Archive of Our Own ^beta

Even since Carlos found out about Oscar being a hybrid, things have been different between them. 

Not in a bad way, but diffrent.

Because after finding something like that, they had to accept a new normal, Carlos was well aware of what Oscars mind would come up with if they continued to just not talk, so now instead of going to the McLaren hospitality to hang out with Lando, he'd go there to hang out with Lando and Oscar.

And now, 3 months later, they just got done with the Singapore grand prix, promising Oscar that next year will be his year, since Carlos won in 2023 and Lando in 2024, and now he had to say goodbye to them for a month until the next race, but he still couldn't help that thought in the back of his head that kept telling him how Oscar has been acting off for the past 2 or 3 weeks, incredibly clingy and rubbing himself on Carlos at any given ocasion.

So he did what any sane person would do. He asked Lando.

"Oh, that..." he gulped, already scratching the back of his neck awkwardly, "Yeah, he's fine, he just does that."

"Why do you say it like that?"

"What? He just likes you, I guess."

He might also like you in a different way, but yeah, he just likes you.

"You're acting weird about this too. Come on, is he alright?" Carlos nudged him, and suddenly he seemed a lot more serious than 2 minutes ago.

"Yeah, he'll be fine in no time." Lando shrugged, and the look on Carlos' face told him he wasn't satisfied with that answer, "Look, he's just gonna go in heat any day now, he just does that as an instinct or something, so other hybrids will smell him on you and leave you alone."

"He's been scenting me?" Carlos huffed, and why was that the last thing he expected?

"Yeah, but I mean it's not that bad, that's how you know he really loves you." Lando laughed, but it felt cold in his chest now, like he was forced to say it, and maybe he should be proud of himself for bringing his 2 favorite boys so close, but he also couldn't help but noitice how Oscar wasn't scenting him as much.

He didn't have a problem with Oscar scentimg Carlos, he had a problem with Oscar not scenting him.

He thought it would be better to push that to the back of his head, it wasn't worth worrying about, because it was Oscar, and how could he doubt that Oscar loved him when they cuddled to sleep every night, especially with how he purrs prettier than an engine?

So he just spent a few last minutes with Carlos before hugging him goodbye and letting him leave, turning on his heels and making his way back to McLaren.

He knew a boring team meeting followed, one that they went through every 4 months or so, when Oscar was nearing his heat.

When he got in the room, the first thing he saw was Oscar playing with Kims hand, slouched completely over the table, tail swiashing behind himself boredly.

"Come on, mate, I thought you wouldn't come." Zak laughed, patting him on the back and pushing him towards his chair.

"Yeah, sorry, I talked to Carlos a bit." he mumbled, and he also couldn't help but noitice the way Oscar seemingly didn't even realise Lando was there, but his ears now perked up fully and he tilted his head in his direction, right as he said 'Carlos', specifically.

His body moved on autopilot, sitting in his usual spot between Oscar and Jon, reaching to pet Oscar like he normally would, only to be met with a hiss, Kim and Jon pulling their chairs back with reflexes almost as quick as theirs to sepparate them.

"Hey, hey, it's just Lando, what's up?" Kim huffed, just about as shocked as everyone else in the room, because what the fuck was that?

"You good?" Jon nudged Lando, still leaned back and frozen in his chair.

"I-Yeah, don't know what that's about though." he blinked back, looking around the room, then back at Oscar.

And, well, looking at Oscar, he looked like he kind of startled himself too.

It's not like he ever snaps at Lando.

"He's been acting off today, probably just his pre heat hormones." Kim mumbled, petting Oscar to try and calm him down.

"Yeah, but he never does that." Lando mumbled, shifting in his chair, "Like, normally he'd be all over me by now."

And yeah, they all knew, even Oscar did, surely, because why else would he look at Lando like that? The problem is that that's not how he usually looks at Lando, the heart eyes, the smiling and giggling at the stupidest and most unfunny thing that would come out of his mouth, now he looked hurt, and almost hostile even, like he wanted Lando as far away from him as possible, and yet he was so guilty about it.

"I know, he's been mostly fine with me, but he's really irritable." Kim shrugged, and oh, Oscar didn't seem fine, because he was in the middle of getting pets and he wasn't even purring, not to mention that he just just looked, yeah, irritated.

"He might jus need a nap, he kept getting up and staring out the window last night." Lando mumbled, slowly reaching out to scratch behind one of Oacars ears, and it looked like he barely tolerated that, but he still allowed it.

"Maybe." Kim sighed, pushing Oscars chair back, Lando dragging his own.

Oscar immediately slouched back on the table, streching his legs underneath it. Definitely sleepy. So a nap should solve him, right?

Well, yes, because he barely got through that meeting, and as soon as they got on the plane, Oscar started mewling, desperately trying to find a comfortable position to sleep in, and he settled to Landos lap, his head in his neck, and now he felt fine again.

He felt like a ticking bomb, but now he was fine again, all snuggly and clingy and happy and purring.

When they got to their shared appartment in Monaco, Oscar just had a shower, complained about being dizzy, and then he flopped into bed, falling asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow, and Lando knew what was coming. He knew what he would wake up to tomorrow, and what he'd have to deal with for the whole week.

Lando also slid into bed, not before having a quick shower of his own, and when he pulled Oscar closer he stirred, cuddling into Lando completely and purring his way to sleep. Now Lando definetely felt better, because that was his Oscar, the clingy Oscar that he knew and loved and cherished with his whole heart, and the Oscar he's wake up to tomorrow.

He still stayed up for a few minutes, just thinking as he watched Oscar, and he was starting to get mad. Oscar was so clingy and cuddly during his heats, and it's not even like he was particulary good, but people on the internet acted like hybrids in heat were some sex crazed monsters, ready to do anything just for a fuck, and maybe that pissed him off. How could it not when he experienced Oscars heats first hand and knew that all that sweet baby wanted was some love and cuddles?

He actaully doesn't remember falling asleep, just waking up to Oscars soft mewls as he snuggled into him further, tail padding against the mattress pitifully.

"I know, baby, I know." Lando yawned, pressing the back of his hand to Oscars cheek, "God, you're burning up." he whispered, like he didn't know what was going on.

Lando kicked the blanket off of them, helping Oscar out of his shirt and pants and tapping on the lamp on his nightstand while he was already elbow deep in the drawer of it, looking for the thermometer.

He sighed as he found it, pulling it out of it's plastic case and turning it on with a beep that made Oscars ears twitch.

"Come on, Osc, I need to get your temperature." he whispered, nudging his cheek gently and letting Oscar take it and put it in his own mouth.

His ears twitched again at the loud beeping of it, signaling it's done it's job, and Lando quickly pulled it out and took a picture, sending it to Kim.

"You'll be fine, baby, we've done this before." Lando yawned, pulling Oscar into his arms and pressing his face between his ears, almost flat to the sides of his head now.

But fuck Oscar if his mind wasn't racing with all the limited thoughts he could form. 

He loved Lando, so what if he left him now, when he was vulnerable and needed him most?

And where the fuck was Carlos?

He could swear he had 2 mates, he had both Lando and Carlos. Lando was here, so where was Carlos? He could smell Carlos on Lando, so they atleast hugged or somthing recently, but where was he now?

It felt off, especially since Carlos was new territory to him, and if he could talk properly, he'd say he felt atleast a little hurt by him not being there.

Heats always felt weird all around for Oscar, because it's like all he knew was blurry or downright gone, but he rembered Carlos, so he had to be important to him, right?

"Why are you sniffing me so much?" Lando huffed, gently pinching one of Oscars ears with his thumb and index finger and going over it in slow strokes.

"Carlos..." Oscar mewled, his tail flicking back and forth.

"Carlos?" Lando huffed, his cold hands trailing up and down Oscars back, but it's a pleasant cold, atleast to his hot skin, a cold he'll take for now.

Oscar mewled pathetically, nodding his head and snuggling further into Lando, clinging to him for dear life.

"I can ask Carlos to come over later." he sighed, patting his back, "It's too late to call him now."

Oscar was confused. Why was it late? Why couldn't Carlos be here? Would he just not come to him at all?

Lando, bless his heart, did his best to try and soothe Oscar back to sleep but to no luck, he was distressed and he wanted Carlos, he wanted Carlos right now.

And of course Lando didn't know what to do. He couldn't just call Carlos in he dead of night and ask him to come over, but how could he leave Oscar like that, all whiny and scared without one of his partners?

He was absolutely sure Carlos was going to hate him for this.

He was absolutely sure Oscar was going to hate him if he didn't do this.

Oscar laid on top of Lando, purring along to the steady beat of his heart as the phone rang.

"Hello?" Carlos yawned.

"Good morning..." Lando mumbled, his voice already guilty.

"What the fuck do you need so early in the morning, cabrón?" 

"Are you busy? Like, right now?" 

"Lando, it's 6 in the fucking morning, just tell me what you want already so I can go back to sleep."

"I'm sure you can sleep in my appartment, right?"

"What?" Carlos spat, and he was on the verge of hanging up. It was much too early for this.

"Listen, Oscar just really needs you to be here right now... I told you it's a bit of a tough time..." he mumbled, glancing down at Oscar who seemed to just not even listen, still purring happily like they're not talking about him.

"Oscar?" Carlos grumbled, "Fine. Do you need me to bring anything?"

"Just some clothes or something that you can drop by would be nice, so he has something that smells like you."

"Yeah, yeah, I'll be at your appartment in like 30 minutes."

"Thank you..." Lando mumbled, his voice close to exasperated, then he was met by the beeping of his phone, signaling Carlos hung up.

Laying his phone on the nightstand, he looked back at Oscar, who was watching him carefully, pupils blown wide.

Lando huffed, because how could he not? Oscar was just so adorable, and it was nice knowing he wanted to have him to himself. 

Since Lando wasn't a hybrid, he was technically Oscars partner, not his mate, but Oscar couldn't care less, he was at a time when his hormones were taking over him entirely, normally Lando should have been in heat too now, they should have synced, and right now Oscar couldn't really understand that humans don't get heats, so they can't be syncing, but still, as his mate, Lando should take care of him now, they should be taking care of eachother, but Oscars body tells him he doesn't need to care for Lando, not now, so he doesn't.

But oh, Lando takes such good care of him.

How is he supposed not to be inlove with Lando when that boy smooths him with kisses at every ocassion?

How is he supposed not to be inlove with Lando when that boy looks at him like he'd give him the world and he'd hang the stars in the sky for him?

How is he supposed not to want to give Lando the world, want to give him everything but only the best of it and be willing to keep all the bad to himself just to try to make him happy?

The second Lando got up and left to go to the bathroom, Oscar started gathering blankets and pillows, working on their nest, spreading them on the bed and sitting in the middle of it, his tail flicking as he watched the door, waiting for Lando, for his Lando, to come back.

And when he did, Lando actually didn't expect it, didn't think Oscar would be done so fast.

But oh, how could he not be so proud of his boy?

"You were fast with that, Osc." he huffed, walking to the bed and grabbing Oscar by the cheeks, pulling him in for a kiss and sitting down, gently tugging Oscar so they'd lay togeder again.

"Thank you, baby, you're doing so good." Lando whispered, pulling Oscar in his arms and letting him snuggle into him.

Oscar could just smell how much Lando loved him, literally, and how could he not be happy? How is he supposed to even try to control that purr that rumbles in his chest, only getting louder as Lando hums along to the beat of it, or the gentle flicks of his tail?

On Landos side, sure, he hated waking up in the dead of night to take care of Oscar, but at the same time he absolutely loved him, and it didn't feel like a chore anymore, because at the end of the day, Oscar needed this, and he was more than glad to help, especially if it meant he got extra cuddles.

Sleeping like this also wasn't so bad, because he had to admit Oscars nesting really cozied up the bed, made it so much more comfortable.

Which reminded him:

"Will you let Carlos in the nest?" Lando yawned again, half asleep, and it was a pretty understandable question, to which Oscars purring got quiter, giving one last flick of his tail, a faster one, before it stilled, and he heasitated before nodding.

Lando would lie to say he wasn't atleast a little disappointed.

In a way, he expected it, because Oscar probably sees Carlos as a mate with all the scenting he's done recently, but it still hurt a little, because that was supposed to be their thing, and it felt off having to share that, more so since Oscar normally only lets Lando and Kim near him during his heats, and now he actually asked for Carlos.

And maybe Lando is jealous, as if this didn't all start from him.

Still, in a way, he thought he could maybe be petty about this.

"You sure? You don't have to let him if you don't want to." Lando cooed, pressing a kiss to the top of Oscars head, between his ears, ruffling the hair around them.

Oscar let out a confused mewl, meeting his eyes with a face just as confused, as if asking Lando if he wants him there.

"What? I just want you to feel good, Osc, whatever makes you feel comfortable." he shrugged, pressing more kisses to his face.

To Oscar, it was hard enough to think properly now, and Lando drowning him in kisses didn't clear his head any bit.

He doesn't remember falling asleep, but he woke up to Lando trying to break free from his arms, making Oscar flatten his ears and whine.

"I have to go get the door, Oscar." Lando huffed, stroking his hair, "Carlos is here, c'mon."

He whined again, but rolled over and streched like a propper cat when Lando got up, as if he wasn't gonna curl into a ball again the second Lando left the room.

He might have dozed off again, or maybe he just closed his eyes, but the second Carlos came in the room his nose twitched, picking up on the new scent and waking up.

"He looks so..." Carlos started, but he couldn't really finish, because there were so many words to describe Oscar right now, and neither one quite fit, so maybe there were none at all.

"Yeah, he's a little out of it." Lando mumbled, kneeling before the bed and petting Oscar.

Understandibly, Carlos didn't quite know what to do. He didn't get instructed, and now he was dragged here, and he was confused, while this seemed all so natural to Lando. Sure, he's done this before, but he also made it look like he has been doing it all his life.

And looking at Carlos, Oscar felt off, Carlos was off, because he was tense and stiff, and he just could smell that he was uneasy.

And, well, that's not good when Oscars hormones are in overdrive, because of course it tells him that he is the problem, not that Carlos just has no idea what he's meant to do.

But Lando was still warm, and Lando still loved him to bits, and maybe Oscar really liked the way he could smell it on him, because at least that was somewhat reassuring.

Actually, no, it was really reassuring, because he wasn't quite sure about Carlos yet, but Lando was still radiating with love for him, even after he asked for someone else. It was risky, he knew, and he wasn't quite sure why he asked in the first place, especially with how he could smell the disappointment on Lando. 

For a moment he thought he would get mad and leave him to deal with himself alone, even if deep down he knows Lando would never do that to him.

Deep down, he knows Lando would rather die the most painful death than leave Oscar to suffer alone, because he can't even begin to think about how painful this is to him after Kim only explained to him a small part of whatever is going on in his body.

And speak of the devil, his phone started ringing on the nightstand, 'Kim Keedle' flashing on his screen.

Oscar startled, jumping slightly, and of course Lando had to comfort him before anything else, cupping his cheek and digging his fingers into it slightly, but not enough to hurt him, and reassuring him that "It's fine, Osc, it's just Kim."

And before he knew it, Lando rushed out of the room to answer his phone, and Carlos was left with a confused and slightly scared Oscar in the middle of his heat and high on hormones.

"Hi..." Lando whispered as he closed the door to the bathroom, sitting on the floor with his back against the door.

"Not hi, how's Oscar?" Kim sighed, his voice exasperated as if he didn't know Oscar would wake up in heat before they even started the race the day before.

"He's fine."

"Fine how, Lando? You know that's not fucking enough, tell me what he's doing." 

"What? He's just about as good as he can be, you know him. He's just cuddly and whiny."

"Did he eat yet?"

"No, he's not really gotten out of bed... he made his nest while I went to the bathroom."

"You need to stop leaving him alone, you know he's scared."

"Take him with me while I go piss? I'd rather not."

"Yeah, and you're not with him now either, are you?"

"He's fine, I left him with Carlos."

"Carlos?" Kim paused, and knowing Oscar, he knew it was about to be bad, "What the fuck is Carlos doing there? You know you need to stay with him, do I really need to come babysit you too?"

"What? He asked me to call Carlos over, I literally did what he asked me to do!"

"He told you he wants Carlos?" Kim mumbled, sarcastic, because Oscar had a hard time thinking half decently, let alone talking.

"Yeah, he was whining and shit and he said Carlos so I asked if he wants Carlos and he fucking nodded, what the fuck was I meant to do? You told me to keep him as happy and comfortable as I can!" 

Kim went quiet, because how did Oscar even manage to say something, let alone an entire name, call for someone, someone other than him or Lando?

"Are you sure he's alright? Like, acting normal and all that?"

"Yeah, he's fine with me, I think. You know him, he just wants to be with me all the time."

"Be careful."

"What?"

"Be careful, Lando. Don't let him stay with Carlos too much."

"What? Why wouldn't I?"

"Just trust me, I need to look into this."

"Are you gonna tell me what you're looking into?"

"I'll explain it when I find out a little more, I don't think we should jump to conclusions."

"What conclusions, mate?" Lando groaned, but he was met with his phone beeping before he even finished speaking.

Of course Kim hung up on him.

He sighed deeply as he called him back, getting more and more irritated as the phone rung, and when it stopped-

"Alright, Kim, I'm supposed to take care of him, so maybe tell me what you fucking know so I can help him, why don't you?" Lando scolded him immediately, because of course he wouldn't wait, not when it was about Oscar.

"I said I need to look into this, just do what you've been doing until now."

"Well, tell me what you fucking need to look into, don't fucking scare me like this, you're stressing me the fuck out!"

"You know you need to stay calm, Lando, you'll only make it worse for him if you're stressed."

"Tell me what you need to look into so I won't be stressed then, fucking hell."

"I need to see why he's asking for Carlos, for fucks sake, I'm pretty sure he shouldn't, so I think he might be looking to replace you, let me do my research and I'll get back to you." 

Lando froze, because how could he not? Why would Oscar even replace him, he could swear he did everything right! 

"I'll get back to you." Kim sighed, then he hung up again, leaving Lando in silence other than the ringing in his ears.

Why didn't Oscar want him anymore?

It just felt worse knowing that. In a way, he can't even blame him, Oscar should ideally be with another hybrid, and Lando was a human, he was well aware he couldn't quite offer all Oscar needed, but he didn't think he'd try to find it in someone else, especially not a human and not Carlos of all people.

Speaking of, back in his room, Oscar was quite ready to pounce on Carlos.

They were both tense, and Lando leaving them alone now all but helped, especially with Carlos trying to pet him, because he just didn't do it like Lando. Lando had soft hands, and he always cupped Oscars face or played with his hair, Carlos though, had rough hands that hurt his skin, just going back and forth on his hair.

Getting back in the room, of course the stressed out Oscar was the first thing Lando noiticed.

"He doesn't like that." Lando mumbled,setting his phone back on the nightstand and moving Carlos' hand slightly, cupping the back of Oscars head and stroking between his ears with his thumb.

"I don't know what to do with him." Carlos shrugged, scratching the back of his own neck.

"Can you get out for a bit? I need to tak with him." Lando whispered, nodding his head towards Oscar slightly.

"Sure, I'll go to the kitchen. Want me to make a tea or something?"

"Yeah, wouldn't be bad. We need to get ready for breakfast too, he's probably a little hungry by now."

"I'll be in the kitchen." Carlos nodded again, turning on his heel and leaving, shutting the door behind himself.

Lando sighed, looking to Oscar and sitting on the bed next to him, closing his eyes as he listened to the steady purr in Oscars chest as he snuggled into him again.

"I talked to Kim." Lando started.

Oscar wasn't quite sure who or what Kim was. He knew Lando always talked to him, and Kim would tell Lando how to help him. He also vaguely remembers that Kim used to take care of him during his heats before Lando, but he didn't see Kim as a mate, not how he sees Lando, so he'd assume Kim was his doctor, yet he wasn't quite sure.

"I told him about you, and he said you are so amazing, Osc, said you're doing really well." he huffed, and he always said something among those lines to ease Oscar into taking his meds or generally agreeing to do whatever he had to, but he had to admit he also loved the way Oscars eyes always lit up at the smallest bit of praise. 

Oscar expected to hear a but, he usually does, but all he heard was the sound of Lando smoothing him with kisses.

"I love you." Lando whispered, his face burried between Oscars ears, and he really didn't need to tell him that, Oscar knew damn well he did, but he would still lie if he said he doesn't want the reminder from time to time, "You love me too?" he asked, and he knew the answer, he hoped he did.

Oscar nodded, mewling happily as his tail swished behind himself slowly, and how dare Lando ever doubt that? 

How was Oscar even supposed to live without Lando?

Okay, fine, maybe that is a bit dramatic, curse his heat enduced and high on hormones brain, but Lando really is almost all he knows now, and he's well aware his mind a bit foggy, and he's not always this dumb, he's also well aware that this is just his 4th or 5th heat with Lando, but that boy takes care of him so well, how can he be anything but completely smitten?

"Yeah, you love me." he sighed, his voice softer now, losing some of that tense edge, and Oscar could smell him get calmer, but now he wondered what made Lando doubt that in the first place.

Oscar was good, wasn't he?

Was Lando mad at him?

Oh, no, why would he be? Is it because of Carlos?

Oscar all but wanted to make Lando mad, let alone upset him enough to make him think that he didn't love him anymore, because how is even meant to stay away from Lando for more than 5 minutes? Even that is agonizing!

Did Lando consider leaving him, thinking Oscar really wanted Carlos over him?

God, what has he done?

How could he have done this to himself -no, fuck him- how could he have done this to Lando!?

"Osc, baby.." Lando cooed, grounding him slightly, and Oscar specifically listened to make sure his voice was still soft and that pure smell of love was still lingering between them, "what's wrong, baby?" he continued because even for Lando it was hard not to noitice the way Oscar stilled, froze completely, even the sudden stop of his purr.

And now what does he do? Now Lando thinks he doesn't love him, and he's worried about him. 

But he could smell it on him, pure worry, without a hint of doubt or anything that could signal Lando being mad at him. At the same time, Oscar wasn't in his right mind and he was well aware of it, so what if his senses were wrong, subtly trying to reassure him and then Lando would get mad and abandon him?

"Oscar, hey, hey, calm down, I'm right here..." Lando whispered, arms tightening around Oscar, suffocating him with kisses, rocking him like a baby.

In a way, the fact that Lando still tried to comfort him said that Lando still loved him, as if the smell of him alone wasn't enough, but also that he cared, cared enough to prioritise Oscar over himself, over his own thoughts and insecurities.

But why? 

Why did Lando have to be insecure, have to doubt Oscar loved him?

Why did he even feel the need to ask for Carlos?

Why did Lando love him so much that he was willing to put himself to the side just comfort Oscar?

"Oscar, I belive you, baby, I know you love me, I love you too." Lando sighed, and he wasn't even sure if that was the problem. Normally he can read Oscar, he's learned over time, but how is he supposed to figure out exactly what the problem was if Oscar could barely communicate?

Was this getting worse? It seemeed like it was. Lando was doing his best to make Oscar feel better, but it was hard when Oscars mind was racing, trying to figure out how to make this up for Lando, to prove that he loved him.

Generally, nesting, specifically waiting for Lando to see it and letting him in were very obvious signs, and they were very mutch plopped in the middle of the bed, of the nest Oscar made for them on top of it.

And then his brain sparked a thought.

During his heats, Oscar liked to keep a small corner where he wouldn't let Lando, a corner just for himself with clothes that smelled like him, a corner to cuddle up in when Lando would leave for a few minutes to do whatever. He was never hostile about it, and Lando never tried to get too close, but if Oscar ever thought he did, he would just nudge him away gently, whining like it upset him instead of getting hissy and territorial to scare him off. And now that corner seemed like the perfect thing, because to Oscar, that is almost a scarifice, breaking his own boundries to show Lando he loves him, so that has to do it, right?

So, wiggling himself out of his arms, Oscar sat in his corner and looked up at Lando with big, soft eyes, tail swishing softly and chirping to call him over.

And, well, Lando was in equal parts confused and surprised, blinking at Oscar and heasitating before following him slowly, giving him time to push him away, even more surprised now when he didn't. 

In fact, Oscar mewled, rubbing his head up from Landos upper abdomen to his shoulder with so much force it pushed him back down onto the mattress, making Oscar fall on him too.

"I love you too, Osc." Lando laughed, peppering Oscar with kisses, and of course he did, maybe it was a bit stupid to think Oscar was really looking to replace him.

At the same time, he wanted to ask, maybe he should, but it seems too dangerous, he shouldn't stress Oscar out more, but he really needed to know.

Yet, maybe not now, maybe he should wait a bit, enjoy this now.

And he would actually be an idiot to ruin the moment when Oscar is happy and purring on top of him, not to mention that he's quite frankly just done the unthinkable of letting Lando on his side of the nest.

Lando laid on his side, pulling Oscar to snuggle into him and oh, was Oscar just soaking in the smell of him, that smell of pure uncoditional love that was always on Lando atleast in the smallest fraction when Oscar was around, and now it was overpowering everything else, how is Oscar not meant to burry his nose into him and take the biggest, sharpest whiff of his life?

But he holds back, something inside him says he has to, and if he could think clearly, he would say that's his sense of shame, but whatever it is he listens to it and curls his tail to Landos ankle.

There is a soft warmth bubbling in his stomach, and it makes him want to fall asleep, makes him want to just stay cuddled into Lando until his heat is done and he's back to normal, and it's weird knowing he's not imagining it, or atleast that's why he assumes Lando laughs and kisses his forehead when he presses a hand to his stomach. It's pleasant, and the feeling of the skin of Landos hand on his own bare skin almost feels too intimate, as if Lando isn't his mate.

He's not sure how much Oscar remembers, but Lando fully knows the experience he got a year and a half ago, after Oscar got signed in McLaren and the way that boy just seemed to despise him -contrary to the purring ball of love in his arms that he now even shares a bed with every night- but when they had to pull him to the side and explain the concept of Oscar being a hybrid and how his heats work in the absolute emergency scenario where his meds just don't work and they end up with a Oscar in heat somewhere in the paddock, Lando should know what to do. And oh, was it excruciating, not to mention embarrasing, so embarrasing Oscar left with his tail between his legs, literally, and woke up in the mist of his heat the next morning, a whole month early, so they had to lie to the media, saying Oscar got the flu or something and now it was Kim and, for whatever reason, Lando who had to deal with him. 

Despite the debrief from the past night, Lando really had no idea what to do with the hissy human-like-yet-not-quite thing, as he called Oscar back then, that sat in the corner of Landos room, yet didn't even let him get near. 

The solution? Kim bonded them. He thaught Lando close to all he knows of how to deal with Oscar, and admittedly Lando figured some things on his own too, but the forced proximity made Oscar realise that he couldn't run away from Lando forever, as much as he wanted to, which he thought of as truly unfortunate, so he started accepting him, not befriending, just stopped pushing him away until he started to like it, and the first time Oscar cuddled up to Lando, the erratic beat of his heart and that subtle, barely there scent of love that he revels in now lulling him to sleep, that is when it was clear that now they would be inseparable.

But now Lando was thinking, comparing that to how he is with Carlos now, and it all seems too similar. It was Kim bonding Lando and Oscar, and now it was Lando having already bonded Oscar and Carlos, so now what if he would do it again, next time he would only ask for Carlos like he did with Lando all that time ago?

How is Lando supposed to ever get over that?

He got snapped back to reality by Oscar digging his fingers in and out of the meat of his back, hands cleanching and unclenching as if he was kneading.

And yeah, he had to admit it was pretty amazing how Oscar always found a way to get his attention, because it was Oscar, so of course he did, as if he didn't already have all of his attention.

"You hungry?" he asked, and Oscar mewled with a subtle nod.

And in that, Lando saw an opportunity.

"Yeah, let's go make breakfast with Carlos." he smiled, squeezing Oscars cheeks as he kissed him, "We like Carlos, yeah?"

In a way, it would be easy to mask it like that, because he could act like he only said that to make sure it was fine for Oscar.

And yet, he didn't expect to see him heasitate.

He didn't expect his petty jealousy to turn into concern, because Oscar asked for Carlos, so he should have, in theory, been fine with it.

"Osc, breakfast?" Lando blinked agin, trying to simplify it, to which Oscar nodded, "Breakfast with Carlos, yeah?" he tried again, and Oscar just mewled back.

And oh, Lando was really starting to get concerned now. If Oscar didn't want Carlos, it would be for the better to just ask him to leave, even if it would be a bit impropper to call him this early in the morning to come over and kick him out in a few minutes, but he'd have to understand. 

If you'd ask him on a normal day, Lando would have a really hard time choosing between Carlos and Oscar, but no day in Oscars heat is just a normal day, and Lando wouldn't even think twice before picking Oscar, and hurt or not, Carlos would have to understand that Oscar needs Lando now, and Oscar needs the best of Lando and the best of everything else, so if Oscar doesn't want Carlos, Lando wouldn't touch him with a 10 foot pole.

He tried to think, tried to find a reason Oscar wouldn't want Carlos now other than to avoid hurting him, and the best thing he came up with, his half explination, is that maybe, during his heats, Oscar only feels safe with Lando and Kim, even if he asked for Carlos, because maybe he still craves some other company, but he just can't have anyone else, he wants to, maybe, but he can't, his instincts are controlling him and if they don't let him they just don't let him.

And if Oscar could chose, he wouldn't really let Kim near him either. He knows it's for the better, that Kim doesn't want to hurt him, but he doesn't like the way he does his dirty work through Lando, and he's convinced Lando doesn't want to do any of it. 

Lando doesn't want to make Oscar take his meds, but Kim tells him to.

Lando doesn't want to constantly check Oscars temperature, but Kim tells him to.

Lando doesn't want to give Oscar the food he doesn't like, but Kim tells him to.

Lando really is the love of his life, and Oscar would very much rip his own heart out of his chest and die the most painful death to give it to Lando if it brightens his day in the slightest, even if Oscar knows it would devastate Lando to lose him, he would do anything, anything with no limitis, for Lando if he so much so as asks. Oh, and Kim knows it, he knows it and takes advantage of it, he knows Oscar can't stay mad at Lando, or get mad at him in the first place, so he makes Lando do all those things.

Why does he need to anyway? They say it's for the better, but why? What if Oscar doesn't take his meds, doesn't let Lando shove that thermometer up his mouth and if he doesn't want to eat his food, he doesn't eat it?

Well, he would reject Lando, that's what would happen, and how could he ever do that? He can't even begin to imagine how upset he'd be, he could never do that to his Lando!

When it comes to Lando, Oscar can't see himself as anything more than something for him to take comfort in; he comes at the price of needing to be coddled 24/7 for like 3 weeks a year, sure, but he's not that bad.

He let out a surprised yelp when Lando picked him up, snapping him out of his train of thought, and carried him over to the kitchen like he weighted nothing. It's not like he was complaining, why would he complain about having a strong mate that can obviously protect him, but it still surprised him.

Oscar really could never doubt the love Lando had for him, not with how he got pampered like that, not when Lando willingly bathed him every day and hand fed him every day of his heat, when he's always there and doing everything he has to and more during Oscars most vulnerable time.

Lando slowly laid him down on the couch on the other side of the kitchen island, kneeling to kiss behind Oscars ears and keep petting him as he talked to Carlos, who laid a cup of tea on the coffee table, pushing it towards Oscar with a soft smile.

He saw it as a peace offering, in a way. Him and Carlos were quite peaceful, Oscar assumed, but he's still well aware that Lando might be mad over Oscar asking for Carlos, and he can't see that as his own fault, if anything, Carlos shouldn't have came, and Lando wouldn't be mad, right?

His eyes lingered on the cup for a few seconds before he took it, the ceramic warm against his hands, which really felt like it wouldn't help his current state, but Lando always gives him warm tea, and Lando knows best, so it can't be bad. His tail flicked as he brought ths cup to his lips, looking at Carlos and blinking at him now as if thanking him.

Carlos was quite confused, he's not a cat person, in fact, he's allergic to cats so he generally keeps his distance, and he's not sure if he's not allergic to hybrids or if Oscar is just one of those low allergen breeds or whatever, but either way, he's not allergic to Oscar, and in the time they've spent togeder recently he can say he's learned a lot, including the slow blinks, so he just gently pat Oscar on the head, waiting for him to finish drinking so he wouldn't choke, and it felt good to have Oscar lean into it instead of tense under his hand.

Lando didn't quite think about it, not yet, atleast, because now he had something more important to think of: normally, they have meals prepped for Lando and Oscar; abnormally, Carlos is here, and Carlos should eat too, which means they would have to cook.

"So, can he just eat whatever?" Carlos yawned, nodding towards Oscar as he sat on the couch next to him, to which Oscar mewled happily and laid his head in his lap.

"Well, technically yeah, but it's pretty hard for him to actually train right now, so we still need to be careful and make sure he won't eat junk." Lando shrugged, and Carlos nodded at him, because yeah, that seems fair, "So he kind of has a different menu right now, you know, his body needs some nutrients and stuff in different dosages, and I try to eat what he eats or else he won't eat it sometimes."

"Doesn't he eat fish?" Carlos huffed, half sarcastic.

"He eats so much fucking salmon." Lando laughed, throwing his head back, and he wishes he was joking, but Oscar does, indeed, eat so much fucking salmon.

"Yeah, and what do you do?" Carlos laughed back, scratching Oscars head as he did.

"I usually get the same thing he gets but with chicked instead of fish, and I have some omega 3 juices and I get stuff mixed into my food so I don't have to take pills."

"And he never wants a bite of your food?" Carlos crooked his head, and Oscar mewled again, his tail flicking inpaciantly at the talk of so much food, yet he was still hungry.

"Not really, since we have pretty much the same thing, but I give him chicken sometimes."

Oscar mewled again, his fingers flexing into the meat of Carlos' thigh.

"Okay, okay, you're hungry!" Lando laughed, grabbing Oscar by the cheeks and pecking his nose, "Drink your tea." he said as he turned on his heel and grabbed Oscars foood from the fridge, along with a spoon for him.

He opened the plastic container with a grunt, almost like it was a struggle, like it should have been, sitting up and pressing the container to his stomach, hissing slightly at the cold and pulling his ears back.

"So, what do we eat?" Lando asked, looking back to Carlos.

"Cheat day?" Carlos yawned again, leaning his head to the back of the couch.

"Cheat meal." Lando shook his head, plopping himself onto the couch too and pressing another kiss to Oscars temple when he leaned his head on him.

"Fair." Carlos yawned, checking the watch on his wrist, "It's barely 7.", he mumbled, "If you want me to I can go back home and atleast bring some of my stuff." 

"No need to bother." Lando waved his hand dismissively, but Carlos kept insisting, so he eventually gave in.

Oscar was almost halfway through his oats when he saw Carlos slip into his shoes and realised he wasn't just walkinga round the appartment, but he was leaving, his eyes now following his every movement as he tried hard to focus on whatever he was talking with Lando.

"Hey, Osc." Lando tapped him, making him lift his head up and perk his ears, suddenly acting as if Carlos was never there to begin with. "You want Carlos to sleep with us tonight?" he yawned again, really trying his best to simplify it as much as possible.

It might have seemed a little petty to ask, atleast to Oscar, and it might have implied that Lando was asking and hoping Oscar would say no so he wouldn't have to kick Carlos out, but in reality, they just needed to know how much food Carlos should bring for himself.

Oscar hummed, looking back between Carlos and Lando like he was trying to pick up on something, and he was, which would not have been the easiest even if he could think straight. It's also weird to him, he couldn't quite understand why they were asking if Carlos should stay the night when he looked like he was getting ready to leave.

"He'll come back soon, Osc." Lando sighed, patting his back, "You want him to sleep with us?" he tried again.

Oscar looked between them again, and he nodded heasitantly when he couldn't pick up on any signs that Carlos didn't want to, or that Lando didn't want him there.

"Okay." Carlos nodded, walking to them again to ruffle Oscars hair before he left.

He left.

He left and now Lando and Oscar were back to their comfortable silence, Lando holding Oscar as he ate and sipped on his now cool tea from time to time.

They were tired, and understandably so, because they did wake up at like 5am, not to mention that Oscar was in a state where he was generally wrecked, so a nap could really do him some good.

"Do you think I should call Kim?" Lando nudged him, and Oscar tilted his head back as far as he could to look at him, "He's kinda stressed too, you know? It would probably calm him down a bit if he could see you're okay."

Oscar purred, taking another spoonfull of his food and laying his head on Lando shoulder as he chewed, not like he had much to chew on.

"I'll call him, yeah?" he huffed, a hand rubbing Oscars back, and most he could do was nod.

Weather he wanted Kim or not, he couldn't deny Lando, not when he gets treated like that.

The beeping of the phone made his ears flick a few times, then he saw both of them on the screen of Landos phone, and was Oscar always that red?

It beeped again, and Oscars hazel eyes stayed wide and glued to the screen, tail tudding against the cushion.

"Hey, Osc." Kim smiled, and Oscar, because despite being very calm was still playfull, didn't quite think about the plastic jar in his hand that was still a quarder full when he rolled on his stomach.

"Oscar!" Lando laughed, flinching away slightly, and Oscar looked down at the mess under him more than confused, because how did that happen?

"You have to clean that up now." Kim laughed, a pouty Oscar staring at him through his phone.

"I know." Lando groaned, "Well, I just wanted you to see he's doing well, but I guess I'm busy now." 

"Yeah, clean that up before it dries into the fabric."

"I will, I will."

"He ate fine?"

"Yeah, he was hungry."

"Get him a bath and put him to sleep for a bit." Kim nodded, and Lando saw him prop his phone against something and scribble something on a sticky note, "Carlos still thre? You can ask him to clean the couch while you deal with Oscar."

"He'll stay here for the night, so he just ran to his appartment to get himself some stuff, but he should come back in a few."

"Don't leave Oscar alone."

"I know."

"The couch can wait, stay with Oscar."

"I know."

"Stop leaving him alone with Carlos."

"I kn-wait, what?" Lando blinked, glancing at Oscar, wtill focused on the puddle as he tried to understand what happened to his oats.

"Call me when he falls asleep." Kim replied, stern, cold, and it almost made Lando shiver.

"What the fuck is that supposed to mean?" 

"It's important, just listen to me."

"Kim, what the fuck is that supposed to mean?"

"Why is it so hard for you to just listen? Just do as I say."

"Who the fuck do you think you are?" Lando huffed, offended and already starting to get annoyed.

"Are you hearing yourself?" 

Lando hung up, sighed deeply and looked over to Oscar again, and now he looked more guilty then confused.

"It's fine, Osc, we'll clean that up." Lando cooed, suddenly so soft, so gentle, because how else is he supposed to be with Oscar?

He disappered behind the counter and came back a moment later with a towel, firstly wiping Oscars stomach then the couch. He'd have to clean that stain later, but he'll figure.

"Come on, let's get you a bath." he smiled, hand extended for Oscar to grab it.

He did, cautiosly, maybe more aware than he'd like of the numb feeling all around his body that made his legs wobble, but Lando was there, and Lando wouldn't let him fall, Lando walks particularly slow just so Oscar can keep up and feel safe, actually.

In the bathroom, Lando let go of his hand, throwing the towel in the hamper to deal with later, and getting the water ready for Oscar to hop in.

Oscar, in the meantime, was busy staring at himself in the mirror and touching his face like he doesn't want to belive he's seeing himself. It's his reflection, not someone else, and he's well aware of that, but he looks at it like he's never seen himself before. And there's something going on in his head, because he realised that him and Lando look different. Not different in the sense that they are different people, but that Lando doesn't have a tail like Oscar does, their ears are completely different, and now that he thinks about it, can Oscar really blame his heat for all the things they do so differently?

Well, yes, because now he acts on instinct more than with thought, and when he thinks he does things that make him appear more human, and humans don't really walk on all fours, humans don't really meow and purr, and all the other things he does now because it's simply what feels most natural.

But Lando is Lando, and Lando will always noitice anything about Oscar, so of course he can tell something is off when he stares at himself in the mirror like he can't belive his eyes.

So he walks over to him, wrapping a hand around Oscars waist just enought to pull them flush togeder and lean over his chest completely, looking in the mirror at the more prominent flush on his face and his ears raised as far up as they'd go and his fingers twitching like they had a mind of their own and didn't know what to do now untill they wrapped around Lando.

"You're so pretty." Lando coaxed, his free hand laying itself on Oscars back and trailing further up until it got to the back of his head, pushing down ever so slightly just to trap his lips, and Oscar mewled against them, his tail standing straight and shivering with every hair on it raised.

"Yeah, you are." Lando huffed, nuzzling into Oscars cheek, "But you need a bath, okay, Osc?"

Oscar nodded, smacking his lips like he was still trying to taste Lando, and how can he not be mesmerized by that man? Oscar is quite convinced that Lando is made for him, the universe made him for him, to be Oscars and Oscars only, and he was made to be Landos, just Landos. Thinking about it, he wishes Lando would understand that for Oscar, Carlos means next to nothing if Lando is there for scale, but he doesn't, and Oscar doesn't know how to tell him that now.

Oscar squirmed when Lando took off his boxers, it's a pleasant cold and he wished it would be colder, he would actually thrive if he could roll around in some soft snow right now.

Still, he took a few steps towards the tub, and his legs suddenly felt a bit more sturdy, keeping a hand on the edge as the other dipped a finger in to test the water, warmer than he'd like, but he knows Lando wouldn't let him bathe in cold water even if he begged on his knees. It was lukewarm, and he guessed that would be better than warm or downright hot water anyway, and maybe he should take his wins where he gets them.

Lando held his hands out on either side of Oscars body as he dipped both feet in sunk slowly, just to make sure he could catch him quickly if he was to slip and fall, better be safe than sorry.

He watched Oscar shift around trying to find a comfortable position for his tail, and he ended up spreading his legs slightly so it could plop between them at the front. It looked silly, sure, but it's not like Oscar currently had the brain power to think of that, and Lando wouldn't dare say anything about it if Oscar deemed it cozy for himself.

Oscar still thinks cool water would have been better, but he's grateful he doesn't shiver when Lando kneels by the hathtub and splashes his body, especially his stomach. It's quite pleasant, actually, and it makes his tail curl in a way that ripped a giggle out of Lando, therfore it was absolutely worth it.

And just as they were almost done, when Lando was rinsing the shampoo off his tail as the one on his head was left to sit, the door clicked, some bubbles flying off his head when he perked his ears.

"Oh, it's just Carlos, don't worry, Osc. I'll be back in a second." Lando smiled, dipping his hands in the water to was the shampoo off and patting them dry on a towel before he got out.

And now, left alone, Oscar felt such a strong urge to shake his head, because he didn't noitice how heavy it felt with his wet hair and the layer of shampoo on it, yet he knew not to, because he knew Lando would be mad, and it was such an itch he could almost scratch, almost there but not enough.

On the other side of the door, Carlos dropped his bag on the kitchen counter.

"Where's Oscar?" he whispered, considering the fact that maybe he was just asleep.

"I'm helping him with his bath." Lando shrughed, "He spilled his food, mind helping me with that?" he asked, pointing to the half dried, slightly lighter than the rest of the couch stain.

"Yeah, sure." Carlos nodded, ripping a tissue from the roll, "Do you have rubbing alcohol or something?" 

"Yeah, under the bathroom sink, c'mon."

So, back to the bathroom he went, not like he didn't have to go back after Oscar, who distracted himself by hitting his tail against the water and watching it splash, Oscar who almost didn't noitice Lando come in, grabbing the rubbing alcohol and handing it to Carlos before going back to him.

"See, I told you I won't take long." Lando smiled, a hand cupping one of Oscars cheeks to bring his face closer and kiss his other one. "Let's finish here do you can take a nap, yeah?" 

And Oscar nodded eagerly, because a nap did sound very apealing right now, so he pulled his ears back and stood still while Lando rinsed the shampoo out of his hair. He's learned by now that even if he doesn't really like having his hair washed, it will just take longer if he tries to struggle, not to mention that it upsets Lando, and he would much rather be stabbed than do that. How could he do something that he knows upsets Lando when Lando is the one that pretty much did all the work bathing him, and now he so nicely helps Oscar out of the tub and dries him with a towel before carrying his sorry ass back to bed, drying his tail and hair then slipping him into a nice clean pair of boxers and kissing him to sleep? That is the Lando he wants to think of upsetting? No way.

But the rest of the day with Carlos was just like any other day in his heat, in other words, Oscar didn't do much other than sleep, eat, take his meds at 12, and be a complete clinger for all the time he spent awake, glued to Landos side like he always had been, yet undeniably mesmerised by Carlos, he couldn't quite help himself, he had to explore and push buttons.

Lando always cuddles him happily, so does Carlos do that too?

Lando is more than happy to have Oscar nap on him, so does Carlos also like it?

Lando has grown familiar to feeding Oscar where he can, giving him pieces of fruit and what not, so would Carlos do the same?

Oscar never has to ask Lando to kiss him, he will always do it with that intoxicating scent of love on him that filled the whole room and left a trail behind him, so would Carlos kiss hi-

No. Too far. Way too far.

But the answer to most of those questions is that it feels like Carlos mostly tolerates Oscar, and likes him sometimes, for short periods of time. 

When Lando takes care of him like that, he always reeks of pure unconditional love, he does everything he needs and so, so much more with a genuine smile on his face, but loosing every bit of independence he normally has, it's hard for Oscar not to feel like he is a chore, yet Landos pressence alone is enough to reassure him that he is, in fact, the most precious thing in his life, and he would happily live like this until their very last day, but looking at Carlos, he definitely felt like a chore for him, something he did probably because Lando asked him to, more than for Oscar. It wasn't his intention to make it obvious that he did not really want to be here and pretty much have a big baby on his hands, because he's still aware of the fact that Oscar isn't like this on purpose, and he would want to be normal, even if Lando considers him very normal even now and sees nothing wrong with him, if he had the option, but since he doesn't he has to be like this. 

Well, who said Carlos had to enjoy this?

Still, if Carlos would pretend to enjoy this, he would get away faster, he thought, and Oscar acted like he couldn't feel anything off, because even in the middle of his heat, he wasn't dumb.

Their biggest problem though, came at night, because now Oscar was distressed, whining pathetically in the middle of his nest, shivering as Lando ran a wet wipe over his back to clean the sweat off of him. 

It's not like he was like this for no reason, because now he didn't know what to do with their sleeping arrangements: the nest is his and Landos, and letting Carlos in felt too intimate, but making him sleep somewhere else felt too rude, so what was he even meant to do now?

Well, they ended up sending Carlos to the couch, that's what, and Lando couldn't help but feel like he won. It was just them in their shared bed that Oscar built their nest over, and it felt so much better than ever before, holding him like he won, like he earned Oscar.

"Shh, I promise you'll feel better tomorrow.." Lando cooed, stroking Oscars stomach at a more pathetic than usual mewl, because he knew Oscar was still in pain, and Lando could only make it better, not make it disappear.

But Oscar knew, he knew Lando was doing his best, and he was doing more than he needed to, not to mention that despite that, he was still always trying to do better, because damn him if he was gonna settle for anything less than perfect when it came to Oscar.

The next morning, when Oscar woke up, he did, indeed, feel slightly better. He wasn't quite sure when he fell asleep, probably between all the praise and kisses, but opening his eyes to see Lando still asleep and peacefull made him consider sleeping in a little more, he knew he always woke up early anyway.

Still, almost like he predcted it, woke up for a reason, Landos phone started to ring, waking him up and making him groan.

He picked up mindlessly, pressing a kiss to Oscars cheek as he did.

"Hello?" he yawned, and Oscar mewled as he cuddled back into him.

"Don't tell me I woke you up." Kim sighed on the other end, and Lando groaned as he tried to rub the sleep from his eyes.

"Yeah you did."

"Lando, it's almost 10, what if Oscar needs you?"

Lando glanced back at Oscar, whos only need at the moment seemed to be cuddles, and shrughed.

"He's fine, he knows to wake me up." 

"God..." Kim sighed, "You know what? Yeah, whatever, we have important things to talk about."

"Such as?" Lando yawned again, his free hand stroking Oscars hair.

"I've done reasearch." Kim nodded to himself, "How's Oscar been with Carlos?"

"Jesus fuck, Kim, it's 9am." Lando groaned, because maybe it was too early for this, "Good, I guess. You know, like they always are, friendly but they kind of piss eachother off, I guess."

"Alright, did Oscar want Carlos to sleep with you guys Last night?"

"No, he slept on the couch."

"Good." Kim sighed, relived. "So, he could have been looking to replace you, or just trying out something new, you know? It's not unusual, apparently." 

"What?"

"Well, since he didn't want to sleep with Carlos, and he's not, you know, like he's with you, he's not looking for someone new, and he should have tried to get Carlos in the nest if he wanted to experience with someone new, so he probably just wanted a different face around, shouldn't be anything to worry about."

Well, that made Lando exhale a breath he didn't know he was holding, a sigh so deep it almost scared Oscar, and he couldn't help but feel so relived.

"So, how's Oscar? Like, you know, in genral?"

"Good, Osc is great." he smiled, and he would lie if he said he didn't specifically word it so Oscar could catch on the praise.

"Good, you know what to do if you need anything."

"Yeah, yeah, I'll call you." he huffed, then hung up and put his phone back on the night stand.

Turninga round, he was met with big hazel eyes that stared at him, blinking slowly and purring at a kiss.

"You're so perfect, Osc." Lando whispered, and Oscar could just feel the smile on his lips when he kissed him.

Yet again, how is meant not to love Lando?

He didn't quite know why he was perfect this time, but that can only mean good, so he'd gladly take it, he's happy to be perfect for Lando. In fact, that's his goal.

"We need to get up, Osc." Lando groaned, and Oscar mewled back in a whiney tone, clearly against it, "I know, I know, it's nice here, and I wanna cuddle too, but we should have breakfast, I can cuddle you on the couch."

Oscar wasn't too happy about that either. Sure, now that Lando mentioned it, he's a little hungry, and couch cuddles don't sound bad but, like Lando said, it's nice in their nest. Sure, the fact that he has the equivalent of a 45°C fever, which he, realistically, probably couldn't survive, but he feels it, and the brain capacity of a 4 year old on his best day isn't a good reason for the amount of pillows and fuzzy blankets that are wrapped around them, but it's nice and cozy here. Very hot, sure, but nice and cozy.

So, he does all he can to keep protesting, to keep Lando in bed for longer, and that means snuggling and clinging to him like a koala, holding on like his whole life depends on it.

Too bad he just accidentally made it easier for Lando to pick him up.

He whined and hissed the whole way to the kitchen, then he crossed his arms with a pout when Lando let him down on the couch.

"Good morning." Lando yawned, ruffling Oscars hair despite looking at Carlos, who was busy chilling with some tv.

"This is when you wake up?" he huffed, turning his head to look at Oscar and nodding in his direction, "What's with him?"

"Didn't want to get out of bed," Lando shrughed, "the usual." he mumbled as he walked to the fridge and grabbed their breakfast for the day, fruit chicken salad.

And, like usual, despite having the exact same food, Oscar picked something to nick out of Landos bowl. Today it was mango, Lando picked out the pieces from his own bowl and put them in Oscars, and when neither of them could find any anymore, Oscar whined and rubbed his head to Landos shoulder.

"I don't have mango anymore, Oscar, you ate all of it." Lando huffed, muching on some chicken and avocado.

Oscar whined again, not really satisfied with that answer, but he continued with his own salad.

"I'll buy you some, no need to pout like that." Lando rolled his eyes, and Carlos laughed, but what's his fault Oscar likes to be dramatic?

"That's real princess treatment he's getting." Carlos tilted his head, taking his eyes off the tv just to be met with a pouty Oscar, because of course he gets princess treatment or whatever he calls it, Lando has to do everything in his power to keep Oscar as happy as possible, so if he wants more mango, Lando is willing to buy a whole army of mango trees just so he always has some for Oscar.

Lando would be completely fine with taking a break from his food just so can run to the store and get more mango for Oscar, but it's not so easy when he's so needy and just... Oscar, in his purest, rawest form.

But, in his mind, his plan was fool proof: Oscar would have a nap after he was done with his food anyway, so Lando would just leave Carlos in the appartment in case Oscar woke up and simply run to get some mango.

What his fool proof plan did not account for is Oscar waking up as soon as he heard the front door shut and bolting out of bed to go look for Lando who, for some reason, was not next to him. Lando who was also nowhere to be found in the appartment.

Carlos told him, or he tried to, that Lando will be back soon, but Carlos is not Lando, so how can he trust him? Fuck, Oscar doesn't even trust himself, Lando is all his stability and support right now and he is gone, gone forever and never coming back.

He laid on the floor in front of the front door, the cool wood soothing to his skin at last, sprawled like a starfish and whining pitifully, his head on one of Landos shoes and it's pair under his hand.

"Oscar, for fucks sake, he'll be back in 5 minutes, get up." Carlos groaned, nudging him with his foot, but he gave up when he was met with a hiss before Oscar continued to ignore him and cry about his mate.

Carlos doesn't understand, he never will, because he can't love anyone the way Oscar loves Lando, he can't love someone with pure instincts, because the world can burn down around Oscar and his instincts will tell him to make sure Lando is safe before he can save himself, and Carlos just doesn't have those instincts, therfore he doesn't understand.

But frankly, Oscar doesn't understand either. He doesn't know where Lando went, or why he left in the first place, but now he's mad at Carlos, because the most rational thing he can think of is that he left because he thinks Oscar loves him more, he thinks Oscar found a new mate and he doesn't want him anymore.

At some point, his vision goes blurry, clogged with tears he feels he doesn't have the strength to wipe away and his ears are ringing painfully, like it's so loud it stings inside them. 

He doesn't hear the front door open, nor does he pick up on Landos scent again, not like he could when his nose is already burried in his shoe, but he does pick up on the hand that cups his face, and he could tell it's who's he hopes it is out of a million.

"Osc, what's up?" Lando whispers to him, his voice incredibly soft, and he already knows what it is, but he can't not pick him up like he doesn't have a bag in his hand and kiss him all over.

"I'm here, baby, I'd never leave you, you know that." 

Oscar wants to know, and he trusts Lando with every atom of his weak, half-limp body, even when everything is in his favour, but he still has no guarantee, and it's probably his biggest nightmare waking up one day without him. He's aware that he's dramatic sometimes, and it seems stupid now, but if that's how he reacted to Lando gone for a few minutes, he can't even begin to imagine what he'd do if, one day, he woke up and every trace of Lando seemed to just be erased from his life.

Actually, drop that, what's that noise?

Oscar looked behind himself, trying to pin the source of the weird plastic-y ruffling, and he looked weird trying to be so focused with tears streaming down his face, but in such an endering way Lando couldn't help himself laughing and kissing his chubby cheeks.

"I went to get you mango." Lando chuckled, shaking his hand under Oscars ass to make the bag ruffle more.

And, oh, he was inlove.

While Oscar was sulking here, thinking Lando abandoned him, that boy went to get him food. Sure, they don't live like they would have so many years ago Oscar probably can't count that high right now, where Lando would have to go hunt for it, but that's still heroic in Oscars eyes.

And Lando, as his good mate, just continued to carry him like he weights nothing, setting the bag on the kitchen counter and pausing to talk with Carlos.

"I tried to get him up." he shrugged.

"Yeah, he's a bit stubborn. Sorry."

"You're good, but I should get going, I have some plans later today."

"Yeah, I should get this one to take his meds and then it's bed time." Lando huffed, a small kiss to Oscars jaw making him purr and curl his tail happily, "You have fun though."

"I will, thanks. Good luck with Oscar."

"I don't need luck, he's my baby!" Lando laughed, half offended, "I can handle him just fine."

"Whatever you say." Carlos rolled his eyes, shaking his head as he got up and gave Oscar a little pat on the back. "And you take care of yourself and behave." he nudged, flicking one of his ears.

"Yeah, I've got him." Lando nodded, shaking a hand with Carlos and setting Oscar down on the couch.

He watched them talk some more, his mind blurry, vaguely remembering that he waved goodbye back to Carlos and watched him leave.

The house felt quiet now. Not like Carlos was loud, and not in a bad way, just that peace and quiet only Lando brings to his soul, and he likes Carlos, but maybe he disturbed that, and maybe it really is for the better that Oscar is only with Lando. He can't really see himself being shared between Lando and someone else, let alone being with someone else entirely, and he doesn't think of Carlos like that, but maybe it was a humbling experince. Carlos wasn't even that bad, he doesn't know why having him leave just made him feel so relived.

It's weird, because yesterday around this time he was sure both Carlos and Lando were his, and now it's clear, so clear that to him, Carlos never meant much, it's Lando, only Lando, and it's only ever been Lando, he hopes it will be Lando forever.

But it felt nice now, in their own peace and quiet, like Oscar could fall asleep right now, nice enought that maybe he'll take his meds without fussing just so he can get back to their nest quicker, so he doesn't have to be out of Landos arms any longer, because he didn't realise how much he needs them when they're ready to welcome him any moment, or maybe he's just too needy crying over 5 minutes apart.