Work Text:
This hot spring trip was supposed to be a secret.
The warm mist was everywhere, covering the night like a soft cloud. Lando Norris was in the water up to his neck. He was busy playing with his waterproof phone case. He had insisted on bringing his phone into the hot spring, which made Alex Albon roll his eyes for the third time.
"Are you serious? What if you drop it?" Alex leaned back against the edge of the pool. "We are finally hanging out, and you are just talking to people online?"
"It’s waterproof, mate," Lando said without looking up. "Besides—holy crap! Look at George’s back—"
George Russell was facing away from them, looking up at the stars. Water was sliding down his back, glowing under the dim lights. He pushed his wet hair back, and the steam swirled around him like a scene from a movie.
George, stay still—" Lando whispered.
George turned around. In that second, Lando took the photo.
There were water drops on George’s long eyelashes. The hot water made his face look red and his eyes look bright and soft. In the misty light, he looked very beautiful—a way he never looks on the race track. It was ethereal, like a classical portrait.
"What are you doing?" George asked. His voice was a bit deep because of the steam.
"Nothing, keep looking at your stars," Lando waved his hand. He looked at the photo and whistled. "God, that’s a masterpiece! Next time when Grill the Grid asks who the best photographer is, you better say it’s me!"
Alex swam over and looked at the screen. He stopped for two seconds.
"Yo, send that to me."
"Sending it to the group now," Lando grinned. He moved his thumb across the screen to find his chat with Alex. "Why do we change our group name every week? I have the ADHD—"
Alex closed his eyes to relax. He didn’t see Lando click the wrong window. He didn't see the photo go into the chat called "F1™ Drivers Official."
They stayed in the water for another twenty minutes. When they finally got out, the mountain air was very cold. They wrapped themselves in towels and walked to the changing room, talking about where to eat ramen.
"I'm so hungry," George said, drying his hair.
"Then you are paying," Lando laughed.
"Why me?"
"Because I just took the best photo of you! You should thank me."
The changing room was very bright. They were getting dressed when Alex grabbed his phone. Suddenly, he froze.
"What's wrong?" Lando was trying to button his jeans.
Alex looked at his phone with a shocked face. He slowly looked up at Lando.
"Lando."
"Yeah?"
"Where did you send that photo?"
"To our group, why—" Lando stopped. He grabbed his phone. When the screen lit up, he saw a hundred notifications.
F1™ Drivers Official (99+)
With shaking hands, he opened the chat. The latest message was his photo—George Russell’s wet, soulful gaze, the mist, the golden light turning his skin into warm jade. Accompanied by his own commentary:
@l4ndooo:God damn.
@l4ndooo:Georgie~ you should pay for the photo!
@l4ndooo:[Image]
Below that, the chat was exploding.
@Charles_Leclerc:?
@Charles_Leclerc:??
@Charles_Leclerc:Why wasn't I invited?!
@CarlosSainz55:This should be on your photography page, Lando.
@PierreGasly:Left me behind too? But wow... gorgeousssss 😍
@YukiTsunoda:gorgeousssss 😍
@Z_Guanyu:gorgeousssss 😍
@Fernando14everyoung:To be young again.
@Hulkenberg:Unlike you, who is old now. @Fernando14everyoung
@LewisHamilton:George is looking as good as ever.
@Fernando14everyoung：Unlike you, who is old now.
@LanceStroll:Lando’s photography skills are actually peaking.
@EstebanOcon:@LanceStroll It’s easy to take a good photo when the subject is George William Russell.
Albon, watching the chaos, tried to maintain some order:
@Alex_Albon:@Charles_Leclerc I texted you yesterday!
@Alex_Albon:@PierreGasly I thought you were busy with Charles again.
@Charles_Leclerc:MY PHONE FELL IN THE HOTEL POOL YESTERDAY! IT’S WATER DAMAGED! I DIDN’T GET THE TEXT!!!
@Charles_Leclerc: It is unfair!
Alex switched over to the Red Bull Drivers group chat, and his headache got even worse.
RBR Not To Be A No.2 Driver (99+)
@YukiTsunoda:Did Lando just post in the wrong group...
@ohhhhman:Wait, are we allowed to see this for free? 😱
@ohhhhman:[Forwarded Image]
@ldbld41:Wow, so this is the partner of max? So hot 🤤
@LiamLawson:Looking for a new man, I see 🙄
@CarlosSainz55:Don’t be like that, Lando just has an eye for beauty 😘
@ldbld41:Classic Norris. What a shot. It's perfect 😍
@PierreGasly:So... did Max and George break up again this time? Max hasn't said a word in the main group either. Maybe they’re together.
@DanielRicciardo:Nope. If Max was there, do you think Lando would even get the chance to take a solo shot?
@PierreGasly:True...
@YukiTsunoda:Is it just me, or has Oscar not replied either?
@PierreGasly:OMG Yuki, you found the point.
@LiamLawson:I knew! ha! They’ve got something going on!
Lando felt faint. He clicked his DMs—it was worse.
Max Verstappen (63 new messages)
@MaxVerstappen1:Where are you?
@MaxVerstappen1:Send me the location. Now.
@MaxVerstappen1:Who else is there? Is Piastri there?
@MaxVerstappen1:Delete! Send the original to me.
@MaxVerstappen1:[Transferred $1000 💵]
@MaxVerstappen1:Take the money.
@MaxVerstappen1:Take ten more photos for me.
@MaxVerstappen1:Lando?
@MaxVerstappen1:Pick up the phone!
@MaxVerstappen1:I’m coming to find you. You’re dead.
Suddenly, George’s phone started ringing.
"It’s Max," George said. "Why is he calling me so much?"
"DON'T ANSWER!" Lando and Alex screamed.
But it was too late. George answered. Max’s voice was so loud they could all hear it:
"George? Where are you? Which hot spring? Send me the address, I’m coming to pick you up right now. Why didn't you come with me when I asked?!"
"Max, calm down," George said. "Lando just sent a photo to the wrong group by mistake. It’s OK."
"OK?!" Max shouted. "That photo is in a group with EVERY driver! Everyone saw it! Even Piastri!"
Lando sat on the floor and put his head in his hands. "I'm dead. Tell my mom I love her."
Alex started laughing. "Oh, look. Bottas says we should make a calendar with this photo."
A knock came at the door. All three jumped.
"Mr. Norris? Mr. Russell?" It was the staff. "There is a Mr. Verstappen at the front desk. He says he is your friend and he wants to see you."
"Tell him we've already checked out! Tell him we're in another country!" Lando hissed.
"Uh, he said if you didn't come out, he’d come in."
Too late. The door opened. Max Verstappen was standing there. His hair was messy because he had driven so fast. He looked at them and then looked at George.
"George," he said. "We need to talk."
George sighed. "Max, you are being crazy."
Alex and Lando grabbed their bags quickly. "We are going to leave now," Alex said.
"No! Don't leave me!" George whispered.
But Lando was already at the door, patting George on the shoulder with fake sympathy. "Bestie, sometimes your friends are yourbiggest problem.Good luck—I hope you can still walk tomorrow! We’re going to eat ramen without you!"
"Lando Norris!"
The door closed. Only George and Max were left.
"So," Max said, walking closer. "You came here with Lando and Alex."
"Yes," George said. "I don't need to ask you for permission."
"You didn't invite Sharl."
"Why you say Sharl?"
"You didn't invite Oscar."
"Why would I?."
Max stared at him for a long moment. "Nothing," he shook his head. "Just checking."
"You're jealous," George said. It wasn't a question.
Max was silent. Then he looked at George’s wet hair. "The photo looks good," he said quietly. "I just don't like everyone else seeing you like that."
"It’s just a shirtless photo, Max! I have many on my Instagram."
George laughed and shook his head. "You're truly insane."
"Insane for you," Max said. He took George's hand. "Let's go. I'll pay for the ramen. Lando and Alex are probably eating already."
"How do you know we're having ramen?"
"Because you always want ramen after a hot spring," Max said, leading him out. "And I need to watch you so Lando doesn't post anything else."