bluewxrld07

[bluewxrld07]

Ooh Ohh Baby

Lando Norris X Childhoodbff!reader

Summary: Growing up, Y/N Fewtrell was always obsessed with Lando, but he’s never seen more than a family friend. Y/N Fewtrell is Max's twin sister. She has grown up in the go-karting realm because of her brother, not only becoming close with Lando Norris, but also becoming part of the inseparable duo between her brother and Lando. One day, she gets an amazing job offer that sends her across the world for a year, only for her to come back and not look so platonic and acne-faced anymore. At least that's what Lando notices.

Warning(s): Mutual pining, Magui is partly a villain (srry yall lmao), sexual tension, choking, groping, touching

*Inspired by Ooh Ooh Baby by Britney Spears*

Y/N Fewtrell was so exhausted. She was jet lagged, hungry, and could barely manage to trudge along the Monaco airport.

She couldn't wait to be back in her own bed, covered head to toe in the covers, sleeping for days and days.

When she had taken the modeling job in Brazil, little did she realize she would not only spend every moment with new fits, hairstyles, and new aesthetics, but also spend lots of time staying in shape, as well as taking care of her figure.

Boy, did she take care of herself alright.

As she grabbed her heavy suitcase from baggage claim, she turned her gaze around to hear her name being called.

Once she turned around, her tired eyes lit up to meet her brother's excited gaze. He looked at her with both awe and complete excitement, scurrying up towards her.

"Oh my shit, you're here! Look at you," he laughs out, breaking his big bear hug and holding the sides of her arms as he looks at her. "You're fucking tan too, shit I haven't seen your freckles become this prominent since like 2016."

Y/N laughs while rolling her eyes, shoving him playfully as he grabs her heavy suitcase with a free hand.

"Yeah yeah, that's because mom was convinced I was going to get skin cancer after she found that mole on my neck, post the go-karting weekend with you and Lando."

"Oh I remember, she would not live down the sunscreen addiction between us for months after that."

"Does he know I'm here?" she asks, hinting at Lando, as they pile her stuff into the trunk of his car. Max looks up at her with a knowing smirk before nodding.

"Oh yes, yes he does. I told him I convinced you to make a trip out to the Monaco GP on your way back to Silverstone," he explains while they hopped into the car.

"As much as I'd love to see him tonight, I'm too tired to socialize with anyone else," she chuckles, shaking her head. He nods with pursed lips.

"I figured, and he's gonna stay in for the night anyway to lock in for tomorrow."

Y/N hums as she looks out the window.

"How much of a break you got now?" he asks.

"Like two weeks or so. Then they want me to come do a few shoots and walk in London Fashion Week."

Max chokes on air before whipping his head towards her.

"I'm sorry," he giggles. "But my sister is walking in motherfucking London Fashion Week? You're fucking joking!"

She grimaces at his loud tone, giving him a sheepish smile.

"Surprise?"

He yells out in excitement. "We've gotta celebrate this week here then! This is huge news! Brazil did some great work, yeah?"

"Oh you have no idea."

"Um, yeah, I think I do," he jokes. "You're literally glowing now. The last I saw you, the acne was unbearable, and you couldn't even fathom wearing a skirt. I saw your shoot photos and vacay photos, so don't tell me otherwise."

"Max!"

He squawks at her. "Let me hype up my sister! She's worked her ass off, and now it has landed her a spot in fucking fashion week! In London!"

She laughs at him as they continue catching up and creating small talk, Max not missing the way her tired eyes would perk up at the sound of Lando's name. Just like they used to long before she left.

"He's going to lose it when he sees you, I hope you know."

She looks over at him and frowns. "Who?"

"Lando-"

"Oh spare me the-"

"No, I'm serious!" Max says, earning a look from Y/N. "I know you were obsessed with him for the longest time, but now I think it may become the opposite."

She rolled her eyes. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"Yeah, ok," he scoffs while giving her a smug look. "I may be slow, but I'm not blind. You've had the hots for him since he started doing doughnuts with a go-kart."

"Not true!"

"Liar!"

She sighs, avoiding his gaze now and getting out of the car once it's parked.

"P and I put together the guest room already, so you can just go straight to bed if that's your vibe tonight. P is out with Magui, Alex and Kika."

Y/N froze, turning around to face her brother with a frown. She can see the slightly hidden smirk under the facade he was hiding.

"Magui? Who's Magui?"

"Oh so you do care, huh?"

She shook her head, waiting for him to answer. "She's just a girl, Lando is off and on with seeing. No labels or serious relationship or anything. Although I am pretty sure he wants her off of his back, but he's too nice to just ghost her."

That makes her scoff. "Lando? Nice? He ghosted a girl back in 2019 by blocking her on everything to prevent her from finding him again. Don't pull that shit."

Max puts his hands up in defense once they're inside the place.

"Hey, all I know is that they're not serious. So if you feel bad about splitting them up, just know it was never serious."

Her mouth drops at her brother's words, smacking him harshly on the chest, earning a groan.

"I'm going to bed. I'm too tired to argue about this."

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Max could tell Lando was nervous.

Even though he was trying to seem otherwise, he found it quite comical that his best friend sucked at hiding the true nerves he was feeling.

With the way he kept asking about where Y/N was, or how she was settling, or how excited he was hearing about her upgrade to Fashion Week in London, Max could tell that the more they talked about her, the more nonchalant Lando tried to seem.

It had been nearly a year since he had seen her, and deep down it drove him crazy he hadn't been able to see one of his absolute best friends in that long of a time.

The longest he had ever gone without seeing Max was maybe two weeks.

If that.

The last time Lando had seen Y/N, she was having another acne breakout all over her face, was stuck wearing her retainers on the daily, and was the type of girl who hated wearing anything feminine.

Not that she didn't want to, she just never built up the courage to see herself as pretty in the clothing she loved. SO she hid underneath layers instead.

Max looked down at his phone, seeing a text from his sister saying she was on her way over to the McLaren garage, making Max smirk knowingly.

He tapped Lando, who was talking to Oscar, making him whip his head, Max raising his brows.

"Keep a lookout, yeah? Y/N's on her way over."

Lando nods slowly before making his way over towards the opening of the garage, keeping an excited smile on his face as he searched for the familiar face.

"Do you know what she's wearing? That way I know what I'm looking for," Lando says to his best friend next to him, keeping his gaze in front of them with his arms crossed.

"She's wearing some pale yellow outfit, I'm pretty sure."

Lando nods, his eyes staying peeled as he smiles more and more at the thought of reuniting with the final addition to their best friend trio.

Then he freezes in his spot, his breathing stops for a second, his smile fades lightly, arms uncross slowly as they go limp.

"Holy fucking-"

Lando couldn't even finish his sentence, unaware of his best friend next to him who is dying at the reaction of Lando seeing her for the first time.

She wore a pale yellow set, as her brother said, but it was way different. She was way different.

The pale yellow set she wore was a snug off-the-shoulder top, paired with the pale yellow miniskirt, a matching headband keeping her natural curls away from her face, and a pair of small white heels adorning her feet.

Her skin, her face, her hair, everything about her was glowing.

Lando couldn't look away, especially when she flashed a wide smile their way, looking down through her sunglasses that adorned her face.

"Is that Norris I see?" he silky, smooth voice rings out, making Lando snap out of his daze.

"Lando, yeah- I'm- Norris, yeah, it's me. It's Norris," he stutters out, still coming out of his daze at the sight of her. Max had to bite his lip from lahghing any further, tears already in his eyes from the reaction earlier.

Y/N laughed at him before pulling him over to her with his hand, wrapping her arms around his neck.

Fuck, she even smelled more amazing than he remembered.

Lando wrapped his arms around her waist, hugging her tighter as he finally realized that this was Y/N in front of him. His best friend for over a decade and a half.

Y/N chuckled at his response, letting a hand run through his head of curls, Lando trying to prevent himself from rolling his eyes to the back of his head at the feeling.

They pulled away, Lando keeping his arms wrapped around her lightly as he took her in.

When he finally met her bright eyes, he could see the shock and amusement behind them. "Wow, did I render you speechless with my presence? That's a first."

Lando nods, humming at her. "Yeah, I-uh- I guess you could say that," he sputters out, his face heating up as he mentally facepalms at his stuttering of words.

She chuckles, taking her fingers and turn his head to the side with his chin.

"Even got a mullet now? What bet did you lose?" she jokes. "I tried getting you to do a mullet for years with these curls."

He finally let out a breathless laugh at her words, realizing that yes, she looked good, too good, but she was still the same girl he knew. Yet, now she had his attention in every way.

Not that she didn't before, but now he wouldn't be able to keep her out of his head. Permanently.

"I wanted to switch things up, and I thought fuck it, hair grows back. Might as well let it live for a moment or two."

"I like it on you," she says softly, Lando feeling his face heat up at her words, letting her run a hand through it once more. The feeling made him want to moan. "Makes you look hotter than you already are."

Her confident words make him snap his eyes into her own, seeing a small smirk come onto her face as she sees the effect it had on him.

"Oh yeah?" he asks her, his tone a bit deeper than usual as he matches her smirk.

She bites her bottom lip before walking past him and squeezing his arm on the way. Her head leans over towards his ear.

"Based on your gawking, it got me looking, didn't it?"

With that, she leaves him speechless for the first time in years. He slowly turns his head towards Max, who sits there like a proud dad, with his arms crossed and a smug smirk.

"You're too happy about this whole interaction," Lando scoffs lightly before shaking his head. Max just shrugs.

"I just know what's gonna happen," he chuckles as they follow the trail behind Y/N.

Lando raises a brow, tilting his head at him. "Oh, and what is it that's gonna happen?"

Max pretends to zip his lips.

"Can't say it, or it won't happen."

"It's not a wishing well."

"No, but I know you well enough and you'll jinx it."

"Whatever."

After that, Lando couldn't really talk to them much longer as he had a few practice laps he had to go do, but he didn't miss the way Y/N had held herself now. She looked elegant, confident, and so sure of herself.

He knew she had done a lot of work on herself mentally and physically while abroad, but he didn't expect her to come back looking like a fucking goddess who held herself just as high as he had always seen her.

It was a sight that could make his pants tighten and his breathing shorten.

She was driving him crazy.

As Y/N sat with P and Max, she was deep in a conversation with P when Max elbowed her softly to get her attention.

"Play nice," he says, making her frown and look to where he was nodding towards. Her frown turned hard.

The famous blonde Max had told her all about, and the one she had taken a deep dive into earlier that morning. Turns out there were lots of things wrong with her, but she wasn't one to speak about it. It wasn't her business.

She just didn't like the fact that she was flaunting Lando as if he were some accessory piece. At least that's what Max says.

Magui had made eye contact with Max, giving him a warm smile and waving happily at Pietra, who sat next to him. Then her entire demeanor falters at the sight of Y/N.

"Oh," she starts slowly, trying to put a fake smile on her face. "I haven't met you yet. You are?"

Y/N happily stood from her spot, watching as Magui's figure shrank slightly when Y/N stood straight. Her posture and everything gave off the intimidating energy that made Magui try to puff her chest nonchalantly.

Y/N stuck her hand out with a genuine smile, nothing hiding behind it. "Y/N Fewtrell. Pleasure. I've heard about you."

Magui's face drops, her eyes widen just slightly as she shakes her hand slowly, Y/N's name processing in her mind. "Max's twin sister? The one who was away for work?"

Y/N nods with a hum, ignoring the snort and snickers from Max behind her.

"Well, I'm Magui," she introduces herself. "I'm seeing Lando."

Y/N raises her brow, only letting her lips perk up smugly. "Right," she trails off.

Before Y/N can ask anything further, Magui slips her hand out of Y/N's grasp and quickly goes over to Pietra, immediately pulling her in for a hug.

She sits herself on the opposite end of where Y/N sat, keeping a distance and not engaging, only seeing that the lack of acknowledgement from Magui wasn't bothering Y/N in the slightest.

The race had already started at this point. Y/N didn't miss the times or how often it had been that Magui's gaze would be burning into her side profile, Y/N minding her business and focusing on Lando's car on that track.

Her mind had begun to think back to Lando's reaction, how he was stuttering over his words, or couldn't keep his eyes off of her. How his face was bright red, or how he looked so flustered at her harmless, flirty words.

It was right where she was hoping to get him.

It was a way she had always wanted him to look at her. After all these years of her watching him from afar, wishing she would be someone he looked at, she was finally being seen. Yet, she wasn't going to make it easy for him to get her. At least not yet.

It made her feel good. Not that she cared for his attention, because she realized that while she was away, it would just be a bonus if he looked at her like he had.

Now that she had his attention slightly, she was going to make him see she was always there.

Yet, she didn't know that he already knew she was always there. How he had felt about her had never changed, it just has now become heightened.

Y/N jumped up from her spot, screaming and hugging her brother tightly as Lando passed the checkered flag in first position.

"He fucking did it, oh my shit!" Max yells out, running his hands through his hair as he looks out from the paddock club, Y/N leaning over the balcony as he drives by. She cheered and clapped, being sure her voice would be gone by the end of it.

"He's going to have the biggest head now, he might have to get his helmet resized," she jokes, her brother scoffing before nodding in agreement.

Max squeezes her elbow to get her to turn and face him. He nods towards the stairs.

"We're going to go down to the track and meet up with his parents for the trophy ceremony," he explains, making her nod and follow him.

They high-five and shake hands with some of the McLaren members as they pass through, Y/N smiling ear to ear as she watches Lando take the pats and dap-ups from the crew.

She couldn't lie, she always thought about how attractive post-race Lando looked, and right now he was absolutely glowing. The smile, the dimples, everything. They keep their distance in the back of the group, watching Lando have his moment with his mom and hugging her tight, Y/N trying to ignore the pang in her heart watching Lando reach over the crowd to grab Magui's hand, blowing a kiss and wink her way.

"Go congratulate him, you know he's already going to give you shit for not finding him," Max pushes, Y/N giving him a look.

"You act like we're not going to be out all night with him. I'll congratulate him eventually."

"Trust me, you're more important to him than you think."

"What does that mean?" she asks with a frown. Max just shrugs.

"Nothing."

Before she can ask anything further, she hears a loud scream followed by an excited tone saying her name.

Cisca is scurrying over towards their group, her arms held out wide for Y/N with tears in her eyes. "I don't believe it! My lovely, you're here! Come here now!" she cries out, pulling Y/N into a hug while laughing into the embrace.

Y/N smiles brightly while giggling at how tightly Cisca had her in her embrace.

"I've missed you too," Y/N jokes, Cisca breaking away from her and holding her by her arms.

"Let me get a good look at you! You've grown up so much! You're beautiful, my lovely! You've grown up so gorgeously! Did you fight off so many of those Brazilian men?" she jokes, an ear-to-ear smile on her face. Y/N laughs.

"Hard to really fight off the men when I didn't have much time to be out like that. I was so busy working and running shows to realize," she explains, getting a playful eyeroll from her.

"You and your hard-working self need a break. I hope you're planning on celebrating with Lan tonight?"

She nods. "Absolutely. He'd have my head if not."

"I think he'd be dragging you by the ear if not."

"Don't give him any ideas," Y/N points at her, earning a chuckle from the older woman, and then being pulled into another tight hug.

They all gather with one another in the middle of the crowd, watching up above as Lando receives his trophy. His eyes scan the crowd, hearing the loud cheers, only to laugh when he sees Y/N cheering and clapping as loudly as possible.

She hasn't changed in that aspect, always being one of his biggest supporters, and that's what he loves most about her. He shook his head at her, a bright smile adorning his lips, before raising his trophy and letting out a cheer himself.

After the ceremony, the crowd dispersed, and their group all went towards the garage to meet with Lando.

Once he finished with his interviews he scurried down the hallway and towards the group, his face just as lit up as it was when he first came out of that car.

He goes to hug his parents once more, then goes up to Magui and kisses her cheek, dodging her attempt to try and kiss his lips, and then pulls her in for a hug.

He then moves down the line to his sisters and then to Max and Pietra. When he reaches Y/N, he doesn't hesitate to pull her in by her waist and hug her tightly. He buries his wet curls into her neck, inhaling her intoxicating scent that smelled both sweet and something seductive hiding in there, becoming more addicted the longer he hugs her.

Lando especially almost folded at the feeling of her arms wrapping around his neck, the way her touch alone was driving him absolutely nuts. Even if it was just a hug, it was pulling him into her.

The way he was becoming obsessed more and more.

"You have to come to every race now," he jokes, as he pulls away, giving her a funny grin. She smacks his arm playfully.

The group conversed quietly, Y/N not missing the way Magui eyes her with a hard stare. She was sucking her cheeks in every so often as she tried to keep Lando's attention, still trying to touch him in any way she could as they all talked.

Y/N didn't think much about it, only realizing the more she watched Lando and Magui, the more her insides burned. She didn't fully understand why it bugged her so much.

It never fully bugged her when it was anyone else with Lando, so what made her so bothered now?

"Where are we meeting tonight?" Max asks.

Lando doesn't take long to answer.

"I think we're starting off at La Rascasse, and then might make our way to Amber Lounge. I don't know what's after that," he laughs, making the group join in a fit of giggles.

"I'm going to go shower, and then I'll text you guys where to meet, yeah?" he says towards the group, them all humming and nodding in agreement.

He walks towards the entryway where Y/N was standing in front of, his arms going to her sides to pass by her, only to lean his head down to her ear. "We need to talk later," is all he says slyly, his lips brushing against her ear as she passes by, squeezing her sides before walking towards his driver's room.

Y/N stood there astounded before snapping out of her daze, and turning her attention back to the group.

This playing hard to get act was going to be harder than she thought.

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Lando didn't even know where half of the group went, most of them already dispersing into the crowd, some with the DJ at the booth, some at the bar, or some probably finding their person for the night.

He was sitting at his VIP booth with Magui on one side, Oscar on the other with his grilfriend.

Lanod was becoming annoyed by Magui's actions and behavior, the more she stuck around. He didn't fail to notice the way she would only flaunt herself around him in public, or whenever the press was around. Otherwise, she didn't care for his company. Not that he really wanted her around any more than he had to have her around.

He especially didn't miss the way she would keep putting herself onto him when Y/N had made herself known. He knew Magui knew all about her and who she was. Why she was considered a threat in Magui's eyes.

Because Y/N was the only one that would ever have Lando in the way Magui wished Lando wanted her.

He had already broken whatever it was between him and Magui before they had come, only letting her tag along as he thought it was only fair.

Now he was having his regrets, as she was using all her might to still keep herself close to him in every way. He just was too nice to say no, and he didn't want to stress about it because tonight was his night.

The way you smell, the way you taste You know I have an appetite for sexy things All you do is look at me, it's a disgrace What's running through my mind is you up in my face

As he was mid-conversation with Oscar, he had completely choked on his drink as his eyes did a double-take.

Y/N had arrived with Max and Pietra, but his eyes were drawn to her.

She walked in confidently with this dark feminine side to her, he was losing his mind for. Everything about her was driving him crazy, trying his best to keep himself from devouring her in every way he was imagining in his head.

Y/N wore a deep sunset orange dress that fell mid-thigh, backless, with a loose, deep V-neck, drawing more attention to her chest. The pair of black strapped heels on her feet made her legs look like something Lando wanted to have wrapped around his head.

Her hair was pin-straight, a look he hadn't seen her do in a long time, and now he realizes why she never does it. Because it was making him drool at the sight.

He didn't take any time to stand from his spot and make his way towards them, towards her, ignoring the calls of his name from Magui and Oscar. His eyes were hungry, and he only had one thing on his mind.

Y/N.

Your voice is like music to my ears Whisper softly and the world just disappears Take me higher and just wipe away my fears When you're with me, oh boy, it's my heartbeat that I hear

Y/N's eyes look away from Pietra when she sees Lando's figure approaching her, seeing the darkened smile on his face as he stares her down. She smiled innocently at him as he got to them.

"Hi, Lan," she says, not missing the way his hands slither around her hips lowly and pull her into his embrace.

Her voice was like heaven to his ears, and he couldn't wait to hear other sounds she made that he just knew sounded a lot prettier. "Hi, sweetheart."

She chuckled as his hands stayed wrapped around her lower back, his eyes looking down at her with a look he couldn't quite pinpoint. Lando grinned down at her. "What?" he asks, his tone raspy.

Y/N pursed her lips and shook her head. "Nothing at all, just wasn't expecting that kind of hello."

"Is that a bad thing?"

"Definitely not."

Lando bites his lip and hums, his eyes flickering to her lips a couple of times. "You look absolutely gorgeous. Consider me speechless," he hums out, making her smile wider at him as her hands slither alongside his forearms.

"You think? I don't know, I didn't really think orange was my color."

"Hm, sweet girl, think again because I can happily say it's your color," Lando says, his eyes scanning her up and down.

Y/N feels his hands slowly trail lower, causing her to grab them and lace his hands with hers, and drag him through the crowd. "I need to get a drink going. Also, do a celebratory shot with the man of the hour."

Lando didn't miss the way her ass looked in the snug dress, the way her hips effortlessly swayed back and forth. His pants became tighter the more his mind wandered.

"Yes, ma'am," he salutes her jokingly as he follows behind her like a little lost puppy. His entire body felt warm at the sound of her laughs leaving her lips as she dragged him to the bar. He doesn't miss the way she stands on her tip toes while speaking to the bartender, asking for her drink and their said shot to start the night.

He especially didn't miss the way she kept one of her hands laced with her own, a thumb running across the top of it. He would absolutely take it.

His focus was now on her, all night. Every night for that matter, he just saw her in every way now.

As they waited for the drinks, a remix of Britney Spears playing in the background, Y/N was making conversation with the bartender as she made the drink, Lando spots a guy not too far down from them eyeing her like a piece of meat.

Lando's jaw clenches, feeling the sudden urge to stand directly behind her, his eyes staying focused on the man staring her down. He slowly let go of her hand, Y/N not seeming to care as she sweetly talked to the female bartender.

Lando decides to let the last of his confidence when it came to her, and use it to take his hands and slowly slide them up the sides of her thighs, not realizing his touch was leaving a burning sensation on her skin in the process. His hands slowly trailed to the front of her thighs as he got higher, letting them run over her front and stopping right under where her breasts sat.

When the guy's eyes follow the giant hands he sees on her body, eyes now finding Lando's, Lando doesn't waste a second to slowly look away from the man and leans his lips down towards her ear, lips grazing the tip of it before he presses an airy kiss just there.

He knows that it might not only be driving the guy down the bar crazy, but Y/N as well. He sees goosebumps arise on her skin, a breathless gasp leaving her lips as she tries to keep her focus on the worker in front of her.

It was taking everything in him to not take her on that counter right then and there. Every single ounce in him.

When she leans her body more into his touch, her ass grazing the hard buldge in his pants forming, she lets her hands trail to his own that sat right underneath her breasts.

"Lando," she says, the tone made to sound stern, but coming off more breathless than she meant for it to.

"Hm?"

"Careful, or you might start something you can't finish," she challenges, not missing the smug smirk that comes onto her face.

"Oh, you think I can't finish what I start, huh?" he hums against her ear. She just shrugs, keeping her gaze forward.

Before he can give her a taste of her own medicine, she beats him to it. She steps out of his embrace and thanks the bartender who hands her their shots and her drink, turning to face him with their small glasses.

She gives him an innocent smile while looking up at him and handing him his glass, watching how he scoffs to himself at her little game she was playing.

"Watch it," he warns, and she shrugs once more with a pursed grin, motioning to take the shot from her hand.

He happily obliges, taking it and then clinking the glasses together.

"Bottoms up, sweetheart," she jokes before slamming it back with no face, Lando keeping his eyes on her as he slams his back. They set their shot glasses down, Y/N grabbing her drink before leading him away and towards the dancefloor.

Ooh, ooh baby, touch me and I come alive I can feel you on my lips, I can feel you deep inside Ooh, ooh baby, in your arms, I finally breathe Wrap me up in all your love, that's the oxygen I need

She pulled Lando into her arms, the boy not wasting any time to take her silent question, slithering his arms around her waist and keeping his face close to hers.

Y/N slowly lets her hands find their way behind his neck, handing over his shoulders as her drink stays in one hand. Her eyes look up into his with a darkened look in them, her gaze not missing the way his lips remained parted while they slowly danced together.

This moment alone was something she had wished to happen for years, to be this close to him. For him to have his touch on her, as if she were his. Like he owned her.

She let her free hand glide through his curls, nails grazing his scalp, only letting a surprised chuckle leave her lips as a new noise leaves his mouth. A new sound to her at least.

Lando lets out a breathless moan at the feeling of her nails on his scalp, clenching his jaw while his grip tightens on her hips.

"Easy tiger," she jokes, only getting a look from him.

"Kind of hard to be right now."

"Why's that?"

"Because you're driving me nuts," he admits, his hands sliding up her body and stopping when they're underneath the valley of her breasts. Goosebumps run along her skin as she barely feels his skin on her own as his fingers glide on the skin showing between her cleavage.

Her mouth opens to let out a light gasp, her hand in his hair only tightening for a second.

He lets a growl at the feeling as his head falls back, wishing she would pull harder, only remembering to keep those thoughts to himself.

"Why am I driving you crazy?" she asks, bringing him back to look at her. His eyes were darker than they were a few moments ago.

"Because," he chuckles. "I don't see you for thirteen months, and then you come back with this sexy side of you I've never seen. This confident side of you. It's fucking driving me insane."

His words make her heart stutter, now slightly becoming more shocked at his words.

"Lando."

Before she can speak more, Lando takes one hand from underneath her breast, running it along the bare skin between her breasts before slowly wrapping it around her neck. Not in a tight way, just sitting there as if he was trying to keep her attention.

He watches her face contort from lust to pleasure at the light squeeze his hand does around her neck, humming at the satisfying scene in front of her.

"Don't even get me started on the sudden wardrobe change," he says as he leans closer to her lips, letting his own brush against hers. "I liked how you were before. But now I feel like this just confirmed how much I need you. How much I love seeing you grow into the sexy and confident woman you are."

Y/N lets out a breathless moan as he squeezes her neck once more, gripping his curls.

"I'm not too sure about that one," she pushes back, watching him frown slightly. "You've got quite the on-and-off situationship, no? How would she feel watching you do this right now?"

He clenches his jaw.

"She got what she wanted out of that PR. It was nothing more because I only ever saw you. That's why she's not your biggest fan."

Y/N turns her head away from Lando's and rolls her eyes. She has a smug smirk on her lips as she steps out of his embrace. "Whatever you say, Norris," she says before she begins to walk away, only to let out a squeak as he grabs the back of her neck and pulls her back to him.

"I will say you're becoming quite the brat."

Lando's entire expression was dark, filled with lust and need for the girl in front of him. He smirks at her quietness.

"Aw, what happened to the confident side of you, darling? Cat got your tongue?"

She decides to finally play the game she's been waiting for the last thirteen months. The game she has been waiting to play all day, wanting to wait till this exact moment.

Her eyes look up at him in a doe-eyed stare, her free hand slithering between them, sliding up his thigh, to his groin where the very visible bulge had begun to harden, brushing past it and watching his body shiver at the contact as he let out a low groan.

She then lets her hand trail slowly up to the hem of his jeans, nails running along the bare skin showing from his open button-up towards his chest. Her stayed on his own as he looked at her while biting his lip and groaning once more.

Her hand finds a place on the front of his neck, pulling him in so their lips are brushing together once more.

Y/N notices the tip of his tongue lightly brushes against her bottom lip before he lightly takes it between his teeth. He gets another moan from her, smirking as he pulls away.

Her eyes turned from their doe-eye stare, to becoming straight siren-eyed and dark.

"Don't test a brat you can't tame."

With that, she backs away from Lando, leaving him completely speechless, shocked, and turned on.

She watches his eyes scowl at her as she chuckles, winks at him while taking a sip of her drink, and walks off to find her friends, letting her hips sway as she leaves him there.

⋆˖⁺‧₊☽◯☾₊‧⁺˖⋆⋆˖⁺‧₊☽◯☾₊‧⁺˖⋆⋆˖⁺‧₊☽◯☾₊‧⁺˖⋆⋆˖⁺‧₊☽◯☾₊‧⁺˖⋆⋆˖⁺‧₊☽◯☾₊‧⁺˖⋆

A/N: I'M SORRY I'VE BEEN GONE OK, I'VE BEEN TRYING TO COME TOGETHER WITH AN ACCURATE WRITING SCHEDULE FOR YOU LOVES!!! This fic was originally gonna be a long one-part fic, buuuut I may split it into two because I'm just a straight FIIIIIEEEND for cliffhangers lol.

What're we thinking, friends? Lemme know ;)

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[bluewxrld07]

Chapter 1: Fight

࣪ ִֶָ☾. summary ━━━━━━━ A brutal fight erupts between Y/N and Lando at a friends' gathering, where he unknowingly destroys his soulmate in a way no one thought possible. His attack confirms every fear she’s carried alone for years, shattering the last piece of hope she had. That night, overwhelmed by heartbreak and years of buried trauma, Y/N suffers a panic attack more severe than anything she’s ever experienced.

࣪ ִֶָ☾. pairing ━━━━━━━ Lando Norris x she!reader

࣪ ִֶָ☾. word count ━━━━━━━ 10.9k

࣪ ִֶָ☾. warnings ━━━━━━━ slight mention of abusive childhood, vey mean Lando, swearing, medical emergency (panic attack), loads of crying, loads of angst

Series Masterlist

The rain had stopped just as Y/N arrived at Max and Pietra's apartment building in Central London, though the gray clouds still hung heavy and threatening above the city's skyline. She stood for a moment outside the familiar entrance, adjusting the strap of her designer handbag and smoothing down her black cashmere coat. Fourteen months. It had been 14 months since she'd first met Lando Norris through their mutual friends, and 12 months since that fateful afternoon when she'd discovered the devastating truth that had turned her world completely upside down.

Twelve months since she’d seen him shirtless by Max and Pietra’s pool. Twelve months since she’d spotted the intricate, fine-line tattoo—a crescent moon birthmark—on his left hip, the exact same mark that adorned her own skin in the exact same spot. Twelve months of carrying the weight of knowing the universe had played its cruelest joke on her: marking her for a man who looked at her like she was less than nothing, who spoke with barely concealed contempt, and who seemed to take genuine pleasure in making her feel small.

The irony was so perfect it was almost beautiful in its completeness. Almost.

Y/N pressed the buzzer for their apartment, her fingers trembling slightly despite the mild evening temperature. The familiar sound of Pietra's voice crackled through the intercom, warm and welcoming as always, a stark contrast to the ice-cold dread that had settled in Y/N's stomach the moment she'd received the text about tonight's gathering.

"Y/N! Come up, love. We're all here already."

All here already. Which meant he was already there. Which meant she would have to spend the next several hours pretending that her heart didn't shatter a little more each time he looked through her like she was invisible, each time he spoke to everyone else with warmth and charm while reserving nothing but cold politeness for her.

The elevator ride to the 16th floor felt like an eternity, giving Y/N too much time to study her reflection in the polished steel doors. She looked composed, professional, put-together—the image she'd carefully cultivated over years of learning to hide every vulnerable emotion behind a mask of competent indifference. Her long hair fell in soft waves past her shoulders, and her eyes held that particular intensity that came from years of analyzing every interaction, every micro-expression, every subtle shift in tone that might indicate incoming rejection or abandonment.

She'd chosen her outfit carefully tonight—high-waisted black trousers that accentuated the curve of her hips while maintaining an air of sophisticated professionalism, paired with a burgundy silk blouse that brought out the warmth in her skin tone. The outfit was expensive, impeccably tailored, designed to project success and confidence. It was armor, just like everything else in her carefully constructed life.

The elevator doors opened with a soft chime, and Y/N stepped into the familiar hallway. She could already hear voices and laughter from behind Max and Pietra's door—Tom's booming laugh, Ed's animated storytelling voice, Max's quick wit cutting through the conversation. And underneath it all, like a bass note that made her chest tight with unwanted longing, she could hear Lando's voice.

That voice that could go from playful teasing to cutting cruelty in the span of a heartbeat. That voice that spoke to everyone else with such natural charm and warmth, but turned cold and dismissive the moment it was directed at her. The voice that belonged to her soulmate, who would probably laugh if he ever discovered the cosmic joke the universe had played on both of them.

Y/N knocked on the door, forcing her shoulders back and lifting her chin with the practiced confidence that had gotten her through boardroom negotiations and university presentations and every other situation where she'd needed to project strength while feeling fundamentally broken inside.

Pietra opened the door with a bright smile, her warmth immediately filling the space between them. "Y/N! You look stunning as always. Come in, come in. We were just talking about Max's latest disaster in the kitchen."

Y/N stepped into the warm, inviting space of the apartment she'd visited so many times over the past year. The living room was exactly as she remembered—comfortable sofas arranged around a glass coffee table, warm lighting that made everything feel cozy and intimate, floor-to-ceiling windows that offered a stunning view of London's glittering skyline. 

"Y/N!" Max called out from his position on the main sofa, raising his wine glass in greeting. "Perfect timing. We were just about to start placing bets on whether Tom can get through the evening without spilling something on himself."

"Hey now," Tom protested from his spot. "That was one time, and it was entirely Lando's fault for making me laugh while I was drinking."

And there it was. The mention of his name that made Y/N's entire body tense despite her best efforts to remain composed. She forced a smile and accepted the glass of wine that Pietra pressed into her hands, using the moment of taking a sip to scan the room and locate him.

He was sitting in the armchair near the window, and the sight of him hit her like it always did—like a physical blow that left her breathless and aching. Lando Norris at twenty-five was devastating in a way that seemed almost unfair, as if the universe had decided to concentrate all its efforts on creating the most beautiful human being possible and then, just for the sake of cosmic humor, had made him her soulmate while ensuring he could barely stand to be in the same room as her.

His curly hair was slightly messy, as if he'd been running his hands through it—a nervous habit she'd noticed over the months of reluctant observation. His green eyes were bright with laughter from whatever conversation had been happening before her arrival, and she felt that familiar twist of pain in her chest as she watched him be charming and animated with everyone except her.

When his gaze finally found hers across the room, the transformation was immediate and devastating. The warmth and humor in his eyes vanished, replaced by that familiar cool indifference that had become as much a part of their interactions as breathing. He gave her the barest nod of acknowledgment—polite, distant, the kind of greeting you'd give to a stranger you had no interest in knowing better.

"Y/N," he said, and even her name sounded different in his mouth than it did when anyone else said it. Clipped. Formal. Devoid of any warmth or interest.

"Lando," she replied, matching his tone exactly, though it cost her everything to keep her voice steady and unaffected.

The others seemed oblivious to the sudden shift in atmosphere, continuing their conversation about Tom's coordination issues and Max's latest cooking disasters. Y/N settled onto the sofa next to Ed, positioning herself so she could participate in the group conversation while keeping Lando in her peripheral vision—a skill she'd developed over months of trying to understand why he treated her so differently from everyone else.

The evening progressed much like every other gathering over the past fourteen months. Lando was his usual charming self with everyone—teasing Max about his latest streaming failures, asking Tom about his new job, complimenting Pietra on the dinner she'd prepared. He laughed at Ed's terrible jokes, offered thoughtful responses to serious topics, and generally embodied the kind of warm, engaging personality that had made him beloved by millions of fans around the world.

With Y/N, he was unpredictable—but mostly unkind. Most days, he was rude in the way only someone who knew exactly how to hurt could be—sharp, dismissive, and laced with quiet contempt. Other times, depending on his mood, the location, or even the time of day, he’d shift without warning—offering a polite nod, a short answer, or, worst of all, nothing at all. He'd ignore her completely, as though she were invisible. On the rare occasions he was civil, it wasn’t kindness—it was cold, calculated detachment. He answered direct questions with minimal effort, never initiated conversation, and kept a distance so deliberate it stung more than open cruelty. Hostility, at least, would have meant she mattered. This—this inconsistency, this indifference—felt like the slowest form of erasure.

Y/N participated in the group conversations with her usual intelligence and dry wit, making observations that made the others laugh, sharing stories from her work that showcased her sharp analytical mind. She was good at this—had always been good at performing normalcy even when everything inside her was screaming. It was a skill learned in childhood, perfected through years of practice in situations where showing weakness meant inviting more pain.

But tonight felt different somehow. Maybe it was the wine, or maybe it was the accumulation of twelve months of carrying the weight of their cosmic connection while being treated like a barely tolerated acquaintance. Maybe it was the way she'd caught him looking at her when he thought she wasn't paying attention—not with indifference, but with something that looked almost like hunger before he quickly looked away.

Whatever it was, when the conversation inevitably turned to relationships, Y/N felt that familiar coil of tension in her stomach begin to tighten.

"I just don't understand it," Lando was saying, running those long fingers through his curls in a gesture that made Y/N's stomach clench with unwanted longing. She watched the way his forearms flexed as he moved, the subtle play of muscle beneath golden skin, the way his hands—those beautiful, capable hands she'd seen grip steering wheels and sign autographs and gesture animatedly during conversations—moved with unconscious grace.

"Where are all the good girls these days? The ones who actually have their shit together. Someone mature, intelligent, who knows what they want in life."

The words hit Y/N like physical blows, each one more devastating than the last. Something hot and bitter rose in her throat—a mixture of fury and heartbreak that threatened to choke her. Here he was, describing exactly what she was.

Mature. Intelligent. Someone who knows what they want.

She was all of those things—had two degrees, spoke four languages fluently, could analyze market trends and debate European history with the best of them. But sitting here, listening to him describe his perfect woman while looking right through her like she didn’t exist, felt like being slowly skinned alive.

The soulmate mark on her hip burned like acid under her skin, a constant reminder of the cosmic joke that was her existence. Somewhere in the universe's grand design, she was supposed to be his everything. His perfect match, his other half, his completion. Instead, she was his invisible annoyance, his least favorite person in any room.

"I mean, I want something real," Lando continued, his voice gaining that passionate intensity that appeared whenever he talked about something that mattered to him. "Someone who challenges me, who doesn't just want me for fame or the money. A proper relationship, marriage material. Someone I could actually see myself building a life with."

Y/N's fingers tightened on her wine glass until her knuckles went white. Marriage material. Someone who challenges him. The universe had literally designed her to be those things for him, had marked them both before birth as perfect matches, and he was sitting there describing her while simultaneously treating her like she was invisible.

Max snorted from his position next to Pietra, his arm draped casually around his girlfriend's shoulders. "Mate, maybe you're looking in the wrong places."

"That's just it, though," Lando said, leaning forward in his chair, those green eyes filled with frustration. "I don't even know where to look anymore. Everyone seems so superficial, so focused on the lifestyle rather than actually building something meaningful."

Marriage material. Someone who challenges him. Someone mature and intelligent.

The irony was so perfectly cruel, she could barely breathe. The hypocrisy was so staggering it made something snap inside Y/N’s chest. A laugh escaped before she could stop it—bitter, sharp, slicing through the room like broken glass.

The sound made everyone turn to look at her, but she only had eyes for Lando—whose gaze had sharpened with something dangerously close to irritation.

"Something funny?" His tone was already defensive, already hostile. The way it always was when he spoke to her, like her very existence offended him on some fundamental level.

Y/N set her wine glass down on the coffee table with careful precision, her movements controlled despite the storm raging inside her chest. "It's just..." she began. "The hypocrisy is rather amusing, don't you think?"

"Hypocrisy?" Lando's voice was getting colder, more defensive. The atmosphere in the room shifted palpably, the easy warmth of moments before replaced by a tension that made everyone else fall silent.

"You sitting there, complaining about not being able to find a good woman, a mature woman, while you're still..."

"While I'm still what?" Lando interrupted, leaning forward in his chair. His eyes were full of anger now, all pretense of polite indifference abandoned.

"You're sitting here complaining about not being able to find a good girl, a mature woman who knows what she wants," she said, her voice steady as stone. "But how exactly do you expect to attract someone like that when you're still hung up on your ex-girlfriend?"

The temperature in the room seemed to drop ten degrees. Pietra shifted uncomfortably, her usually warm demeanor cooling as she sensed the brewing storm. Tom cleared his throat awkwardly while Ed suddenly found his glass fascinating.

Lando's entire body went rigid, every muscle tensing like a predator preparing to strike. "I'm not hung up on anyone," he said, but there was something too sharp in his voice, too quick in his denial.

"Really?" Y/N's voice was silk over steel, deceptively soft but deadly. "Because your Instagram says otherwise. Your family's Instagram says otherwise. Hell, every tabloid article about you and your little PR puppet says otherwise."

The words hung in the air like a challenge, and Y/N watched Lando's face cycle through several emotions—surprise, anger, and something that might have been shame before it was quickly masked by fury.

"You've been stalking my Instagram?" The accusation came out sharp and ugly, designed to put her on the defensive, to shift the blame, to cast her as the villain in this scenario. It was a tactic she recognized from childhood, from parents who turned every legitimate grievance into proof of her own moral failings.

But Y/N had been fighting battles since she was five years old, and had learned to weaponize words before most children could even tie their shoes. She didn’t flinch, didn’t back down, didn’t give him the satisfaction of seeing her rattled.

"It's called having functional eyesight, Lando. Every time you and Matilde take your pathetic little PR strolls around Monaco—which, by the way, everyone can see right through—the articles always include screenshots. Screenshots of you still following your ex girlfriend, Olivia. Of your mother still commenting heart emojis on her posts. Of your father still liking her pictures from vacations she takes with her new boyfriend."

Each word was delivered with surgical precision, designed to cut deep. Y/N watched Lando’s face flush red, his hands clenching into fists on the armrests of his chair. Those beautiful forearms were tense with barely contained rage, veins standing out against his tanned skin, knuckles turning white from the force of his grip.

Even in anger—even as she systematically destroyed him with words—she couldn’t help but notice how beautiful he was. How the fury made his green eyes even more intense, how the muscle in his jaw jumped as he fought for control.

"How I handle my social media is none of your fucking business," he said, his voice low and dangerous.

"You're absolutely right," Y/N replied, her voice getting quieter, more dangerous. Years of boardroom negotiations had taught her that the softer you spoke, the more powerful your words became. "It's not. But you asked where all the good girls are, and I'm telling you. No self-respecting woman with actual standards is going to want to compete with the ghost of your ex-girlfriend. No one wants to be someone's consolation prize."

The truth of her words hit the room like a bomb. Y/N could see it in the way Tom and Ed exchanged glances, in the way Max shifted uncomfortably, in the way Pietra's face showed a mixture of concern and fascination. But mostly, she could see it in the way Lando's face went completely white before flushing with fury.

"That's complete bullshit," he said, standing now, using his height like a weapon. He loomed over her seated form, and for a moment, that old, instinctive fear flickered in Y/N’s chest—the kind she'd carried since childhood, from people who used their physical presence to silence her. But she’d learned long ago not to flinch, not to hand anyone that kind of power.

"Is it?" she asked, rising to her feet. She only came up to his nose, but her presence was unshakable. She held his gaze, calm and unyielding. "When was the last time you posted about being single? When was the last time you removed the pictures of you and Olivia from your Instagram? When was the last time you asked your family to stop engaging with her posts?"

"I don't—"

"When was the last time you took off that fucking bracelet she gave you?"

The words exploded out of her with more venom than she'd intended, and she saw Lando's hand instinctively move to his wrist, to the metal bangle that had become as much a part of his daily uniform as his watch or his racing gloves. Y/N had watched him wear that bracelet for fourteen months, had felt physically sick every time she saw it catching the light, every time she was forced to confront the visual reminder that he was still carrying pieces of another woman with him everywhere he went.

"You don't know what you're talking about," Lando said, but his voice lacked conviction now. His hand was still touching the bracelet, as if he was suddenly aware of its weight on his wrist.

"Don't I?" Y/N laughed, but there was no humor in the sound. "I know that you wear her jewelry every single day. I know that your family treats her like she's still part of the family even though you broke up three years ago. I know that you claim to want something real while maintaining connections to someone who's moved on with someone else."

"You can deny it all you want," Y/N continued, her small frame vibrating with barely contained fury, every muscle tense with the effort of not screaming. "But actions speak louder than words, don't they? And your actions are screaming that you're still completely hung up on a woman who moved on from you three fucking years ago."

The profanity felt good on her tongue, felt like the only way to adequately express the rage and hurt that had been building inside her for over a year. She saw Lando flinch slightly at her tone, saw something flicker across his face that might have been hurt if she hadn't known better.

"I'm not asking anyone to compete with anything," Lando snapped, taking a step closer to her. "Olivia and I ended on good terms. We're friends. There's nothing wrong with that."

The word 'friends' hit Y/N like a physical blow. She felt that familiar burning in her chest, the rage that had carried her through every dark moment of her life. The rage that had kept her warm through childhood and teenage humiliations and every moment in her adult life when she'd felt small and unwanted and completely disposable.

"Friends," she repeated, tasting the word like poison on her tongue. "Is that what you call still wearing her bracelet?"

"We ended things amicably. There's nothing wrong with staying civil with an ex."

"Civil?" Y/N said, her voice rising. "Civil is not blocking them, fine. Civil is being polite if you run into them. Civil is not maintaining constant social media connections, wearing jewelry they gave you—" her eyes flicked pointedly to his wrist "—and having your mother comment heart emojis on their beach photos!"

The silence that followed was deafening. Max cleared his throat awkwardly, but neither Y/N nor Lando acknowledged him.

"That bracelet—" Lando's voice was low, dangerous, "—is none of your business."

"It is when you're sitting here whining about not finding someone!" Y/N's hands clenched into fists at her sides. "No ‘good woman’ is going to want to wonder if she's just a placeholder until Olivia decides she wants you back."

"You don't know what you're talking about." Each word was precisely enunciated, his accent thickening with anger. "Olivia has a boyfriend. She's moved on."

"Has she? Have you?" Y/N challenged. "Because from where I'm standing, it looks like you're keeping your options open. Still maintaining those connections, just in case. Tell me, Lando, do you deny it?"

The muscle in his jaw jumped. His eyes—those beautiful eyes that haunted her dreams—narrowed into slits. The silence stretched between them, taut as a wire.

"That's what I thought," Y/N said quietly, but the words carried the weight of a shout.

You don't know anything about my relationships," Lando spat. "What makes you such an expert? When's the last time you even had a boyfriend? Hell, have you ever even had a real one? I’ve actually been in relationships—what do you even know about any of this? I bet you’ve never had a real boyfriend in your entire life."

The words hit their mark with devastating precision. Y/N felt her breath catch, felt the familiar shame crawl up her throat like bile. He was right, of course. She'd never been kissed, never been held, never been chosen by anyone. Not even by him, her supposed soulmate, who looked at her like she was absolutely nothing.

The cruelty of it was breathtaking. Here was the man the universe had supposedly designed for her, the person who was meant to love and understand her better than anyone else in the world, and he was using her deepest insecurities as weapons against her.

But she'd learned long ago how to weaponize her pain, how to turn her wounds into ammunition.

"That's completely irrelevant," she said, each word precisely enunciated.  "We're not talking about my romantic history or lack thereof. We're talking about your complete inability to understand why decent women run in the opposite direction when they see you coming."

"My inability?" Lando laughed, but there was no humor in it. The sound was harsh, ugly, designed to cut. "You want to psychoanalyze my relationship with my ex? Fine. Let's talk about how you push everyone away before they can get close. Let's talk about how you've built walls so high that no one can climb them."

Y/N felt her carefully constructed composure beginning to crack. He was getting too close to truths she'd never voiced aloud, cutting too near to wounds that had never properly healed. "You don't know what you're talking about."

"Don't I?" Lando's laugh was harsh, nothing like his usual warm chuckle. "It's obvious to anyone who bothers to look. You're terrified of being vulnerable, so you criticize everyone else who tries. At least I put myself out there. At least I try."

"Try?" Y/N's voice cracked on the word. "You call what you do trying? Messaging models on Instagram isn't trying, Lando. Leaving clubs with a different girl every weekend isn't trying. It's collecting conquests."

The temperature in the room seemed to drop ten degrees. Even their friends, who had been watching the exchange like a tennis match, collectively held their breath.

"Conquests?" Lando's voice was deadly quiet. "Is that what you think of me?"

"Everyone thinks that of you," Y/N said, even as part of her screamed to take it back. "Your reputation precedes you. All those girls who've sold stories about you, all those photos of you leaving parties with different women—"

"You believe tabloid gossip now?"

"Are you denying it? Are you saying you haven't slept with dozens of women? That you didn't spend the first 6 years of your career treating the paddock like your personal dating pool?"

Lando's face had gone pale. His hands were clenched so tightly at his sides that the veins in his forearms stood out in sharp relief. "My past is my past."

"But it's not the past, is it?" Y/N pressed on, unable to stop now that the floodgates had opened. "It's your present too. The parties, the girls, the constant need for attention—"

"Attention?" He stepped even closer, and Y/N had to fight the urge to step back. "You think I do this for attention?"

"Don't you? The PR games with—" Lando cut her off.

"That's rich, coming from someone who's built their entire personality around being bitter and alone."

The words hit like physical blows, each one finding its mark with surgical precision. Y/N felt something inside her chest begin to crumble, felt the careful walls she'd built around her heart start to crack under the assault.

"I'm not bitter," Y/N said, and she could hear her voice beginning to shake despite her best efforts. "I just have standards. And those standards don't include men who are too emotionally weak to let go of the past."

"Weak?" The word came out like a roar. Lando took another step closer, close enough that she could see the flecks of gold in his green eyes, could smell the subtle scent of his cologne mixed with something that was purely him. "You think I'm weak?"

"I think you're a coward," Y/N said without hesitation, the words coming from some deep, dark place inside her that had been fed on years of disappointment and rejection. "You want this perfect woman, this mature, intelligent partner, but you're too fucking scared to actually make yourself available for her. You keep one foot in your past because it's safe. Because if you never fully commit to moving forward, you never risk being hurt again."

The accusation hung between them like a live wire, sparking with dangerous electricity. Y/N could see that her words had found their target, could see the way Lando's face went through a series of expressions—shock, recognition, fury.

"You don't know anything about me," he said, his voice low and dangerous. "You sit there in your fancy apartment in a very prestigious area of London, with your fancy job and your fancy education, and you think you have everyone figured out. But you don't know shit about what I've been through or why I make the choices I make."

"I'm not the one pretending to be something I'm not!" Y/N said. 

"Aren't you?" The words cracked like a whip between them. "At least I'm honest about who I am. I don't pretend to be perfect while judging everyone else."

"I don't—"

"You do!" His voice rose to nearly a shout. "You sit there every fucking time we're together, watching everyone, analyzing everyone, finding everyone wanting. Like you're so much better than the rest of us who actually dare to feel things, to make mistakes, to be human!"

"Being human doesn't mean being reckless with other people's feelings!"

"Whose feelings?" He threw his arms wide. "Whose feelings have I been reckless with? The girls who knew exactly what they were getting into? The ones who wanted the same thing I did—a good time, no strings attached? Or is this about your feelings?"

The question hung between them like a loaded gun. Y/N felt the blood drain from her face.

"My feelings have nothing to do with this," she said, but her voice came out whisper-thin.

"Don't they?" Lando moved even closer, close enough that she could see the way his chest rose and fell with each angry breath. "Because from where I'm standing, it sounds like you're taking this all very personally for someone who claims not to care."

"I don't—"

"You don't what? Don't care? Then why are you so invested in my love life? Why does it matter to you if I still wear a bracelet my ex gave me? Why do you care if I sleep with models or party too much or—"

"I said I don't care! You're the one playing innocent, asking yourself why you can't find someone serious—and I'm answering your stupid question," Y/N replied, her voice steady despite the chaos raging inside her. "From your actions, it looks like you're terrified of real intimacy. It's clear you'd rather play games with PR relationships and keep wearing jewelry from dead relationships than risk actually putting yourself out there for something real."

"And what about you?" Lando's voice was getting uglier now, more vicious. "What's your excuse for being completely fucking miserable all the time? What's your excuse for treating everyone around you like they're beneath you?"

"I don't—"

"You do," Lando interrupted, and Y/N could see that he was hitting his stride now, could see that he'd found his target and was preparing to destroy it. "You walk into every room like you're doing everyone a favor by gracing them with your presence. You act like you're so much smarter, so much more sophisticated than everyone else. But really, you're just terrified that if you let anyone get close enough to see who you really are, they'll realize there's nothing there worth knowing."

Each word was a knife, expertly wielded to cause maximum damage. Y/N felt them slice through her defenses, finding every vulnerable spot she’d tried so hard to protect.

The worst part was that some of it was true—she did keep people at a distance, did shield herself behind walls of competence and sophistication. And now, those walls were starting to crack. She could feel the little girl bleeding through—the one who’d been thrown into hallways, called names, told she was worthless.

But he didn't know why. He didn't know about the childhood that had taught her that love was conditional and dangerous, that vulnerability was punished, that the only safe way to exist was to make yourself indispensable through achievement and control.

"At least I don't parade fake relationships around for publicity," she managed, her voice shaking despite her best efforts to keep it steady.

"Fake relationships?" Lando's laugh was harsh and meant to humiliate. "You mean Matilde? That's work, Y/N. That's business. Something you might understand if you lived in the real world instead of your ivory tower."

"The real world?" Y/N's voice rose, her famous composure finally beginning to crack like ice in a spring thaw. "You think you live in the real world? You live in a fucking bubble where everything is handed to you on a silver platter, where people pay you millions to drive in circles, where you've never had to work for anything meaningful in your entire privileged life."

"I've worked for everything I have," Lando shot back, his face flushed with anger and indignation. "I've been racing since I was a kid. I've sacrificed everything for this career."

"Have you?" Y/N's voice was gaining strength now, feeding off her anger like a fire feeding off oxygen. "Because from where I'm sitting, it looks like you've just had an extended adolescence. You get to play with expensive toys for a living while the rest of us have real jobs, real responsibilities, real fucking problems."

"Real problems?" Lando's voice dripped with disdain, with the casual dismissal that only came from genuine privilege. "Like what? Like sitting in your fancy apartment judging people on the internet? Like working your cute little nine-to-five job that probably pays you less than I make in a single day?"

The classism in his voice, the casual dismissal of her work, of her struggles, of everything she'd built for herself—it was like being slapped across the face with a glove made of contempt. Y/N felt something hot and dangerous surge through her veins, felt every careful lesson in emotional control her childhood had taught her begin to crumble.

"You privileged piece of shit," Y/N whispered, her voice deadly quiet. "You have absolutely no idea what I've been through. No idea what I've had to overcome to get where I am."

"Oh, here we go," Lando said, rolling his eyes with theatrical exaggeration. "The sob story. Poor little Y/N, had to move to London all by herself. Had to get a job like every other adult in the world. Had to actually work for things instead of having them handed to her. How absolutely tragic."

"You don't know anything about my life," Y/N said, and there was something in her voice that should have warned him to stop. Something dark and dangerous and barely contained, like a dam about to burst.

But Lando was too angry to listen, too hurt by her words to care about the warning signs. Too focused on inflicting damage to notice that he was about to cross a line that could never be uncrossed.

"I know enough," he said, his voice getting crueler with every word. "I know you're a miserable person who gets off on making everyone else miserable too. You sit there acting superior to everyone when you're just angry that no one wants you."

The words hung in the air like a toxic cloud. Y/N felt them settle into her bones, into all the spaces where her childhood fears lived. All the spaces that whispered that she was unlovable, unwanted, destined to spend her life alone.

But Lando wasn't done. He was just getting started.

"You act like you're too good for everyone," Lando pressed on. "But really, you're just scared. Scared that if you let someone close enough to see who you really are, they'll realize there's nothing special about you at all."

He kept going, his voice turning uglier, more vicious, like he could sense how much damage he was doing and wanted to twist the knife. "You're cold. You're bitter. You're judgmental. You suck the fucking joy out of every room you walk into."

Each word was a precision strike, aimed at her deepest insecurities with the accuracy of someone who'd been watching her, studying her, learning her weaknesses even as he pretended to despise her.

"You want to know why you've never had a real relationship? It's not because you have standards. It's because you're completely incapable of human connection. You're broken, Y/N. And not in some romantic, fixable way that makes for a good movie. You're just fundamentally, irreparably broken."

The silence that followed was deafening. Y/N stood there, swaying slightly on her feet, feeling like she'd been hit by a freight train. Or maybe like she'd been thrown out into a hallway again, abandoned and alone while neighbours walked past and pretended not to see her.

Her soulmate—the person the universe had chosen to love her unconditionally—had just told her she was fundamentally broken. Had just confirmed every terrible thing she'd ever believed about herself, every fear that haunted her in the darkest hours of the night.

The irony was so cruel it was almost funny. Almost.

"Y/N," Pietra said softly, starting to rise from the sofa, her voice thick with horror at what she'd just witnessed.

But Lando still wasn't done. He was too caught up in his own fury, too intoxicated by the power of words to wound, to stop now.

"You know what the worst part is?" he continued, his voice dripping with contempt. "You actually think you're better than everyone else. You sit there with your fancy education and your perfect grammar and your sophisticated opinions, and you judge all of us like we're beneath you. But at least we're capable of happiness. At least we can connect with other human beings. You're just..." he paused, searching for the most devastating word possible. "You're just pathetic."

Y/N felt something inside her chest shatter completely. Some last, fragile piece of hope that she'd been protecting without even realizing it. The piece that had whispered, maybe someday, maybe if he knew, maybe if he understood...

That piece was dead now, murdered by his words and buried under the weight of his disgust.

The mark on her hip felt like it was burning straight through her skin, a constant reminder of the cosmic joke that was her life. Somewhere in the universe, there was supposed to be someone who loved her perfectly, who understood her completely, who chose her above all others.

Instead, she got Lando Norris. Beautiful, talented, charismatic Lando Norris, who looked at her like she was less than human and spoke to her like she was something that needed to be exterminated.

Y/N looked around the room at her friends—Max and Pietra looking shocked and uncomfortable, Tom and Ed staring with wide eyes, everyone frozen in the aftermath of the emotional explosion that had just torn through their peaceful evening.

"You're right," she said quietly, her voice steady despite the storm raging inside her chest. "I am pathetic. I'm broken and pathetic and completely unlovable. But at least I know it. At least I'm not walking around pretending to be something I'm not, desperate for a love I'm too much of a coward to actually pursue."

She turned to the room, to their friends who had sat in horrified silence through the entire exchange. "I'm sorry," she said simply. "I'll go."

She moved toward the door, her legs somehow still carrying her despite feeling like they were made of lead. Every step was agony, every breath felt like swallowing glass—but she forced herself to keep going.

Y/N was already gathering her purse with hands that shook only slightly. She couldn’t look at any of them again. Couldn’t bring herself to meet Lando’s gaze to see if there was any regret there—any recognition of how far he’d gone. Any humanity left in those green eyes that had once made her dream of impossible things.

She couldn’t stay in this room another second, not while breathing the same air as the man who was supposed to love her unconditionally—who had just eviscerated her with surgical precision.

At the door, she paused one last time, not turning around.

"And Lando?" she said, her hand on the door handle, her voice carrying clearly across the silent room. "When you're lying in bed tonight, still wearing her bracelet, still wondering why you can't find your perfect woman—remember this conversation. Remember that maybe the problem isn't that there aren't any good women out there. Maybe the problem is that you're not good enough for them."

She pulled the door open, then paused again, some masochistic part of her needing to twist the knife one more time.

"You want to know what your real problem is? It's not that you're still hung up on Olivia. It's that you're exactly the kind of man who would rather destroy someone else than admit you might be wrong. You're cruel, Lando. Genuinely cruel. And no amount of money or fame or pretty eyes is going to change that."

Y/N stepped out into the hallway and pulled the door closed behind her, cutting off whatever response Lando might have had. The silence in the corridor was deafening after the emotional intensity of the fight, and she stood there for a moment, trying to process what had just happened.

She'd fought with her soulmate. Had screamed at him, had been cruel to him, had exposed her deepest wounds only to have them used against her. The man the universe had supposedly designed for her had just told her she was fundamentally broken and unlovable, and the worst part was that she was starting to believe he might be right.

The elevator ride down felt like descending into hell. Y/N stared at her reflection in the polished steel doors and saw exactly what Lando had described—a cold, bitter woman who pushed everyone away before they could hurt her. A woman so damaged by her childhood that she couldn't connect with other human beings even when they were literally designed by the universe to be hers.

She thought about the way he'd looked at her during their fight—not with the careful blankness he usually employed, but with genuine disgust. Like she was something repulsive that had crawled out from under a rock. Like her very existence offended him on some fundamental level.

And maybe it did. Maybe that was why he'd been so cruel to her from the moment they met. Maybe on some subconscious level, he could sense the connection between them and rejected it utterly. Rejected her utterly.

The thought made her laugh, but it came out broken and bitter. Of course her soulmate would be the one person in the world who couldn't stand her. Of course the universe would give her someone who confirmed every terrible thing she'd ever believed about herself.

Her parents had told her she was worthless, disposable, a burden they never wanted. The boy in school had told her she was pathetic, laughable, deserving of public humiliation. And now her soulmate had told her she was fundamentally broken, irreparably damaged, incapable of human connection.

Maybe they were all right. Maybe there really was something wrong with her, something that made her unlovable no matter how hard she tried to fix herself, no matter how much she achieved or how much she grew.

When she finally made it to her apartment, she went straight to her bathroom and stared at herself in the mirror. Her face was blotchy and swollen from crying tears she didn't remember shedding, her hair was a mess, her clothes were wrinkled. She looked exactly like what she was: a broken woman who had just been destroyed by the person who was supposed to love her most.

She pulled up her shirt and looked at the mark on her hip—that soulmate mark that was supposed to represent destiny, cosmic connection, perfect love. In the harsh bathroom lighting, it looked like nothing more than a birthmark. A random pattern of pigmentation that meant absolutely nothing.

What a joke. What a cosmic, cruel, devastating joke.

She thought about telling him. About marching up to his hotel or cornering him the next day and showing him the mark. About watching his face as he realized that the universe had played the cruelest possible trick on both of them.

But what would be the point? He'd made his feelings about her perfectly clear. Learning that they were soulmates wouldn't change anything except to add a layer of cosmic irony to their mutual hatred. If anything, it would probably make him treat her even worse, knowing that he was stuck with her for eternity.

No, she decided. She would keep her secret. Would carry it like all her other secrets—quietly, privately, without burdening anyone else with the weight of it.

The tears came again then, great heaving sobs that shook her entire body. She slid down the bathroom wall until she was sitting on the cold tile floor, crying for the fight, for the cruel words, for the look in Lando's eyes when he'd told her she was broken.

But mostly, she cried for the death of a dream she'd barely let herself acknowledge. The tiny, secret hope that maybe, someday, when he learned they were soulmates, everything would change. That he would see her differently, understand her differently, maybe even love her.

That hope was dead now, murdered by his words and buried under the weight of his disgust.

Because even if he ever found out the truth—even if he ever learned that the universe had marked them for each other—nothing would change. He would still see her as broken, as unworthy, as fundamentally unlovable.

And maybe, Y/N thought as she finally cried herself into exhaustion on her bathroom floor, maybe he would be right.

Maybe she really was fundamentally broken. Maybe she really was incapable of human connection. Maybe the universe had made a mistake when it paired them together, had somehow failed to account for the fact that she was too damaged to be anyone's soulmate.

Maybe she was destined to spend the rest of her life loving someone who looked at her like she was absolutely nothing at all.

The mark on her hip burned like a brand, a constant reminder of the cosmic joke that was her existence. Somewhere out there, other people were finding their soulmates, were experiencing the joy and completeness that came with cosmic connection.

But not her. Never her.

She was Y/N, the girl nobody wanted. Not her parents, not her classmates, not the universe itself, it seemed.

And certainly not Lando Norris, no matter what some meaningless mark on her skin might suggest.

Y/N stood in her bathroom for what felt like hours, staring at her reflection in the unforgiving fluorescent light. Her face was a roadmap of devastation—red-rimmed eyes that looked like she'd been crying for days instead of hours, blotchy skin that bore the evidence of every tear she'd shed, hair that hung limp and disheveled around her shoulders. She looked like a woman who had been systematically destroyed, and maybe that's exactly what she was.

The shower called to her like a sanctuary, promising the illusion of washing away the evening's horrors. She turned the water as hot as she could stand it, watching the steam begin to fog the mirror until her reflection mercifully disappeared. The pragmatism that had carried her through childhood trauma whispered that she should eat something, should drink water, should take care of the basic needs that would help her body process the alcohol and stress. But she couldn't bring herself to care about any of that.

Food felt impossible when her stomach was twisted into knots of anguish. Water felt pointless when she was drowning in an ocean of her own tears. Self-care felt like a mockery when the person she was supposed to care for had just been declared fundamentally unworthy of love by the one person whose opinion mattered most.

She stripped off her clothes mechanically, each piece of fabric feeling heavy with the weight of the evening's memories. 

When she finally stepped under the scalding spray, the tears came again with renewed force. The hot water mixed with her sobs, washing away the salt tracks on her cheeks only for them to be immediately replaced by fresh ones. She braced her hands against the shower wall and let herself break completely, let herself feel the full weight of what Lando had done to her.

The worst part wasn't even the specific words he'd used, though each one had been chosen with surgical precision to cause maximum damage. The worst part was the look in his eyes when he'd said them—the complete and utter conviction that every cruel assessment was justified, that she deserved every verbal blow he'd delivered.

You're fundamentally, irreparably broken.

The words echoed in her mind like a death sentence, made worse by the fact that they'd come from someone whose DNA was literally designed to complement hers. If her soulmate could look at her and see nothing but damage, nothing but a pathetic woman who sucked the joy out of every room she entered, then what hope did she have with anyone else?

Y/N slid down the shower wall until she was sitting on the tile floor, hot water cascading over her hunched form as she wrapped her arms around her knees and sobbed. This was worse than anything her parents had ever done to her. Their cruelty had been born of their own trauma, their own inability to process emotions in healthy ways. They'd hurt her because they didn't know better, because they were products of their own damaged childhoods.

But Lando—Lando had hurt her with full awareness of what he was doing. She'd seen the moment when he'd realized how much damage his words were causing, had watched his eyes sharpen with something that looked almost like satisfaction as he'd found each new vulnerability to exploit. He'd taken her deepest insecurities, the fears she'd spent years trying to overcome, and had weaponized them against her with the skill of someone who understood exactly how to destroy another person.

Her parents had broken her accidentally. Lando had broken her on purpose.

The water began to run cold, but Y/N couldn't summon the energy to move. She sat there on the shower floor, shivering as the temperature dropped, feeling like the cold was appropriate somehow. Like her body was finally matching the frozen wasteland that her heart had become.

When she finally forced herself to stand and turn off the water, her legs felt like they belonged to someone else. Everything felt disconnected, like she was watching herself go through the motions of drying off and putting on pajamas from somewhere outside her own body. The dissociation was familiar—a defense mechanism that had carried her through the worst moments of her childhood, when the only way to survive was to mentally remove herself from the situation until it was over.

But this situation would never be over. She would have to carry the knowledge of what Lando really thought of her for the rest of her life, would have to see him at future gatherings and pretend that his words hadn't carved out pieces of her soul and left them bleeding on Max and Pietra's living room floor.

Y/N crawled into her bed without bothering to turn on any lights, pulling the covers up to her chin like a child seeking comfort from monsters that couldn't be defeated by hiding. The Egyptian cotton sheets that usually felt luxurious against her skin now felt rough and foreign, as if even her own bed was rejecting her presence.

The tears started again almost immediately, and this time they came with a violence that scared her. These weren't the controlled tears she'd shed in the shower, or even the angry tears that had punctuated their fight. These were the kind of tears that came from the deepest part of her psyche, from the wounded child who had never been properly comforted, who had learned to cry silently so as not to invite more punishment.

She pressed her face into her pillow to muffle the sounds that were escaping from her throat—sounds that didn't seem human, that sounded like an animal caught in a trap. The pillow quickly became soaked with tears and snot, but she didn't care. Nothing mattered anymore except the overwhelming need to release the pain that was threatening to consume her from the inside out.

You're just pathetic.

The words played on repeat in her mind, accompanied by the image of Lando's face as he'd delivered them. She'd seen disgust there, contempt, a kind of clinical detachment as he'd dissected her personality and found it wanting. No anger, which might have suggested passion of some kind. Just cold, calculated destruction delivered with the precision of a surgeon removing a tumor.

Y/N clutched her phone, considering calling Sophie, a good friend from work, or maybe her parents, or anyone who might be able to offer some comfort in this moment of complete devastation. But every time she started to dial, she stopped herself. What could she possibly say? That she'd had a fight with Lando and he'd said mean things to her? It sounded so trivial when reduced to simple terms, so childish and overdramatic.

She couldn't explain that he was her soulmate without revealing a secret she'd guarded for twelve months. Couldn't explain why his words carried more weight than anyone else's without admitting to the cosmic connection that made his rejection so much more devastating than ordinary cruelty.

And even if she could explain, what would be the point? Sophie would probably try to smooth things over, would suggest that Lando hadn't meant what he'd said, that he'd been drunk or angry or simply lashing out without thinking. But Y/N had seen his face. Had heard the conviction in his voice. He'd meant every word, had probably been thinking those things about her for fourteen months and had finally found an excuse to voice them.

The hunger clawed at her stomach, a sharp reminder that she'd only had wine at dinner, that her body was running on nothing but alcohol and adrenaline and heartbreak. But the thought of food made her feel sick. How could she nourish a body that housed a soul so fundamentally flawed that even the universe's perfect design couldn't make it lovable?

She rolled onto her side and stared out the floor-to-ceiling windows that offered a spectacular view of London's skyline. The city glittered below her like a constellation of possibilities, millions of people living their lives, falling in love, being chosen, being wanted. And here she was, 54 floors above it all, completely alone with the knowledge that she was the exception to every rule about love and connection and human worth.

Somewhere out there, Lando was probably going to sleep without a care in the world, completely unaware that he'd just destroyed the person who was literally made for him.

Maybe he was right to be disgusted by her. Maybe the universe had made a mistake, had somehow paired her with someone so far out of her league that his natural instinct was to reject her entirely. Maybe she was supposed to be grateful that he'd never shown any romantic interest, that he'd saved them both from the cosmic embarrassment of a fundamentally mismatched pairing.

You suck the fucking joy out of every room you walk into.

The accusation felt particularly cruel because it contained just enough truth to burrow deep into her psyche and take root. She did guard herself carefully in social situations, did hold herself apart from the easy camaraderie that seemed to come so naturally to everyone else. But that was survival, not malice. That was the result of a childhood that had taught her that letting people see your real emotions was a guarantee that those emotions would be used against you.

Y/N pulled her knees to her chest and rocked slightly, a self-soothing motion she'd developed as a child when the fights between her parents got too loud, when the threats became too real, when the only comfort available was the comfort she could provide herself. The motion was automatic now, muscle memory that activated during times of extreme distress.

She thought about her therapist's words, about being the product of emotional unpredictability and conditional love, about how her nervous system had adapted to survive chaos by becoming hyper-independent and emotionally constipated. Her therapist would probably say that Lando's attack had triggered every abandonment wound she'd ever carried, and had activated the deepest core belief that she was fundamentally unworthy of love.

But knowing the psychological mechanisms didn't make the pain any less real. Understanding why she was broken didn't make her any less broken. And it certainly didn't change the fact that the person who was supposed to see past all her defenses, who was supposed to love her despite her flaws, had instead chosen to use those flaws as weapons against her.

The hours crawled by with agonizing slowness. Y/N watched the digital clock on her nightstand tick from 11:47 PM to midnight to 1:00 AM, each minute feeling like an eternity of pain that had to be endured. She tried closing her eyes, tried willing herself into unconsciousness, but every time she started to drift off, Lando's voice would echo in her mind with fresh cruelty.

You're completely incapable of human connection.

The words felt like a prophecy, a future written in stone. If she couldn't connect with her soulmate, if the person literally designed by the universe to complement her found her so repulsive that he felt compelled to destroy her, then what hope did she have of ever finding love or acceptance or even basic human warmth?

Around 2:00 AM, she gave up pretending to try to sleep and turned on her phone, scrolling mindlessly through social media feeds full of people living their apparently perfect lives. Happy couples posting anniversary photos, friends celebrating promotions, families gathered around dinner tables with genuine smiles. The images felt like they were from another planet, a world where people were capable of the kind of joy and connection that seemed permanently out of her reach.

She almost opened Instagram to look at Lando's profile, some masochistic part of her wanting to torture herself with images of him looking happy and carefree, probably already having forgotten about their fight entirely. But she stopped herself just in time, knowing that seeing his face would only make everything worse.

Instead, she found herself googling articles about soulmate connections, searching for some explanation of how the universe could have gotten things so wrong. The articles were full of romantic nonsense about instant recognition and unbreakable bonds, about soulmates who found each other across crowded rooms and knew immediately that they were meant to be together.

None of them mentioned what happened when your soulmate looked at you with disgust. None of them offered guidance for what to do when the person who was supposed to complete you spent over a year treating you like an unwelcome stranger. None of them acknowledged that sometimes the universe's grand design was nothing more than a cosmic practical joke played on people who were already damaged beyond repair.

Y/N threw her phone across the room, not caring when it hit the wall with a sharp crack that probably indicated a broken screen. The sound was satisfying somehow, a physical manifestation of the internal destruction she was experiencing. At least now her phone matched the rest of her life—broken and probably beyond repair.

The tears came in waves throughout the night, sometimes subsiding to a trickle that allowed her to catch her breath, sometimes returning with such force that she had to bury her face in her pillow to avoid disturbing her neighbors. Her throat became raw from crying, her eyes swollen to the point where she could barely see, her chest tight with the effort of breathing around the constant sobs.

She'd cried before—had cried when her parents threw her out of the house, had cried when that boy in school humiliated her, had cried during those first terrifying weeks in London when everything felt foreign and hostile. But this was different. This was the kind of crying that came from complete hopelessness, from the realization that the one person who was supposed to love her unconditionally had instead chosen to confirm every terrible thing she'd ever believed about herself.

Around 3:00 AM, she found herself thinking about her grandmother from her father's side, the woman who had tried so hard to break up her parents' marriage. Maybe the old woman had been right all along. Maybe Y/N's mother wasn't worthy of the family name, and maybe Y/N had inherited that unworthiness, had carried it in her DNA like a genetic curse that made her fundamentally unlovable.

The thought sent her into a fresh spiral of anguish, because even her parents—damaged and cruel as they had been—had at least loved each other enough to fight for their relationship. Her father had been willing to threaten his own mother to protect his marriage, had chosen his wife over his family of origin when forced to make that decision.

But Y/N had never inspired that kind of devotion in anyone. Had never been worth fighting for, never been worth choosing, never been worth protecting. Even her soulmate, who should have been programmed by the universe to cherish and defend her, had instead chosen to tear her apart at the first opportunity.

Y/N made a decision in that moment, lying in her bed at 3:17 AM with tears streaming down her face and her heart breaking in ways she didn't know were possible. She would never tell him. Would never give him the opportunity to reject her knowing what she really was to him. Would never put herself through the devastation of watching him realize that even the universe's perfect design couldn't make her lovable.

She would carry this secret to her grave, would love him from afar with the knowledge that it would never be returned, would never be acknowledged, would never be anything more than a source of endless pain.

Because that's what broken people did. They protected others from their damage, even when it destroyed them in the process.

Even when it meant spending eternity loving someone who thought they were fundamentally unworthy of love.

Even when it meant accepting that maybe, just maybe, everyone who had ever told her she was worthless had been right all along.

The decision brought no peace, only a cold kind of resignation that settled into her bones like winter frost. She would continue to attend gatherings where he was present, would continue to pretend that his presence didn't affect her, and would continue to guard the secret that was slowly killing her from the inside out.

By 4:00 AM, her body had begun to rebel against the sustained emotional assault. Her hands were shaking uncontrollably, her breathing had become shallow and rapid, and her heart was racing like she'd just run a marathon. The physical symptoms only added to her distress, creating a feedback loop where her body's stress response made her more anxious, which in turn made her body react more severely.

She tried the breathing exercises her therapist had taught her, tried to ground herself by focusing on physical sensations like the texture of her sheets and the temperature of the air against her skin. But nothing worked. The panic was too strong, the emotional pain too overwhelming for any coping mechanism to penetrate.

As the sky began to lighten with the first hints of dawn, Y/N realized that she hadn't stopped crying for a single moment in the past seven hours. Her body was dehydrated, her head was pounding, and her chest felt like someone was sitting on it. But still the tears came, as if her body was trying to expel the poison of Lando's words through her eyes.

The hunger had evolved from a dull ache to sharp, stabbing pains that made her curl into an even tighter ball. But the thought of food still made her nauseous. Her body was running on pure emotional adrenaline, sustained by nothing but grief and the wine that was probably still circulating through her system.

Around 5:30 AM, she heard her neighbors beginning to stir—the sound of footsteps in the hallway, the distant hum of morning news programs, the everyday sounds of people starting their normal days. The normalcy of it all felt surreal, like she was watching life happen from behind glass, separate and excluded from the simple pleasure of routine human existence.

Y/N tried one more time to force herself to sleep, pulling her duvet over her head and squeezing her eyes shut. But behind her closed lids, all she could see was Lando's face as he'd delivered his final judgment, the clinical detachment with which he'd dissected her personality and found it lacking.

You're just fundamentally, irreparably broken.

The words had taken on a life of their own, echoing through her mind with the persistence of a song stuck on repeat. They felt true in a way that made her stomach clench with despair, true in a way that made every breath feel like an act of defiance against the obvious fact that she shouldn't exist, shouldn't take up space in a world where she clearly didn't belong.

By 6:00 AM, something in her body had reached its breaking point. The sustained emotional trauma, combined with the lack of sleep, lack of food, and lingering alcohol in her system, had created a perfect storm of physical distress. Her heart was racing so fast she could hear it pounding in her ears, drowning out all other sounds. Her breathing had become so shallow and rapid that she was starting to feel lightheaded.

And then, suddenly, she couldn't breathe at all.

The panic attack hit her like a freight train, sudden and overwhelming in its intensity. Her chest seized up completely, as if someone had wrapped steel bands around her ribs and was tightening them with each passing second. Her heart rate spiked even higher, so fast that she was convinced it would burst from the strain. Her hands went numb, her vision started to blur, and her entire body was consumed with the absolute certainty that she was dying.

This was it. This was how it would end. Alone in her expensive apartment, destroyed by the cruelest words her soulmate could devise, dying of a heart attack at twenty-seven because her body had finally given up under the weight of a lifetime of emotional trauma.

With the last rational thought she could manage, Y/N grabbed her cracked phone from where she'd thrown it against the wall and dialed 999 with trembling fingers that barely obeyed her commands.

"Emergency services, what's your emergency?"

"I think... I think I'm having a heart attack," she gasped into the phone, her voice barely recognizable even to herself. "I can't breathe... my heart is racing... I think I'm dying."

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[bluewxrld07]

Sinners

Lando Norris X Actress!Reader

Summary: Y/N and Lando have been dating for almost two years. When Lando decides he finally wants to come watch his girl perform on set, he doesn't realize that the shoot day he came to watch would include some explicit scenes. Some that made him question just how kinky he thought he was.

Warning(s): smuttttt, choking, spitting, role-play if you squint, fem!dom, sub!lando, dirty talk

"Fuck."

Y/N had whipped her head around at the sudden voice behind her, trying her best to not ruin the makeup artist's job on her current look.

Lando had walked into the makeup and hair trailer, looking her up and down through the mirror with a knowing smirk. She chuckles at his reaction before turning back and letting the artist finish their work.

"You like?"

Lando walks forward to stand behind her and put his hands on her shoulders, squeezing them lightly as they locked eyes in the mirror.

"You look so good. When you said this would take place back in the older days, I was honestly expecting like the Renaissance times or something. The 1930s looks amazing on you."

Y/N laughs more, Lando bending down to press a kiss to her head, careful to not get in the way of the makeup artist as she finishes the final touchups on Y/N's look.

Once she had been finished up, she stands from her spot and slips out of her slippers and into the heels she would be wearing for the upcoming scenes.

When Lando had asked her if he could come and watch her on set, she was a little taken aback. She knew he had been busy with racing and whatnot, so when he had said he wanted to squeeze in a free weekend to not only see his girlfriend, but to also watch her in her element, she was both shocked and excited.

"You're always watching me in my element, it's only fair if I do the same," Is what he had told her over FaceTime, Y/N happily agreeing and letting him know she would clear him access the following weekend.

She was both excited and nervous for him to watch her in action, as he had only ever seen her work on screen after each project was finished. He had never fully seen her work behind the scenes.

Not that he hadn't wanted to, it was just never able to be lined up with their schedules for him to join her. Now that he was able to, she would of course never say no.

She just hoped he would be ready to see what he would be seeing today.

When she realized what today's filming would entail, she nearly toppled over. Lando had told her when he arrived that no matter what was going on, he wanted to be surprised. He didn't want any hints, he just wanted to see her in action.

As they walked out onto the set with the abandoned warehouse, Lando held her hand as they walked next to one another and created small talk.

"You sure you don't want to know?" she asks him with a small grin on her face. He shook his head.

"Nope. I want to stay surprised. That'll defeat the purpose of expecting the unexpected."

She hums with a small giggle. "Although I will admit, I'm a little intimidated by Michael B Jordan. Max wasn't kidding when he said he's a lot better looking in person," Lando jokes, causing her to roll her eyes playfully.

"I'm pretty sure he even has a crush on himself. You should see how he acts when he thinks nobody is around."

Lando cackles at that, making her smile up at him. "But I will assure you, I'm very much obsessed with a certain British racer that races cars for McLaren," she giggles, Lando humming and pressing a few kisses to her cheek.

"Damn straight, baby," he says against her skin, before she hears her name being called. Her gaze turns back to Lando, placing a kiss on his lips.

"Just remember how much I love you, yeah?" she says softly, making him frown with a pointed look.

"Always," he chuckles. "Now I'm really intrigued."

She gives him a knowing smirk before turning on her heel and heading towards the middle of the set in front of the cameras.

The Director breaks down where they would be taking off from, stating it was just after Y/N's character had been attacked outside. Once they had called action, Y/N immediately turned into character and started advancing towards the warehouse.

She nods at Cornbread. "Cornbread," she says sweetly as she gets up to the entrance. He looks around confusingly.

"Mary, what you doing out here?"

She eyes him up and down. "You gonna let me in? Or just sit there blocking the door?"

He steps back and shakes his head. "No," he pushes his chair back. "Come on in."

She smirks at him before walking inside the building, cameras following her as she makes her way to the dancefloor.

Lando watches on the screens behind the set, the director letting him stand behind his chair as they watch intensely while Y/N acts her part out.

Lando becomes more and more intrigued as he watches her in action, his thoughts going haywire as he watches her snap into and out of her character like a reflex. The way she held it with such confidence, or how her character, Mary, become so infatuating.

He freezes only slightly as he watches her lock lips with Michael's character, pulling him in by his suit vest with biting her lip after breaking apart.

It wasn't that it bugged him, it was more so making him feel a certain way, seeing her act so confident and sexy in his eyes.

"So you can rob trains, and banks," she mutters in a sexy and raspy voice. "But you can't steal this pussy for a night?"

Lando froze as he heard those words leave her mouth. The way she looked up at her co-star, with such hunger and fury in her eyes. Even though it was just acting, it looked so real.

He wasn't even mad; he was more short-circuiting from hearing those filthy words leave her mouth. It was never something he had heard her say.

She always talked somewhat politely during sex with Lando, always saying how she was his, and so forth.

This was a whole new level he was seeing. He wasn't complaining one bit.

Lando bit his lip as he watched her seductively pull Michael out of the crowd and towards a broom closet and shut the door. Lando's eyes never blinked as he watched his girl push her co-star up against the wall and passionately make out with him, not missing the way her teeth bit his lips every so often.

He especially didn't miss the way she had licked a stripe up Michael's neck before biting his earlobe, and letting out a seductive, breathless moan in his ear.

He watched as it became steamier and steamier, his body getting hot itself. That's when he realized that he wasn't jealous or intimidated in that moment.

He was turned on.

The way she moved and did it with such ease and confidence radiating off of her body, it made him want to be in Michael's shoes.

Be the one getting dominated in a way that he was watching.

Lando had to bite his lip to keep a groan from escaping, crossing his arms as he watched the scene unfold. He thought he was holding himself a lot better than he was thinking.

That was until the very next scene began to unfold.

She had pushed him onto the ground, standing over him before sitting herself in his lap, feverishly untying and unbuttoning his shirt.

"Baby," Michael says softly with a frown. "You're drooling."

Y/N wipes it away slowly, a soft and smug grin coming onto her face. "You want some?"

Lando watches as they lie back on the floor, Y/N hovering over Michael as she puckers her lips, letting a wad of her saliva slowly leave her mouth and drop into his. Lando had to physically hold himself up on his feet and prevent his eyes from rolling back as the pair kissed once more, the British man feeling the sudden need to adjust his pants.

He couldn't do that with everyone around him watching. Especially as he watched her fake bounce on her coworker like she was riding him, Lando rubbing his jaw and face as he chewed on his bottom lip.

He was more than hot and bothered in that moment. He was feeling every single thing in that moment.

Lando had never thought their sex was bad; everything about it he loved. They had been together for almost two years at that point, Lando not wanting to push her and vice versa.

Now, now he didn't think he could stop himself from wanting to experience this.

He was usually always the one who dominated in the bedroom, sometimes letting her ride him when she asked, but now he wanted to see if this was something she had thought about.

About being the one to dominate him for a night. To be honest, he would let her do it every night if this was what he would get.

Lando had remained still in his spot as the scene rolled out, not moving a single muscle unless need be, scared of becoming any more bricked up than he already was.

When the scene had ended, the crew had gotten together and said they would wrap up for the night, Y/N happily making her way over towards Lando.

When she got to him, she slowed down as her proud smile faded slowly.

His pupils were blown out from what she could see under the hat he wore, he was biting his lip, and a hand was running repeatedly through his hair.

"You okay, baby?" she asked him softly, watching him nod a tad too quickly after her words. "You sure?"

"Can we head back to your trailer?" he asks her quietly, making her frown and nod.

"Yeah, let's go."

The walk back was quiet, Y/N taking his hand into hers, not missing the way his hand was squeezing hers every so often. She waited until they got back to hers, locking her door behind them as he went and sat down on the edge of her bed.

"Baby, what's going on?" she asked slowly, crossing her arms. His jaw clenched and unclenched as his hands gripped the edge of the bed, knuckles white.

That's when she let out a small gasp. "Was it that scene? Did it make you uncomfortable? I'm sorry, I was trying to tell you-"

"No."

"No what?"

He bit his lip. "No, it didn't make me uncomfortable."

She frowns. "Then what-" That's when it hit her. His shallow breathing, the bouncing of his knees, and the now visible hard-on in his pants.

She knew this state all too well. That's when she let a smug smirk come onto her face.

"Oh," she says softly, crossing her arms. She walked towards him until she was standing between his legs. He kept his eyes down on his lap.

"I see," she mutters. "It didn't make you uncomfy, it turned you on."

Lando's breath hitches.

That's when she takes her hand and uses her fingers to softly wrap her hand around his throat, and softly tilts him to look up at her. "Am I right?" she asks, using the same seductive voice she had used earlier that evening.

His eyes look into hers, his pupils dilating as he locks eyes with hers.

"Fuck yes it did, baby," he breathes out, nodding slowly as his hands trail up her thighs to her hips. "Seeing you like that had me all sorts of hot and bothered."

She chuckles lightly as she looks down at him, feeling the heat pool between her legs at his words.

"Yeah? You like seeing me like that? All dominant? Taking over, and taking what I want?"

He moans and nods, caressing the sides of her thighs with his fingers. She lets her other hand trail from his shoulder to remove the hat from his hair, and runs her fingers through it. She began letting her nails scratch it in a way she knew always drove him crazy.

"Tell me what you liked," she breathes out, watching his breathing become rapid.

He hums, a small smirk on his face. "I like the way you took over like it was an instinct," he breathes out, watching her let out a breathless moan as his hands roam her body. "How filthy those words sounded leaving your lips."

"Yeah? You want to steal my pussy for a night?" she rasps out, watching Lando let out a dark chuckle.

"Oh, my love," he says. "I wanna steal it forever. For the rest of eternity."

Y/N bites her lip to stop a smile from coming onto her lips. "What else, baby?" she asks, slowly placing herself into his lap, his hands slithering underneath her dress and towards her ass out of reflex.

"I like how you spat in his mouth," he moans lowly, letting his lips trail along her collarbones and neck as she tilted her head back.

"Yeah? My boy likes the idea of me spitting in his mouth? Claiming him in that way?"

"Only if my girl lets me do the same to her," he huffs out in breathless moans as he makes her hips drag across his own. She moans lowly and nods against his lips.

"Fuck, yes. Always," she moans into his ear. "I'll let you spit in my mouth. Spit all over my pussy, too. It's yours, baby."

"Fuck," he trails off and croaks out, soon remembering how he wanted to feel her tongue on his skin. "I like how you bit his ear. Claimed his neck with your tongue. Fuck, I wanna feel you everywhere."

Y/N uses her hands to trail down to his own, pushing them off of her and standing from his lap, making him let out a strangled moan at the lack of touch he was getting.

She looms over him, tilting his head back with both of her hands on the crook between his jaw and neck.

"You have me, honey," she moans breathlessly. "Now open your mouth."

Lando doesn't hesitate, opening it wide and sticking his tongue out as his eyes never leave her own. They held such passion and fire in them.

Y/N lets a trail of her saliva leave her lips and trail onto his tongue, watching it slide down his tongue before he swallows it and bites his lip. She lets out a curse as she watches it happen, not wasting another second to help him strip off his sweatshirt, leaving him shirtless.

She pushes his chest to make him fall back on her bed, Lando hungrily watching her climb on top of him.

Y/N still had the fangs in her mouth, the dress still on, soon going to unzip the back of it, only for Lando to stop her. "It stays on."

"Fangs too?"

"Fuck yes, you look so fucking hot like this."

She smirks down at him before placing her lips onto his for the first time that night, Lando immediately taking her hips into his hands and helping her grind against him.

Things began to heat up fast, moans slipping out between breathless sighs and curses.

Her hands trail from his neck to his jeans, unbuckling his belt and helping him push them down as far as they could. Y/N slips off her underwear in the process, before looking down at him and grabbing his cock in her hands.

"You ready?" she asks him, Lando nodding.

"Take what you want, baby."

With that, she slides herself down onto him, both collectively moaning at the contact when she feels him bottom out.

Lando's hands find their way up from her hips to her neck, pulling her down onto him as she begins to bounce up and down on him. She started off slowly, only to speed up the process as their moans increased.

Y/N's head goes to the side of his neck, her tongue licking a stripe up Lando's neck slowly. She feels the vibrations of his loud moan as she lets her teeth bite down on his ear, one of his hands tightening on her throat just slightly. It made her body feel like she was on fire.

"That's it, baby? Getting all turned on watching me do my job?" she teases in his ear breathlessly.

"So fucking good."

"Gonna have to come watch me more, yeah? Did it turn you on watching me fuck another man on screen? Take dominance like that?" she moans out, Lando groaning as he nods.

She sits up from his neck as she continues to grind against him, clenching herself around him every so often to make him short-circuit.

"I need to hear you, baby."

He moans. "Fuck, yeah it did. Yeah I did. Looked so good. So sexy. Wanted it to be me."

"Well just think," she says before moaning out a curse. "You'll always be the one I come home to. Who gets to experience the real thing. Try new things, and let me take what I need."

"Shit, love, yes. Take whatever you need. Whatever the fuck you need, take it," he trails off in moans, watching her throw her head back as she speeds up, his eyes fall down to where they're connected, one hand gripping her hip while the other grabs her throat again.

He pulls her down and makes her look at him. Before she knew it, he flipped them over, keeping the quicker pace as he pounded into her. His eyes looked down at her as he squeezed her throat lightly.

"Open, baby."

Y/N moans as she opens her mouth, Lando biting his lip as his eyes roll back when he sees her fangs being shown in the light.

He lets his own saliva fall onto her tongue, not wasting a second to shove his tongue into her mouth and kiss her sloppily. He could feel her clenching around him as he sped up the pace, her moans becoming louder.

A sign she was close, and he was right there with her.

"You gonna come baby?" she asks, and he nods against her lips.

"Gonna tell me when I can let go, yeah?" he asks.

"Fuck," she moans, feeling the knot in her stomach ready to burst. "Almost there."

Lando keeps his pace, his hand wrapped around her throat as he feels her hips match with his own once more.

"Lan, I'm-"

Before he knows it, she's reaching her high, her body shaking as her head falls back against the mattress. "Let go baby, fuck let it all go for me," she moans out, feeling Lando's strokes become sloppy, moans leaving his lips in short croaks.

He collapses onto her chest, the pair both feeling like they had hit a subspace, breathless and speechless.

Neither didn't think they had come any harder than in that moment.

Her hands find his hair as his own caress and rub up and down her sides, the pair sitting in a comfortable silence.

"Remind me to have you come onto set more often," she jokes, earning a chuckle from him as well.

"Remind me to take a month off to come onto set," he shoots back, feeling her chest vibrate.

"We definitely will be adding this to our list of kinks, yeah?" she asks.

"I honestly think we'd be crazy not to."

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A/N: soooo..... that happened lol. What do we think?

*I do not own any of the plot for Sinners*

Permanent taglist : (Please message me if you'd like to be removed!!!)

@nickie-amore , @tylerstacobell , @piceous21 , @ariesandwolves , @lifeonawhim , @formulawhore , @asterooidsblog , @staple-your-mouth , @sinfully-yoursss , @smileyshaven , @midnightsaugust , @astrlape , @relijanka , @jooooooooo-cycycy16 , @cherryhazee , @nina481 , @lighttsoutlewis , @suns3treading , @areej003 , @dramallama9 , @putherup , @green--beanie , @footyball , @callsign-mirage , @kearasaltynalapepper , @idkwahr , @teti-menchon0604 , @footyball , @avengersgirllorianna , @4norrislove , @boocmarks , @evilive , @gulphulp , @hopeless--romamtic , @f1fantasys , @ccupidbow , @ini3103 , @vinylphwoar , @ernegren , @mel164 , @lemon-stvrrr , @behindmygreyeyes , @sillyfreakfanparty , @flowersandalll , @paankhaleyaaar , @ushygushybaby , @lifeonawhim , @themasqueradereveler13 , @vdkah8ter , @p1astrizz , @rickybobbydan , @sparklepiastri , @hockeygirlyyyy

[bluewxrld07]

Hi Friends!!

SOOOOO I've been busy hehe. Mainly with editing, writing, and of course, life! Below is not only a poll of which fic to release first, but I've also included a little summary of each fic to vote for!

Have fun, and I will see you VERY soon, friends! I love you all!

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Save a Horse, Ride a Cowboy!

Summary: Y/N was born and raised in Oklahoma, but ended up making her way very far from home and working for none other than Formula 1. She has gotten to work alongside one of her best friends, Lando Norris, whom has never gotten to see what a weekend in her life was like. Until one Quadrant video idea comes up from Max and Lando, in which Y/N assures them they're in for quite a rodeo. Lando especially when he learns a certain cowboy rule.

Sinners

Summary: Y/N and Lando have been dating for almost two years. When Lando decides he finally wants to come watch his girl perform on set, he doesn't realize that the shoot day he came to watch would include some explicit scenes. Some that made him question just how kinky he thought he was.

Ooh Ooh Baby

Summary: Y/N Fewtrell is Max's twin sister. She has grown up in the go-karting realm because of her brother, not only becoming close with Lando Norris, but also becoming part of the inseparable duo between her brother and Lando. One day, she gets an amazing job offer that sends her across the world for a year, only for her to come back and not look so platonic and acne-faced anymore. At least that's what Lando notices.

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Permanent taglist : (Please message me if you'd like to be removed!!!)

@nickie-amore , @tylerstacobell , @piceous21 , @ariesandwolves , @lifeonawhim , @formulawhore , @asterooidsblog , @staple-your-mouth , @sinfully-yoursss , @smileyshaven , @midnightsaugust , @astrlape , @relijanka , @jooooooooo-cycycy16 , @cherryhazee , @nina481 , @lighttsoutlewis , @suns3treading , @areej003 , @dramallama9 , @putherup , @green--beanie , @footyball , @callsign-mirage , @kearasaltynalapepper , @idkwahr , @teti-menchon0604 , @footyball , @avengersgirllorianna , @4norrislove , @boocmarks , @evilive , @gulphulp , @hopeless--romamtic , @f1fantasys , @ccupidbow , @ini3103 , @vinylphwoar , @ernegren , @mel164 , @lemon-stvrrr , @behindmygreyeyes , @sillyfreakfanparty , @flowersandalll , @paankhaleyaaar , @ushygushybaby , @lifeonawhim , @themasqueradereveler13 , @vdkah8ter , @p1astrizz , @rickybobbydan , @sparklepiastri

[bluewxrld07]

Soap (Alternate Ending)

Lando Norris X F!Reader

Summary: Y/N has always loved hard and shows that through affection. Especially lately. She's a touch-starved kind of lovergirl, and Lando has always been okay with it. At least she thought so.

Warning(s): tension, flangst, fluff

A/N: TAGLIST IS FULL!!!! I won't be able to tag anymore of you on it, I'm sorry, loves!! ALSO HOLY MOLY WE HIT 1,000 FRIENDS???! YOU GUYS ARE AMAZING WTF!! I love how much you guys are loving this fic and my writing, it truly means the world!! Enjoy this for now, friends :)

Lando hadn't slept.

He hadn't been able to think straight.

People noticed at the premiere that he had only been there physically, but not anywhere near emotionally or mentally.

Critics kept saying it was because of the loss he took, or that maybe McLaren was trying to replace him with Oscar. Replace what Lando had built from the ground up.

The truth was, it was never that. It was the words he said to Y/N. It was the way her facial expression changed and broke as he spat absolute nonsense at her.

Everything he said was out of anger and frustration. He couldn't get his words out of his head. He couldn't get her out of his head.

It didn't help that his encounter with Max had haunted him. The way he had this fire in his eyes, he's rarely seen. Something he has rarely even seen on the track.

His emotions got the best of him that night, and they continued to get the best of him. When it came to the after-party post the F1 movie premiere, he couldn't stop thinking about Lewis' words.

It didn't stop him from messaging Max that night of the premiere, asking if it were true.

You have a lot of fuckin nerve to be sending me a message right now

That's all he received from the Redbull driver, nothing more, nothing less. Lando didn't know if he should be worried or have no right to be upset knowing what he knows now.

He didn't even think Max would send a response back. If anything, he expected a middle finger emoji if Max did respond.

Lando sat in the backseat of the large SUV, playing with his lower lip as his knee bounced continuously. His other hand was counting his fingers back and forth with his thumb.

To say he was a nervous wreck was an absolute understatement.

His mind wouldn't stop racing. It just wouldn't give him a quiet state of mind. Not once.

He had finally touched back home in Monaco, being driven back to his place as he kept arguing with himself if he should go see her once he was unpacked at home.

She'd probably slam the door on him. Or worse, Max would probably answer and have Lando's head on a stick for even trying to talk to her when she wasn't ready.

At that point, he wouldn't care if he was being honest with himself.

He decided against it for the time being, deciding that maybe he should try later in the week. Even though it would eat him alive till he saw her again.

Once Lando had gotten up to his place, he threw his stuff on his couch, the apartment already feeling empty and cold without her presence there. It was as if the light had left with her. His place was dark and gray in that moment.

He let out a sigh as he looked around the place, feeling both defeated, hungry, and tired. All at the same time.

When he went to his kitchen to see what he had for food, he let out a frustrated groan as he realized he had emptied his fridge before going away.

He slams it shut before heading back over to his living room to grab his wallet, keys, and phone, soon making his way out of his apartment to head towards the car garage.

It was a quiet drive as he drove down the still buzzing streets of Monaco, not missing the way some people were videoing his car passing by. Nothing out of the norm for his life, he didn't thinka single thing from it.

He tries to pull his hoodie higher over his head, adjusting his cap as well, not wanting people to catch the way his face looked more hollow and sad.

Once he makes it to the cafe parking lot, he pulls into a spot more secluded from the entrance and quickly scurries over to the front door.

The cafe smells like fresh coffee and grilled food, something that made the atmosphere feel much lighter than Lando had expected.

He goes up to order something to eat and drink, mentally fighting with himself to remember to have his assistant order his groceries later on when he is settled back home.

As he goes to sit at a table and wait, his eyes do a double-take and his body freezes.

His eyes lock with none other than Max Verstappen's own, who is walking into the cafe and waiting in line. Max's eyes looked like they could put him six feet under if they were able to.

Instead of Lando going to take a seat, he decides to stand over by the end of the bar, and wait paitently till Max was done ordering.

He could hear the way he had ordered Y/N's go-to choices, making his heart and chest cave in. He felt so many questions began to bombard his mind, not even stopping them from increasing as it made him just want to fix things with her more and more.

He knew that would probably be borderline impossible with Max being the way he was about her.

More or less, the way he felt about her.

Once Max had finished paying, he made his way down the line and closer to Lando, his eyes glaring at the green-eyed man.

As Max walked up to him, instead of bumping Lando's shoulder, he turned to the side and pushed himself past his figure. Lando's body reacted before he could, grabbing Max's forearm.

Max whipped around and shot a look at Lando, his eyes still having fire in them.

"Let go."

Lando clenched his jaw, feeling his self-esteem slowly increase. He wasn't going to give in.

"I'm not letting go," Lando shook his head. That meaning had more behind it, and he knew Max figured that out as his eyes widened only slightly.

Max clenched his jaw before snatching his arm away, turning his full body towards Lando, and crossing his arms.

"Oh, so now you've got some spunk in you? Where was that at dinner?" he asks. "You're lucky I don't put you in a fucking grave right now."

Lando nods slowly. "I deserve that-"

"You deserve way more than that."

"Yeah, I do. I'm not going to deny it," he admits, watching Max not let up on his stance. "I never meant to hurt her. You know me. You know me more than anyone else in that paddock."

Max scoffed and rolled his eyes. "I thought I did. Until you threw everything Y/N has ever known back in her face like it was so easy. Like she was a joke."

Lando rubs his face. "I never meant to say any of it. I won't even excuse it, because taking my frustrations out on her should've never been the case. I know that. I know that, Max."

"So why the fuck did you say it then? Hm?" Max shoots back, stepping closer to Lando. "Why would you break her heart like that? Why would you say she is-"

"Because I was upset! I know it's not a valid excuse, I don't want to make any excuses. Because this was unexcusable," Lando snaps back, huffing in a defeated way as he feels his eyes begin to burn. "I regret what I said. Every single day since then. She is not even close to anything I said. She is the absolute and complete opposite of it. She's been my rock forever, Max. And if anything, I took it for granted."

Max sees Lando's eyes turning red, hearing a small sniffle leave his figure. This made Max soften. Not out of guilt, but out of shock.

Lando rarely ever cried in public. It wasn't something he did. He was emotional when it came to racing, of course. This was a different story.

"Y/N is loving. She's caring. She always gives love to everyone around her because that's just who she is. She's a giver. And I took her for granted."

Lando looks up from his shoes to Max, shrugging his shoulders as he felt his emotions take over, making him feel defeated more than he did five minutes ago.

"I'm sorry, Max," he says before chuckling dryly to himself. "I'm saying sorry to you because I broke your trust with her. I'm sorry that I made you think you can't trust me to date her."

"I'm not her dad, I don't care who she dates. I'm just protective of who she is around because-"

"Because you're in love with her. I know that."

Max froze, his shoulders dropping. "What?"

Lando nods before biting his bottom lip. "Lewis told me. He said how you really feel for her. It's why you are so protective over who she keeps around."

"That fucking piece of-" Max stops himself before rubbing a hand over his face, shaking his head as he scoffs to himself.

"You know what I'm not sorry for, though?" Lando spoke up, making Max whip his eyes to Lando, squinting at him.

"I'm not sorry for loving her, too. I'm also not sorry for wanting to fight for her," Lando admits. "I want her. I want her more than anything in this world, or the next. I want her more than a fucking world championship."

Max feels his chest tighten at his words, trying hard to not smack Lando in that moment.

Yet, at the same time, Max didn't blame Lando. He couldn't blame Lando for speaking his truth. He had more balls than any of the other racers at that moment.

Yes, Max loved Y/N. He always has, and deep down he always wished it would've been him she chose.

He also wasn't going to force her to fall for him; he wanted her to make a choice in who she wanted. Who she wanted to love.

At the end of the day, he just wanted her happy.

So, as Max stood in front of Lando, he took in every single detail of Lando's appearance. Thinking back to how much Y/N had raved about Lando when they first got together. How right he treated her, no matter the circumstance. Lando was her one.

And Y/N was Lando's.

"I'm not going to ask for your forgiveness, because I don't deserve it. I don't deserve hers at all, out of anyone's. I just wanted to get that off my chest. It's been eating me up," Lando adds. "But it doesn't mean I won't redeem myself for her, and show her how long I'm willing to wait to make things right."

Before they can say anything further, both of their names are called, causing them both to go grab their items.

Lando grabs his, Max still looking at him with a frown on his face. Lando gives him a purse smile.

"See you around, Max."

With that, Lando leaves and makes his way to his car.

"Lando."

Max's voice calls out behind him, causing Lando to stop and turn his head to look at the Dutch man.

Max walks up to Lando, stopping in front of him. Only to peer down at the items in his hand, and soon motioning over towards Lando to take.

They were Y/N's items. Her iced latte she loved, her favorite pastries, and a chicken caesar wrap with crisps.

"Don't fuck this up. Or you're not getting another chance. Ever," Max says, giving Lando the bag and coffee.

Lando looks up at him with a confused frown. "What?"

Max shrugs before letting out a huff. "Yeah, I love her too. I do," he admits with a nod of acceptance. "But I love seeing her happy more. And she gets that with you."

Lando feels his heart swell at the thought of that. Of her feeling that way with him.

"She's gonna kill me, but if this works out, it will be worth it," Max says dryly. He pats Lando's shoulder.

"Don't. Mess. This. Up."

With that, Max walks off towards his car. Lando slowly turned back to his car, setting the items in his car nicely so none of them spilled. Once he fully got into his car and turned the ignition, he sat there for a moment, just thinking about everything he was going to say.

Then he took a deep breath, put his car in drive, and set off for Y/N's apartment.

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Y/N had frowned at Max's message as it came in, wondering what he could've meant as she sat there.

Don't kill me, just trust me

He sent that message over fifteen minutes ago, still not back from the cafe. She hadn't known whether to worry or not, as he didn't respond to her questioning messages.

There were soon a few soft knocks on her door, making her frown to herself. She got up from her spot on the couch, wrapping the large hoodie more over her figure as she got to the door.

"Max, you can just walk in-"

As she opened the door, her voice froze mid-sentence, and her eyes widened.

"Hi."

She stood there frozen, looking at Lando, who stood there with the cafe bag in his hand and her iced latte in the other. His face showed a sign of uneasiness and caution, but she could also see he looked so tired.

"Lando?"

"May I come in?"

"Why are you here?"

"I want to fix things," he shrugs slowly. "Or at least say my part, and then you can kick me out. I just wanted to at least see you. Talk to you."

Y/N stayed silent for another moment before slowly moving to the side and letting him come in.

Once he had gotten inside, it immediately made him feel warmth grow in his chest. The familiar scents that screamed her, the warm lighting from her lamps and fairy lights in the room eased his mind. Eased his emotions.

He set her stuff down on the coffee table, his eyes catching her go to binge-watch show playing quietly on the TV.

Lando turned to face her once again, taking in her figure. Not missing that the large sweatshirt she wore had been one of the pairs he gave to her. It was his favorite one he owned, but he gave to her because he loved seeing her in it.

His eyes soon find her own, seeing her face also flush as she probably noticed he caught her wearing it.

"You can talk," she spoke softly, keeping her arms crossed and keeping a safe distance. He hated seeing how far she stood from him. The more they stood across from one another, was like his body began to realize it was her there. It had begun to crave the touch he knew and loved all too well.

"I first off want to say I'm sorry," he says slowly, clearing his throat. He watches her face contort lightly, as if she hated hearing the apology. He nodded. "I know that's not what you want to hear, but it's the first thing I need to tell you. Because I am. I will spend the rest of my days saying that."

Y/N stays silent, only nodding slowly for him to proceed.

"I don't condone anything I said, and no excuse will make up for what I said. How I reacted," he croaked out, trying his best to keep his voice from shaking fully. "No matter how upset or mad or frustrated I get, I shouldn't use you as a punching bag. It's not fair to you, especially when you're all I want after I have a shit day."

"Then why did you say that stuff?" her voice cracks out, making his chest tighten and his heart break. He sees her eyes watering.

"Out of frustration. I was upset at the race. At McLaren. At myself," he admits. "So I pushed you away. Distanced you from me because it was getting harder. I didn't want you to see me at my worst."

"You know I would never judge you. I'll never downplay you at your worst times. I've never done that. Did I do something to make you think that?"

He began to shake his head quickly. "No. Absolutely not, never. You've never shown me any sign of that," he reassures her as he takes a few steps closer to her. He watches as her body cowers lightly at his closeness, so he stays where he then stood.

"You have done nothing but love me, care for me, and show me how much I deserve. Showed me more than I think I've ever deserved," he assures her.

Lando watches her lower lip wobble, her eyes never leaving his own. He can see the puffiness underneath them now from where he stood.

He wanted to do nothing but take her into his arms, and shut them both away from the rest of the world and nurse her back to herself again. The her he loved that he broke apart.

"You were never clingy. You were never too much for me. You were never any of that," he shook his head as he looked down at her. "You've been nothing but loving, caring, selfless, and my anchor. You have always been everything I've ever needed."

Y/N sniffles as she looks at him. "Because I love you, Lan. Because you made me happy in my own skin."

He sighs in relief, nodding at her. "Y/N, I love you so much. So so much. I love you for you. I love who you are, and I'd never want you to change that. I fucked up in the worst way possible, and I can't tell you how much I regret that entire interaction. It haunts me. Absolutely haunts me."

"What if you were right? What if I am too much?" she chokes out, and he shakes his head.

"You're not, Y/N, you are not. You bring nothing but light and warmth to this world. To my world. To the F1 world. You are the absolute sunshine. Don't dim that light. Please," Lando shakily says, tears falling freely from his eyes. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry I made you think you were. You aren't. You're everything."

Y/N slowly takes a step closer to Lando. Then another. Then another. Then another, until she is right in front of him.

Both of them are crying freely. Something she hasn't seen much from Lando, and she could tell his body had held in so much. So, being who she always has been, she reaches up her hand and softly uses the pad of her thumb to wipe away some of his tears.

She doesn't miss the way his body physically relaxes at her touch, a sigh of relief leaving his shaky lips as he closes his eyes. His body almost chasing her hand as she cups his cheek just barely.

"You have no idea," he says, slowly shaking his head. "No idea how much I miss you. How much I miss your touch. I crave it. I literally crave you, Y/N."

His eyes open slowly to find her own, looking down at her.

"I'm so sorry."

Y/N just looks back and forth between his eyes, before nodding slowly. Lando lets out a few relieving breaths as she nods, feeling his whole body relax as he keeps his eyes on hers.

"Please let me touch you. Hold you. Anything."

"Okay."

With that, Lando doesn't hesitate to wrap his arms around her waist tightly, lifting her up and wrapping her legs around his hips as he carries her to her couch.

He lays them down, her on top with her body wrapped around his own. Lando's grip not letting up, scared as if she might slip away again.

The pair held each other tight, Y/N finally letting her sobs fall freely as Lando held her tight, caressing every piece of skin he could. His voice stayed hushed as he whispered sweet nothings and apologies in her ears, vowing to never hurt her again. How he promised he would never let her slip away.

Y/N looked up from her spot in his neck a few moments later, as her sobs came to quieter sniffles, his eyes looking down at her.

Before she knew it, she had slowly pressed her lips onto his own, Lando humming softly at her lips on his after much too long. He felt his heart growing again, Y/N feeling her chest become full again the more she stayed in his arms.

The pair knew that there was much to work from, and much to still sort out. They knew they'd come back strong, it was just going to take time.

This was a start.

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A/N: Ahhhhh hello friends!! Hehe I told you that you'd be seeing me again VERY soon! I won't lie, this had been rewritten, deleted, and rewritten once again, like five times, lol until I was satisfied. I hope you all enjoyed this as much as I did writing it. I got a little emotional ok, it was too good.

I have some more stuff in the drafts, and most likely will be sending out a poll later tonight on which to release first. I can't thank you guys enough for showing all the love you have! I can't wait to show you all what more I have waiting hehe :)

Love you all and I will see you soon, friends!!

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Permanent taglist : (Please message me if you'd like to be removed!!!)

@nickie-amore , @tylerstacobell , @piceous21 , @ariesandwolves , @lifeonawhim , @asterooidsblog , @staple-your-mouth , @sinfully-yoursss , @smileyshaven , @midnightsaugust , @astrlape , @relijanka , @jooooooooo-cycycy16 , @cherryhazee , @nina481 , @lighttsoutlewis , @suns3treading , @areej003 , @dramallama9 , @putherup , @green--beanie , @footyball , @callsign-mirage , @kearasaltynalapepper , @idkwahr , @teti-menchon0604 , @footyball , @avengersgirllorianna , @4norrislove , @boocmarks , @evilive , @gulphulp , @hopeless--romamtic , @f1fantasys , @ccupidbow , @ini3103 , @vinylphwoar , @ernegren , @mel164 , @lemon-stvrrr , @behindmygreyeyes , @sillyfreakfanparty , @flowersandalll , @paankhaleyaaar , @ushygushybaby , @lifeonawhim , @themasqueradereveler13 , @vdkah8ter , @p1astrizz , @rickybobbydan , @sparklepiastri

[bluewxrld07]

Hiiiii friends!!🩵🩵

First of, SOOO SORRY for going MIA!! Life has been so chaotic I have not had time to sit down and edit my drafts! I’ve been getting back on track with my normal routines and what not, but I promise things are coming!

I promise new updates will be out by the end of the week, as well as the alternate ending to Soap!! I haven’t forgotten I swear 😙😙 you guys will hear more from me soon I promise!

Love you all, I’ll see you soon friends! 🥰

⋆˖⁺‧₊☽◯☾₊‧⁺˖⋆⋆˖⁺‧₊☽◯☾₊‧⁺˖⋆⋆˖⁺‧₊☽◯☾₊‧⁺˖⋆⋆˖⁺‧₊☽◯☾₊‧⁺˖⋆⋆˖⁺‧₊☽◯☾₊‧⁺˖⋆

Permanent taglist : (Please message me if you'd like to be removed!!!)

@nickie-amore , @tylerstacobell , @piceous21 , @ariesandwolves , @lifeonawhim , @formulawhore , @asterooidsblog , @staple-your-mouth , @sinfully-yoursss , @smileyshaven , @midnightsaugust , @astrlape , @relijanka , @jooooooooo-cycycy16 , @cherryhazee , @nina481 , @lighttsoutlewis , @suns3treading , @areej003 , @dramallama9 , @putherup , @green--beanie , @footyball , @callsign-mirage , @kearasaltynalapepper , @idkwahr , @teti-menchon0604 , @footyball , @avengersgirllorianna , @4norrislove , @boocmarks , @evilive , @gulphulp , @hopeless--romamtic , @f1fantasys , @ccupidbow , @ini3103 , @vinylphwoar , @ernegren , @mel164 , @lemon-stvrrr , @behindmygreyeyes , @sillyfreakfanparty , @flowersandalll , @paankhaleyaaar , @ushygushybaby , @lifeonawhim , @themasqueradereveler13 , @vdkah8ter , @p1astrizz , @rickybobbydan , @sparklepiastri

[bluewxrld07]

Soap (3)

Lando Norris X F!Reader X Max Verstappen

Summary: Y/N has always loved hard and shows that through affection. Especially lately. She's a touch-starved kind of lovergirl, and Lando has always been okay with it. At least she thought so.

Warning(s): angst, tension, flangst, fluff

A/N: TAGLIST IS FULL!!!! I won't be able to tag anymore of you on it, I'm sorry, loves!! I wrote this entire fic listening to Olivia Rodrigo guys so have so much fun lol. I love how much you guys are loving this fic and my writing, it truly means the world!! Enjoy this for now, friends :)

Things had been different.

As normal as they could be now, in the moment, but still different.

People had begun to notice that Lando and Y/N had not been seen with one another.

The pair had never really called it quits, but they both truly knew it was done the second she walked out that door at the Canadian GP. That's what hurt the most.

Lando knew better than most that she would come around when she was ready. That she would say her piece when she felt it was a better time. He knew better than to push her. He knew that now at least. It didn't stop the constant messaging he did the night of their fight, he couldn't help it.

His emotions got the best of him that night, and they continued to get the best of him. When it came to the after-party post the F1 movie premiere, he couldn't stop thinking about Lewis' words.

It didn't stop him from messaging Max that night of the premiere, asking if it were true.

You have a lot of fuckin nerve to be sending me a message right now

That's all he received from the Redbull driver, nothing more, nothing less. Lando didn't know if he should be worried or have no right to be upset knowing what he knows now.

He didn't even think Max would send a response back. If anything, he expected a middle finger emoji if Max did respond.

He definitely couldn't be mad in this very moment he woke up in.

A sigh left his lips as he got dressed in his hotel room, pulling on his clothes for the flight back to Monaco. Too tired and distraught to even worry about the state of his hair, throwing a hat on over it with his hood.

He grabbed his things, setting down a note on the nightstand. His eyes stayed on the familiar blonde head, Magui, who was his ex-girlfriend, who lay bare on his bed, fast asleep.

Without a second look, he had made his way out the door, and out towards the car waiting for his arrival.

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There was a knock on Y/N's bathroom door, the girl mumbling a 'come in' not too long, Max peering his head in. He looked at her in amusement, opening the door wider as he stood there leaning against the doorframe.

Y/N sat on her counter, legs criss-crossed in front of the sink, hair sitting in curlers as she was doing up her makeup, one of her playlists playing softly in the back. She looks back at him through the mirror, a soft and genuine smile forming on her lips. "What?"

He shook his head, snapping out of the daze he caught himself in as he looked at her with his arms crossed.

"Nothing. Do you want anything while I'm out?" Max asks her, and she nods, looking back at him.

"Can you get more bubbly water?" her voice softly responds, Max nodding at her. "The orange cream?"

She nods with a hum. "Anything else, or just that?"

"No, just that. I don't need anything else for now, especially since we have to leave for Austria in a few days," she explains, turning her head back to finish doing her makeup.

"Got it," he hums before walking up behind her. His arms wrap around her waist, causing her to flinch lightly, the action not going ignored by Max. He frowns.

Ever since they'd gotten home, she had been acting differently. Acting off, less touchy, more faded.

That was almost two weeks ago.

Max hated it. He hated this new her; it wasn't like her at all. He could tell she craved to be touched, to be shown affection in some sort of way. To hug everyone she came into contact with, because it was a normal reflex of hers.

He had watched how she would go up to hug some of the crew, only to hesitate and make it look like she was just stretching instead of pulling them into hugs.

Or when Max would come by to watch a movie with her, to keep her distracted from falling into the social media craze going on.

He could see how her body would twitch to reach out for him across the couch. Max is only sitting far from her to give her space, to not overwhelm her.

Then, when he would finally give up, pull her into his embrace, he would feel the instant relaxation her body would. Like she was melting into his own body.

This wasn't her. This wasn't Y/N.

Instead of arguing, as now wasn't the best time for it, he placed a kiss on her head and hugged her tightly. Careful to not mess her concentration up as she did her eyeshadow.

"I'll be back in a bit, yeah? Then off to La Rascasse?" he says, his eyes connecting with hers in the mirror.

"Sounds good to me," she agrees, Max pressing one more kiss to her head before leaving the bathroom. He heads towards her hallway to slip on his shoes and grab his keys.

The house becomes silent after he leaves, Y/N feeling weird now that she is on her own. Her music was playing softly in the background of the bathroom, echoing along the walls. Something in her body felt off when Max wasn't there.

Y/N hums to herself as she leans back to look at her eye makeup from a distance, nodding once to herself in satisfaction before moving over to put on her lashes.

As she begins to reach over the counter to grab her lash supplies, her phone began to buzz next to her.

She looks down at the name, only frowning as she reads the name across the screen. She debates with herself on answering. Deciding to slide it over to answer.

Y/N brings up the phone to her ear. "Hello?"

"Y/N, hey."

"Hey Charles, what's going on? You okay?"

"I'm alright, I just needed to make you aware of something," he says slowly, his tone sounding unnerving. "I think it's right to let you know, so you can sort out the options."

She frowns at his words.

"Um, yeah, okay. What does that mean?"

"Have you spoken to Lando?"

Hearing his name was easier than it was a couple of weeks prior. Y/N not freezing as soon as she hears his name off Charles' lips.

"He's been trying to message me. I just don't respond. I don't know if I'm ready for that yet."

She hears him sigh on the other end. She can imagine he is probably running a hand over his face as the breath sounds muffled. "Well, this might be a deal breaker. I think you deserve to know, in case things change between you two."

"Charles, I love you, but please spit it out. I'm not going to break more than I already have."

"Y/N," he starts, as if he is trying to find the words. "He's been seeing Magui again. They left together after the premiere, and then she's been around our group a lot more."

Y/N doesn't really know how to react in that moment. She thought it would break her to hear the news, but she didn't feel her insides churn. She didn't feel like screaming, just felt like her throat went dry.

The girl hadn't even noticed how long it had been until Charles said her name, making her clear her throat and shake her head slightly.

"You okay?" he asks.

She didn't know at that moment. She wasn't exactly peachy, but she wasn't crying on the floor, unable to breathe. Not like she would've been if it were two weeks ago when she heard the news.

"Fine. Yeah, I'm fine. Just don't really know what to say."

"I'm sorry. I just figured you needed to know. Alex and I really thought it would be wrong if you found out by her being seen around the paddock one day," he admits, making her nod with a hum. She began to pinch at her skin not too long after. "I know this is probably a dumb question to ask, but does this mean you guys are over? Like really over?"

Hearing the question in real words made it feel surreal. It made it sound official. Not that they ever really did vocalize it, but deep down, they both had known. She had known she wouldn't have been able to act like it never happened. Like he never said what he did.

"No. I don't think so," she finally says, pinching her thighs as she bites her lip.

Most would've said she was being dramatic or inconsiderate. What they didn't know was that it was way deeper than people knew.

She was never allowed to show her feelings, express them, or talk about them growing up with her grandparents. They absolutely hated it; they always said it would make her look weak.

It wasn't until she had met Max that she realized showing and sharing emotions was not a bad thing to do. It was a good thing. He was the reason she showed more love, more affection, more emotion with others.

Max showed her it was okay to be herself. He was never ashamed of her.

Lando had been skeptical of it at the start, shrugging it off. Always asking her why she was so touchy. Y/N never thought anything of it, never looked more into the way he gave her weird looks when she explained why.

When Max never questioned it. Not once. He embraced it, which to this day still shocks her, as he is not the type of guy who likes showing affection like that. He liked keeping the mysterious and dark persona.

That's why people said she was like the sunshine to him. She never had to hesitate around Max. When he was mad, he never pushed her away.

Always made her feel like she was enough.

Oh fuck.

Charles and she didn't talk for much longer after that, only asking when and where they would be once they got to the club later that evening. Y/N's mind racing as time passed.

It wasn't long before Max was back, the girl hearing him announce his presence when walking through the door.

"Schat, where'd you go?" he asks, Y/N realizing he had walked by the bathroom.

"Bedroom! Trying to put on my dress," she says more to herself as she huffs while trying to zip the side of it up her torso. "Neuken, come on," she mutters to herself, her tongue sticking out as she tries to zip up the side.

Max walks in, chuckling as he watches her struggle. He couldn't help but take in how pretty she looked in that moment.

The dress fit her form perfectly, despite her curses and arguments with the zipper; he thought she was glowing. "Wil je hulp lieverd?" (You want help, dear?) he chuckles at her, earning a knowing look from her.

"What do you think, wijsneus?"

Max puts his hands up in surrender before making his way over to her, bending over slightly to be at the height of her issue.

"Arms up, mooi meisje," he says softly, his head now closer to her own as she finds herself looking at him. She does as she's told, lifting her arms up as his hands smoothly help the zipper glide up her skin.

Goosebumps rose on her skin as he finished, Max keeping his eyes on the zipper in concentration.

"You sure love to stare, don't you?" he jokes, earning an eyeball from her. Max chuckles, hearing her swear at him in Dutch. Max looks down at the ground next to them, seeing her shoes sitting there.

Max goes to bend down, grabbing the heels before turning back towards her, fully kneeling in front of her. She frowns.

"What're you doing?" she asks. "You don't have to help me, I can do it."

Max tuts at her as she tries to grab her heels from him.

"Lemme help," he offers, giving her a look. She shoots one back.

"I don't wanna be-"

"I swear if you say that you don't want to be suffocating one more time, we're going to have bigger issues," his voice more stern and serious in that moment. She doesn't miss the way his eyes had something fiery behind them.

"But Max-"

"Enough."

"Max-"

"Y/N I said enough, liefje."

Y/N nods slowly, knowing better then to test Max's patience, as it was something that wore thing very quickly with him.

He pats his shoulders. "Put your hands here for support," he tells her while leaning down to grab her left foot and place her heel on. Y/N softly places her hands on him, keeping her grip somewhat firm. He began to wrap the straps around her calves, Y/N not missing the way his fingertips softly would come into contact with her skin.

It made it feel different. Weird. It was a feeling she wasn't complaining about, that was for sure.

He sets her leg down, then grabs her other foot to do the same process. Y/N feels herself gulping every so often as she finds herself craving his touch more and more.

She told herself it was because she was touch-starved. She wasn't as touchy anymore as she once was. It was the itch coming back as she tried to hold back from being who she normally was.

Max finishes tying the straps together, his eyes looking up at hers to see her looking down at him with an expression he could read better than she could.

Y/N was aroused. She didn't even know it. He could tell.

So instead of saying some snide comment, he decides to play into it. His eyes never left her own as he brought his lips down to the inside of her thigh by her knee, letting them run featherlight against her skin. He then decided to place a slow and light kiss onto the skin just above the inside of her knee.

He doesn't miss the way her chest moved up and down a bit quicker than normal, Max letting a small smirk form on his lip as he pulled away. He stood up shortly after, placing a hand on her waist as he placed a kiss on her head.

"Let's get going before we hear it from Daniel for being late."

She stood there dumbfounded, unsure of what had just happened. Her body tingling in a way she was not used to feeling. Like she wanted more of not just someone's touch, but Max's touch.

What was happening?

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Once they had arrived, Max didn't hesitate to grab her hand tightly to weave through the buzzing crowds inside the darkened atmosphere.

Y/N kept her distance when they approached the table, only doing small hugs with everyone she greeted. Not wanting to overstep in their space.

It wasn't until Daniel had come up to hug her, frowning when she gave him a shy side-hug. He shook his head. "No, you bring it all in. Come here," he chuckles to her, pulling Y/N in for the biggest bear hug. She felt herself relax as her arms wrapped around his torso, squeezing him back just as much as he did her.

Max kept his gaze on her as he watched her face contort from anxious to content in a matter of seconds.

Once Daniel had broken away from her, she didn't hesitate to wrap her arms around Charles in a tight hug. A Y/N kind of hug. Charles didn't hesitate to wrap her up in his embrace, humming with a laugh.

"There's the Y/N I know," he jokes as he pulls away. "Always sharing love with everyone. How it should be."

He nods at her slowly in understanding, Y/N giving him a sheepish smile.

"Wait, did Charles get a Y/N hug? Move over, it's my turn!" Lewis jokes before cutting in to let Y/N wrap her arms around him tightly.

"I've missed these. It hasn't been the same," he groans. Y/N rolls her eyes.

"Such a drama queen."

Lewis pulls away and looks at her. "I'm serious. Your physical affection is like the entire grid's depression cure. Never change."

Y/N lets his words sink in, nodding at him before going to sit down on one of the couches next to Max. He leaned over to her.

"See? Everyone loves it. Loves you," he mumbles into her ear. "Get that nonsense out of your head. Own who you are," he assures her, pulling back to give her a knowing look. She just stares back at him, his closeness making her heart beat faster.

"I'll try."

"And trying is enough."

She smiles at him before he kisses her temple, turning to start a conversation with Daniel and George. Y/N had ended up talking with Alexandra and Kika for a bit, her mind staying distracted as they conversed.

The night had dragged on, filled with dancing, drinks, trips to the DJ booth and appetizers being ordered to their section.

Y/N had felt relaxed for the first time in days.

She had loosened up enough to go dance with the girls, feeling her throat drying up from the lack of water in her system.

Her hand finds Kika's, squeezing it to get her attention. "I'm going to go get some water, and then step outside," she tells her, watching her friend nod with a smile.

Y/N went and grabbed a water from one of the bartenders, then made her way towards the balcony where a staircase led to the rooftop. She stuck with standing out on the balcony, not wanting everyone to send out a search party if she was gone for too long.

She let herself lean over the balcony, somewhat resting her aching feet in the heels she wore. A sigh left her lips as the wind blew into her face.

"You look gorgeous," a low voice booms behind her, causing her to whip her head around. Her breathing stilled.

Lando stood there with his hands in his pockets, his button-up halfway undone, and a pair of black jeans donning his legs. He had a somewhat nervous and sheepish expression on his face, like he was preparing himself for her to not give him the time of day.

When she said nothing and turned back to the view in front of her, Lando took that as his chance to take the spot next to her.

He leaned over the railing, lacing both of his hands together as his elbows propped him over it slightly. He let out a huff, his eyes searching the view in front of them.

"How have you been?" he asked her, keeping his gaze ahead.

She nods slowly, pursing her lips together. "Good."

Lando hums with a nod. "That's good."

"What do you want, Lando?" she asks softly, her tone sounding defeated as she begins to pinch at her skin. He lets his head fall to look at his hands.

"I want to say I'm sorry," he starts, hearing her scoff. "I know it's late, first off, and that you don't want to give me the time of day, second off. I just couldn't keep it contained any longer."

"Is that it?"

"No," he sighs. "I regret what I said. Every single day since then. You're not anything I said. You're the complete opposite."

She looks at him, seeing his jaw clench and unclench before he turns his head to look at her. "You're loving. You're caring. You give love to everyone around you because that's just who you are. You're a giver."

Her gaze was blank, but he could tell she was preventing herself from lighting him up. Because she was better than that. Even though they both knew he deserved it. "I was angry and mad and upset about how the race ended for me. I took it out on you, and that's not okay. I'm sorry. I'm truly sorry," he says, his tone uneven and cracking every so often as he turns his whole body towards hers.

Y/N crosses her arms, feeling her guard slip lightly. Then the reminder of the phone call with Charles earlier echoes in her brain. She looks down at the ground for a moment. She then looks back up at him.

"Thank you. For apologizing," she starts, her voice like silk. Lando feeling his body physically relaxing. "But you chose to wrap yourself around Magui for the time being."

Lando felt his face falter, his stomach drop to his ass. He frowns. "How-how did you-"

"Charles thought I should be aware. In case things would have changed between us," she admits. "I get that you were feeling a lot of guilt and regret. But seeing her after what she's done to you showed me something else in you. I can't trust that."

Lando nods at her words, letting his head fall to look at his feet.

"I do care about you Lando. I always will, that'll never change," she assures him. "But I need someone who won't make me question my worth when things get tough. Or say things in the heat of the moment that cause breaks like these."

He nods. "I didn't mean to hurt you. I hope you know that."

She nods, giving him a shy and sad smile. "I know that now. But you can't turn back time."

"I know," he agrees. "Can I at least hug you? It's been killing me."

Y/N stops herself from chuckling at his words, nodding slowly. Lando doesn't waste another second slithering his arms around her waist to pull her into his embrace. She wraps her arms around his neck, the affection feeling different between them now. More platonic than romantic. "I hope she treats you better this time," Y/N admits as they pulled away.

He shrugs. "Seems like she's changed. I don't want to take any risks yet."

The pair soon makes their way back inside, Y/N looking around for a familiar Dutch driver. She somewhat feels her body react before her emotions, stopping in her tracks.

He was across the bar, talking and chatting closely with his ex girlfriend, whom was getting closer than Y/N liked to admit.

She didn't understand why it was making her insides churn. Why she was glaring at the two long enough to make Lando chuckle at her expression.

"I wouldn't stress about that," Lando says, making her snap out of her daze and frown at him.

"What do you mean? Worry about what?"

Lando laughs harder at her dumbfounded state. He motions towards Max and Kelly. "That. The pair you're basically digging graves for with your eyes."

Y/N shook her head in confusion. "I don't know what that's supposed to mean."

Lando can see the genuine confusion in her eyes, the Brit realizing she hasn't come to her senses yet. He knew Max would probably kill him when he found out the next thing he let slip before he could control it.

"Max is so in love with you," he admits, making them both widen their eyes. Lando for being shocked that he just said that, Y/N for hearing the words that left his mouth.

"I- He- What?" she sputters, Lando groaning as he runs a hand through his hair.

"Well fuck," Lando chuckles to himself nervously. He then sighs in defeat. "No going back now. But yeah, Max loves you. Always has."

Y/N shook her head. "No. No way. Good joke," she chuckles before walking back towards their section of the room. Lando followed after her as she marched her way towards Daniel and Lewis.

The pair smiled warmly at her, then they frowned, seeing the determination and shock on her face.

"You alright?" Daniel asks once she gets to them.

"Is it true?" she asks, the boys looking at her confused.

It wasn't long until Lando came up behind her, a somewhat anxious look on his face. Lewis scowls at him. "What did you say to her?" he whips, making her put her hands up in defense.

"He didn't mean to, don't yell at him," she defends, not missing the way shock is all over their faces. "Although he might need help escaping after Max finds out."

"Okay, seriously, what did you tell her? Max already has a target on your head," Daniel groans while rubbing a hand over his face.

"Max is in love with me?"

Lewis choked on his drink, Daniel choked on air, and Lando rubbed the back of his neck. The two older boys look at Lando. "I'd get a head start on running if I were you," Lewis says, Lando letting out a groan.

"So it's true?" Y/N asks, her tone softer as she crossed her arms.

They look back down at her before Lewis sighs with a nod. "Yeah, it's true."

Y/N didn't know what to think, or much less what to do in that moment.

A part of her was confused, while a bigger part of her felt something different. Almost as if it were relief. Like hearing those words brought her entire body into a calmer realm.

"I think you made her short-circuit," Daniel says as he leans over to Lewis. Y/N gives them a look. She then turns to Lando, putting a hand on his arm.

"They're right," she says with a nod. "You're gonna want to get a headstart on running right now."

"Y/N!" Lando groans while running both hands through his hair.

"I'm sorry! It's true!"

"She's right, mate. Espcially after he almost bashed your head into the wall at the dinner last week-"

"He did what?!" She snaps, the boys all flinching at her tone, the dutch accent coming out more evidently in that moment.

"To be fair he deserved it after everything that happened on race day," Lewis says while pointing at Lando, whom agrees shockingly enough.

"Besides the point," Daniel cuts in. "What're you thinking? What's happening in that brain of yours?"

She shook her head. "Everything. Nothing. I don't even know," she sputters out, rubbing her forehead. Her head snaps over to Max, whom was still happily talking and laughing with Kelly.

Before she realized it, her insides began to churn again, eyes squinting harshly their way.

"Wow, jealous much?" Lewis jokes, making her smack his arm.

"I don't get jealous."

"You do," Lando admits. "You are right now."

She glares at him. "Shouldn't you be halfway across Europe by now?"

His face fell at her words, and Daniel and Lewis both snickered at her words. He rolled his eyes a second later, putting a hand on her torso and squeezing it lightly.

She sees Kelly's hand reach up to caress his shoulder, which made the boys all mumble out 'uh-oh's. Y/N decides to fully turn her body towards their direction, crossing her arms while keeping her stare directly on them.

"Are you gonna glare them to death?" Daniel jokes, Lewis and Lando immediately catching onto what she was doing.

"Just wait for it," Lando trails off.

A few moments later, Max chuckled at something Kelly said. He turned his head towards their section while his eyes searched, then immediately froze when he caught Y/N staring.

It was a look he knew all too well.

"You Dutch women are scary," Daniel chuckles while shaking his head. "How does he sense that?"

Lewis chuckles. "It's the face everyone fears on the grid. You just sense it before you know she's there. It's scary being on the receiving side of her stare."

Max's entire face fell, shame contorting into an ashamed expression. His expression soon hardened, then darkened fully when he caught Lando standing next to her. He was standing way too close for his liking.

What made Max drop everything he was doing, Kelly not even existing in his mind anymore, or in front of him for that matter, was seeing Lando's hand on her waist.

Max didn't even acknowledge Kelly after that moment, just leaving her mid-sentence as he made his way to the group.

Y/N stood her ground, not flinching as he got closer.

"Why're you near her?" Max's voice boomed as he got closer to Lando, but he almost tripped over his own feet when she stepped in front of Lando. His entire demeanor softens, but then goes to complete embarrassment as he meets her glare.

"He and I are fine. We sorted it out. Don't start," she explains. Max was about to argue with her. Until she raised her brows, as if saying, 'try me'. He huffs, not hesitating to nod at her words.

He then glares back at Lando. "You're still in deep shit with me," he points out, Lando pursing his lip with a nod.

"He's about to be in deeper shit," Daniel mumbles with a snort, Lewis smacking his arm hard. Max frowns as Y/N gives Daniel the same scary look.

"Not funny. Sorry."

"What's he mean?" Max asks.

"Doesn't matter," she rejects, shaking her head. "What were you and-"

"Don't change the subject, what're they talking about? What did Lando do?" he argues back.

Y/N shook her head. "We're not doing this here."

Max turns his gaze back to Lando, hardening as he looks. Lando leaned to Y/N before squeezing her side. "That's my cue," he says. "Good luck."

With that, Lando's pace quickens as he leaves the space while Y/N lets out an internal groan at Max. "Do you always have to go Mad Max on people?"

"When it comes to you, yes," he says with no hesitation in his tone. "Now what are those two talking about?"

She looks over at Daniel and Lewis for help, the two boys putting their hands up in defense. "I'm gonna go find Charles," Lewis says before leaving.

"I'm gonna get another drink," Daniel says, leaving shortly after Lewis.

She lets her mouth drop in awe, muttering a 'klootzakken' as she watches them leave.

Her gaze turned back up to Max, who stood towering over her. His look hard and only focused on her. She now very aware of how close he was.

"Let's go then, shall we?" he says, running his tongue over his bottom lip.

"Fine."

It wasn't long until they were outside of the venue, Max helping her into his car before shutting the door behind her and making his way over to his side.

The first few minutes in the car were silent, Max's jaw clenching as Y/N kept pinching at her wrists.

It didn't take an ounce of hesitation for Max to reach over with his free hand and lace it with hers. "Pinch it," he tells her, Y/N looking at him for a second before sighing.

"Why were you with her?" she asks softly, Max taking note of how defeated she sounded.

He didn't hesitate to answer. "She was telling me about P. How she was doing," he explains. "Then she told me how much her and P missed having me around."

That made her scoff. "Yeah, she misses using you for her advantage," she says more to herself, but loud enough for him to hear.

He smacks her thigh. "No need to be jealous, schat. Enough of that."

"I'm not jealous. Why does everyone think I'm jealous?" She groans, Max trying to hide the amused and smug smile on his face.

"Because you are. Your telltale signs aren't very discreet, honing."

"Because I'm not jealous," she scoffs, keeping her gaze out the window.

"So if I went home with her, you wouldn't have been upset with me?" he tests, making her movements on his hand stop. Max chuckles lightly to himself as he squeezes her hand.

"Exactly."

"Whatever."

Max frowns at her tone, turning to look at her for a second. "Hey, no. Don't do that."

"Do what?"

"Shut down," he says before looking back at the road. "I would never go home with her. She's not the one I want. She never was."

Y/N stays quiet, knowing she couldn't trust her emotions. Everything heightening as every moment passed.

It was quiet for another moment, before Max spoke up once more.

"So are you going to tell me what they were all talking about earlier?" he trails off.

"I don't think you're gonna want to hear that. Trust me," she chuckles while shaking her head.

"Try me, honing."

She huffs. "If I tell you, then you can't kill any of them. Not even Lando."

Y/N didn't miss the way his jaw clenched and eyes hardened at Lando's name, only nodding after. "You have my word."

She looks at him, her fingers playing with his hand once more.

"Are you in love with me?"

Her body is jolted forward in a harsh move, due to Max slamming on the brakes for a split second at her words. The tires are heard screeching as the car comes to a halt.

Y/N looks behind them, checking to make sure he didn't just accidentally brake-check someone. Taking the clear sign of no car honking behind him as the first hint, then seeing nobody was behind them for blocks.

She then whips her head over to Max, whose eyes are now wide with shock, one hand gripping the steering wheel while the other is now clutching onto her waist for safety.

"So I'm guessing by the reaction you just had that it's true," she says slowly, watching his face contort into all sorts of emotions.

He stayed silent, Y/N seeing his Adam's apple bob a few times before he began to accelerate the car once again. "Max," she says. He stays silent still. "Max Emilian."

"You weren't supposed to find out. Not like this at least."

She frowns at his words. "Elaborate, please? When was I gonna find out?"

She watched as he pursed his lips before biting them every so often.

"Max if you don't start talking-"

"I didn't want you to find out. Not with everything fresh with Lando," he admits, shaking his head as he pulls the car into the apartment garage. "I didn't want you thinking I was taking advantage of you when I just wanted to be there, just as much as you are with me."

Her face softened, seeing that it really was making him feel guilty. Seeing that she had to find out amid everything she had been dealing with for the last few weeks.

Before she can ask him anything further, he puts the car in park and whips his door open before closing it with a slam.

She doesn't miss the way he still makes his way around the car to her side, opening her door softly as he helps her out. She could tell he was ready to murder the boys, but he kept his composure around her.

They walked up to her apartment quietly, the tension rising as they got closer to her door. Y/N practically being able to feel Max's frustration radiate off his skin. She unlocked her door, walking inside as he followed shortly after.

He shuts the door behind him before huffing, his eyes looking to see Y/N standing there with her arms crossed. Her expression basically begging for answers.

Max rubs his forehead. "I'm not getting out of this am I?"

"Begin niet, Max." (Don't start, Max.)

He could tell by her tone that this wasn't the time to joke.

The man lets out a sigh, letting his eyes gaze into her own across the room. "Yes," he chokes out. "I'm in love with you. So in love that it hurts my chest."

Y/N lets her stance somewhat falter, her arms uncrossing. "Oh Max," she softly answers, seeing the pain in his eyes. Like he felt guilty for telling her.

"I have since the day you stood up for me at the Go-kart championship with my dad," he chuckles dryly to himself. "It was that day I told myself this girl has some spark in her. Playing with fire with no remorse. She's it for me," he half-heartedly jokes, but meaning every word. "I'm in love with you to the point where all I care about seeing is you happy. Even if that's not with me."

Her brows furrow. "What?"

He shrugs in defeat. "When Lando came to me after your first date with him, I could tell he was good for you. Same with you for him. Yeah it hurt like a fucking scooter to the ankle, but you were happy. That's what I cared about," he explains. "So if you two decide to fix things, and it makes you happy, then I'll be okay with that. I'll still probably give him a run for his money every so often, but if that's what you want."

Y/N was about to speak up, but then he says one more thing to her.

"I didn't want you to think I'm taking advantage of you. Of stealing you away after what you went through. I'm better than that, but I didn't like seeing you not be yourself. I hated it and hated him for that. I wanted to be there giving you the support and tough love you needed to heal and make the right decision," he admits once more. "So if he's still it for you, then I'll live with that. He just better not ruin his chances again."

Y/N stays silent for a moment, just in case he had anything further to say, soon seeing he was finished. She kept her arms crossed.

"You know, I have been fighting with myself all week. About going back to Lando. Working things out," she starts. Max feels his heart beat faster every second that passes. "But then there were small things I noticed. From not just these past few weeks, but the last decade. Little things you've done, no questions asked."

He just keeps his gaze on her. "When I was on the phone with Charles today, I came to the realization of why I've always been picky with my relationships," she says, laughing dryly to herself. "Because they weren't you."

Max feels his mouth open just slightly, as if giving him the lightest breath of fresh air from her words.

"Liefje." (Darling)

She nods, more to herself as if confirming it to her mind. She had feelings for Max. She wanted Max.

"I can't promise to jump into things right now," she adds. "But it doesn't mean I'm not willing to try seeing where this goes with you. I really want to. More than I think I can admit."

Max smiles are her softly. "I can work with slow."

She smiles at him as he advances towards her. He cautiously wraps his arms around her waist, watching her soften into his touch instead of freezing or jolting at it.

It was a work in progress.

"Can I at least kiss you? Or is that too fast?"

"Kus me maar, jij zachtaardige reus." (Kiss me, you gentle giant) she chuckles, watching his smile grow slowly as he leans in.

He didn't waste a second longer

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A/N: Ahhh, that's part three! How're we feeling? What's the vibe for everyone? Satisfied? Lemme know, I'm intrigued hehe!!

She's a long one, but she is here! I hope you all enjoyed!

I may or may not have an alternate ending for Lando in the works?? What do we think??

Vote below ;)

See you soon, friends!

⋆˖⁺‧₊☽◯☾₊‧⁺˖⋆⋆˖⁺‧₊☽◯☾₊‧⁺˖⋆⋆˖⁺‧₊☽◯☾₊‧⁺˖⋆⋆˖⁺‧₊☽◯☾₊‧⁺˖⋆⋆˖⁺‧₊☽◯☾₊‧⁺˖⋆

Permanent taglist : (Please message me if you'd like to be removed!!!)

@nickie-amore , @tylerstacobell , @piceous21 , @ariesandwolves , @lifeonawhim , @formulawhore , @asterooidsblog , @staple-your-mouth , @sinfully-yoursss , @smileyshaven , @midnightsaugust , @astrlape , @relijanka , @jooooooooo-cycycy16 , @cherryhazee , @nina481 , @lighttsoutlewis , @suns3treading , @areej003 , @dramallama9 , @putherup , @green--beanie , @footyball , @callsign-mirage , @kearasaltynalapepper , @idkwahr , @teti-menchon0604 , @footyball , @avengersgirllorianna , @4norrislove , @boocmarks , @evilive , @gulphulp , @hopeless--romamtic , @f1fantasys , @ccupidbow , @ini3103 , @vinylphwoar , @ernegren , @mel164 , @lemon-stvrrr , @behindmygreyeyes , @sillyfreakfanparty , @flowersandalll , @paankhaleyaaar , @ushygushybaby , @lifeonawhim , @themasqueradereveler13 , @vdkah8ter , @p1astrizz , @rickybobbydan , @sparklepiastri

[bluewxrld07]

Hey, love ur “Soap” series and I wanted to know if I can join the taglist please? Also I think it would be a cool idea to do both ending (one where the reader gets with max and the other with Lando) but separate posts!! Just think it would make everyone happy unless u don’t want to or are very busy then that’s okay!!

Hellooooo :) I'm so glad to hear you love it 😭 Unfortunately, my tag list is completely full. I will absolutely let you know when the next part is done! <3

I've been debating this idea of doing alternate endings, as I do have an idea for both sides. I am working on part three as we speak, so I will be keeping alternative endings in mind!

When I was writing part two, it was going to actually be the final part, and she was going to wind up with Lando. Thennnn my writer's brain got the best of me, and in came what came with part two hehe

I will say, I very much did not intend for things to flow with Max, my writing got away from me lol. Before I knew it, I started to like how much he supported her regardless of her personality.

Y'all let me know how we all feel about the possibility of two separate posts with alternate endings AFTER reading part three!

You guys thought part two was nuts? Oh, just you wait ;)

See you soon, friends!

Permanent taglist : (Please message me if you'd like to be removed!!!)

@nickie-amore , @tylerstacobell , @piceous21 , @ariesandwolves , @lifeonawhim , @formulawhore , @asterooidsblog , @staple-your-mouth , @sinfully-yoursss , @smileyshaven , @midnightsaugust , @astrlape , @relijanka , @jooooooooo-cycycy16 , @cherryhazee , @nina481 , @lighttsoutlewis , @suns3treading , @areej003 , @dramallama9 , @putherup , @green--beanie , @footyball , @callsign-mirage , @kearasaltynalapepper , @idkwahr , @teti-menchon0604 , @footyball , @avengersgirllorianna , @4norrislove , @boocmarks , @evilive , @gulphulp , @hopeless--romamtic , @f1fantasys , @ccupidbow , @ini3103 , @vinylphwoar , @ernegren , @mel164 , @lemon-stvrrr , @behindmygreyeyes , @sillyfreakfanparty , @flowersandalll , @paankhaleyaaar , @ushygushybaby , @lifeonawhim , @themasqueradereveler13 , @vdkah8ter , @p1astrizz , @rickybobbydan , @sparklepiastri

[bluewxrld07]

Soap (2)

Lando Norris X F!Reader

Summary: Y/N has always loved hard and shows that through affection. Especially lately. She's a touch-starved kind of lovergirl, and Lando has always been okay with it. At least she thought so.

Guess I better wash my mouth out with soap

Warning(s): angst, possessiveness, physical altercations

A/N: Tag list is completely full!! You guys are amazing wtf😭🩵 The keyboard got away from me, guys. Good luck getting through this🤧. Oops hehe. There's a poll at the bottom, so feel free to vote after reading. See u soon, friends

The world was quiet.

It was calm, especially after all the noise from the race weekend.

Y/N was tired. She couldn't keep her eyes open, her mental state just shutting down the more she stayed awake.

It felt as if she was feeling everything at once, and that brought her to the point of numbness. Feeling nothing at all. Just complete tiredness.

Max looked back from the front seat, seeing her state, fighting the exhaustion from all the crying and debriefs they had stuck around for. He could see her mind shutting down, her eyes lazily following the objects that they passed by.

She had told him she would come out with them, despite the way her eyes were puffy as she assured him.

At this point, he would put a chair in front of the door to prevent her from leaving. There would always be another opportunity for her to go out with them. He couldn't bear to see how she'd try to hold herself while being out at a loud restaurant. Not after what happened.

It was the way Max's heart broke as he heard her sob to herself in his arms.

The last time he had ever seen her cry, let alone cry like this, was when her childhood cat had to be put down. That was almost six years ago.

She's the strongest person he's ever met, ever seen. Especially with what she deals with on a daily basis.

The girl was now slowly letting her eyes close, barely fighting it. Her eyes felt too sore and heavy to put any more battle into keeping herself fully conscious.

When they arrived back at the hotel, Max couldn't help but jump out of the car and quickly open her door.

He didn't hesitate to wrap one arm under her legs, the other around her back, before lifting her into his arms. His security guard scurried over with his arms out to take her instead, Max shaking his head. "I've got her, don't," he sternly orders, the guard nodding slowly before backing away and guiding them inside.

Max felt her grip tighten on his black button-up, clenching and unclenching as she tried fighting her tiredness.

He reached his hotel room, letting his guard swipe the keycard as Max nodded at him. "I won't be long," he says to him, receiving a nod as he holds the door open for the pair.

His guard closes the door behind them, standing outside to give Max privacy, while the driver walks Y/N over to his bed. He sets her body down softly on the mattress, watching her stir slightly to look at him with a furrow.

"Max," she mutters, her eyes barely able to keep her eyes open. "What's-"

He shook his head with a hum, sitting by her side and caressing her cheek. "No," he says. "You need to rest."

Her puffed eyes tried to look up at him through her lashes, and Max rubbed a thumb over the dried tears that sat on her cheek. "What about dinner?"

He chuckles softly. "There'll be plenty more," he nods down at her. "You need to let your body and mind rest after today," he tells her. He watches her softly grab his wrist, only to hesitate before her fingers could wrap around his skin, deciding against it and putting her hand down.

Max frowns as she turns away from him. "Schat?" he asks in confusion.

She shook her head. "Please just don't," her voice sounding shaky. "You're doing enough. I don't want to suffocate you."

Max swears his chest tightens at her words. She had never pushed his touch away. Let alone anyone's. "Schat, you aren't."

"Maybe there is something wrong with me. Maybe I shouldn't be this way."

Oh, he was going to kill Lando.

Instead of saying anything else, knowing if she turned away, that she was truly done talking, he stood up and leaned over her with both of his hands caging her small figure in, holding him up from crushing her. He lets his lips press to her temple.

"You're never suffocating," he assures her. "Your love and affection with everyone is my favorite thing about you."

With that, he stands up slowly and turns around to walk towards the door to leave. He doesn't miss the way he hears her sobs quietly leave her lips, Max fighting with himself to just stay there and hold her the rest of the night.

Yet he knew that when she wanted space, which was a rare sighting, to give her the space she was creating.

Once he let the door shut softly behind him, he kept his head down while his mind raced a million miles a minute. His guard spoke up after a few moments. "Max?"

The Dutch driver clenches his jaw for a second, his head snapping up with a darker look in his eyes.

"Let's go, or we'll be late."

They were both off shortly after that, Max's pace faster with every step he took. He could feel his insides burning. Twisting.

The drive was quiet as they made their way to the restaurant, Max keeping his gaze out the window as he fidgeted with his bottom lip. His jaw was clenching and unclenching every other moment.

He didn't hesitate to whip his door open once they arrived, not giving the valet driver a chance to open it for him.

He was walking like he had a purpose, and in that moment, he did.

Once his eyes found the large table where the other drivers were sitting, he felt his face harden when he didn't see the familiar McLaren driver there.

The drivers all smile at Max when they see him, some of them soon frowning at his glare.

"Where's Norris?" his voice boomed out, not missing the flinches from a few of the guys that were close to him.

Oscar, being the only one who knew what was about to happen, answers first. "Max, don't."

Max scoffs and swats at him. "Geef me die onzin niet, where is he?" (Don't give me that shit, where is he?)

Everyone's demeanor had dropped immediately, knowing that when Max started speaking Dutch, he was not to be messed with. He was already pissed, and when a pissed off Max is near, nobody wanted to be in that damage path.

"Where?" his voice booms, getting some stares thrown his way. He didn't care.

"I think he went to the bathroom. Said something about needing to freshen up," Pierre announces, not failing to watch as Max makes his way over towards the direction of the restrooms.

Once Max found the hallway leading down to the men's room, he pushed the door open, seeing Lando in front of the sink, patting water over his face. His gaze slowly turned over when he heard the door slam open, his entire face falling and turning white.

"Max-"

"Jij verdomde klootzak," (You fucking bastard) he laughs bitterly, stalking closer to Lando, who was backing away slowly as the Dutch driver got closer.

"How dare you?" Max growls. "Hm? How fucking dare you?" his tone getting louder before he pushes Lando hard. Lando put his hands up in surrender, trying to sputter out apologies.

"I give you my fucking blessing for her, and this? This is how you treat her? Are you fucking serious, Norris?" his voice booms, echoing across the bathroom walls. He pushes Lando harshly with every word that leaves his mouth.

"Max, look. I was upset with the race, I didn't-"

"I don't give a fuck if it's about the DNF. I wouldn't give a fuck if you got a disqualification penalty! You don't fucking treat her like she's some fucking scum on the bottom of your shoe!" he screams, giving one final hard push to Lando's chest, the thump of his back meeting the marble walls behind him echoing loudly.

"I didn't mean it, I just was frustrated-"

"Jouw gevoelens kunnen mij niks schelen, Norris!" (I don't care about your fucking feelings, Norris!) Max yells back bitterly, his hands slamming against the wall right next to Lando's head. Lando clenched his jaw, holding himself back as he let Max scream at him. He deserved that. He deserved a lot worse if he were honest.

Before he can even put another hand on Lando, Lewis and Oscar scurry inside, grabbing Max by his shoulders to pull him away from Lando.

"Let's not do this," Lewis says to Max as the Dutch fights his hold. He points at Lando.

"You realize you made her cry, Lando? She rarely does, and you made tears fall from her eyes!"

Lando felt his heart clench, his stomach dropping as he remembered the tears glossing over her eyes. "I didn't mean-"

"I held her there, as she sobbed in my arms. Sobbed! Saying she felt like an inconvenience, like she suffocates people. What did you fucking say to her?"

Lando couldn't get the words out, but Max already knew in that moment. His eyes widened, seeing that just by Lando's face alone, it really was all true. He said she was suffocating. Clingy. Lando said her touch was too much. Max scoffs bitterly, rolling his eyes.

"You're fucking dead to me, Norris," he spat, letting Lewis guide him out of the bathroom. "Verdomd dood!" (Fucking dead!) he yells back once more before leaving with Lewis.

Oscar has his arms crossed, turning back to face Lando, who just stands there in shock. "Mate, what did you do?" he asks in a knowing tone, more so making it sound like a rhetorical question.

Lando lets out a strangled sob as he begins to rub his face, sliding down against the wall. "I fucked up is what I did."

"He's going to have your head," he tuts, walking over to his friend and extending a hand. "Literally and figuratively. He's going to kill you next race."

Lando shook his head, keeping his stare over at the door, waiting for Max to come barging back in. "He's gonna kill me before we even make it to practice day."

Once Oscar had helped Lando clean himself up, looking more presentable, they left the men's room.

They made it to the table, seeing Max's spot was still empty, Lando felt his insides churn. Waiting for Max to pop up behind him somehwere.

"Where's Max?" Oscar asked as they sat down.

Lewis answers this time. "He left," he admits. "He said he'd rather be taking care of Y/N than be here. Said if he stayed any longer, he was going to throw something at Lando or drag him out by his ear."

Lando let out a groan, letting his head fall onto the table with a thud.

"Mate, what the actual fuck did you do to piss him off so badly?" Charles asked across the table. Lando just shook his head.

"He made Y/N cry from my understanding," Lewis reveals, causing every single head at the table to turn to Lando.

"What did you do? She never cries," George spoke up, a frown on his face. Most of the guys agreeing, being just as confused as Russell was.

Oscar spoke up this time, pursing his lips. "He let his anger out on her. Said she's suffocating and clingy basically."

"Oscar!" Lando seethes, snapping his head over at his teammate, a glare on his face. Oscar shrugged while sipping his drink, all the guys exchanging whispers and groans at Lando.

"Mate, you fucked up. Bad," Oscar says, not backing down.

"You're absolute toast."

"Max is going to have your head on a stick."

"I'm shocked he didn't drag you out already."

"Mate, you're in deep shit. Max doesn't play when it comes to her."

Lando groans before raising his hands to stop them from commenting more.

"I know. Guys, I know!" he snaps, making them all go quiet. "I just- I let my anger get hold of my emotions at the wrong time. I regret it with everything in me. I do."

"You don't realize how bad that is. You're lucky he let you even get a chance to be with her. His possessive ass," Lewis scoffs more to himself as he shook his head, sipping on his drink. The entire table looks his way, Lando frowning at his words.

"What's supposed to mean?" Lando sputters, feeling offended by Hamilton's words.

Lewis set his drink down, crossing his arms over the table while leaning towards Lando's direction.

"It means he doesn't share," he admits. "Not Y/N at least."

Lando feels his heart drop to his ass.

No. There was no way. He would've known.

Lando tilts his head, eyes squinting knowingly. He shook his head. "No. He's not, there's no way."

George cuts in, eyebrows furrowing. "What am I missing?"

Lewis leans back in his chair. "Max has been in love with Y/N for years," He says, reaching for his drink once more. Everyone at the table stays silent. It was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

"When she told him she wanted to be with you, he wanted her to be happy. After everything she helped him through growing up, she was his escape. Especially when his dad was harsh on him. He vowed to always make sure she was happy. He knew you could give her that, but he fought himself a lot with going against it."

Lando feels his insides caving as Lewis reveals every word. "He saw how happy you made her. That's all he ever wants for her, even if it's not him," he chuckles, seeing Lando's face. "He did say if it didn't work out between you two, that he would make that move."

Lando leans back in his seat with a groan, head falling back while he rubs his face out of stress, curses leaving his lips.

"So, if you thought you had any chance to win her back, Max is going to try and beat you to it. You probably have lost your chance," Lewis points out, sipping on his drink.

"And if we know anything about Max." George trails off.

"He never loses. Especially when it's something he wants."

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It was the next morning. Clouds covered the sky as it cried.

Max sat with his back against the headboard of his bed, hearing the door open from the bathroom. Y/N just finishing up a shower.

She hadn't really slept. When she would finally hit a deeper level of slumber, she would jolt up crying.

She didn't even let Max get close to her, not wanting to be touched, which was a new thing she was doing. Max hated it. He hated that she felt as if her needing and wanting touch to calm down was too much.

So he would sit there, feeling helpless, as she just held herself.

He had snuck down the hallway earlier that morning while she was somewhat asleep, packing up all of her things that were in her hotel room, bringing them up to his own. Knowing full well she'd end up doing that in the morning anyway.

She hated being alone when she was hurting. It was rare, but when it happened, Max was always there. He could always pick up on it.

He straightens up slightly when she walks around the corner, donning a pair of her sweats and one of his Redbull t-shirts. Deciding to stick with comfier pair of clothes for the flight back home.

Max had declined going to the F1 premiere, wanting to focus on Y/N as well as just not liking the idea of being stuck in New York around the press. Or having to keep things professional with Lando when he wanted to run him over with his car.

"You all packed up?" he asks softly, watching her nod.

He doesn't miss the way her face was blotched and puffy again, signaling she had cried a bit more while in the bathroom.

"Schat," he trails off in a sadder tone, getting up from his bed to walk to her. Y/N backs away from Max, shaking her head. "Please," she croaks. "Just don't touch me. Not right now."

Max stops in his tracks, feeling his heart hurt at her words. He nods reluctantly, deciding instead to busy himself with gathering both of their bags. His gaze going to see outside by the entry, seeing some fans and paps already waiting by the cars.

"They're lining up outside," he says slowly, handing her a hoodie to throw over her head. She says nothing, only sniffling as she puts it on.

The pair don't say anything more as they finished grabbing their things, leaving the hotel room to head downstairs.

Max would usually stop to take a few photos with the fans that stood outside, but he was only keeping his mind on getting Y/N past the crowd.

The security guards held the front door open as they saw Max and Y/N making their way outside, another guard going over to open the car door.

Max makes his way in front of her to shield the other side from seeing her, keeping his gaze on her figure. Y/N didn't hesitate to scurry into the car, Max pressing a hand softly on her back to help her up into the car. The man ignored the calls and pleas of his name before stepping inside the car behind her.

The door shuts behind the guard who climbs in after Max, soon being driven off towards the airport.

It was quiet the entire way there, Max keeping a close but safe distance from her in the shared backseat. He doesn't miss how her phone buzzes, seeing her peer down at it only to double-click the home button to decline it.

Lando had been blowing up her phone since the night before. Especially after Max had left, her phone wouldn't stop buzzing.

Y/N declined every call, putting his messages on Do Not Disturb. The more she sat with what he had said to her, the more it made her think back to every time he made a face when she would touch him.

She didn't know how long he felt that way with her, Y/N letting her mind overthink to the point it made her feel sick.

It wasn't good for her, and she knew that. She couldn't help it. Not when she had given herself fully to Lando in every way. Thinking he was it for her. That he was all she wanted. She was all he wanted. So she thought.

Max watched as she began to pinch at the skin on her wrists, something she did when her mind wouldn't stop running.

"Genoeg lieverd. Je zult je huid weer beschadigen," (Enough, darling. You'll damage the skin again) he says softly to her. She doesn't acknowledge his words, only pinching harder to try and stop her mind.

Max didn't hesitate in the next few moments, not caring if she yelled or glared at him as he touched her. He reached over to grab her hands, holding onto them. She snaps her gaze away from the window with a frown.

He looks at her. "If you're going to pinch skin, pinch mine. Not yours," he instructs. Y/N doesn't see anything but assurance in his eyes, Max nodding slowly with a hum. "You can't hurt me. You never could."

Y/N bites her lip before nodding. Max has her lean into his body as she begins to fidget again. But this time, with his own hands.

Max lets his head fall onto her own, watching her whole body, for the first time in the last day, soften. The more she fidgeted, seeing how it didn't hurt or affect him in any way, the more it relaxed her mind. She didn't know why.

It brought her a calming sensation, feeling Max's touch against her own body, and it made her whole body begin to relax.

Once they had arrived at the airport, Max didn't release her hands once. He kept his hands laced with her own. He only removed them once to adjust his hold, having her walk behind him as he made her lace her hands with his behind his back. They stayed that way as they walked up into the jet.

Max helped her set her backpack down on one of the cushioned chairs, and that was the time he released her hands.

He thanked the flight attendant crew as they loaded their things onto the jet, then exchanged a few words with his security guard and publicist.

Y/N stood there with an exhausted look in her eyes, just wanting to finally sleep. Let her mind and her body rest.

Once Max was done talking to them, he made his way over towards her figure. He didn't say anything, only guiding her to the back of the private jet. Y/N followed him slowly, Max opening the door to the small bedroom.

A bed in the corner, a TV sitting in front of it, while there was a recliner chair embedded into the floor on the other side of the room with a table in front of it.

This was usually where Max disappeared to when they had long flights, knowing he tried sleeping whenever he could get the chance.

He shut the door behind her softly before crawling into bed and getting comfy. Max turns back to her, seeing her stand there looking absolutely defeated.

"Come on," he assures, motioning for her to come lie down. Y/N shrugs. "I don't want to take up your space."

Max gives her a knowing look, clenching his jaw. "You could never. You know that," he says, his tone more stern. "Lay down."

Instead of her prying and arguing more, knowing she wouldn't win it, she doesn't fight it, not having anything left in that moment. Y/N cautiously goes to climb in, keeping her distance as best as she can. Giving him his space.

Max notices her actions, immediately ignoring the eyeroll he wanted to do, and wraps his arms around her waist to pull her back towards his figure.

She lets out a low squeak at his actions, and Max turns her to lie against him. He doesn't miss the way her body instantly caves into his side, him helping her lie her head on his chest as he laces their hands together in case she begins to pinch and pick at her skin again.

"Je hoeft je geen zorgen te maken, ik heb je lieverd," (You don't have to worry, I got you darling) he mumbles against her temple. He hears her sigh, the way he knows she is fighting with her body in her head. The way she tries to tense, but her body craves every touch that's being given to her. "Sleep."

That's all he has to mutter to her before her eyes finally begin to close, the closeness of another one's body heat lulling her into a deeper slumber.

Max kisses her head, letting his thumb caress the top of her hand as he feels the tenseness in her body falter away. He kisses her head once more.

"I've got you."

⋆˖⁺‧₊☽◯☾₊‧⁺˖⋆⋆˖⁺‧₊☽◯☾₊‧⁺˖⋆⋆˖⁺‧₊☽◯☾₊‧⁺˖⋆⋆˖⁺‧₊☽◯☾₊‧⁺˖⋆⋆˖⁺‧₊☽◯☾₊‧⁺˖⋆

A/N: Me after pressing "Post now"

Sooooooo hehe.... That got away from me, and I'm not sorry. Lando is a dumbass as we know. Are we loving a protective Max? How're we feeling overall, friends? Vote below. I love you guys <3, I'll see you soon ;)

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[bluewxrld07]

Hi Friends!

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[bluewxrld07]

Soap

Lando Norris X F!Reader

Summary: Y/N has always loved hard and shows that through affection. Especially lately. She's a touch-starved kind of lovergirl, and Lando has always been okay with it. At least she thought so.

Guess I better wash my mouth out with soap

Warning(s): angst, Lando being an ass (so sorry), Max being bestie

Y/N had always been a lovergirl at heart.

She was never afraid to show it, show how much she cared about the person. Whether it was family, friends, or lovers. She thought they deserved to be shown how much she cared for them being a part of her life.

It was something she would never change doing. She grew up in a household where that's all they ever did. Showed how much they loved one another.

So, when she met Lando, she had never stepped away from her normal self. It was why he fell in love with her.

He met her at one of the F1 races, the girl working alongside Redbull, and being close to Max. Childhood friends, if you will. Max was the one to introduce the pair, always raving to both parties how well they'd be together.

Lando had always noticed the way she would hug or wrap her arms around Max. Not in a way that could lead to it looking like they were more than friends, she was just always friendly with everyone in a mature way.

It was the way she would brighten up a room when she came by, always making sure to give attention to everyone in the room equally.

After they had been introduced at an afterparty, she didn't hesitate to bring Lando in for a big hug.

Her scent smelled addictive, drawing him in more. That's when he realized that everything about her was addicting to keep around.

It wasn't long after that that the pair had begun dating.

It threw him off at first, the way she would nonchalantly be within his vicinity, like it was a reflex. It wasn't something he was used to, as his past flings and relationships were always very aware of their distance with Lando.

He had put two and two together when her touches were sly; things like wrapping her arm around his bicep or waist, when she'd run her hands through his curls randomly, or linking pinkies when they were in a crowded room.

She always had to touch him in some way, but at the same time, it was never something that overwhelmed him. It was just how she loved. How she cared.

Especially when she was drunk or tired. This girl was always by his side. Lando had soon became obsessed with it.

She wasn't afraid to show her love or affection towards Lando. She did have a brain, keeping it to a minimum as she didn't want people to roll their eyes every time a pap photo came out.

The fans had grown to love her, not too long after one of Lando's streams, she had made an appearance in. The way she wrapped her arms around him from behind, the boy leaned back in his gaming chair, at the feeling of her arms around him.

It was Raceday in Canada, Y/N was already in her game mode for the day.

Y/N was currently putting things together at the paddock, signing off on a few documents before handing them to one of the engineers and walking down towards Lando's garage.

She peers in, waving and going to give a small hug to Zac as she sees him, the man pointed to where Lando was.

The girl thanks him before making her way over towards the curly-headed boy, his back turned away from her as he spoke with one of his techs.

She softly wraps her arms around his torso, the man not alarmed one bit by her touch. Immediately knowing it was her without a glance.

He wraps his hands around her arms that wrap around him, letting them trail and slither to her hands before lacing them with his as he carries on his conversation with the tech.

Y/N presses a light kiss to his shoulder, patiently waiting as he speaks, not in any rush to pull him from the conversation.

Once the tech finishes up with Lando, the Brit turns to face his girlfriend. A goofy smile on his face as he wraps his arms around her figure. He looks down at her, placing a light kiss on her lips.

"Hi baby," he mutters softly against her lips. She grins against them.

"Hello, my love. How're you feeling?"

He shrugs, pulling back enough to look down at her as he rubs her back lovingly. "Pretty good. Pretty confident. Starting off high up after Qualifier for Canada is always a good sign. I think this will be a good one," he explains, Y/N nodding as she takes in every word.

"You got it, I feel it too. Gonna be a good one."

He hums at her, giving her a look. "Hm I don't think you should be telling me that," he jokes. "Sounding like a traitor to your own team."

She rolls her eyes and shakes her head. "Let me just my loving boyfriend goodluck on a race he needs, yeah? How's that?"

He chuckles before his eyes flicker to her lips for a second. She presses a couple chaste kisses to his lips after catching him, the boy smiling against her lips.

"Alright," he chuckles as she presses kisses all over his face. He backs away as she teases him, laughs leaving his lips. "Enough, gonna get lip gloss all over my face now."

She gives him a look. "Like you care."

He purses his lips, nodding curtly. "Got me there."

Y/N breaks away from his grip, grabbing his face one more time to press a big kiss on his cheek before backing away. "Goodluck, Norris!" she jokes. He rolls his eyes playfully. "Yeah yeah."

"I love you!"

He smiles widely at her words, blowing a few kisses towards her as he gets handed his helmet.

Y/N chuckles as she makes her way back to the Redbull garage, seeing Max getting his gear ready to go. He looks over towards her, a knowing smirk playing on his lips.

"You give your Romeo his goodluck kiss?" He jokes, earning a playful shove from her.

"Shut it, Verstappen," she giggles, before pulling him for a hug. "Tear it up out there, yeah? Let's get this shit going."

He scoffs with a smug look before nodding. "It's me we're talking about. Of course I'll come out on top," That answer makes her push him away as they broke their hug, Y/N making her way back over to her spot in the garage.

Before she knew it, the race had started, and the cars were off. Y/N in complete game mode as she kept her eyes on the screen in front of her, cutting in when she needed to with Max.

Things had been smooth so far. McLaren was rocking it with their pole positions to say the least, and Max wasn't too far behind.

Y/N only froze when she had caught sight of both McLaren cars racing against one another, soon watching Lando's car get caught up and crashing into the wall.

It had made her chest tighten, and her stomach drop to her ass. She felt some of her coworkers look her way, waiting for a reaction from her. Y/N only sitting there in her chair, hands covering her mouth in shock as she watches it unfold.

The girl couldn't move. Not only because she was frozen. But they were still in the middle of a race.

As much as she wanted to drop everything and go make sure he was okay, she still had her job to do. She knew he'd understand that.

"Y/N, he's okay. All good. No injuries," Max's voice comes in, as if knowing she would immediately drift over to thinking about him. He was anchoring her back, making sure she knew he would be able to assure her to snap back into race mode.

She nods more to herself, muttering a 'thank you, keep pushing' to Max through the radio.

Her knee bounced the rest of the race, not wasting a second to stand up straight from her spot to join the crew over where Max met them as he finished P2.

Max immediately went to Y/N first, seeing both freight about Lando and excitement in her eyes for her best friend placing, in her eyes. He could tell she was in a mental battle.

So he says nothing, just gives her a tight smile and pulls her into his arms. She doesn't hesitate to hug him back, placing a friendly kiss on his head. "Still a good spot to place," she says, her tone uneasy. "That's worth something."

He chuckles before breaking away from her, his eyes looking down at her antsy state.

He nods towards the garages.

"Go find him," he says, making her snap up and look at him.

"What-"

"Go make sure he's okay. I can read you better than you think."

She gives him a sad smile, kissing his cheek before squeezing her way past people and darting straight to the McLaren garage.

Her eyes search through the crowd of reporters already over there, seeing that Lando was interviewing with one. His face showed nothing but a blank state, trying to make it look as neutral as possible.

Y/N makes her way towards the side of the garage, managing to squeeze by the reporters, watching as Lando finishes with his interviews. He starts to walk back towards his Driver's room, Y/N following cautiously behind him.

By the way he was walking, she could tell he was pissed off and disappointed.

He shuts the door behind him, Y/N stopping it before it can fully slam, before slipping inside. It clicks behind her, the girl saying his name softly as she approached him.

He huffs as he leans against the desk in the middle of the room, Y/N seeing he was trying to not lose it.

"Lan," she says once more, her arms coming out to reach for him. "I'm not going to ask how you are, I know you hate that."

He scoffs at her words, nodding and still remaining silent.

"I'm sorry. I know how bad you want it," she assures, trying to be cautious of her words. Her hands softly make contact with his back, running her nails up his spine.

It's not too long after he immediately snaps up and away from her touch, walking to the other side of the room.

She frowns at first, but just turns her body to watch his figure walk towards his closet. "You can talk to me," she says. "Say anything to get it out of your system. I'm here to listen."

He shook his head. "Stop."

Her brows furrowed. "Lando I'm just-"

"No, just stop," he snaps back at her. His head snapped over to glare at her over his shoulders. Y/N just nods, understanding he doesn't want to talk. "I'm sorry," she mutters.

So instead, she just advances towards him, beginning to wrap her arms around him. He doesn't hesitate to rip her arms off of him and turn to face her.

"Y/N fucking stop, enough! Stop touching me!" he yells at her, the tone he was using was something she had never heard him use on her before. This was the first time he had ever raised his voice at her.

"I'm sorry. Lando, I swear I was just trying to help-"

"Well don't! I don't want to talk about it, or have you always clinging onto me," he shoots, making her eyes harden. "It's fucking too much. You're too much."

"Excuse me?" she asks softly. "You always tell me my touch helps calm you down."

"Well I lied," he snaps, making her face drop. "You're always hovering. You're fucking suffocating me."

Y/N swears her heart drops.

Was she really making him feel that way?

"You're always fucking touch me, fuck," he huffs, running a hand through his hair. "I don't need this right now. You need to leave, or I'm gonna say some fucked up shit."

Y/N nods, trying her best to keep her composure. "You already did."

Lando's eyes soften as he finally turns to look at her. He sees that her eyes are glossed over with tears, but her stance and stare are harsh.

"I'm too much? That's fine," she scoffs before heading to the door, not even aware that tears are streaming down her cheeks.

"Y/N wait-"

"Feel better, Lando," she sniffles. "I hope you know you don't need to be so down on yourself."

With that, she shuts his door with a light slam and scurries her way out of the garage. Her head is down as she excuses herself past people, wiping away the wetness on her face.

Once she's back in the Redbull garage, she doesn't hesitate to make her way back towards the staircase to the offices, heading to the second floor.

She misses the way Max sees her walking in, his proud smile dropping immediately as he sees her red and blotchy face.

He excuses himself from the last of his interviews, immediately following her hurried steps. When he reaches the top of the steps he feels his heart tighten, hearing her break down into sobs behind her office door.

Max doesn't waste any time opening the door, Y/N whipping around to see him standing there.

His face falls, making his way towards her.

"Don't," she says shakily, wrapping her arms around herself. He furrows his brows, but stops in his tracks.

"What happened?" he asked her. She shook her head slowly, closing her eyes as she felt her heart break. Her chest burned as her head replayed Lando's tone. His words.

"Y/N," Max presses, a more stern tone and hard expression. "What happened?"

Y/N says nothing, just sniffling before her eyes meet Max's. The next words that leave her mouth nearly make his knees give out.

"Am I really too much? Do I suffocate people?"

Max tilts his head, confused by her words. He steps closer to her, not caring if she tries to push him away. Her words slowly starting to click in his head.

She was thinking she was clingy.

"Y/N no," he softly answers, immediately pulling her in for a tight hug. His arms encircled her entire body as he felt her body shake. "Absolutely not. You're never suffocating. You love so physically. There's nothing wrong with that."

"Then why does Lando think that?"

Oh, if he didn't have a reputation to hold, he would've easily left that room and made Lando run for his money.

He'd do it regardless, actually.

"I'm sorry," she says softly. "I don't mean to be. I just wanted to help him. I'm sorry," she sniffles in between hiccups.

Max shushes her softly, taking one of his hands and caressing her head. His other hand stays wrapped tightly around her waist. His mind was going a million miles a minute.

Y/N was always the strong one between the two. She never cried. It just wasn't something she did. It was rare, and Max would know that.

So the fact that Lando had made her cry spoke volumes in his mind.

Lando had a lot of explaining to do, and Max wasn't sure if he wanted to hear it.

Not after this.

[bluewxrld07]

We Can't Be Friends - Insta AU (2)

Charles Leclerc X ex!Reader

Summary: The iconic couple, Y/N L/N and Charles Leclerc, break up after five years of being together. Y/N releases a new song soon after the tabloids have released the information of their breakup, causing lots of controversy about where they both stand post their calling quits.

Warning(s): angst, hinting at heartbreak (Ariana Grande as our face claim)

ynln just posted some photos!

Location : Paris, France

liked by yourbff, lando, carlossainz, madisonbeer, halsey, charlesleclerc and 32m others

ynln : Fashion Weeeeeek in Paris :) Also got to sing some new music coming soon too 👀🤗

More to come 🫶🏼

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user Mother is slaying the game with these fits I fear

user She's literally so cute! 🥹🥹

user She looks so happy awww

yourbff Idk which song I'm ready for😩😮‍💨🙃

user HOW MANY ARE WE GETTING??!

yourbff uhhhh😬

ynln 🤪🤪

user Y'all did anyone else see that Charles is ALSO in Paris???

user He's there with Georgio Armani I'm pretty sure

lando Great, now come visit Monaco😢

ynln omw

lando REALLY😋😋

ynln no 🩵

maxfewtrell Mate, I'm hurting FOR u

user Ok but possible reunion between her and Charles? Especially if she is performing for Fashion week??? ANYONE??😰😰

fanuser just posted a photo!

liked by user2, user7, user1 and 1.593 others

fanuser : Y'all, I just met Charles Leclerc?? He's here for Paris Fashion Week???! Are we gonna get a Charyn reunion????? 👀🤩

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user I TOLD YOU ALL

user Guys chiiillll who knows if he and Y/N have even seen one another?

user They defs have, he was there when she performed at the pre-show gala 🙂

user WHAT

user I haven't heard much, but yeah he was there 😮‍💨😮‍💨

ynln just posted a photo!

liked by charlesleclerc, yourbff, Swarovski, lando and 28m others

ynln : Paris, thanks for having me; Dandelion out now🩵🥹

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user I'M SCREAMING WITHOUT THE S

user "Plant this seed' ?!!?!?!?! MISS Y/N WHAT🧐🧐😟

user Oh y'all she is COOKING I cannot wait

yourbff I can be anything you'd like?? Please??😔

ynln ughhh. I suppose😏🥰

lando Idk if I should be scarred mentally or excited for the rest of the new music coming after this release🤧

ynln Weren't you literally just singing it in the car???

lando WHO TOLD YOU

ynln maxfewtrell has entered the chat

maxfewtrell oops😋

lando You absolute muppet

ynln It's ok I know you'll never admit you're obsessed🤗🙂‍↔️

lando Sure sure

user Y'all I love this trio so much lmfao

user Why don't her and lando just date

charlesleclerc no

yourbff She's out of his league lets be real😮‍💨

lando WOW OUCH OK ENOUGH

ynln hahahaha

charlesleclerc just posted some photos!

liked by ferrari, ynln, lando, carlossainz, lewishamilton and 12m others

charlesleclerc : Had some fun during Paris Fashion Week, thanks for the invite georgioarmani

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user FOAMING at the mouth 😩🤩

user Y'all why has this post been frozen on my screen for eight hours

user SO GOOD HE LOOKS SO GOOD

carlossainz My oh my what have we here👀😋

charlesleclerc all for you 😘

lando ayo??? 😔

user I think this is all for someone whose name is ynln

user You might be onto something there

user Y'all there's pap photos of him and Y/N together on his boat??? HELP? SEND HELP??!

ynln just posted some photos!

liked by yourbff, maxfewtrell, lando, charlesleclerc, haileesteinfeld, and 37m others

ynln : Now I just can't go where you don't go

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user Y'ALL THAT'S LITERALLY THE SWEATER CHARLES WAS WEARING A COUPLE DAYS AGO

user Omfg they're together y'all DON'T PANIC

user IT'S TIME I'M NOT READY

user WHAT IF THE CAPTION IS ABOUT HIM???! I CAN'T

user Wellll most of her new album I think will be about him lol, there are soooo many signs

yourbff Glowing 💕

ynln Been a while🤗

user OH IT'S SO CONFIRMED GUYS

lando Y'all it's me actually, I'm the one she's talking about 😚😙😝

maxfewtrell You wish you knob

lando LEMME DREAM OK

ynln Let the poor man dream Max🤧🤧

lando YEAH- wait....🙂

maxfewtrell I'm gonna pissa myself from laughing 😭🤣🤣🤣

ynln just posted some photos!

liked by eltonjohn, yourbff, charlesleclerc, kellypiquet, mileycyrus, and 42m others

ynln : She's out and I'm crying! 🥹🩵🩵😭

Eternal Sunshine is not only one of my top favorite albums, but the most personal one I've made. The one, mon chérie, who inspired most of the music will always be someone I hold dear to my heart.❤️ Many tears were shed while making this, but I wanted you all to feel closer to me in a way I cannot explain. Only sing. I hope you all enjoy it.

I love you 😘

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user WAIT I'M NOT READY 🤧

user AGH THE TEARS 😢😢😢😢

user Oh she absolutely cooked with this I will be ugly crying and staying locked away for the time being 🙂‍↔️

yourbff Such a great album, I can't wait for the world to heal with you😭💕💕

ynln 🥹🤧

user Omfg guys most of these songs have me in an absolute chokehold

charlesleclerc So proud of your accomplishments, cherie. Hard work paid off 🩵

*liked by ynln*

user AYO CHARLES WHAT'RE YOU DOING HERE

user STOP YALL I CAN'T

user Between this album, the possibility of them seeing each other again, and how happy she looks I can't fathom the way my chest cannot take this

[bluewxrld07]

We Can't Be Friends - Insta AU

Charles Leclerc X ex!Reader

Summary: The iconic couple, Y/N L/N and Charles Leclerc, break up after five years of being together. Y/N releases a new song soon after the tabloids have released the information of their breakup, causing lots of controversy about where they both stand post their calling quits.

Warning(s): angst, hinting at heartbreak (Ariana Grande as our face claim)

A/N: idk about a pt 2 yet, we shall see

TMZ just posted a photo!

TMZ : Get your tissues ready, folks, because this is gonna break your hearts!

Famous Singer/Actress Y/N L/N and Ferrari F1 Driver, Charles Leclerc, have called it quits after almost five years of dating! Sources say it was a mutual breakup, but both parties have come clean about the breakup, stating they both very much will remain friends, but they're both at different parts in their lives. 🥺

After the pair had met through mutual friends, Lando Norris and Max Fewtrell, the pair had easily become inseparable, moving quickly into their relationship just weeks after meeting.

How're we feeling about this news? 👀👀

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user I'm actually ugly crying rn, THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO GET MARRIED YALL 😭😭😭😭😭😭

user This has to be some April Fool's joke, right..... RIGHT??!

user I no longer believe in love after this because wtf 🥲

user NO WHAT NOT MOM AND DAD😰😰😰

user Nobody talk to me I'm breaking at the seams 😩🤧

*ONE MONTH LATER*

ynln has just posted a photo!

liked by yourbff, theweeknd, charlesleclerc and 15m others

ynln : I didn't think you'd understand me

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user MOTHER RETURNS AND THE CROWD IS..... In a corner??! They're crying?!

user Oh no, I can't deal with the breakup music, my heart hurts 🤕

user I ALREADY KNOW THIS IS ABOUT CHARLES I CANT OK😢😢😭

user Someone needs to pay for my therapy😟

user New music incoming, I'm sobbing🙃🙃

yourbff Babygirl it's just me and you 🩵

*liked by ynln*

tatemcrae This brought me to absolute tears 🥺

user I just know I won't be sleeping for weeks after this comes out

ynln just posted a photo!

liked by charlesleclerc, yourbff, lando, maxfewtrell, and 17m others

ynln : So, for now, it's only me

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user I can sense this mv is gonna fuck me up yall

user This song is gonna hurt isn't it???

user I'm afraid so, my friend

maxfewtrell I'm so reviewing this on my Twitch when it releases. We will cry together chat

ynln I'll bring tissues

maxfewtrell I'll need towels at this point🤕

user Not Max being her biggest fan lmfao

lando Ugly crying I already know🤧🤧🤧

yourbff I'll wait for your love🩵

*liked by ynln*

user Nooooo pls tell me that's just her bestie saying it to say it😩😩😩😩😭

user It's a lyric, I'm pretty sure, we're all gonna hurt on this one.🥲

ynln just posted a photo!

liked by lando, yourbff, maxfewtrell, charlesleclerc, dualipa and 27m others

ynln : we can't be friends (wait for your love) out now on all platforms🩵 I love you all

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user I'M CRYING YALL GOODBYE 😰😐

user NAH because it's the way most of the scenes in there were things her and Charles did together I CAN'T 😟

user I had to pause and walk away from the MV because she literally is saying she wants to erase their mems together because it hurts too much I--😰

lando Can I say I'm crying rn

ynln This is a safe space

lando Good because you may need to pay for my therapy😮‍💨😭

ynln You're fine

lando NO

user It's the way the necklace she pleads to keep is literally the one Charles gave her on their one year, you guys, I fear I'm not okay rn🙂‍↔️🙂‍↔️

yourbff Proud of you, this is my most favorite song you've ever written tbh🥹🩵😭😭

ynln Even the one I wrote for you?

yourbff That one is in its own category thank you

user The way she is saying she can't be friends with C anymore because all she wants is his love. Y'ALL THIS IS TOO MUCH 🫩

user Screaming, crying, throwing up, breaking dishes, flipping the couch

maxfewtrell This made me so emotional, damn you

ynln I can see that on your stream

maxfewtrell I'm flicking you off now

*liked by ynln*

user y'all it's the fact he's actually flicking her off on stream lmfao

user and I quote "Fuck you for making me feel like I'm going through the breakup, dammit" - maxfewtrell twitch stream

charlesleclerc 🧸 🩵

user NO NO NO CHARLES STOP IT

Charlesleclerc just posted a photo!

liked by lando, maxverstappen, lewishamilton, ynln, and 21m others

charlesleclerc : I'll wait for your love 🩵

comments disabled

[bluewxrld07]

Pins and Needles

Lando X Bff!Fewtrell!Reader

Summary: Y/N doesn't know where she and Lando stand anymore. Their once-tight friendship soon started to tear at the seams.

Warning(s): just pure angst, Lando being toxic (sorry y'all), making out, Charles Leclerc incoming, depression, lack of self-worth

A/N : I can't help myself y'all ok 🥲 This one is gonna hurt, I'm sorry but also not sorry. Enjoy 🙂 (Written and inspired by Nessa Barrett's song Pins and Needles)

Hand on the stove, I barely feel it

And when I let go, I'm already healing

This was not how it was supposed to go.

How it was supposed to wind up.

Y/N didn't even know how she got herself into this situation.

Deep down, she knew exactly how she got herself into this situation, she just didn't want to admit to it.

It started when one drunk night at the club in Monaco led to her becoming tangled up in her best friend's sheets, whispering sweet nothings to one another. The sly touches as the sun crept through the blackout curtains the next morning.

That was when their situation bloomed. Things had become messier between Lando and Y/N.

Little did Y/N realize just how deep she had fallen for the man she had known almost her entire life. He was comfortable. Familiar. Trustworthy.

At the start.

Things at the beginning were smooth. Nothing but absolute lust, addiction, and hunger. It rose and rose, some moments almot becoming reckless.

They couldn't keep their hands off one another. From sneaking around the paddock, to the club bathrooms, to the bedroom next door to Max's. It became reckless. Animals in heat. The craving was insatiable.

The pair didn't know if the sneaking around made them this way, or the fact that it was supposed to be a forbidden relationship. Max would've had Lando's head. He'd have six feet under the ground.

She didn't mean to fall more in love with the boy. She thought it would be harmless. Her feelings would subside. Not do the complete opposite and skyrocket. The way he had begun to treat their little situationship as if they were together is what got her the most.

He made her feel like she was the only one.

Till he slowly became more sloppy. Bailing out on plans more often, leaving her high and dry while saying something came up. The distance became clearer. It was the late-night visits that were only making a daily appearance. No talking, just becoming tangled in the bedsheets.

Their friendship had begun to fade out, only turning into meaningless sex. At least that's what she believed.

She never understood why. What had she done for him to pull away slowly? What was she missing?

Y/N couldn't tell anyone, as she didn't have anyone she told about it. Not trusting a single soul to keep it quiet if things got tricky. Especially not when Max had no idea of what was happening behind closed doors.

When he began to ask why her mood had become more glum, as if she had almost faded. She just used the excuse of lack of sleep, or was just having one of those days.

He didn't question it, only gave her a lingering look, then didn't push further. He knew better.

It wasn't long till she found out why. Why Lando pulled away from her, let their friendship fade out, as well as their late night hookups.

They say your name, I don't even hear it

You dug your own grave, and nobody's grieving

The articles all read and show him with a new girl, a blonde model and actress. She was pretty. His type, too. He looked happy, a genuine smile on his lips as he looked at her.

That's when she noticed the way her chest tightened, crashed in on itself.

He had been seeing this girl, Magui, she thinks her name was, without saying a thing to her. She thought they were close enough that he would've been honest. He has never lied to her. In all the years she had known him, it wasn't something he did.

She remembered when she found out, she sat there trying to figure out what to say to him. Her first message sounded angry. Hurt, betrayed, lost, and confused.

Instead, she clicked the power button off, thinking it was best to not say a word. Instead, she let it fade away. Let him fade away.

There had been a day Y/N was at her brother's, sitting on the barstool while he cooked food with Pietra.

"Is she nice?" she asks, hinting at Lando's new girl. Max looked at her with an unsure gaze, shrugging his shoulders.

"From what I can tell, yeah," he answers. "Still a bit skeptical about her, though. About her past, mainly. Everything is still unclear about what happened between her and Luisna. Lando won't really talk about it."

She nods, deciding not to push any further, picking at the food on her plate.

"Have you heard from him lately?" Pietra asks this time. "I haven't seen you two around one another lately. Usually it's hard to pull you both away from the other," she tries to joke. Max looked back at his sister with just as curious of a look.

"You two haven't been talking?" he asks, Y/N just shrugs.

"Not really," she admits. "Always says something's come up. It's fine, I'm not gonna push it. He's happy."

Max looks at her with a little bit of shock on his face. "You two have been close for years. Closer than him and me, why would he just push you away?"

Y/N knew the real answer to it, but she couldn't give that away. As she knew Max would lose his shit if he knew. Lando would be lucky to leave the brawl with a head on his shoulders if Max found out.

So instead, the girl just shrugs. "Don't know. Just assumed maybe he doesn't want to make things look weird with his new girl. Probably doesn't want her to think anything else."

Max scoffs playfully at that, pouring his eggs onto his own plate. "Trust me, if there was more, I would've known. She wouldn't have had anything to worry about. He'd have a lot more to deal with if that were the case."

She just stays silent, Pietra sensing the awkwardness in the room, deciding to change the subject.

Shot my heart with Novacane

Ice-cold, cut off my blood flow

It had turned into hearing from Lando every other week, and maybe seeing him when he came to help with collabs for Quadrant. When the pair would be streaming with the other streamers, he wouldn't so much as acknowledge her in the chat.

It would be short answers if anything.

Her chest burned every time she made eye contact with him, the gazes between the pair always having something between them. Something she couldn't quite explain.

It wasn't until she had been dragged out to a race day with Max and P, that she could feel the need to hide away in a corner for the rest of her life.

She kept her distance whenever Lando would come around, the boy not missing the way she would excuse herself when he came by.

He should've known.

He caused the tension between them. He pulled back when he only wanted to get closer to her.

He found another girl while in denial of how deeply in love he was with his homeboy's sister, and his best friend. Magui was his way out. His escape from his reality. Even if it wasn't the right way.

He had to let Y/N go, even if it meant he couldn't be in her life anymore.

At least that's what he told himself.

You think you're important,, boy, I've got bad news

You're mean and you're boring, they'll all forget you

Y/N had been standing over by the motorhomes, sipping on the coffee in her hand, when she felt someone bump into her back. The sip had turned into a mess, dripping down onto her white tube top she wore on the hot day.

She turned around to meet the eyes of a familiar Monégasque man, who looked at her in horror. "Shit, Y/N I am so sorry," he nervously chuckles, his eyes seeing the new stain on her top. "I should've been more careful. I was so caught up in the conversation I-"

"Charles," she giggles, making him look at her. "It's okay. At least it wasn't a hot coffee, yeah?"

He snorts while rubbing the back of his neck. "Now that I definitely would've never heard the end of."

She chuckles. "You still won't hear the end of this one," she jokes, making him give her a genuine smile before chuckling back at her. He motions to her shirt.

"At least lemme help get you a new top? I can't bear the thought of you having to be stuck with explaining how the stain came about."

"Ahhh I see you want to protect your perfect image, I suppose?" she tuts playfully, making him widen his eyes.

"What? No I meant like it would probably be annoying having to say the story a thousand times, or you could get weird looks from people, or-"

"Oh my goodness, Charles! I'm joking," she laughs while putting her hands on his shoulders. She watches him visibly relax at her touch and her words, rubbing his hand over his face.

"Sorry, I just," he chuckles breathlessly. "You make me nervous, is all."

She raises her brows, a small smirk on her lips. "Oh, I do now?"

He rolls his eyes with a groan. "I'm never gonna hear the end of this."

She hums. "I didn't know I made the famous Ferrari driver nervous," she jokes while crossing her arms and giving him a knowing look.

His eyes flicker down from her eyes to her lips for a split second, then he smiles at her. "A little."

"A little?"

He purses his lips. "Okay a bit more than a little."

She laughs at his little confession, Charles pinching her waist as he pulls her with him. "You can give me shit later," he laughs. "But right now let's go get you changed into something that doesn't have a stain on it."

She lets him drag her along to the Ferrari paddock, in search of Rebecca and Carlos, knowing the WAG always had a backup set of clothing on her when need be.

Once Charles had found them, he explained the situation, watching as Rebecca lit up and happily said she'd lend a helpful hand.

Y/N followed the girl, keeping up the small talk as they made their way to the Ferrari motorhome, where Rebecca had a cute top waiting for Y/N.

She knew she wouldn't hear the end of it, the color of the top being a bright Ferrari red. It was a one-shoulder cropped tank top, the color sitting beautifully on her skin. Rebecca gave her a low whistle, causing Y/N to chuckle and roll her eyes.

"Red looks so good on you," she says, making Y/N shrug. Rebecca gives her a knowing look, but says nothing as the pair made their way back to the paddock.

Charles did a double take when she returned, his eyes taking in the red top that adorned her skin.

He smiled as he walked up to her. "Red is your color I think," he says, making her roll her eyes.

"Rebecca said the same thing," she answers, watching him nod. "She's never wrong."

Y/N thanks Rebecca one more time, alongside a hug. "Think about it," Rebecca whispers into the girl's ear before pulling away with a wink.

Charles then walks Y/N back over to the McLaren paddock where her brother and P sat. Max frowned at his sister. "I've been looking for you. Where did you run off to?" his eyes then dart to the new top she was wearing, then back to Charles. He gave Max a look.

"I bumped into her and thought I could help her get a new top," he explains. "I felt bad. So blame me for stealing her. Sorry, mate."

Max chuckles while nodding. "Of course it's a red top too," he jokes, Charles ears turning bright red, he puts his hands up in defense.

"Blame Rebecca for that one," he sputters, Max doing a once-over with a smug smirk while nodding slowly. "Uh-huh," Max trails off. "Well, thank you for helping her out," he says, a smug smirk only getting wider.

Charles nods curtly, before facing Y/N with a small smile, and squeezes her side. "Good seeing you, cherie," he mutters to her, kissing her cheek before he leaves her. Y/N realizing her side feeling slightly colder than it did when his hand was there.

She turns to watch him leave and head down the stairs, biting her lip without realizing it. Her head turns back to face her brother and Pietra.

The pair is staring at her with smug and knowing smiles. Max leans back in his seat, crossing his arms and clearing his throat.

Y/N squints her eyes at them. "What?" Watching her brother nod at her.

"Someone has a crush."

She scoffs at her brother. "You're reading into things," she chuckles while shaking her head.

Pietra laughs. "Oh, honey, no. You two were staring at each other like you want to-"

"Don't even say what you're going to say," Max whines, covering his face. "I don't need to hear that."

Y/N just laughs, pointing at Pietra. "You're wrong on top of that."

Pietra rolls her eyes with a smirk, and before she can argue further, Lando is seen walking up to the group, making Y/N want to fade away.

Lando sees her, only doing a double-take when he sees the color of her shirt, also realizing that this was indeed not the color she was wearing earlier. He slowly points at her shirt, Max chuckles.

"Dear old Ferrari man has a crush on my sister," Max admits, then points at her. "She's crushing on him as well."

"Maxwell!" Y/N hisses, watching him crack up. She doesn't miss the way Lando's facial expression drops, something unreadable in his expression.

"What d'you mean?" he asks slowly. Y/N groans while hiding her face.

"What he means," Pietra starts. "Charles spilled coffee on her and helped her get a new shirt. And apparently that was his chance to get her in red."

Lando's eyes snapped down to Pietra, Max just sitting there in a fit of giggles as his sister kicks his shin.

"He was just being helpful," Y/N grumbles. "Besides, Rebecca was the one who gave it to me. Not Charles."

Max looks back at her. "Sure, we know that," he says between laughs. "But the eye fucking you two were doing before he left said more than that. Especially that little kiss move-"

"He kissed you?" Lando cuts in, his tone sharp and stern. Max and Pietra look at him with certain looks. His head and eyes only focused on Y/N in that moment, who was now shifting on her feet with her arms crossed.

"It was just on the cheek," she rolls her eyes before glaring at Max. "Stop making it sound like he laid me out on the table or something," she hisses, making Lando choke on his spit while Max gagged.

"That's vile, do not ever say that again," he points at his sister with a disgusted look. "Second, I'm only saying it because I think you two would be good together."

That makes her eyes widen in shock, watching him put his hands up in defense.

"Say what now? I thought you said no racers."

He hums with a nod before pointing out to Lando. "Yeah, I said that mainly for that one," he says, missing how his mate clenched his jaw. "Charles, on the other hand? I hope it does happen. He's one of the good ones."

Y/N coughs awkwardly, not missing the way Lando scoffed at his best friend's words, mumbling something under his breath as he crossed his arms.

"Can we just change the subject, please? I'm not crushing on Charles, and I'm not going to date him."

Max gives her a knowing look before turning his gaze towards Lando. He frowns. "You good, mate?" he asks, watching as Lando snaps his gaze at Max. He nods curtly.

"Just don't care to hear about her sex life, you muppet. Charles is a player and only wants what he can't have," he admits, not missing the way Y/N glared straight to the side of his face. "Anyways, we're getting ready to start. I was gonna walk you lots to the club level."

Max nods before taking Pietra's hand to guide her. Lando kept his pace next to Y/N's, the girl not missing how his hand would brush against hers every so often.

She could see the gears turning in his head, clenching his jaw every so often, as if he was preventing himself from saying or doing something he might regret. Max and Pietra were further ahead of them, happily making their way to the balcony in the club level of the paddock, overlooking the racetrack.

"He can't give you what I can," the brit says next to her, causing her to snap her gaze at him with a frown. She scoffs.

"That's awfully daft, coming from you," she shoots back. "You ghosted me, remember? You don't have a say in my actions."

"Oh, so you are seeing Leclerc huh?"

She scoffs. "Go check on your girlfriend, Norris. The one you dropped me for."

He glares at her. "Y/N-"

"End of discussion, Lando."

She walks away, a part of her wanting him to grab her and pull her back. Show her she was his. Even if it was behind closed doors. The other part of her was happy he didn't. She wanted him to see that he couldn't have her. He missed the opportunity.

Don't call me your ex, 'cause I never met you

She kept close to her brother and P the entire race, zoning out the entire time the race went on.

Her mind didn't know what to think.

She missed Lando. She really did.

The other part of her though, was also pulling towards Charles.

Y/N couldn't tell if it was just because of how Lando reacted, or because of how she felt a new feeling whenever Charles was near her.

Or how she caught her stare lingering longer on Charles as he took P2. Or how his eyes found hers in the crowd, staring back at her, his smile becoming wider when he saw she was staring first.

It's all pins and needles, babe

I feel nothing for you, nothing for you

Now, here she stood, in the VIP section of the Monaco club after Lando placed P1 at his home race.

She had a drink in her hand, pretty sure the glass could break under her grip. Her eyes did not leave the way his hands and body moved with the blonde on the dancefloor.

At this point she couldn't tell if she was jealous, or pissed off. Or both.

She watched as his hands moved along her body, how his lips never left her body as they danced. He looked like a wet dream.

"You hold onto that glass any tighter, it's gonna shatter and cut up that pretty hand," a familiar French accent says next to her. Her eyes snap out of the daze, turning to see Charles taking the spot next to her.

He nods at her slowly. "You alright, cherie?" he asks her, making her laugh to herself before spinning a finger around the rim of her glass.

"Honestly, I don't know," she admits, looking back at his confused frown. "Can I be honest?"

"Always."

She sighs. "I had been seeing this guy. We weren't anything exclusive, but at the same time, it felt like it. Then out of nowhere, he just stops. No explanation, no excuses, nothing. Just drops me like I'm nothing," she explains, letting a bitter chuckle leave her lips.

"Then I found out it's because he had another girl. I don't even know how long. It was just out of the blue, and I guess I shouldn't have been as upset as I was about it. But I can't help it."

Charles takes in every word she's saying, nodding and humming at the appropriate times.

"It burns my chest seeing them, seeing him, act like I never even mattered," she admits. "But then, I began to realize something else. There's this other guy. I didn't even realize I felt good around him. Like I could relax around his presence. Forget about why I was so hurt about the other guy," she explains, not even realizing how easy it had become to open up to Charles.

The way his expression showed no judgment. No sense of uneasiness as she spoke. Just a genuine expression that showed he was listening to her.

"And part of me wanted this guy I was seeing," she says more to herself. "But a bigger part of me really wants this guy that makes me feel seen. Heard."

Charles nods at her, taking a sip of his drink. "You alright if I give you my advice?" he asks cautiously.

She nods. "Always," she copies his words, making him grin at her.

He points at Lando. "He's an idiot for letting you go," he admits, watching her face contort to confusion, and then to shock before shaking her head.

"I didn't- How did-"

He laughs at her, stepping closer. "It's not hard to see. You two weren't as slick as you thought," he admits, Y/N feeling her face begin to heat up.

"I'm sorry," she admits with a sigh, looking down at her now-empty glass. "I didn't mean to sound like that. I just- I didn't have anyone I trusted to talk to."

"And I'm just easier to talk to? Someone you trust?" he asks her, leaning his elbow on the bar behind them, a knowing smirk on his lips. She snaps her head to him.

As she was about to say something, he stood up straight, walked to stand in front of her, and took the glass from her fingers. She doesn't miss the way his fingers brush hers, goosebumps rising on her skin. He places the glass on the mahogany behind them, his eyes lowering to her own. She gulps as she watches his smirk widen just slightly, while he places both hands on the bar behind her, caging her in. His face was dangerously close to hers, the Monégasque not missing the way her breaths came out shaky.

"As for this other guy," he starts, his tone lower. Darker. "I think he's very worth your time. He wouldn't make you feel like Lando did. He'd take care of you. Treat you right. Show you how a woman like you should be worshipped."

Y/N feels her pulse quicken. "Besides," he mutters, bringing his lips closer to her own. "If you're choosing between two people, choose the second. Because if you really did like the first option, you wouldn't have fallen for the second."

That got Y/N's insides churning, knowing deep down Charles was right. He was so right.

He chuckled darkly as he watched his chest rising and falling quicker after he said that, placing his lips closer to her ear as he placed a light kiss against the lobe. "The second guy also just really wants to be selfish," he admits.

Y/N smiles slowly at his words, letting herself indulge slowly with Charles. She lets out a gasp as she feels his lips planting feather-light kisses from her jawline, down to her neck and her collarbone.

She finally trails her hands up his button-up, slipping underneath the half-open shirt, slithering to rest on the bare skin of his back just before it meets the crook of his neck. His head leaves her neck, bringing his head closer to her own.

"So this other guy," she says breathlessly. "You think he'd worship me, huh? Show me how worth it I am?"

He hums with a nod, kissing the corner of her lips. Y/N found herself craving more, her body aching for his own against hers. Skin to skin.

"He'd do more than just that," he chuckles against her jaw. "He'd take his time with you. Show you exactly how a woman like you should be appreciated. Till you're shaking."

Y/N lets out a breathless moan at that, one of her hands finding his hair. "Spoil you to death. Treat you like the absolute Queen you are."

Charles brings his head back up to really look at her. Y/N staring back into his own eyes, flicking down to his lips for a split second. "Charles," she says softly, earning a hum from him. "Kiss me please."

That's all it took for Charles to take her jaw in his hands, placing a passionate and messy kiss on her lips. Their teeth clashed, tongues messily battling against one another as she kissed him with such need. Such obsession.

The more they kissed, the more they craved one another. Charles let his hands fall from her jaw to her hips, pulling her lower body into his.

Lando was long forgotten in Y/N's mind. He was the last thing she was thinking of; she could forget his name if Charles kept up the way he touched and kissed her.

Little did she realize, Lando was now frozen in his spot on the floor. His eyes darkened. He glared as he watched the girl his heart yearned for, and the guy who was going to be six feet under if looks could kill.

He could tell it wasn't just for show either. She really wanted Charles. Charles wanted her.

He only knew that because of how she was kissing Charles, it was the way she used to kiss him. His heart hurt, chest tightened. He couldn't tear his eyes away from the scene across the club.

Magui was long forgotten in that moment, Lando realizing he lost the girl he wanted most.

He should've known.

Y/N whines at the loss of Charles' lips when he pulls back, the man looking down at her blown-out state. Her lips swollen as her eyes look up at him with a knowing look.

"What do you say, cherie?" he says slowly, watching her slowly smile.

"I think I'm open to giving this other guy a chance," she jokes, watching him bite his lip to hide the big ear to ear smile that was forming.

He leaned down to kiss her once more, before breaking away and lacing a hand with hers.

Charles began to lead her away from the bar, his gaze locking with Lando's as they passed by.

He didn't miss the way Lando slightly mouthed a 'what the fuck' at his friend, a glare in his direction. Charles held his head up high, smirking at Lando, giving him a sly little wink before he turned his attention to Y/N.

Lando saw the way her eyes looked up at Charles, like she finally felt happy. At ease in his presence. Like she had forgotten Lando existed in that moment. She probably did, and that hit him like a truck.

He watched as Charles placed his other hand on her lower back to help keep her next to him as they pushed through the crowd, making sure not to lose her as they headed out.

Lando didn't even excuse himself from Magui, earning a shocked squeak from her as she watched him rush away from the dancefloor.

Lando scurried past everyone and towards the front entry, pushing past the people who were trying to congratulate him as he passed by.

He didn't give a single fuck about any of them, his mind only thinking about her.

Please. Don't go home with him

His mind begged, wishing she could read minds. Read his.

The way he knew he was already way too late. Months too late.

Once he had gotten outside, he had seen Charles shutting her door before turning to thank the valet workers. His eyes flicked twice over to Lando's state. Trying his best to hide the winning smirk as he saw the disheveled state of the British man.

Charles looked back at his car towards her window, before looking back at Lando. He walked up to him, Lando's gaze hardening as he got closer.

"Don't," Lando warns him.

Warning him to not cross this line. To not take the girl that Charles knew he was so in love with, not take her home. He didn't like this feeling. He hated it.

That's when he realized what it was.

Lando Norris was jealous. He was jealous beyond words.

He never gets jealous.

Not until now.

Charles chuckles at him, patting his shoulder. "Lando," he chuckles. "You ruined your chances. Give her the chance to finally be happy, hm?"

He shook his head. "You can't give her what I can give her."

Charles bites his lower lip before speaking. "That's the point," he begins. "I wouldn't treat her like shit, like you did. I'll give her everything she deserves, and more. Not give her nothing, like you gave her."

That made Lando feel like he had been shot in the chest.

“I won’t ever let her feel or think she’s only good for one thing,” Charles adds, giving Lando a knowing look. Lando’s face drops slightly, then frowns. “I’m going to show her she’s worth more than she could ever imagine. Because she is.” Charles admits, a genuine look in his eyes.

Lando doesn’t know what to say in that moment. He felt defeated.

Because part of him knew (all of him knew) that Charles was good for her. He wouldn’t treat her anything lower than the Goddess she was.

Lando just hated that it wasn’t him.

Charles pats him on the shoulder. "Goodnight, mate," he says before walking away and getting into the car. Lando watched as the pair drove off into the night. Something was burning inside Lando's chest. Burned in his eyes.

Tears.

Jealousy.

Need.

Y/N smiled to herself as Charles and she drove along the roads, his hand gently on her thigh while hers rested on top of his.

Her phone buzzed, not once, not twice, but three times. This caused her to pick it up and look down at it. She thought she would feel something, anything, as she read the messages.

Please, don't go with him. I'm so in love with you

Come back to me, I'll be better. It hurts to see you not with me. Hurts to see you happy with him. I'll prove myself. I'll do better, for you

It's always been you

Y/N takes a deep breath as she begins to type with her free hand.

Your time ran out. A long time ago, Lando. It's time I let myself be happy.

Goodbye Lando

With that, she turned her phone off and looked over at Charles. His eyes gazed back at her, nothing but admiration as he stared at her.

"You okay?" he asks softly. She takes a moment before nodding.

"Yeah," she hums. "I am now."

[bluewxrld07]

Stained Glass - Final Part

Lando Norris X Artist!Reader

Summary: A lot can happen during the Spanish GP weekend. What happens when Y/N finally has a chance alone with Lando?

Warning(s): Angst, crying, confessions, soft Lando, makeup, allusions to smut, flangst, fluff, Max being an airhead

It was race day.

Well, the morning of Raceday.

Specifically, two in the morning.

Y/N could not sleep a wink, her head not allowing any ounce of silence as she lay there in the hotel bed. She couldn't cry, she couldn't not cry. Her face was puffy, red, and swollen. Not just from tears, but from rubbing at her face.

Ever since she left the dinner last night, she had been doing nothing but thinking.

It didn't occur to her that not only did he most likely keep it anonymous to keep his name away from the crowd, but most likely did it to give her the moment she had waited so long for.

At the same time, she couldn't just let it slide. Not after the conversation she had with her boss the night before the gala.

When they were preparing the gallery, her boss had noticed that she seemed more glum. More blue.

"Mon ami, you seem upset. Pourquoi si bleu?" (Why so blue?)

Y/N sighs and shrugs while stepping back to look at the angle the painting hangs. "Just am, I guess."

Her boss frowns before coming up to her. "What happened?"

Y/N closes her eyes, trying to hold the tears back from falling. "Lando said some things a couple of nights ago about me. About my job and what I do. Basically made it sound like I was a joke, and didn't have a true career."

Her boss' face turns into a confused frown. "Why would he say such things? He's seen how hard you work."

She shrugs her shoulders, going back over to fix the paintings once more. "Don't know. I left before I could hear any excuses."

The older woman tuts at the boy, walking up behind Y/N.

"Oh non, ça ne fera tout simplement pas l'affaire," (Oh no, that just won't do) she says softly, squeezing the young one's shoulder in assurance.

"I don't know what to do."

The older one nods in understanding. "Don't forgive him, if that's going on in your head," she admits while shaking her head. "That boy said what he said because deep down, it's how he feels about it. He said it out of envy and jealousy. You don't need someone like that in your life, mon ami. He's going to use whatever he can to pay to keep you around. Just to prove his money will solve anything."

That made Y/N freeze, turning to look at her boss. The woman showed nothing but seriousness in her expression.

"You think he would do that?"

The lady hums with a nod. "All men are the same when they have money to throw," she says while walking over to one of the sculptures behind them to adjust. "They just expect that if they throw a mill or two at something, it's going to fix the problem they caused."

Y/N frowned in confusion, letting it sink in that she might be right.

Even though it was Lando, he would never do that.

But her emotions were getting the best of her, making her believe that no matter how well she knew Lando that there could always be that chance. Especially after hearing him bash her career. People can always change, but some people, in the most unfortunate ways. Maybe that was what Lando was becoming.

"You want to make a name for yourself," her boss says once more. "It's best to keep your name away from his. Otherwise, he will dim your light."

Deep down the more she thought about it, up until now, he had done nothing to prove that he wanted to take that spotlight from her. Not one thing.

So maybe Lando wasn't any different. He was the same humble man she fell for all those years back.

She finally lets out a huff as she can tell she won't be sleeping much that night, slipping on her sandals, grabbing her phone, and the hotel key.

She closed her door silently, not wanting to disturb any other guests on her floor. Turning around to walk down the hallway and towards the elevator. When she was about to press the button, the doors opened up before she could even get the chance.

Her head snapped up to make sure she let enough room through for whoever was getting off, the other person's head snapping up as well but stuttering in their steps.

"Y/N,"

Her arms came to cross around herself, not knowing how to feel in that moment. Her emotions were everywhere.

He was still in his outfit from dinner, the stains from the drink she poured on him earlier that night visible on his button-up.

"Lando,"

The pair just stared at one another for a few moments before he nodded curtly at her and walked off the elevator. That makes her snap out of it and walk into the elevator, not missing the way his cologne lingered in the space.

His head turned to her with a look she couldn't read before his head turned back around to walk down the hallway.

Before the elevator door was about to shut, she stopped it. Not knowing what was convincing her to do so. "Do you want to come walk with me?" she sputters out, making him freeze in his tracks and look back at her.

"What?"

She sighs. "I was going to go for a walk. Clear my head. I was going to see if you wanted to join me," her voice showing her nerves in the soft tone she was using.

Lando felt his own gaze soften at her words, not knowing whether to feel shocked or confused.

He motioned to his outfit. "I'm a bit overdressed," he jokes lightly, then points to his hair. "I'm also kind of sticky."

She felt her chest tighten at that comment, wanting to shoot herself in the foot for it. Instead of arguing, she just nods and steps back into the elevator.

"I mean, I could join you after," his voice shoots out. She looks at him. "After I'm done cleaning up, I mean. That's if you're alright with waiting for me. I shouldn't be long."

She hesitates at first, but then nods. "I'll wait in the lobby."

He nods back before walking with a quicker pace to his room, the elevator doors shutting and taking her down. She bit her lip as she tried to not think into it.

There was a lot to talk about, she knew that.

She sat there quietly on a bench, picking at her nail beds as her knee bounced, her thoughts going rancid as each minute passed by slower and slower.

It was almost half an hour past, and she began to overthink.

Maybe he changed his mind? She didn't blame him if he did.

Just as she was about ready to start walking to the doors, the elevator dinged open with Lando walking out, his head popping up in search of her.

He looked more comfortable, relaxed. He wore a pair of black sweats and a grey Quadrant hoodie with a black Quadrant hat backwards.

They both began to walk outside and down the street in silence, Lando putting his hands in his pockets as they walked. "Do you have a place you're walking to specifically? Or just wanting to walk?"

She nods at the first question. "I have a spot I'd like to go and sit at."

He nods, deciding not to ask anything else till they were at her destination. Knowing that her asking him to join her was a step in the right direction.

It wasn't too much longer till they were walking into a large garden, where sculptures and other art pieces stood proudly.

Lando didn't miss the way that her entire demeanor changed, the way she looked lighter when they arrived. As if the sculpture garden was something that brought her back to reality. Brought her peace.

Y/N had found a park bench in the middle of the garden, with flower pots of colorful flowers blooming out of them.

They both took a seat, Y/N still looking at the artwork, not noticing how Lando was only focused on her. How in love with the pieces around her she was. It made him realize just how deep her infatuation with the art culture went.

It was more than just art to her. It was a way of speaking without actually saying words. It spoke of emotion without actually feeling it.

"I've always loved this field for many reasons," she spoke up. "But they all led back to the same thing for me. Peace."

Lando just listened.

"It brings me back to the first-ever art show I had gone to. I was three, almost four, I don't remember much. What I do remember was seeing how bright and colorful everything was," she chuckles lightly to herself. "Especially this one painting. It's the one that I have engraved into my mind. This woman made it. It was absolutely beautiful."

She wraps her arms around herself. "It was this big old canvas. It had all these bright colored patterns and designs over it. But the further you backed away from it, you could see them all linking together into a shape of something," she explains. "It was of her mother. Her mother had passed, I learned later on. It was all I could think about every time I went to art class in school, or when I painted. How intricate every detail had been. I wanted my art to turn into that one day. She became my inspiration."

Lando nods slowly in understanding. "Little did I know that she would be the person I'm working for now, helping guide me on how to do things the correct way to make sure my art is appreciated in the way it should be," she explains, making Lando look at her.

"My work goes onto a much deeper level than what people see or hear or know. It's how I can get my emotions out without saying anything," she admits, shaking her head. "She and I throughout all of it grew a connection. I felt like I had a mom here while my mom wouldn't be. I thought she knew the right way through it all. She saw things in my artwork I didn't."

Lando just lets her talk, not wanting to speak up at the wrong moment. He just sits and listens. "All my life, I was always told I wouldn't go anywhere with my passion. That it was not something I should be going into. That I was in the wrong field," she sniffles. "That's why I'm not close with my parents anymore. They never showed an ounce of support to me. They always showed pride in my siblings. Not me, because I wanted to go down a different path. It was my grandmother who encouraged me to keep going. She was the one showing up to all of my shows. Telling me I had that special side in me to grow bigger. It was all I wanted."

Y/N wipes her eyes, only then does she realize tears are burning in her eyes. "When I heard what you said, I didn't know what to do. It brought me back to when I was eleven years old, my parents scolding me to find a new hobby that I can get into a good college for. I didn't know how to react. Or who to talk to about it without putting them in the middle," she explains. "Then she asked me why I was so sad the day before the gala, and that I should be excited for the next evening."

Lando nods as she shrugs. "So I told her what happened. Told her how you made me feel," that made Lando's guilt tighten all over again. "I was so caught up in my emotions, I didn't know what to think. I never thought my biggest fan would become my biggest hater in that moment."

He sighs, looking down at his lap where his hands sat laced together.

"So she told me that it would be best to cut you off. To not forgive or seek out what you had to say. That only men like you, men with money they can throw, as she put it. You will throw money at situations to try and fix them. That's not something I wanted on my conscience. I wanted people to know and to understand that I can do this on my own. That I put this work in by myself. I didn't want people thinking I was using you to get my work out there," she admits, Lando snapping his head at her with a frown.

"So in the moment, I thought she was right. Then, when I found out you bought a painting and put lots of money towards the schools, I panicked. I thought you were doing it for other reasons. Because all that was ringing in my head were her words. Of her being right. Because she had shown me everything to where I'm at now. I didn't think she could ever be wrong about something or someone."

Lando shook his head. "Y/N, it's not at all why I did it. You know me," he softly answers as he turned his body towards her.

She sniffles. "Part of me knew that. It really did, but I was just so afraid that she was right," she says, her voice shaky now. "I was worried it was just a money thing to you. That you were doing it mainly to make yourself look good, feel better about the situation."

"Love," he starts, using his hand to turn her chin to look at him. "I would never ever dream or even think to steal your big moment from you. I did it after I realized how important and meaningful it was to you. It's why I also kept the donation anonymous. I made sure of it."

"I know that, but I just couldn't handle the thought of people thinking I'm where I'm at because you paid it all to happen. All of this, I wanted this to be a point where I could show off how hard I worked, and not have to rely on anyone for it. I just wanted my hard work to pay off."

He sees her insides beginning to crack open, her emotions letting themselves go. He knew she never meant any harm. She was protecting herself. She was doing what she thought would prevent her from getting any sort of backlash. It wasn't out of insecurity.

It was out of habit.

"It was never for that reason. Never," he says while shaking his head. "After you left that night, I couldn't sleep. And you did work hard. Really fucking hard. Your work and commitment are why you are where you are. I felt so guilty and shitty for what I said. What I did. I let my emotions get the best of me, let the insecurities talk," he watches her tears fall, wiping them carefully away with his thumb.

"I spent all night and all day the next couple of days studying and researching everything that had to do with art and the history of it."

Her eyes soften at his words. "You what?"

He nods with a hum. "Because I realized I fucked up. I was so envious of you and how much time I wasn't getting to spend with you because both of us were working so much. You were always in the studio, or I was always away training. I blamed you for it when we both just didn't communicate around it. I let it get to me that night, and I shouldn't have."

"Lando,"

He gives her a sad smile. "So after I did all of that, I took the time scooping out the schools I remember you talking about. Seeing what I could do to help. So I bought your painting, not only for me to have a piece of you, even if I don't get to have you, but to also give back to your community. Give back to those inspired artists so they can get to your level."

"Lando," she softly says once more. He began nodding at her reassuringly. "It's okay."

She just stared at him. "I'm sorry." She shook her head, then let her choked sobs come out. "I'm so sorry for how I reacted. I was so scared, and I was so afraid that it wouldn't turn out how I wanted. I was so blinded by my past that I let it guide me the wrong way-"

Lando's face falls, shaking his head. "No, don't do that. You were protecting yourself. I get it. You didn't know what to do. I'm not going to hold that against you. You were protecting yourself in the only way you knew how. You fought back because that's what you had to do back then. You fought back because you wanted to make a name for you, and I'm proud of you for standing your ground. It's okay. I do that a lot when it comes to racing, so don't apologize for shielding yourself. Let's just communicate from now on, yeah?"

His face falls, a slight sliver of hope shining through it. "That is, if you want to work it out. I'm not going to push you."

She bit her lip, sniffling as her eyes stared into his. She felt her insides churning in an unsure manner, her walls building up and telling her otherwise. But they were at a good point. They could get past this hiccup; they could work on it. It would take time, but Lando was it for her.

She missed her Lando.

Y/N slowly nods, seeing his face contort into both relief and happiness.

"Yeah," she agrees. "I do want to. I wanna work it out. I miss you Lan. More than you know."

He smiles a real smile at her for the first time in weeks, caressing her cheek before leaning his head against hers. "We will work through it. I promise."

"I hope so."

"We will, love. I promise," he assures her. "Not going to do it alone, yeah? I'll be here."

"I'm sorry I threw a drink on you," she chuckles dryly while shaking her head. "That was a dick move."

He shrugs it off with a slight smirk on his lips. "If anything, I deserve it for saying what I said back to that night you left. No harm done."

She nods slowly in understanding. She gives him a pointed look, jokingly as she points at him. "I will say, though," she starts. "You didn't have to say anything about the waiter. We had it under control."

He winces at that, giving her a sheepish grin. "Yeah, that's on me. I still get jealous when I see men flirting with you. I'll give you that one."

She gives him a small hug, laying her head on his shoulder and closing her eyes.

"Now let's get to bed, yeah? You've gotta cheer on Charles tomorrow."

She frowns, pulling away from him. "Well, yeah, of course, but I would cheer for you, too. No matter how things would've ended," she explains. Lando gives her a look, making her squint her eyes at him.

"I also won't be racing tomorrow."

"Lando, what?!" she screeches.

"I was more focused on wanting to sort things out with you. I wouldn't have been able to focus on the race. So I was going to retire the car before the race started-"

"No."

"But love I really-"

"No. I will be there waiting when you are done," she argues back, standing up while facing him. "You're racing tomorrow. That's the final answer."

He chuckles while looking up at her. His whole world.

"Yes ma'am."

⋆˖⁺‧₊☽◯☾₊‧⁺˖⋆⋆˖⁺‧₊☽◯☾₊‧⁺˖⋆⋆˖⁺‧₊☽◯☾₊‧⁺˖⋆⋆˖⁺‧₊☽◯☾₊‧⁺˖⋆⋆˖⁺‧₊☽◯☾₊‧⁺˖⋆

Y/N fell asleep easier that morning, Lando had walked her back to her room when they returned. Thinking it was best to still somewhat keep their distance.

When her alarm blared at eleven am that morning, she felt more awake than she thought she would feel.

She got dressed in a vintage red and black leather jacket with a denim mini skirt to match, wearing a red tank top to match. Also, to keep it breezy, as it was very humid outside that day.

Y/N chose a pair of heeled black boots, her her in a slicked back ponytail. She chose to do lighter makeup as most of it would've melted off from the heat later in the day, pairing small golden hoop earrings to finish off the look.

Once she grabbed her sunglasses, phone, and purse, she had heard a knock on her door.

She went to open it, seeing Max standing there with a guilty look on his face. She gave him a glare before pointing at him. "I should punch you, but I won't."

He looks at her with a knowing look as he nods in defeat. "Go ahead," he says, holding his arms open while closing his eyes. Taking a dramatic breath. "I'm ready. I'll forever haunt you, just know."

The girl chuckles at him before playfully pushing him as she shuts her hotel room door, beginning to walk down the hall as Max follows in a fit of laughter. "So you're really not mad at me anymore?"

She shook her head. "Not worth it. You were doing the right thing, and I'm not going to make you pick between either of us. That's wrong."

He gives her a weird look.

"What happened to Y/N?" he jokes, making her roll her eyes under her sunglasses.

"Just did a lot of thinking, is all."

He hums in understanding as they ride down the elevator. "So, you're going to be alright today?" he asks in a softer tone. She nods.

"Yeah. I'm good."

He nods. She gives him a confused look. "Have you not spoken to him yet this morning?"

He shook his head. "Why?"

"I thought he would've said it first," she chuckles, making his eyes squint at her. "Tell me what, exactly?"

She shrugs while the elevator door flings open. "You'll see."

Max groans behind her as they join the others, giving each other hugs and whatnot before heading out to the cars. She goes and sits between Alex and Pietra.

"How're you doing?" Alex conjures up first.

Y/N nods. "I'm good. I'm alright," Alex gives her a look, making Y/N chuckle. "Promise, I'm good. Everything's alright."

Pietra decided to change the subject, knowing Y/N probably didn't want to speak about it at that moment, asking them about their plans after the races.

The rest of the ride, the girls were talking about the race, girls night, and everything under the sun while the boys up front were discussing the race stuff here and there.

It was indeed getting warmer and warmer as the day pushed out. Y/N being glad she chose to wear a skirt instead of jeans.

Once they made their way into the paddock, Y/N gave Charles one more hug before he headed to his driver's room to get changed. She turned around to see that Max, Alex and Pietra had wandered over to the McLaren garage where Lando had stood.

He was smiling ear to ear as he spoke to his friends, wearing his fireproof top and his suit around his hips per usual. His arms were crossed as he laughed at something Max was saying, Y/N trying to figure out if she was okay to join them.

Those lingering questions faded as soon as Lando's eyes found hers, doing a double-take and then smiling warmly, nodding at her to join them.

She took a deep breath before walking over, not showing any sign of nervousness. Just keeping her gaze on Lando as she got closer.

Once she was within reach, Lando reached an arm out to her waist, pulling her into a hug. "Hi, love," he mutters into her ear as he holds her in his embrace tight. She wraps her arms around his neck in return, whispering a 'hi' back before they pull apart.

Lando's hand stays lingering on her back lightly, as they both nonchalantly turn their gaze back to Max.

"You were saying?" Lando asks Max, wanting him to continue the story he was telling. Instead, he just stood there with his mouth agape. Absolutely mind blown.

Alex and Pietra were just as surprised, only knowing that the two were just at each other's throats not even twenty-four hours prior.

"When in the fuck? How in the fuck?" Max says in awe.

Lando frowns playfully. "What're you on about?"

Pietra motions her hands between the pair of them.

"Oh," he playfully chuckles. "We're alright. Things are slowly moving forward, but we're working through it." he explains, nodding slowly as he says it. Not wanting to say the wrong thing.

Y/N nods as she looks at Lando, then back to them. "We're working it out. Talked last night - or this morning I guess - and are figuring it out as we go."

They all just nod slowly, still in awe at the scene in front of them. Mainly, them being stood next to one another being the shocking part of it.

"When? How? Where?" Alex bombards, making the pair laugh.

"Long story," Y/N jokes before they hear Lando being asked to come get ready for a practice lap. He looks back at Y/N, squeezing her hip with a soft look. He would've kissed here there, but he didn't want to push her.

He says his goodbyes to the others in front of him before scurrying back into the garage, happily grabbing his helmet to put on.

Y/N looks back at her friends, who are still staring at her.

"So what happened? Like really happened?" Pietra asked.

"Yeah, last I remember, you were ready to throw him over that balcony," Max chuckles. "What changed?"

Y/N shrugged. "I couldn't sleep. Not after all of it, and I just sat there taking in everything that I knew. I thought back to how it all went down. I decided to go for a walk to try and clear my head enough to sleep. Ran into him in the elevator, and I asked him to join. He did. We expressed everything. We're working it out," she explains, trying to keep it simple and short.

"That's a relief," Max huffs, rubbing his forehead. "Although I'm shocked he went for another walk. He was so exhausted after the first one."

She frowns. "Huh?"

He nods at her. "Yeah. After you left, he and I left shortly after. He wanted to walk it out, so we spent like the next few hours walking up and down the streets," he admits, his eyes widening. "He didn't mention it?"

She shook her head. "Well now I feel bad," she said, and he shook his head.

"No, don't! If there's anything you and me know about him, is that no matter how bad things get between the two of you, he will always be there."

Y/N gives him a pursed lip smile, eyes saying a lot more than she wanted to. Lando was so in love with her, just as much as she still was. No matter their terms, she knows she would've come back down the road if not now.

Because she felt a sudden emptiness where his spot once sat in her heart. Now he was back, and it made her feel full.

"He's it for me, I think, Max. After everything, I believe he's it." she confirms, getting aw's from the girls.

"Are you sure?" Alex asks, more so in a protective friend way. Y/N nods. "I just can't bear seeing you both hurting like that again. I hated not knowing who I should be there for. I didn't want to hurt either of you."

Y/N lets her brows furrow. "Alex, no, don't ever feel like that. You truly don't ever need to be in the middle. I would've understood. No questions asked."

Alex gives her a sad smile before nodding slowly. Y/N grabs her hand to squeeze reassuringly before Max starts to usher them up into the air conditioned paddock.

Y/N and Alex bid their goodbyes and hugged before Alex walked her way down to the Ferrari paddock, Y/N looking back at Max and Pietra.

"Are you going to stay? Or are you gonna go up to the paddock balcony?" Pietra asks, Y/N smiles.

"I'll stay here."

Max smiles at that, happy to see one of his best friends finally smiling genuinely. It was the first real one he had seen on her in a long time.

If only she knew.

They all sat and conversed quietly, some of the familiar staff members coming and saying hello to Y/N as they walked by, the girl happily indulging and catching up with them.

This felt normal for her. She missed this normal. Nothing made her feel out of place, not even after how badly she had reacted against Lando the night before. Not after he kept telling her it was valid, and she was being protective of herself. Of her feelings.

She knew one thing, which was that she most likely would be parting ways with her boss. Her absolute idol, but she knew it would have to come.

Not only because of what was said, but to also travel out and explore the options that were sitting in her hands. Travel the world and paint it how she sees in her eyes.

She already had a few ideas of paintings she wanted to do, one including the boy, whose face was squishing inside his helmet as he smiled up at one of his mechanics, as he sat in his car. He sat there patiently as he waited for the real race to start in that moment.

Yeah, he was it.

Before she knew it, they were off to line it up, Y/N putting on her ear muffs as she walked over towards the balcony doors to watch them.

It wasn't too long after that they were off, Y/N's eyes now shooting over to the TVs that stood in the front of the club room. Her arms were crossed as she kept her gaze focused.

When they showed Lando passing and moving up to P2, the camera had panned towards her direction. Y/N is trying to not smile at the fact it read Famous Artist and Lando's partner below her name.

Sure, they had a lot to figure out, but she wouldn't mind seeing that under her name again.

It made her realize that he truly would always be there. In the background, on the side, right in front of her. Either way, he would happily let her shine, all the while cheering her on as she moved forward in her life.

He was never trying to dim it, or steal it, or put his name in it. He was doing it to show her he was all in. That he was seeing her.

She had a lot to heal from and to learn from; she knew that.

When the race finished, Lando ended up placing P2 while Oscar had ended up placing P1, which was still a big deal for McLaren. They were putting points on the board, which was important.

Y/N, Max, and Pietra had made their way down to stand below and in front of the podium where the boys were doing their champagne fights. Mainly spraying it at Oscar.

Y/N stayed more in the back when they came down, wanting Lando to have his moments with Max and his managers. Only for his eyes to search out for her and her only. He motions for her to move closer to the front.

She shook her head with a proud smile, shooing at him. "Take the moment with them!" she hollers back through the cheers, he looks back for a second before looking back at her and shaking his head.

Before she knew it, he had hopped over the barricade and scurried towards her. He happily pulled her into a bear hug and lifted her up off the ground with a slight spin. She laughed in surprise at his ways, knowing he would get a tap on the wrist for that stunt later. He didn't care.

When he puts her down, he places his hands on her cheeks, chuckling down at her. "You smell like leather and champagne," she giggles, earning an eyeroll from the boy.

"Next time just come up to the front then," he jokes. She gives him a weird look.

"You'll still smell."

"Yeah, but it won't be as bad because then there's more space."

She playfully smacks his chest, watching him tilt his head back to laugh.

He looks back down at her, leaning closer and closer. Y/N letting his lips barely brush over hers.

"Lando! Get your ass back on this side!" Oscar yells out, an amused look on his face as he sees why he went over there in the first place.

Lando groans, and then slithers one of his hands down to one of hers, lacing them together before guiding her back up to the front. He helps lift her over the barricade, then placing his hand back into hers.

"We celebrating tonight?" she asks as they walk back to the garages.

He gives her a knowing look. "Oh you know it, baby."

She laughs while shaking her head. "Oh boy."

"Oh boy indeed. Gonna be a great night."

She knew she was in for a long one.

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"Honey if you keep touching it, it's going to smudge."

Pietra laughs at Y/N, watching the girl trying to fix the highlight in the inner corners. "I'm just trying to make sure it's not a ton, ok? I think I accidentally put too much on the brush," she laughs back, then finally leaves it as it was. It wasn't bad, not as scary as it was at the start.

She slips on her black boots from earlier, looking over the mauve-colored halter leather top she wore with a snug black skirt to top it off.

She decided to leave her hair down in its natural state, not wanting it to frizz out in the humidity of the club walls. Once the girls do their finishing touches, they're out the door as Pietra texted Max, saying they were just leaving.

As the guys were already there with Lando and Oscar in the VIP section.

The two girls talked as they were being driven to the club, keeping it a light and simple conversation as they got closer to their destination.

Once they arrived, the chauffeur helped the girls out one at a time. Y/N thanking him before he leaves them, the girls smiling warmly up at the security guard who stood by Max.

"My two favorites. Looking as beautiful as ever."

Pietra rolls her eyes with a smile as she plants a kiss on her boyfriend. "Don't sweet-talk us. Not happening," she jokes, earning a groan from the man.

He led the two inside and past the dancefloor, upstairs to the VIP secluded lounge that overlooked the entire club.

Y/N could feel her pulse quicken at the sight of Lando, her face heating as she took him in.

His legs were spread, while he supported a drink in his hands that hung between his thighs. He had on a pair of loose-fitting jeans with a button-up short-sleeved shirt. Having it only half buttoned, and his two gold chains poking out on his chest.

His head was turned to the side as he was talking to one of the guys from McLaren, a pair of sunglasses sitting low on his nose as he laughed.

"Be polite and be nice because we like these girls," Max announces once they get there. "We like these two, so don't scare them away."

The group laughs as they join, Max pulling Pietra to sit on his lap while joining in on a conversation with Oscar and his girlfriend.

She doesn't miss the way that Lando calls her name, having her head look over his way. He smirked at her lightly, motioning with his finger for her to come to him. She happily obliged with a small smile.

As soon as she is in front of him, he doesn't hesitate to squeeze her hip and pull her down to sit on his thigh. His eyes looked up at hers through his sunglasses. She gave him an amused smirk.

"It's not sunny in here, take those off," she jokes, grabbing them from his face and putting them on her head. He doesn't let his stare falter from looking at her.

"You look absolutely ravishing," he chuckles, scanning her figure and biting his lip as he took her in.

"All Alex's choosing," she chuckles. He smiles up at her.

"She's always had good taste when it comes to dressing you up, so I'm not shocked one bit."

She pats his chest with a playful eyeroll.

"Are you sweet talking me right now?"

"I was just being honest. You want me to sweet talk you?"

She pretends to think for a second before grinning at him. "I'm intrigued. Do tell," she shoots, watching his smirk become wider.

"Well, I'll start on the fact that your lips look very kissable right now," he chuckles lightly. "I'm dying to know what flavor your gloss is."

She looks at him, biting her bottom lip. "Better find out, yeah?" she says slowly, Lando chuckling darkly as he leaned up towards her face.

Their lips were so close to finally touching for the first time in weeks, both craving the want and need just as much as the other.

"Oi! We need to get drinks for the ladies! Let's go!" Max interrupts, patting his mate's free thigh. Lando kept his eyes closed while clenching his jaw in annoyance. He squeezed Y/N's hips, then looking up at her with a look.

"Always has the best timing." he grumbles before he softly lifts her up, and having her sit in his spot as he stood up.

"Usual?" he asks her, watching her nod.

He straightens up before turning to join Max, who looks back at Y/N with a knowingly amused look in his eyes. She flips him off before letting out a chuckle, watching as they disappeared to the bar.

She decides to busy herself and turns to join in on the conversation with Oscar's girlfriend, asking what she's been up to and how everything has been travel-wise. Y/N couldn't shake off the feeling she was beginning to have after the way Lando's touch felt on her again.

She forgot how easy his touch was to melt into. Especially on nights like these.

The night went on, Lando not letting up on his touch on Y/N. He had his hand or hands on her in every single way he could. Whether it was her leg, her waist, back, arm, or hips. He couldn't keep his hands to himself.

It was later in the evening, and most of the group had made their way to the dancefloor, jamming out and dancing as the DJ had Lando up at the front spinning tunes. Y/N stood up at the booth with him, the boy insisting she had to be up there enjoying with him. She didn't dare argue.

It was always hot and fun watching him DJ, as it became a side hustle not too far back. He was pretty good at it, and when he was given the options to do it, he would never turn it down.

So she stood behind him, dancing and singing along as he mixed. Lando turning back and keeping a close distance to her as he did so.

After he finished with the latest song, he took a breather and stood to the side as the DJ transitioned into the next song. Lando turned over to Y/N with his hands out to her.

She happily took them, letting the boy pull her in close as they danced together while the beats went crazy throughout the club.

His hands had slithered away from her, rubbing up and down her sides while hers hung onto his neck. He leaned his forehead onto hers, smiling down at her as they swayed together.

The tension was growing thicker and thicker between the two. It has been weeks since they were this close. The pair really craved the other's touch more and more as the night carried on. Y/N let her hands trail up to his curls, gripping onto them in a way she used to that made him go crazy.

She watched him bite his lip as he fought back a groan from leaving his lips. "You fucker," he jokes at her, squeezing her sides and pulling her against his body.

Y/N just laughs, doing the same thing again. She watches him ripping at the seams.

Lando huffs out with a knowing smirk before pulling away from her. He grabs her hand to guide her off the booth and down past the dance floor.

She happily follows behind him, just as tension-filled as the man in front of her.

Lando looks back to make sure nobody was behind them before opening a door and pulling her inside. He shuts and locks it behind them. Y/N noticed it was a unisex bathroom. She watches as he turns to face her, saying nothing as he grabs her hips to move her over and onto the sink counter.

Y/N happily lets him drag her around, antsy for him to finally make a move.

"You want this?" he asks, his eyes softening for a second as he looks up at her.

She wraps her hands around his neck, caressing the sides of his jaw. She nods. "Yeah. Yeah I do."

"Because if we do this, there's no more going slow," he shakes his head. "I can't live without being able to touch you like this if we go slow."

Instead of saying anything else, she smiles at him with a light laugh, leaving her lips, grabbing his chin, and finally bringing his lips to her own. The kiss was messy. Teeth-clashing, tongues fighting. Lando was kissing her back like a man starved.

His hands didn't know where to go, touching and caressing anywhere he could grab.

Her hands left his face, trailing to his chest, and one hand pulling on his chains to keep him close to her as they hungrily kissed one another. With the other hand, scratching along his chest before making its way to his back to continue letting her nails scratch the skin there. A hiss leaves his mouth as her nails dig into his skin. He then groans into her mouth.

"Gonna leave those pretty marks on my back again, yeah?" he moans into her mouth, getting a breathless nod and moan from her as one of his hands squeezes her breast.

Her head falls back when he flicks over the clothed nipple, Lando's lips immediately trailing to her neck and leaving marks on his path.

"I've missed you so fucking much," he mumbles.

"You have no idea," she sighs back, bringing his mouth back to her own.

They both kissed and touched and moaned with so much need. None of it was enough for either of them. Not after how long they both went without it.

A loud banging on the door snapped them away, hearing someone say they needed the bathroom. Y/N looks at Lando who is biting his lip to keep from laughing. He looks back at here.

"You wanna get out of here?" he asks her, watching her smile grow wider.

"Take me home, Lan."

That he did.

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A/N: AHHHHHH that's the ending! I hope you guys enjoyed it, I honestly did not think this would go past two parts lol. Told you all to TRUST the process! Thank you for showing love to it :) Let me know what we think! Love you all!

Taglist:

@nickie-amore , @tylerstacobell , @piceous21 , @ariesandwolves , @lifeonawhim , @formulawhore , @asterooidsblog , @staple-your-mouth , @sinfully-yoursss , @smileyshaven , @midnightsaugust , @astrlape , @relijanka , @jooooooooo-cycycy16 , @cherryhazee , @nina481 , @lighttsoutlewis , @suns3treading , @areej003 , @dramallama9 , @putherup , @green--beanie , @footyball , @callsign-mirage , @kearasaltynalapepper , @idkwahr , @teti-menchon0604 , @footyball

[bluewxrld07]

rosie... dear rosie... i know you want us to know that we're cooking but still the pain after i read that pt.3 is insane! i also can hear the siren from the police cars that i may or my have not called them in reflex... so ya'll better be cooking fast gurllllllllllll

Hahahahah I got you alllll right where it needs to be 😚 don’t you lots worry, like I said TRUST THE PROCESS. I know we’re all pressed with Y/N rn but I promise there’s more to it!

I know y’all are upset with her reaction, but trust me when I say that there is so much more into it. Not her insecurities talking as you are all saying so boot that from ya heads 😮‍💨

Miss Y/N is being protective of herself, and you will allll be finding out why. Everything is falling into place hehe.

Hold onto your hats ladies and gents because the next part is not only gonna be a long one, but it mayyyy be the FINAL part!!

I’ve been cooking with part four for the last few days sooooo lol, love seeing these reactions from you all 👀👀 stay tuned!!!

Thank you for all the love, I LOVE YOU ALL <3

(This is also me reading all of your comments about Y/N and Lando, knowing what is in store)

Taglist:

@nickie-amore , @tylerstacobell , @piceous21 , @ariesandwolves , @lifeonawhim , @formulawhore , @asterooidsblog , @staple-your-mouth , @sinfully-yoursss , @smileyshaven , @midnightsaugust , @astrlape , @relijanka , @jooooooooo-cycycy16 , @cherryhazee , @nina481 , @lighttsoutlewis , @suns3treading , @areej003 , @dramallama9 , @putherup , @green--beanie , @footyball , @callsign-mirage , @kearasaltynalapepper , @idkwahr , @teti-menchon0604

[bluewxrld07]

Stained Glass (Pt. 3)

Lando Norris X Artist!Reader

Summary: It's been a couple of weeks since Y/N's gala night, and the night she left Lando standing there alone in the middle of the gallery. After some serious thought and being separated from one another, Y/N was dragged out to the Spanish GP by her friends. A lot can happen in one weekend, just as quick as the tension rises.

Warning(s): she is an angsty one, yelling, drinks being thrown, jealousy

Y/N groans as she hears someone banging on her apartment door for fifth time that morning.

It was way too early for her to want to answer, and the sun had not even risen yet. This was driving her absolutely insane. The banging on the door stopped, and it was finally quieter and longer than it usually had been in between knocks. Her thought was that whoever was at her door had finally given up.

Until they began banging on her door fast and loud, not letting up with the fast repetitive knocks.

"Oh my fucking-"

She groans as she rips her covers off of herself, stomping and huffing the entire way to her door as she yelled out 'fucks sake I'm coming'. The person still didn't stop knocking, and not until she unlocked the door to whip it open with a glare on her face.

"You better have the greatest reason ever to be trying to put a hole through my door with your fucking knocking," she snaps, the person walking in as she shut the door behind them and crossing her arms.

"Pack your bags!" Max says, holding a finger up as he scurries into her bedroom.

"What? Why? Max it's fucking-"

She turns to the clock on her wall, a slight curse leaving her lips as she proceeds to follow the man. "Maxwell it is 2:30 in the damn morning!! I am not going anywhere, what are you doing?" she exasperates, watching as he sets one of her duffels onto her bed.

"We," he starts while putting his hands on his hips, and turning to her. "Are going to Barcelona. Flight leaves in two hours, we have a half an hour to pack."

She squitns at him.

"Why're we going to Barcelona?" she asks slowly, arms crossed while inching closer to him. Knowing the look he was trying to hide was saying something.

Then it clicks, Max watching the gears work in her head. Her eyes went from a glare, to confusion, to absolute saucers of shock.

"Max no," she shook her head. "I'm not going."

He groans. "Y/N!" he whines, putting his hands together to beg her. She glares at him while shaking her head. "Come on, please? I already told Alex and Charles you're going!"

"That sounds like a you issue then. I never said yes."

He rolls his eyes as he lets out a huff. "We miss you, we all do."

She sighs, uncrossing her arms. "I miss you all too, but it's not my world as much anymore. I've been working nonstop to really even focus on anything else."

"So your boss saying you had the last race playing while you were working in the studio was a lie then?"

Her face pales as she stays silent. He gives her a smug look, knowing he just caught her.

"I'm still not going."

"Y/N!"

"Max, no."

"P is coming, you'd have her and Alex. You know they wouldn't let anything bad happen."

"Max."

"Come on, if anything, you need the break from working. You're in that studio all day every day," he says, making her brows furrow. "Even your boss says you need a breather."

Her mouth drops. "You spoke to my-"

"Yes, yes, I did. As a concerned best friend, I absolutely did," he says while nodding. "She also said she's giving you the week off. And that she even thinks you should go."

"Max Fewtrell!"

He guards his face in case she is ready to smack him, but then puts his hands up in surrender. "Just," he sighs. "Please come. I think it'd be good for you. Maybe even inspire some upcoming pieces."

She stays silent for a second, taking in his idea of that.

"He doesn't even know you're coming, if that has anything to do with your decision-"

"It doesn't."

"So then come with! We need our best girl with our group."

Y/N looks at him with a knowing look, letting out a defeated sigh as her arms go to her hips. "Fine. Give me like fifteen minutes to pack up some stuff."

He lets out a little hoot with a nod, squeezing her shoulders. "I promise you won't regret it!"

She walks over to her dresser to start picking out things to pack.

"I'm so going to regret this."

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Y/N took a deep breath as she walked over to the mirror, straightening out the dress she wore. Making sure it didn't look like it was too much, her hair was slicked back into a ponytail that accented her facial features.

"Stop stressing," Alex's voice peers in behind her, Y/N looking back at her in the mirror. Alex was giving her a sad smile. "You always look gorgeous, mon ami."

Y/N gives her a small grin, nodding at her words as she inhales a deep breath.

"How're you feeling?" she asks, but gives her a knowing look. "Really feeling?"

Y/N lets out a dry laugh. "I really didn't want to come."

Alex nods slowly in understanding. Y/N shrugs. "I hate to say it, though, Max was right. I have missed you all. So I'm not really all that upset about coming," she admits, watching her friend's face light up slightly.

"I'm glad you decided to come," she assures. "I know it's hard, but you deserve a bit of a vacation, too. Don't let Lando be the reason you can't come see or support your friends."

Y/N just shakes her head. "I just can't believe him. He just has to make my event turn into something about him. Buying one of my pieces? Really?"

Alex nods knowingly before walking up to her. "Let's not stress about him, yeah? Instead, let's make him realize how much of a moron he is for letting you go."

Y/N laughs slightly before nodding at her words, Alex chuckling lightly as well.

"Besides," Alex trails off. "I know someone who is quite interested in getting to know you."

Y/N rolled her eyes playfully. "Please, that's the absolute last thing I want right now."

She nods. "Oh, I know," she agrees. "Just saying for a night of no strings. Then never have to see them again."

Alex's words hit hard, something in her chest not sitting right. She could feel the thoughts slowly melting in as they began to make her think about if Lando had been doing the same. Getting over her by getting under someone else.

It wasn't out of the norm for him, as she knew, being one of his good friends before they dated.

Y/N grabbed her clutch not too long after, following Alex out the door and onto the streets of Barcelona. It was filled with locals, live music, and small markets in the alleyways. The girls were happily talking and conversing as they walked down the streets, heels clicking on the concrete.

They were headed to a dinner that the drivers usually had together the evening before the race, Y/N already knowing she would be attending. She didn't really pay any mind to the fact that Lando would be there, only remembering the fact that she was coming for her friends and her friends only. At least that's what she was telling herself.

Once they had reached the restaurant, the security guards had led them inside and up the elevator to the rooftop where most of the guys had been sitting.

Charles was the first to give her a huge bear hug, saying how happy he was to see her, and he couldn't wait for her to cheer him on the next day. She then greeted the rest of the guys in the group, part of her mind noticing Lando had yet to show up.

She had taken a seat next to Pietra, with Max sitting on the opposite side. He leaned back in his chair and peered over at Y/N with a knowing look.

"You alright?" he asked softly, she nodded with a grin.

"All good."

He nods before leaning back up to engage in a conversation with some of the other racers on his side. Y/N had happily started a conversation with Pietra and Max's girl who sat directly across from them, instantly feeling at ease as they talked.

Y/n had managed to get a few drinks into her system, enough to let her nerves loosen up as her conversations began to flow easily.

"Well, if it isn't the man of the hour himself!" Pierre jokes, clapping as he laughs loudly. The boys are all cheering in amusement as the familiar head of curls approaches the table in a rush. He dapped up the boys as he passed by them, making his way towards the opposite end of the table from where Y/N had sat.

Pietra didn't fail to notice the way Y/N froze mid-sentence as the sound of his voice and laugh from across the table. Instantly grabbing her hand to help calm her nerves.

"Just keep your attention over here, yeah? Don't turn and look," Pietra assures. Y/N showed no emotion, just a completely blank expression.

Her gaze fell from Pietra to Max, who gave her a slight nod to assure her she was okay. "I'm going to go say hello," he says. Y/n nods back before continuing back to her conversation with Pietra and Kelly, her voice showing no signs of anxiety as she spoke.

Y/N noticed how Pietra kept looking over Y/N shoulder, an uneasy look in her eyes as she tried to keep some focus on her friend in front of her.

Y/N sighs before rubbing a hand over her forehead. She looks at Pietra, whose eyes look back at her before she gives her a smile.

"He's looking," Y/N says with a slightly amused smile as her friend tries to not show any sign of nervousness. She gives Pietra a knowing look.

The girl sighs. "Yeah. He hasn't stopped staring."

Y/N swats at the comment, not trying to show how much it was bugging her. How much it was bugging her mainly to just turn around and look at him.

The part of her that missed him wanted to turn and look at him, but the other part that was so against him was stronger. Telling her to keep her back turned, and show him no lick of her attention.

"You okay?" Kelly asks her slowly, Y/N turning over to her with a nod and a fake smile.

"Of course," she chuckles dryly before motioning to her. "Tell me how Penelope is doing with Lily!" she assures, quickly changing the subject. Kelly gives her a smile before nodding and spilling all the newest details of the two girls.

Y/N happily listened in, Pietra squeezing her friend's hand every so often to make sure she was doing alright as she would receive a squeeze back to signal she was doing alright.

It was a little later into the dinner when Max returns, food finally making its ways to the table.

Y/N happily smiled, thanking the waiter who stared a little too long at her as he asked her if she needed anything else. Once she shook her head, he gave her another smirk before walking off, Y/N unaware of his niceness being a way of hitting on her.

Her also becoming unaware of the glare being sent towards the waiter from across that table.

Lando couldn't lie to himself, seeing how she would happily interact with everyone at the table like he didn't exist. It made his heart pound, and his chest tighten.

As soon as Max came over, he could tell something was off. Max was his best friend. It had become almost too easy to figure out his telltale signs. So when Max had finally caved, saying she was there, his eyes couldn't stop looking at the other end of the table where she sat.

"Don't even think about it," Max says, snapping him out of his thoughts. Lando looked at him with a confused look. "Don't, mate."

"Don't what?"

Max nods over to her as he crosses his arms. "Don't even think about going to talk to her," he orders. "She doesn't need that right now."

Lando scoffs. "I wasn't going-"

"Mate, I'm not as thick as you think I am. Your eyes were showing it."

Lando snaps his head to him in shock. Charles laughs before nodding and pointing at Max. "He's right. Your expressions are too easy to read."

Lando rubs a hand over his face with a groan. Max nods towards her again. "It already took me long enough to get her to come out here. Let her enjoy this time with her friends."

Lando sighs, looking down at his lap, then looking back at her with a look of desperation.

He missed her.

He missed her so much it fucking hurt.

Every time he looked at the painting he had gotten from her gala, it made him realize how bad he truly messed up. Made him think abck to all of the hardwork she put in just make a name for herself.

He knew he had made it worse by getting a painting from her.

"Mate, what's going on in that mind? I can see the gears turning." Max says.

Lando just shakes his head, taking a sip of his drink first.

"I think I fucked up by getting one of her pieces," he admits. "I only did it to have something of hers. Not to make her feel like a charity case."

Alexandra frowns at his statement.

"Wait," she starts before pointing at him. "You bought one of her paintings?" she asks, watching the boy nod. Alexandra rolls her eyes.

"No wonder she looked like she was going to kill someone that night," she sighs before cursing under her breath in French. Charles looks at the boy with shock.

"Lando," he sighs in shock, watching as his hands went up in surrender.

"To be fair," he starts. "I told them I'd only get the piece if my money went towards the local art schools. Not towards her."

This made Alex freeze, Charles choke on his chicken, Pierre drop his fork, and Max cover his mouth as his drink spat out from his mouth.

"You did what?" Alex asked, her mouth dropping.

He shrugged while playing with an anxiety ring on his right finger. One he specifically had been gifted from the girl across the table.

"The man kept asking me to buy one of the pieces because of how infatuated I was by it. So I said I would," he admits, taking a bite of his food. "If all the profit went to the local art schools. I said i know the artist would appreciate that."

They all looked so shocked by his answer, he looked completely unfazed.

"What?" he asks. "All she would ever talk about was how she didn't want to take every dime she makes from her pieces. She wanted to dedicate most of it to the art schools to inspire local artists." he explains, making it sound as if it wasnothing crazy.

This made everyone just stare at him.

"Does she know this?" Max asked.

He shook his head. "I didn't want her to think it was something I was only doing to win her back," he admits. "I didn't sleep that night she left. I spent all my time studying anything art-related. I wanted to understand her life, as she has spent so much time understanding my own,"

"Fuckin' shit, Lando," Max scoffs in shock while shaking his head. "I know you said you bought one, but mate. How much?"

Lando just shrugs once again, picking at his food before his eyes find her figure again. She was laughing at something Kelly said, Lando feeling his pulse quicken at the smile he was so infatuated by.

"What can I say?" he scoffs, his eyes never leaving her figure as she moves. "She was the one, Max. She is the one. I had a ring and everything."

"You what?" Pierre interrupts, his face nothing but shock. Max frowned.

"Mate, what? Why didn't I even know this?" he bombards, hands up in shock. Alex and Charles covered their mouths in awe. Lando sighs with a dry chuckle, shaking his head.

"Because I didn't want to speak about it just yet," he admits. "Pietra even came to help pick it out," he finishes, earning a scoff from Max.

"Then why did you say that shit about her? You really broke her, Lando," Alexandra speaks out, shaking her head.

"Because I was jealous and envious, okay?" he admits. He huffed as they all looked at him with confusion on their faces. "I never got to see her as much because she was so into her work. I was busy traveling for work, too, and we just never saw one another. When I was home, she was at the studio. When I was away, she was at home or at galas. I felt like she and I were becoming distanced," he explains. "Even when I'd be at the studio, she just felt so far away. I know how hard she works. I just felt left out, I guess."

"No excuses, mate. You still said it," Charles tuts, Lando nodding with an ashamed look in his eyes.

"Yeah, I know," he accepts, downing the rest of his drink.

They all look at him with pity and guilt, but also knowing he walked himself into this situation.

Yet they could all see and read how much the two missed one another. Things were just all sorts of messed up. Alex could especially see it on both sides. She would always take Y/N's side, never a doubt in that.

After hearing what Lando had just revealed, she knew that Lando truly wanted nobody but her.

"Just don't tell her, okay? She's going to think I did all of this just to get her back. That's not why I did it," he says, giving them all genuine looks as he spoke.

"Can we move on, please? I'd rather not sulk the day before the race."

They all agreed before Charles slowly brought up his plans for the offseason, everyone trying their best to listen in. Max stood up before patting Lando's shoulder reassuringly.

He gives his best friend a look of sorrow and pity. Lando nodded with a pursed smile and nodded in acceptance. Max nods back before walking back over to join his girlfriend and other friends.

Y/N could tell something was off when Max had sat down quietly, his food slowly being picked at as he tried his best to listen in on Max's story. She decided not to push it as it didn't seem like the right time to do such a thing.

As the night dragged on, Y/N felt a bit lighter as the drinks hit her system. Not enough to get her drunk, just enough to keep her feeling at bay with the tension on that rooftop.

What was bugging her at that point was the fact that the waiter kept making moves on her when she had shown clear signs of being uninterested. Max had even spoken up for her a few times, happily sticking up for her when she felt uncomfy.

"Mate, she's good, seriously," Max says, a more serious tone playing as he gives him a small smile.

The waiter shrugs before turning his attention to Y/N, a small smirk on his face. "If she's good I'd love to hear it come from her pretty mouth," he says, making her almost choke on her drink.

She nods before clearing her throat. "He's right, I'm good. I'll pass," she says sternly, not matching the smile he is givng her.

He nods at her. "I'm sure if he didn't say that, you'd happily be down to give me a chance."

"Um no, I actually am fine-"

"I doubt that. Do you always have the men speak for you? iI can happily obey that."

Y/N looks at him with shock on her face. "No I don't, actually. Who do you think you are?"

"Whatever you want me to be," he chuckles, his smile irritating her more. She shook her head.

"If that's what you're saying, then I want you to be gone," she snaps, watching his smile fade lightly only to return way wider.

"I knew you wanted me," he says before laying his hand onto her shoulder which caused her to snap away from his touch.

"Oh come on, I know you do-"

"For fucks sake mate, leave her the fuck alone yeah? She's not interested!

Everyone's heads turned towards the other end of the table, shock and confusion all over each person's face. Lando sat there in his chair, glaring harshly at the waiter, his legs spread, one elbow sitting on his knee while the other was holding his drink to his lips. Not missing the fact that his jaw twitched every so often as his eyes never left the waiter ahead of him.

Y/N looked at Lando with a frown at his tone, mouth agape as she looked at him.

The waiter timidly made his journey away from the table without another word, his posture showing signs of embarrassment. Lando couldn't have given a fuck less. Would've laughed if the guy left crying, in all honesty.

"There was no need for that," Y/N snapped at him across the table, her gaze was harsh. Lando's eyes slowly trailed to her, raising his eyebrows in surprise at her tone.

"Sweetheart, he was basically humping your leg. I did you a favor," he says before clearing his throat.

Y/N shook her head before standing from her spot, throwing the cloth from her lap onto her empty plate. "Excuse me," she grumbles before leaving the table.

Alex and Pietra didn't hesitate to follow in her direction as their friend walked hurriedly into the restaurant.

The rest of their table kept looking back at Lando, who showed no remorse for his actions, and took another sip of the cocktail in his hand. Charles laughed bitterly at the guy next to him. "Oi mate, you've got some shit to figure out." he mutters while shaking his head.

Lando looked over at Max, who shook his head and mumbling a 'don't' to his best mate.

Lando took a deep breath, turning into a huff, before he began to dig back into the food on his plate. His chest tightened at the thought of him hurting her feelings more than he already had.

He just couldn't take the fact that some other guy couldn't keep his hands or words off the girl he loves. Even if she never looked his way again. Even if she was handling the waiter in front of her, he couldn't help but step in. It was a habit.

Y/N had walked into the bathroom at that point, trying to run some cool water along her arms to cool down her system. She took a breath, snapping her head as she heard the door slam open with her two best friends scurrying into the room. The clicks of their heels echoing through the empty bathroom.

"Are you okay?" Alex asked as they got to her side. She nods, her attention back on her arms as she began to pat them dry with the towels.

"He's just infuriating," she mutters while tossing the paper towels away and crossing her arms.

"He had no right to do that," Pietra says with a shake of her head. "Max was supposed to tell him to be on his best behavior."

Y/N shook her head. "It shouldn't be left to Max to babysit his best mate. Lando needs to figure his shit out."

Pietra nods. "I agree. I'm so sorry. He really can't just let you be."

Alex looks at her with a questionable look in her eye, then back at Y/N. Then, not being able to control what comes out of her mouth next, it all comes sputtering out. "Lando didn't buy one of your paintings!"

Y/N frowns at her. "What?"

Alex closes her eyes, rubbing her forehead witha huff.

"I mean," she starts, then locking eyes with Y/N. "He did buy one, yes. But he didn't exactly make sure you got the money from it."

"Alex, what are you saying? He stole a piece?" Y/N freaks, not knowing what to think. Only to not freak yet as Alex starts to stop her from thinking the worst, throwing her hands up in a shaking motion.

"No, no, no, not like that! He paid for it, yes," she stutters, huffing out a loud and frustrated groan. Her head tilts back to the ceiling. "Oh, he is so going to kill me for saying this," she mutters to herself, bringing her head back to look at Y/N.

"He bought the piece. But he only bought it, saying he wants all of his profits to go straight towards the local art schools," she admits, making both girls look at her with both shock and confusion.

Y/N shakes her head in disbelief. "Wait, what? How did-"

"He said he knows. How much would you've wanted that money to go to them more. That you always put most of your profits towards the schools. So he made sure all of his would make it to the other art schools." Alex says quickly, not stopping to breathe at any moment.

She watches as her friend's face contorts from shock, to confusion, to awe, to guilt, to anger.

"How much?"

Alex opens her mouth, but is stopped not too long after. "How much, Alex? I know you would've figured out how much."

Alex shook her head and shrugged her shoulders. "I don't know off the top of my head," she admits. "I can see if I have the anonymous buyer info for that piece. He was the only anonymous buyer you had."

"Can you look then, please?"

"Why does that matter?" Pietra asked wit her brows furrowed.

"Because if it's what I think it is, I am going to throw him off of the balcony."

The silence began to rise as the girls waited for Alex, who pulled up the files from the gala. Y/N had her arms crossed, standing there agonizingly patient as her mind began to run a thousand times a minute.

Y/N had only one anonymous bidder. They bought one of the most personal pieces she had spent most of her time working on, as she had to redo it over and over again to make sure it was right. That it was what she needed to outdo everyone else's pieces. It was the one piece that brought every single one of her artwork together.

She knew it was worth a pretty penny, as both Alex, her boss and the seller had told her before the gala.

So if it was the piece she thought it was, Lando was going to have to do more than hide from her.

It was when Alex froze from her scrolling and quick skimming through her phone, slowly letting her eyes trail up to Y/N in front of her.

"Y/N,"

That's when Y/N knew.

She gives the girls a knowing nod, excusing herself past them as they tried to stop her.

Her heels clicked on the marble floors, people buzzing around them as she was on her mission. Ignoring her friends' pleas and calls of her name as her pace quickened.

She didn't hesitate to grab a glass of whatever was on the serving platter a waiter held, holding it in her hand as she walked.

Once she had reached outside where their table was, Max was the first to spot her. Almost shitting himself as he watched the girl with murder in her eyes, he nearly fell out of his chair as he watched the girls almost running to grab her.

"Shit, Y/N," he calls out trying to grab her. Y/N didn't miss the way Lando's calm gaze left Charles, turning to look up at her in confusion. Before he could open his mouth, everything happened so fast.

Before he could react, or before anyone could stop her, the drink in her hands was dumped all over Lando.

Gasps were heard all across the table. Lando just sat there frozen, unfazed by her reaction. He kept his gaze down. He knew she was fuming.

"You donated 2 million dollars to the local art schools? Are you fucking serious?" she snaps at him, her voice hard and stern. He just sat there silently, letting her take it out on him. He deserved a lot more than her yelling. And a drink being poured on him.

Y/N knew his silence said it all.

"Two million? Lando, are you joking, mate? You said it wasn't that much," Max exasperates. Y/N snaps her head back at Max, a frown on her face.

"You knew?" her voice muttered, watching as Max huffed and let his chest fall as he nodded. He pinched the bridge of his nose. "Yeah. Yeah, I knew. I didn't think it would've been as much as that."

Y/N scoffs and shakes her head. She points at Max. "We will talk about that later," she hisses, turning her attention back to Lando. He was running a hand threw his alcohol-covered hair, then rubbing the same hand over his jaw before clenching it. He sat there silently.

"You're so fucking selfish," she snaps, shaking her head. He scoffs back, eyes finally actually looking into hers for the first time that night.

If they weren't in such a predicament in that moment, he would've happily folded right then and there.

"I didn't do it to win you back," he admits. "I did it because you gave me a rude awakening. I wanted to do something to help inspire and encourage upcoming artists."

"You just couldn't let me have one night. One fucking night for the hardwork I did? You just had to make it about you doing charity?"

He shook his head. "I did it because I thought it was the right thing! Not to take the spotlight from you!"

She scoffed and shook her head. "You don't get it, Lando."

"What? What don't I get, Y/N?"

"This was my moment! My moment to finally show my talent. My moment to finally make a name for myself. My moment to finally let my hard work pay off," she explains, her tone becoming shaky. "But of course you had to throw your money to prove a point-"

"How?"

"By showing you could surpass me! That you're more successful than I am!" Her voice was loud, making most of the fellow racers at the table flinch. None of them having ever seen her this angry and upset.

Lando immediately feels his blood simmer, his chest tighten as his eyes fell. Tears began to glaze over her eyes. Her hands dropped from the air, completely defeated.

"You just had to prove you'll always have more than I do," she sniffles. "You don't see the messages. The comments. You don't hear the words people say. Or the snide remarks people leave when they saw me with you."

Lando listened to her talk, taking in every word.

"Then what you said made it all come true. Like you confirmed it," she admits. "I know you work hard. You all do, and you deserve everything you get," she explains to the table, then turns back to the table. "But just because I see potential in my career field, doesn't mean my hard work is any less than yours, Lando."

His lips part, guilt immeditaely building in his stomach.

"So what if I just scribble on a piece of fabric?" she chuckles bitterly. "I inspire others to show that what I do can go a long way. No matter how many sleepless nights I've had with painter's block, I can get somewhere," she admits, tears falling freely. "Then you going and doing what you did? Just shows and proves to people that I can't be successful without you feeling guilty or pity for me and putting your money in because you felt like you needed to. All because you messed up."

Y/N wipes her eyes before remaining silent for a few moments. "So no, Lando, you don't get it. You just throw money at things to make yourself or the situation better."

Lando felt speechless in that moment. He wanted to say that was far from true. It was not what he intended to do. It was never something he was doing to make light on it.

Yet, in that moment, he knew it was better to stay silent than to argue with her. So he let her stab him with her words, let her get it out.

She sniffles once more before looking back at the entire table, putting her hands up in surrender. "I'm so sorry, guys. I really did not mean to ruin the night. It's a big race tomorrow, I'm sorry," she laughs dryly, each person at the table knowing she never meant for that to happen. All of them feeling bad for her, not a single ounce of anger or devastation was felt towards her in that moment.

"I'm going to go," she nods. "Enjoy the rest of the night, yeah? Goodluck tomorrow."

With that, she leaves quietly. The fading of her heels was heard as she disappeared into the night. It was silent for a few moments, before Max was the first to speak up.

"Lando you fucked up. Majorly," he starts. "I don't know how you're going to fix this one."

Lando just nods, his gaze suddenly very entranced by the napkin in front of him. The drink dripping from his face that was once poured all over him.

Lando knew if he spoke in that moment, he would end up just sobbing. He felt so lost. He never meant for it to turn out this way. Never did he do it to gain attention for himself. It's why he wanted to keep it strictly confidential and anonymous. He wanted this to be focused on her, and only her.

"I do," Charles spoke up with pursed lips. "Know how to fix it, that is."

Lando snapped his eyes over at Charles, his eyes red and squinting from how much they hurt.

"But are you willing to cost yourself a race over it?"

Lando didn't care about anything else in that moment if he was being so real. He just wanted Y/N. He just wanted her.

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A/N: don't hate me lol, I SWEAR WE'RE COOKING OK. I had to make you hurt a bit and hate Lando just a tad. JUST HEAR ME OUT

(lmk if you'd like to be added to the taglist!)

taglist:

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