Work Text:
Seb is nervous as she walks through the paddock at the start of the 2012 season, feeling the eyes of everyone on her. She wants the ground to swallow her whole.
She had gone to visit family during the winter break, her sister having brought her adorable toddler with her to visit. Seb loved seeing her niece of course, but the child had inherited the Vettel gene of mischief and had somehow managed to glob a ton of chewing gum into Seb's hair when Seb had thought it was discarded safely. Sticky-haired and sticky-handed, Seb had gone to her mother who had admitted that it was no use, Seb would need to have her hair cut very short. Maybe shaved.
So now she’s walking through the paddock looking like she has just escaped from a government laboratory or a bad Sinead O'Connor lookalike contest. All her golden curls are gone, shave to the root, far from growing back soon.
She feels self-conscious as she walks through the paddock, knowing that her hair looks extreme, odd. Maybe the shape of her head is unattractive, Seb suddenly worries. She can feel a blush on her cheeks as she ducks her head, realising she no longer has her hair to hide behind. She feels on-display and naked in a way she is clearly not comfortable with.
"Sebi?"
Oh it couldn't get worse could it? She had almost forgotten that Kimi was back in F1 this year, now she is fully reminded of this as she hears the older woman's gravelly voice.
Taking a deep breath, she looks up and meets Kimi's eyes, trying to smile but knowing it isn't convincing, "Hey, Kimi."
Kimi looks as stunning as always, her hair slightly longer than before and this warm look in her green eyes. But Kimi also looks worried for her; it makes her heart skip a beat.
"What happened to your hair?" Kimi asks quietly, moving over and reaching out her hand, looking like she wants to run her fingers through it.
"My niece happened." Seb answers, ducking her head to allow Kimi to touch her hair. "She got a huge fucking wad of chewing gum in my hair and it couldn't be saved."
Kimi hums, her palm moving over her buzzed hair. "You still look cute. Badass even."
"You're just saying that!" Seb replies, her cheeks flushing and giving her away.
"I don't say bullshit, you know that by now." Kimi answers, smiling softly at her. "It's good to see you again, Sebi."
"Yeah, you too." Seb responds, enjoying that it feels like no time has passed between them.
"Want to come to my room? We can catch up." Kimi holds out her open hand, her expression open, affectionate.
Taking Kimi's in hers feels an awful lot like coming home. She lets the Finn lead her through the paddock, a happy smile on her lips and her head finally held high.
She suddenly doesn't feel self-conscious. With Kimi's hand pressed against hers she feels safe, secure in a way she cannot describe.
"You look good, keep your head up." Kimi turns to look at her, squeezing her fingers gently in reassurance, "fuck anyone who thinks otherwise."
"What about Webber? He always complains about me. Teases me" Seb questions as they make it to Kimi's motorhome.
"That idiot can whine about it, I don't give a shit. You shouldn't either."
"Mhmm." Seb bites her lip, her non-agreement making Kimi turn to her.
"What has he been saying?" Kimi's voice is low, a deeper tenor to the gravel.
Seb shakes her head. "Not right now, please? I just want to catch up with you."
Kimi frowns but concedes for now, however it's clear she will not fully let it go. For now, Kimi heads inside her motor home, her entwined hands tugging Sebastian in after her.
Seb looks around the room and happily takes a seat on the sofa, it feels the same as it ever did. She sinks into the sofa with a happy sigh as Kimi passes her a bottle of cold water.
As Kimi sits besides her, she can feel the older woman's stern gaze on her and it makes her squirm in her seat. "What's up?"
"What has Webber said to you?" Kimi asks bluntly, getting right to the point.
Seb sighs softly, distracting herself by taking a sip of water. "Uh, the usual with him, he saw my hair and asked if I was trying to out-dyke you with my haircut."
She can feel Kimi freeze beside her and she quickly adds, "Look, he's an asshole! I told him he can go fuck himself and I don't care what he says"
"But I do," Kimi's voice is lethal, "I'm going to kill him."
"Kimi, please!" Seb reaches out to take her hand again, her eyes pleading, "He doesn't matter. I finally got you back, please don't get kicked out for assaulting Mark!"
Kimi stops and looks at her, her eyes softening at her words, "You finally got me back?"
Heat rushes to her cheeks and she lets out a soft sound. "Oh, I uh- I uh- I mean, I-"
"Sebi." Kimi's voice is surprisingly delicate, gentle. She looks at where their fingers are weaved together and gives them a little squeeze. "I missed you too. So much"
Seb blinks, staring at Kimi in wide-eyed wonder. "You missed me too?"
"Why do you think I came back to F1? I could have stayed rallying, but I missed something about F1 that I couldn't let go." Kimi's gaze is intense, Seb cannot look away from it.
"What was it?" Seb whispers, her breath catching in her throat.
"You," Kimi replies simply like it means everything, which it does.
Seb is thunderstruck, for a moment not able to move or speak, but then she sees the worry and doubt creeping into Kimi's expression and she squeezes her hand, on the harder side. "You came back for me? All of this because of me? "
"I missed you." Kimi repeats her earlier words, "and rally wasn't as fun without you. I don't even care that I'm with Lotus, I want to be near you."
Seb shakes her head, a shocked and pleased smile on her lips. "Coming back to F1 just for me is insane."
"It's worth it," Kimi offers her a crooked smile. "I will keep Mark away from you."
"I can take care of myself." Seb sighs, but she's nodding slightly. "You could take me to dinner instead?"
Kimi looks surprised at Seb becoming more forward, "Yes? How does tonight sound?"
"It sounds perfect," Seb beams, "we need to catch up and what better way to do it?"
Kimi takes their joined hands and kisses her skin in reply, making her swoon. "I agree, what about seven tonight?"
"Pick me up outside the hotel?" Seb asks, feeling as if her heart was racing in her chest.
"Of course, but for now-" Kimi reaches across and runs her broad palms over Seb's shaved hair- "show off your hair for me? Fuck what Mark says, you are perfect."
Perfect. The word makes a grin appear on Seb's face. "I could do that for you."
"You do it for yourself. Because it's the truth, you are perfect." Kimi's gaze is affectionate and intense in a way that Seb feels butterflies in her stomach.
"Okay," Seb says softly, moving to stand up and brushing down her team shirt, "I'd better go, I have a team meeting in ten minutes."
"I can walk you?" Kimi offers, standing up and looking rather hopefully down at Seb.
"I would love that." Seb smiles beautifully, heading out of Kimi's motorhome with her and heading down the paddock.
Kimi places her steady hand against Seb's back and walks her through the paddock, encouraging her to hold herself with confidence.
With Kimi, she is powerful. She can’t wait for their date, she’s sure it will be one of many for them.
Seb finally grins into the open air, genuine and there for all to see.