Work Text:
-On a random Tuesday at the MTC-
Lando and Oscar are in the locker area putting their coats back on to brave the English weather when Oscar says, "We broke up".
He doesn't look at Lando as he says it, continues with his movements, bending down to tie his shoes. The air changes however, Lando pauses, he comes to a complete standstill. Taking a shaky breath he asks, "Why?"
Oscar stands up and finally looks at Lando then, Lando can see the faint red in the soft brown of Oscar's eyes. "You know why" Oscar says, sounding dejected.
Lando shakes his head, refusing to meet Oscar's eyes. "No, Oscar. Please. You can't do this."
"Well it's too late now" Oscar's voice is hollow as it comes from above Lando.
"No, Oscar. You guys are meant to be together. I'll suffer in silence." Lando mumbles, feeling guilty.
"Except you won't..." Oscar's monotone breaks Lando's heart further.
-Three months ago in Monaco-
Oscar was jolted awake as his phone rings incessantly on the bedside table beside him. It was pitch black, he whipped his head around and picked up his phone, not even checking to see who's calling. Oscar was not in the presence of mind to say anything so he just held it to his ear, hoping they talk.
"Oscah! You answered! Finally!" Lando yelled into his ear.
Oscar grimaced at the loud screeching directly into his head. He checked to see if his girlfriend is still sleeping and then tiptoed out of the bedroom and into the kitchen. Leaning against the counter he rubbed a hand over his face. He could hear the strobing music of the club across the phone.
"Lando, are you drunk?" Oscar asked patiently.
"Maybe..." he drawled, Oscar could hear the smile in his voice.
"Where are you?" Oscar asked firmly.
"Here an-and there" Lando said hiccuping halfway through.
"I'm coming to get you. Do not hang up!" Oscar said already moving to put his shoes on.
"No, Osc. I'm fine, I just wanted to hear your voice." Oscar doesn't respond grabbing his keys and closing the door softly behind him.
Once in the car, he checked Lando's location, thankful he has him on Find my Friends. His phone connects to the car and he is relieved when it shows Lando is only five minutes away. He finally checked the clock on his dash to see it's 3am. Lando better be bloody grateful for this.
Lando had gone quiet on the other line, the only sound the hum of the music.
"Lando, I'll be there in three minutes. Can you please find your way outside?" Oscar asked.
"No, Oscah. I don't want to leave!" Lando whined.
"Now, Lando." Oscar's tone holds no room for argument.
"Ok" Lando muttered quietly.
"Thank you" Oscar sighed.
When Oscar pulled up outside the club, he finds Lando standing there like he asked. He was shaking from the night air as he puts his phone in his pocket seeing Oscar approach.
"Get in." Oscar said rolling down the window and unlocking the car.
Lando shook his head vehemently.
Oscar was tired and his sleep had been ruined, he was frustrated. He took a deep breath, closing his eyes. When he opened them he saw Lando still standing there in the cold, looking small and fragile.
"Lando, please don't test me. It's 3am. Get in the fucking car." Oscar refused to raise his voice.
Lando rolled his eyes and got in. Oscar closed the window and reached back and handed Lando his hoodie.
"Put this on, you look like you're freezing." Oscar said pulling away.
Lando pulled it on over his t-shirt and sighed content. Oscar could feel Lando's eyes on him as he drove.
"Lando, you're staring" he said, still looking ahead.
"Were you sleeping Osc?" Lando asked softly. Oscar could hear him slipping into sleep beside him.
"Well, yes. It's the middle of the night." Oscar said calmly.
"Is that why your voice is so deep and gravelly? It was so sexy, like you were whispering right in my ear." Lando babbled, still looking at Oscar.
Oscar didn't respond, he just gripped the steering wheel tighter and stared straight ahead.
"Your hair is so pretty tousled, so effortlessly soft, like you just got out of bed." Lando continued.
Maybe because I just did, Oscar thought.
"Your eyes are always so expressive. They're like little orbs of chocolate." He mumbled.
Oscar refused to acknowledge Lando in his drunken state, they could talk when he was sober. He stopped the car in front of Lando's apartment and finally turned to look at him. His eyes were half closed and he looked impossibly stunning wrapped in Oscar's hoodie.
"Lando, come on. Get out." Oscar said getting out and moving to support Lando out of the car.
Lando stumbled onto the pavement, almost falling face first if not for Oscar's arm around his shoulder. Lando was thankfully quiet again. Oscar put the code in to get into the building dragging Lando with him. The lights came on as they made their way through the lobby. Lando squinted against them and closed his eyes completely, letting Oscar guide him as well. Once in the lift, Lando leaned all his body weight on to Oscar and slumped against him with his eyes closed. He seemed like he was planning to fall asleep against Oscar's shoulder. Oscar shook Lando a little encouraging him to start walking when the lift stopped and the doors opened. Lando leaned against him again when they stopped in front of his door. Oscar entered the code and opened the door, pulling Lando inside with him. Not wanting to hurt Lando, he turned on the lamp in the living room, half carrying him to the bedroom. Lando immediately flopped onto the bed face down, groaning in satisfaction. Oscar shook his head and went to get water from the kitchen. He put two glasses of water on the table next to the bed and pulled Lando's phone out of his back pocket to charge it. Lando was 90% asleep at this point. Oscar undid his laces and took his shoes off, putting them away. Not trusting Lando's abilities, he gripped Lando's shoulder firmly and rolled him onto his back.
"Up" Oscar said, handing Lando a glass of water.
Lando somehow managed to shuffle his way to lean against the headboard. He silently took the glass of water and drank the whole thing. He slobbered some of it onto his t-shirt but he drank anyway. Lando held Oscar's gaze over the rim of the glass, refusing to look away until he was done.
"Can I lick your biceps?" Lando asked earnestly, eyes flicking to Oscar's arms.
Oscar was flustered now, "You can sleep" Oscar said somehow. He lifted the duvet for Lando get under.
Once tucked in, Oscar made to move when Lando grabbed his hand. Oscar looked down at Lando to see silent tears escaping his eyes.
Lando sniffled and Oscar reached out with his free hand to wipe the tears from his face. When Oscar's thumb grazed his cheek, Lando flinched like he had been shocked.
"Don't it hurts too much. I can't- I can't keep doing this. I can't- I can't keep suffering in silence." Lando stuttered.
Oscar was at a loss for words.
Lando turned and looked right at him and said, "I love you Osc. I'm in love with you. I don't expect anything back but I need you to know so that it doesn't die with me."
Lando was surprisingly articulate almost like he had rehearsed these exact words in his head countless times. Oscar's breath caught in his throat.
"Lando, you don't know what you're saying. You're drunk. We'll talk in the morning okay? I have to go now." Oscar said, trying to believe his own words.
Lando's grip tightened on his hand. "Stay" he said, eyes fluttering closed.
Oscar stood there until he could see Lando's chest fall and rise evenly. He gently pried his hand out of Lando's and left his apartment. In the car, Oscar texted Lando asking him to let him know when he woke up. Oscar tried to rid his brain of Lando's words but they kept spinning around like a storm until his head hit the pillow and he fell asleep.
-The next day-
Lando woke up to the most ear splitting headache he had ever had. Even lifting his head from the pillow to grab his phone made him dizzy. He saw Oscar's text, confused, had he brought him back?
Os🏎️
Drink the water, let me know when you wake up
Thanks for bringing me home
No problem
Clearly Oscar was awake if he was responding immediately. Lando put his phone down and did what Oscar said, and drank the water. Just as he went to put the glass down, his phone lit up with another message,
Os🏎️
Did you mean it? What you said last night
What the fuck had he said last night? Lando groaned with his head in his hands as it all came flooding back. Oh my god! He was never supposed to tell Oscar that. Jesus Christ! Clearly drunk him had different plans. Was Oscar giving him an out? Was he brave enough to say it in daylight with a clear head?
Os🏎️
Mate, I was so drunk
I have no idea what I said sorry
ok cool
God he was such a coward. He also didn't want to upend Oscar's relationship. His feelings were his own responsibility, no one else's.
-Between then and now-
Lando's drunken confession had wormed it's way inside of Oscar and festered inside his chest. He didn't even realise all the ways in which Lando was beautiful but he was noticing them now. The little moles on his face, the soft curls that he worked so hard to perfect, the way his hand engulfed his whenever they dapped each other up or shook hands.
Oscar broke up with his girlfriend a month later, she was surprisingly understanding about the whole thing. They had spent a week moving her things out, they were both sorrowful of the fact that it hadn't worked out but he knew he couldn't keep her if he was starting to feel this way.
Oscar hadn't told Lando any of this because telling him meant confessing to himself and Oscar hadn't been brave enough until now.
-Now-
Oscar slowly lifted Lando's chin so that he was looking up at him. Oscar could see the way his eyes were glistening with tears threatening to break free.
"Lando, can I kiss you?" Oscar asked.
"Yes" Lando said nothing more than a breath, the shock evident on his face.
Oscar lifted his hands and cupped his jaw, placing his thumbs on the beauty marks on his face as if they were his anchor. He dipped his head and kissed him softly. Oscar's heart roared in triumph, there was nowhere else he would rather be. When they pulled apart for air resting their foreheads against each other, Oscar could see the tears running down Lando's cheeks and this time he was allowed to wipe them away.
His heart had never been fuller than now having Lando so close to him, knowing that he might be allowed to touch him in all the ways he had been dreaming of these past few months.