Chapter Text
KIMI
It happened on a Thursday. In Melbourne.
Which, all things considered, was deeply unfair. He had media, was fighting a case of severe jetlag after flying halfway across the world, and was trying not to actively break down anytime he thought about the fact that he was at his first F1 race weekend.
And then he saw her. A girl. Which was not unusual, except for the fact that she was just casually standing around, talking to Toto. And then, his brain short circuited. Because no one talked to Toto on media day, unless they had a wish to actively sign their death warrant.
She had dark hair and deep brown eyes, wearing a Mercedes team polo and standing next to Toto, talking to him and laughing. That's when he knew, he had to figure out who she was. And fast.
"Kimi? Kimi, are you listening?" his trainer, Sergi, asked.
"Heh?" he said automatically. He turned around to find Sergi looking at him knowingly. "Sorry," Kimi grinned sheepishly. "Got distracted."
"We will talk about this later, yeah? You need to get to media right now."
They moved towards hospitality, where PR had set up some ridiculous game with George, involving answering questions with only gestures. Kimi couldn't focus at all. His mind was occupied with thoughts of brown eyes, and... He shook his head, thinking, Get it together, Kimi! The media team stared at him strangely, and he tried to concentrate. Afterward, he immediately sought out his teammate.
"George, who is she?"
"Oh, that's Payton. Payton Ross, Rosa's best friend. I've heard the aero team day she's one off the best they've ever seen." George replied smoothly. "She's one of the newest engineers here."
No wonder, Kimi thought. She looks like she's super clever.
Later on in the garage, he caught sight of her sitting down with a stack of telemetry data, her headphones resting over her ears. She looked over, as if she felt him staring, and offered a quick smile.
Kimi immediately looked away, his cheeks burning a bright crimson.
"Seriously, mate?" George teased.
"George. Don't. Say. A. Word," Kimi gritted out. He quickly spun on his heel and speed-walked out of the room, only to realize a second too late that several mechanics were staring at him with highly amused expressions.
Oh no. He was never going to live this down.