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It’s the third IndyCar race weekend of the season. Will feels giddy as he makes his way to the track. Once there he’s greeted warmly by everyone he passes. He feels more at home here. As hard as it was to pick up and leave f1tv behind.
James had sent him a few texts last weekend while he was in Japan for the Grand Prix with f1tv. It was something along the lines of ‘it’s boring without you here’ and some greetings from people who missed him.
Will is a little lost in thought about what it will be like to see James that he doesn’t see him until he is pulled into a hug. “Will”, James breathes out softly hugging him tight. Will laughs, “James, it’s good to see you”. James grins, “it’s great to see you!”.
James drags him along and talks about his travels. Will listens to him, he can’t stop smiling. “so yeah, I missed you besides me, Will”. Will blushes and laughs, “Well I missed my American tour guide last week”. James bumps their shoulders together, “sorry”. Will smiles, “You’re forgiven. I am expecting some kind of treat this weekend at some point”. James grins, “oh, I will surprise you!”.
They fall into their comfortable dynamic easily, on and off screen. James whispers to him quickly before taking his place right as they are about the start their warm-up broadcast, “surprise treat at the end of warm-up”. James sits down and winks.
Will inhales sharply. If anyone questions his blush he’ll blame it on the California heat. He easily falls into commentary with James and Townsend. At the end, a box is brought in and they joke around a little. Will eats one happily as they end the broadcast. Will grins, “great treat”. James smirks, “you’re welcome”.
Will stand up, “would be better with some more coffee”. James grins, “I’ll join you”. They walk to the nearest coffee machine in silence. Will feels a happy kind of nervous, he hasn’t felt in a long time. “I’ve been thinking, as hard as it was to make the switch. I’m so glad I did”, he admits more to his coffee mug than to James.
James looks at him, warmly, “I hate to say I told you so”. James chuckles and Will smiles at him. James shakes his head, “no in all seriousness, I could tell your heart was still with racing you just needed a change of scene”. Will nods, “I really did”. James smiles, “and that I get to work with you more that’s just a bonus”. Will inhales sharply. Suddenly his coffee is very interesting to stare at.
James waits for the machine to fill his cup then takes Will’s upper arm, “come with me”. Will doesn’t need to be told twice. He follows James compliantly. James guides them into a small meeting room and closes the door. “talk to me”, James says falling into one of the office chairs. Will leans against the wall, “what? I am fine, Hinch”. James shakes his head, “no you’re being different”.
Will frowns, “I am?”. James nods and takes a sip of his coffee then he sets his mug down and rolls himself right up to Will. “I winked at you and you didn’t even wink back and you’re avoiding my eyes a lot”, James looks up at him. Will can feel his chest tighten, “I just missed you”.
James rolls his eyes, “well I am right here”. James holds open his arms. Will laughs, “so what am I supposed to do? Sit in your lap?”. James nods, “if it makes you feel better”. Will is just trying to prove how silly James is being when he sits down in his lap but he immediately melts against James’s chest. He likes the way James’s arms fall around him.
James rolls back to the table and sips his coffee again. “now what?”, Will laughs softly. James grins at him, “now we drink our coffee”. Will feels the way James hand digs a little into his waist. James sips his coffee with a big grin on his face, “hmm yeah, all I’ll ever need is you. With you in my arms, even crappy machine coffee tastes good”.
Will turns a little more towards James setting his own mug down, “I can’t tell if you’re being serious or not”. James sets his mug down as well and cups Will’s cheek, “I’m serious. I have been flirting with you since the day we met. I send you this job opening because I want to see more of you. I am so serious, Will”. Will takes a deep breath. He doesn’t realise he’s got tears in his eyes until James softly wipes one of his cheek.
Will sighs softly, “I didn’t think it was possible to feel like this again or maybe ever”. James strokes his cheek, “So, if I take you out on a romantic candle lit dinner on the beach tonight after the race, that’s not too much?”. Will shakes his head, “No, it would be great actually”. James let’s out a relieved sigh, “good, cause otherwise I’d have to cancel all that and it would have been a whole thing. I just wanted to be sure”.
Will blinks, “wait what?”. James grins, “I had arranged a romantic surprise for us and then you stopped flirting back and I just got worried”. Will laughs softly, “we’re both idiots”. James nods, “I usually don’t kiss till after the second date but I’ll make an exception for you”. Will laughs, “Don’t have high expectations from me. It’s been a while”. James strokes his cheek, “It’s you, so I know it will be amazing”.
Will turns a little more, properly facing James and he leans in. James does too, tugging Will a little closer. It’s a soft and slow and sweet kiss. Will giggles when James pulls away and brushes their noses together. James laughs, “okay that’s best sound you’ve ever made”. Will leans his head on James shoulder, “that was the best kiss I’ve ever had”. James grins, “you can have as many as you want, whenever you want”. He pauses and strokes Will’s cheek, “well maybe not live on the broadcast, but if you wanted to, I’d not stop you”. Will laughs, “hmm, okay. I am not kissing you on live broadcast. But this was a good talk”.
James nods, “very good talk”. Will kisses his cheek, “now let’s head back before they start missing us”. James sighs, “fine, but don’t be mad at me if I drag you into a janitor’s closet cause I can’t keep my hands of you”. Will laughs, “I won’t be mad”. He gets up and picks up his mug. James swings his arm over Will’s shoulder as they walk out.
“where did you two run off too?”, Townsend asks curiously. Will shrugs, “just coffee”. James nods, “and we had a talk”. Will nods, “good talk. He accidentally revealed his surprise for me. But it’s okay”. James nods, “it’s still going to be fun”. Townsend looks between them, “oh… So, you finally fessing up huh, Hinch. About time!”.
James blushes, “yeah I did, I guess”. Will laughs, “Did everyone but me know?”. James looks at him innocently, “maybe?”. Will laughs, “okay, that is actually sweet and you have nothing to worry about, darling”. James grins happily, “I am his darling”. He points to Will but looks at Townsend. Townsend sighs, “my god, you two are going to be even more insufferable now, aren’t you?”. James and Will share a look, “yes!”, they say in unison before laughing wholeheartedly.