#Indycar fanfic

[the-offside-rule]

Patricio O'Ward (Arrow McLaren) - Taste Of Home

Requested: yes

Prompt: Y/n is the youngest Leclerc and is missing home so Pato brings home to her

Warnings: tooth rotting fluff

Y/n sighed as she leaned back on the couch in the house she now shared with her boyfriend, Pato. It had been an exciting move, leaving behind her life in Monaco to support Pato in his IndyCar career, but tonight, the homesickness gnawed at her more than usual. The city was bustling, yet felt so different from the cozy streets of Monte Carlo, and she missed the warmth of home, the chatter of her brothers, and the comfort of her mother’s cooking. Pato turned his attention away from the TV as he heard his girlfriend moving beside him, noticing the way she was staring blankly at her laptop, her mind far away.

“You okay, mi amor?” Pato asked, his hand strokingher knee. His dark eyes were full of concern. “Yeah, I’m fine." Y/n smiled softly, though her tone betrayed her. "Just missing home tonight, I guess." Pato shifted, wrapping an arm around her shoulders and pulling her close. "What do you miss most? Besides Charles making fun of you?" Y/n chuckled at that, leaning her head on Pato's shoulder. “Everything, really. Charles, Lorenzo, Arthur. My mom's carbonara, and just being surrounded by family. It was weird being the youngest sometimes, but they always made me feel you know, like I belonged.” Pato's soft smile turned to a flat line, thinking of what he could do.

“Tell me a story,” Pato suggested, wanting to cheer her up. “About you and your brothers.” She thought for a moment, her face softening as memories surfaced. “Okay, I’ve got one. So, when I was about seven, Charles and Arthur thought it’d be funny to teach me how to ride a bike. But they didn’t tell me how to brake properly." Pato laughed. "That sounds like a disaster waiting to happen."

“Oh, it was." Y/n nodded with a smile. "I rode straight into our neighbor’s garden and crashed into her rose bushes. I was crying, covered in thorns, and instead of comforting me, Charles was laughing so hard he was practically rolling on the floor. Arthur was trying to hide so he wouldn’t get in trouble. But Lorenzo, being the responsible big brother, came and pulled me out of the bushes, all while giving Charles and Arthur a lecture.” Pato shook his head with a grin. “So Charles was always a troublemaker?”

“Always.” Y/n confirmed with a fond laugh. “But he had his moments where he was sweet too. He’s protective, you know? When I went to my first school dance, he grilled the poor boy who asked me to be his date. Charles practically had the poor guy sweating.” Pato laughed louder this time. "Yeah, that sounds like him. Protective older brother mode.” Y/n had loosened up a bit, reminiscing on the past she had in Monaco. “Yep. And Arthur’s no better. Honestly, they all think I need constant watching.” Y/n yawned softly, her tiredness creeping in after a long day at university. “I miss them, though.”

“I know you do.” Pato said, kissing her temple softly. "You should get some rest. It's been a long day, amor." Y/n looked at the time on her laptop. "Yeah, I think I will.” Y/n stood up, stretching. “I’ll head to bed. I’ve got an early class tomorrow.” Pato smiled as she leaned down and placed a delicate kiss onto his lips. “Goodnight, mi amor. I love you.”

“Love you too, Pato.” Y/n smiled before turning and heading for the stairs. As soon as the door closed, Pato pulled out his phone, an idea sparking in his mind. He scrolled through his contacts until he found Charles’ number and sent a message.

Pato Hey man, quick question. Y/n’s feeling really homesick tonight and I was thinking… can you send me your family’s carbonara recipe? I want to surprise her tomorrow.

Pato stared at his phone, unsure if Charles would respond quickly. But within moments, his screen lit up with a reply.

Charles Hey, mate. Of course, I’ll send it over. You trying to impress my sister with your cooking? 😂

Pato Haha, yeah, something like that. She told me she misses your mom’s carbonara, so I thought it might help.

Charles Give me a second, I’ll write it down for you.

A minute later, Charles sent over a series of detailed instructions, with a few extra tips for making sure the dish turned out just right. Pato read through the messages carefully, determined to get it perfect.

Charles And don’t overcook the pasta! I swear, if you serve it mushy, Y/n will never let you live it down.

Pato Haha, I’ll do my best. Thanks, man.

With the recipe in hand, Pato felt a surge of excitement. He could picture Y/n’s face lighting up when she came home to find a taste of Monaco waiting for her.

The next day, after Y/n left for her morning classes, Pato got to work. He drove to the store, carefully selecting only the best ingredients for the pasta dish. He came home, cleaned up a bit and set to work cooking. No one said it would be easy and it certainly wasn't for such a simple dish. He followed Charles’ recipe to the letter, carefully whisking the eggs and cheese together, cooking the pancetta until it was crisp, and boiling the pasta to al dente perfection. His kitchen was soon filled with the comforting smell of home-cooked food, and he couldn’t help but feel proud of himself for pulling it off. Pato had managed to spill sowm egg here and there, a bit of sliced guanciale on the floor (nothing Norbi couldn't help with), but he got there. He had done it. He had to admit, he ate a bowl or two whilst waiting for Y/n to get back.

Just as he was plating the carbonara, he heard the front door open. Y/n walked in, looking exhausted but surprised when she caught the scent wafting through the apartment. “Oh that smells delicious! Pato, what are you cooking?” She asked, setting her bag down. Pato turned to her with a grin, holding up two plates of the golden, creamy pasta. “Surprise! I made your family’s carbonara.” Her eyes widened, and her heart melted instantly. “You what?”

“I called Charles and got the recipe,” Pato explained, walking over to hand her a plate. “I know you’ve been homesick, and I wanted to bring a little bit of home here for you.” Y/n stared at him, her eyes soft with emotion. “Pato this is amazing. You didn’t have to do all this.” She smiled, her hand caressing his cheek. “I wanted to,” Pato said, his voice gentle. “You mean the world to me, Y/n. I want you to feel at home, even here.” She smiled, her eyes glistening with unshed tears, and took a bite. “This is perfect,” she said, her voice thick with emotion. “It tastes just like home.” Pato sat down beside her, watching as she ate with a soft smile. “I’m glad you like it.” Y/n leaned over and kissed his cheek. “I love it. And I love you.”

“I love you too,” Pato whispered, feeling a wave of warmth and contentment wash over him. He’d brought a piece of Monaco to Miami, and in that moment, it felt like home; because Y/n was with him.

[golden-moony]

king of my heart | pt. 2

pairings: lando norris x fem!reader | pato o'ward x fem!reader

warnings: love triangle? kinda.

author's note: go get some popcorn cause we have some drama here🍿... and it's a long part, so enjoy!!

part 1 | part 2 | part 3 | part 4

------------------------------------------------------

yourusername

liked by charles_leclerc, isahernaez, frosenqvist, and 79,121 others!

yourusername Miami GP over and out ✅🏁 No words could ever explain just how grateful I am for all of you and for the opportunity that I get to cover this amazing sport with such incredible people by my side. Thank you for everything Miami, I hope to see you again soon! 🌴��

user1 the power she holds 🙌

user2 she's really living my dream 🥹

lissiemackintosh so happy to be able to share this with you!! love u❤️

yourusername we really need to do this more often😘 love u too! user3 y/n and lissie hosting track tv together is my new roman empire fr user4 SLAY QUEENS!! user5 the queens are thriving user6 i wanna be friends with them so bad 😫

user7 omg girl you're STUNNING

user8 BEST F1 WAG

user9 facts facts facts user10 she's not even a wag lol it's so obvious lando just keeps this nobody around for when he's bored and horny user11 user10 this "nobody" has done SO much in terms of women representation in motorsport, she's hardworking and a lovely woman. meanwhile, you're just a sad little person who's jealous of her because she's successful and close to your crush, who doesn't even know who you are. so get a life and stop embarrassing yourself. user12 user11 SAY IT LOUDER 👏 user13 user11 PREACH!!!

user14 i don't know if i wanna be her or be with her😩

user15 this is such a mood tbh

landonorris so proud of you, boo😍

yourusername 🥰🧡 user16 YNLANDO NATION WE WON user17 we love a supporting boyfriend 🤩 user18 i want what they have, your honor user19 is this considered a soft launch or what? user20 y'all are delulu😂 it's so obvious they're just friends user21 user20 girl being delulu is the solulu 🙌

user22 so when are we gonna talk about felix liking the post?

user23 i'm lost sorry, who's felix? user24 user23 he's pato's teammate in indycar and one of his besties user25 if felix liked then WHERE'S PATO user26 user25 doing more important things than being focused on this girl.

lilymhe such a pretty girl 💗

alex_albon should i be jealous? yourusername you should indeed. can u fight? user24 the friendship i didn't know i needed 🥹 user25 MY FAV WAGS INTERACTING YAY

user26 f1 is so lucky to have you!!!

user27 LOOOL why would they be lucky to have her?😂😂😂 she's nothing special user28 user27 and yet she's still rising 💅 user29 user27 then why are you even on her post? lol obsessed much?

user30 my role model ❤️‍🩹

📞 incoming call

[y/n; normal] [pato; cursive]

"...Hello? Did you butt-dialed me or something?"

"Uhm, hi. It's not a butt-dial. I-I actually just wanted to talk to you. Hear your voice, y'know. I've been kinda missing you."

"Oh really? And here I was thinking that your cold behavior toward me over the past three weeks meant that you didn't want anything to do with me. Silly me, I guess."

"I-I'm... [sighs]. That's what I wanted to talk to you about, actually. About the way I've been treating you. I'm sorry, y/n. I really am sorry. I know I've been a total jerk-"

"Yeah, you can put it that way."

"...I've been a total jerk and I regret it very much. You didn't deserve it at all. I just- I'm not trying to excuse my awful behavior but I just think I got- Uhm..."

"You got what?"

"Well... I saw Lando's instagram story when you went back to Monaco, as you've probably already figured it out. And I think- Well... I got jealous. And I know it probably sounds stupid now but at the time it felt like a punch in the face."

"Pato..."

"I know I didn't and still have absolutely no business to be jealous about you and Lando, cause you and I are not dating or anything and you don't owe me any kind of explanation about the type of relationship you have with him. But after the great time we spend together in Long Beach... I don't know, it just hurted seeing you with him. But that doesn't excuse anything and I just regret so much the way I've been treating you since then, it hasn't been fair to you at all."

"And it didn't cross your mind that we could have had this conversation way before now? I mean, you waited three weeks to finally talk to me like a decent human being, how-"

"I know and I'm so-"

"Let me finish."

"Sorry, go on."

"However, I do appreciate that you're finally acknowledging all of this and communicating with me like an actual adult. I know it's not always easy to do. And although I don't owe you any kind of explanation, I just want you to know that there's nothing going on between Lando and me."

"So you and him...?"

"We're friends and that's it. We care for each other but there's nothing going on."

"Oh... well, thanks for clarifying that for me."

"Yeah, yeah. You'll have to work harder for my forgiveness, anyway. I appreciate the call but it won't be that easy for you."

"Is that so?"

"You've heard me."

"In that case, what would you say if I invite you for a few days to come here to Punta Mita? Maybe that'll help me a little to earn your forgiveness."

"... I'm sorry, what!?"

"You've heard me."

"You're joking. You have to be joking."

"I'm not joking. You're still in Miami, right?"

"I am..."

"Great! My brother in law is in Miami too and he'll take the jet tomorrow morning. If you want to, you can join him and come here with him! We'd be thrilled to have you here too."

"Oh my God... Pato, I don't know what to say!"

"Say yes and you'd make this birthday boy the happiest man in the world. You'd even make my sister happy, I've been telling her a lot about you and now she's eager to meet you."

"I hope you've been telling her good things about me, then."

"Only the best. She's even on your side, y'know. Said I was being a giant cabrón and needed to make things right. She wasn't wrong tho."

"[giggles] Fine. I'll go, but I'm only doing this for your sister."

"I'll take that anyway! I'll let Brett know you'll join him and I'll send you the details, okay?"

"Okay!"

"Now go and pack your bags for tomorrow."

"Hey! Don't get bosy with me, mister!"

"[Laughs] Fine. Take care, I'll see you tomorrow."

"See you, birthday boy!"

patriciooward posted to his story!

[caption 1; 🦈] [caption 2; beautiful views]

yourusername posted to their story!

[caption 1; para-para-paradise 🌞] [caption 2; in his sharkboy era] [caption 3; 🐶❤️]

paddockgossips

liked by magui_corceiro and 84,091 others!

paddockgossips Among the alleged "breakup" between y/n and Lando, the McLaren driver was photographed last night having fun in a Monaco club in the company of Max Fewtrell and other friends. Some sources have said that Lando seemed very cozy with a blonde woman at the party, whom he later left with. However, we cannot verify this information in any way, so it remains a rumor.

user1 I HAVE A CHANCE AGAIN (i'm delulu)

user2 so this confirms ynlando is over?? 😭

user3 girl i'm devastated 😭😭😭 user4 i'm still in denial user5 well they were never together to begin with user6 user5 THIS!! people act like they were a couple when they NEVER confirmed anything 😂

user7 "blonde woman at the party" "it remains a rumor" and magui goes and like the post LOL

user8 she's so desperate for attention🙄 user9 who's magui??? user10 user9 she's kika's friend and she was dating football player João Félix not so long ago (in fact, i thought they were still together lol) user11 user10 and don't forget she's a cheater. user12 user9 she's trouble

user13 yn >>>>>>>> magui

user14 user13 no need to compare them

user15 sorry but single lando it's so hot 🥵

user16 SO TRUE user17 FACTS he looks so good omfg

user18 in his heartbreaker era 😎

user19 in his reputation era 😎 user20 in his idgaf era 😎

user21 i'm a child of divorce fr

user22 i know y'all love y/n for some reason but i'm SO glad lando finally got away from her.

user23 SAME. and if magui makes him happy then great for him user24 stfu i'm mourning here

user25 y/n this magui that but max was, is and will forever be lando's true wag💅

user26 the one and only indeed

elbaoward posted to her story!

[caption1; off to dinner] [caption2; my love🤍] [caption 3; lovebirds!]

patriciooward

liked by landonorris, yourusername, brettkimbro, and 86,382 others!

patriciooward BDAY WKND DUMP 📸 thank y'all for all the love❤️‍🔥

user1 THE HARD LAUNCH IT'S HARD LAUNCHING

user2 OMG IT'S HAPPENING EVERYBODY STAY CAAAAALM

user3 he really said i'll give you what you want: thrist traps and y/n... and he's so real for that

user4 he really knows his audience user5 king behavior if u ask me user6 everybody say thank you Pato 🙏

user7 YNPATO NATION HOW ARE WE FEELING??

user8 I'M STILL SPEECHLESS user9 they're so perfect i wanna cry😭 user10 LOVE TO SEE🔥

user11 as a ynlando shipper i have to admit they're cute but ngl this still hurts 😩

user12 MOOD user13 ynlando will always be in our hearts 🥺 user14 ynlando >>>>>>>>>> ynpato user15 user13 girl grow up.

user16 THAT SHOULD BE ME

elbaoward where are my credits for the last pic? cuties🤍

user17 u literally gave us the cutest pic ever user18 elba thank you so much for your service🫡 user19 elba is ynpato's #1 fan and you can't tell me otherwise user20 elba is just like us fr user21 LOVE YOU ELBAAAAA 🩷

user22 MOM AND DAD

user23 can't believe how fast she moved on and got together with this dude lol lando really dodged a bullet with her

user24 how fast she moved on?? girl y/n and lando were never even together so stfu user25 ???? why are you even on pato's ig post? go away user26 user23 y/n is such an attention seeker and yet everyone loves her, i'll never understand it 🥱

user27 not to be that person but i would KILL to be that piñata😏

user28 MOOD

frosenqvist oh to be tanned, young and in love

patriciooward 😜 user29 IN LOVE??? FELIX BESTIE TELL US MORE user30 i don't know about y'all but this is all the confirmation i need about ynpato being real, bye user31 i think i can hear the wedding bells user32 user31 yesss and felix as pato's best man

user33 bestie don't be shy and drop more y/n pics 🫶

user34 i second the motion !!!

user35 NOT LANDO LIKING THE POST LOOOOL

user36 he is so unserious i love him user37 ICONIC BEHAVIOR TBH user38 yeah but i just know he's crying inside user39 user38 for what? lol lando knows he's so much better than this cheaper version of him. user40 user39 i'm so done with people like you who insult pato just because you cannot defend lando with good arguments.

yourusername magical weekend 💖

patriciooward with you there? always user41 STOP THEY'RE SO CUTE OMG user42 this is such an upgrade tbh user43 SO HAPPY FOR THEM 🥹 user44 what a bitch.

yourusername posted to their story!

[caption 1; back to reality✈️] [caption 2; I'm a high performance athlete. Athletes sweat. Sweat, baby] [caption 3; cutest model🧡]

paddockgossips

liked by magui_corceiro and 53,237 other people!

paddockgossips NEW WAG ALERT? 🚨 Magui Corceiro, the Portuguese model and actress, attended the Monaco GP after being seen a few days ago having lunch with Lando. It has been rumored that they could be in a relationship, especially since Lando and y/n apparently went different ways, and Corceiro's presence in the paddock has not gone unnoticed by anyone. Still, neither Lando nor Magui have confirmed or denied these rumors.

user1 A TRIGGER WARNING WOULD BE NICE NEXT TIME

user2 um let's hope there isn't a next time user3 user2 let's pray girl, let's pray 🙏

user4 "neither lando nor magui have confirmed or denied these rumors" well that's bs cause she just liked the post

user5 istg she's trying so hard to get attention user6 lando was asked about magui and he said she was just a friend... and then she goes and does this lol what a clout chaser user7 and people used to say that y/n was after lando's fame and yet she NEVER did anything like this user8 she's such a pick me girl

user9 everything i know of this girl has been against my will istg

user10 SAME

user11 oh good luck lando

user12 oh be prepared for the y/n fans and little girls that'll come attack magui when she hasn't even done anything wrong

user13 literally they're just mad at magui cause she's dating their fav driver loool user14 they're only jealous cause magui is a gorgeous woman user15 user14 she's gorgeous but she's still a snake

user16 i'd ask why lando would be with someone like her, but then i remember he's an adult and if he wants someone like her by his side then that's up to him. let's not treat him like a baby please

user17 say👏 it👏 louder👏

user18 weeeeell if this is the kind of people lando likes to have around then i guess y/n really dodged a bullet with him

user19 FACTS user20 i mean at the end of the day he's just another privileged white boy, so🤷‍♀️ user21 i really don't get all the hate that she's getting, is she really that problematic? user22 user21 girl google it yourself but yeah, she is

user23 I MISS MY GIRL Y/N WHERE IS SHEEEEEEEE??

user24 what is she even doing there?

user25 must be cause lando wanted her to be there user26 why y'all never asked the same thing about y/n? y'all are such hypocrites istg user27 user26 cause y/n was actually doing her job????? user28 user26 oh you're stupid 😂😂

user29 magui in the paddock, pato not being able to finish Indy 500... it really is a shitty day huh

user30 DON'T EVEN REMIND ME WHAT HAPPENED WITH PATO OMFG user31 I'M STILL SO MAD ABOUT PATO user32 the only good part is that y/n and his family were there for him ❤️‍🩹

see y'all in part 3!

taglist: @drunkinthemiddleoftheday @evie-119 @evans-dejong @minkyungseokie @noneofyourfbusinessworld @bernelflo @eiaaasamantha @ijustgomessitupx @honethatty12 @daemyratwst @f1fan65

(if you'd like to be tagged in the next part, just let me know in the comments!🧡)

[thatsdemko]

something bout you - p. o'ward

masterlist | pairing: Pato o’ward x Rossi!fem!reader summary: your love for him is different and he couldn’t love it more. warnings: 18+ content + mentions of Indy500 results + fluff + angst(?) + minor errors a/n: hiiii! Im back :) I’ve been working on this since the results of indy500 and while it’s not perfect I hope you all enjoy!

where your brother was a dark cloud on rainy days, you were the thunder and lightning that boomed across the sky alongside him. its enticing to someone like him.

he’s drawn to the identical to dark like storm eyes, black hair that sways across your back. you were rossi’s identical down to the bone. zak brown used to swear it was traumatizing, now Pato finds it adoring.

where Alexander was millennial humor, and minimal smiles, you were nothing but witty gen z comebacks and a smile once a month. Pato found your personalities jarring in comparison, but made it his mission to brighten your clouds.

“woah.”

it sounded more like a whoosh of air exhaling from his lips. seeing you in a dark blue floor length gown truly took the air and words from his lungs. it threatens the muscles in your cheeks to tug upward, but you refuse to give pato the satisfaction of a smile.

“what?” you whip your head in his direction. navy blue suit jacket, a white shirt that was slightly unbuttoned, and matching pants. he looks heavenly. you hate that.

“you look gorgeous, amor.” the nickname rolls off his tongue, a smirk tugging his lips as he watches red flicker across your cheeks. you didn’t need to show any other signs of affection for him to know that subtle weakness for him.

“and you look like a buffoon. not even a suit can help your case.”

a chuckle escapes his lips, and for the first time since sunday morning he’s actually smiling. leave it to a rossi to lift his spirits.

“you brighten my day, Rossi.”

“I didn’t say anything.” Alex comes up behind you. his black suit and dark blue tie matching your dress like twins.

right, he reminds himself, siblings. she’s not for you.

“other Rossi,” you reply turning to your brother, “you think way too highly of yourself.”

—

a permanent scowl formed the second Josef took the stage. it was a common look for you, though you masked it well during most days, tonight was one of those moments you let it rip.

Josef drove a hell of a drive yesterday, but seeing him on stage was all but a reminder of what Pato lost and for some reason that angered you. having to watch your brother, his sister, and his own team members lift him up from another disappointing loss trickles into your memory. it was a well deserved win for Josef, but your heart ached for somebody else.

somebody you definitely shouldn’t have feelings for, but you find yourself having. someone who opened up the dark cloud and made it a little brighter.

when Pato finally took the stage, all he could see was you. the scowl loosening from your face to a contorted smile. all energy from earlier drained out of him. having to be reminded of his failed efforts, but he did enjoy the view of you practically envisioning what it would be like to strangle newgarden.

“that’s two smiles this month.” Pato whispered into your ear when he passed you to his seat. he could hear a low grumble come from you, and the scowl was back, but aimed at him.

he reveled in it. taking in all your features and how hard you work to keep your vulnerability inside that hard shell. because for a split second when he took that stage he saw you for what you truly were; a fool in love with him.

—

“I like when you get defensive of me.” he says, coming up from behind you. he rests his chin against your shoulder, the hairs that fell out his gel slicked back tickle your skin.

“the scowl was out of annoyance. don’t think too deep about it.” you say, attempting to fight his touch, but it’s too much strength to do so. you just relax your body into his and allow yourself to be held.

“I like to think you actually do love me.”

you fight the urge to roll your eyes as you feel his lips graze the sensitive part of neck. you can feel your knees weaken, ready to crumble into his arms.

love was a strong word and emotion, but it never felt big and scary with Pato. love was different with him. different was good, different was better than whatever you’d read in books. you didn’t need the fairytales, you just needed someone to remind you to smile once a month. or not attempt murder when he lost important races.

“say it,” he mumbles into your skin, teeth running across your flesh, you can feel goosebumps scatter across your skin, “say you love me.” he takes a piece of your skin in between your teeth, the sound of your sharp inhale fuels the fire in him.

“I do,” you swallow, trying to steady yourself against him, “I love you.” you spin around to face him, your dark eyes stare into his chocolate ones.

he nudges your body towards the bed and you comply. seating on the edge of the bed, you watch him remove his suit jacket. the most mundane task, was such a turn on for you. you unconsciously open your legs for him.

“I love you too,” he presses his knee in between your thighs, gently dropping your back onto the mattress, “even when you want to murder me.”

“I’d murder for you,” you say pulling him by the collar of his shirt, “but if you don’t fuck me, I will strangle you.” you growl into his ear before sinking your teeth into the outer edge of his lobe.

“you always seem to have a way with the words.”

[everythingne]

sister's influnce -- po5

longtime racing fan and twisters star yn ln ends up with a new favorite after being invited to the mid-ohio race. pato is just doing what he does best--stealing the hearts of the general public.

pato oward x actress!reader / fc: daisy edgar-jones

warnings/notes: mild twisters spoilers? kinda? as usual the twitter dates are wrong i just... im lazy.

liked by patriciooward, arrowmclaren, glenpowell, and others...

officialynln: bts from the last leg of the press tour (sobbing), and can we start a petition to cast me in some sort of racing movie sometime soon??

tagged: glenpowell, anthonyramos, arrowmclaren, twistersmovie

glenpowell: awe you put cutie in here

⤷ officialynln: i am going to throw you into a tornado

user: wheres pato in the comments i see him in the likes godamnit

user: put yn in the f1 movie instead of brad pitt

user1: what do you MEAN the press tour is over?

arrowmclaren: it was lovely to have a meteorology icon in our presence!

⤷ officialynln: how much do i have to pay to drive the car next time...

⤷ indycar: unfortunately, that is not allowed.

⤷ arrowmclaren: we can let you sit in it though! and we'll make sure its pato's car ;)

patriciooward: sad we missed eachother this weekend... if u wanna come to another raaacceeeee......???

⤷ officialynln: very sad indeed :( maybe i'll see you next time ...

liked by patriciooward, glennpowell, officialynln, and more...

brittanybroski: BROSKI NATION WELCOMES LADY YN OF HOUSE LN TO THE REALM!

thanks for coming on the show @ officialynln it was a pleasure 🛡️⚔️❤️

tagged: officialynln

user: YESSSS

user1: this is what we've been WAITING FOR

user2: brittany ur roster is crazy??

user1: need a glen powell episode.

(youtube.com/royalcourt...)

liked by indycar, arrowmclaren, patriciooward, and others...

officialynln: pato who :)? congrats my love, glad we got to 'run into' eachother again.

user: SHUT THE FUCK UP?

patriciooward: so did u notice how when ur at races i win?? i think that means i get to keep you in my pocket

⤷ officialynln: with the straw wrapper you said you'd throw out two days ago?

⤷ patriciooward: why are you calling me out like this corazón :(?

glenpowell: there is no way you did this yn

nolansiegel: my mom!!

⤷ officialynln: MY SON!!!!

alexanderrossi: thank god he'll stop complaining now

⤷ officialynln: 'i was simply yapping' is his defense

⤷ arrowmclaren: this was beyond yapping

⤷ patriciooward: my TEAM is calling me out >:(??

coltonherta: so when is the indycar movie coming?

⤷ kylekirkwood: @ officialynln can i crash into colton in the movie

⤷ officialynln: idk when the movie will be out, but ill write that down

⤷ coltonherta: what the fuck?? RUDE??

⤷ scottmclaughlin: ill be in the movie if i get to have some jersey shore reference

⤷ officialynln: calling snooki rn dw scott

stingrayrobb: oH HE WASNT JOKING?

santinoferruci: patito win !

⤷ officialynln: get OFF my instagram.

⤷ nolansiegel: LMAO YN PLEASE??

user1: the ENTIRE indy grid coming to yns comments is amazing

user2: the way pato was just so cute he pulled an actress?? thats my driver damnit.

general tag list (thank u!)

@d3kstar

[lovelytsunoda]

life in the fast lane // miles teller

summary: the life and times of trailblazing indycar driver y/n y/l/n, and her celebrity husband, miles teller. in the weeks leading up to the indy 500, the pair have a very special announcement that will alter lives forever.

pairing: miles teller x andretti driver! reader

author's note: its hard to write an smau about a man with no public instagram account lemme tell you that real quick-

y/ny/l/nteller just posted!

indianapolis, indiana.

liked by josefnewgarden, monicabarbaro, valkilmerofficial and 4,578 others

y/n/y/l/nteller indiana never felt like home to me until i had you on the open road.

indy tests start monday, and we are officially one month out from the five-hundred. let's do this, indiana!

see all comments

valkilmer you got this kiddo! we're all rooting for you!

-> ynylnteller 🥺🫶🏻 love ya Val!

kyle_kirkwood i have known your husband for four years now and he still looks awkward in every single photo that gets taken of him at the track. how does he do it?

user babe come home, the children miss you?

-> y/n/yl/nteller miles and i don't have any kids (yet)

ashleynewgarden shocked we got through that dinner without josef and miles singing beyoncé at the karaoke bar

-> josefnewgarden that happened ONCE. I wish miles had social media so he could help me defend these accusations

-> y/n/y/l/nteller take it up with the hubby, not me

user does she look like she’s out on a bit of weight?

-> user it’s probably muscle lmao she’s an athlete bud

patriciooward most photogenic couple in the paddock!

monicbarbaro booking my flights rn

-> ynylnteller girls weekend here we come!

y/ny/l/nteller just updated her story!

ynylnteller just posted!

liked by reesewitherspoon, coltonherta, glenpowell and 5,145 others

ynylnteller god I’m going to miss all of this

*this caption was deleted*

ynylnteller days like these 🫶🏻

see all comment

user did anyone see the original caption?!? where is my girl going!

stingrayrobb thanks for making my nieces day so special! she looks up to you so much and she spent all day talking about how awesome you were. thank you and god bless!

-> ynylnteller your niece was an angel, it was my pleasure!

coltonherta your straight line speed this morning was absolutely incredible. are we thinking an andretti 1-2 is in the cards this weekend?

-> ynylnteller absolutley! let’s get it!

glenpowell everyone is talking about straight line speed and I’m just amazed that you can balance on the tires like that-

-> ynylnteller it took five years of practice to be this good glenn

ynylnteller just posted!

liked by monicabarbaro, katherineracing, scottdixon and 4,653 others

ynylnteller as much as it pains me to say it, the todays Indy 500 will be the end of my 2024 season. while I’m upset that this season is coming to an end prematurely, I am also beyond excited. if the pictures above didn’t give it completely away (and my husband was able to keep his mouth shut all weekend), I am beyond overjoyed to announce that miles and I are having a baby! we tried to keep it under wraps for as long as we could, but as of the next race, baby teller would be too big for me to race without hurting them or myself,

while I won’t be on the track itself for the rest of the season, I couldn’t give this place up if I tried. Instead, my car will be driven by the amazing callum_ilott and I will be joining my bestie jameshinchcliffe in the commentary box.

when I was little, I only had one dream: to be a race car driver. but as I got older that dream began to change, and I realized all of that meant nothing if I didn’t have anybody to share it with. I wanted a family.

We are so excited for this new chapter in our lives.

Lots of love,

Miles and YN Teller xx

see all comments

scottdixon I’m so happy for you, darling! that baby is going to be so loved and so cherished. please pass my congratulations on to miles as well!

-> ynylnteller none of this would have been possible without you, so you’re the real hero here!

user mother is going to be a real mother now!

valkilmer congratulations yn! if you and miles ever need anything at all, you know where to find me (or mercedes and jack)

-> ynylnteller thank you val!! ❤️

glenpowell I am going to be the best godfather this kid has ever had

-> ynylnteller first of all who said you were the godfather?

-> coltonherta yeah it’s gonna be me actually

-> ynylnteller actually it’s going to be neither of you

-> coltonherta but why? I’m already a great uncle?

-> glenpowell yeah so am I!

-> ynylnteller everybody be quiet or we’re making Val the godfather -Miles

-> coltonherta you’d pick the old man over us?!?

-> ynylnteller he *is* less annoying

ashleynewgarden so pleased for you both! this will be your next great adventure! kota is looking forward to having another little buddy to hang out with 🫶🏻

callum_ilott I promise to take good care of the car! rest up and relax over the next nine months, god knows you might never sleep again

user miles is becoming a dilf!!! miles teller is becoming a dilf!!!

TAGS:

@magnummagnussen @libraryofloveletters @cartierre @lorarri @diorcharles @httpiastri @sidcrosbyspuck @thatsdemko @userlando

[earl-grey-teacake]

Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: Formula 1 RPF, IndyCar RPF Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings Relationships: Oscar Piastri/Logan Sargeant, Kyle Kirkwood & Logan Sargeant, Lando Norris & Oscar Piastri, Arrow McLaren drivers & Oscar Piastri, Charles Leclerc/Max Verstappen (background), Colton Herta/Kyle Kirkwood (background), Lando Norris/Carlos Sainz Jr (background) Characters: Oscar Piastri, Logan Sargeant, Kyle Kirkwood, Colton Herta, Lando Norris, Patricio "Pato" O'Ward, Alexander Rossi, Nolan Siegel, Charles Leclerc, Max Verstappen, Leo Leclerc, Oliver Bearman, Arthur Leclerc, Carlos Sainz Jr Additional Tags: Social Media Posts, text chat, Humor, Sad love-sick Oscar, Logan living his best life in Indycar, Jealous Oscar Piastri, the Verstappen-Leclerc family, Auction AU Summary:

Williams was poor, easily the poorest team on the grid and sponsorships can only do so much. Now, down to the last 100 million, they have to auction off their most prized possession, their drivers. This would be the chance for Oscar to swoop in, to be the knight in shining armor to the love of his life, and ride off into the sunset.

Sadly, bravery and common sense had escaped Oscar so Logan's knight came in the form of Kyle Kirkwood. Now, Oscar watches bitterly from the sidelines, scrolling through posts after posts about how happy Logan is as he slowly descends into madness and makes it Mclaren's problem.

*****

A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO @my-fall-from-grace FOR BEING AN AMAZING BETA READER ON THIS!!!! 🥰

[stockcarbaby24]

Kyle Kirkwood/Colton Herta

9.3k words, completed, rated E

Summery

Kyle knew he was being too obvious. By about lap 40 it settled over him in a heavy awareness, screaming in the back of his head. Everyone is going to figure you out.

It didn’t matter. He couldn’t let it matter at this point, Colton was going to win this race and end his losing streak- Kyle was going to make sure it happened.

--

Kyle sacrifices parts of himself to help Colton win the Toronto GP, but it all feels so worth it to watch the way his teammate smiles back to at him after the flag has dropped. Is it too much for Kyle to hope for more than just this moment together?

[belles1011]

wooooo we made it!!! genuinely love being part of a wonderful and small community 🥰

[masterandapprentice]

Soooo, as it seems that destiny doesn't want me to write a LandoxPato fanfic, then I'll get back to my first idea on the list and it will be, in fact, a Palex fanfic instead :D. Let's see If I can finally start it this incoming week.

By the way, I'll let this guy join my fanfic ahahaha :D (Hunter you have been the chosen one!)

[stardustcaught]

Excerpt from my GC, where I blather on about my writing.

“What do Marc and Vale have to do with Scott and Dario or Scott and Josef or Scotty and Josef? Absolutely nothing. But I ran out of Indy fic to read.”

[golden-moony]

king of my heart | smau

pairings: lando norris x fem!reader | pato o'ward x fem!reader

summary: y/n is an F1 content creator loved among the grid and the fans, and more than one person ships her with lando due to how close they've always been. but when y/n goes to her first IndyCar race, the last thing she expects is being involved in rumours with another mclaren driver.

warnings: love triangle? kinda.

author's note: i might turn this into a mini series but i'll see how it goes. btw english it's not my first language so if there's any grammatical error please let me know so i can fix it, ty🧡 now enjoy!

part 1 | part 2 | part 3 | part 4

------------------------------------------------------

yourusername posted to their story!

[caption 1; it's indycar weekend in Long Beach, babyyyy!] [caption 2; time for practice and snacks🌞]

patriciooward

liked by indycar, zbrownceo, yourusername, and 83,527 others!

patriciooward INDY500 colors and back in the streeetz🤩

user1 lookin' goooood🔥

arrowmclaren it'll look even better with confetti covering it😉 user2 admin knows a win is coming!! 💪

user3 Este es tu año, cabrón! VAMOOOOS 🇲🇽

user4 is it a requirement to be handsome to drive in mclaren? cause daaaamn

user5 same girl, same

yourusername black is the new papaya fr 🔥 can't wait for tomorrow!

patriciooward hopefully you'll be wearing #5 user6 OMG?!?!!!??? yourusername can't show favoritism! i'm a professional, sir patriciooward it can be our secret then 😉 user7 OH MY- HELLOOOOO? user8 landonorris come get your girl bro!!! user9 omfg mr o'ward i wasn't familiar with your game user10 y/n sweety, wrong mclaren driver landonorris 🤨 user11 she really said i want a mclaren, don't care which one😭 user12 and she's so real for that

user13 let's goooo Pato!! 🦆🧡

user14 y/n and pato's exchange?? NEW SHIP HAS ARRIVED!

user15 i feel like i'm betraying my roots but pato and y/n would be the it couple fr user16 SO TRUE user17 pato and lando deserve sooo much better.

user18 NOT LANDO REPLYING TO THE COMMENT 😂😂

user19 f1twt is about to have a blast with this one 🍿 user20 they already have #teampato and #teamlando hashtags going on 😭😭

yourusername posted to their story!

[caption 1; preparation for ✨qualy day✨] [caption 2; that's how you arrive in style]

yourusername

liked by pierregasly, alexanderrossi, shelovesformula1, and 76,088 others!

yourusername First IndyCar race ✅ can't explain how incredible this weekend was! I’ve had the pleasure of chatting to so many cool people, discovering so much about this series and meeting so many of you! 🧡 can't wait to show you everything soon 😘

user1 what a babeeeee 😍

frosenqvist so great to meet you! hope you come to another one again soon! 🏁

arrowmclaren we second this! user2 she's an indy girl now 😎 tkanaan especially after all the fun we had last night😜 yourusername oh i'll definitely come back for more races (and parties ofc🙊) user3 she's part of the family now! love to see it user4 mclaren team 🤝 us: being in love with y/n

user5 PATO INTERVIEW??!! WE WON

lissiemackintosh so happy to have met you!! 💖

yourusername can't wait to see u again 🥹 user6 MY FAVES 🤩🤩 user7 girls supporting girls 💞 user8 we need a colab!

landonorris y/n get out of there. That's not your family!

carlossainz55 y/n please hurry, the kid has missed you maxverstappen1 y/n please hurry, we can't stand him anymore maxfewtrell y/n please hurry, he gets whiny when you're not around alex_albon y/n please hurry, oscar is about to commit crime oscarpiastri that is correct, so please y/n hurry landonorris when i asked y'all to back me up, this is NOT what i meant 🙄 yourusername if it helps at all, i've miss you all 🫶 (except Lando) landonorris i hate y'all fr user9 this is the kind of content i pay my internet bill for 😂

user10 literal queen 👑

user11 she couldn't become lando's wag so now she goes to indy to try to find a man lol such a clout chaser

user12 girl stfu she's literally just doin her job user13 try not to sound so bitter next time 💋 user14 get a life, hater

user15 MOTHER IS MOTHERING

user16 i don't think we're talking enough about that last photo

user17 RIGHT?! Y/N X PATO LET'S GOO user18 nah y/n x lando >>>>>>>>

patooward Indy looks good on you 💯 i wonder who took that amazing first pic

yourusername credits to you, amateur😘 user19 you can't convince me they're not flirting user20 i truly don't know if i wanna be pato or y/n... i only know i'd hate to be lando rn 😭 user21 y/n and lando are the endgame user22 Y/N X PATO TILL THE END

landonorris posted to his story!

[caption; safe and sound where she belongs]

sooo.... y'all want part 2?

[dottieapple]

Same energy?

[thatchickwiththecamera]

I need more international drivers to come to the states and race in NASCAR (and win in spectacular fashion like SVG just did). This is one of the reasons why I love Trackhouse Racing’s Project 91 so much! The sport needs some new blood, new exposure, and I seriously need some quality NASCAR fanfics on this godforsaken website! There is an entire field of racing drivers you talented writers are skipping out on! Wattpad just isn’t enough!

[lovelytsunoda]

fast car // colton herta

their family might have changed, bur their love for each other hasn't.

twelve months ago, they welcomed their son macklyn into the world. with the indy 500 just three weekends away, it's time to bring macklyn to the track for the first time.

pairing: colton herta x wifey!reader

warnings: minor allusions to sex. dad!colton!!

she’d missed the sights and sounds of the track while she was on bed rest.

it was even worse when she was physically able to come, but scared to leave her baby at home. then her separation anxiety got worse, and she could barely be able to be away from colton.

but now it was all coming together. she smiled as she stepped out of the trailer, breathing in the smells of the track: gasoline, burning rubber, scott maclaughlins grill.

she was home. and she had the whole family with her.

the trailer door opened behind her, and she turned to watch with a giddy smile as colton hopped down the trailer steps, baby macklyn in his arms.

macklyn kyle herta was the best thing that had ever happened to colton. weighing in at a whopping nine pounds when he was born, the little boy was becoming more and more like his father every day.

colton couldn’t be happier, proudly wearing a baby sling and outfitting his little trouper with gainbridge headphones to protect his little ears.

“do you want me to take him?” she asked, a content tone in her voice at the sight of her boyfriend, race suit tied low around his waist, baby sling over his fireproofs.

“what? of course not. you hogged him for nine months. daddy’s got some catching up to do.” colton laughed, protectively hugging macklyn to his chest. “you’ll have to take him when we get to the pit box.”

“I think I can handle that.” she laughed, running a hand gently over macklyns head. the infant laughed, wide little eyes looking up at his mom through his eyelashes.

they had done that. they had created a human together.

over at the pit box, there was no shortage of attention for little macklyn as his father helped him out of the sling, holding the baby in his arms as colton pointed to his car, explaining his job to his son.

macklyn probably didn’t understand a word, but he would know that his father loved him.

and he enjoyed pressing buttons on the spare steering wheel.

“careful bringing that kid around here.” vicky joked, hands in her pockets as she crossed towards the pit box. “kyle might want one next.”

“god help us all when there’s a tiny kirkwood running around this place too.” she laughed, pulling the other woman in for a hug. "it's so good to be back!"

"how is the little guy doing?"

she laughed. "do you mean macklyn or colton? colton's had more baby time than i have this weekend. he's not letting that kid go very easily."

both women turned their heads, looking over at where colton was making faces with macklyn as his engineer tried (and failed) to explain the car setup.

colton was such a good father, from even before macklyn was born, before they even knew the sex of the baby. he was a saint, constantly rushing out to pander to her pregnancy cravings, lifting her bump for her to take the weight off her back. waking up in the middle of the night when mack would start crying because he knew she couldn't handle it alone. letting her sleep in and taking macklyn out in the stroller when he went for his morning runs.

she loved her little life.

"colton, you know you have to put my grandson down to get in the car, right?" bryan herta laughed, reaching over his son's shoulder to pinch macklyn's cheeks. "how's my favourite herta doing today?" he cooed at the infant.

"dad!" colton whined. "i thought i was your favourite."

"i'm a dad, i can't play favourites! but i can as a grandfather, and i pick macklyn."

y/n laughed to herself, saying hello to bryan before placing a hand on colton's back, kissing him softly before taking macklyn into her arms.

"cole, take the baby sling off if you aren't going to put macklyn in it." she smiled. "you look ridiculous."

colton grinned, running his thumb over macklyn's tiny knuckles. "but you love me when i look ridiculous. as i recall, it was me being ridiculous that brought my favourite little man into this world in the first place."

ah, yes. if a man tries to use tom cruise's dance from risky business as foreplay, do not fall for it. you will end up pregnant. she speaks from experience. (and colton could really rock a pair of white briefs. it was like a free magic mike show).

"and you can be ridiculous when we have a proper bed again, not a trailer. because we all know that you're loud enough your voice will carry, and one of the scotts will have something to say about it." she chuckled, leaning up to kiss him.

"i thought you liked it when i was loud."

"yeah, when it's just us." she grinned. "i love you, you big idiot."

colton smiled, one hand resting on his lover's waist, the other holding his son's hand as macklyn looked up at him with those wide little blue eyes he so adored. "i love you more. and i love macklyn. i love this life we've built together. and one day soon, i'm gonna buy you a ring. a really nice one. and we'll get married in australia, just like you've always wanted."

"i'm going to hold you to that, herta. now go out there and make me and your son proud."

TAGS:

@magnummagnussen @httpiastri @clemswrld @diorleclerc @libraryofloveletters @thatsdemko @userlando @sidcrosbyspuck

[earl-grey-teacake]

Hertwood shapeshifter!AU

I was stuck in jury duty today and this would not leave my mind. I looked at so many videos of sea otters for this😅

For anyone wondering, this is connected to the shapeshifting!Logan poll I had released a couple weeks ago.

*Pulled from my notes of what the F1 and Indycar grid transform into😂

[inlap]

on a layover // callum/pato fluff

ao3

There was something akin to poetry in running into Pato O’Ward in the second terminal of the Chicago O’Hare International Airport. 

“Callum Ilott!” Pato exclaimed. He was smiling as bright as ever, but he looked like a different man than usual, there under the fluorescent lights at two in the morning. He was saddled with carry-on bags and swallowed up in an oversized matching pair of a hoodie and sweatpants. His bright grin turned his eyes to near-crescents but still couldn’t quite vanquish the dark circles under his eyes. 

Callum knew a little about how he must be feeling. He was well into his third cup of cold brew, trying to stay awake so he could catch his connecting flight to Indianapolis. 

“Pato O’Ward,” he returned, not quite matching Pato’s brightness. Nonetheless, he was able to dredge up a smile for Pato. It was hard not to grin when faced with a smiling Pato, “Funny seeing you here.”

“Lucky,” Pato suggested. Lucky to run into Callum? Callum blinked. How… kind of him to say, he supposed. 

Pato collapsed into the seat next to Callum’s, letting his bags fall onto the ground. He exhaled a long sigh, “If I took a nap right here, would you wake me up in half an hour?” 

Callum gave Pato a look, swirling the last bit of his cold brew in his cup, “I can’t even guarantee I’ll be awake in half an hour.”

Pato’s lip twisted into a thoughtful frown. His face always gave away so much. It was like he didn’t even try to hide what he was thinking. Callum found that fascinating. 

“Hm,” Pato launched forward in his seat, elbows on his knees, “Then let’s keep each other up. How does that sound?”

It was probably (definitely) just Callum’s sleep deprived and caffeine-addled mind, but that sounded a tad suggestive. Callum cleared his throat and forced his mind from the gutter. 

“Sounds like a plan,” he said. 

..

To keep each other up, they ended up talking. A lot, at length. 

It was easy to talk to Pato. Pato was friendly, easygoing in that way that made you want to bare your deepest thoughts and convictions. It was easy for them to find things to talk about — they had a lot in common, after all. They were a pair of once-F1 hopefuls. They knew how it felt to vie for one of those elusive twenty seats, pushing and pushing, trampling over top of each other as they tried to claw their way to the pinnacle of motorsports. Only to fall short, the both of them passed over for a mix of politics and missed chances. 

They’d both made a somewhat rocky peace with that, and with their lot in IndyCar.

In a sardonic tone, Callum joked about the backlash he’d gotten after the race. He’d never felt so famous, he said. One little incident had put him on the map at last. But, for once, Pato didn’t laugh at his joke. 

His expressive brows drew together above his eyes.

“What do you mean?” Pato asked, “What are they saying to you online?”

And Callum told him. 

That’s when he found out something else about Pato — he was fiercely protective, even when it came to drivers he hardly knew, even when it came to Callum. 

“I’m going to post something,” Pato said, “The fans can’t do that. They can’t act like that. You didn’t even do anything wrong.”  

He’d worked himself up into righteous anger. Callum didn’t know how to react, or what to say. There was a bit of a lump in his throat anyways, preventing him from speaking easily. 

“Ah, mate,” he tried, his voice thick. He spoke quietly. There was a certain hush in the dead of night, even in a bustling airport like O’Hare, “That’s not necessary. I’ve already told them off myself.”

Pato shook his head. Under the fluorescent lights, his brown eyes seemed to burn, flickering. 

“Nope. I’m saying something, and you can’t stop me.”

Ah, Callum thought, then swallowed as if it might stop the rest of the thought from rising to the top of his consciousness. It didn’t. 

He’s sweet. 

“Right. Thanks, then.”

“No. No need to thank me, really. You don’t deserve that. No one does,” Pato said, drawing out his phone. The tip of his tongue — bright pink — darted out between his lips as he started to tap away on his Notes app. 

Callum forced his gaze away from Pato’s mouth. Instead, he looked at Pato’s phone, at the words he was typing. 

“Right.”

..

Sometime in the middle of writing his Notes app defense of Callum, Pato had drifted off. With his head slowly falling to rest on Callum’s shoulder and his phone screen still displaying his lengthy rant, Callum hadn’t had the heart to keep him from falling asleep. 

Pato’s head was a warm, solid weight on Callum’s shoulder. He held himself carefully, completely still. He even breathed more shallowly, not wanting to disturb Pato’s rest. 

Callum squeezed his eyes shut (but only briefly. One of them had to stay awake, after all). 

Closing his eyes turned out to be a mistake. It only redoubled all his other senses. The warmth emanating from Pato ratcheted up a notch. Callum could pick up the smell of Pato’s fabric softener, cozy and bright, as well as the lingering scent of some expensive, citrus-y cologne layered beneath it. 

Unable to help himself, Callum cracked his eyes open and stole a glance. 

He traced the slope of Pato’s nose, then the fullness of his cheek where it was pillowed against Callum’s sweatshirt. Callum’s gaze fell lower, following the shape of Pato’s plush lips. He was pouting in slumber, like he was dreaming of something that bothered him. 

Callum snorted, imagining Pato continuing his rant against rude fans, even his dreams. He quickly quieted. His stomach dropped like a leaden weight within him when he realized what he was doing — who he was gazing at and the direction his thoughts had been leading themselves. 

Fuck. Callum couldn’t let himself be this irresponsible. IndyCar wasn’t the place for schoolyard crushes. 

He sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose to fend off his incoming headache. 

..

“Hey,” Callum spoke softly, not too many minutes later, “It’s been half an hour.”

He could have simply shrugged to wake him, and knocked Pato’s head off from where it still rested on his shoulder. That felt a touch rude, though. Instead, Callum reached out and gently jostled his arm. 

Pato surfaced slowly from sleep, stirring. He only just raised his head from Callum’s shoulder as he lifted his eyelids. 

He looked up at Callum through long, dark lashes. When his gaze snagged onto Callum’s, a slow smile unfurled across his lips, and Callum felt his heartbeat stutter. 

“I thought we were going to keep each other up,” Pato said, faintly accusatory. 

Callum coughed. Once again, he forced his mind from the gutter. 

“Whoops,” he said, and didn’t mean it at all.