Archive of Our Own

"Okay, Jeonghan, there is less than a minute remaining in FP2. Would you like to continue or box?" his race engineer, Bono, asked over the radio.

Jeonghan pressed the radio button on his steering wheel, eyes flicking to the timer counting down on the dash.

"Let's box."

"Okay then, box this lap. Box, box," Bono replied.

Jeonghan lifted off slightly as he approached the final corner, guiding the car smoothly toward the pit entry. The speed limiter engaged with a quiet beep as he crossed the line into the pit lane. Mechanics were already waiting outside the Mercedes garage, headsets on, ready to receive him.

The car rolled to a stop in front of the garage before the crew pushed it back inside. Jeonghan unclipped his steering wheel, climbed out of the cockpit, and pulled off his helmet and balaclava in one practiced motion. The cool air of the garage hit his face immediately.

Across the garage, Toto was already watching the monitors, one hand resting on the back of a chair. When he spotted Jeonghan stepping down from the car, he gestured him over.

"Good job out there, Jeonghan," Toto said as he approached.

Jeonghan nodded, running a hand through his slightly damp hair.

"We need to work on the straights tomorrow," Toto continued, pointing briefly toward the data screen. "Higher top speeds. We're losing a bit there."

Jeonghan glanced at the timing monitor, studying the sectors while nodding.

Just then, the chequered flag waved outside, signalling the end of the session. The garage buzzed a little louder as mechanics began wrapping up procedures and engineers continued pulling data from the car.

Bono was still seated at the pit wall terminal, scrolling through lap data and telemetry. It would take him a few minutes before he could come over with a full rundown of the session.

Toto gave Jeonghan a firm nod.

"Just stay cool tomorrow," he said. "Aim for pole, but either front row position is fine too. Keep your head clear and don't break the car."

Jeonghan chuckled quietly.

"I'll try."

Toto waved him off before turning back toward the other engineers to discuss the data.

A few minutes later, Bono finally walked over, tablet in hand.

"I'm sure Toto already mentioned this," Bono began, flipping the screen toward Jeonghan. "But you need to push flat out on the straights. We're losing valuable time in Sector 1 and Sector 3."

Jeonghan leaned closer, studying the telemetry lines.

"Don't be afraid to push it tomorrow," Bono added. "The car can handle it."

Jeonghan nodded.

"Got it."

"Other than that, the balance looked good. We'll tweak a few things tonight."

Before Jeonghan could reply, someone from the media team tapped him lightly on the shoulder.

"Jeonghan, media pen."

He sighed softly.

"Duty calls," Bono said with a grin, patting the driver's sweaty back.

Jeonghan shook his head but followed the media staffer out of the garage and toward the paddock.

—

On the other end of the paddock, inside the Mercedes motorhome, Joshua sat at a small table near the window.

His phone was propped up in front of him as he snapped photos of the view overlooking the paddock. The occasional race car sound echoed faintly from the track outside.

He checked the photos quickly before uploading them to Weverse for the fans. After that, he opened the SEVENTEEN group chat.

Almost immediately, messages started appearing again.

svt 💎

channie 🦦: shua hyung send more

kwannie 🍊: are you actually inside the f1 place like how does it work

gyu 🐶: send proof or its fake

Joshua rolled his eyes fondly and took another selfie, the Mercedes logo clearly visible behind him, before sending it to the chat.

svt 💎

gyu 🐶: send proof or its fake

shua 🦌: [selfie]

shua 🦌: happy now?

A flood of reactions followed.

He'd already been told earlier that he needed to get autographs from the drivers, but thanks to the Mercedes admin helping him and showing him around earlier, he'd managed to get signatures from most of the grid.

Only two were left.

The Mercedes drivers.

Which was slightly ironic considering he'd been invited by Mercedes.

Joshua stood up, stretching slightly.

Maybe he'd take a quick walk around the suites before leaving for the day. There were usually celebrities around the paddock during race weekends. If he ran into someone he recognised, it might make things less awkward.

He slipped his phone into his pocket, grabbing his bag and hanging it off his shoulder and walked down the hallway.

The motorhomes were busy with staff, guests, and occasional drivers passing through.

Joshua turned a corner without really paying attention.

And collided with someone.

The impact knocked him slightly off balance. His foot slipped and he nearly fell backwards, arms flailing instinctively.

Before he could hit the floor, a hand caught his waist and steadied him.

"Are you okay?" the stranger asked.

Joshua blinked up at him, still processing what just happened.

Then his brain caught up with his eyes.

His eyes widened.

"Aren't you- Jeonghan- Oh- shit-"

Words started tumbling out in panic.

"I'm so sorry, I wasn't looking, and-"

Jeonghan laughed softly, the sound surprisingly warm.

"Relax," he said. "It's all good. We all stop paying attention sometimes."

He helped Joshua steady himself properly before letting go.

Joshua exhaled in relief. "Right. Sorry. Hi." He quickly extended his hand. "Joshua Hong."

Jeonghan looked mildly surprised for a moment before smiling and shaking it. "Yoon Jeonghan. Nice to meet you."

Joshua nodded, still a little flustered. "Nice to meet you too."

For a moment, neither of them moved.

Then Jeonghan tilted his head slightly.

"You're with Mercedes this weekend?" he asked.

Joshua nodded.

"Yeah. Sponsor invited me."

Jeonghan hummed thoughtfully.

"Well," he said, glancing toward the garage corridor before looking back at Joshua, "that explains why you ran straight into me."

Joshua laughed nervously. "Yeah... that probably doesn't help my case."

Jeonghan chuckled again, clearly amused.

"It sure doesn't," he said, shaking his head lightly. "Anyway, where were you headed? The paddock is kind of chaotic right now. Maybe I can help you around. I just need to film some content for social media, but honestly..." he glanced toward the garage area with a small sigh, "I wouldn't mind escaping for a bit."

Joshua let out a soft laugh.

"I'm actually not sure," he admitted. "I was just planning to walk around until I found something interesting."

Jeonghan nodded as if that was a perfectly reasonable plan.

"Then let me come with you," he offered casually. "In case you can't find your way back here later."

Joshua smiled, adjusting the strap of his bag on his shoulder before falling into step beside him.

"Thanks."

They walked side by side through the hospitality corridor before stepping back out into the open paddock. Crew members hurried past pushing equipment trolleys, media staff rushed between interviews, and the distant sound of engines being tested echoed from the garages.

Jeonghan lifted his phone briefly, filming a short clip of the busy paddock for the team's social media before slipping it back into his pocket.

"Is there anything you need specifically?" he asked as they walked.

Joshua paused for a moment before remembering.

"Oh- actually."

He slipped his bag off his shoulder and unzipped it, carefully pulling out a large poster. It was covered with illustrations of Formula One helmets and cars, and several signatures were already scattered across it in different colors.

He also pulled out a marker.

"My members wanted signatures from all the drivers," Joshua explained, holding the poster up. "Your media team already helped me get most of them earlier, but I'm still missing you and Kimi."

Jeonghan took the marker with a small smile.

"Is that so?"

Joshua nodded.

"Other than that, I don't really need anything."

Jeonghan leaned the poster lightly against his arm to steady it before signing his name across one of the empty spaces with a smooth flourish. He handed the marker back.

"I could help you get Kimi later before you leave," he said. "He's probably talking to Toto or doing media right now."

Joshua blinked in surprise.

"Really? I'd really appreciate that."

"Sure," Jeonghan said with a shrug, as if it was the most normal thing in the world.

Joshua carefully folded the poster back up and tucked it into his bag again, making sure the ink wouldn't smudge.

"Thanks again," he said.

Jeonghan watched him zip the bag shut.

"It's hard to get drivers' signatures if you're just wandering around," he said. "When I was younger, I used to go to races as a fan with my dad. It's almost impossible unless you have a paddock pass."

Joshua hummed in agreement.

"Yeah, I can imagine."

They continued walking slowly through the paddock. Several team members nodded at Jeonghan as they passed, and a few people briefly glanced at Joshua curiously before moving on.

Joshua found himself looking around at everything with quiet fascination. The massive motorhomes, the lines of trucks, mechanics in team uniforms, camera crews rushing around.

"You've never been to a race before?" Jeonghan asked after noticing the way Joshua kept looking around.

Joshua shook his head.

"First time."

"Not bad for a first race weekend," Jeonghan said.

Joshua laughed.

"Definitely not."

They walked for another minute before Jeonghan glanced sideways at him again.

"Would you like to meet the other drivers?" he asked.

Joshua blinked.

"What?"

"They're all around the paddock somewhere," Jeonghan continued. "Some are doing media, some are in their motorhomes, some are just wandering around like we are. I'm sure I can introduce you to a few."

Joshua's eyes lit up immediately.

"Really?"

Jeonghan grinned slightly at the reaction.

"I would love that," Joshua said quickly, the excitement clear in his voice.

Jeonghan laughed softly.

"Alright then," he said, gesturing ahead of them. "Let's see who we can find first."

Joshua nodded quickly, falling into step beside him again as they continued walking deeper into the paddock. The area was even busier now that the session had ended. Mechanics wheeled equipment between garages, journalists rushed between interviews, and a few drivers could be spotted moving between the motorhomes and the media pen.

Joshua tried not to stare too obviously at everything, but it was difficult. The entire place felt unreal.

Jeonghan noticed.

"You look like you're at a museum," he teased.

Joshua let out an embarrassed laugh.

"Can you blame me? I've only seen this stuff on TV."

"Fair," Jeonghan admitted.

They rounded a corner near the motorhome area when Jeonghan suddenly slowed.

"Oh, perfect."

Joshua followed his gaze and spotted Charles Leclerc standing nearby with a Ferrari staff, still half in his race suit, helmet resting on a nearby bench.

Jeonghan casually raised a hand. "Charles!"

Charles turned, eyebrows lifting slightly when he saw Jeonghan approaching.

"Hey!" he replied.

Jeonghan gestured to Joshua beside him.

"This is Joshua. He's a guest with Mercedes this weekend."

Joshua straightened slightly, suddenly very aware of himself.

"Hi," he said politely.

Charles smiled and shook his hand. "Nice to meet you. Charles Leclerc."

Joshua tried not to look too starstruck. "Joshua Hong. Likewise." 

Jeonghan watched the interaction with an amused expression before speaking again.

"He's collecting signatures for a poster," Jeonghan added. "Apparently his bandmates demanded it."

Joshua groaned quietly. "They did."

Charles chuckled. "Sounds about right."

Joshua hesitated for half a second before pulling the folded poster out of his bag again.

"That looks familiar," Charles said, catching a glimpse of the poster. "Did the Mercedes admin give that to you?"

"Yeah," Joshua nodded. 

Charles raised his eyebrows. "Ah, they asked me to sign it already. Need help getting Lewis'?"

"No, I think he already signed," Joshua muttered, looking for Lewis' helmet on the poster, before seeing the space already signed. "Thanks for the offer though." Joshua said gratefully, carefully folding the poster again and placing it back into his bag.

As they said goodbye and walked away, Joshua turned to Jeonghan with wide eyes.

"Okay," he said quietly, "that was really cool."

Jeonghan laughed. "We've only met one."

They continued walking through the paddock, occasionally stopping when Jeonghan spotted someone he knew. Each time he would casually introduce Joshua, who learnt how to spot their signatures, and even got a few small trinkets from fans and some photos with the fans and drivers.

After a few introductions, Joshua's nervousness slowly faded, replaced with genuine excitement.

At one point, Jeonghan leaned slightly closer to him. "You're handling this surprisingly well."

Joshua raised an eyebrow. "What was I supposed to do?"

"Panic," Jeonghan said simply.

Joshua laughed. "Don't worry, that already happened when I ran into you earlier."

Jeonghan smirked. "Right. I almost forgot about that."

They reached another section of the paddock when Jeonghan suddenly checked his phone. "Ah."

Joshua looked over. "What?"

Jeonghan showed him the screen briefly.

A message from one of the team staff.

"Kimi's finished with media," he said. "He should be near the Mercedes motorhome now."

Joshua's eyes lit up again. "Really?"

Jeonghan nodded, already turning back toward the direction they came from.

"Come on," he said. "Let's go get your last signature before someone steals him away again."

Joshua hurried after him.

A few minutes later, they reached the Mercedes motorhome area again. A small crowd of media had already started dispersing, and a familiar driver stood near the entrance talking to a couple of team members.

Jeonghan waved. "Kimi!"

Kimi turned toward the sound. "Yeah?"

Jeonghan motioned toward Joshua. "Got a fan here who needs your autograph."

Joshua immediately froze slightly.

Jeonghan noticed and leaned toward him, whispering just loud enough. "Don't panic this time."

Joshua shot him a look. "I'm trying not to."

Kimi walked over, relaxed as ever. "What's up?"

Joshua quickly pulled the poster out one last time. "Hi- would you mind signing this?"

Kimi took the marker without hesitation and added his signature to the final empty space. "There you go."

Joshua stared at the poster for a second before carefully folding it back up again. "Thank you so much."

Kimi nodded before heading back inside the motorhome.

Joshua turned to Jeonghan, clearly thrilled. "That's all of them."

Jeonghan crossed his arms lightly, satisfied. "Mission accomplished then."

Joshua laughed. "I seriously can't thank you enough for helping me."

Jeonghan shrugged. "It was fun. I don't get to hunt down the others unless we're on track."

There was a small pause after a few light laughs before Joshua tilted his head slightly.

"So... do you always give personal paddock tours to people you crash into?"

Jeonghan grinned.

"Only the lucky ones."

Joshua laughed, shaking his head as he slung his bag back over his shoulder. He could still feel the poster inside, safely tucked away with the last signature now sitting beside the rest.

"Good to know," Joshua said. "I'll remember that next time I almost knock someone over."

They stood there for a moment near the Mercedes motorhome, the paddock slowly calming as the post-session rush died down. Most of the media crews had already moved on, and several drivers had disappeared back into their motorhomes.

Jeonghan checked the time on his phone.

"You heading back soon?" he asked.

Joshua thought about it for a moment.

"Probably," he said. "The Mercedes admin said they'd send a car later to bring me back to the hotel."

Jeonghan nodded slowly. "You've seen most of the paddock already anyway."

Joshua smiled. "Thanks to you."

Jeonghan shrugged lightly, though there was a small hint of pride in his expression. "Well, if you're here tomorrow, qualifying is going to be way more exciting than practice."

Joshua tilted his head.

"I'll be here," he said. "They gave me a weekend pass."

Jeonghan raised his eyebrows slightly. "Oh? Then you picked a good race to attend."

Joshua chuckled. "Is that confidence or hope?"

Jeonghan smirked. "Confidence."

Joshua laughed again. "I'll be cheering then."

"Good," Jeonghan said. "I'll need the support."

For a moment they both just stood there, watching a group of mechanics push equipment cases across the paddock.

Joshua suddenly remembered something and reached into his bag again. "Oh- wait."

Jeonghan looked over. "What?"

Joshua pulled the poster back out and unfolded it, looking at all the signatures now covering it.

"My members are going to lose their minds when they see this."

Jeonghan leaned slightly closer to glance at it. "You're sending it to them right now?"

Joshua nodded, pulling out his phone to take a quick photo. "They've been spamming the group chat all afternoon asking for updates."

He snapped a picture and sent it.

Almost instantly, his phone buzzed with replies.

Joshua glanced at the screen and burst out laughing. "What?"

Joshua turned the phone so Jeonghan could see. "They're asking if I met you yet."

Jeonghan blinked. "Already?"

Joshua nodded. "They knew I was missing your signature."

Jeonghan chuckled. "You wanna send them a selfie?" 

Joshua shrugged. "I don't see why not." 

Jeonghan took Joshua's phone, snapping a quick selfie before passing it back to him. "Tell them I said hi."

Joshua quickly typed a reply and sent the photo before slipping the phone back into his pocket. "Done."

Another small silence settled between them, though it wasn't awkward this time.

Jeonghan shifted his weight slightly before speaking again.

"Well," he said, "I should probably go back before someone notices I disappeared."

Joshua smiled. "Escaping didn't last very long."

"Unfortunately."

Joshua zipped his bag shut again.

"Thanks for helping me today," he said sincerely. "Seriously."

Jeonghan waved it off. "Don't mention it," he paused for a moment before adding, a little more casually, "You'll be in the Mercedes garage tomorrow for qualifying?"

Joshua nodded. "Yeah."

Jeonghan gave a small grin. "Then I guess I'll see you around again."

Joshua smiled back. "I guess you will."

Jeonghan took a few steps backward toward the garage entrance before lifting a hand in a small wave. "Try not to run into anyone else on your way out."

Joshua laughed.

"No promises."

Jeonghan shook his head with an amused smile before turning and heading back toward the garage.

Joshua watched him disappear inside for a moment before glancing down at the poster in his hands again.

He carefully folded it, slipped it back into his bag, and started walking toward the motorhomes.

His phone buzzed again.

He checked the group chat.

svt 💎

channie 🦦: YOU MET AN F1 DRIVER???

cheollie 🍒: shua-ya did you meet alonso...

cheollie 🍒: did you get alonso's signature??

soonie 🐯: IS THAT JEONGHAN HOLDING YOUR PHONE

soonie 🐯: TAKING A PHOTO WITH YOU

Joshua smiled to himself as he typed back.

svt 💎

soonie 🐯: TAKING A PHOTO WITH YOU

shua 🦌: you're not going to believe this

shua 🦌: like none of you are

↳ replying to cheollie 🍒: did you get alonso's signature??
shua 🦌: jeonghan introduced me to him, but the mercedes admin already helped me get his signature so i didn't ask for one

shua 🦌: need me to get jeonghan to help me again tomorrow?

↳ replying to shua 🦌: jeonghan introduced me to him, but the mercedes admin...
cheollie 🍒: WHAT

↳ replying to shua 🦌: need me to get jeonghan to help me again tomorrow?
channie 🦦: ???

↳ replying to shua 🦌: need me to get jeonghan to help me again tomorrow?
kwannie 🍊: WHAT DO YOU MEAN "NEED JEONGHAN TO HELP ME AGAIN TOMORROW"

kwannie 🍊: AND WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU GOT INTRODUCED TO ALONSO 

gyu 🐶: so are you friends with charles leclerc

↳ replying to gyu 🐶: so are you friends with charles leclerc
shua 🦌: i mean i talked to him

shua 🦌: i met kimi too

cheollie 🍒: ???????????????

nonie 🐻‍❄️: crazy work

The next morning at the circuit was far more intense than the day before.

Qualifying day always carried a different kind of energy. The paddock was louder, busier, more focused. Team members moved quickly between garages, engineers huddled over laptops, and media crews were already preparing for the afternoon sessions.

Inside the Mercedes motorhome, Joshua sat by the window again, though this time he was far less overwhelmed.

After yesterday's accidental paddock tour, the place already felt a little familiar.

His phone rested on the table in front of him as he scrolled through the SEVENTEEN group chat. The conversation had exploded overnight after he sent the photo of the signed poster when he got back to his hotel.

Joshua smiled to himself as he typed back.

svt 💎

cheollie 🍒: so let me get this straight.

cheollie 🍒: you almost knocked down an f1 driver, then he showed you around the paddock and introduced you to the other drivers and helped you get kimi antonelli's signature and i guess his own without a second thought??

shua 🦌: yes

Joshua sighed softly, typing a reply.

Almost immediately, the messages continued.

svt 💎

shua 🦌: yes

kwannie 🍊: unbelievable

junnie 🐱: such a main character

minnie 🌻: invite him to the concert in incheon!!

Joshua shook his head with a small laugh, locking his phone.

Just then, someone pulled out the chair across from him.

"You look very entertained."

Joshua looked up.

And blinked.

"Jeonghan?"

Jeonghan sat down across from him casually, dressed in his Mercedes team gear, hair still slightly messy from the morning briefing.

"Good morning," he said.

Joshua smiled in surprise. "Good morning."

Jeonghan glanced at Joshua's phone. "Your bandmates again?"

Joshua nodded, chuckling. "They're still not over the signatures. Or the selfie."

"I'm honoured," Jeonghan replied dryly.

Joshua leaned back slightly in his chair. "I didn't expect to see you here."

Jeonghan shrugged. "Breakfast was earlier, but Bono and the engineers kidnapped me for meetings," he said. "I escaped for five minutes."

Joshua laughed. "Another escape attempt?"

"Something like that."

A staff member walked by carrying trays of food, and Joshua suddenly realised how hungry he was.

"Have you eaten yet?" he asked.

Jeonghan shook his head.

"Not properly. I was pulled away from breakfast."

Joshua gestured toward the buffet area behind him. "I was about to get lunch actually."

Jeonghan followed his gaze before standing up. "Perfect timing then."

They walked over together, grabbing trays and slowly making their way through the buffet line. The hospitality staff greeted Jeonghan politely as he passed, clearly used to seeing drivers coming in between sessions.

Joshua picked up a few things while Jeonghan grabbed something light.

They eventually found a quieter table near the corner.

Joshua sat down first.

"So," he said, "big day today."

Jeonghan nodded, taking a sip of water. "Qualifying decides most of the race."

Joshua tilted his head. "No pressure."

Jeonghan smiled faintly. "There's always pressure."

Joshua studied him for a moment. "You seem pretty calm though."

"You get used to it," Jeonghan shrugged.

Joshua picked at his food for a second before speaking again. "Your engineer yesterday said you needed to push harder on the straights."

Jeonghan raised an eyebrow slightly. "You were listening?"

Joshua grinned. "I may have overheard while I was talking to the admin."

Jeonghan chuckled. "Yeah. We're losing time there."

Joshua leaned forward slightly. "Well, I'll be watching."

Jeonghan smirked. "Then I guess I should make sure it looks good."

Joshua laughed. "I'll report back to my bandmates."

"That sounds dangerous," Jeonghan said.

They ate for a few minutes, the conversation drifting easily between topics. Joshua asked a few questions about the race weekend, and Jeonghan explained things casually, occasionally teasing him when Joshua asked something overly curious.

At one point Joshua glanced toward the paddock through the window. "Do you always eat here before a session?"

"Sometimes," Jeonghan replied. "Usually I try not to eat too much."

Joshua nodded slowly. "That makes sense."

There was a brief pause before Jeonghan looked at him again. "You're coming to the garage later?"

Joshua nodded. "The admin invited me to."

Jeonghan leaned back slightly in his chair. "Then you'll see everything up close."

Joshua smiled. "I'm looking forward to it then."

Jeonghan returned the smile, relaxed. "Just don't distract me this time."

Joshua raised his hands in mock defense. "Hey, yesterday wasn't my fault."

Jeonghan laughed quietly. "You literally ran into me."

Joshua grinned. "And today we're having lunch together."

Jeonghan shook his head, still amused. "Fair point."

They finished eating slowly, the conversation drifting from racing to schedules to random things about travel. Joshua was shocked at how easy it was to talk to Jeonghan, as if he wasn't a celebrity at all. He'd expected him to be intense or intimidating, especially after watching him in the garage after the first two sessions of the weekend.

Instead, Jeonghan was relaxed, occasionally sarcastic, and very good at making Joshua laugh.

At one point, Joshua checked the time on his phone.

"Don't you have to get ready soon?" he asked.

Jeonghan glanced at his watch.

"Soon," he admitted. "Driver briefing and then prep."

Joshua nodded, pushing his empty plate aside. "Well, I won't keep you."

Jeonghan stood up as well, grabbing his phone. Joshua followed him back to the hospitality entrance, still having some light conversation in that short walk.

They paused near the hallway that led back to the paddock.

Joshua shifted his bag slightly on his shoulder.

"This was nice," he said.

Jeonghan nodded. "Yeah. Way better than sitting in another engineering meeting."

Joshua laughed.

There was a small pause before Jeonghan reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone.

"You're here tomorrow too, right?"

Joshua nodded. "Yeah."

Jeonghan held his phone out. "Give me your number."

Joshua blinked. "Oh."

He quickly pulled out his own phone, unlocking it before typing his contact into Jeonghan's device.

Jeonghan saved it and immediately sent a message.

Joshua's phone buzzed.

He looked down.

+82 010-xxxx-xxxx

+82 010-xxxx-xxxx: this is jeonghan

Joshua smiled.

"Nice," he said.

Jeonghan slipped his phone back into his pocket. "Now I can warn you before I almost run you over in the paddock."

Joshua snorted. "Please do."

Jeonghan started backing toward the paddock hallway. "I should go before Bono sends a search party."

Joshua nodded. "Good luck today."

Jeonghan gave him a small grin. "Watch from the garage. It's the best view."

Then he turned and disappeared down the hallway toward the team area.

Joshua stood there for a moment before walking back to the table he had been sitting at earlier, where the hospitality staff had nicely already cleared their used plates. As soon as he sat down, he pulled out his phone again.

The SEVENTEEN group chat was still active, but Joshua opened a different conversation.

Minghao's.

Joshua typed quickly.

haohao 🐸🐸

shuashua 🦌🦌: i had lunch with the mercedes driver

A few seconds passed before the reply came.

haohao 🐸🐸: which one

Joshua leaned back in his chair, glancing toward the paddock entrance where Jeonghan had disappeared earlier.

Then he typed.

haohao 🐸🐸

haohao 🐸🐸: which one

shuashua 🦌🦌: jeonghan

Three dots appeared immediately.

haohao 🐸🐸

shuashua 🦌🦌: jeonghan

haohao 🐸🐸: ???

Joshua smirked slightly and typed another message.

haohao 🐸🐸

haohao 🐸🐸: ???

shuashua 🦌🦌: also

shuashua 🦌🦌: he's pretty hot

There was a pause.

Then Minghao replied.

haohao 🐸🐸

shuashua 🦌🦌: he's pretty hot

haohao 🐸🐸: send photo

Joshua laughed quietly to himself, opening his camera roll and scrolling until he found the photo he had taken yesterday when Jeonghan signed the poster, as well as the selfie he'd sent in the group chat.

He sent it.

A few seconds later, Minghao replied again.

haohao 🐸🐸

shuashua 🦌🦌: [photo] [photo]

haohao 🐸🐸: okay

haohao 🐸🐸: i see your point

Joshua shook his head, smiling as he locked his phone again.

From outside the window, he could see the garages across the paddock beginning their preparations for Free Practice 3.

And somewhere in there, Jeonghan was getting ready to drive.

Joshua stayed in the motorhome for a little while longer, finishing a drink he'd just gotten. His phone buzzed again in his hand.

haohao 🐸🐸

haohao 🐸🐸: so...
haohao 🐸🐸: how did you even end up eating lunch with him???

Joshua leaned back in his chair, typing slowly.

haohao 🐸🐸

haohao 🐸🐸: how did you even end up eating lunch with him???

shuashua 🦌🦌: long story

shuashua 🦌🦌: i literally ran into him yesterday

Three dots appeared instantly.

haohao 🐸🐸

shuashua 🦌🦌: i literally ran into him yesterday

haohao 🐸🐸: you WHAT

Joshua laughed under his breath.

haohao 🐸🐸

haohao 🐸🐸: you WHAT

shuashua 🦌🦌: like physically

shuashua 🦌🦌: i almost fell over

shuashua 🦌🦌: he caught me

Another pause.

haohao 🐸🐸

shuashua 🦌🦌: he caught me

↳ replying to shuashua 🦌🦌: i almost fell over
haohao 🐸🐸: of course you did

Joshua shook his head, slipping his phone back into his pocket. He knew if he kept replying, Minghao would keep interrogating him for the next hour.

And right now, he needed to head to the garage before FP3 started.

He stood up, adjusted his bag over his shoulder, and made his way out of the motorhome toward the paddock.

The Mercedes garage was far more intense than it had been yesterday.

Large monitors showed live timing, engineers were seated at long rows of computers, and mechanics moved around the car making final adjustments. The atmosphere was focused, quiet but buzzing with energy.

The Mercedes admin who had been guiding Joshua around the weekend spotted him almost immediately.

"Joshua! Perfect timing," she said, walking over.

"Hi," Joshua greeted.

"FP3 starts in about twenty minutes," she explained. "You can stand here behind the line so you can see everything, but please stay out of the working area."

Joshua nodded quickly. "Of course."

He moved to the designated guest area near the back of the garage. From there, he could see the car clearly, along with the pit lane just outside.

A few minutes later, Jeonghan walked in.

He was already wearing his race suit, the top half tied around his waist while he spoke with Bono and a couple of engineers.

Joshua watched quietly from the back.

Jeonghan looked completely different now compared to lunch. The relaxed, joking version of him had disappeared, replaced with someone focused and serious.

Bono pointed to something on the screen while explaining data from practice.

Jeonghan nodded, listening carefully.

Joshua couldn't help but smile slightly.

He really does look cool, he thought.

Almost as if he sensed someone watching him, Jeonghan glanced toward the back of the garage.

Their eyes met.

For a second, Jeonghan looked surprised, then smiled and gave a small wave.

Joshua waved back.

One of the engineers noticed.

"Friend of yours?" he asked Jeonghan.

Jeonghan shrugged casually. "Met him yesterday."

Joshua pretended not to notice the conversation, though he could see Jeonghan chuckling before turning back to the briefing.

A few minutes later, the drivers were getting ready to head out for FP3.

Jeonghan pulled on his gloves while Bono spoke to him through the headset.

Joshua was watching the entire process like it was a movie.

Helmet on. Gloves tightened. Radio check.

As Jeonghan climbed into the cockpit, he glanced toward the back of the garage one more time.

Joshua was still standing there.

Jeonghan lifted a hand briefly before lowering himself into the seat.

Joshua grinned.

The engine roared to life seconds later.

The sound made Joshua jump slightly even though he knew it was coming.

"First time hearing it up close?" the Mercedes admin asked with a smile.

Joshua nodded. "It's louder than I expected."

She laughed. "Everyone says that."

The mechanics finished final checks before releasing the car.

Jeonghan drove out of the garage and into the pit lane.

Joshua immediately turned to the monitors overhead.

FP3 was intense. So was qualifying.

Both were similar, and Jeonghan still topped the time sheets for FP3, with not much happening. Jeonghan had talked to Bono for almost a solid 30 minutes after FP3, within the 2.5 hour gap between FP3 and qualifying.

Jeonghan had escaped after that, but Joshua had been dragged away by the Mercedes admin, being asked to film content for the sponsor that invited him, taking away majority of the two hours between the two sessions, even some for Mercedes themselves, participating in a short challenge session.

Then, qualifying started. 

The start process was similar to that of FP3, however the only difference was that the air in the garage shifted significantly. It became more stressful, the team trying to tweak the car before they went out for qualifying. 

With a short few second countdown, qualifying started, and Jeonghan's car pulled out of the garage, engine coming to life again with a loud rev that still shocked Joshua. 

Even though he didn't fully understand every technical detail, the tension in the garage made it impossible not to feel the pressure.

Every lap time appeared instantly on the screens.

Engineers spoke quickly into headsets.

Mechanics watched the timing boards closely.

Jeonghan's first flying lap placed him near the top.

Joshua found himself leaning forward slightly.

"Is that good?" he asked the admin.

She smiled. "Very."

Joshua nodded slowly.

When Jeonghan crossed the line again with an even faster lap, a few engineers nodded approvingly.

"Nice lap," Bono's voice came through the speakers.

Joshua couldn't stop smiling.

After Q1 ended, Jeonghan returned to the garage for the short .

The mechanics immediately surrounded the car, making quick adjustments while engineers discussed strategy.

Jeonghan climbed out briefly, helmet still on, listening to Bono.

Then he looked toward the back of the garage again.

Joshua gave him a thumbs up.

Jeonghan laughed behind his helmet and returned the gesture.

The same thing repeated through Q2.

Each time Jeonghan went out, Joshua watched the monitors like his life depended on it.

Each time he returned, Joshua caught his eye for a second.

By the time Q3 started, the entire garage felt tense.

Only the top drivers remained.

Joshua crossed his arms nervously.

"Is this the last part?" he asked quietly.

The admin nodded. "The fight for pole position."

Joshua swallowed slightly.

Jeonghan went out for his final lap.

The entire garage watched the monitors.

Sector one.

Purple.

Sector two.

Purple again.

The tension in the room spiked.

Joshua leaned forward without realising it.

The final sector time appeared.

The car crossed the line.

P1.

The garage erupted.

Mechanics cheered. Engineers clapped each other on the back.

Joshua stared at the screen in shock.

"Wait- did he-"

"Pole position," the admin confirmed with a grin.

Joshua laughed out loud. "That's insane."

A few minutes later, Jeonghan drove to Parc Ferme, with the engineers running out to congratulate him.

The team applauded as he climbed out of the car.

Helmet off.

Hair messy.

Huge grin on his face.

Toto walked over first, congratulating him.

Joshua watched from the garage, still smiling.

Then Jeonghan walked over after being weighed and post-qualifying duties.

Their eyes met again.

Jeonghan pointed at him briefly, interrupting his chat with an engineer.

Joshua blinked, then Jeonghan walked over.

Still in his race gear, still slightly out of breath.

"Well," Jeonghan said, pulling off one glove.

Joshua grinned. "You said you were confident."

Jeonghan laughed. "Not bad, right?"

Joshua shook his head. "Not bad? You just got pole."

Jeonghan leaned slightly closer. "You watched the whole thing?"

Joshua nodded. "From right here."

Jeonghan smiled. "Good."

Joshua tilted his head. "So... does this mean we're getting lunch tomorrow too?"

Jeonghan laughed loudly. "Let's win the race first."

The celebration in the garage slowly settled after the first wave of congratulations.

Engineers returned to their computers, mechanics began rolling equipment back into place, and the media team started preparing Jeonghan for interviews. Someone handed him a towel while another staff member tried to usher him toward the media pen.

Jeonghan held up a finger. "One second."

He turned back toward Joshua, who was still standing near the back of the garage, looking like he had just watched the ending of the best movie of his life.

Joshua laughed nervously. "Sorry, I think I got way too invested in that."

Jeonghan wiped a bit of sweat from his forehead with the towel. "You looked more nervous than Bono."

Joshua snorted. "Don't expose me like that."

Jeonghan grinned, then glanced toward the group of media staff waiting for him.

"They're going to drag me away in about five seconds," he said.

Joshua nodded. "Yeah, I figured."

There was a brief pause before Jeonghan spoke again. "Are you doing anything tonight?"

Joshua blinked. "Tonight?"

"Yeah."

Jeonghan leaned slightly closer, lowering his voice a little. "I'm done after the media and debrief. A few of us are staying near the same hotel area anyway."

Joshua adjusted the strap of his bag.

"Not really," he admitted. "I was probably just going to order room service at the hotel."

Jeonghan shook his head immediately. "Don't do that."

Joshua raised an eyebrow. "What?"

Jeonghan shrugged. "Hotel food is boring."

Joshua laughed. "Fair."

"So," Jeonghan continued casually, "do you want to hang out near the hotels later and get dinner?"

Joshua paused for half a second, clearly surprised, then he smiled. "Yeah. I'd like that."

"Good."

One of the media staff finally stepped forward. "Jeonghan, we need you for interviews."

He sighed dramatically. "See?"

Joshua laughed. "Go be a polesitter."

Jeonghan pointed at him as he backed away. "I'll text you."

Then he turned and followed the staff toward the media area.

Joshua watched him go, still smiling a little.

Later that night, Joshua had just finished changing at his hotel when his phone buzzed.

jeonghan 🏎️

jeonghan 🏎️: you up?

Joshua immediately replied.

jeonghan 🏎️

jeonghan 🏎️: you up?

joshuaa: yeah

A second later another message came through.

jeonghan 🏎️

joshuaa: yeah

jeonghan 🏎️: meet in the lobby in 10?

Joshua grabbed his jacket.

jeonghan 🏎️

jeonghan 🏎️: meet in the lobby in 10?

joshuaa: on my way

The hotel lobby was quiet compared to the chaos of the paddock earlier.

Joshua arrived first, leaning casually against one of the chairs while checking his phone.

A few minutes later, the elevator doors opened.

Jeonghan stepped out, now dressed in casual clothes instead of his race suit.

Joshua blinked slightly. "Wow."

Jeonghan looked down at himself. "What?"

"You clean up well."

Jeonghan laughed. "You saw me covered in sweat earlier."

"Still."

Jeonghan shook his head. "Come on."

They stepped outside into the evening air, walking down the street toward a row of restaurants nearby.

The city was lively but relaxed, the race weekend bringing in fans and tourists everywhere.

Joshua looked around. "This is way nicer than room service."

"Told you."

They eventually picked a small restaurant with outdoor seating.

Dinner was surprisingly relaxed.

They talked about music, traveling, racing, and random stories from their lives. Joshua learned that Jeonghan had started karting when he was young, while Jeonghan listened with interest as Joshua talked about touring and concerts.

At one point Joshua laughed. "My bandmates are still asking about you."

Jeonghan raised an eyebrow. "Should I be worried?"

"Probably."

They finished dinner nearly two hours later.

As they walked back toward the hotel, Jeonghan suddenly spoke again. "What are you doing tomorrow morning?"

Joshua shrugged. "I don't know. Probably going exploring a little."

Jeonghan nodded thoughtfully. "I could go with you."

Joshua looked at him. "Really?"

"Yeah," Jeonghan shoved his hands in his pockets casually. "We could go shopping or something."

Joshua smiled. "That sounds fun."

Jeonghan continued. "I just need to reach the paddock by two."

He thought for a second. "Or one if you want to eat at hospitality before the race."

Joshua nodded. "That works."

"Good."

They stopped at the hotel entrance.

Joshua leaned against the door briefly. "Thanks for dinner."

Jeonghan shrugged. "Thanks for watching qualifying like your life depended on it."

Joshua laughed. "I was supporting you."

Jeonghan grinned. "I noticed."

They stood there for a second before Joshua waved. "See you tomorrow morning?"

Jeonghan nodded. "Text me when you wake up."

Joshua headed toward the elevators.

Jeonghan watched him disappear upstairs before pulling out his phone.

He opened another conversation.

Kimi.

He typed.

kiminho

yoonzino: i think i might like someone

A few seconds passed.

kiminho

yoonzino: i think i might like someone

kiminho: who

Jeonghan smirked slightly.

kiminho

kiminho: who

yoonzino: the guest from mercedes hospitality

kiminho: the one with the poster??

Jeonghan paused.

Then typed again.

kiminho

kiminho: the one with the poster??

yoonzino: yeah

A moment later the reply came.

kiminho

yoonzino: yeah

kiminho: you're like super obvious

Jeonghan rolled his eyes.

kiminho

kiminho: you're like super obvious

kiminho: does he know?

Jeonghan stared at the screen for a second.

Then typed.

kiminho

kiminho: does he know?

yoonzino: not yet

Race day morning started much slower than the chaos that would come later.

Joshua woke up to sunlight spilling through the curtains of his hotel room. For a moment he lay there staring at the ceiling, trying to remember what time it was.

Then he remembered.

Race day.

And that he was supposed to meet Jeonghan.

Joshua grabbed his phone from the bedside table.

Two notifications.

One from the SEVENTEEN group chat that had probably been exploding since midnight, and one from Jeonghan.

jeonghan 🏎️

jeonghan 🏎️: good morning

Joshua smiled a little and typed back.

jeonghan 🏎️

jeonghan 🏎️: good morning

joshuaa: good morningg

jeonghan 🏎️: you just woke up?

joshuaa: yeah

A few seconds later his phone buzzed again.

jeonghan 🏎️

joshuaa: yeah

jeonghan 🏎️: lobby in 20?

Joshua sat up immediately.

jeonghan 🏎️

jeonghan 🏎️: lobby in 20?

joshuaa: give me 30

Thirty minutes later Joshua stepped out of the elevator and into the hotel lobby, hair still slightly damp from a rushed shower.

Jeonghan was already there, leaning against one of the couches with his phone in his hand.

He looked up when he heard the elevator doors open. "Good morning."

Joshua smiled. "Morning."

Jeonghan studied him for a second. "You look more awake than yesterday."

"I slept," Joshua said proudly.

"Good strategy."

Joshua laughed and walked over. "Ready to go shopping?"

Jeonghan pushed himself off the couch. "Yeah. Before I have to disappear into race meetings later."

They stepped outside into the morning air together.

The area around the hotel was already lively. Fans wearing team merchandise walked around with cameras and flags, and several cafés were filled with people watching pre race coverage on televisions.

They wandered through a few nearby streets, stopping at a small shopping area where Joshua spent a surprising amount of time looking at jackets and hats.

Jeonghan leaned against a display rack watching him. "You're very serious about this."

Joshua glanced over. "My members asked me to bring things back."

"Ah. Souvenirs."

Joshua nodded. "And maybe something for myself."

"Reasonable."

Eventually Joshua bought a couple of small things before checking the time. "You said you need to be at the paddock by two, right?"

Jeonghan nodded. "Yeah."

Joshua pointed down the street. "Should we head back to the hotel first? I don't want to carry these around all day."

"Good idea."

They returned to the hotel about twenty minutes later.

Joshua went up to his room quickly to drop off the shopping bags, while Jeonghan did the same with the few things he had picked up.

A few minutes later they met again in the lobby.

Joshua adjusted the strap of his bag. "Ready?"

Jeonghan nodded. "Let's go."

The paddock was already buzzing when they arrived.

Team staff moved quickly between garages, media crews were setting up cameras, and fans crowded near the entrance barriers hoping to catch glimpses of drivers walking through.

Joshua followed Jeonghan through the paddock entrance, flashing his pass.

Even though he had been here for two days already, the atmosphere on race day felt completely different.

More intense.

More crowded.

More electric.

They walked toward the Mercedes garage together, though the path was filled with people moving in every direction.

Joshua rubbed his arms slightly as a breeze swept through the open paddock.

It was colder than he expected.

Jeonghan noticed immediately. "You cold?"

Joshua shook his head at first. "I'm fine."

Another gust of wind passed through.

Joshua immediately regretted not asking the stylists to get him a thicker shirt.

Jeonghan raised an eyebrow. "You're definitely cold."

Joshua laughed awkwardly. "Maybe a little."

Without saying anything else, Jeonghan pulled off the Mercedes team jacket he was wearing.

Joshua blinked. "What are you doing?"

Jeonghan held it out. "Take it."

Joshua shook his head quickly. "No, you need that."

"I'm not that cold, and the garage is warm."

Joshua hesitated. "Are you sure?"

Jeonghan gently pushed the jacket into his hands. "Just wear it."

Joshua slowly slipped it on.

It was warm immediately.

And slightly too big.

Joshua laughed softly. "I look like I work for the team now."

Jeonghan smirked. "Don't worry. I'm sure they'll start giving you tasks soon. You can work for media."

Joshua rolled his eyes. "Very funny."

They continued walking toward the garage.

A few mechanics greeted Jeonghan as they passed, and a couple of them glanced curiously at Joshua wearing the team jacket.

Joshua leaned closer slightly. "I feel like I'm undercover."

Jeonghan laughed quietly. "You kind of are."

They stopped just outside the Mercedes garage.

Joshua turned to him. "Thanks for the jacket."

Jeonghan shrugged. "You looked like you were freezing."

Joshua smiled. "I appreciate it."

Jeonghan nodded toward the inside of the garage. "You'll watch from the same spot as yesterday?"

Joshua nodded. "Best seat in the house."

Jeonghan grinned slightly. "Good."

One of the engineers called his name from inside. "Jeonghan, briefing in five."

He sighed dramatically. "And that's my cue."

Joshua laughed. "Go do your race driver thing."

Jeonghan stepped backward toward the garage entrance. "Don't lose the jacket."

Joshua crossed his arms. "I'll guard it with my life."

Jeonghan smiled once more before turning and heading into the garage.

Joshua stood there for a second before walking to the guest area behind the line.

The monitors were already showing pre race graphics.

Outside, the track was beginning to fill with cars preparing for the formation procedures.

Joshua zipped the jacket a little higher, the Mercedes logo visible across the front.

And he couldn't stop smiling.

By the time the final preparations for the race began, the sky above the circuit had shifted into the soft colors of evening.

The paddock lights were already on, casting a bright glow across the garages and pit lane. From inside the Mercedes garage, the atmosphere had turned serious again. Engineers spoke quietly into headsets, strategy screens filled the monitors, and mechanics made their last checks on the car.

Joshua stood in the same guest area he had been watching from all weekend, Jeonghan's oversized Mercedes jacket zipped almost all the way up. It was still a little chilly in the open garage, and the warmth of the jacket made it comfortable enough to stay still without shivering.

A few members of the team passed by him with small smiles. By now, several of them had realised he was the guest Jeonghan had been talking to over the last two days.

Joshua tried to stay out of the way, watching the controlled chaos in front of him.

A few minutes later, Jeonghan walked into the garage again in his full race suit, helmet tucked under his arm.

The room quieted slightly.

Bono was already waiting beside the car with a tablet, running through the final strategy notes.

Joshua couldn't hear everything from where he stood, but he could see the way Jeonghan leaned slightly toward Bono, focused and listening carefully.

They talked for another minute before Jeonghan glanced toward the back of the garage.

His eyes landed on Joshua almost immediately.

Joshua lifted a hand.

Jeonghan smiled.

Then he walked over.

"Still here," he said.

Joshua shrugged. "I said I'd watch."

Jeonghan noticed the way the jacket sleeves were slightly too long on him. "You kept the jacket."

"You told me not to lose it," Joshua replied.

Jeonghan chuckled. "Fair."

Joshua looked around the garage before glancing back at him. "Are you nervous?"

Jeonghan tilted his head slightly. "Not really."

Joshua raised an eyebrow. "You're starting from pole."

"Exactly," Jeonghan said calmly. "It's better than starting in the middle."

Joshua laughed softly. "That's one way to look at it."

For a moment they stood there while the mechanics finished preparing the car.

Joshua lowered his voice slightly. "I'll be cheering from here."

Jeonghan smiled a little. "Good."

Bono's voice came from behind him. "Jeonghan, two minutes."

Jeonghan nodded before turning back to Joshua. "Don't fall asleep during the race."

Joshua scoffed. "I've been waiting all day for this."

Jeonghan laughed quietly before heading back to the car.

The mechanics rolled it forward toward the pit lane, the engine coming to life with a deep roar that echoed through the garage.

Joshua instinctively stepped a little closer to the line, watching as Jeonghan climbed into the cockpit.

Helmet on.

Belts tightened.

Radio check.

The car rolled out into the starting grid with the rest of the grid forming up behind him.

Joshua immediately turned toward the monitors above the garage.

The broadcast showed the cars lining up on the grid after the formation lap as the evening lights reflected off the track surface.

The countdown began.

Five lights.

Joshua crossed his arms, feeling his heart beating faster even though he wasn't the one racing.

The red lights illuminated above the track. For a second, everything felt completely still.

Then the lights went out.

The race started.

Cars launched forward in a blur of color and sound.

Joshua watched the screen intensely as the camera followed the first corner.

Jeonghan held the lead.

Joshua let out a quiet breath he didn't realise he had been holding.

"Nice start," one of the engineers said nearby.

The race settled into rhythm after the first few laps.

From inside the garage, Joshua watched every moment. Every sector time. Every pit stop window discussion. Every update Bono gave over the radio.

Sometimes the engineers reacted instantly to something on the screen.

Sometimes the garage stayed silent, everyone focused on the data.

Joshua stayed there the entire time, leaning forward slightly whenever Jeonghan's onboard camera appeared.

At one point toward the last twenty laps of the race, Joshua pulled out his phone and opened one contact.

Minghao.

He typed quickly.

haohao 🐸🐸

shuashua 🦌🦌: watching the race from the garage

A few seconds later, Minghao replied.

haohao 🐸🐸

shuashua 🦌🦌: watching the race from the garage

haohao 🐸🐸: the hot driver?

Joshua glanced at the screen showing Jeonghan's car leading the pack.

He smiled slightly and typed back.

haohao 🐸🐸

haohao 🐸🐸: the hot driver?

shuashua 🦌🦌: yeah

Then he added another message.

haohao 🐸🐸

shuashua 🦌🦌: yeah

shuashua 🦌🦌: he gave me his jacket

There was a pause.

Then Minghao responded.

haohao 🐸🐸

shuashua 🦌🦌: he gave me his jacket

haohao 🐸🐸: oh you're in deep

Joshua laughed quietly to himself and slipped the phone back into his pocket.

His attention returned to the monitors just as the race entered its final ten laps.

The entire Mercedes garage had grown tense again.

Joshua could feel it.

Everyone was watching the timing screens closely.

Jeonghan was still leading, and Joshua was hopeful he would win, considering he'd held the lead majority of the laps.

Five laps left.

Four.

Three.

Joshua leaned forward slightly.

Two laps.

One.

The final lap felt like it lasted forever.

Inside the Mercedes garage, nobody was speaking anymore. Engineers stared at timing screens, mechanics stood with their arms folded, and every pair of eyes was fixed on the monitors.

Joshua barely breathed.

The evening lights reflected across the track on the screen as the broadcast followed the leading car.

Jeonghan.

One more corner.

One more straight.

The checkered flag waved.

Jeonghan crossed the line.

First place.

For a split second there was silence in the garage as the timing screen confirmed it.

Then everything exploded.

Cheers erupted all around him. Engineers clapped loudly, mechanics shouted, and several people hugged each other in celebration.

Joshua laughed out loud in disbelief, his hands coming up to cover his mouth.

"He did it," he whispered to himself.

The Mercedes admin appeared beside him almost instantly.

"Come on!" she said excitedly.

Joshua blinked.

"What?"

"We're going to parc fermé!"

Before he could even process it, the entire team was already rushing out of the garage toward the pit lane.

Joshua hurried after them.

The area outside parc fermé was already crowded when they arrived.

Team members from multiple teams gathered along the barrier that separated them from the cars. Cameras flashed everywhere as media crews positioned themselves nearby.

Joshua stayed close to the Mercedes admin as they found a space along the barrier with the rest of the team.

"Stand here," she told him, guiding him to a spot where he could see clearly.

Joshua gripped the barrier slightly, heart still racing.

A moment later, the first of the top three cars rolled into the parc fermé area.

Then Jeonghan's car followed.

The black Mercedes slowed and parked in its designated spot.

Joshua couldn't stop smiling.

The engine shut off.

For a moment, everything felt quiet again.

Then Jeonghan climbed out of the cockpit.

He still had his helmet on, visor reflecting the bright lights around him.

The Mercedes team immediately erupted again behind the barrier.

Jeonghan turned toward them.

Even with the helmet on, Joshua could tell he was smiling.

Jeonghan ran straight toward the barrier.

The engineers reached out over the top of it, patting his shoulders and helmet as he jumped up slightly to hug as many of them as he could.

Joshua laughed as he watched him bounce between them, congratulating everyone like he hadn't just won the race himself.

Then Jeonghan's helmet turned.

Right toward Joshua.

Joshua's smile softened slightly as their eyes met through the visor.

Jeonghan pushed his way closer to that section of the barrier.

Joshua instinctively leaned forward.

And before he could say anything, Jeonghan wrapped both arms around him over the barrier in a tight hug.

Joshua froze for half a second before hugging him back.

"You won," Joshua said, laughing softly.

Jeonghan squeezed him once before pulling back slightly.

Through the helmet, Joshua could hear him laugh.

Then Jeonghan tapped the top of the barrier. "Be right back."

Joshua nodded.

Jeonghan jogged away toward the officials waiting nearby.

Joshua watched as he stepped onto the scale for the mandatory weighing procedure, still wearing his helmet and full race suit.

Only after that was finished did Jeonghan finally pull the helmet off.

His hair was messy and flattened from the helmet, and he ran a quick hand through it before turning back toward the barrier.

Joshua was still standing in the same place.

Jeonghan walked back over, breath still slightly uneven from the race and the adrenaline.

"Okay," he said.

Joshua laughed softly. "Okay?"

Jeonghan leaned both arms on the barrier across from him. "Kimi told me something."

Joshua blinked. "What?"

Jeonghan rubbed the back of his neck, suddenly looking far less confident than he had in the car. "He told me to stop being obvious and just confess."

Joshua stared at him. "Confess what?"

Jeonghan looked directly at him. "I like you."

Joshua's brain stopped for a moment.

The noise of the paddock faded into the background as he processed what he had just heard. "You... what?"

Jeonghan laughed nervously.

"I know the timing is weird," he said quickly. "But Kimi kept saying I was being painfully obvious all weekend."

Joshua felt his face getting warm.

"You just won a race," he said.

"I know."

"And this is what you're doing right after?"

Jeonghan shrugged helplessly. "I figured it was a good day already."

Joshua stared at him for another second.

Then he started laughing.

Jeonghan looked slightly alarmed. "That's not a good reaction."

Joshua shook his head quickly. "No, no, it is," he leaned a little closer over the barrier. "I like you too."

Jeonghan blinked. "Wait."

Joshua smiled. "I told Minghao you were hot yesterday."

Jeonghan burst out laughing. "You what?"

Joshua shrugged. "I panicked."

Jeonghan shook his head, still laughing. "Unbelievable."

Joshua looked at him for a moment. "So what happens now?"

Jeonghan leaned forward slightly.

"Well," he said, "I have a podium ceremony in a few minutes."

Joshua laughed. "Right."

"And after that," Jeonghan continued, "I was thinking maybe we get dinner again."

Joshua nodded immediately. "Yeah. I'd like that."

Jeonghan smiled at him again, softer this time. "Good."

An official called his name from across the parc fermé.

Jeonghan sighed. "Duty calls."

Joshua grinned. "Go get your trophy."

Jeonghan stepped back slightly before pointing at him. "Don't disappear."

Joshua zipped up the oversized Mercedes jacket again. "Not going anywhere."

Jeonghan smiled one last time before turning and jogging toward the podium area, Joshua watching as officials guiding the top three drivers through the next steps. Around him, the paddock buzzed with excitement. Cameras flashed constantly, journalists spoke rapidly into microphones, and team members were still celebrating the win.

Joshua rested his arms on the barrier, the oversized Mercedes jacket still wrapped around him. It smelled faintly like detergent and a little like the garage. He found himself smiling for no reason at all.

Just a few minutes ago, Jeonghan had won the race.

And then confessed to him.

Joshua shook his head slightly, still trying to process the order of events.

The crowd nearby suddenly got louder.

The podium ceremony was starting.

From where Joshua stood, he couldn't see the podium directly, but the large broadcast screens around the paddock showed everything clearly.

Jeonghan stepped onto the top step, now wearing a winner's cap. The evening lights reflected off the trophy beside him as the crowd cheered loudly.

Joshua laughed softly under his breath.

"Unreal," he muttered.

The national anthem played across the circuit, and Joshua watched Jeonghan stand there on the screen, looking proud but slightly overwhelmed.

Then came the champagne.

Joshua winced as Jeonghan immediately got sprayed by the other drivers.

"Yeah, that seems about right," he murmured.

By the time the ceremony ended, the paddock had grown even busier. Team members began moving again, preparing for post race interviews and celebrations.

Joshua stayed where he was.

He had promised he wouldn't disappear.

A few minutes later, he spotted Jeonghan jogging back toward the parc fermé area, hair damp now and still slightly messy from the helmet earlier.

Jeonghan looked around quickly.

Then he spotted Joshua.

His face lit up immediately.

Joshua laughed as Jeonghan walked over.

"You survived the champagne attack," Joshua said.

"Barely," Jeonghan replied, wiping his hands on a towel someone had handed him earlier.

He leaned on the barrier again, still slightly out of breath from everything that had happened.

Joshua studied him for a moment. "You really just won a race."

Jeonghan glanced down at the ground briefly before looking back up. "Yeah."

Joshua smiled. "That's kind of insane."

Jeonghan chuckled quietly. "Feels a little insane."

For a moment they just looked at each other while the chaos of the paddock continued around them.

Then Joshua tilted his head slightly.

"So," he said.

Jeonghan raised an eyebrow. "So?"

Joshua crossed his arms over the barrier. "You confessed to me right after winning a race."

Jeonghan nodded slowly. "Correct."

Joshua grinned. "That's a bold strategy."

Jeonghan laughed. "I figured the adrenaline would help."

Joshua shook his head, amused. "Well... it worked."

Jeonghan leaned a little closer. "You meant what you said earlier?"

Joshua nodded. "About liking you?"

Jeonghan nodded once. "Yeah."

Joshua smiled. "I meant it."

Jeonghan exhaled slowly, relief spreading across his face. "Good."

Joshua laughed softly. "You looked way more confident driving a Formula One car at 300 kilometers per hour."

"That's easier," Jeonghan replied immediately.

Joshua snorted. "Sure."

An engineer from the Mercedes team walked over and tapped Jeonghan lightly on the shoulder. "Media in five."

Jeonghan sighed dramatically. "Again?"

"Again." The engineer walked away.

Jeonghan looked back at Joshua apologetically. "I have to do interviews."

Joshua nodded. "I figured."

Jeonghan thought for a moment before pulling his phone out. "Give me a second."

Joshua watched as he typed quickly.

Joshua's phone buzzed.

He pulled it out.

jeonghan 🏎️

jeonghan 🏎️: dinner after everything?

Joshua smiled immediately.

He typed back while standing right in front of him.

jeonghan 🏎️

jeonghan 🏎️: dinner after everything?

joshuaa: obviously

Jeonghan's phone buzzed and he glanced at the reply.

He grinned. "Good."

Joshua tilted his head slightly. "Go finish your victory duties."

Jeonghan nodded. "But you're still wearing my jacket."

Joshua zipped it up again. "I told you I'm guarding it with my life."

Jeonghan laughed. "Keep it for now."

Joshua blinked. "For now?"

Jeonghan shrugged slightly. "Until I see you again tonight."

Joshua smiled. "That sounds fair."

Another team member waved at Jeonghan from across the paddock.

Jeonghan sighed again. "They're really not letting me rest today."

Joshua chuckled. "You did win the race."

"Apparently that comes with responsibilities," Jeonghan sighed, stepping back from the barrier reluctantly. "I'll text you when I'm done."

Joshua nodded. "I'll probably be waiting in the motorhome."

Jeonghan paused for one second longer, looking at him, then smiled again before turning and jogging off toward the media area.

Joshua watched him go before glancing down at the Mercedes jacket again.

A few seconds later his phone buzzed.

Minghao.

Joshua opened the message.

haohao 🐸🐸

haohao 🐸🐸: how was the race?

Joshua looked up toward the direction Jeonghan had just disappeared.

Then he typed back.

haohao 🐸🐸

haohao 🐸🐸: how was the race?

shuashua 🦌🦌: he won

A pause.

Then he added another message.

haohao 🐸🐸

shuashua 🦌🦌: he won

shuashua 🦌🦌: also he confessed to me after the race

Joshua: also he confessed to me after the race

Three dots appeared instantly.

haohao 🐸🐸

shuashua 🦌🦌: also he confessed to me after the race

haohao 🐸🐸: ??????????

haohao 🐸🐸: WHAT????

Joshua laughed quietly to himself as he leaned back against the barrier, the paddock still alive with celebration around him, before deciding to walk back to the Mercedes motorhome. He stayed there, settling into one of the seats by the window again.

The sky outside had darkened completely now, the circuit lights glowing brightly in the distance. Even though the race was over, the paddock still hadn't fully quieted down. Team members were still moving between garages, and occasional cheers could still be heard from different directions.

Joshua rested his chin lightly on his hand, absentmindedly scrolling through his phone.

The group chat was still active.

svt 💎

kwannie 🍊: WHERE ARE YOU

nonie 🐻‍❄️: did you see the race up close

channie 🦦: send videos pls hyung

Joshua smiled, typing back a quick reply.

svt 💎

channie 🦦: send videos pls hyung

shua 🦌: i watched from the garage

Almost instantly, the chat blew up again.

svt 💎

shua 🦌: i watched from the garage

soonie 🐯: WHAT

kwannie 🍊: you're lying

channie 🦦: proof

Joshua shook his head, laughing softly, before locking his phone again.

He leaned back in his chair, letting out a quiet breath.

Everything felt a little surreal.

The race, the win, the confession... dinner plans.

His fingers absentmindedly tugged at the sleeve of the Mercedes jacket he was still wearing.

It still felt warm.

And very much like it wasn't supposed to be his.

A staff member passed by and gave him a small smile. "Enjoying yourself?"

Joshua nodded. "Very much."

"Good," she said. "You picked a great race to attend."

Joshua laughed lightly. "I think so too."

After a while, he checked the time.

Still about thirty minutes before he was supposed to meet Jeonghan.

He debated heading back to the hotel early, but... he didn't really feel like leaving yet.

Instead, he stayed where he was.

Watching.

Waiting.

Every time someone walked past the entrance, he instinctively looked up, half expecting it to be Jeonghan already.

It wasn't. Not yet, at least.

Joshua sighed softly, leaning his head back against the chair.

Then his phone buzzed.

He sat up immediately.

jeonghan 🏎️

jeonghan 🏎️: hey

jeonghan 🏎️: i'm done

Joshua smiled.

jeonghan 🏎️

jeonghan 🏎️: i'm done

joshuaa: finally

A second message came in.

jeonghan 🏎️

joshuaa: finally

jeonghan 🏎️: you still at the paddock?

Joshua glanced around the motorhome before replying.

jeonghan 🏎️

jeonghan 🏎️: you still at the paddock?

joshuaa: yeah

joshuaa: merc motorhome

There was a short pause.

Then, Jeonghan replied.

jeonghan 🏎️

joshuaa: merc motorhome

jeonghan 🏎️: stay there

Joshua raised an eyebrow slightly.

jeonghan 🏎️

jeonghan 🏎️: stay there

joshuaa: okay

He locked his phone, curiosity settling in.

A few minutes passed.

Then five.

Joshua found himself looking toward the entrance again.

And then, Jeonghan walked in.

Still in his race suit, though now the top half was fully tied around his waist, a fresh team shirt underneath instead of the undersuit. His hair was still slightly damp, but he looked far more relaxed than earlier.

Joshua stood up immediately.

"You're still in your race suit," he said, amused.

Jeonghan glanced down. "I didn't really have time to change."

Joshua laughed. "Fair."

Jeonghan walked over, stopping right in front of him.

For a second, neither of them spoke.

Then Jeonghan gestured toward the jacket. "You're really keeping that, huh?"

Joshua crossed his arms slightly. "You said I could."

Jeonghan smiled. "So I did."

There was a small pause before Jeonghan tilted his head toward the exit. "Ready?"

Joshua grabbed his bag from the chair. "Yeah."

They started walking out of the motorhome together, side by side.

As they stepped back into the paddock, it felt completely different now.

Quieter.

Slower.

Like everything was finally winding down after the intensity of the race.

Joshua glanced over at him. "So," he said, "race winner."

Jeonghan groaned. "Don't start."

Joshua grinned. "I'm just saying."

Jeonghan shook his head, though he was smiling. "You're enjoying this too much."

"Maybe."

They walked toward the paddock exit together, falling into an easy rhythm again.

Joshua adjusted the jacket slightly. "So where are we going?"

Jeonghan thought for a moment. "Somewhere with good food."

Joshua laughed. "That narrows it down."

Jeonghan glanced at him. "I'll pick. You just follow."

Joshua nodded. "Deal."

They reached the paddock exit, flashing their passes before stepping out into the night.

The air outside was cooler than before, but Joshua barely noticed now, the walk back toward the hotel feeling quieter than everything that had happened before.

No engines, no radios, no crowds shouting over each other.

Just the two of them, side by side under the streetlights.

Joshua kept his hands tucked into the sleeves of the oversized jacket, the fabric bunching slightly at his wrists as they walked.

"You're really not giving that back anytime soon, huh?" Jeonghan said, glancing at him.

Joshua smiled. "Depends."

"On what?"

Joshua tilted his head. "How nice you are to me."

Jeonghan let out a soft laugh. "I just won a race and bought you dinner yesterday."

Joshua pretended to think about it. "Hmm... still undecided."

Jeonghan shook his head, amused. "You're unbelievable."

They reached the hotel a few minutes later, stepping inside the lobby where it was quieter and warmer. A few people lingered around, but no one paid them much attention.

Neither of them moved toward the elevators immediately.

Instead, they stopped near one of the seating areas.

There was a small pause.

Joshua shifted his weight slightly, suddenly aware of how close they were standing.

Jeonghan looked at him for a moment, like he was deciding something.

"Can I ask you something?" Jeonghan said.

Joshua nodded.

"Yeah."

Jeonghan exhaled softly.

"When I said I like you earlier... I wasn't just saying it because of the race. Or the adrenaline."

Joshua's expression softened.

"I know."

Jeonghan studied his face for a second.

"I've been thinking about it since yesterday," he admitted. "After we met."

Joshua blinked slightly. "That fast?"

Jeonghan gave a small, almost sheepish smile. "Yeah."

Joshua felt his heart pick up a little. "Well... good timing, I guess."

Jeonghan stepped a little closer. "Can I ask you something else?"

Joshua nodded again, quieter this time. "Okay."

Jeonghan hesitated for half a second.

Then... "can I kiss you?"

Joshua froze. Not pulling away. Not moving.

Just... processing.

Then he let out a small breath and nodded. "Yeah."

That was all the confirmation Jeonghan needed.

He closed the small distance between them, one hand coming up to gently hold Joshua's waist, thumb brushing lightly against the jacket.

And then he leaned in. The kiss was soft at first.

Careful.

Like he was making sure Joshua wouldn't pull away.

Joshua didn't.

If anything, he leaned in slightly more, his free hand coming up instinctively to rest against Jeonghan's arm.

The world around them faded into the background again.

No paddock, no race, no noise.

Just this.

After a few seconds, Jeonghan pulled back slightly, just enough to look at him.

Joshua's cheeks were warm, his expression a mix of surprise and something softer.

"Okay," Joshua said quietly.

Jeonghan laughed under his breath. "Okay?"

Joshua nodded. "That was good."

Jeonghan smiled, a little more relaxed now. "Good."

There was a small pause before Joshua tilted his head slightly. "So... what does this mean?"

Jeonghan thought about it for a second.

"Well," he said slowly, "I'd like to take you out properly."

Joshua raised an eyebrow. "This wasn't proper?"

Jeonghan smiled. "This was... slightly chaotic."

Joshua laughed. "Fair."

Jeonghan squeezed his wrist lightly before letting go.

"So," he continued, "after this weekend. When things calm down. I take you on an actual date."

Joshua smiled. "I'd like that."

Jeonghan nodded. "Good."

They stood there for a second longer, neither of them really in a rush to move.

Then Joshua glanced toward the elevators. "Are we still getting dinner?"

Jeonghan blinked. "Right."

Joshua grinned. "Race winner and all, you can't skip dinner plans."

Jeonghan laughed. "Yeah, yeah. Let's go."

They finally started walking toward the elevators together.

And this time, when their hands brushed slightly as they walked, neither of them pulled away.

The elevator ride was quieter than everything that had come before, but not in an awkward way.

Just different.

Joshua stood beside Jeonghan, hands still half-hidden in the sleeves of the oversized jacket, eyes fixed on the numbers lighting up as they went down.

He could still feel it. The kiss. Jeonghan's lips on his, arm around his waist. Everything.

Jeonghan glanced at him once, then again, like he was trying to read his expression.

Joshua caught him the second time. "What?"

Jeonghan looked away quickly, a small smile tugging at his lips. "Nothing."

Joshua narrowed his eyes slightly. "You're smiling."

"I just won a race," Jeonghan said.

Joshua snorted. "That's not why."

Jeonghan didn't answer that, just shook his head as the elevator doors opened. "Come on."

They stepped out into the lobby again and headed straight out this time, no hesitation.

The night air was cooler now, but Joshua barely noticed it.

Not when he was still wearing Jeonghan's jacket.

Not when Jeonghan was walking just a little closer than before.

"So," Joshua said as they walked down the street again, "where exactly are you taking me?"

Jeonghan hummed.

"There's a place a few streets down. Quiet, good food."

Joshua nodded.

"Sounds promising."

They walked side by side, their shoulders brushing occasionally.

At some point, Jeonghan's hand lightly bumped into Joshua's again.

This time, instead of pulling away, Jeonghan's fingers lingered.

Joshua glanced down, then back up at him.

Jeonghan didn't say anything, just looked ahead like it was the most normal thing in the world.

Joshua smiled to himself and shifted his hand slightly so their fingers fit together properly.

Jeonghan glanced at him this time, a small, almost surprised smile appeared on his face.

"Comfortable?" Joshua asked casually.

Jeonghan let out a quiet laugh. "Very."

The restaurant Jeonghan picked was tucked away from the main street, quieter than the others around it.

They were seated quickly, given a small table near the corner.

Joshua slipped off the jacket slightly, though he kept it draped over his shoulders.

"You're really attached to that," Jeonghan said, watching him.

Joshua shrugged. "It's warm."

"It's mine."

Joshua looked at him."Was."

Jeonghan laughed. "Unbelievable."

They ordered food, the conversation picking up easily again like it always did between them.

Except now, there was something new underneath it.

Something softer.

Something that made Joshua notice the way Jeonghan looked at him a little longer than before.

At one point, Joshua rested his chin in his hand.

"So," he said, "you confess, kiss me, and now you're taking me to dinner."

Jeonghan raised an eyebrow. "When you put it like that, it sounds very planned."

Joshua smiled. "Was it not?"

Jeonghan shook his head. "None of this was planned."

Joshua tilted his head. "Then what was?"

Jeonghan thought for a moment. "Winning the race."

Joshua laughed. "Right. Priorities."

The food arrived not long after, giving them a moment of quiet as they started eating.

Joshua glanced at him across the table. "You know," he said, "last week I didn't even know you."

Jeonghan looked up. "And today?"

Joshua smiled slightly. "Today you kissed me."

Jeonghan leaned back in his chair a little, amused. "That escalated quickly."

Joshua nodded. "Very."

There was a small pause before Jeonghan spoke again, quieter this time. "Do you regret it?"

Joshua didn't even hesitate. "No."

Jeonghan's expression softened slightly. "Good."

Joshua tapped his fingers lightly against the table. "So what happens after this weekend?"

Jeonghan considered that for a second.

"I have another race next week," he said. "Different country."

Joshua nodded slowly. "And me?"

"You go back to your schedule," Jeonghan said. "Idol life."

Joshua hummed. "So... busy."

"Very."

Joshua leaned back slightly. "That sounds complicated."

"It is," Jeonghan admitted.

A brief silence settled between them.

Then Jeonghan spoke again. "But not impossible."

Joshua looked at him.

Jeonghan held his gaze. "I meant what I said. I want to take you out properly."

Joshua smiled softly. "Then do it."

Jeonghan smiled back. "After this weekend."

Joshua nodded. "After this weekend."

They finished dinner slowly, neither of them in a rush to leave.

Eventually, they stepped back out into the night, walking side by side again toward the hotel.

This time, their hands found each other almost immediately.

No hesitation.

No second guessing.

When they reached the hotel entrance, they slowed down.

Neither of them moved toward the elevators right away.

Joshua looked at him. "So... race winner."

Jeonghan sighed. "Again?"

Joshua grinned. "I'm not letting that go anytime soon."

Jeonghan stepped a little closer.

"Then I guess I'll have to distract you."

Joshua raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"

Jeonghan didn't answer with words this time.

He leaned in again.

And kissed him.

The Vegas weekend passed in what felt like a blur after that night.

Between the race, the celebrations, and whatever it was that had started between them, Joshua barely had time to sit still. Every spare moment was either spent at the track or with Jeonghan, whether it was quick texts between sessions or late night conversations that stretched longer than they probably should have.

And then, just like that, it was over.

Flights. Schedules. Separate directions.

A few days later, back in Seoul, everything felt... familiar again.

Too familiar.

Joshua stood in his apartment, suitcase still half-unpacked, scrolling through his camera roll.

Vegas.

The paddock, the garage, the view from hospitality, the night they went out.

And then, photos of him. Taken by Jeonghan.

Joshua zoomed in slightly on one. It was candid. He hadn't even noticed when it was taken. He was sitting at the restaurant, laughing at something, the Mercedes jacket still draped over his shoulders.

Joshua smiled.

He selected a few photos.

The view from the paddock, a blurry shot of the track at night, a mirror selfie in the hotel, and that one photo Jeonghan took.

Plus one more.

The jacket.

Then, without another thought, he posted them.

Across the city, Jeonghan's phone buzzed.

He had just landed not too long ago, bags dropped somewhere near his couch as he stretched slightly, still adjusting to being back.

He picked up his phone.

Joshua's post.

Jeonghan opened it.

Swiped. Swiped again. Then paused.

The jacket.

And the photo he took.

Jeonghan laughed softly under his breath.

"Subtle," he muttered.

His phone buzzed again.

Kimi.

kiminho

kiminho: i saw the post

Jeonghan rolled his eyes.

kiminho

kiminho: i saw the post

kiminho: you're not subtle either

Jeonghan typed back.

kiminho

kiminho: you're not subtle either

yoonzino: i didn't even post anything

kiminho: you don't need to

kiminho: i know you have some from that same dinner

Jeonghan snorted and exited their chat, then he opened Joshua's chat instead.

joshuaa

jeonghan 🏎️: nice post

A few seconds later, the reply came in.

joshuaa

jeonghan 🏎️: nice post

joshuaa: thank you

jeonghan 🏎️: you kept my jacket

joshuaa: obviously

Jeonghan smiled slightly.

joshuaa

joshuaa: obviously

jeonghan 🏎️: you free tomorrow?

He could see the text bubbles slowly running as he assumed Joshua thought his schedule out.

joshuaa

jeonghan 🏎️: you free tomorrow?

joshuaa: yeah, actually.

The next day felt completely different from Vegas.

No engines, no team radios, no cameras shoved in their faces every second.

Just Seoul.

Joshua stood outside a small café, adjusting the sleeves of his jacket.

He didn't even realise he was smiling until...

"I thought you liked the cold?"

Joshua turned.

Jeonghan stood there, dressed casually, hands in his pockets, a small smile on his face.

Joshua glanced down as Jeonghan walked closer. "I mean... I have a tour coming up. Can't get sick."

They fell into step beside each other, walking down the street.

"So," Joshua said, "this is the proper date you promised?"

Jeonghan nodded. "Home turf version."

Joshua smiled. "I like it already."

They spent the day walking around the city.

Small shops, quiet streets, a late lunch that turned into coffee, coffee that turned into just sitting and talking.

Jeonghan took photos again.

This time, Joshua noticed.

"Are you just going to keep taking pictures of me?" Joshua asked.

Jeonghan didn't look up from his phone. "Probably."

Joshua laughed. "At least tell me when."

Jeonghan finally glanced at him. "No."

Joshua rolled his eyes, but he was smiling.

At one point, they stopped by a small street stall.

That's when it happened.

A small group of fans nearby started whispering.

Joshua noticed first. "Do you hear that?"

Jeonghan followed his gaze.

Two girls were looking at them, clearly trying to figure something out, then one of them stepped forward hesitantly. "Um... excuse me?"

Joshua smiled politely. "Hi."

"Can we... get your signatures?"

Joshua nodded immediately. "Of course."

Jeonghan stood beside him as they both signed.

The girls thanked them quickly, but before leaving, one of them hesitated, then asked carefully, "are you... by any chance... dating?"

Joshua froze for half a second while Jeonghan raised an eyebrow, making the girls immediately panic. "No, no, you don't have to answer! We just- because of the post- and-"

Joshua laughed softly, trying to ease the tension. "It's okay."

He glanced at Jeonghan.

Jeonghan was already looking at him. That same look from Vegas.

Joshua smiled. Then turned back to the fans.

"We're close," he said simply.

The girls nodded quickly, clearly understanding more than he actually said.

"Okay! Thank you!" They said before hurrying off.

There was a small silence after they left.

Joshua looked at Jeonghan. "Well."

Jeonghan smiled slightly. "That was subtle."

Joshua nudged him lightly. "Shut up."

They started walking again.

After a few steps, Jeonghan reached out and took Joshua's hand.

Just like that. No hesitation.

Joshua glanced down at their hands, then back up.

And didn't let go.

By the time the sun started to set, they had somehow made their way to the Han River.

The sky was painted in soft shades of orange and pink, the city lights slowly flickering on around them. People were scattered along the riverside, some cycling past, others sitting on the grass with food and drinks, enjoying the evening.

Joshua sat down first, stretching his legs out slightly.

"Okay," he said, looking out at the water, "this might be my favorite part of today."

Jeonghan dropped down beside him, close enough that their shoulders brushed. "Better than Vegas?"

Joshua thought about it for a second. "It's different," he decided.

Jeonghan smiled. "I'll take that."

For a while, they just sat there.

Talking a little, falling into silence, watching the river.

Jeonghan pulled out his phone again at some point.

Joshua glanced over.

"You're not done taking pictures?"

"Not even close," Jeonghan said.

Joshua laughed. "Give me that."

He reached over, trying to grab the phone, but Jeonghan leaned back slightly, dodging him.

"Stay still," Jeonghan said. "This one's nice."

Joshua rolled his eyes but didn't move.

Jeonghan snapped a photo.

Then another, and another.

Joshua groaned. "You're taking way too many."

"They're all good."

"You say that about everything."

Jeonghan ignored him, scrolling through the photos with a small, satisfied smile, then he stopped.

Joshua noticed the shift. "What?"

Jeonghan didn't answer immediately.

He locked his phone and set it down beside him.

Then he turned slightly, facing Joshua properly.

The change in his expression made Joshua sit up a little straighter.

"What is it?" Joshua asked.

Jeonghan exhaled softly, like he was steadying himself.

"I was going to do this later," he said, "but... I don't think I want to wait."

Joshua blinked. "Okay...?"

Jeonghan looked at him, really looked at him this time.

Not teasing. Not joking.

Serious.

"You know I like you," he said.

Joshua nodded slowly. "Yeah."

"And I meant what I said about taking you out properly," Jeonghan continued.

Joshua's heart started picking up again. "Yeah..."

Jeonghan shifted a little closer. "So I'm just going to ask."

Joshua held his breath slightly.

Jeonghan smiled, softer now. "Do you want to be my boyfriend?"

For a second, everything around them felt quiet again.

The river, the people, the city.

Joshua just stared at him.

Then, he smiled.

"Yeah," he said. "I do."

Jeonghan let out a breath he didn't realise he was holding. "Yeah?"

Joshua nodded, laughing softly. "Yeah."

Jeonghan's grin spread immediately, brighter than anything Joshua had seen all day.

"Okay," he said, almost to himself.

Joshua laughed. "Okay?"

Jeonghan shook his head, still smiling. "Sorry, I just-"

Joshua leaned slightly closer. "You just asked me to be your boyfriend."

"Right."

"And I said yes."

"Right."

Joshua smiled. "So now what?"

Jeonghan didn't answer with words.

He reached out, gently pulling Joshua closer by the sleeve of the jacket and kissed him.

This time, it wasn't hesitant.

It was warm. Certain.

Joshua smiled into it before kissing him back.

When they pulled away, both of them were still smiling like idiots.

"Boyfriend," Jeonghan said quietly.

Joshua laughed. "Boyfriend."

There was a small pause before Joshua glanced at his phone. "Wait."

Jeonghan raised an eyebrow. "What?"

Joshua opened his camera. "We need photos."

Jeonghan groaned. "Of course we do."

Joshua shifted closer to him, holding the phone up. "Smile."

Jeonghan leaned in slightly, their heads close together.

Joshua snapped one.

Then another.

Then one where Jeonghan was mid-laugh.

Then one where Joshua turned his head slightly and their faces were just a little too close.

"Okay, okay," Jeonghan said, laughing. "That's enough."

Joshua looked through them. "No, these are good."

Jeonghan shook his head, but he didn't move away. Instead, he pulled his own phone back out. "My turn."

Joshua groaned. "Absolutely not."

Too late.

Jeonghan was already taking more photos.

Joshua laughing, looking away, pretending to be annoyed.

Joshua tried to grab the phone again. "Delete those."

"Never."

They ended up lying back on the grass after that, shoulders touching, phones set aside.

The sky had turned darker now, the city lights reflecting off the river.

For a moment, everything felt calm.

Easy.

Then Jeonghan spoke. "I have a flight tomorrow."

Joshua turned his head slightly. "Oh."

"To Qatar," Jeonghan added.

Joshua nodded slowly. "Next race."

"Yeah."

There was a small silence.

Not uncomfortable.

Just... real.

Joshua stared up at the sky. "What time?"

"Morning."

Joshua hummed. "Early?"

"Very."

Joshua sighed softly. "Of course it is."

Jeonghan turned his head toward him. "I'll call you when I land."

Joshua looked back at him. "Immediately?"

"Immediately," Jeonghan confirmed.

Joshua smiled. "Okay."

Jeonghan reached over, lacing their fingers together again.

"I mean it," he said quietly.

"I know," Joshua replied.

They stayed like that for a while longer.

Hands intertwined.

City glowing around them.

And somewhere between Vegas and Seoul and everything in between, they had become something real.

They stayed by the river until it got late enough that the air turned cooler again.

Joshua shifted slightly, pulling the jacket closer around himself as he sat up.

"We should probably head back," he said, though he didn't sound like he actually wanted to move.

Jeonghan hummed, still lying on the grass for a second longer before finally sitting up too.

"Yeah," he agreed. "You have schedules tomorrow too, right?"

Joshua nodded. "Not as early as you, though."

Jeonghan groaned. "Don't remind me."

Joshua laughed, standing up and brushing off his pants before offering a hand.

Jeonghan took it without hesitation, letting Joshua pull him up.

Neither of them let go immediately.

They just stood there for a second, hands still linked.

Joshua tilted his head slightly. "So... boyfriend."

Jeonghan smiled. "Boyfriend."

Joshua grinned. "That's still kind of crazy."

"You said yes," Jeonghan pointed out.

"I know," Joshua said. "I'm just processing."

Jeonghan laughed softly. "Take your time."

The walk back felt slower than before.

Not because they didn't know where they were going, but because neither of them seemed in a rush to get there.

Their hands stayed intertwined the entire time.

Sometimes swinging slightly between them. Sometimes just resting.

When they reached Joshua's place, they stopped outside.

A familiar pause.

Joshua shifted his weight.

"You should sleep," he said. "You have a flight."

Jeonghan sighed. "I know."

But he didn't move.

Joshua smiled a little. "You're not leaving."

"Nope."

Joshua laughed quietly. "Driver who just won a race and still can't leave."

Jeonghan stepped a little closer. "Not when my boyfriend is right here."

Joshua felt his face warm slightly. "That's new."

"Get used to it."

There was a small silence.

Then Joshua spoke again, softer this time. "You'll really call me when you land?"

Jeonghan nodded. "First thing."

Joshua studied his face for a second, like he was making sure he meant it.

Then he nodded. "Okay."

Jeonghan lifted their joined hands slightly, brushing his thumb against Joshua's fingers. "Okay."

Neither of them moved for another few seconds.

Then Jeonghan leaned in for another kiss.

Shorter this time, but just as warm.

Joshua smiled when they pulled apart.

"You should go," he said again, though it sounded reluctant.

Jeonghan exhaled. "Yeah."

He let go of Joshua's hand slowly this time.

"Text me when you wake up," Jeonghan added.

Joshua raised an eyebrow. "You'll be on a plane."

"Still."

Joshua laughed. "Okay."

Jeonghan took a step back.

Then another.

But he didn't turn around immediately.

"Goodnight," he said.

Joshua smiled. "Goodnight."

Jeonghan finally turned and started walking away.

Joshua watched him go until he disappeared around the corner.

Only then did he head inside.

The next morning felt quieter.

Joshua woke up to sunlight and instinctively reached for his phone.

A message.

jeonghan 🏎️

jeonghan 🏎️: boarding

Joshua smiled sleepily, typing back.

jeonghan 🏎️

jeonghan 🏎️: boarding

shua 💗: have a safe flight

He stared at the screen for a second before adding...

jeonghan 🏎️

shua 💗: have a safe flight

shua 💗: call me when you land

A few minutes passed.

Then, he replied. 

jeonghan 🏎️

shua 💗: call me when you land

jeonghan 🏎️: i will

Hours later, Joshua was in the middle of practice when his phone buzzed again.

Jeonghan.

He stepped aside quickly and picked up. "Hello?"

"I landed."

Joshua smiled immediately. "That fast?"

Jeonghan laughed softly on the other end. "Long flight."

Joshua leaned against the wall. "You sound tired."

"I am." There was a small pause. "But I said I'd call."

Joshua's smile softened. "You did."

Another pause, not awkward, just... quiet. Comfortable.

"Did you wake up already?" Jeonghan asked.

"Yeah," Joshua said. "I've been up."

"Good."

Joshua hesitated for a second before asking. "When do I see you again?"

Jeonghan didn't answer right away. "Soon."

Joshua smiled. "Soon?"

"Soon," Jeonghan repeated.

Joshua let out a quiet breath. "Okay."

They stayed on the phone a little longer, neither of them really wanting to hang up.

Eventually, Joshua broke the silence.

"You should rest," Joshua said.

"I will."

"But actually rest."

Jeonghan laughed. "Okay, okay."

Joshua smiled. "I'll talk to you later."

"Later."

The call ended.

Joshua looked at his phone for a second longer before locking it.

And even though they were in completely different countries now it didn't feel that far.

The practice room was loud the second Joshua walked in.

Too loud.

"HE'S BACK."

Joshua barely had time to put his bag down before Seungkwan was already in front of him, hands on his shoulders like he was about to shake answers out of him.

"Tell us everything."

Joshua blinked. "Hello to you too."

Mingyu appeared from the side. "Did you actually watch the race from the garage?"

"Did you meet more drivers?" Chan added, already halfway across the room.

Joshua sighed, dropping his bag onto the floor. "I literally just got here."

"And we've been waiting," Seungkwan said.

Jihoon didn't even look up from where he was sitting, but he added, "you started it when you sent that photo."

Joshua ran a hand through his hair. "It was just a photo."

"JUST a photo?" Seungkwan repeated.

"The jacket," Mingyu pointed out.

Joshua froze for half a second. "What about it?"

Chan narrowed his eyes. "You don't own a Mercedes jacket."

Joshua crossed his arms. "I could."

"No, you couldn't," Seungkwan shot back immediately.

Minghao, who had been quiet up until now, finally spoke.

"Or," he said calmly, leaning back against the mirror, "he got it from the hot Korean Mercedes driver."

The room went quiet for a split second.

Then, Seungkwan gasped. "WAIT."

Joshua looked at Minghao.

Minghao raised an eyebrow. "Well?"

Joshua opened his mouth. Closed it. Then sighed.

"Okay."

Everyone leaned in.

"Okay what?" Mingyu pressed.

Joshua rubbed the back of his neck. "Okay, I did get it from him."

The room erupted.

"I KNEW IT," Seungkwan yelled.

Seokmin pointed at him. "I KNEW THERE WAS SOMETHING."

Mingyu was pacing now. "WAIT WAIT WAIT, does that mean you actually-"

Minghao cut in, eyes sharp. "You're not just saying he's hot anymore, are you?"

Joshua looked at him. There was a pause.

Then, "I'm dating him."

Silence.

Complete silence.

For one full second.

Then the entire room exploded.

"YOU'RE WHAT?!" Seungkwan practically screamed.

Mingyu grabbed his head. "NO WAY."

Chan just stood there, blinking. "Like... actually dating?"

Joshua winced slightly at the volume. "Yes, actually."

Jihoon finally looked up. "You went to Vegas and came back with a boyfriend."

Joshua pointed at him. "When you say it like that, it sounds worse."

Seungkwan grabbed his arm. "WORSE? IT SOUNDS INSANE."

Minghao, meanwhile, just smiled slowly. "I knew it."

Joshua groaned. "You didn't know."

"I suspected," Minghao corrected.

Mingyu leaned forward. "Wait, wait- so like- does he know you're an idol?"

Joshua stared at him. "Yes."

"Does he know about us?" Chan asked.

"I told him about the group, yeah."

Seungkwan clutched his chest dramatically. "He knows about us before we even meet him."

Joshua laughed despite himself. "Relax."

Minghao tilted his head. "So what now?"

Joshua shrugged. "We're just... seeing where it goes."

Seungkwan squinted. "You kissed him, didn't you?"

Joshua choked. "That is not your business."

"YOU DID," Mingyu yelled.

"Calm down," Wonwoo sighed.

"Okay, practice!" Seungcheol said quickly, clapping his hands once. "We have work to do."

The members groaned but eventually backed off, though the occasional teasing comment still slipped in throughout practice.

By the time Joshua got back to his apartment that evening, he felt like he had run another race himself.

He dropped his bag by the door and let out a long breath.

"Finally," he muttered.

The quiet felt... nice.

No shouting, no interrogation, just him.

Joshua kicked off his shoes and walked further inside, loosening his shoulders before reaching for his phone.

A notification.

Jeonghan.

Joshua's expression softened immediately as he opened the chat.

The message had been sent hours ago.

jeonghan 🏎️

jeonghan 🏎️: hey

jeonghan 🏎️: this might be a bit sudden

Joshua frowned slightly, scrolling.

jeonghan 🏎️

jeonghan 🏎️: this might be a bit sudden

jeonghan 🏎️: but i was thinking

A small pause as he read.

jeonghan 🏎️

jeonghan 🏎️: but i was thinking

jeonghan 🏎️: what if we just announce it?

Joshua blinked.

jeonghan 🏎️

jeonghan 🏎️: what if we just announce it?

jeonghan 🏎️: i know it's fast

jeonghan 🏎️: but i don't really want to hide it either

Joshua sat down on the couch slowly, reading the message again.

Announce it. Already.

He exhaled softly, running a hand through his hair. For a moment, he just stared at the screen.

Then he started typing.

Paused.

Deleted.

Typed again.

jeonghan 🏎️

jeonghan 🏎️: but i don't really want to hide it either

shua 💗: i get what you mean

He stopped, thinking.

jeonghan 🏎️

shua 💗: i get what you mean

shua 💗: but maybe

Another pause.

jeonghan 🏎️

shua 💗: but maybe

shua 💗: can we have a week or so first?

He leaned back slightly, continuing.

jeonghan 🏎️

shua 💗: can we have a week or so first?

shua 💗: just... of being normal

shua 💗: private

shua 💗: before everything gets loud

He stared at the message for a second.

jeonghan 🏎️

shua 💗: before everything gets loud

shua 💗: then we can announce it properly

Joshua hesitated for half a second.

Then hit send.

He set his phone down on the table, leaning his head back against the couch.

A week.

Just a little time.

Before the world got involved.

Joshua didn't have to wait long.

His phone buzzed barely a minute later.

jeonghan 🏎️

shua 💗: then we can announce it properly

jeonghan 🏎️: yeah

jeonghan 🏎️: a week sounds good

Joshua let out a small breath he didn't realise he was holding.

jeonghan 🏎️

jeonghan 🏎️: yeah

jeonghan 🏎️: i just didn't want to hide you

Joshua's expression softened.

He picked up his phone, thumbs hovering over the screen, but before he could type, his phone started ringing.

Jeonghan.

Joshua blinked once, then answered quickly. "Hello?"

"Hi."

Joshua smiled instantly at the sound of his voice. "Hi."

There was a small pause on the line, the kind that wasn't awkward, just... full.

"You read my message," Jeonghan said.

"Yeah," Joshua replied, shifting slightly on the couch. "I just got home from practice."

"Tired?"

"A little," Joshua admitted. "You?"

"Always," Jeonghan said lightly. "But I wanted to call."

Joshua's smile grew a little. "I'm glad you did."

There was a soft exhale from the other end.

"A week is good," Jeonghan continued. "We can just... be normal."

Joshua leaned his head back against the couch. "Yeah. Just us."

"Just us," Jeonghan repeated.

Joshua could hear faint movement on the other end, like Jeonghan shifting around in his hotel room.

"Did the members say anything?" Jeonghan asked.

Joshua let out a small laugh. "They interrogated me the second I walked into the practice room."

Jeonghan laughed. "That bad?"

"Seungkwan almost lost his mind."

"I can imagine."

Joshua smiled, eyes softening slightly. "They know, by the way."

There was a brief pause.

"All of them?" Jeonghan asked.

"Yeah."

Another pause.

"Okay."

Joshua frowned slightly. "Okay?"

"I was just thinking," Jeonghan said, a little quieter now. "That means it's real."

Joshua's heart skipped a little at that.

"It is real," he said.

"I know," Jeonghan replied quickly. "I just-"

He stopped. Joshua waited.

"What?" he asked gently.

Jeonghan exhaled softly. "I like you a lot."

Joshua felt his face warm slightly, even though he was completely alone in his apartment.

"I like you too," he said.

Another pause.

Longer this time.

Joshua shifted, pulling the sleeve of the jacket over his hand again, a habit now.

Then, Jeonghan spoke again. Quieter. "I love you."

Joshua froze. Completely.

His brain stopped for a second, like it needed to catch up with what he just heard. "What?"

Jeonghan let out a small, nervous laugh.

"I know," he said quickly. "I know it's fast, I just-"

Joshua sat up straighter. "No, wait-" his voice came out softer than he expected. "You just said-"

"I know," Jeonghan repeated, a little breathless now. "I didn't plan to say it today, but I've been thinking about it since I left, and I just-"

Joshua pressed his lips together, trying to stop the smile that was already forming.

"You're serious?" he asked quietly.

"Yeah," Jeonghan said immediately. "I am."

Joshua's face felt warm.

Very warm.

He dropped his head slightly, one hand coming up to cover part of his face even though no one could see him.

"Why am I blushing?" he muttered under his breath.

Jeonghan laughed softly through the phone.

"You are?"

"Shut up."

"I wish I could see it."

Joshua groaned quietly, dragging a hand down his face.

"You can't just say that out of nowhere."

"I didn't mean for it to be out of nowhere," Jeonghan said. "I just... felt it."

Joshua's chest tightened slightly at that.

He leaned back again, staring up at the ceiling.

There was a small silence.

Then Joshua spoke. "I think... I'm getting there too."

Jeonghan didn't say anything for a second. "Yeah?"

Joshua nodded, even though he couldn't see him. "Yeah."

A quiet breath left the other end of the call.

"Okay," Jeonghan said.

Joshua smiled faintly. "Okay."

They stayed on the phone like that for a while longer, talking about nothing and everything at the same time.

About practice, about the next race, about what they'd do after their "one week" was over.

And even when the conversation slowed, neither of them hung up right away.

Race day in Qatar felt different.

For Joshua, it was quieter.

No paddock pass, no garage access, no standing just meters away from the car.

Just a screen.

He sat cross-legged on his couch, phone in hand, the race playing on his TV as the final laps ticked down.

His heart still raced anyway.

Because it was Jeonghan.

Because he knew exactly how much this meant.

"Come on," Joshua murmured under his breath as the last lap started.

The camera followed the lead car.

Jeonghan.

Clean. Controlled. Untouchable.

Joshua leaned forward slightly without even realizing it.

And then, the chequered flag.

Joshua let out a breath, immediately smiling.

"He did it again," he whispered to himself.

Hours later, back in his hotel room, Jeonghan barely had time to drop his bag before grabbing his phone.

Still in his race suit, hair slightly damp, exhaustion settling into his bones, but he was smiling.

He hit call.

Joshua's phone lit up almost instantly.

Jeonghan.

He answered before the second ring. "Hello?"

"I won."

Joshua laughed immediately, the smile obvious in his voice. "I know, I watched."

Jeonghan let out a tired breath. "Okay, good."

Joshua leaned back into the couch. "You didn't even say hi."

"I just drove a race," Jeonghan said.

Joshua snorted. "Fair."

There was a small pause.

Then Joshua spoke again, softer. "I'm proud of you."

Jeonghan went quiet for a second. "Thanks."

Joshua could hear the smile in his voice now. "You sound tired."

"I am," Jeonghan admitted. "But I wanted to call you first."

Joshua's expression softened again. "You always do."

"Of course I do."

There was a small silence.

Comfortable.

Familiar.

Then Joshua shifted slightly, glancing at his phone. "Hey."

"Yeah?"

Joshua hesitated for just a second. "Do you still want to announce it?"

Jeonghan didn't even pause. "Yes."

Joshua laughed quietly. "Straight answer."

"I told you," Jeonghan said. "I don't want to hide you."

Joshua smiled, staring down at his screen. "Okay."

A small pause.

Then, "Let's do it."

Jeonghan sat up a little straighter. "Now?"

"Now," Joshua repeated.

Jeonghan let out a small, disbelieving laugh. "Okay."

Joshua immediately opened his gallery.

Scrolling.

Stopping.

The photos from the Han River.

Jeonghan's photos. His photos. The ones where they were laughing, where they were too close, that meant something.

Joshua selected a few.

Meanwhile, on the other end, Jeonghan was doing the same.

"Which ones are you picking?" Joshua asked.

"The good ones," Jeonghan replied.

"That doesn't narrow it down."

"The ones where you look good."

Joshua scoffed. "I always look good."

Jeonghan laughed. "Exactly."

Joshua shook his head, smiling as he finished selecting. "Okay. I have mine."

"Same."

Joshua hovered over the post button for a second.

"What are you captioning it?" he asked.

Jeonghan thought for a moment. "Simple."

Joshua raised an eyebrow. "Define simple."

Jeonghan smiled slightly. "You'll see."

Joshua rolled his eyes. "Fine."

A small pause.

"Ready?" Joshua asked.

"Ready."

"Three?"

"Three."

"Two."

"Two."

"One."

"One."

Post.

For a second, neither of them said anything.

Just listening to the quiet on the line.

Then Joshua laughed softly. "We actually did it."

Jeonghan let out a breath. "Yeah."

Joshua glanced at the screen again, watching the notifications slowly start to come in.

Likes. Comments. Messages.

"It's blowing up already," Joshua said.

"Of course it is," Jeonghan replied.

Joshua smiled. "Worth it?"

Jeonghan didn't hesitate. "Yeah."

Joshua's expression softened. "Yeah."

There was a small pause.

Then Jeonghan spoke again, quieter now.

"Next time," he said, "we take photos somewhere else."

Joshua laughed. "Already planning the next one?"

"Obviously."

Joshua shook his head. "Race winner and planner."

"Boyfriend," Jeonghan corrected.

Joshua smiled. "Boyfriend."

Joshua was still staring at the flood of notifications when he spoke again.

"...Hey."

"Yeah?" Jeonghan replied softly.

Joshua hesitated, thumb idly tapping against the side of his phone.

"When we first met," he started, voice quieter now, "you didn't tell me."

"Didn't tell you what?"

Joshua huffed a small laugh. "That you're... you."

Jeonghan let out a confused chuckle. "That clears nothing up."

Joshua smiled to himself.

"Minghao told me," he continued. "He was like, 'do you even know who that is?' and then he went on about your titles and everything and-"

He paused. "that you're a four-time world champion," Joshua finished.

There was a short silence on the line.

Then Jeonghan hummed lightly. "Ah."

Joshua shifted, pulling his knees closer to his chest.

"You could've said something," he added. "You just... introduced yourself like a normal person."

Jeonghan let out a soft laugh at that. "I am a normal person."

"You know what I mean."

"Yeah," Jeonghan said, still smiling. "I do."

Another small pause.

Joshua's voice softened. "Why didn't you tell me?"

On the other end, Jeonghan leaned back against the headboard of his bed, eyes drifting shut for a moment.

"I didn't need to."

Joshua blinked. "What?"

"I didn't need to tell you all that," Jeonghan repeated. "Not then."

Joshua frowned slightly, even though there was no real confusion in it. Just curiosity. "But why?"

Jeonghan opened his eyes again, staring up at the ceiling.

"Because I wanted you to know me," he said simply. "Not what I've done."

Joshua went quiet.

"I didn't want the first thing you thought about me to be my career," Jeonghan continued. "Or my titles. Or anything like that."

His voice softened. "I just wanted to be... Jeonghan."

Joshua's grip on his phone tightened slightly.

"And you were," he said quietly.

Jeonghan smiled faintly. "Good."

Joshua let out a small breath, something warm settling in his chest.

"Minghao made it sound like you were some untouchable celebrity," he admitted.

Jeonghan snorted. "Rude."

Joshua laughed.

"But you weren't," he continued. "You were just... the guy who almost knocked me over and then offered to help me find my way around."

"I did not almost knock you over," Jeonghan protested. "You walked into me."

"Details."

Jeonghan laughed softly.

There was a pause.

Then Joshua spoke again, softer than before. "I'm glad you didn't tell me."

Jeonghan's expression softened. "Yeah?"

"Yeah," Joshua said. "I think I would've been way more awkward."

"You were already awkward."

"Hey."

Jeonghan grinned, even though Joshua couldn't see it.

"But you still talked to me," he pointed out.

Joshua smiled faintly. "Yeah."

A quiet settled between them again.

Comfortable. Full.

Then Joshua added, almost under his breath. "I liked you before I knew all that."

Jeonghan didn't reply immediately.

"Good," he said finally.

Joshua could hear the smile in his voice. "Because I liked you before you even asked for my number."

Joshua laughed softly. "Liar."

"I'm serious."

"You literally asked me if I needed help finding my way."

"And you did."

"I did not."

"You did," Jeonghan insisted. "You were lost."

Joshua shook his head, smiling. "Okay, maybe a little."

"Exactly."

Another pause.

Then Joshua sighed softly, content. "My boyfriend is a four-time world champion, huh?"

Jeonghan groaned lightly.

"Don't start."

Joshua grinned. "I'm just saying. That's kind of insane."

"Mm."

"And you still carried my bag for me that day."

"I was being nice."

Joshua laughed. "You were flirting."

Jeonghan paused. "... maybe."

Joshua's smile widened. "Yeah, I thought so."

Silence again.

Then, "you're still just Jeonghan to me," Joshua said quietly.

Something in Jeonghan's chest tightened at that. "Good," he murmured.

Joshua shifted, lying down fully now, phone pressed to his ear.

"And you're still just Joshua to me," Jeonghan added.

Joshua smiled, eyes slipping shut. "Good."

The call drifted into something softer after that.

No rush, no pressure, just the quiet comfort of knowing the other person was still there.

Joshua had shifted fully onto his bed by now, lights dimmed, one arm tucked under his head as he listened to the faint sounds on Jeonghan's end. Fabric rustling. A quiet sigh. The kind of silence that didn't need to be filled.

"You should shower," Joshua murmured lazily. "You just got out of the car like... what, an hour ago?"

"Mm," Jeonghan hummed. "In a bit."

Joshua smiled slightly. "You always say that."

"And I always do it eventually."

"Eventually is not convincing."

Jeonghan let out a quiet chuckle, voice lower now, softer with exhaustion. "You sound like you're about to fall asleep."

Joshua closed his eyes. "I might."

"Don't," Jeonghan said instinctively.

Joshua let out a small laugh. "Why?"

Another pause. "I like talking to you."

Joshua's chest warmed. "I'm not hanging up," he said. "I'll just... listen."

Jeonghan shifted on his bed, phone pressed closer to his ear. "Okay."

A few seconds passed.

Then Joshua spoke again, voice slower now, softer around the edges. "You did really well today."

"Mm."

"I mean it."

"I know."

Joshua smiled faintly. "You sounded really calm on the radio."

"I was," Jeonghan replied. "I was thinking about something else."

Joshua hummed. "What?"

There was a small pause.

Then, without thinking, "you."

Joshua's eyes opened slightly. "Oh."

Jeonghan didn't even seem to realize how easily it slipped out.

"Keeps me steady," he added quietly.

Joshua swallowed. "That's... kind of unfair."

Jeonghan frowned slightly. "Why?"

"Because now I'm going to think about that every race."

Jeonghan huffed a soft laugh. "Good."

Joshua shook his head, smiling to himself. "Cocky."

"Confident."

"Same thing."

"Not at all."

Another comfortable silence settled between them.

Joshua's breathing slowed.

Jeonghan could hear it.

"Hey," he said softly.

"Mm?"

"Don't fall asleep yet."

Joshua let out a quiet, sleepy laugh. "I said I might, not that I will."

Jeonghan shifted again, sitting up slightly now. "Stay up a little longer."

Joshua didn't respond immediately. "Okay."

A few seconds passed.

Then, "you should really shower," Joshua mumbled again, words slightly slurred now.

Jeonghan smiled faintly. "You're still stuck on that."

"Yeah."

"Bossy."

Joshua huffed. "I'm being practical."

Jeonghan let out a soft breath, running a hand through his hair. "Alright, alright. I'll go in a bit."

Joshua hummed in approval. "Good."

Another pause.

Then, quieter, "did you eat?"

"Not yet."

Joshua frowned slightly, eyes still closed. "You need to eat."

"I will."

"When?"

"In a bit."

"That's what you said about the shower."

Jeonghan laughed under his breath. "You're nagging me."

"I am not."

"You are."

Joshua shifted, pulling the blanket up slightly. "You appreciate it."

Jeonghan didn't even hesitate. "Yeah."

Joshua smiled. There was a pause. Soft. Warm.

"Baby," Jeonghan said absentmindedly, voice low, "you should sleep if you're tired."

Joshua froze.

Completely.

His eyes opened. "What?"

Jeonghan blinked.

"What?"

"You just-"

Joshua pushed himself up slightly, heart suddenly beating a little faster. "You just called me-"

Jeonghan went still.

Oh.

"Did I?"

Joshua stared at his phone like Jeonghan could somehow see him. "Yes."

There was a beat of silence.

Then Jeonghan let out a quiet, slightly embarrassed laugh. "I didn't even realise."

Joshua's face felt warm.

Very warm.

"Oh my god."

"What?" Jeonghan said, a little defensive now. "It just slipped out."

Joshua covered part of his face with his hand, even though he was alone. "You just called me baby."

"And?"

Joshua let out a small, disbelieving laugh. "And you're asking me 'and?' like that's normal?"

Jeonghan smiled to himself. "Did you hate it?"

Joshua paused. His brain stalled for a second. "No."

Jeonghan's smile widened slightly. "No?"

Joshua dropped his hand, staring up at the ceiling again.

"No," he repeated, quieter this time.

A soft silence followed.

Then Jeonghan spoke again, gentler. "Okay."

Joshua swallowed. "Okay."

Another pause.

"Go to sleep, baby," Jeonghan said again, this time very much intentional.

Joshua's entire face burned. "You're doing it on purpose now."

"Maybe."

Joshua groaned softly, turning onto his side. "You're annoying."

"Mm."

"Say it again."

Jeonghan laughed quietly. "I knew you liked it."

Joshua hid his face in his pillow.

"Shut up."

"Goodnight, baby."

Joshua smiled into the fabric, voice softer now. "Goodnight."

Joshua woke up to sunlight and a quiet phone screen.

For once, no alarms, no schedules, no managers calling.

Just an off day.

He stretched slightly, reaching for his phone out of habit, eyes still half-lidded as he unlocked it.

A message.

From Jeonghan.

Sent a few hours ago.

hannie 💗🏎️

hannie 💗🏎️: boarding now

hannie 💗🏎️: coming back to korea

Joshua blinked, sleep instantly fading.

He pushed himself up against the headboard, rereading it like it might change.

"...Already?" he murmured.

A small smile crept onto his face.

His fingers moved quickly over the screen.

hannie 💗🏎️

hannie 💗🏎️: coming back to korea

baby 💗: you're coming back today?

The reply came faster than expected.

hannie 💗🏎️

baby 💗: you're coming back today?

hannie 💗🏎️: yeah

hannie 💗🏎️: land in a few hours

Joshua bit back a smile, glancing around his apartment like it suddenly mattered what it looked like.

hannie 💗🏎️

hannie 💗🏎️: land in a few hours

hannie 💗🏎️: you busy today?

Joshua huffed a quiet laugh.

hannie 💗🏎️

hannie 💗🏎️: you busy today?

baby 💗: off day

baby 💗: why?

There was a short pause.

hannie 💗🏎️

baby 💗: why?

hannie 💗🏎️: thinking of sleeping for like

hannie 💗🏎️: 12 hours

Joshua rolled his eyes, smiling.

hannie 💗🏎️

hannie 💗🏎️: 12 hours

baby 💗: you can do that here

Another pause.

Longer this time.

Joshua could practically feel the hesitation through the screen.

hannie 💗🏎️

baby 💗: you can do that here

hannie 💗🏎️: are you serious

He smiled, softer now.

hannie 💗🏎️

hannie 💗🏎️: are you serious

baby 💗: yeah

baby 💗: come over

A few seconds.

hannie 💗🏎️

baby 💗: come over

hannie 💗🏎️: send me your address

By the time the doorbell rang, Joshua had already checked his phone at least ten times.

Not that he'd admit it.

He stood there for a second after it rang, hand hovering over the handle, suddenly... nervous.

Which was ridiculous.

He had already kissed him. They had already said everything.

And yet, Joshua exhaled once, then opened the door.

Jeonghan stood there, cap low over his eyes, mask pulled down just enough to show the faintest hint of a smile.

A bag slung over his shoulder.

Tired.

But there.

For a second, neither of them said anything.

Then Joshua smiled. "Hi."

Jeonghan's gaze softened almost instantly. "Hi."

Joshua shifted slightly, opening the door wider. "You made it fast."

"Flew right after everything," Jeonghan said, stepping closer.

Joshua nodded, eyes flickering over him briefly, like he was making sure he was actually real. "You look tired."

"Mm."

Joshua hesitated for half a second.

"Hi, Hannie."

Jeonghan froze.

Just slightly.

His expression changed in an instant, something warm and a little helpless flashing across his face. "What did you just call me?"

Joshua smiled, a little shy now. "Hannie."

That was all it took.

Jeonghan stepped forward immediately, closing the small distance between them and reaching up to cup Joshua's face lightly before leaning in and kissing him right there in the doorway.

Joshua barely had time to react before his hands instinctively came up, gripping lightly at Jeonghan's jacket as he kissed him back.

It was softer than the last time.

Slower.

But it lingered longer.

Like they didn't have to rush anymore.

Like they could take their time.

When Jeonghan finally pulled back, his forehead rested briefly against Joshua's.

"Say it again," he murmured.

Joshua let out a quiet breath, still a little dazed.

"Hannie."

Jeonghan smiled, eyes closing for a second.

"Yeah," he whispered. "I like that."

Joshua laughed softly, fingers still curled in the fabric of his jacket.

"You flew all the way back just for that?"

"Maybe."

Joshua shook his head, smiling. "You're crazy."

"And you invited me in," Jeonghan pointed out.

"I did."

A small pause.

Neither of them moved away.

Then Joshua stepped back slightly, tugging gently on his sleeve. "Come in."

Jeonghan followed without hesitation.

The door clicked shut behind them.

The apartment felt different with him in it.

Joshua noticed it immediately.

Maybe it was the quiet shift in the air, or the way Jeonghan's presence filled the space so easily, like he belonged there without even trying.

Jeonghan slipped his shoes off by the door, setting his bag down with a soft exhale.

"Nice place," he murmured, glancing around.

Joshua leaned casually against the wall, watching him instead. "Yeah?"

"Mm."

Jeonghan turned slightly, eyes landing back on him. "Feels like you."

Joshua smiled faintly. "You've known me for like... what, two weeks?"

"Enough," Jeonghan replied easily.

Joshua huffed a quiet laugh. "Confident."

"Always."

There was a small pause.

Neither of them moved further into the apartment yet.

Like they were both still... adjusting.

Then Joshua pushed himself off the wall.

"You said you wanted to sleep for twelve hours," he reminded. "Go."

Jeonghan made a face. "I did say that."

"But?"

"But I also haven't seen you in days."

Joshua tried not to smile too much at that. "Dramatic."

"True."

Joshua shook his head, turning slightly toward the living room. "Come on. Sit first, at least."

Jeonghan followed him in, dropping onto the couch with a quiet groan, stretching his arms out like he was claiming the entire thing. "I missed normal furniture," he muttered.

Joshua laughed, moving toward the kitchen. "You don't like race cars?"

"I love race cars," Jeonghan said. "I just don't love living in them."

Joshua grabbed a glass, filling it with water before walking back over and handing it to him. "Drink."

Jeonghan looked up at him, amused. "You're bossy."

Joshua raised an eyebrow. "And you don't take care of yourself."

"Fair."

He took the glass anyway, drinking slowly.

Joshua sat down beside him, close enough that their shoulders brushed lightly.

Neither of them moved away.

For a moment, it was quiet again.

Then, Jeonghan leaned his head back against the couch, eyes half-lidded as he glanced at Joshua.

"You really called me Hannie."

Joshua felt his face warm slightly. "Yeah."

"Out of nowhere."

Joshua shrugged, trying to play it off. "It just came to me."

Jeonghan hummed. "I like it."

Joshua smiled a little. "Good."

A pause.

Then Jeonghan shifted slightly, turning his head toward him more fully. "You're cute when you say it."

Joshua immediately looked away. "I hate you."

"No, you don't."

"I don't."

Jeonghan smiled faintly, watching him for a second before his gaze softened. "Come here."

Joshua blinked. "What?"

Jeonghan didn't repeat himself.

He just reached out, gently tugging at Joshua's sleeve.

Joshua let himself be pulled closer without much resistance, ending up half-leaning against him.

Jeonghan adjusted slightly, arm slipping around his waist naturally, like it had always been there.

Joshua went still for a second, then relaxed.

"You're warm," he murmured.

Jeonghan let out a quiet laugh. "You were the one freezing at the paddock."

Joshua nudged him lightly. "Don't remind me."

"I gave you my jacket."

"You did."

"And you kept it."

Joshua smiled into his shoulder. "I liked it."

Jeonghan's grip tightened just slightly. "You can keep it."

Joshua tilted his head up a little. "Really?"

"Yeah." A beat. "Looks better on you anyway."

Joshua rolled his eyes, but the smile stayed. "Flirt."

"Boyfriend," Jeonghan corrected quietly.

Joshua's chest tightened in the best way. "Boyfriend."

They stayed like that for a while.

No rush.

Just existing together.

Eventually, Jeonghan's breathing slowed, his grip loosening just a fraction as exhaustion finally caught up to him.

Joshua noticed immediately.

He shifted carefully, trying not to wake him, but Jeonghan just hummed softly and pulled him a little closer instead.

Joshua let out a quiet laugh under his breath.

"Sleep," he whispered.

Jeonghan didn't respond.

Already gone.

Joshua watched him for a moment, taking in the peaceful look on his face, the way the tension had completely left his body.

Then he relaxed back into him, letting his own eyes drift shut.

Joshua didn't mean to fall asleep.

He told himself he'd just stay there for a bit. Let Jeonghan rest. Maybe scroll on his phone quietly or just... sit.

But somewhere between the steady rhythm of Jeonghan's breathing and the warmth of his arm wrapped around his waist—

He drifted off too.

When Joshua woke up, it was darker.

The apartment was dim, only faint light slipping in through the windows.

For a second, he didn't move. Just listened.

Jeonghan was still there.

Still holding him.

Joshua shifted slightly, careful, but the movement was enough.

Jeonghan stirred. "... mm."

Joshua froze.

"Sorry," he whispered instinctively.

Jeonghan tightened his arm around him instead of letting go.

"Don't move," he mumbled, voice thick with sleep.

Joshua smiled softly. "You've been asleep for hours."

"Good."

Joshua let out a quiet laugh. "You said twelve."

"Still working on it."

Joshua turned his head slightly, just enough to look at him.

His hair was messy, falling into his eyes, expression completely relaxed in a way Joshua hadn't seen before.

No pressure, no cameras. Just... him.

Joshua reached up without thinking, gently brushing a strand of hair away from his face.

Jeonghan's eyes opened slowly.

They met his immediately. There was no confusion in them.

Just recognition.

"Hi," Joshua said softly.

Jeonghan blinked once, then smiled a little. "Hi."

A quiet pause.

Neither of them moved away.

Then Jeonghan spoke again, voice still low. "What time is it?"

Joshua glanced toward his phone on the table. "Evening."

Jeonghan groaned softly, dropping his head back against the couch. "I really slept that long?"

"You were exhausted."

Jeonghan sighed. "Still am."

Joshua smiled faintly. "You should eat."

Jeonghan turned his head slightly, looking at him again. "You're still bossy."

"And you still haven't eaten."

"Fair."

Joshua shifted a little, turning more toward him now, their faces closer than before.

"I can cook something," he offered.

Jeonghan raised an eyebrow lazily. "You cook?"

Joshua scoffed. "I can cook."

"Prove it."

Joshua narrowed his eyes. "Give me ten minutes."

Jeonghan smiled, loosening his arm just enough to let Joshua move. "Alright, Hannie's waiting."

Joshua froze for half a second.

Then slowly turned back. "Did you just call yourself that?"

Jeonghan smirked, eyes still half-lidded. "You started it."

Joshua shook his head, trying not to smile. "You're unbelievable."

"Mm."

Joshua stood up finally, stretching slightly before heading toward the kitchen.

"Don't fall asleep again," he called over his shoulder.

"No promises."

Joshua laughed softly, opening the fridge.

By the time Joshua came back with food, Jeonghan was sitting up properly now, hair still a mess but eyes more awake.

He looked up immediately. "You actually cooked."

Joshua placed the plates down on the table. "I told you I could."

Jeonghan leaned forward slightly, inspecting it. "I'm impressed."

"Just eat."

Jeonghan didn't argue.

He picked up his chopsticks, taking a bite, then paused.

Joshua watched him carefully. "Well?"

Jeonghan nodded slowly. "It's good."

Joshua blinked. "Wait, actually?"

"Yeah."

Joshua stared at him. "You're not just saying that?"

Jeonghan laughed softly. "I just flew across the world, I wouldn't lie about food."

Joshua smiled, satisfied. "Good."

They ate like that, sitting close on the couch, conversation light and easy.

Small things, random things, but nothing heavy.

At some point, Jeonghan set his chopsticks down, glancing at Joshua.

"You know," he said, "this is nice."

Joshua looked at him. "What is?"

Jeonghan gestured vaguely around them. "This."

Joshua smiled softly. "Yeah."

A pause.

Then Jeonghan added, "feels normal."

Joshua's expression softened. "It is normal."

Jeonghan looked at him for a second.

Then reached out, brushing his fingers lightly against Joshua's hand. "Good."

Joshua intertwined their fingers without thinking.

And this time, it felt even easier than before.

Dinner settled into something warm and easy.

The food was simple, but it didn't matter. Not when they were sitting close on the couch, knees brushing occasionally, sharing from the same plates like it was the most natural thing in the world.

Joshua leaned back slightly after a few bites, glancing at Jeonghan.

"So," he said, nudging him lightly with his foot, "updates."

Jeonghan raised an eyebrow. "Updates?"

"Yeah," Joshua continued. "You flew back right after Qatar, but you barely told me anything. What's going on with the team?"

Jeonghan hummed, setting his chopsticks down for a moment.

"Not much has changed," he said. "We're still pushing the same direction. Car's good. Strategy's been solid."

Joshua nodded, listening.

"And?" he pressed.

Jeonghan looked at him, a small smile forming like he already knew what Joshua was asking.

"And..." he continued, leaning back slightly, "I'm leading the championship."

Joshua blinked. "You're what?"

"Leading," Jeonghan repeated, a little more casually than he probably should have.

Joshua stared at him. "You say that like it's nothing."

Jeonghan shrugged lightly. "It's not over yet."

Joshua let out a small laugh, shaking his head. "You're insane."

Jeonghan smiled. "There's one race left."

Joshua tilted his head. "Abu Dhabi, right?"

"Yeah. Season closer."

Joshua watched him carefully now. "What do you need?"

Jeonghan didn't hesitate. "A podium."

Joshua's eyes widened slightly. "That's it?"

"That's it."

Joshua let out a quiet breath, leaning back into the couch. "And you get your fifth."

Jeonghan nodded. "Yeah."

For a second, Joshua just looked at him.

Five-time world champion.

The thought settled slowly, heavily, but somehow it still felt like just Jeonghan.

Joshua smiled softly. "You're going to do it."

Jeonghan huffed a quiet laugh. "Confident."

"I am," Joshua said simply.

Jeonghan's expression softened for a second before he spoke again. "You should come."

Joshua blinked. "What?"

"Abu Dhabi," Jeonghan said. "Come watch. I'll get you the pass."

Joshua's smile faltered just a little. "I want to..."

Jeonghan immediately caught the tone.

"But?" he asked.

Joshua sighed, setting his plate aside. "I have the Japan leg of the tour," he admitted. "Same weekend."

Jeonghan went quiet.

"Concert," Joshua added, like he needed to explain it more.

Jeonghan nodded slowly. "Right."

A small pause settled between them.

Joshua reached over, nudging his hand lightly.

"I'll watch," he said. "Right after."

Jeonghan looked at him. "The race?"

"Yeah," Joshua nodded. "As soon as the concert ends, I'm finding a screen."

Jeonghan smiled faintly. "You'll be exhausted."

"I don't care."

Jeonghan studied his face for a second, something warm flickering in his expression. "Okay."

Joshua smiled back. "You better get that podium."

Jeonghan let out a soft laugh. "I'll try."

"No," Joshua said, shaking his head. "Not try."

Jeonghan raised an eyebrow. "Win?"

Joshua leaned a little closer, eyes steady. "Win."

Jeonghan held his gaze for a second longer than usual.

Then smiled. "Alright."

A small pause.

Then Joshua added, "five time world champion looks good on you."

Jeonghan laughed quietly. "Don't say it like that yet."

"I will when you win."

Jeonghan shook his head, but he was still smiling. "Cocky."

"Confident," Joshua echoed.

Jeonghan reached out, lacing their fingers together again, squeezing lightly. "Stay confident for me, then."

Joshua squeezed back. "Always."

And just like that, the next race didn't feel far away at all.

The week passed faster than either of them wanted.

It slipped through their fingers in quiet, ordinary moments that somehow meant more than anything loud or grand.

Mornings where Jeonghan barely woke up before Joshua was already making coffee. Afternoons spent sprawled on the couch, half-watching shows neither of them paid attention to. Late nights where conversations drifted from teasing to something softer, slower, until one of them fell asleep mid-sentence.

They went out once or twice, carefully, caps low and masks on, blending into crowds just enough to feel normal.

Most of the time, though, they stayed in. Because they could.

Because for once, nothing else was pulling them away.

Wednesday morning came too quickly.

Joshua stood by the door, arms crossed loosely as Jeonghan adjusted his bag.

"You have everything?" Joshua asked.

Jeonghan glanced at him. "You sound like you're sending me off to war."

"Abu Dhabi is serious business," Joshua replied.

Jeonghan smiled faintly, stepping closer. "I'll be fine."

Joshua nodded, but his expression softened slightly. "I know."

A small pause.

Then Jeonghan leaned in, pressing a quick kiss to his lips.

"I'll watch your concert," he murmured.

Joshua smiled. "You better."

"Front row," Jeonghan added.

Joshua laughed. "Through a screen."

"Still counts."

Joshua shook his head, but he didn't let him pull away immediately.

"Win," he said quietly.

Jeonghan nodded. "I'll try."

By Thursday evening, Joshua was gone too.

Different country, different stage, different crowd.

Same feeling.

It was race day in Abu Dhabi, the sun was high, the paddock buzzing as usual.

But inside one of the driver's rooms, it was different.

Jeonghan sat on the couch, phone propped up in front of him.

"Is this it?" Kimi asked, knocking on the door, Ollie in tow.

"Yeah," Jeonghan replied, eyes already fixed on the screen.

Ollie leaned over slightly from behind. "Your boyfriend's concert?"

Jeonghan didn't even look away. "Mhm."

The livestream started.

Lights, crowd, music.

And then, Joshua.

Jeonghan's entire expression softened without him even realising it.

Kimi noticed. "You're gone," he muttered.

Jeonghan ignored him.

Back in Japan, the stage was alive.

The crowd roared as Joshua stepped forward, mic in hand, the lights catching just right. The performance flowed like it always did.

Sharp, controlled, effortless.

But somewhere in the back of his mind, he knew Jeonghan was watching.

In Abu Dhabi, Jeonghan barely blinked.

Even when Kimi and Ollie commented occasionally, gasping at the VCRs or performances, his attention stayed locked on the screen.

"That's insane," Ollie muttered at one point, watching the choreography.

Jeonghan smiled faintly. "Yeah."

By the time the concert reached its final ment, Jeonghan was sitting forward slightly, elbows resting on his knees.

Joshua stood on stage, slightly breathless, sweat catching under the lights, but smiling. The crowd quieted just enough.

Joshua lifted the mic.

"Thank you so much for today," he started, voice steady despite everything. "This tour... it means a lot to us. Every city, every stage, every single one of you."

Cheers echoed back at him.

He smiled, glancing out over the crowd.

"And... recently, there's been a lot of support," he continued, a little softer now. "For me. For... our relationship."

The crowd cheered immediately.

Joshua let out a small, almost shy laugh.

"Thank you," he said. "Really. I mean that."

In Abu Dhabi, Jeonghan's gaze didn't waver.

Joshua shifted his grip on the mic slightly.

"I've been... a little nervous," he admitted.

The crowd quieted again.

"Not because of this," he gestured around the stage. "But because... there's someone important to me doing something important today too."

A few murmurs spread through the audience.

Joshua smiled faintly.

"I don't think I can watch it live," he said. "But I will. Probably a replay. Right after this."

His voice softened just slightly.

"And I think I've been a little jittery because of that," he added. "Just hoping everything goes well. Hoping nothing happens. You know?"

There was a small pause.

Joshua blinked once, a quick inhale, feeling tears rush to his eyes.

"But I trust him," he continued, smiling again. "And I know he's going to do amazing."

The crowd cheered.

Joshua let out a breath, nodding slightly.

"So... thank you," he finished. "For supporting me. For supporting us."

In Abu Dhabi, the room was quieter than before.

Kimi glanced at Jeonghan. "You're really lucky," he said.

Jeonghan didn't answer.

He just smiled faintly at the screen.

Back in Japan, the music swelled again, the concert continuing toward its final stages.

And somewhere across the world, two completely different stages were about to meet in the same moment.

The final songs hit harder than usual.

Joshua could feel it.

The energy from the crowd, the way everyone was louder, more alive, like they were trying to give him something extra to hold onto.

Maybe they knew. Maybe they didn't.

But either way, he poured everything he had left into the stage.

One last song, one last bow.

Except... it didn't end there.

Seungkwan was the first to laugh into his mic.

"AJUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU?"

The crowd screamed.

Joshua blinked, slightly out of breath, glancing at the others.

Seungcheol groaned. "Not again..."

And just like that, they kept going.

On the other side of the world, the formation lap had already begun.

Jeonghan sat in the car, visor down, everything narrowing into focus.

The radio crackled, Bono's voice coming through the headphones. "Alright, Jeonghan. Clean start, manage your pace. Remember, podium secures it."

"Copy," he replied calmly.

But in the back of his mind, a stage, a voice. Joshua.

The lights went out. The race began.

Back in Japan, the concert stretched longer than planned.

More talking, more laughter, another song that wasn't even supposed to be on the setlist.

Joshua forgot about the time for a while.

Forgot about everything except the moment, until, eventually, it did end.

The final goodbye. The final wave.

The members stood together, catching their breath as the crowd slowly began to settle.

Joshua bent slightly, hands on his knees, breathing out a laugh. "That was... longer than expected."

Seungkwan grinned. "Worth it."

Joshua nodded. "Yeah."

They took their last bows before leaving the stage, and Joshua barely made it off stage before a phone was put into his hands from a staff member with the final lap of the race.

Still slightly out of breath, in-ear monitors half hanging, sweat cooling on his skin—

But none of that mattered.

His eyes immediately darted to the timesheets. 

YOO - LEADER

Jeonghan was leading. 

And before he knew it, the commentator's voice boomed. 

"Yoon Jeonghan has done it again. YOON JEONGHAN WINS THE ABU DHABI GRAND PRIX AND SECURES HIS FIFTH WORLD TITLE."

"He said he would," he said quietly, eyes soft, smile lingering. 

He returned the phone to the staff member. "Thank you." 

He reached toward his own phone in his bag, and immediately unlocked it. 

Messages. Notifications. Likes. Comments.

But none of that were notifications he was looking for.

And then, his phone started ringing. 

Jeonghan.

Joshua didn't even think before answering.

"Hello?"

"I did it."

Joshua let out a breath that turned into a laugh immediately, pressing the phone closer to his ear.

"I know," he said. "I saw- well, kind of saw. A staff member gave me her phone."

Jeonghan laughed softly on the other end, breath still uneven. "Yeah?"

"Yeah," Joshua said, smile obvious in his voice. "You won."

Joshua could hear the smile as Jeoghan told him about the race.

"Wow, Hannie," he chuckled, leaning against the backstage wall as a notification popped up. "I can't believe it. Your fifth championship. The news headline just came in."

Jeonghan let out a quiet laugh. "What can I say?"

Joshua shook his head, even though he couldn't see him. "I wish I could be there with you right now."

There was a brief silence.

Then Jeonghan adjusted his phone, lifting it slightly so Joshua could see him better through the video call.

"It's okay, baby," he said softly. "Are you having fun on tour?"

Joshua nodded, eyes scanning his face through the screen like he was trying to memorise it. "I would be having more fun if you were here to tour the streets with me."

Jeonghan smiled, tired but warm. "Next time."

Joshua huffed a small laugh. "You say that like our schedules will magically align."

"They will," Jeonghan said simply.

Joshua rolled his eyes, but he was smiling. "Confident."

"Always."

There was a small pause.

They just looked at each other through the screen.

Different countries, different crowds, same moment.

Joshua broke it first, softer now. "I was nervous."

Jeonghan tilted his head slightly. "Yeah?"

"I said it during ment," Joshua admitted. "I couldn't watch and I just-" he exhaled. "I was worried something would happen."

Jeonghan's expression softened immediately. "Hey."

Joshua blinked, a little embarrassed now. "I know, it's dumb-"

"It's not," Jeonghan cut in gently.

Joshua went quiet.

"I was fine," Jeonghan continued. "Everything went clean."

Joshua nodded slowly. "I know."

A pause.

Then Jeonghan smiled slightly. "You overran your concert."

Joshua groaned. "Don't remind me."

"I had to hear about it over the radio before the last laps," Jeonghan teased lightly.

Joshua laughed. "Hey, it was worth it."

"Mhm."

Another pause.

"You watched?" Joshua asked.

Jeonghan nodded. "Most of it."

Joshua's eyes lit up slightly. "Really?"

"Yeah," Jeonghan said. "Kimi and Ollie were there too."

Joshua blinked. "You made the other drivers watch my concert?"

"I didn't make them," Jeonghan said. "They stayed."

Joshua laughed, shaking his head. "That's insane."

"They liked it."

Joshua smiled, softer now. "Good."

There was a quiet moment.

Then Joshua leaned his head back against the wall, exhaustion finally catching up to him. "You did it," he said again, almost to himself.

Jeonghan's voice dropped slightly. "I told you I would."

Joshua smiled. "You did."

A small pause.

"Five-time world champion," Joshua added.

Jeonghan groaned softly. "Don't start."

Joshua laughed. "I'm serious."

"Still just Jeonghan," he replied.

Joshua's expression softened. "Yeah."

A beat.

Then Joshua grinned slightly. "My boyfriend just won his fifth championship."

Jeonghan huffed a quiet laugh, shaking his head. "Your boyfriend?"

"Yeah," Joshua said easily.

Jeonghan smiled. "I like how that sounds."

Joshua's smile mirrored his.

"Me too."

And even through a screen, it still felt close.

A few months later, everything had settled into something steadier.

Still busy. Still chaotic.

But steadier.

Calls between time zones became routine, late night texts turned into early morning check-ins, missed moments were made up for in the small spaces they did have.

February came faster than expected.

And for once Joshua had time.

Los Angeles felt like a break.

Familiar streets, familiar faces, no tight schedules pressing down on him for a few days.

He was out with friends that evening, laughing over something dumb, shoulders relaxed in a way they hadn't been in weeks.

"You're suspiciously happy," one of them pointed out.

Joshua raised an eyebrow. "I'm always happy."

"No," another chimed in. "This is a different happy."

Joshua rolled his eyes, but he was smiling. "Maybe I just missed you guys."

"Liar."

Joshua laughed, shaking his head.

"Hey, Josh, can you grab something from outside? I think we left—uh—something."

Joshua frowned slightly. "What?"

"Just go," his friend insisted, waving him off way too quickly.

Joshua narrowed his eyes. "This feels like a setup."

"Just go."

He sighed but stood anyway. "Fine."

The air outside was cooler. Quiet.

Joshua stepped out, glancing around.

"What am I even looking for?" he muttered.

"Nothing."

Joshua froze.

That voice...

He turned around immediately.

Jeonghan stood there.

Hands in his pockets. Hoodie pulled up slightly. A small, familiar smile on his face.

For a second, Joshua just stared. "What?"

Jeonghan tilted his head slightly. "Hi."

Joshua blinked.

Once. Twice.

"You're-"

"Yeah."

"You're in-"

"LA."

Joshua took a step closer, still processing. "You didn't tell me you were coming."

Jeonghan smiled. "That's kind of the point."

Joshua let out a disbelieving laugh, running a hand through his hair. "No way."

Then he closed the distance completely, grabbing onto Jeonghan's hoodie like he needed to make sure he was real. "You're actually here."

"Yeah," Jeonghan said softly.

Joshua didn't hesitate this time.

He pulled him into a hug immediately.

Tight.

Real.

Jeonghan wrapped his arms around him just as quickly, pressing his face lightly into Joshua's shoulder.

"I missed you," Joshua mumbled.

"I know. I missed you too, baby."

Joshua pulled back just enough to look at him again. "You flew all the way here just to surprise me?"

Jeonghan shrugged lightly. "I had a few days."

Joshua stared at him. "You're insane."

"You like it."

"I do."

There was a small pause.

Then Joshua narrowed his eyes. "My friends knew."

Jeonghan smiled. "Maybe."

Joshua groaned. "I knew it."

They didn't go back inside. Not right away.

Because somehow, just standing there felt more important.

"You're staying?" Joshua asked.

"For a bit," Jeonghan nodded. "Then we fly back."

"We?"

Jeonghan's smile softened. "Same flight to Korea."

Joshua blinked. "Seriously?"

"Yeah."

Joshua's expression shifted immediately. "You planned that too?"

"Of course."

Joshua laughed, shaking his head. "You're unbelievable."

Jeonghan stepped a little closer. "You don't like it?"

Joshua didn't even hesitate. "I love it."

A small pause.

"I have to head to Australia after," Jeonghan added. "First race of the season."

Joshua nodded slowly. "Melbourne."

"Yeah."

Joshua smiled slightly. "I'm coming."

Jeonghan blinked. "What?"

Joshua shrugged, like it was obvious. "I already checked my schedule. I can make it work."

Jeonghan stared at him for a second. "You're serious?"

Joshua smiled. "Yeah."

A small pause.

"But this time... not as a guest."

Jeonghan's expression shifted, something warmer, deeper settling in. "Yeah?"

Joshua stepped closer. "As your boyfriend."

For a second, Jeonghan didn't say anything.

Then he reached out, pulling Joshua in again and kissed him.

Right there on the sidewalk.

Joshua laughed softly into it, hands coming up to hold onto him like he wasn't letting him disappear again.

When they pulled back, Jeonghan rested his forehead briefly against his.

"Stay with me at the track," he murmured.

Joshua smiled. "Try and stop me."

Jeonghan laughed quietly. "Impossible."

And for once, the next race didn't feel like distance. It felt like something they'd face together.

They didn't end up going back inside for a while.

Joshua had completely forgotten about his friends, about whatever excuse they had used to get him out the door in the first place.

All that mattered was that Jeonghan was there.

Right in front of him.

"So how long have you been standing here?" Joshua asked, still holding onto his sleeve like he might disappear.

Jeonghan shrugged. "Long enough to hear you say this felt like a setup."

Joshua groaned. "They're never hearing the end of this."

Jeonghan laughed softly. "They were very convincing."

"Traitors," Joshua muttered, but he was smiling.

A small pause. Then Joshua looked at him again, eyes scanning his face like he was trying to catch up on all the time they'd spent apart.

"You look tired."

Jeonghan tilted his head. "I just flew across the world."

"Still," Joshua said, softer now. "You should rest."

Jeonghan stepped a little closer. "I didn't come all this way to sleep immediately."

Joshua huffed a quiet laugh. "You're unbelievable."

"And you love it."

"I do."

They stayed like that for another moment before Joshua finally sighed.

"Fine," he said. "Come inside before they start spying on us through the windows."

Jeonghan smirked. "They already are."

Joshua turned, and sure enough, a shadow moved behind the curtain.

"Unbelievable," Joshua muttered again.

The second they walked back in, the room exploded. "OH MY GOD."

"I KNEW IT."

"YOU DID NOT JUST-"

Joshua covered his face immediately. "I hate all of you."

His friends were already crowding around, eyes wide, grins even wider.

"So this is him?" one of them said, looking Jeonghan up and down.

Jeonghan nodded politely, completely calm. "Hi."

Joshua pointed at them. "Don't make it weird."

"You made it weird by dating a world champion," another shot back.

Joshua groaned. "Stop saying it like that."

Jeonghan leaned slightly toward him, whispering just enough, "they're right."

Joshua elbowed him lightly. "Not helping."

Jeonghan laughed.

The rest of the night passed in a blur of conversations, teasing, and way too many questions directed at both of them.

Eventually, it settled.

People left. Lights dimmed.

And finally, it was just the two of them again.

Joshua's place in LA was quieter than Seoul. A little more open. A little more lived-in.

Jeonghan stood by the window for a moment, taking it in.

"You really stay here when you're back?" he asked.

"Sometimes," Joshua replied, walking over. "When I get the chance. If not, my mum stays here when she comes back."

Jeonghan nodded. Then turned to him.

"Same flight," he repeated.

Joshua smiled. "Same flight."

"You're really coming to Australia," Jeonghan added.

Joshua stepped closer. "Yeah."

Jeonghan searched his face for a second. "No backing out."

"Not a chance."

A small silence settled between them.

Then Joshua tilted his head slightly. "You're not nervous?"

Jeonghan raised an eyebrow. "About what?"

Joshua shrugged. "Having me there. Not as... you know."

Jeonghan didn't even let him finish. "No."

Joshua blinked. "No?"

"No," Jeonghan repeated. "I want you there."

Joshua's expression softened. "Okay."

Jeonghan reached out, fingers brushing lightly against his wrist before lacing their hands together.

"Besides," he added, quieter now, "I drive better when you're around."

Joshua laughed softly. "That's a lot of pressure."

"Confidence," Jeonghan corrected.

Joshua smiled. "Right."

Later that night, they ended up lying side by side, the room dim, city lights spilling faintly through the curtains.

Joshua turned slightly toward him. "You really planned all this."

Jeonghan didn't deny it. "Mhm."

"The flight. The surprise. Everything."

"Mhm."

Joshua shook his head, smiling. "You're crazy."

Jeonghan turned his head toward him.

"You're worth it."

Joshua went quiet for a second.

"Hannie."

Jeonghan smiled immediately. "Yeah, baby?"

Joshua didn't say anything else.

He just leaned in and kissed him.

Slow. Unhurried.

Because this time, there was no countdown.

No race waiting, no stage calling him away.

Just this.

And for now, that was enough.

The next morning came earlier than either of them wanted.

Not because of alarms.

But because neither of them really slept.

Joshua stirred first, eyes blinking open slowly as the light filtered through the curtains. For a second, he forgot where he was, then he felt it.

Warmth beside him.

Jeonghan.

He turned his head slightly.

Still asleep, hair a mess, face relaxed in that rare, unguarded way Joshua had started to memorise.

Joshua smiled faintly.

"We have a flight," he murmured.

Jeonghan didn't move.

Joshua reached over, lightly poking his arm. "Hannie."

A small groan. "No."

Joshua laughed quietly. "Yes."

Jeonghan shifted, pulling the blanket over his head. "Cancel it."

"I can't cancel your race."

"You should try."

Joshua tugged the blanket down just enough to see his face again. "You said no backing out."

Jeonghan cracked one eye open. "I hate that you remember things."

Joshua grinned. "Get up."

The preparation was... chaotic.

Not in a stressful way.

Just two people who were very used to traveling, but not used to doing it together.

"Did you pack this?" Joshua asked, holding up one of Jeonghan's shirts.

"Yes."

"Are you sure?"

"No."

Joshua laughed, tossing it into the suitcase anyway.

Jeonghan leaned against the doorframe, watching him with a small smile. "You're enjoying this."

"A little," Joshua admitted.

"You're bossy."

"You need it."

"Fair."

They moved around each other easily, grabbing things, double-checking passports, making sure nothing was left behind.

At one point, Jeonghan reached over, adjusting Joshua's cap slightly.

"Keep this low," he said.

The airport wasn't quiet.

It never was.

Even at odd hours, there was always movement, always people, and this time, there were cameras.

Not overwhelming, but noticeable.

The moment they stepped out of the car, there was a shift.

A few heads turned, a few phones lifted.

Joshua instinctively stepped a little closer to Jeonghan.

Not hiding.

Just... there.

Jeonghan didn't move away.

If anything, he slowed slightly, matching Joshua's pace.

"Stay close," he murmured under his breath.

Joshua nodded. "I am."

There were murmurs, whispers.

And then they heard a click.

Click click click.

Cameras.

Joshua kept his head slightly down, but he could feel it.

The attention, the curiosity, the recognition.

Not just of him. Of them.

Jeonghan reached over subtly, fingers brushing against Joshua's wrist before slipping into his hand for just a second.

Quick.

But intentional.

Joshua glanced at him.

Jeonghan didn't look back.

But the corner of his mouth lifted slightly.

Inside, it didn't slow down.

If anything, it became clearer.

More cameras, more phones, more people watching.

Joshua adjusted his mask slightly, staying close as they moved through.

"Dispatch is going to have a field day," Joshua muttered under his breath.

Jeonghan let out a quiet laugh. "They already do."

Joshua shook his head. "Walking into this together is crazy."

Jeonghan glanced at him briefly this time. "Regret it?"

Joshua didn't hesitate. "No."

A small pause.

"Not even a little."

Jeonghan's expression softened, just for a second. "Good."

By the time they reached their gate, things had calmed down slightly.

Less noise, less attention.

Just the low hum of the airport again.

Joshua finally exhaled fully, dropping into one of the seats. "That was a lot."

Jeonghan sat beside him. "You handled it well."

Joshua glanced at him. "You're used to it."

"You are too."

Joshua shrugged. "Different kind."

Jeonghan hummed. "Not that different anymore."

Joshua smiled faintly. "Yeah."

A pause.

Then Joshua nudged him lightly. "Same flight."

Jeonghan nodded. "Same flight."

Joshua leaned back, pulling his cap down slightly. "Next stop, Australia."

Jeonghan smiled. "Next race."

Joshua turned his head just enough to look at him. "And I'll be there."

Jeonghan held his gaze for a second.

Then reached over, squeezing his hand lightly. "I know."

And this time, they weren't watching from screens.

They were going together.

The flight felt shorter than it should have.

Maybe because they actually had time together.

No rushing between schedules, no quick calls before falling asleep.

Just hours where Joshua could lean his head against Jeonghan's shoulder, half-asleep, while Jeonghan scrolled through race notes with one hand and absentmindedly played with Joshua's fingers with the other.

At some point, Joshua mumbled, "if you start talking about sector times, I'm switching seats."

Jeonghan huffed a quiet laugh. "Go ahead."

Joshua didn't move. "I'm too comfortable."

"Exactly."

Australia hit differently.

Warmer air, louder crowds, the unmistakable buzz of the first race weekend of the season.

As they stepped out of the airport, Joshua adjusted his sunglasses, taking everything in.

"Okay," he said slowly. "I get it."

Jeonghan glanced at him.

"Get what?"

"Why you like this."

Jeonghan smiled faintly. "Told you."

Joshua shook his head, amused. "Don't get used to it."

The paddock was already alive by the time they arrived.

Team members moving quickly, media everywhere, fans lining the barriers, hoping for a glimpse.

Joshua hesitated for just half a second at the entrance.

Last time he was here, it had been different.

Guest, visitor, someone just passing through.

This time, Jeonghan noticed immediately.

He slowed down, turning slightly toward him. "Hey."

Joshua looked at him. "You good?"

Joshua nodded after a beat. "Yeah."

Jeonghan held his gaze for a second longer.

"Stay with me."

Joshua smiled faintly. "Where else would I go?"

Jeonghan huffed a soft laugh. "Fair."

Inside, it was exactly how Joshua remembered. But also not.

Because this time, he wasn't being led around by staff or guided by someone else.

He was walking with Jeonghan.

Side by side.

People noticed.

Of course they did.

A few glances lingered longer than usual, a few whispers followed them as they passed.

But no one said anything outright. Not yet.

"Hey!"

Joshua turned at the voice.

Kimi.

Standing a few steps away, already looking like he knew exactly what was going on.

"You made it," Kimi said, glancing between them.

Joshua smiled politely. "Hi."

Kimi nodded once. "Concert was good."

Joshua blinked. "You watched?"

Jeonghan didn't even try to hide his smirk. "Told you."

Joshua shook his head, laughing softly. "That's still insane to me."

Kimi shrugged. "It was loud."

Joshua grinned. "I'll take that as a compliment."

A few more familiar faces passed by.

Some greetings, some curious looks.

And then, the Mercedes garage.

Joshua slowed slightly as they approached.

Jeonghan noticed.

"You've been here before," he said.

"Yeah," Joshua replied. "But..."

"But?"

Joshua glanced at him. "Not like this."

Jeonghan's expression softened.

He stepped a little closer, lowering his voice just enough. "Then stay close."

Joshua smiled. "I will."

Inside, the atmosphere shifted immediately.

Focused. Sharp. All attention on the car, the data, the weekend ahead.

But even then, people noticed.

A few of the engineers glanced up, doing quick double takes.

Someone muttered something under their breath.

And then, Bono walked over.

"Back again," he said, a hint of amusement in his voice as he looked at Joshua.

Joshua smiled. "Yeah."

Bono nodded once, then glanced at Jeonghan. "Keep him out of trouble."

Jeonghan smirked. "No promises."

Joshua nudged him lightly. "Hey."

As things settled, Joshua found himself standing just behind the usual line, watching the car, the screens, the movement, and then it hit him.

He wasn't watching from a distance anymore.

He was here.

For real.

He turned slightly as Jeonghan finished speaking with one of the engineers, walking back toward him.

Joshua smiled. "Feels different."

Jeonghan raised an eyebrow. "Good different?"

Joshua nodded. "Yeah."

A small pause.

"I'm here as your boyfriend."

Jeonghan didn't hesitate. "Yeah, you are."

Joshua's smile widened slightly. "Try not to crash then."

Jeonghan laughed quietly. "No promises."

Joshua rolled his eyes. "Jeonghan."

"Relax," he said, reaching out briefly, brushing his fingers against Joshua's hand. "I've got it."

Joshua held his gaze for a second.

Then nodded. "I know."

Outside, the crowd roared as another car sped past during practice.

Inside, everything was just getting started.

And this time, Joshua wasn't watching from a screen.

He was right there for it.

Race day in Australia started clean.

Too clean, almost.

Joshua stood just behind the line in the garage, arms folded loosely, eyes fixed on the screens as the formation lap began. The energy around him was different now that he was inside it. Louder. Sharper. Every movement mattered more.

"Alright, Jeonghan," Bono's voice came through the radio. "Good start, keep it tidy."

Joshua swallowed, eyes flicking to the live feed.

Lights out. The race launched forward.

The opening laps were smooth.

Jeonghan held position easily, car stable, pace controlled. Joshua found himself relaxing just slightly, shoulders easing as lap after lap ticked by without incident.

"You're doing good," he murmured under his breath, like Jeonghan could somehow hear him.

Then... lap 27.

It happened fast.

Too fast.

A car dove late into a corner. Too aggressive. Too tight.

"Watch-" someone in the garage started.

Contact.

The screen jolted as the cars clipped, Jeonghan's car snapping slightly off line before he fought it back under control.

Joshua's breath caught.

"Oh my god-"

The replay came instantly.

Different angles. Closer view.

The other driver had misjudged it completely.

Joshua's eyes locked onto the screen.

Jeonghan's onboard.

For a split second, his helmet turned sharply, body jolting with the impact.

And then, his visor. Wide-eyed. Just for a moment.

But it was enough.

Joshua felt his chest tighten immediately.

"He's okay, right?" he asked, voice quieter now.

No one answered right away.

"Car's okay," Jeonghan's voice came through the radio, a little tighter than before.

"Copy," Bono replied. "We saw the contact. Stay focused."

Joshua exhaled, but it didn't settle anything.

Because something felt off.

He couldn't explain it.

But he felt it.

The race continued.

And somehow, Jeonghan stayed ahead.

Lap after lap, he kept the pace, kept control, didn't let anyone past.

From the outside, it looked like nothing had changed.

But Joshua watched closer now.

Every movement. Every onboard shot.

And once, just once, he saw Jeonghan shift slightly in the car, like he was adjusting through discomfort.

Joshua's hands clenched slightly.

"Hannie," he whispered.

Final lap.

The tension in the garage was high, but controlled.

"Bring it home," Bono said.

Joshua didn't even breathe.

The car rounded the final corner. The chequered flag waved.

"He's done it-" someone started.

But Joshua was already watching something else.

"Bono," Jeonghan's voice came through, quieter now. Strained.

"Yeah, Jeonghan?"

"I might need medics."

The garage went still.

"I'm not feeling great."

Joshua's heart dropped.

"What?" he whispered.

Bono's tone shifted immediately. "Copy. Stay with us, okay? Bring it to parc fermé, we'll have people ready."

Joshua stared at the screen, pulse racing.

"He just won," someone said faintly in the background.

But Joshua barely heard it.

The car pulled into parc fermé.

Normally, this was the moment.

Celebrations. Cheers. Energy.

But something was wrong.

Jeonghan didn't move right away.

The engine cut.

Silence.

Then slowly, he pushed himself out of the car.

And the moment his feet hit the ground, he swayed.

Just slightly.

But enough.

Joshua's entire body tensed.

"Hey-"

On screen, one of the officials stepped forward immediately.

Jeonghan steadied himself, one hand bracing briefly against the car, head dipping like he was trying to focus.

No jump, no celebration, no raised arms.

Just trying to stay upright.

Joshua felt like the air had been knocked out of him.

"Go," someone near him said, already moving.

Joshua didn't hesitate.

By the time he reached the barrier, medics were already there.

Engineers too.

Voices overlapping.

Jeonghan was still standing, but barely.

Helmet still on, chest rising unevenly.

Joshua gripped the barrier, eyes locked on him.

"Hannie," he breathed.

Like he could hear him.

Like he could feel him there.

Jeonghan's head tilted slightly, just a fraction, like he was trying to orient himself.

Then his hand came up, pressing briefly against his side.

Joshua's stomach dropped.

"What happened," he whispered.

They didn't let anyone in. Not yet.

Medics were speaking to him, checking him, hands steady but urgent.

Joshua stayed where he was.

Right at the barrier.

Waiting. Watching.

Heart pounding.

Because the race was over.

He had won.

But none of that mattered right now.

Not when Jeonghan looked like he might collapse at any second.

Joshua didn't remember deciding to move.

One second he was gripping the barrier so hard his fingers hurt, the next, someone was at his side.

"Joshua."

He turned, barely processing it.

The media admin.

"Come with me," she said quickly, already guiding him away.

Joshua didn't argue.

"Is he okay?" he asked immediately, voice tight.

"They're taking him to the medical centre now."

That didn't answer anything.

But it was enough.

The walk felt too long.

Everything around him blurred into noise. People talking, footsteps rushing, radios crackling.

Joshua barely heard any of it.

"He said he wasn't feeling well," he muttered, almost to himself. "On the radio, he-"

"We heard," she replied gently. "They're checking him."

Joshua nodded, but it didn't calm him.

Because he had seen it.

The way Jeonghan swayed. The way he didn't celebrate. The way his hand went to his side.

Something was wrong.

By the time they reached the medical centre, there were already people outside.

Team members. Officials.

Joshua's steps slowed for just a second.

"Can I go in?" he asked.

The admin nodded. "I'll take you."

Inside, it was quieter.

Controlled.

Doctors moving with purpose, voices lower but urgent.

Joshua's eyes scanned immediately, and then he saw him.

Jeonghan was sitting on one of the examination beds, helmet finally off, hair damp and messy, face pale in a way Joshua had never seen before.

A doctor was checking him over, speaking to him calmly. "Can you tell me where it hurts?"

Jeonghan let out a slow breath. "Side," he said, hand pressing lightly against his ribs. "And a bit dizzy."

Joshua's chest tightened. "Hannie-"

The word slipped out before he could stop it.

Jeonghan's head turned immediately.

Their eyes met.

And just like that, something in his expression softened.

"Hey," he said quietly.

Joshua crossed the room in seconds.

"You scared me," he said, voice unsteady now that he was closer, that he could actually see him.

Jeonghan gave a small, tired smile. "Sorry."

Joshua shook his head. "You almost collapsed."

"I didn't," Jeonghan replied weakly.

"You did," Joshua insisted.

The doctor glanced between them briefly before continuing their checks.

"We're going to run a few scans," they said. "Just to be safe."

Joshua nodded quickly. "Yeah. Yes, please."

Jeonghan exhaled slowly, leaning back slightly as they adjusted him.

"I'm okay," he murmured.

Joshua looked at him. "No, you're not."

Jeonghan smiled faintly at that. "I won."

Joshua's expression didn't change. "I don't care."

That made Jeonghan pause.

Joshua stepped a little closer, voice softer now, but firmer.

"I mean it," he said. "I don't care about the win right now."

Jeonghan watched him for a second.

Then nodded slightly. "Okay."

A small silence settled between them, broken only by the quiet movement of the medical staff.

Joshua's hand hovered for a second before he reached out, gently brushing his fingers against Jeonghan's wrist.

"You're really okay?" he asked, quieter now.

Jeonghan shifted slightly, wincing just a little before covering it with a small smile. "I've had worse."

Joshua frowned immediately. "That's not reassuring."

Jeonghan let out a soft breath. "It's probably just the impact."

Joshua's grip tightened slightly. "Probably isn't good enough."

The doctor returned, holding a tablet.

"We're going to take him for a scan now," they said.

Joshua nodded.

"Can I-"

"Yes," the doctor replied. "You can wait just outside."

Joshua hesitated, glancing back at Jeonghan.

Jeonghan met his gaze.

"I'll be fine," he said softly.

Joshua didn't look convinced.

But he nodded anyway. "Okay."

As they helped Jeonghan off the bed, Joshua stepped back slightly, watching closely.

Jeonghan steadied himself this time.

But Joshua still saw it.

The way he moved slower. More careful.

And it didn't sit right.

Not at all.

Outside the room, Joshua stood still.

Hands restless, mind racing.

The race was over.

The win was secured.

Everything that should have mattered didn't.

All that mattered now was waiting for that door to open again.

The wait felt longer than it actually was.

Joshua sat just outside, leg bouncing, hands clasped together so tightly his knuckles had gone pale. Every time the door shifted, every time footsteps passed, his head snapped up.

Until finally, the door opened.

Joshua stood immediately.

"Is he-"

"He's okay," the doctor said before he could even finish. "Minor bruising along the ribs, likely from the impact. Some dehydration and fatigue on top of that. No fractures, no internal injuries."

Joshua's shoulders dropped all at once.

"Okay," he breathed. "Okay."

"He'll need rest," the doctor continued. "But he'll recover quickly."

Joshua nodded, relief still settling into his chest. "Can I see him?"

The doctor stepped aside.

Jeonghan was sitting up again when Joshua walked in.

Still a little pale. Still clearly tired.

But okay.

Joshua didn't say anything at first. He just walked over, stopping right in front of him like he needed to see it up close.

Jeonghan looked up. "Told you."

Joshua let out a shaky laugh. "Don't start."

Jeonghan smiled faintly. "I'm fine."

Joshua shook his head, reaching out, fingers brushing carefully along his arm like he was checking for himself. "You scared me."

Jeonghan's expression softened. "I'm sorry."

Joshua exhaled, then leaned in slightly, pressing a quick, firm kiss to his forehead. "Don't do that again."

"I'll try."

"You better."

Jeonghan huffed a quiet laugh.

Jeonghan recovered quickly.

A few days of rest, a lot of monitoring, and a strict reminder from the team to not push himself too hard.

By the next race weekend, he was back.

Maybe a little more careful, maybe a little more aware.

But still Jeonghan.

A week later, the roles flipped again.

Lights, crowd, music.

Joshua stood backstage, catching his breath as the last song before encore wrapped up.

"Water?" Seungcheol handed him a bottle.

"Thanks," he said, taking a quick sip.

The members gathered around, talking over each other, energy still high.

Joshua was wiping sweat from his neck as he stepped slightly away, just to breathe for a second before he heard...

"Hey."

Joshua froze.

He turned around so fast he almost dropped the bottle.

Jeonghan stood there.

In a hoodie. Cap low. A small bouquet of flowers in his hand.

Joshua blinked. "What?"

Jeonghan smiled. "Hi."

Joshua stared at him like his brain couldn't catch up. "You're-"

"Yeah."

"You didn't-"

"Surprise."

That was it.

Joshua didn't say another word.

He crossed the distance in seconds, practically launching himself at him, arms wrapping tightly around Jeonghan's shoulders.

Jeonghan barely had time to react before catching him, laughing softly as he steadied them both. "Careful-"

Joshua cut him off, pulling back just enough and kissed him.

Quick, tight, real.

"I thought you were resting," Joshua said breathlessly when he pulled back.

"I am," Jeonghan replied. "This counts."

Joshua laughed, still holding onto him like he wasn't letting go anytime soon. "You're insane."

"You like it."

"I love it."

Jeonghan smiled, handing him the flowers. "For you."

Joshua took them, expression softening immediately. "They're pretty."

"So are you."

Joshua rolled his eyes, but he was smiling. "Shut up."

"Hey- HEY-"

The rest of the members had definitely noticed.

Seungkwan was already halfway over, eyes wide. "Jeonghan hyung?" 

"Hi," Jeonghan waved.

Seungkwan pointed. "You just- he just- WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL US?"

The others crowded around, equally curious, equally amused, everyone still talking over each other.

Chan grinned. "You came."

Jeonghan nodded politely. "Had to."

Jeonghan pulled Joshua into another hug, arms wrapping around him tight.

"I said I would."

Joshua smiled into his shoulder, then pulled back slightly, looking at him. "You watched everything?"

Jeonghan nodded. "Front row."

Joshua laughed. "Through a screen and in real life now."

"Upgrade."

Joshua grinned. "Definitely."

And this time, there was no distance, no waiting.

Just both of them, standing in the same place, exactly where they were supposed to be.