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Yuki sighed, pacing back and forth as the sounds of the F2 race filled his ears. He shouldn’t have been in the pit lane. He should’ve prepping and preparing himself for another dismal race in the cursed second Red Bull car. His final race with Red Bull.
His final race in Formula 1.
Yuki hadn’t exactly told anyone that, only Pierre. Even then, he’d only told Pierre because he’d wanted to tell Lando, but he didn’t want to distract the older man from his championship pursuit. A championship pursuit that was still very much on thanks to Oscar’s DNF in Baku.
The championship was to be decided that night, and Yuki knew that no matter the outcome, he’d dropped to one knee and propose in the privacy of their hotel room. He wasn’t stupid enough to do it in public, not in Abu Dhabi.
“You’re gonna damage the pit lane if you keep pacing,” a voice called and Yuki turned, meeting Max’s gaze. The older man was staring at him, inquisitive and searching, and Yuki hated how easily Max could read him. “Did you forget we had a meeting or…?”
“Yes,” Yuki admitted. His shoved his hands in his pockets, fingers curling around the velvet box that sat there. He sighed, stroking over the lid, roughened fingers probably ruining the high-quality material. Lando would just have to not look so closely at it, that was all.
“You’re distracted,” Max said. Yuki huffed and brushed him off, glaring at the older man when his fingers curled around Yuki’s arm, forcing him to stop. “What’s going on?”
“Nothing, let’s go,” Yuki said. Max huffed and released Yuki’s arm, immediately falling into step alongside him. Curse Max and his long legs. Yuki had to scramble through the paddock to keep up with him. They stopped before Red Bull hospitality and Max turned to him.
“Yuki, you know you can trust me, right? If something’s going on…” Max said, trailing off. He was looking at Yuki in concern and Yuki knew the only way to get Max off his back was to tell him his plans.
“You promise not to tell anyone?” Yuki said. Max nodded.
“I swear on Kamekichi’s life.”
“Don’t swear on my turtle’s life, what the fuck?” Yuki said. Max giggled, prompting Yuki to sigh and roll his eyes. He looked around before shuffling closer and dropping his voice to a whisper. “I’m gonna propose to Lando tonight.”
“What?” Max said, eyes wide. Yuki blushed softly and stepped back, brushing his hair from his eyes. He’d wanted to get a haircut ages ago, but Lando had gone mad on the overgrown nature of Yuki’s hair, so he’d kept it as it was. Anything for Lando.
“Yeah, so just… keep quiet about it,” Yuki muttered. Max smiled and pulled Yuki in for a quick hug. “What are you doing?” Yuki asked, hands awkwardly braced in front of him. Max pulled back and smiled.
“Giving you a good luck hug. Now let’s go. We have a meeting to attend,” Max said. He started up the steps as Yuki groaned, his head tipping back as he stared at the sky. “Come on, the quicker you get there, the quicker you can leave.”
Yuki wasn’t sure if Max was talking about the meeting anymore.
--
“Who won?” Yuki asked on the radio, listening to the fireworks popping and sparking in the nighttime sky over Abu Dhabi. They were gorgeous and he hoped they were for Lando. Gorgeous fireworks for a gorgeous boy. It made sense in Yuki’s mind. Anticipation flowed through his veins, ready to veer towards disappointment or elation once he learnt the results.
“Lando. He’s the 2025 champion,” his race engineer said. Yuki whooped into his helmet, dragging his car over the line, entirely uncaring that he’d finished P13. Another pointless finish but he didn’t care anymore. How could he? His boyfriend had just won the World Driver’s Championship after one of the hardest seasons ever, and Yuki was revelling in it.
Pulling into parc fermé, Yuki wasted no time in hoisting himself out of the car. He ensured his steering wheel was back on before he hurried over to be weighed. Lando was in the queue ahead of him, but Yuki kept quiet.
Lando finished being weighed and he turned around, eyes brightening when he spotted Yuki. “Hey you,” he said, and Yuki smiled, stepping onto the scales. Lando waited for him and before long, Yuki was stepping down from the scales and diving into Lando’s arms, squealing in shock when the older man hefted him up and into his arms. He spun the pair of them around before settling Yuki down once more.
“How are you feeling?” Yuki asked, tearing his helmet off. Lando copied him, his smile megawatt bright and his eyes shining as he placed the items onto the first-place stand. Yuki didn’t tear his eyes away. Winning looked good on Lando and Yuki was eager to soak up his fill of it.
“I’m the champion of the world, baby,” Lando said. Yuki giggled and allowed Lando to pull him in for another hug. The phantom touch of velvet greeted his fingers and Yuki smiled into the curve of Lando’s neck as he thought about what he’d planned. “Are we celebrating together?”
“Of course. Stop by my hotel room later, yes? I’ve got a special surprise planned,” Yuki said. Lando looked back as Oscar started his interview, his P3 finish surely sour on his tongue. Oh well. Yuki didn’t care. When Lando looked back at him, Yuki raised an eyebrow. “Well?” Lando smiled and pressed a quick kiss to Yuki’s cheek, checking to make sure no one had caught it.
“I’ll be there.”
--
Yuki was pacing again. He couldn’t stop himself. He hoped the floors or the carpet were thick enough to muffle his pacing, otherwise his poor downstairs neighbour was going to hate him.
He walked a little bit harder, just in case it was Marko.
A knock sounded at the door and Yuki crossed to it in an instant. He pulled it open, smiling when Lando greeted him with a toothy smile, the gap on display and a bottle of something non-alcoholic in his hands.
“You said something about a special surprise?” Lando questioned. Yuki smiled and gestured for Lando to enter. The older man crossed the threshold, and Yuki let the door fall shut, eyes fixed on Lando. He was discarding the bottle on the side and shrugging his jacket off, back turned, so Yuki took his chance and sunk to one knee, the velvet box in his fist.
“Lando…” Yuki said. Lando hummed, muttering a quick ‘one sec’ before turning around with a gasp.
“What…? Yuki?!” Lando said. Yuki swallowed, willing his English to work for once.
“I know our relationship is odd and weird to most outsiders, but to me, it’s the only thing that makes sense. You kept me going through this year and whilst I like to think it’s the same for you, I can’t be certain. Even if I kept you going for just one second, though, that’s enough for me. I love you, Lando. I have done for ages. And no matter the result you got today, I was going to propose. But knowing I get to propose to you after you just won the championship… it means that much more. 愛してる, 我がチャンピオン,” Yuki’s voice trailed off as his eyes swam with tears, throat spasming on the words. “Lando Norris, will you marry me?”
Lando burst into tears and dove forward, dropping to his knees as he curled his arms around Yuki’s shoulders, sobs of ‘yes’ falling from his lips on repeat. The tension bled from Yuki’s body, and he started crying as well, curling his arms around Lando’s waist, the ring box pressed against Lando’s hip.
“Yes, I want to marry you,” Lando said. Yuki sniffled and wiped at his face before snapping open the ring box and procuring the ring. It was a simple black ring with a single line of obsidian gemstones lining it. Lando choked out a sob once more before he held his hand out, allowing Yuki to slip the ring on. It fit perfectly and he felt the final edges of tension bleed from his body.
“Thank you,” Yuki whispered before he cupped Lando’s face in his hands and pressed a kiss to his lips. Lando sniffled but melted into it, humming sweetly. “I love you,” Yuki muttered against Lando’s lips. Lando pulled back with a wet giggle, wiping at his tear-stained cheeks.
“Forgive me in advance for the dodginess of what I’m about to try and say, okay?” Lando said shyly. Yuki tilted his head to one side, uncaring of how doglike he was being. Lando liked that part of him and Yuki aimed to please.
(Only Lando).
“Huh?” He said. Lando just giggled and shook his head. Yuki frowned in confusion before Lando leant forward and pecked his lips. Yuki forced himself to relax, eagerly waiting for Lando to say whatever it was Yuki would need to forgive him for.
“Yuki… 私も.”