience.
— I should’ve left you on the plane.
— But then you wouldn’t have discovered that you share an apartment with an adorable vampire!
Oscar sighed heavily and threw himself back onto the bed.
— I need to sleep for a few more hours before dealing with this.
— Nope! — Lando grabbed his arm, yanking him out of bed. — The coffee’s on its way and The Emperor’s New Groove is already on the screen. It’s the perfect movie for this situation!
Oscar blinked, confused.
— Perfect how?
Lando grinned mischievously.
— Well... you basically just found out I’m a mystical creature. Like when Kuzco discovers he turned into a llama.
Oscar stared at him for a few seconds, expressionless.
— You just compared yourself to a llama.
— Of course! But an irresistible llama!
Oscar closed his eyes for a moment and took a deep breath.
— I’m going to need a lot of coffee for this.
Lando let out an excited squeal and clapped his hands as if Oscar had just accepted an invitation to the best adventure of their lives.
— I knew you’d get it!
Oscar opened one eye, skeptical.
— I didn’t say I got it. I said I need coffee.
— Details, Oz, details — Lando retorted, flopping back onto the bed next to Oscar. — Now get up, because the coffee should be here any minute and I don’t want you falling asleep again and missing the chance to ask me weird questions about my Norris vampire-ness.
Oscar let out a tired sigh but got up.
— I already know the first question.
— Shoot!
Oscar crossed his arms.
— If you’re a vampire, why the hell do you sleep so much? Aren’t you supposed to be a mysterious, sleepless creature of the night?
Lando raised an eyebrow, clearly enjoying himself.
— Have you ever heard of energy conservation?
— Lando.
— My body adapts to the environment, Oscar. And you know what the environment of a Formula 1 driver is? Completely random schedules and constant fatigue. If I didn’t sleep all the time, how would I make up for it?
Oscar blinked slowly.
— You’re actually giving me a biological explanation for your vampirism.
— I try to be a responsible vampire — Lando said, giving him a fake innocent look.
Oscar felt an absurd urge to bang his head against the wall.
— Okay, second question: do you drink blood?
Lando laughed.
— Ew, no. That’s gothic vampire stuff from horror books. I like chocolate, not hemoglobin.
Oscar frowned.
— That doesn’t make any sense.
Lando just smiled sideways, lying back down on the bed with his arms behind his head.
— Oscar, I’m a vampire who acts like a cat and is addicted to chocolate. When has any of this made sense to you?
Oscar opened his mouth to respond but was interrupted by a knock at the door.
— The coffee — he murmured, mentally thanking the interruption.
Lando jumped out of bed with his usual enthusiasm and ran to the door.
— I’ll get it! Meanwhile, think about your next question, because this is your best chance to understand how a Norris vampire works.
Oscar closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
— I’m definitely going to need a bucket of coffee.
Lando skipped to the door and opened it, an exaggerated smile on his face. He grabbed the cups of coffee the waiter had left at the door and came bouncing back in, as if he’d just won a prize.
— Here it is! The elixir of life! — Lando exclaimed, handing Oscar a cup.
Oscar grabbed the coffee with a semi-desperate expression and took a deep gulp, trying to absorb all the calm the drink could provide. He allowed himself a sigh of relief, feeling the caffeine kick in.
— This is good — he murmured, the warmth of the coffee sliding down his throat like a small promise of peace.
Lando sat back down on the bed, looking as energetic as ever, despite it still being morning. He stretched his legs out and patted the bed next to him.
— So, Oz, let’s continue the conversation about how fantastic and full of surprises my life is. You know, like when Kuzco turns into a llama and everything gets... funnier.
Oscar looked at him with a half-tired smile.
— Lando, you’re going to make me lose my mind, you know that?
— No, I won’t. The only thing that’s going to make you lose your mind is the fact that I’m so cute, you won’t be able to stay mad at me for long.
Oscar rolled his eyes but couldn’t help the small smile that appeared on his face.
— You’re impossible.
Lando made a grand gesture with his hands.
— I know! And you love me for it.
Oscar took another sip of coffee, and as the drink began to take effect, he felt his mind clearer. The pieces were starting to fall into place, but there were still so many unanswered questions.
— Alright, let’s go — Oscar said, determined to figure out what was going on. — If you don’t drink blood, how do you keep all that energy? And, like, why the hell do you love rubbing up on me at night?
Lando smiled in a charming way, as if it was the cutest secret in the world.
— Oh, the energy comes from my diet, of course! It’s not just chocolate, but chocolate is an essential part. I also love fruits and... well, meat. But blood? That’s very... old school, you know? I’m more modern. And about rubbing on you... well, you’re really cozy.
Oscar almost took a wrong sip of coffee, choking a bit on the answer.
— "Cozy"? — he repeated, incredulous. — Lando, do you have any idea how weird that is?
Lando shrugged, genuinely surprised by the reaction.
— It’s not weird! I’m just a vampire who loves comfort and affection. And if you’re a good friend, it makes it even easier.
Oscar tried to focus. The idea of being considered "cozy" by a vampire — a vampire with fangs and everything — was messing with his mind just a little too much. He looked at Lando with a bewildered expression.
— Okay, okay... so explain one thing: what if I pull away? Are you just going to keep rubbing on me until I give in?
Lando thought for a moment and then gave a mischievous smile.
— Maybe. Depends on how "cozy" you are, of course. But hey, if you say "no," I’ll respect that. I’m not totally invasive.
Oscar went silent for a moment, watching Lando with a mix of exasperation and amusement.
— I really am starting to think you’re not real. This can’t be.
— I’m real, yes — Lando replied, lying back on the bed, arms behind his head, smiling contentedly. — Just a little... different.
Oscar laughed tiredly, finishing his coffee.
— Okay, you’re impossible. But I’ll try to deal with it. At least until the end of the holidays.
Lando smiled with a mischievous gleam in his eyes.
— Now that’s more like it! That’s what I call progress!
Oscar sighed deeply. No matter what, he had to admit that, somehow, life with Lando — the cute vampire — would never be boring.
Lando remained silent for a moment, but his gaze didn’t fade, fixed on Oscar with an almost innocent expression. Oscar, in turn, remained impassive for a while, but Lando’s little face started to melt a bit of the indifference he was trying to maintain. He let out a long sigh, almost resigned, before speaking.
— You can hug me, Lando — he said, not quite knowing why he said that, but letting the exhaustion and the awkward situation speak for themselves.
Immediately, Lando smiled as if he had won the biggest prize in the world, and in the blink of an eye, he jumped onto Oscar’s lap, snuggling there with the familiarity of someone who had done this for a long time. He tucked his face into Oscar’s neck, a loving gesture that somehow seemed too natural.
Oscar felt the warmth of Lando’s body against his and closed his eyes for a moment, trying to get used to the feeling — still a bit absurd — of having a vampire hugging him, and even more so, feeling the weight of Lando’s body on his. He was getting too used to this proximity.
But curiosity, as always, spoke louder. Impulsively, and perhaps a little impatiently, he let out the next question, not thinking much about the consequences.
— Why do you smell me so much?
Lando, still buried in Oscar’s neck, squeezed the hug tighter, as if it was the most comfortable place in the world. He stayed like that for a moment, Oscar’s body relaxed beneath his, and then, gently, Lando responded, his voice muffled by the proximity.
— Because I like your scent — he said, tightening the hug even more, as if it were the simplest and most natural answer in the world.
Oscar went silent, feeling the warmth of Lando still against his neck. He didn’t know how to react to that. How could someone like a scent? And more, how could someone like his scent so intensely?
— Your scent is... comforting — Lando added, now pulling back a little to look into Oscar’s eyes, his messy curls and soft smile on his face. — There’s something in it that makes me feel at home. I don’t know what it is, but it’s good.
Oscar looked at him, more confused than ever, but also without words to argue. He had never thought of his own scent in that way.
— Okay — Oscar murmured, trying to find a way to process what he had just heard. He felt silly for trying to rationalize something that seemed completely irrational. — That’s... definitely one of the weirdest things anyone has ever said to me.
Lando, not missing a beat, smiled widely, squeezing the hug even tighter, as if he were happy to have shared such a peculiar secret.
— I’m a vampire. Weirdness is my default, Oscar. You’ll have to get used to it.
Oscar sighed and leaned back against the bed, feeling the weight of Lando on top of him, as if everything were as normal as any other moment. The only thing left was for him to get used to it — get used to the idea of sharing an apartment with a somewhat peculiar vampire, but one that was somehow starting to fit into his life.
While the movie’s songs continued to fill the room with their lively and energetic lyrics, Lando kept on, perched on Oscar’s lap, singing cheerfully, exaggeratedly, as if he were the star of a big production. His eyes sparkled with enthusiasm as he jumped from line to line, and his voice, though off-key at times, had something incredibly endearing about it. Oscar watched in silence, unsure whether he should laugh or simply surrender to the strange normalcy of the moment.
Suddenly, Lando stopped singing and looked directly at Oscar. His eyes shone in a way that was almost impossible to miss, and the smile that appeared on his face was so wide and innocent that even the fangs, which had seemed somewhat unsettling before, now looked more like a cute feature. He moved closer to Oscar, and with a sparkling look, he asked the most absurd question, but somehow, the most sincere:
— Date me, Ozzy? I know how to make coffee!
Oscar froze for a moment, his mind processing the question at a pace he never imagined was possible. He looked at Lando, with the wide smile, fangs showing, and that look of confidence in his eyes. The scene itself was so absurd that he almost thought he was having a post-race hallucination.
Lando, as if it were the most natural thing in the world, stayed there, still perched on his lap, smiling the most charming smile, as if he were offering the greatest of all prizes.
— I know how to make coffee, Oscar! And that’s a great quality, okay? — Lando added, his eyes still locked on Oscar’s, as if it were the most precious offer he could give.
Oscar blinked several times, trying to process the avalanche of information. He was at a very peculiar moment in his life, that much was certain. He was in a hotel room, sitting on the bed, with a vampire on his lap, watching a Disney movie, in the middle of a chaotic morning and after an exhausting race. How did he get to this point? And why, the hell, was Lando asking this so naturally?
He let out a laugh without meaning to, shaking his head. He didn’t know what to do with the situation, but he couldn’t deny that somehow, Lando was starting to make more sense than anything else that had happened in the past few days.
— Seriously, you... — Oscar began, but the sentence died in the air when he noticed the sincerity in Lando’s eyes. He almost could hear the beat of the background music mixing with the absurd normalcy of the moment.
The scene was unfolding in such a surreal way that he couldn’t help but smile.
— This is... absolutely insane — Oscar murmured, more to himself than to Lando.
Lando, always quick to catch any change in Oscar’s energy, smiled even wider, his fangs visible, as he gave a little jump on Oscar’s lap, as if he were waiting for the answer.
— You haven’t answered yet. I know how to make coffee! — he insisted, his voice excited as if it were a real advantage.
— I... don’t know if I’m ready for a commitment with an hyperactive vampire, Lando.
Lando made a funny face, pretending to be offended, but quickly chuckled, touching Oscar’s face in a loving manner.
— Okay, okay! I get it, you need more time to deal with “my supernatural side.” But deep down, you know you can’t resist me, Ozzy!
Oscar shrugged, still trying to absorb the whirlwind of events. He shifted on the bed, making Lando more comfortable on his lap, with a deep sigh.
— This is completely insane — he repeated, more to himself than to anyone else.
Lando laughed, snuggling even more, still humming the song from the movie.
— But it’s our insanity, and I’m good at it.
Oscar took a deep breath, looking at Lando, who, still with his eyes shining and his smile on his face, was waiting for an answer. He didn’t know why, but a part of him couldn’t resist the crazy idea — an hyperactive, needy vampire, and somehow, way more adorable than any supernatural creature should be.
He was falling for it. Falling for the insanity of this situation. But who could blame him?
— Yes — Oscar finally said, softly, a smile escaping before he could control his expression. He realized he was almost enjoying the madness of it all. — I’ll be your boyfriend, Lando.
Lando, as if he had won the greatest battle of his life, instantly jumped off Oscar’s lap, his hands clapping in the air in celebration. He started singing the next song from the movie, hopping around the room with so much energy that it almost felt like the walls were moving with the force of his enthusiasm.
— I TOLD YOU! I TOLD YOU YOU’D BE MY BOYFRIEND! — Lando sang, almost dancing as if he were the star of a Broadway show, not caring at all that they were still in a hotel room.
Oscar watched the scene with a mixture of disbelief and amusement. He still couldn’t believe this was happening, but the truth was that Lando was there, radiant, and the energy around him was almost contagious.
— An hyperactive and needy vampire... that’s my boyfriend... holy shit — Oscar murmured to himself, the smile inevitably growing on his face.
He couldn’t help it. The chaos was becoming more attractive than he had imagined. Oscar got up from the bed, still with a mischievous smile on his face, and crossed the room to Lando, who was now standing in the middle of the room, hands still in the air and the smile of someone who just won the world.
Without saying another word, Oscar pulled Lando by the waist firmly, making him stop dancing. When Lando looked up at him, still with his eyes shining, Oscar kissed him. The contact was gentle at first, but soon intensified as Lando pressed himself more against him, his body pressing against Oscar’s. In the middle of the kiss, Oscar felt Lando’s small fangs touch his tongue, a gentle and unexpected touch, but it only made the situation seem more surreal and, somehow, more fun.
Lando smiled in the middle of the kiss, his eyes closing for a second before opening again, still with that energy that made him unmistakable.
— This... is good — Lando murmured, before giving Oscar another quick peck.
Oscar, now more relaxed and smiling in response to Lando’s behavior, let out a soft laugh, but couldn’t resist pulling him in for another kiss, his arm wrapping around the vampire’s waist, holding him close.
The day seemed absurd, but it was the kind of absurdity Oscar wasn’t sure he’d be able to live without from now on.