Chapter Text
Lando was so screwed.
Even being fucked by an inexperienced guy would have been better. Receiving a zero on his test would have been better. Hell. Getting run over would have been better.
Literally anything else would have been better. At least in those scenarios he doesn't have to lie to his mum. Well, maybe he'd lie on the test one but she'd understand. Film studies was quite a difficult subject to get high grades in. Especially since he's dyslexic. Writing essays was not meant for him.
But back to the topic at hand, Lando is still ultimately screwed.
You see, his mum had called him a few days ago, asking whether he was coming back home for Christmas or not. Now, Lando would usually say no and go out with his friends on Christmas night and day. But sadly, since it was his last year in university, all his friends wanted a break from their studies and were planning to go home.
Which meant that Lando would be all alone at the student accommodation. So naturally, he said that yeah, he's coming back home. It's not like he doesn't go back during the six week holiday.
His mum was overjoyed, of course, and immediately started asking if he had any preferences for when he got home. What type of food? Anything special? Any preferred wine? All those kinds of stuff.
And because he was an impatient bastard1 who had woken up with a terrible hangover, he just kept replying yes to every question she asked.
However, that was his downfall.
He unknowingly said yes when she asked him if he was bringing someone home for Christmas. Like a girlfriend or boyfriend, y'know. And obviously, hearing that made her ten times happier, under the impression that he finally found someone long term.
And because Lando is an absolute mama's boy, he couldn't bring himself to correct her after hearing her go on about if this non-existent person had any specific needs, to which he said no because he knows himself well enough that he wouldn't date someone who was picky or worse, a pescatarian.
But after the call ended, Lando was hit with the realization. Mid toast bite, placing his phone on the table.
He doesn't have a boyfriend! Or a girlfriend!
Now, don't get him wrong. He would love to have someone. To be with, to cuddle, to shower with love, and ultimately get married. One day.
Not today, though.
Never today.
Lando was more of a ‘flirts with someone he likes, hooks up, no contact after’ type of guy. He liked the feeling of being interested, getting all the information, and then ditching. It was way easier than being stuck with one person.
And if you disagree, let him ask you a question. Would you be interested in eating the same thing every day? Of course not! You need to have some variety.
Just like dating. You need to try every fish in the sea (even though he despises fish) before picking the one best for you. You're not going to eat tuna if you don't like the smell of it, right?
That's the mindset Lando lived with in uni. It wasn't hard for him to get a girl or a guy. His looks were enough to make anyone want him, and he was willing to indulge himself. Nobody could resist his charms.
He was notoriously known for flirting with people, sleeping with them, and then disappearing. It was his style. Not a relationship, anything else.
This brings us to his current dilemma. Which happens to be magicking a boyfriend out of thin air. The problem wasn't even getting a boyfriend. It was to impress his mum. To prove that he can find himself someone smart, good-looking, and rational to match his own smart, good-looking, and ‘rational’.
He had made a mental list of anyone who fit those qualifications and crossed them off simultaneously. Some of them weren't staying for Christmas, some of them were exes, and others were not Lando's type. His mum would immediately find out.
He groaned loudly as he thumped his head on the table, catching the attention of everyone else. Alex, George, Charles, Max, and him were sitting around the table. George was busy finishing up his homework while Alex talked his ears off, humming every now then to show that he was paying attention.
Charles was scrolling through his phone, occasionally showing Max a picture of something he found cute. Max, on the other hand, had been working through an engineering paper he found online, practising for the tests. Weirdo.
And Lando was clearly suffering.
“You alright, mate?” Alex asked, tapping him on the head. Lando just groaned back.
“That's not an answer,” Charles commented with a chuckle.
“Is this the thing with your mum?” George probed, still writing. Curse George for being his roommate.
“What thing?” Alex turned to George, ever the gossiper.
“The idiot told his mum that he was getting his imaginary boyfriend home for Christmas, and now he's suffering because of his actions,” George explained, finishing the last sentence and placing his pen down.
“This. This is why you shouldn't rush phone calls. At least in text you can think about it.” Alex inputted, still poking the curly haired man.
“Yeah, that's totally your fault, man,” Charles said, receiving a vague noise from Lando that sounded like ‘I know’.
“Just tell her the truth,” Max finally contributed, tapping away on his laptop. Lando raised his head at that.
“You didn't hear the happiness in her voice when I said that I'm bringing someone home, Max,” Lando started, glaring at the Dutch, “I can't crush her hopes like that. I'm not gonna do that to her.”
“But you don't have anyone to take home.” Max retorted.
“I'm… sorting that out.” Lando faltered.
“Why are you so bothered about this? You could literally get anyone on campus. I know some people who would die for this opportunity.” Charles tried to cheer him up, but it didn't work.
“That's exactly why I can't just take anyone,” He complained. “It has to be someone who would meet my mother's standards.”
“Oh please. Your mum's a delight. I doubt she'd be that picky.” Alex scoffed.
“You don't know her like I do. You guys are friends, so she isn't that bothered. But a boyfriend? Oh!” Lando emphasised, “if he isn't meeting the criteria, she's gonna fume.”
They all shared a look before George put his homework away, Charles put his phone away, and Max put his laptop away. Oh shit. This was serious.
They folded their arms on the table, and George brought out a blank paper and pen.
“Okay, let's shortlist.” He said, clicking the pen. “Give me anyone who you guys can think of.”
For the next half an hour, they went through all the people on their campus who could be worthy candidates. Names were written on, a dash, then a reason. Then, promptly crossed out.
“Carlos?” Alex tried.
“Ew, no! He's like a brother and my mum already knows him.” He shot it down.
“Pierre?” Charles hesitated.
“Absolutely not. I don't want to be beheaded and deep-fried by Yuki. Plus, he's French.”
“What's wrong with the French?”
“They're evil.” They had a laugh about that.
“What about Lance?” They all collectively grimaced and disagreed on that.
In the end, there was no one. They had run out of paper and people. And Lando was slowly running out of hope. He couldn't see the light anymore. Not even a glimpse. Not even glimmer. Probably because he had his hands over his eyes, but regardless.
“I think I might know someone,” Max pulled out his phone and scrolled. “Now he's not in our year, but he's smart, handsome, and very impressive.”
“Max. I don't care. This guy could literally be living on the streets, and it would work. Just tell me who it is.” Lando begged, stretching his neck to look at Max's phone.
Suddenly, his view was met with a dark background. He narrowed his eyes, letting them adjust to the proximity of the screen. He was greeted with a picture of a guy. Around their age and oh-
Not bad. Not bad at all.
The guy had brown hair, brown eyes, and thin lips. The picture cut after his shoulders, giving a clear view of his face. His hair was styled as if he didn't own a hairbrush and went along with it. Lando noted his sharp jaw and rosy cheeks. Overall, he looked good-looking. So that was a check.
“That's Oscar Piastri. He does engineering but a year below us. All As on his tests and a topper.” Max introduced. “Reserved, shy. He has a few close friends but a decent guy. I've talked to him once, and he didn't seem like bad company.”
Ok, so smart and rational. Check check. Seems like the perfect candidate right now.
The others peeked at the phone, Alex and Charles raising their eyebrows in recognition.
“Oh! I know him. He's Arthur's friend. Good kid, in my opinion.” Charles said, pointing to the picture.
“Yeah, me too. My roommate, Logan, is friends with him. Don't think he's going anywhere for Christmas, either. I'd say he's a good option.” Alex added.
Lando took another look at the picture and opened his mouth to say something, but Max beat him to it.
“Careful, though. God knows what he must have heard about you and your reputation. Chances are he probably doesn't wanna be involved.” Max put his phone away, and they all turned to Lando.
“Oh please. There's no way he'll say no to me. I'm irresistible. Just tell me where to find him.” Lando requested with a smug smile as Max shrugged.
“I think he spends most of his free time in between lectures at the library. You'll most likely find him there.” Alex supplied.
“So, we decided on Oscar Piastri as your pretend boyfriend?” George spoke up, bunching up the sheet of paper and chucking it in the nearby bin.
“Yeah. Hope he's ready for this.” Lando fidgeted with his hands.
—-
Turns out, finding the boy was actually a problem. Mainly because all of Lando's lectures were in the afternoon, so he didn't need to wake up early. Oscar, on the other hand, did. He had found out his schedule through Alex's digging, turns out Logan can be very chatty.
Since tests were approaching, Lando knew he had to do this quickly. He just didn't know how. Was he supposed to spill his guts or fake it?
Lando dragged himself off his bed way earlier than he was supposed to. Seriously, the lengths he goes to make his mum happy. He threw on a random hoodie and pants after showering, grabbing a cereal bar on the way out, bag hanging off his shoulder.
Once he got out, the cold, winter breeze bit into his skin. He felt himself start to shiver. It didn't help that the library was far away. After a quick debate with himself, he went back in and got his comfy jacket.
After he reached the library, he hurried in, not wanting to stay in the cold. He shrugged his coat off and looked around for his prey. Students were scattered about, wearing their comfiest clothes, surrounded by thick books, opened on some random page.
At first, he couldn't find the boy and thought that he had just come early but when he checked his phone it was almost 9. He walked closer to the back and found an empty table, but someone's belongings were there. An opened laptop and notebook, coat hanging on the back of the chair.
Lando looked around but couldn't find anyone. He tried looking through the bookshelves to no avail. Lando sighed and took a seat on the table opposite, pulling out his own laptop. He did have an essay due, which he may as well start on if he's waiting.
A few minutes later, a boy in a black hoodie and pants emerges from the bookshelves. He walks towards the empty table and starts packing up his things. Lando only caught a glimpse of him, but he knew that it was Oscar.
Using the few seconds he had, he went up behind Oscar and tapped him on the shoulder. Oscar turned around and stared at him with a confused expression.
“Can I help you?” He asked, voice smooth.
And oh god- why didn't Max tell him he was Australian?!
Suddenly Lando felt extra nervous. Thinking about asking was one thing, but actually doing it was another.
“Umm.. you may not know me, but you know my friend, Max, he also does engineering. He's a year above?” Lando waits for the cogs in Oscar's head to turn, continuing when he hears a hum. “Well I'm Lando. Nice to meet you. And I was wondering-”
“Lando? Like Lando Norris? You're the guy that flirts with everyone?” Oscar posed it as a question, but he didn't mean it as one.
Lando's smile faded a bit before he picked himself back up, “yeah I am that Lando Norris, but that's not the point right now.”
Oscar crossed his arms over his chest, motioning for him to continue.
“So basically, I was wondering if you could pretend to be my boyfriend.” Oscar blankly stared at him.
“And why would I want to do that?”
“My mum asked me if I was getting someone for Christmas, and I said yes when I actually don't have anyone to come with me. And she sounded so happy and I didn't want to tell her the truth. But now I need someone to take with me, and you seem to fit into her criteria best. So, please, can you be my fake boyfriend for Christmas?” Lando rambled, ending with a hopeful look while Oscar scrutinised him with his eyes.
Silence passed between them for a few very long seconds. Lando could feel himself shrink under Oscar's gaze.
“No, sorry.” Oscar went back to packing his stuff away, leaving Lando to watch him like a fish out of a pond. “Hope you find someone else.” He finished before leaving.
Lando blinked out of his stupor. He quickly packed up his stuff and ran after Oscar, catching up to him outside the entrance. He fell in step with the other, their hands knocking on every step. Oscar glanced at him and sighed, silently speeding up.
“Listen, just, work with me here, man. I swear I'll pay you back however I can.” Lando spoke, slightly out of breath. Oscar stayed quiet, eyes focused ahead.
“C'mon mate, help me out here. I won't bother you ever again.” Lando stepped in front of him, blocking Oscar's path.
Oscar studied him, “Listen, we're basically strangers. I don't know you, you don't know me. And even then, I don't want to get involved in your business. Just find someone else. Your mum's standards can't be that high.”
“That's the problem, though! They are that high. Please. I've gone through everyone on campus, and you're the only good one there is, Oscar.” Lando pleaded.
“Has she specifically asked for an Australian engineering major or something?” Lando threw his hands up in exasperation.
“Honestly, she may as well have.” Oscar chuckled at that and Jesus Christ. The picture didn't show anything about bunny teeth. “Please. You'll be doing me a huge favour.”
Oscar thought about it for a moment, sighed, and pulled out his phone. He tapped on it and handed it to Lando, “Put your phone number in. Let's talk about this when I'm not late to my lecture.”
Lando rapidly filled out the form and added his number, handing the phone back. Oscar typed something on his phone, hearing a ping from Lando's phone. He pocketed his phone and waved him bye.
Lando waved back with a grin, hope finally blooming in him.
—-
Lando sat waiting at the cafe. He fidgeted with his hands, picking on his nails and bracelets. It was the week after tests had ended, and Oscar had finally asked him to meet up. Lando suggested the cafe near the student accommodation just to make it easier for them both, and Oscar had agreed.
He had been sitting at the table for about 10 minutes already, but that was mainly because he came 20 minutes early. He felt nervous. Sue him.
He nursed a hot chocolate and looked outside, seeing if he could catch any sight of the Aussie. Instead, he was met with brutal cold winds and people wrapped up in long coats, shielding from nature.
After his talk with Oscar, he ran to George to ask his opinion on the encounter. And George, ever the gentleman, pointed out that Oscar was at least giving him a chance.
Except, Lando was feeling more and more anxious every day that passed and no more messages from the other. He would consciously try to look for him around campus, hoping to catch him somewhere. Anywhere.
He wasn't successful.
Lando really didn't want to mess this up. It was his one chance to show his mum that he could take care of himself and that he could choose for himself. And if that meant getting Oscar to be his fake boyfriend, he was up for it.
The chime of the entrance to the cafe broke him out of his thoughts. He perked up to see Oscar walk in, wearing a coat and scarf around his neck. With pants, of course. Lando watched the other look around till his eyes locked with his own.
Oscar took the seat opposite him, taking off the coat and scarf. Before either of them could speak, a waitress appeared at their table and took Oscar's order. Once that was done, he redirected his attention to Lando.
Oscar looked worse for wear. Bags under his eyes, hair ruffled more than realistically possible, and bruised lips from being chewed on. Guess that does that to someone who does engineering. He had seen the worst stages Max had gone through during some exams, and he never wanted to see his friend like that again.
The waitress came back with his drink, and Oscar thanked her before taking a sip of his coffee. He grimaced slightly at the taste and asked for sugar. Lando smiled at the face he made and took a sip of his own drink to hide it.
Oscar cleared his throat, “Soo. What's the overview of this?”
“Umm… come with me to my home for Christmas and pretend to be my boyfriend?” Oscar hummed.
“Details?”
“What details?” Lando blanked.
“When we got together, how we got together, who asked who, how we met. All that kind of stuff.” Oscar listed, stirring in the sugar he received.
“Oh! Uhh.. I don't know. Didn't think that far. Sorry.” Oscar blew on the coffee, clearly expecting Lando's lack of thinking.
“Ok. We can start now then.”
For the rest of the evening, they discussed the specifics, matching their timelines. They threw around ideas and propositions, finally settling on something natural.
In the end, they came up with the story that they met through Charles and Arthur and had exchanged numbers to talk more. They had a couple of dates after, Lando proposed it, of course, and swiftly started dating. But they decided to keep it lowkey since people knew about Lando's reputation, and their friends likely would not have approved.
“That look okay to you?” Oscar asked after summarising.
“Yep. Seems solid.” Lando agreed, nodding his head. “Y'know this might actually work out.”
“So, what are your hobbies?” Lando stared at him with a confused look. “It'd be weird if we're dating, but I know nothing about you.” Oscar clarified.
“Ohhh, yeah, yeah. You're right. Umm, I like to play golf sometimes with Carlos, and we watch Formula 1 on the weekends. Love Valentino Rossi and Sebastian Vettel. They're great,” Lando listed. “You?”
“I'm more of an Aryton Senna fan, although Danny Ric's great too.” Oscar explained, scratching his neck.
Lando grinned, “A true Aussie throughout, huh?”
“Of course,” Oscar cheeks pinkened.
They kept talking for a few hours, exchanging basic info and stories about their life. Lando told about the time he shaved his head on stream, his karting experiences, and that one time he woke up with unwashable ink on his face, courtesy of Alex and George.
He found out that Oscar had three sisters, that he had moved to the UK for racing at a young age but eventually gave up on that and that his dream job was to work as an engineer in Formula 1 for McLaren. Lando also got well acquainted with Oscar's deadpan voice and dry humour.
The sky started to darken as they continued their chat. Customers had come and left during their conversation, paying no mind to them. By the end, both were laughing and giggling, cracking jokes about their friends.
Eventually, the cafe started to close up, prompting them to wrap up their conversation and pay for their drinks. Lando insisted on paying, and after arguing in front of the cashier, he swiped his card when Oscar wasn't looking.
In return, Oscar volunteered to walk Lando to his apartment. They lived in different buildings, but Oscar's wasn't far from his, so he accepted. They walked in the cold air, hands stuffed in their pockets, finding warmth in their scarves.
Once they reached the building, Lando waved goodbye and entered. He watched Oscar walk away before going up the stairs. He keyed open the door to his apartment and was met with George and Alex, sitting on the couch, ready to grill.
He exhaled and shut the door behind him.
—-
It was finally Saturday. The fatal day.
The day that he was taking Oscar, his ‘boyfriend’, back to his home.
Uni had ended a week ago, and everyone had left. A few students were still scattered on the campus, taking the later flights. George and Alex were the first to leave, going to their respective households, although George did say that he would visit Alex on Christmas.
Max was next. The Dutch had taken a flight back to the Netherlands to spend time with his family. He promised them souvenirs that hopefully wasn't going to be Cannabis. Charles followed a couple of days later. Lando had driven him to the airport, watching as the Monegasque took off with his luggage to Monaco. He also promised gifts, but deep down, Lando felt that they were going to be unnecessarily expensive.
And then, Lando was left alone. He woke up to a lonely apartment, not to George's incessant sing along to the radio. He would never admit it, but Lando kind of missed it.
The reason he and Oscar hadn't taken off to Glastonbury yet was that the Australian had a job. Tada! Sadly, his job wouldn't give him days off until the Monday before Christmas. So they decided that they would leave on Saturday evening since Oscar needs to cover for a friend's shift.
Lando had already packed his bags, a single suitcase. Given that his old clothes would definitely fit him, he didn't pack much. He woke up that day and counted as the hours ticked by, peeking at his phone, waiting for a message from Oscar to come through.
When it did, he immediately grabbed his keys. He picked up his suitcase, left the windows a tiny bit open, turned off the heating system, and locked the apartment. He walked down to the car park, unlocking his car. He put his bag inside the boot and drove off.
He parked in front of Oscar's apartment and sent a quick text indicating that he was outside. Scrolling on his phone to pass the time, he heard a tap against the window and looked up to see Oscar. Unlocking the boot, he stepped out and walked behind to meet the Aussie.
“Hi.” Oscar offered.
“Hey. How was work?” Lando didn't know much about Oscar's job, just that it was in retail. But if there's one thing that Lando knows, it's that people are horrible things.
“Eh. Same old, same old. Had a woman shout her head off at us. It wasn't pleasant.” Oscar tiredly smiled.
Lando grimaced, “You sure you still want to drive?”
“Yes. I'd rather you not kill us before we get out of London.” Oscar walked towards the drivers side and slyly smirked when Lando flushed.
“I'm not that bad at road raging.” Lando huffed once they were sitting inside the car.
Oscar laughed and started the engine, looking around before pulling out. Lando worked on the music as Oscar placed his hands in front of the air vents, soaking in the heat.
Once Oscar found out how hard Lando road rages, he suggested that he should drive them until they get out of London at least, then they can stop at a ‘Welcome break’ to eat food and from there Lando can drive them till they reach Glastonbury.
And it's a good thing that Oscar did because the traffic in London is absolutely atrocious. He had to stop every two seconds, the traffic lights wouldn't stay green for a long time, and don't get him started on the roundabouts. You really need a special kind of patience to drive in London.
Lando muttered insults at the other drivers, eyeing every car with disdain. He almost rolled down his window and shouted at another guy if it wasn't for Oscar controlling it from his side. Thank God for driver override.
Once they reached the M25, Oscar breathed a sigh of relief, thankful that he hadn't trashed Lando's car. He carefully manoeuvred the car into the right lane and pressed down on the pedal. Lando had been scrolling on his phone, legs crossed on the seat.
After they got onto the M3, Oscar went into the first ‘Welcome break’ he found. They both stretched as they got out of the car, having been stuck in that god forsaken traffic for hours. They agreed on McDonalds and ordered their food.
Once they finished, Lando slipped into the driver's seat as Oscar sat in the passenger side. Lando drove out to the motorway. He quickly sent a text to his mum, saying that they were on their way to notify her.
—-
By the time they reached Lando's house, it had gone past 9, closer to 10. Oscar was fast asleep next to him, head leaning against the window as he parked in the driveway.
Lando waited for a few seconds, taking in the serene expression on Oscar's face. He looked so calm and peaceful, with a little drool slipping past his lips. It hurt Lando to shake him awake. He did take a picture, though. For blackmail.
“Oi, Osc. Wake up, we've reached.” He whispered.
Oscar blinked awake, slowly taking in his surroundings. He looked at Lando first, who offered him a small smile, then turned to look out the window at the house. He sat up, wiping the saliva off with the back of his hand.
“Had a nice sleep?” Lando giggled, realising just how sleepy Oscar was.
“Mhm. Remind me to call you if I ever go on a road trip.” Oscar croaked, clearing his throat after.
Lando chuckled as they exited the car. After they grabbed their bags, they walked up to the door. The house was decorated in all kinds of Christmas stuff. An inflatable Santa Clause and Reindeer stood in the front garden with pathfinder lights stuck into the grass. All the windows had different types of lights hanging on them. It illuminated the house better than actual lights. Giving it a very Christmassy vibe.
As Lando raised his hand to knock, Oscar stopped him. The older looked at him, confused. Oscar patted down his clothes, getting rid of all the dust and crumbs. He tested his breath against his hands and widened his eyes to look more awake.
Lando laughed silently, impressed at the amount of effort Oscar put into this, watching him with a fond look.
“What? First impressions matter.” Lando shook his head at Oscar's excuse and knocked on the door.
A few seconds later, he was met with the grinning face of his mum. Without thinking, he gave her a hug, dropping his bags. He heard the shouts of his siblings from the inside. Probably fighting over the last sweet. Man, nothing beat home.
Lando pulled away with a wet smile, his mum having the same look. She kissed his cheek and ruffled his hair.
“Didn't I say to visit often?” She teased.
“I come back every year!” Lando squeaked indignantly.
They both burst into giggles before she turned her attention to Oscar. Oscar, who stood behind awkwardly, not wanting to interrupt their moment. His mum shared a look with Lando before greeting Oscar.
“You must be Oscar.” She eyed him.
“It's very nice to meet you, Mrs. Norris.” Oscar forced himself to not stutter, putting a decent smile on display.
“Please, just call me Cisca. To be honest, I couldn't believe Lando when he said that he found a boyfriend but seeing you now, in person. I guess he wasn't lying.” Cisca coyly elbowed Lando.
“Mummm. You don't have to embarrass me.” Lando whined, flinching away.
“You do that plenty by yourself.” Oscar smiled at their interaction, reminding him of his own mother. It slightly dampened his smile.
“Well? Come on in! It's freezing out here.” She patted their shoulders as they walked into the house, closing the door behind them.
They are instantly enveloped with heat radiating from all sides. It tickled against their cold skin, a tingling sensation crawling up their spine. Oscar inhaled deeply, smelling the faint scent of pudding. His mouth instantly watered.
Lando walked ahead towards the kitchen at the back, dropping his bags near the stairs, Oscar copying him. The taller hesitantly followed, being ushered by Cisca.
“Guess who's back??!” Lando exclaimed while entering the kitchen with wide arms.
His father and siblings paused their argument to spare him a glance before continuing. Lando gasped offendedly, hands on his hips. He moved to his dad, the only one who acknowledged him, reaching for a hug.
“Can't believe you all. I come back after so long, and this is what I get.” He directed to his siblings.
“Stop being such a drama queen. Your annoying ass was here barely four months ago.” Oliver commented, side eyeing him.
“We've got better things to worry about.” Flo made a move towards the last pudding slice on the table and was immediately blocked by Oliver.
“You're not important right now. Where's your ‘boyfriend’, by the way? We've been waiting to interrogate him.” Cisca, the younger one, sneakily toed her hand towards the pudding while the other two were distracted only for the plate to be moved by their mother.
They all collectively groaned and turned to blame Lando when they spotted Oscar standing awkwardly by the door. They froze for a second, exchanging glances amongst themselves before turning back to the Aussie.
Oscar had a sheepish grin, nodding to Lando's siblings, “Hello.”
Their eyes widened and snapped to Lando, who had a proud Cheshire grin on his face. He walked to Oscar, sliding a hand around his waist and stuck his nose in the air.
“You actually got someone? Like a permanent someone? Not a temporary someone?” Flo questioned, eyes flicking between Lando and Oscar.
“Yep. This is Oscar, my boyfriend.” Lando's cheeks hurt from smiling, but he was so pleased at his siblings' shocked looks. He couldn't help himself.
The three of them immediately launched into questions, voices overlapping, rising in volume before they got shushed by their mum.
“Be quiet! Mila and Savannah are sleeping upstairs. You guys don’t want to wake them up, do you?” Their mum threatened, glaring at them.
They quickly shut up, looking like they had been caught with a hand in the candy jar.
“You can ask for the details tomorrow. Once everyone is fresh and awake. For now, all of you go to your bedrooms. Good night.”
Sighing, they all bid each other good night before going up the stairs to their respective rooms. It was only Oscar, Lando, Cisca, and Adam in the kitchen now. Adam eyed Oscar with a curious look as Cisca put a plate in Lando's hand, whispering something to him.
Oscar politely smiles at Adam, leaving when Lando beckons him towards the stairs. He follows Lando with their bags, up the stairs, and to the end of the hallway to a room labelled ‘Lando’ with messy crayons.
Lando nudged open the door and switched on the lights with his elbow. Oscar walked in to find a double bed with a Christmas themed duvet on it sat in a corner. A bedside table and wardrobe. There was a shelf in one corner with trophies and medals placed carefully.
Next to it, a desk with a console and a gamer chair. There were posters of race cars and drivers stuck against the wall above the bed. And a window facing the back garden, covered with decorations with a radiator below.
The room looked cosy and lived in. Lando pulled the blinds and curtains close and dropped his bag by the wardrobe, motioning Oscar to do the same. He moved around the room, pulling the duvet down the bed and moving the chair to make more space.
“The bathroom's at the other end of the hallway if you want to take a shower. Nobody will mind,” He suggested after he noticed Oscar standing still behind him.
Oscar nodded and got out his pyjamas from his bag before going to the bathroom. He noticed the room next to Lando's as Oliver’s. Opposite them were Flo’s and Cisca's rooms. He also saw another set of stairs going to the second floor, presumably where their parents' room was.
He opened the bathroom door, turning on the light. There was a huge bathtub with a shower head, the toilet, and sink next to it. There were about seven different types of shampoos and conditioners placed in holders by the tub.
Oscar locked the door and stripped himself, twisting the knob for hot water. He waited for a bit before stepping in, letting the warm water pass over his body.
After showering, he dried himself and got dressed. He walked back to Lando's room, trying to be as quiet as possible when he noticed the room lights were off. Quietly, he opened the door and shut it behind him. He saw Lando sitting on the chair, scrolling through his phone.
Oscar stood for a second, unsure of what to do. They hadn't really discussed sleeping arrangements at the cafe. So, while the bed was big enough for the two of them, he wasn't sure if he was allowed. It's not like there was a couch he could sleep on. And the chair didn't look comfortable enough for his neck.
“Lando?” Oscar fidgeted.
“Yeah?” He replied without looking up from his phone.
“Where do I sleep?”
Lando looked up at him, turning off his phone with a click. They both stared for a second.
“Where do you think, you muppet? On the bed, obviously.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes Oscar, I'm 100% sure. Where else would you sleep? On the ground? That wouldn't be very comfy, mate.” Lando pointed out while picking out his pyjamas from the wardrobe.
He turned back to see Oscar's unsure look, the hesitant glance at the bed and him before sighing. The older picked up the plate, thrusting it into Oscar's hands before walking towards the door.
“Just sleep on the bed, Osc. It's not a big deal.” He noticed Oscar's confused look at the pudding on the plate. “That's my mum's famous pudding. They were fighting over the last piece earlier. Mum said to give it to you. So eat that and go to sleep.”
Before Oscar could respond, Lando left for his shower, leaving him standing with a plate in his hands. Even though Oscar could have argued more, exhaustion hit him like a bullet train. Every muscle in his body ached for relief.
Obediently, he ate the pudding, melting into the taste on the first few bites. He ate half of the slice, leaving the other half for Lando since he hadn't had any. He placed the plate down and promptly collapsed on the bed.
He had already put his phone on charge and checked all his notifications. Burying his head into the pillow, he began drifting off to dream world when he heard the door open again. Since his muscles didn't want to cooperate with him, he didn't see Lando walk in and look at him with a warm smile.
“Oi. That's my side. Move to the other side.” Lando complained as he turned off the main light, climbing into the bed, pushing Oscar towards the wall. He had eaten his half of the slice once he spotted it on the desk.
Oscar rolled over, taking the duvet with him, making Lando fight him for it back. Eventually, he conceded, watching as Lando covered them both before turning the bedside lamp off, filling the room with darkness.
“Night.” Lando mumbled. Oscar replied with a vaguely similar noise, and they both drifted off to sleep.