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writingfortoomanyfandoms · 9 days ago

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Cool Points (Part 2)

Pairing: Lando Norris x female!Reader (pro footballer player)

Summary: Having fought long and hard for custody of her two younger siblings, Y/N was ready for smooth sailing at least until the F1-obsessed twins became teenagers. What she wasn't expecting was for Lando to come and turn her world upside down

Warnings: Swearing, a lil angst, talks of past child neglect and allusion to past child abuse, slow burn to start but largely just domestic fluff so we good

Word Count: 4,866

A/N: Part two - I hope you guys enjoy. There'll be one more part to bring us to present day, so just a lot of domestic fluff to come. Please let me know what you thought and if you'd like to see more F1 writing in the future ❤️

Part One

2022 (Age 22)

“Y/N - hang back a sec, if you would?”

Y/N slowed to a jog, gesturing to Tara to continue onto the changing room without her as she turned around to face where their coach, Jude, and captain, Liza, were standing. From one of the stands, she could still hear her siblings and Lando cheering - she was sure they had made a game of it, to see who of them could cheer the loudest for their training, but Y/N couldn’t particularly find it within herself to care.

“What’s wrong?” She panted, hands on her hips.

“Take a second to catch your breath,” Jude ordered.

“Nothing’s wrong,” Liza said, practically beaming at her.

Y/N was going to miss Liza - she had announced at one of the training sessions the previous week that she would be leaving Chelsea. She had been Y/N’s captain ever since she herself had signed her contract when she was 18, and she knew it had been Liza who had vouched for her place on the national team both in the Olympics and the World Cup. More than that, she had been a valuable character witness during the adoption hearing for the twins, vouching for Y/N’s capability as a guardian to the two kids.

“Good work today,” Jude started. “There’s for sure been some improvement with your footwork - and your teamwork with Tara-"

“It’s like you’re telepathic sometimes,” Liza cut him off. “Which is exactly what you want for your midfielders.”

“Ah - thank you,” Y/N said, not quite sure what to make of the sudden compliments.

“When Liza told me of her plans to leave, I asked if she had any suggestions for who should be named Captain,” Jude began. Y/N’s heart thudded in her chest as she began to connect the dots.

“I put you forwards,” Liza confirmed. “I think you’re ready.”

“I’ve been watching more closely for the past week and I have to agree.”

“I… I’m flattered,” Y/N began slowly. “But - my schedule, and there are others who have more experience.”

“Maybe - but the team listen to you, they respect you,” Jude informed her. “Just - think about it for now. We’ll schedule a meeting to go over it next week, alright? I know you have… other commitments.” As if on cue, there was another shriek of laughter from the stands and Y/N had to smile. “But we can work something out, okay?”

“I’ll… I’ll think about it.”

“Good man,” Jude said, clapping his hand on her shoulder. “Now - it sounds as though you’ve got some adoring fans to get to.”

“Yeah - sorry again about that. The Goblins insisted Lando come to watch training,” Y/N said apologetically.

“It’s nice to have them here - it’s been a while since you’ve brought them.”

“Despite my best attempts, they still have minimal interest in football.”

“A shame - suppose it doesn’t help that your boyfriend’s an F1 driver, he’s bound to be encouraging that.”

“Me and Lando aren’t together,” Y/N dismissed immediately. “But he definitely has a hand in their continued love of all things Forumla One.”

“I’ll certainly miss them when I leave the team, though,” Liza inputted, making Y/N roll her eyes.

“Please - when I told Haz you’d signed a new contract, she asked if I’d buy her merch for your new team because she wants to change allegiance. Absolute nightmare child.”

“That’s my girl,” Liza laughed.

Y/N lifted a hand as she jogged away from her manager and old captain, her mind racing with thoughts of what they had proposed. When she got to the changing room, only Tara was still inside, brushing her hair out.

“What did they want? Offer you the captaincy?”

“How’d you know?”

“We’ve been taking bets as a team,” Tara shrugged. “Which you’d know if you ever came out for team drinks,” she added, slinging her bag over her shoulder.

“I try and come for the first round!” Y/N protested, grabbing her towel and heading towards the showers. Tara followed her, leaning against the wall with a grin.

“And you always pay for the first round - which is why we keep you around,” she got a more serious expression then. “But it’s true, then? They made you captain?”

“They’ve asked me to think on it,” Y/N corrected, beginning to strip.

“You’re going to say no, aren’t you?”

“I don’t know - maybe.”

“Your twins would be fuming if they know they’re the reason,” Tara warned her.

As if on cue, there was a knock at the changing room door and the sound of Haz’s voice calling for her.

“I said I’d think on it and I will.”

“Talk it through with them - they’re old enough to understand and have an opinion, Y/N,” she hesitated before her grin widened into something sharper. “And tell Lando, I’m sure he’ll have plenty to say.”

“Don’t you have a date to get to?” Y/N laughed, not bothering to correct Tara’s words - her best friend knew exactly what was going on with Lando, and just liked to tease her about it.

“I’m going, I’m going,” Tara put her hands up and turned away. “I’ll let Haz know you’re just showering.”

Y/N showered quickly and changed into some regular clothes before stuffing her kit into her sports bag and putting it over her shoulder. Haz was waiting outside, leaning against the wall opposite the door to the changing rom with her nose buried in a book.

“Sorry to keep you waiting, Queenie,” Y/N said, smoothing her hand over her sister’s hair.

“Took so long I had to turn to studying,” Haz huffed, but there was a tiny smile tugging at her lips.

Y/N laughed, leading her sister outside, where Lando had managed to get his hands on a football, and was kicking it back and forth with Tony. Y/N raised her eyebrows at the scene.

“Thinking of switching sport?” She teased.

Lando turned around, a beaming smile on his face.

“You were awesome!”

“It wan’t a match,” Y/N laughed, ignoring the fluttering of her heart.

“She’s also great in matches,” Tony inputted quietly, kicking the football over to Haz.

“Of course she is!”

“You could come to a match,” Haz offered eagerly, booting the ball over to Lando.

“I’d love to!”

“If you hang around until next year you could come to the world cup,” Y/N joked.

“Have you been selected for the team?” Lando asked excitedly. “Is that what they wanted to talk to you about?”

“They floated team selection, like, a month ago. I think the Olympics means that I’m likely going to make the team - especially since Chelsea’s at the top of the league anyway,” Y/N dismissed.

“Well I’ll certainly still be around next year so I’m definitely going to hold you to World Cup tickets,” Lando informed her. His words warmed her from the inside out.

She hadn’t expected to hear from him again after Silverstone last year - after they had kissed and she had insisted it couldn’t go anywhere, she’d assumed he’d lose interest. But that hadn’t been the case - instead, the opposite had happened.

He had made himself constantly available to her - he’d text her about his strangest thoughts, and would send her pictures from the Paddock of his fellow drivers for her to show to the twins. He’d call her to listen to her worries about her siblings - offering words of support or just an outlet for her constant fears, and always tried to assure her that she was doing a good job raising them.

Lando had even invited the three of them to stay with him in Monaco over the twins’ half term during the football off-season. It had been a brilliant week - Lando had organised a packed itinerary for them all, and Y/N knew that the twins were still bragging about the trip to their school friends.

If she was being entirely honest, Y/N wasn’t sure what she would have done without his support over the past year.

She had tried to return the favour - if she saw he’d had a hard race, or seemed distant over his messages she’d do her best to cheer him up. Either through sending him pictures of the twins messing around, or by recalling a funny anecdote of her own, or just offering a free ear if he wanted to complain.

And at some point over the last year or so, she had started to believe that he really was here to stay.

“Come on - lets get some food,” Y/N said, receiving the ball that Tony kicked towards her. She picked it up and chucked it back through the door that she had just come out of.

“Rabbit food?” Haz asked, scrunching her nose in distaste.

“Only for your sister and me, you two can get whatever you like - my treat,” Lando assured her, sharing an amused glance with Y/N.

“What do you feel like?” Y/N asked the twins.

“Pasta?” Tony suggested immediately, as Y/N knew he would.

Later that evening, the four of them were walking back through the streets of London - the twins ahead of them each holding an ice cream as they chatted about something to do with their friends.

“Thank you for watching them, by the way - I’ve not really said that yet,” Y/N said, breaking the silence at last.

“Of course,” Lando snorted. “I’d remind you that they’re good kids, but I think they’re going to start objecting to that soon.”

“I’m not ready for them to go full teenager,” Y/N groaned at the reminder.

“Think they’ll be like you were?” Lando asked curiously.

“God I hope not.”

“Why? Were you a troublemaker?” There was so much glee in the question that Y/N had to think for a second about how honestly to answer. She didn’t want to ruin this, she didn’t want to break the causal, cheerful atmosphere around them.

Then she looked over at Lando, who was staring at her expectantly and there was something so achingly soft in his expression that she knew for the first time that she wanted to tell him everything - anything that he wanted to know about her, anything that he was willing to ask, she was willing to share.

“More like the opposite,” Y/N admitted, going for a casual shrug, but knew the movement was more jerky than she was aiming for. “I was scared of causing trouble. I… didn’t want to give my parents any more excuse to be angry, you know?”

Lando stops walking, reaching out and carefully circling his fingers around her wrist to pull her to a stop as well. There’s open fear in his eyes and Y/N wants to reassure him, wants to hug him and promise that everything is okay.

“Did they hurt you?” He asked in a whisper.

Y/N tried for a smile, but knew it came out as more of a grimace. She carefully moved her wrist so that their hands linked together instead, and she tugged on their now joined hands to get him to start moving again.

“They were bad parents,” she told him in lieu of a straight answer. Lando sucked in a breath, but when Y/N looked at him again, he just nodded - apparently deciding not to press further. “I want them to feel safe enough to be… nightmares, you know? Like I’m dreading them becoming teenagers, but I hope that they feel safe enough to cause trouble at all? Does that make sense?”

“Yeah, it does,” Lando confirmed quietly. “I meant to say, by the way - my mum wants to meet you.”

“She what?”

“Well - she was actually asking if there was anything she could do to help you out with the twins,” Lando clarified, “and then said I should bring you three for dinner some day,” and Y/N laughed.

“You talking to your mum about me, Norris?”

“Is that such a surprise?”

Y/N had to look away in the hopes he wouldn’t see the embarrassment at how earnest he sounded. He chuckled lowly and squeezed her hand.

“Well that’s very kind of her.” She hesitated before adding: “And you.”

“Of course, Cap,” Lando said softly.

“Oh! That reminds me!”

“Yeah?”

“Guess who’s being considered for Captain?”

“At Chelsea?” Lando asked excitedly. Y/N beamed and nodded.

“I mean I’m not sure I’m actually going to accept and-“ Y/N began to ramble, before being cut off entirely.

Lando whooped and dropped her hand. But before she could mourn the loss of contact, his hands were on her hips and he was lifting her up to spin her around. A laugh bubbled up from her and she locked her hands around his neck, desperate for balance. He placed her back down carefully on the ground and they grinned at each other, the moment finally broken by the twins questions.

“You’re sure you're not together?” Haz asked.

“Has something happened?”

Y/N saw a flash of pain in Lando’s eyes, and Y/N ached with want.

But rather than closing the gap between them further, she cleared her throat awkwardly and stepped out of the safe circle of his arms.

“Jude’s asked me to consider taking over as Captain,” she told them, forcing herself to keep her attention on them and not Lando. Trying to remind herself that remaining just friends was for the best.

2023 (Age 23)

“Is that the Captain of a world cup winning team I see?” Lando’s voice was loud even over the thumping of the music playing in the club.

Lando was sitting back on a couch in the VIP section of the club - his legs were spread out beneath the table, and he was wearing a white shirt which was only half buttoned up. His eyes were slightly glassy, his hair was a mess, and one hand was clutching a glass that looked on the verge of being spilt.

There were some girls at the table too, one of them clearly vying for Lando’s attention - and Y/N had also recognised several of the other drivers on the grid as she had walked through the club in the search for her friend. Many of them had called out greetings and congratulations to her, recognising her now from the amount of time she had spent with Lando over the years.

The jolt of envy that ran through her from seeing the pretty girls around Lando was quickly extinguished with how her friend’s face had lit up in a bright grin at the sight of her and how he had immediately tried to stand up, knocking into the table in front of him.

Y/N snorted as Lando pushed at the people blocking his exit, and practically fell into her, narrowly avoiding spilling his drink down her back as he hugged her.

“Congratulations!”

“You've already said that,” Y/N reminded him, hugging him back tightly.

“Not in person! You didn’t come to the Paddock,” Lando pulled away with a pout.

“I’m sorry,” Y/N laughed. “Tara wanted to explore and I felt bad just leaving her.”

“She could’ve wanted to explore the Paddock,” Lando huffed, but it was short lived as he grabbed hold of her hand instead and began to pull her through the club.

“She came to the race today with me! Where are you taking me?”

“To get a drink - you need to catch up!”

“Tara and I had a couple before we got here,” Y/N promised him, though allowed him to continue to lead her through the crowds.

“Where is Tara? I wanted to say hello.”

“She immediately got waylaid,” Y/N admitted. “I’d be surprised if she makes another appearance tonight.”

“Really? Good for her!”

“Jealous, Norris?”

Lando turned back to look at her, eyes crinkled with mischief.

“She’s not the footballer I’m interested in.”

Y/N’s heart skipped a beat, but she just laughed at him.

“I never said - but you drove well today,” she said in an attempt to change the subject. She lent against the bar beside him as he ordered on her behalf.

“I didn’t win or anything,” Lando dismissed immediately.

“You still drove well,” Y/N shrugged.

“You think?” Lando asked, his words more vulnerable than usual.

“Of course I do,” Y/N responded.

Lando seemed to hesitate for a moment before drawing her into a tight hug again.

“I’ve missed you.”

“I’ve missed you too,” Y/N whispered. “I’m sorry I’ve been so busy.”

“Don’t apologise! You’ve been killing it, Cap.”

“I know - I just wish…”

“Yeah… I know,” Lando agreed with a soft smile. “Missing the twins?”

“You have no idea,” Y/N groaned. “They were so mad when I told them they couldn’t come to the Netherlands to see you. But they stopped complaining as much when I said they’d be staying with your parents.”

Lando took the two glasses being offered to him and handed one off to Y/N, before taking hold of her hand and pulling her back through the crowd towards the table.

“They’re would’ve been welcome,” Lando informed her, squeezing her hand.

“I know,” Y/N agreed, taking a sip of her drink. “But Tara’s been on at me to take some time for myself, you know?”

Lando focused back on her, eyebrows raised in surprise. Y/N squirmed with embarrassment at his considering gaze.

“I’m glad,” he said at last, his smile slowly creeping back across his face.

“Yeah?”

“Course - even if I do miss my personal fan club,” he teased.

“I can’t believe Haz finally changed allegiance,” Y/N groaned.

“I can’t believe it was Oscar that made her,” Lando laughed. “You have no idea how betrayed I was when she told me.”

“She’d determined she’s going to be his race engineer one day,” Y/N confided.

“She's wearing Papaya and that’s what’s important.”

“Tony’s always going to be rooting for you, Lan, don’t worry.”

“And every other weekend I get your undying support too, right?”

“I don’t know,” Y/N teased. “The twins are old enough that they want my support anymore - maybe I’ll start wearing red instead?”

Lando downed his drink.

“You want to say that again?”

Y/N bit her lip. She hesitated, then mimicked his action, grimacing a little at the strong aftertaste.

“I’m just saying - I think Charles Leclerc might be my favourite driver on the grid right now.”

“Charles Leclerc had a DNF today,” Lando said, his voice carefully measured.

“It happens to the best drivers,” Y/n shrugged, reaching behind Lando to place the empty cup on the table. Lando did the same, though kept his careful gaze on her.

“Bold words for someone who voiced their support for me on TV today,” Lando said.

“You saw that?” Y/N squeaked, unable to maintain the teasing in the face of the interview she had been drawn into earlier that day.

Her and Tara had been approached where they had been watching the race, having been recognised from their recent win in Australia. They had just asked a few questions about that last match - some jokes about how they were celebrating the win by coming to the Dutch Grand Prix, and then asked who they would be supporting for the day.

Y/N had answered with Lando’s name without thinking, not really expecting that it would get back to her friend.

“Of course I did,” Lando chuckled. “And, your brother texted me about it.”

“Little snitch!”

“It’s called loyalty!” Lando exclaimed. “Which you also showed - so don’t try that shit about being a Ferrari fan!”

“I just don’t want you getting a big head,” Y/N told him. “I’m going to keep you humble right up until you get your World Championship - then I’ll let you start bragging."

“Until? Not if?”

“When you become World Champion,” Y/N confirmed. “Not if.”

Lando bit his lip, then grabbed both of her hands.

“What are you doing?”

“Come on - we’re going to dance!”

“No! No we’re not!” Y/N immediately argued, half-heartedly trying to pull away from him. Lando just tightened his grip, beaming at her and tugging her into the mass of moving bodies.

“Yes we are!”

“I’m going to need so many more drinks before I start dancing, Lan,” Y/N protested, even as she allowed herself to be pulled. She knew she’d do anything that he asked of her. Anything that would keep that smile on his face.

“That’s something I can manage.”

The next couple of hours passed in a blur - Lando hardly left her side all night, periodically dragging her to the bar for another round of drinks or shots, before pulling her back to the throng of people dancing. Occasionally they would be joined by someone else - Tara made a brief appearance before going home with the woman she had pulled when they first got to the club, and some of Lando’s fellow drivers and their girlfriends would join them every now and then. Once in a while, they would be tugged into a group photo, their fingers laced in most of them, and if that wasn’t the case, then Lando’s arm would be thrown over her shoulder to pull her into his chest.

But by the end of the night, it was just the two of them left.

Three in the morning, and Lando was once more tugging her by the hand to lead her out into the cool night air, having stopped to collect a jacket from the cloakroom along the way.

“Where about are you staying?” He asked, and his voice was hoarse from having been singing along to the songs all night.

“I’ve got an Air BnB like… fifteen minutes away from here,” Y/N’s voice felt loud in the sudden quiet of the night, but the alcohol still in her system stopped her from caring too much.

“Let me walk you back?” Lando sounded hopeful.

Y/N gave an over-dramatic sigh, just to hear him laugh again.

“I suppose I’ll allow it.”

They set off down the street, Y/N pulling out her phone to navigate. But she quickly got distracted by the messages on the home screen. The first of which was from Lando’s mum, who had sent her a picture of the twins helping out in the kitchen.

“Everything alright?”

“Yeah - just your mum was sending me updates,” Y/N confirmed, angling her phone towards Lando so he could see the picture.

“She was so happy you asked if they could stay with her,” Lando said, swinging their still joined hands.

“She offered first!” Y/N said defensively.

“I know! I was being honest! She was so happy, Cap. She just wanted to help you,” Lando shot her a sly look. “Her and Tara would agree that you need to take some time for yourself.”

Y/N squeezed his hand.

“I’m trying.”

“I’m happy to wait,” Lando told her, answering what she didn’t say.

“I can’t… ask you to do that.”

“You’re not asking me to do anything.”

“I don’t want you to have to wait, Lan.”

“Sometimes you look at me…” Lando trailed off and shook his head.

“What?”

“It doesn’t matter,” he dismissed. “Are you cold? Do you want my jacket?”

He didn’t let her answer, dropping her hand so that he could instead wrap his jacket around her. Y/N allowed herself to be moved, but when Lando tried to walk on, she snagged her fingers in his shirt and he immediately stilled.

“Tell me.”

“Sometimes you look at me, and I think you’re talking yourself out of it. Like, the wait could be over, but you’re looking for excuses and telling yourself to hold off.”

“Lando-”

“And it’s okay, because I will wait,” he continued, staring at a point over her shoulder. He was still smiling, but it was sadder, more troubled than before. “Of course I will. Until you’ve convinced yourself I’m going to stay, or that I love your siblings as much as I love you-“

“Lan-“ Y/N’s eyes widened at that confession, her heart dropping.

“And I don’t know, maybe I’m delusional, because I will wait. And being your friend is enough for me. Because I may have started wanting something casual when I first messaged you, but this is so much more to me now. You and the twins - you’re everything to me, Cap.”

“You love me?” Y/N managed to get out.

When Lando at last met her eyes again, there was no denying the fondness in his expression, and he reached to smooth down some of her hair that had gotten messy in the club.

“How could I not?”

Maybe later, she would blame it on the night. On the atmosphere, of the amount that they’d had to drink, of the fact that she was still riding the high of her World Cup win. Or maybe how he was looking at her, the same way that he always looked at her, only this time she was letting herself see it, and letting herself believe him.

But she surged forwards, reaching up to pull his face down to hers, connecting their lips. Lando made a muffled noise of surprise, but responded quickly, pressing forwards immediately - his hands went to her cheeks to pull her closer, and his tongue swiped across her bottom lip, asking for access.

She opened her mouth for him, and felt one hand drop down to rest on her waist. She allowed her own fingers to tangle in his hair, clutching at the soft strands, desperate to hold onto him. She closed the last minute gap between them, stepping so that she was pressed up against the hard line of his body, and Lando sighed gently at that last piece of contact.

Then, he pulled away, his face dropping to rest in the crook of her neck, his lips pressing gentle kisses to the exposed skin there. Y/N continued to run her fingers through his hair, and she felt his lips turn up in a smile at the sensation.

“Tell me now,” he whispered.

“Tell you what?”

“That this is just another kiss we’re not going to talk about. Tell me now, straight-up so I’m not agonising over it later.”

“I don’t want to,” she admitted in a small voice.

“Yeah?” Lando asked, finally pulling away so that he could meet her eyes. Y/N gave him a wobbly smile.

“I love you too," she managed to get out. “For what it’s worth.”

Lando brushed another kiss against her lips, grinning.

“Everything. It’s worth everything,” then his smile dimmed, his eyes searching hers. “There’s a ‘but’ coming, isn’t there?”

“I can’t… put you first. You deserve someone who can,” Y/N said at last, idly playing with the hair at the back of his neck.

“That’s all?” Lando asked, smile brightening again. “Darling - that’s not news. You’re a sister first, I get that. It’s one of the things I love about you.”

He went to kiss her again, but Y/N ducked away.

“Lando, I’m being serious. I just… I don’t want you to be upset when I have to put them above you. Because they will…” she sighed. “They’re always going to be first to me. And I know that’s not fair to you, which is why-“

“I know,” Lando laughed. “I know that’s why you always pull away. I know they always come first. I know you’re worried about my relationship with them. I know you, Cap. I promise. I know all of it, and I still love you, I still want to be with you, okay?”

“Our dates are going to be crashed all the time,” Y/N warned him. “And I spend half my free-time teaching myself their homework to help them study. And the other half is spent ironing their uniforms.”

“I’ll spend our dates ironing happily.”

“That was not the take-away!” Y/N laughed. Lando kissed her forehead, still grinning.

“You’ve told me you loved me, the rest is just a bonus,” he joked.

“I’m trying to give you an out!”

“I know - I don’t want it,” he responded cheerfully, kissing her again.

“Tomorrow,” Y/N said decisively, pushing him away - not that there was much force behind it.

“What?”

“We’ll talk about it properly tomorrow, when we’re not drunk,” she insisted.

“Promise?”

“You sound so eager,” she laughed, turning away and reaching for her pocket for her phone.

“I’ve been waiting for this for, like, two years. Since we met in person at least,” Lando promised her, immediately going to tangle their fingers together again.

“For a conversation?” She joked.

“For this conversation,” he agreed.

Y/N bit her lip to try and stop herself from smiling too wide. She would wait to see what sobriety brought, though her instincts were telling her that this was it. That nothing she would say when they woke up would dissuade him. And she was tired of pretending that she wasn’t in love with him, tired of pretending that she didn’t think that her and Lando were endgame.

#lando norris #lando norris x reader #lando norris fanfic #lando norris imagine #lando x reader #lando norris x you #formula one x reader #formula one fanfiction #lando norris fluff

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writingfortoomanyfandoms · 17 days ago

Text

In case you missed it!

Cool Points (Part 1)

Pairing: Lando Norris x female!Reader (pro footballer player)

Warnings: Swearing, a lil angst, talks of past child neglect, SLOW burn (also a lot of background set up in the first part)

Word Count: 4,752

A/N: First time writing for F1 (and first time writing fanfic in a while lmao) but I don't actually know all that much about F1 but I'm graduating tomorrow and one of my friends is very much into it and very much in love with Lando Norris, so this is for her. There will be a second part (if people are interested!) but please be kind if I got anything wrong! And please let me know what you think!

2020 (Age 20)

The legal battle had been long and hard, but at least it had been more private than Y/N had dared dream.

Especially with the ongoing pandemic, people being so much more interested in her private life than ever before, she had been certain that her ongoing custody battle would be the source of more than a few headlines.

And there had been one or two, at the beginning. When her parents had first cleaned up their act and went to the press, claiming that Y/N didn’t have the time to be a guardian, that she was an unfit role model for their kids.

As though she hadn’t been looking after the twins since they were born, as if she wasn’t willing to make every possible allowance with her job to make sure she could provide her siblings with at least a semi-stable living environment, which was far more than what her parents had ever been able to say.

But the public had been on her side from the beginning, and her fans knew that she had always tried to keep her younger siblings from the spotlight, and so while there had certainly been a lot of public interest and speculation in the case, the majority of people had respected her wish for privacy.

And it had all been worth it, for that moment the day before, when the judge had ruled in her favour, and not only approved of her adoption of the twins, but also started the process of filing for a restraining order on her behalf.

Now, though, the twins were “over it”, as though it hadn’t been a monumental weight off of Y/N’s shoulder and something that she would be riding the high of for the next several decades (or at least until one of them did something to annoy her again) - no, instead had turned their full attention back to the racing.

Y/N opened the door to her flat, panting slightly from her run, and was immediately greeted with the utter chaos that was her siblings preparing for a race weekend.

“Y/N! Hurry up or you’ll miss it!”

She checked the watch on her wrist, raising her eyebrows in amusement.

“There’s still another hour, Sunshine!”

“Your siblings are insane,” Y/N’s teammate and temporary flatmate inputted, walking into the kitchen.

“I tried to warn you,” Y/N laughed. “Formula 1 is very serious business in this flat, T.”

“Half the living room is bright orange,” Tara said solemnly.

“And the other half?”

“Black and silver - your sister has gone full emo.”

“Have you picked a side?”

“Tara! You need to help me!” Haz called impatiently.

“I’m just making sure your sister does her cool-down!” Tara responded, shooting Y/N a helpless look.

“We’ll be through in a sec, Queenie.”

“That nickname has never made more sense to me.”

“You love the goblins really,” Y/N said with an eye roll, pouring herself a glass of water.

And it was true - two years ago, Y/N would have worried about Tara’s comments about the twins, sure that she was just tolerating the kids because her and Y/N had gotten close over the time spent playing together. But when lockdown had been announced, Tara hadn’t hesitated before offering to move in, ready to help out as much as she could with the kids in a time that she had known would otherwise have left Y/N entirely exhausted.

Tara did love the twins in her own way - she had no siblings of her own, and was always incredibly amused by their constant arguing and empty threats. But she was always more than ready to talk either of them through whatever crisis they were going through - be it Haz cutting herself a fringe in an act of rebellion, or Tony getting upset over a grade in school.

The biggest adjustment for Tara had been getting used to their shared adoration for Formula 1 racing.

“I swear I’ve never heard you talk about Formula 1 before I moved in,” Tara said somewhat accusingly. Y/N grinned at her.

“That’s because football is my escape,” she joked.

“You enjoy it!” Haz was in the doorway, tapping her foot impatiently as she glared between the two football players.

“Of course I do, sweetheart,” Y/N soothed. “But I got into it because of you and Tony.”

Haz rolled her eyes, looking every bit the teenager she hadn’t yet turned.

“I need you to do my banner,” she said, directing the words towards Tara.

“Don’t want my help?”

“It’s Tony’s turn with you,” Haz said darkly.

Tara shot her an amused look, by now used to the way the twins took it in turns to claim Y/N to support their team each race weekend. This time, though, Haz was particularly sore about it - Silverstone was always their favourite weekend, probably because it felt closer to them than nay other track. It had become even more important to the twins as last year Y/N had managed to get the three of them tickets to the weekend.

“Well maybe Tara will join you,” Y/N suggested, and Haz gave the other woman a considering look.

“This is an important one,” Haz told her seriously.

“I gathered,” Tara agreed dryly, not that Haz seemed to pick up on her tone.

“Will you take it seriously?”

“What do you need me to do, Cap?”

Haz nodded approvingly.

“You can wear my other hat, then.”

“Can I shower before I help with the last of the set up?” Y/N asked, raising her voice slightly so that Tony would be able to hear from the other room.

There was a mumble of agreement from the older twin, and Haz nodded her head, grabbing Tara by the hand and leading her through to the living room.

When she joined her rag-tag little family fifteen minutes later, the room had been split right down the middle. One side of the room was silver and black, with Mercedes logos on nearly every surface. Tara had been lent Haz’s second favourite Mercedes-branded hat, and had just finished blue-tacking up a banner decorated with the faces of Hamilton and Bottas. Haz herself had put on her Mercedes-branded jacket and favourite hat - the one that Y/N had pulled all sorts of strings to get signed at Silverstone last year.

The other side of the room was the polar opposite in terms of colour-scheme. Bright orange paper-chains hung along the windows, and were draped artfully along the TV cabinet. Y/N covered her mouth to hide her laughter at the printed out pictures of McLaren cars that Tony had tacked to the walls - the boy himself was carefully placement of orange snacks on his side of the coffee table, wearing a McLaren hat, which was a new purchase at the start of the F1 season.

“You’re wearing orange!” Tony crowed, beaming at her.

“Of course I did, Sunshine,” Y/N laughed, doing a little twirl as Tony clapped delightedly. “It looks great in here,” she added, stealing one of the carrot sticks that Tony had just finished putting out. “Both sides,” she tacked on, seeing that Haz had been about to make a comment.

“You three sit on the sofa - I’ll take a picture of you,” Tara suggested. “Post-adoption celebration?”

Y/N laughed at that, even as her heart lifted at the reminder that no one would be coming to take the twins away from her.

“Don’t be silly, T - Silverstone is far more important than an adoption hearing,” Y/N joked, even as she sat down and held her arms out for her siblings.

The two of them bounced over, curling into her sides with wide grins on their faces.

“Are you gonna post us, Y/N/N?” Haz asked excitedly.

“Maybe if I remember my Instagram password,” Y/N responded with a gentle pinch to her sisters side.

“Say cheese!” Tara exclaimed, then immediately burst out laughing. “You guys look ridiculous - this is a madhouse.”

“You love us really - any last finishing touches, or are we ready for the race?”

“You know, I’m a little disappointed by our lack of themed snacks,” Tara said, grinning at Haz, who glared at her in return.

“Y/N bought me liquorice one time,” she responded.

“Queenie still hasn’t forgiven me,” Y/N agreed. “Since then she’s not trusted me to buy her themed snacks.”

Tony giggled at the memory, still curled up against Y/N’s side. Tara joined them on the sofa, sitting on Haz’s other side and still tapping on her phone. Moments later, Y/N’s own screen lit up with a text from her containing the photos.

“I’ll be on it next time - you can trust me to know the best snacks,” Tara promised Haz, who just looked at her in consideration.

"What's the word?” Haz asked, turning to Y/N. “Tara’s on…” Her brow furrowed in annoyance.

“Probation?” Y/N offered, busy editing the photos to put emoji’s covering the kids’ faces - a sunshine over Tony’s and a queen over Haz’s, carefully positioned so that they didn’t obscure the hats they were wearing.

“Yeah - you’re on that.”

“She’s upset I got you this time,” Tony whispered to Y/N. She pressed a kiss to the top of his head and smiled.

“I know - Silverstone’s important,” Y/N agreed, matching her voice to his whispered tone.

“But also, now it’s… forever,” Tony replied knowledgeably, and Y/N tried to piece together what he meant.

“You think I’m going to swear allegiance?” Y/N asked. “Because you know the rules, Sunshine.”

“No,” Tony huffed, clearly frustrated. “Now is forever - this!”

“Oh,” Y/N whispered, her heart filling as she realised what Tony was actually trying to tell her. “Yeah, this is forever now, kiddo,” she agreed, squeezing him.

Just as the race was about to begin, Y/N posted the now edited picture to her rather sparse Instagram account.

Y/N_Y/L/N17: Ready for Silverstone! Can you tell who the goblins support?

Then she switched off her phone and turned her full attention back to the TV, where the race was just beginning. It wasn’t until later, long after she had carried the twins to their beds after they had passed out on the sofa following the excitement of the race and the press interviews following it that she collapsed back with Tara to have a beer and talk about their training over the next couple of days that she checked it again.

The post had amassed its fair share of likes from fans of the Chelsea football team, some of whom had taken it upon themselves to tag the accounts of the drivers.

“Tony’s going to lose his little mind,” Y/N said to Tara, laughing a little.

“Why?”

Y/N turned the screen towards her friend, where the notification was still at the very top.

Lando would like to send you a message.

“Holy shit,” Tara laughed. “You gotta accept - you gotta get in with Lando Norris. They’d think you’re so cool!”

“They already think I’m so cool!” Y/N protested.

“Haz said you dress like you wish you were Dick Turpin from that episode of Horrible Histories.”

“I took that as a compliment!”

“Babe, it wasn’t one.”

Y/N aimed a kick at her teammate even as she laughed along with her.

“I despise you,” she said, swiping to accept the message.

Lando: I was going to say looks like 2/3 the room has good taste, only to find out you don’t even follow me

“So - what’s Lando Norris saying?”

Y/N angled her phone towards Tara, allowing her to read the message as well.

“If I didn’t know better I’d say he was trying to flirt with you.”

“Sounds like you don’t know better,” Y/N snorted at the knowing tone in Tara’s voice.

Y/N: Does it make you feel better to know I only follow, like, half of my teammates?

“Is that true?” Tara asked.

Y/N went out of the messages to show her the number of people she followed - a little under 50. Tara clicked on the number.

“I’m going to save you the hope and tell you - I’m pretty sure I don’t follow you.”

“What the fuck, dude!”

“I barely use it!”

“You should still follow me”

Y/N was still cackling when the reply from Lando came.

Lando: Okay I checked, and that does make make feel better

Lando: Also I was hinting that you should follow me

“He’s totally flirting!”

“Shush!”

Y/N: And give the goblins another reason to try and steal my phone?

Lando: I’ll follow you back - you’ll get so many cool points from the superior one

Y/N: Everyone trying to bribe me with these “cool points” - kinda fucked up

Y/N: Also is now a bad time to mention that I’m expected to swap allegiance every race weekend?

Lando: Breaking my heart here - we could’ve had something special

Lando: Think her Ladyship could be bribed to the good side?

Y/N: She’d sure take some convincing - what did you have in mind?

Lando: Maybe some paddock passes for a race weekend? Whenever we’re back open to the public that is

Y/N: That would be a dream come true for both of them

Lando: And for you?

Y/N hesitated, and Tara gave her a gentle nudge with her shoulder.

“You doin’ alright, champ?”

“Champ?” Y/N echoed, shooting her friend a quizzical look.

“I don’t know man, it felt right?”

“What’s going on? What’s wrong?”

“It’s just… you’re right.”

“Hm?”

“He is flirting.”

“Hate to break it to you, man, but you’re flirting back.”

“I know,” Y/N agreed. “But… it doesn’t matter.”

Y/N: Anything that makes them happy is enough for me

“I’ve never really heard you talk about… anyone before. Romantically, I mean.”

“I don’t really… It’s hard to date with the kids, you know? They come first. Always.”

“You’re a good sister - but that doesn’t mean you can’t get laid.”

“Do I seem like the casual kind of person to you?” Y/N laughed.

“No - I guess not,” Tara yawned. “Well… I’ll leave you to have this crisis alone. You running tomorrow early or later?”

“I’ll go early - you have a lie-in.”

“Sounds good to me - enjoy your freak-out.”

“Thanks, hon.”

Lando: I’ll see what I can do

Lando: How old are they, if you don’t mind me asking? They’re your siblings, right?

Y/N: Yeah - twins, so both 11. Tony’s older, but Haz gets upset if you bring it up

Lando: Which one’s the McLaren fan?

Y/N: Tony - Haz isn’t opposed to McLaren, but she’s always stayed true to Mercedes

Lando: Well I’ll certainly do my best to win her over - do they also play football?

Y/N: Minimal interest, but they feign excitement at my games so I’ll forgive them

Y/N: My teammate Tara’s spending lockdown with us and she’s determined to get one of them into it - insists on training them every day

Lando: Cuteee

2021 (Age 21)

If Y/N was being entirely truthful, that was as far as she was expecting it to go - a mutual follow on social media, the occasional like or comment, perhaps the odd message when she’d post about a race weekend.

But perhaps it was a product of lockdown that meant that it went much further than that - near constant messages. Just friendly conversations, but every now and then the tease of it going further - the odd flirt here or there, reacting with a heart-eyes emoji when she’d send him a picture that had her in it, and the occasional teasing over what they’d do when they had the chance to actually meet.

Not to mention the video he had sent her, clearly having had a few drinks, toasting to her with some friends after she had been selected for the Olympic team. Y/N was embarrassed to even think about how many times she had watched that video.

And then a couple of months ago, she had made a comment about trying to get tickets for the twins to go to Silverstone this year, now that the world was getting close to being normal again. After weeks of pleading and begging with her captain, Liza had agreed to allow her the weekend off - saying that the team was due a rest weekend anyway, before they were due to jet off to Tokyo.

Lando’s reply had been immediate, offering the same paddock passes that he had teased her over the year before. Y/N had initially laughed it off, feeling bad for asking her new friend for such a favour, but Lando had insisted.

“This is so cool!” Haz squealed, bouncing on the heels of her feet. She was clearly desperate to break away and sprint around asking questions, but thankfully remained glued to her side.

“How did you get them?” Tony asked, staring around with wide eyes.

“Maybe because I’m just the coolest sister ever, Sunshine?” Y/N teased, ruffling his hair.

“Well if it isn’t the Olympian!”

Tony gasped quietly, staring at the man dressed in bright orange - sorry, papaya - as he came bounding towards them with a bright grin.

“Is he talking to you?” Haz asked, practically vibrating with excitement.

“I know many interesting people, Queenie,” Y/N said.

“I’ve heard so much about you two - it’s great to meet you!” Lando added, beaming down at the twins.

“Really?” Tony asked, staring up at Y/N - even with the papaya-decorated COVID mask she could see the confusion in his expression.

They hadn’t actually needed the COVID masks - they were no longer required by the venue, but Y/N had insisted on it. Not only because she wanted to do whatever she could to stop the kids from getting ill, but also to hide their faces from the flashing cameras all around.

“How’d you think she got your paddock passes,” Lando joked.

“Ah,” Haz nodded solemnly. “Borrowed cool points.”

Lando laughed loudly at that, and beneath her own COVID mask, Y/N was smiling even as she rolled her eyes.

“How would you guys feel about a paddock tour?” Lando asked.

“Oh - someone already said they’d give us one! We’re being well taken care of, don’t worry,” Y/N assured him.

“Well I’ve got some time - I could… give you one instead?”

“Really?” The twins shrieked together.

“I’m sure you have other things you need to do, Lan.”

“Don’t convince him not to!” Haz said, betrayed.

“I’m being polite!” Y/N argued.

“Well - don’t!” Tony whined, apparently over his initial shyness.

Lando grinned at her.

“You heard the troops, Cap.”

“She’s not a captain yet,” Haz informed him with a frown.

“‘Yet’?” Y/N repeated.

“Exactly - yet,” Lando agreed. “Let’s go! Lots to see!”

It was like a dream, following behind as Lando herded her younger siblings around the paddock, pointing out every little thing and calling over to the occasional other drivers that they saw hanging out in the more public areas. He made more than a few quips about Haz’s Mercedes outfit and about her supporting the wrong team, much to Tony’s delight.

And then he was leading them proudly into his garage, which was buzzing with energy.

“There shouldn’t be any photographers around here if you guys wanted to take your masks off,” Lando said, placing a hand on each of their backs. “And I let the engineers know we had some guests of honour this weekend, so I’m sure they’ll be more than happy to answer whatever questions you have.”

“We can go?” Haz asked, breathless with excitement at the idea of being able to talk to some of the people who worked on a Formula 1 car.

The twins looked at Y/N expectantly.

“Behave, and try not to get in the way,” Y/N advised. “But if Lando says it’s okay, then knock yourselves out.”

The twins whooped, tearing off their masks as they dashed further into the garage. Y/N laughed as she watched them, and lent back against the wall, Lando joining her.

“I really can’t thank you enough for all of this,” Y/N said, unable to look away from her siblings - she was sure she had never seen them this happy.

“Of course - they’re great kids.”

“They’re my little nightmares,” Y/N agreed fondly.

“I mean - Haz is… something else,” Lando added, and it lifted something in Y/N’s heart how affectionate he sounded.

“When they were younger, Tones used to be so shy - I think Haz got so loud because she felt like she had to help him out when she could.”

“How long have you…”

Y/N looked at him from the corner of her eye, and tried to hide her amusement at how awkward he seemed - clearly unsure how to breach the topic of her parents.

“I’ve looked after them since they were born - I became their official guardian after I turned 18, but the adoption only happened a year ago. Our parents were… not great, but they tried to combat the adoption. I’m not… really sure why?”

“I remember reading something about that,” Lando agreed, his voice low and sympathetic.

“I mean - it’s okay now, right? I’ve got them, and there’s a restraining order against our parents now so… they’re as safe as they can be, I think?

“You’ve done everything you can, and anyone can see that you’d give them the world if you could.”

It wasn’t until he said it that Y/N realised just how much she had needed to hear that little bit of reassurance. Instinctually, she allowed her head to drop down to rest on his shoulder.

“Thank you.”

“Of course,” the words hung between them for a moment, before Lando cleared his throat - jolting Y/N back to reality and she quickly stood up straight again. “By the way, what the fuck are you wearing?”

“You don’t like?” Y/N asked innocently. “I thought I looked rather nice - Queenie certainly approved.”

“You’re killing me here, Cap.”

“I warned you! I said I had to switch allegiance every race weekend - mediating between the Goblins is a fucking nightmare.”

“Tony’s the only one I can trust, it seems. And to think you look so good in papaya - it’s just such a waste!”

Even though the man was clearly teasing, and Y/N had heard enough about his reputation over the past year to know he likely wasn’t being sincere, she still felt heat rushing to her face.

“Invite us back next year and I’ll wear my full McLaren get-up,” Y/N promised, laughing through her embarrassment.

“I can’t even tempt you with a hat?” Lando whined. “I can’t believe there are two people in Mercedes merch in my garage.”

“You brought us here!”

“You’re right, that was my mistake,” he agreed. Y/N went to respond, but cut herself off with a wide yawn, which she tried to cover as best she could. “Come on,” Lando chuckled. “The twins will be alright here for a moment - let me grab you some coffee.”

“You really don’t have to do all of this,” Y/N protested as Lando started to steer her out of the garage.

“I’m set on making sure you have a good weekend - is that wrong?”

“No - it’s really kind of you. But honestly, just being here is more than enough for the Goblins and me.”

“Well… perhaps I just want to impress you then,” Lando suggested, shooting her a look with raised eyebrows. Y/N snorted in reply.

“Real smooth.”

“I mean it!”

“Well I am definitely impressed.”

“Can I get that in writing?”

“Shut up,” Y/N laughed.

“I mean it! I’m going to be living on this ego-boost for a while,” Lando insisted, stopping outside the garage doors as though to emphasise his point. “Future Olympian is impressed by Lando Norris - the stuff of dreams!”

“You’re ridiculous,” Y/N informed him.

Lando moved closer to her, with that same cheeky smile, crowding her against the garage wall.

“I’m getting the sense you like it,” he mused, voice low.

His eyes darted between her eyes and her lips. Y/N felt as though her heart would beat out of her chest - she knew she ought to move, to laugh it all off. She knew that nothing could actually between her and Lando, but in that moment all of her reasons for why it was a bad idea flew from her mind.

His hand slowly reached up, fingers cupping the back of her head, thumb gently running over her cheek. Then he was pulling her in, lips brushing hers. Automatically, her own hands raised to rest against his chest - unsure if she was going to push him away or hold onto him.

His lips were gentle against hers - almost tentative, as though he was worried about pushing too hard. Then he pushed just a little harder, a little more sure of himself, lips moving together like the most natural thing in the world.

They broke apart, foreheads resting together, and Y/N let out a quiet sigh. When Lando moved to kiss her again, she gently pushed on his chest.

“I can’t,” she whispered.

“You don’t want to?” Lando asked, sounding alarmed. He went as though to move away from her, but she tightened her fingers just a little where they still rested against his chest, desperate to pretend she could have this just a moment longer.

“I want to,” she said. “But I can’t.”

Lando let those words hang between them, then trailed his hands down her sides until they gripped at her elbows.

“Date first?” He asked at last, a weak attempt at humour judging how his lips tried to twitch up.

“I can’t… do casual,” Y/N said. “Or - I don’t want casual,” she admitted.

“I didn’t say I wanted casual either,” Lando pointed out. “But you’ve been reading about me?”

“A little,” Y/N confessed.

“I like you. I want to do the dating thing - wine and dine you, introduce you to my parents. All of that.”

“Well that’s the other thing,” Y/N agreed, her heart sinking. “I’m sorry, but… I just can’t.”

“So you keep saying,” Lando whispered, and Y/N risked meeting his eyes - and her heart gave a painful thud at how sad he looked. “But why? Why can’t you?”

“Well-“

As if on cue, there was a sudden burst of chaos as the twins came bursting out of the garage, calling her name.

“Y/N!”

Realisation flashed across Lando’s expression as Y/N gently pushed him away with a tiny smile.

“Over here!” Y/N called in return.

“I know what I want to study in school!” Haz practically shouted.

“Oh yeah? That’s great!”

“I want to be an engineer!”

Lando seemed to recover at that, grinning down at her. Though Y/N could see the shakiness in that expression, the way that his eyes kept darting over to her - clearly wanting to finish their conversation.

“Yeah? You going to help build my cars, Squirt?”

“No - of course not,” Haz huffed. Then she paused. “Unless you leave McLaren,” she added and Y/N lifted a hand to cover her smile.

“Well I think it’s a great idea, Queenie,” Y/N promised her. “You learnt a lot from Lando’s team, then?”

“They’re brilliant,” Haz exclaimed, going off on a tangent about all that she’d learnt. Lando nodded along seriously, hanging off of every word she had to say.

Meanwhile, Tony snuck closer to Y/N, tugging on her arm to get her attention.

“You okay?” He asked when Y/N looked at him.

“Hm?”

“Just - you snuck out.”

“I just needed some air, Sunshine - I’m just fine,” she promised.

“Are you sure?” He asked again, looking concerned.

“Hey - it’s my job to worry about you, okay Tones? As long as you’re having a good day, that’s what’s important to me. I promise.”

And when Y/N finally chanced a proper look over at Lando, his expression was one of understanding. There was something else too - something harder that Y/N couldn’t quite place. But he offered her a smile and a wink, back to his usual swagger as he began herding them towards the cafe, talking about the coffee he had promised her earlier.

#lando norris #lando norris x reader #lando norris fanfic

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writingfortoomanyfandoms · 19 days ago