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Silverstone was supposed to be his home race. His favourite race. He was supposed to meet his fans. He was supposed to enjoy it. He was supposed to just race. He was not supposed to get shot. He was not supposed to have his blood on Ollie, Oscar, Max, Pierre or Charles' team kits. He was not supposed to die, right there and then in Oscar's arms.
6th July 2025
"Lan, Lan, stay with me please," Oscar begged, adjusting his body to hold Lando's head in a more comfortable way.
He could see Ollie Bearman, Charles Leclerc, Pierre Gasly, Carlos Sainz and Max Verstappen pressing bandages and clothes to the wound, their umbrellas long forgotten. The blood, sweat and rain had mixed together a while ago making it impossible to tell what is what.
Oscar knew in his mind though that the medical car wouldn't get to them fast enough. It didn't mean they weren't going to try save his boyfriend teammate.
He could feel Lando drifting away. The younger was incapable of even speaking to him, he just clutched Oscar, his eyes full of acceptance that he wasn't going to make it.
Without much thought, Oscar leaned down and kissed him. Lando froze for a second, the two had agreed to keep the relationship a secret to avoid media stress but here, now, while Lando is bleeding out, neither had a care in the world.
Oscar could feel Lando slipping away. Neither relented in the kiss. Until at the very end, Lando pulled away and whispered only for Oscar to hear- " I love you."
That was when Lando Norris took his final breath and that was when Oscar Piastri's world imploded.
He could feel the tears slipping out as he cradled Lando's lifeless body, limp in his arms. He could hear someone talking to him in a different language. A language Lando would never hear again.
He became acutely aware that someone was trying to unhook his arms from around Lando.
"NO!" He yelled, clutching Lando tighter.
"Oscar, mon cœur, Lando is in a better place but I know you're hurting. We need to go though, you'll get pneumonia," a voice Oscar recognised as Charles was speaking to him.
He just gave up after that, letting two pairs of arms guide him upwards, not seeing any point in fighting them since they were going to win anyway. Oscar didn't care what happened anymore. He didn't care where he was going, he didn't care what was going to happen and he certainly didn't care about what the press were going to say.
All he remembers after that is being laid down on a couch in someone's driver's room, and falling into a deep, dreamless sleep, the pain of the day subsiding as he entered a world where he could pretend he was going to wake up and everything would be fine.
12th of July
The funeral was a sombre and tearful affair full of “ sorries” and “he's in a better place now”. It made Oscar want to scream, a rare thing for the stoic Aussie. He wanted to scream about how Lando was not in a better place, he shouldn't have to be in that better place, here is that better place. Here, with Oscar.
The only people Oscar had spoken to since that day were Max, Charles, Pierre, Carlos and Ollie. They were the ones who were closest and able to help.
He knew the other drivers wanted to help but the bullets were everywhere and by the time it was safe to even try to help, the others had got there.
Poor Ollie though, the young boy was soaked in Lando's blood since he was standing next to him when it hit Lando. Ollie, clearly shaken, had somehow managed to find a first-aid kid despite literally being covered in blood.
The poor kid had barely spoken to anyone all week, except Kimi Antonelli, the young Mercedes rookie and Gabi Borteleto, the Kick Sauber rookie.
He had of course talked to Oscar, Carlos, Max, Charles and Pierre. Oscar had taken him on as like a little brother and Max, Carlos and Charles were all acting like his parents.
Pierre then was being a steady anchor, making sure everyone had what they needed and whispering French into Ollie's ear when he was too overwhelmed with grief to even sleep.
Oscar could see the toll it took on Pierre and Charles especially though. Charles having lost Jules, his father and they both lost Anthoine, whose anniversary was coming up very soon.
As he tried to reel his thoughts back into the present, he felt a hand on his lower back. Looking up, it was none other than Mark.
Of all the people in his life, Oscar needed Mark a lot right now. Mark surprisingly just hugged his fellow Aussie. All Oscar could do was sob into his chest as Lando's casket was lowered into the ground.
All around him he could see Max and Charles hugging Ollie tight, Lewis unable to look, Carlos and Pierre wiping their eyes that were immediately refilling with tears. Daniel was just staring at the coffin blankly, like he didn't even know what was happening. Fernando, Gabi, Lance and Esteban were looking at each other, a silent prayer sent from them all to Lando. Liam, Yuki, Jack, Isack, Alex, Nico, so many of them were there. Even Sebastian, Kimi, Jenson, Hogan, Mick were there.
Nobody in that building was okay, none of them were going to be okay for a while.
Oscar took one last look at the patch of soil now covering Lando's coffin, shielding him from the world. Max Fewtrell and them were there, Zak, Andrea, so many people all there for what? A goodbye that shouldn't have had to be made in the first place.
14th July 2025
Ring Ring
That bloody phone won't shut up. Oscar sighed knowing he should have left it on DND. It was the first time he had taken it off dnd since Sunday.
Ring Ring
Oscar finally picked up.
“Hello, Mr Piastri, my deepest apologies but we couldn't get through to Mr Norris and he has you down as his emergency contact so we figured we'd ring you. This is in regards to a credit card deposit on a restaurant for Sunday the 6th of July. The reservation was never attended and we just need to verify a couple of things if that's okay?”
Oscar froze, he had forgotten about that.
5th July 2025
“Oscar, Oscar!” Lando was yelling, clearly very pleased with himself as he entered Oscar's hotel room. They were both supposed to be asleep in 10 minutes.
“Yes Lando?” Replied Oscar, not looking up from his phone, knowing this was gonna be something very funny or very incriminating.
“How about you and I go out for dinner tomorrow, after the race?” Asked Lando, his eyes sparkling with that childlike hope that made Oscar love him so much.
“Is there a catch?” He asked, putting his phone down, intrigued since Lando wasn't the best at planning this sort of stuff believe it or not. So usually when he does plan something there's a catch.
“A teensy one,” smiled Lando, grinning mischievously.
“Well, enlighten me.” Requested Oscar, leaning forward in his chair.
“Whoever places higher pays.” Said Lando, full of confidence.
“Lan,” Oscar began gently, “don't you mean whoever finishes lower pays.”
“No, you heard me higher not lower.” Lando was laughing now, full on, high pitched laugh that Oscar loved about him.
“Okay, screw it, I'm in.” Relented Oscar.
“Oh I'm gonna owe you such an expensive meal tomorrow.” Taunted Lando, his grin wide as he left the room, very content with his bet.
“We'll see Lan, we'll see.” Replied Oscar ominously.
Both were completely unaware that this dinner will never happen. That was their last encounter as a couple, not just teammates who have to pretend to have a strained relationship.
Present day
“Mr Piastri, is everything okay?” The lady on the other end asked, concerned.
“Mr Norris has passed away unexpectedly.” Oscar stated simply. He was unable to do anything other than that.
“Oh my- my deepest condolences. We can sort this another time or with his lawyers if you would rather?” She replied, horrified at the mistake.
“Please, yes. It would be better to discuss this with the lawyers.” Oscar replied. “Have a good day, goodbye.”
“Yes we will do so Mr Piastri. Goodbye.” The woman said, hanging up.
Oscar just sat back down and stared at Lando's number in his phone.
He picked it up and just started texting it.
Lan🧡
July 6th 2025 10:25 am
Lan🧡
Lov u see u soon 4 the race ✅️
Can't wait to pay tn ✅️
Oscar
In ur dreams ✅️
I'll be paying ✅️
Lov u though 🧡 ✅️
14th July 18:47 pm
Oscar
Heyyy Lan, hope ur okay ✔️
Oscar
I miss u ✔️
Oscar
You shouldn't have left me ✔️
Oscar
I need u pls come back ✔️
Oscar
I love you ✔️
Oscar
Lan? ✔️
Oscar put the phone down, the screen glowing that bright blue light. He shut it off. In truth, he didn't know what he expected from texting Lando's number, sure it was deactivated now.
He closed his eyes and just fell asleep there and then. On the couch, in his hoodie.
He didn't hear Mark come in with groceries. He didn't feel anything when Mark lay down beside him and hugged him. Somehow in his sleep though, he felt like things might be okay. They will never be perfect, but they might get better.