#does anyone even dislike daniel??? he's way too nice and funny and cute ugh | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

seasidepierre · 3 years ago

Text

take my hand tonight - daniel ricciardo

FORMULA ONE DRIVERS MASTERLIST

summary: You tried your best to ignore the invitation card that you received but your best friend Daniel has other things in mind and some cards to play.

warnings: As soft as Daniel's curls.

words count: 8.1k

a/n: Not gonna lie, this is so much fluff you might get sick of it. But if you love Daniel, you might find something here that should please your mind. Think warm, cosy Daniel, drowning in his hoodies, type of sweet. You're there? Well, this is what I intended to create with this one, so enjoy it!

Honestly, it wasn’t like the invitation was something you could brush off, like something merely usual. The stiff card with embossed and gilded letters had weighed heavy in your hands when you had got it in the mail and it was still sitting on the island of your small kitchen, reminding you that you really should add the date to your calendar. It was a very formal event and you weren’t sure how the heck you had scored such an invitation, but the truth was it felt a bit overwhelming every time you looked at it. The card had moved from the fridge to the island, then from the island to under the fruit basket and now you tried your hardest to ignore it, even though the dozens of texts in your phone didn’t really help.

The dress code said “formal” and you weren’t sure you really had something to wear. If it wasn’t for the fact that your best friend had bypassed the problem by sending you a quite large selection of formal dresses, in several different sizes, you would probably have declined, just for that reason. He knew you would try to escape the event and that was his way of forcing your hand. That bastard got you and if you weren’t so fond of his smile and dimples, you probably would have thrown a fit just for the hell of it but he had grinned at you through the screen of both your phones and you had been pretty much done for. He was so proud of himself, there was nothing to be done. He had won the battle. Not the war, yet, but that battle was done and won.

To state that his tastes were eclectic would be the understatement of the year. You weren’t even sure who chose the gowns and how they chose them: was it really his choices or had he got one of his assistants to do it for him? If so, had he sent a little blurb about you and explained how you were, or was it just pure, dumb luck? Seeing the neon green and bright pink dresses, you weren’t sure those were even luck speaking.. You had frowned and cringed at some of the dresses, seeing how short some were. You were pretty sure formal implied some sense of decency or at least some class, but some of the mini dresses you got just looked bad, at best.

In all the bad choices you had at your disposal, one of the gowns looked pretty different to the rest: long bits of deep navy-blue tulle made up the skirt, ending in a flowy train on the behind. The high slit allowed a little of flirting action if you wanted to, letting you slip a leg out if you were feeling playful. The bust was made of the same deep navy-blue tulle, arranged as some type of corset, but created a nice off-the-shoulders-neckline, with long sleeves attached to the neckline. All over the dress were peppered some gold, glittery stars. The whole dress looked like its own constellation and the tag on the back stated a simple, but very impressive “Chotronette” that made your heart race a little bit faster. It wasn’t a Valentino or Ellie Saab dress but it was still a very high-end, high-fashion creator and you weren’t sure what you had done to deserve that.

It’s not even like you owned it. Technically, you were on a lease type of situation, even though the rent was pretty much the picture of you, a racing driver’s friend, in it. As long as you’d stay close to your best friend, the contract was fulfilled. But to know it was currently occupying space in your little flat felt like you weren’t really worthy of such a beautiful creation. You weren’t even a known profile, you barely were seen whenever you’d slip behind the turnstiles of a track and your pass didn’t even show your freaking face.. You weren’t there at every race but every time you had a free weekend to spend, you’d try your best to show up, generally flying solo in an economic seat, even though your ticket was paid for by someone else. To get the opportunity to wear such a dress didn’t really feel right, which ended up in you trying your best to ignore said invitation.

You had spent the better part of the week before avoiding the kitchen island as much as possible. You’d cram everything in a little space of your counters, trying your best to forget that under your fruit basket, the invitation stating your name as your best friend’s plus one was screaming at you to get your act together.

More than just accepting this sudden change of scenery, you had to accept the fact that your best friend’s smile and dimples were more heart-warming than they used to be. It wasn’t that hard to make him smile, as he usually was on a constant basis, but you had found yourself craving his littlest of laughs, seeking them with every fibre of your being, making joke after joke after joke, just hoping he would grant you with your favourite sound. You’d bask in it for hours after the calls ended and you realized that is wasn’t really what you were supposed to do after you’d hang up with him.

You usually found yourself going back to your usual routine. He’d call in the evening, whenever he had time to call and you’d end up sharing a meal together, even though you were thousand of miles apart, even though you were having dinner and he was having breakfast or lunch. He’d show the view from his hotel room, you’d talk about whatever you were working on at that moment and that was pretty much it. It’s not like your job didn’t impact him directly.. You were on the back end of the team, doing analysis and researches, just to make sure his damn car would have the best aero it could. That’s pretty much how you met him, now that you thought of it. One day, you learned he was joining the papaya team and that he would visit the HQs. You didn’t look out for him but at some point, he insisted to greet every one working on his car, which happened to include you. As soon as he had tapped his elbow against yours, you knew you were a goner. His smile might had been hidden behind his bright orange face mask, but the crinkles by his eyes were speaking for him.

You exchanged a few pleasantries before he left to visit another part of the factory. You ran by him a couple of days later, during the interseason. He was doing tests on the simulator, which happened to be close to your shared open space office. At some point, he came knocking into your space, asking if maybe you had some almond milk for his coffee. Truth be told, you probably shouldn’t have spent that much time looking for a damn bottle of almond milk, as you had work to do, but you opened every drawer and cupboard, looking for what he needed. That day, he pretty much decided that you were his friend and that was it. You had met his very stupid need and you had moved heaven on earth just to find what he wanted. There wasn’t much more he could have asked for, but you met him again about a week later, when he came back by your office to ask what you were working on and how it helped him in the car. You took the time to explain, even though your boss could have been mad at you at some point, but you figured that the driver was more important in the hierarchy in the end.

To say that he was fascinated would maybe be a little too extreme. He oscillated between pure admiration and complete fright that you were talking in a language that he wasn’t sure he understood. But from that day on, you were one of his fave people to talk to about his performances in the sim and you were trying your best to accommodate him by doing your researches. Win-win situation, everyone was happy, until you found one of your business cards on your desk, completely scribbled in black ink, with a combination of numbers and a little telephone drawing next to it. You weren’t sure who might have done it but you were rather curious and dialled the number during the evening. The distinct “oi mate!” that you heard from the other end of the line made you smile.

You’ve known Daniel for almost a year now and you couldn’t deny the massive space he took in your life, and not just because he was tall and loud. Your life revolved around him, whether it was at work or back at home, where you’d have a couple of framed pictures of you two together, from either the McLaren HQs or some track he had managed to drag you to. You were a creature of habits: your working routine and your little flat were your safe space. But you weren’t able to refuse when he pleaded with his big brown eyes and he knew when to play the pouty lower lip card on you. You were pretty much done for when he started his “puss in boots act” as you nicknamed it. He loved the comparison and wouldn’t admit, for the love of God, that he played that card way more often than he should. What could he say? He loved to win, even more when it meant that he got to see you.

The day of the event was coming closer and closer and you would dodge his questions every time he asked if you had made up your mind. Daniel knew when to press and to plead, but he also knew that there were some off-track limits that he was better not to cross. Your introversion was one of them. You were playful when you wanted, but he knew that deep down, you were pretty shy and forcing yourself at some points. That might be why you and him worked so well: he was loud and you were quiet. You balanced each other pretty well.

But as the day finally came by, you realised that you never confirmed to him that you were coming, or not. It shouldn’t have been a surprise, then, that at 5pm sharp, a couple of knocks resonated on your front door. It shouldn’t have been a surprise either that as soon as you opened the door, your feet would leave the ground. But still, you gasped and almost yelled when you felt yourself tipping forward, almost six feet above the floor, perched on his left shoulder.

“Put me down, you rascal”, you laughed.

Daniel didn’t do orders, nor commands. The only ones he took were on the track and he didn’t even always obey. What could have been really annoying ended up making your heart skip a beat when he burst in loud laughs, parading you in the corridor of your building before he finally made it back inside your little flat and finally closed the door to allow you some privacy. When he finally pushed your feet back down, your messy bun was completely gone and your hair was a giant catastrophe. Pushing back some strands behind your ears, he pushed your cheeks together, giggling at your pursed lips before crashing his on the top of your head. Sometimes you hated being small. That was not of those moments, though.

“How are you doing?” he smiled. “I like you in baby blue!”

“Thanks,” you grinned, showing your arms clad in the newest addition to your work wardrobe.

“Where did you find that sweatshirt though? It looks like a dress on you!”

You swayed your sweater paws at him, giggling when one of the sleeves almost whipped him in the face before he caught your wrist at the last second.

“A box of extras with your name on it in your office, Danny boy”, you explained, shrugging your shoulders.

“Now I see why I only got one of those Gulf sweaters!” he exclaimed.

“Be there or be square”, you shrugged again.

“Well, they fit you better than they did me so we’re all winning here.”

“Liar, I saw you in the interviews wearing one of them!”

“Listen here, I know I’m good looking, so can you please let me try to be humble? Thanks.”

You laughed again, now properly enjoying the view of your friend in your flat. It was pretty rare for him to pass by, as he was always lost in some far away corner of the world to you. As much as you loved spending time with him, it usually was virtual company and it wasn’t that often that you got to sit down in front of him for real, to bask into his warm aura.

“What are you doing here? I thought you had that ceremony in London tonight?”

“You mean we have a ceremony in London, right?”

The grimace you made was pretty much confirmation of what he feared and why he wanted to come by so much. If he didn’t come and try to persuade you himself, he would have regretted it so much.

That ceremony wasn’t some kind of awards type of night, just a get together with a couple of McLaren’s biggest investors, to present the work of the team and why they should keep pumping millions into your well-oiled machine. It wasn’t like the common employees weren’t invited but each sector got a certain number of invitations and you were quick to decline yours in favour of someone else. Those events weren’t your scene. You were more of a “let’s read until 3am” type of woman and it was fine by you. Sometimes, you and Daniel would share quiet times, even though your friendship usually revolved around laughs and grins and jokes. Sometimes, he would get his journal out and he would let you read your book, while he was writing. Those Facetime sessions were your favourites, for you were able to watch him concentrated on his pages, deep in thought, calm and serene. As much as you liked his joking persona, there was something deeply calming to you about his quieter side that you loved so much. Once, he fell asleep on you. It took forever for you to end the call. You could have watched him sleep for hours, if it wasn’t for the fact that it was the middle of the night on your side of the world.

Seeing him frown tightened your heart. You knew it’d mean a lot if you could just make an effort and accompany him at that event. You really wanted to sigh but knew it would probably mean nothing to him. Danny here didn’t take commands, nor nos. Still, you cringed a little, thinking back to the invitation you tried really hard not to get in the first place.

“Are you going there dressed in team wear? Not that I’d complain, you look very cosy and warm, but the card did say ‘formal’, you know?” he tried.

“I wasn’t.. I wasn’t really planning on going”, you whispered, now feeling a bit awkward and shy.

“You got to be kidding me, I’ve been waiting for this night for weeks! It’s the only time we’ll both be in the same place and get to actually chill for a bit!” he grumbled. “I really want to go with you, please don’t leave me alone for this one!”

You knew it was only a matter of time before he’d try and plead, with his pouty bottom lip jutting out with sad big brown eyes. The fact that his hair was perfectly curled but somewhat messy, falling on his forehead and almost in his eyes wasn’t helping. You wanted to brush the curls away from his eyebrows but knew you’d barely get to touch his nose if you wanted. Stupid tall guy. He would get you to change your mind and you both knew it. As much as you wanted to fight him for it, there was no way you’d be able to tell him no and actually mean it. Call it manipulation if you wanted but the truth was you were smitten and you’d probably do a lot of stupid and uncomfortable things just to make him smile. It would make you happy to see it anyway, so it was beneficial to the both of you in the end.

Nevertheless, that gala event wasn’t your scene and you wanted to try and explain that to him. Maybe if you told him that you really didn’t feel comfortable attending, he’d drop it. Perhaps a promise to get together after his duty night, he’d let you off the hook for that one. You’d promise anything in exchange, even if it meant taking a stupid plane to go to the next race, despite the fact that you would have to be at work at 9am sharp the following Monday. You’d go as far as you could, really. Just.. not to London and not tonight.

“Dan, I really don’t feel like I’m meant to be there”, you gently explained.

“This is bullshit”, he crossed his arms on his chest. “I want you there.”

You sighed. It wasn’t the first time he declared those four words like they weren’t tearing your heart apart. Sometimes, you suspected him to know that you were a tiny bit infatuated with him. But tonight was the first time you actually felt like he meant it. He looked almost hurt that you didn’t feel like you’d belong there. Like you’d belong with him.

“This is bullshit”, he repeated for the second time, plopping down on your couch, his face now closed and his smile non-existent. Fuck. “You should be there. You work your ass off every freaking day, you deserve a night to show off, you have to relax and I want you there with me.”

You almost giggled, to see him that pressed about it, but you soon realised that he absolutely believed in his words. He wanted you there with him.

“We don’t even have to stay the whole night if you don’t want to but if you don’t go, I won’t go either anyway.”

“You know you have to be there, Daniel.”

“I don’t have to do shit!”

“Quit being a dummy.”

“Quit being a pain in my ass!”

“That’s unfair!”

“Tell that to yourself.”

“You’re being annoying, Dan.”

“Says who?”

“Ugh, fine!”

You gasped and clamped your hands on your mouth, your eyes bulging out. You didn’t want to agree. Not as quickly, not as easily. But he had to raise his voice, he had to be annoyed at you and you crumbled like a house of cards. You didn’t want him to be mad at you.

Seeing how surprised he was, you could tell he hadn’t expected you to change your mind either. And the slight trace of guilt on his face told you he almost regretted making you agree.

“Wait”, he began. “Are you sure?”

“Absolutely not”, you groaned.

“What’s actually going on?”

“I don’t feel legit going there!” you finally snapped. “I don’t feel like I deserve to be there, like I should even have those dresses in my flat, I don’t understand why you’d take me out of all the options you have and I just.. Ugh, Daniel, this is not a space I should be in!”

For a guy with laser fast reflexes, Daniel really took his sweet time to understand what you were saying. But your insecurities were written all over your body language and even though it took him a few seconds to get it, he was quick on his feet and quick to propel your face into his own sweater. His arms locked on your shoulders and for a second you just stayed there, breathing in his grassy perfume that you liked so much and listening to his lungs filling in with air. But at the end, you could feel your hands shaking and so could he, so he just took his arms off of your shoulders, grabbed your hands and hid them in the front pocket of his hoodie.

“You look like a mama kangaroo”, you joked, even though your voice sounded a bit tremulous.

“That’s fine. Whatever you need.”

Damn Daniel and his sweeter than sugar words. Damn this man. Damn your heart and damn everything. You knew you could trust him. You knew he had your back, no matter what. Maybe that was why, even though you really didn’t feel like going, you would step out of your comfort zone, knowing he’d catch you if needed. The groan left your throat before you could catch it. It truly felt like a big effort to go there and not stay snuggled up against Daniel’s chest. But he needed you and as much as you hated it, going there also meant that you’d spend an entire evening with him, like he argued.

To get out of his warm embrace was a greater struggle than it should have been. He smelled ridiculously good and he was always warm and cosy, being with him felt like being wrapped in a warm blanket on a sunny Sunday morning. As soon as your skin left the fabric of his hoodie, you shivered.

“So what’s the plan, then?” you asked, not really knowing what to do with yourself.

“We don’t have much time left, only about 30 minutes before we have to hit the road. Go hop in the shower, I’ll get my suit from the car, we both get ready as fast as possible and we’ll see how it goes from there.”

Daniel might have been a big joking guy, tending to never really take things seriously, but when things were important, he was extremely good at preparation, at thinking things through, at analysing situations and trying to find the best solution for a better outcome. It really didn’t surprise you to see him take the reins, when you clearly looked like you were about to crumble. That was Dan’s superpower, to make you feel at ease.

The shower you took was quick, you barely let the water hit your skin and hair before leathering yourself in bubbles. You got out of the bathroom about ten minutes after you got in, with wet hair wrapped in a towel and brushed teeth. You smelled like lavender and your legs were shaved, which was a serious step up from the state you were in when Daniel showed up. You didn’t really have time to think about what you were wearing, but once again, the Australian had thought things through in advance and you blessed him for the selection of dresses and gowns you had ready for you in your bedroom. There was no choice to make, you knew exactly which outfit you were going for and it was the starry gown you had been in love with ever since you laid eyes on it. Slipping into the dress, you reached behind your back and fastened the small buttons as high as you could before it became a struggle. You knew you’d have to ask for help and decided to push the moment back as much as you could. Throwing a glance at the alarm clock on your bedside table, you gasped seeing the time. You only had fifteen minutes left before you’d have to leave, to be in London at 7pm like the invitation card mentioned.

You listed what was left to do quickly in your mind: the most urgent thing was your hair. The fact that you were still somewhat leaving droplets of water everywhere wasn’t ideal. You rushed to the bathroom to grab your hairdryer and tried your best to make your hair look presentable. Now that your hair was dry, you looked okay, even though the blatant lack of makeup was a sore sight compared to the rest of your outfit. You grabbed everything you could on your vanity desk and stuffed it all into a makeup pouch. The car ride will have to do so that your hair looked better and your face wasn’t that bland.

When you found Daniel back, he was adjusting the bow tie around his neck in the small mirror hung next to your flat’s entrance door. You almost forgot how to breathe when you saw that he had gone with a dark navy suit, which complimented your outfit to the perfection. You both looked like a set. There was no way it was a coincidence.

When Daniel turned back and saw you staring at him, the blush creeping on his neck became painfully noticeable. He cleared his throat and stuffed his hands in his pockets, even though you were almost certain you saw them twitch towards you before he tried his best to hide the small tremor of his fingers, outstretched for you.

“Hmm.. You.. You look really pretty”, he coughed.

“You too”, you swallowed.

If it wasn’t for the fact that the sun was starting to set and bathed the whole flat into golden light, it would be obvious that you two were both as red as you could be. The tension was awkward and something neither of you was used to, at least not together. Everything was always so easy when you were together that it was cringeworthy to see you both rocking on your feet, not really knowing what to say. Even Daniel, who always seemed so confident, wasn’t sure what words should escape his lips anymore. It hurt a little, to see that when you were maybe at your best, Daniel didn’t really seem to be your friend anymore. Did he only see you as his buddy or was he truly not able to envision you as a potential romantic interest? Feeling the tips of your fingers prickling, you tried your best to stay calm and not to let your thoughts go into overdrive. Only Daniel was allowed to overdrive. And carefully, that car was expensive as hell.

“Do you need my hand?” he timidly asked.

You frowned. What did he mean? The blush on his neck rose higher, to lay carefully on his cheeks. He untightened the knot of his bowtie a little and acted like he hadn’t said something that barely made any sense. But watching you completely lost didn’t help the situation, so he had to clarify.

“A hand. To tie your dress on your back?�� he sputtered.

“Oh. Oh! Ahem.. Yes, please?”

“Turn around.”

You didn’t have that many buttons left to fasten anymore, but you still needed a hand, to make sure your dress was completely done. As your back was to him, you let him in charge of it. And surely, it shouldn’t have taken more than twenty seconds, but for some reason, you could feel his knuckles slightly trembling on the bare skin of your back and it took him several attempts to close one particular button. When everything was fastened, he slipped his hands on your shoulders and you almost sighed. Physical touch wasn’t something Daniel was afraid of, but it weirdly didn’t work when it implied skin on skin contact. Daniel was the best when it came to tickles over hoodies, he was great at lifting you in the air over his jumper-covered shoulders, he was even exceptionally amazing at hugs with arms locked behind your head, forearms on shirts or coats. But it was rare to actually feel the texture of his skin on yours. It only happened a couple of times, it always was your hands he grabbed and it never occurred for more than a couple of seconds.

Leaving yourself tip backward, your back met his chest with a softness that usually didn’t exist in your relationship. You closed your eyes for a second, letting yourself appreciate this, appreciate this embrace that you hadn’t experienced before. You could hear his breathing through his nose and faintly his heartbeat in his throat, which produced a melody you immediately were hooked on. His hands’ skin was cracked and rough in some places and even though it wasn’t the smoothest feeling you could get, you still loved that you now knew that the skin of his left thumb had broken and was healing, that he had a scratch on the palm of his right hand and that he could cover the entirety of your shoulder blades, back to front, with his slender fingers.

It just meant you knew more of him and that was all you ever wanted.

The ghost of his chin on the top of your head came and went in barely a second, like he had wanted to do it but changed his mind almost immediately after. For the second time of the night, he cleared his throat and gently pushed on your shoulders, allowing you to stand back up straight.

“Are you ready to leave?”

“I only need my shoes and we should be good to go”, you confirmed, in a low voice.

“Okay, grab everything you need and let’s get out of here.”

Daniel obviously didn’t drive a stupid Volkswagen Polo and you knew it but you still gasped a little when you saw his chosen bolid: his electric blue McLaren 675LT. You were sure he had this one parked in his building in Monaco but you couldn’t deny the fact that it was parked in front of your own little building. That car was a dream and even though it wasn’t the first time you’d seen this model, you still were in awe of it. That colour suited him so well too, and it fit the coordinated colour palette you two seemed to have going on.

Before you could reach out to the car door, he was on your side, sliding the butterfly door open for you. You grinned at him.

“This is my first time through a butterfly door”, you laughed.

“Well, I’m thrilled to be the one offering you that first time experience, then”, he smiled.

You almost replied that there were a lot of firsts you’d give him willingly. But before you had to pick your mind out of the gutter, you carefully sat in the car, making sure not to crease it too much. He gathered the rest of your little train and slipped it at your feet, maybe dragging his hand on his ankle when he really didn’t have to. You watched him jog to the driver’s side of the car, which was the opposite of the UK typical side and your grin go even bigger when he pressed the start button, waking the engine up. You almost moaned at the sound, but maybe that would have been too much.

Instead, you slipped your little makeup pouch on your lap and started the tenuous effort of doing your makeup in a moving vehicle, especially when the driver was a pilot. Don’t get it wrong, Daniel wasn’t a terrible driver, like some pilots could be. You had heard echoes of people being driven by Lando and being scarred for life. The youngster was heavy on the pedals, apparently: both accelerator and brakes. Daniel was smooth in his driving but he couldn’t help the turns he had to take and he couldn’t do more than grab your little bag before it slipped completely out of reach under your car seat. But at every red light he could cross, he’d find the time to watch you apply whatever you’d be in the middle of and he’d be amazed at how you’d be meticulous, even though the car moved a lot.

“You’re blowing my mind”, he suddenly declared.

“Huh?”

“You’re applying shadows on your freaking eyes and you’re not even poking yourself in the damn face, jeez, are you even human?!”

“You’re driving well, Daniel.”

“Well, that’s my job.”

“No, I mean.. You’re driving very calmly and smoothly. It’s making the task ten times easier.”

He scratched his neck and tried to forget what you said. He hadn’t realised this what his doing. He thought you were just exceptionally good at doing this stuff.. turned out he also was doing his most to make it less difficult for you. And as if shadows and mascara (yes, Daniel knew his makeup tools and products) wasn’t enough, he had to forcefully swallow the groan that really wanted to get out when he caught a glimpse of you painting your lips in a burgundy colour that looked like it was made specifically for you. The cupid’s bow on your upper lip wasn’t something he had noticed before. Now it was all he could see, the image imprinted in his brain when really he had to focus on the road ahead. The last blow was when you opened that small sample bottle of your perfume and let a few drops roll on the skin of your neck. His knuckles were completely white against his black wheel, a dark contrast too with his own olive skin.

Nothing made sense but he loved the mess you made of his brain.

By the time you arrived in London, your makeup was done and you had finally placed the last bobby pin you needed to make sure your low bun would stay in place. A couple of strands framed your face on either side, completing the look and you were as presentable as you could be. Now, you only had to let him escort you inside without feeling sick, which you kind of already were. Daniel parked in the underground parking below the building where the reception was going on and turned to you immediately after the engine stopped.

“Are you completely ready? Do you need a few minutes still to do whatever you need to do?”

“I think I’m ready”, you confirmed. “Do I look ready?”

Daniel stared at you for a second, then gently took your chin in his right hand. He turned your head from left to right, checking your makeup and brushed a strand of your hair back to its meant place.

“Ready is not the word I would use”, his croaky voice resonated in the car. “Whatever happens tonight, if you want to leave, you grab whatever part of me you can and you squeeze twice, okay?”

You nodded. Here came Daniel, your knight in shining armour again. No white horse, just an electric blue McLaren that sounded divine when he reared the engine. His head shook up and down a couple of times, like he was trying to motivate himself and once he seemed like his mind was made up, he slid open the car door before doing the same on your side. His hand reached out to help you up and the sliver of the “Free” tattoo on his wrist made your heart race a little faster. You wished you completely were, so you’d finally tell him that friendship wasn’t enough for your heart’s desires. But instead, you tucked the train of your dress behind you, Daniel making sure none of it would get stuck in the car door and he locked your elbow with his, walking you to the elevator.

The gala was glamourous, as you had imagined. The dim lights created a warm ambiance, though you felt cold and nervous looking at all the people in front of you. You could recognise a few faces, a few colleagues you’d pass by at the compound, but the majority of the crowd was unknown to you, even though Daniel waved at some people while passing by. Zak Brown was the one greeting him first, warmly hugging him in one of those weird American embraces that Zak usually did. You weren’t expecting him to recognise you but he greeted you by your name and asked how work was going. Pleasantly surprised, you launched into a tirade about the last waves of data you were analysing and though he could have looked at you like you had grown a second head, he took the time to listen and comment your words, like he genuinely was interested. He must have been, since he ended your conversation by promising he’d visit the analysing offices the following week, so you could present your team’s works. Daniel raised his eyebrows, obviously impressed by the commitment and smiled down on you, visibly proud.

The next famous but familiar face to greet you both was Lando, who looked very smart in his black suit. A casual conversation took place between him and Daniel and though he tried your best to include you in it, you could tell Lando was just awkward, trying to known when he could ask you for an opinion. The dude was amazing on track and a joy to have around in the offices, but his conversational skills were awkward at best. He ended up disappearing after a glass crashed on the floor and you had all turned to see where the noise was coming from. Lando, in a nutshell.

Before you’d get to sit down, you had to pass through the usual photography spot and even though you tried really hard to skip it, Daniel insisted on having a picture of you together. He bent down after you joined him in front of the camera and arranged your train like a gentleman, before draping his arm around your waist. A second before the photograph pressed the button, he squeezed your side a little, making you laugh and look at him, as he grinned at you. A couple of pictures were taken and you were free to go for the night.

The table you would be occupying was full of investors that Daniel knew a little. He made conversation more than you did and truth be told, you weren’t given much attention. Daniel tried to include you and at some point, when he bragged about your brilliant analyses in the factory, they decided that maybe they could grant you a glance or two. It’s not like you wanted to talk to them, actually. They were all here for the pride and glory, not for the racing, not like you and your colleagues were.

In the middle of the night, Daniel got asked to do a speech with Lando on the stage in front of every table. You watched him glow in the spotlights and wished, for one second, that your lives were different. That you had met him while working, that he wasn’t a driver or that you were maybe more successful than you were. But then again, you loved your job and Daniel was meant to drive. You had to work with the cards you were dealt, no matter how you wished them differently.

The evening dragged in length and at some point, feeling ignored by the rest of the table and not being included in conversations took a toll on you. Maybe it was the champagne that Daniel kept pouring in your flute glass or maybe it was the fact that you had worked quite a lot during the week, but you started to feel woozy and hot and sticky. Your head felt cottony and heavy, your tongue slurred most of your words and your eyelids seemed to weigh a ton. At almost one in the morning, you slid your hand on Daniel’s forearm and squeezed twice, even though desserts hadn’t come out of the kitchens yet. Daniel didn’t even look at you when he slipped his hand on top of yours and squeezed your fingers between his in response. He downed his glass of sparkling water and pushed his towel back on the table, announcing that you were leaving and wishing everyone a nice night.

“Did you have a nice night?” he asked, as he drove back to your flat.

“It was alright”, you shrugged. “Maybe it would have been better if I sat with my colleagues, though.”

“Why?”

“I didn’t get to talk much”, you regretted. “I’m glad I had you to keep me company”, you smiled, sliding your hand on his, on the armrest console between the seat.

“I’m glad you allowed me to”, he smiled back at you.

“I think I drank a bit too much”, you admitted, as your index fingertip traced the rose tattoo on his hand.

“I did fill your glass a couple of times”, he shrugged. “But that’s okay. You’re not that black-out drunk.”

You hummed, agreeing with him, closing your eyes for a second and letting your head rest on the window of your door, letting the sound of the car driving by and the wipers lull you a little. When you reopened your eyes, a few kilometres had gone by and Daniel’s hand was now resting on your knee, trapped in yours. He was focused on the road ahead. You pretended to still be sleeping and kept his hand on your leg.

Daniel had to wake you up when he parked in the underground parking lot of your building. Everything was ready for you to get up and just head straight to bed. Your stuff had been pushed in his suit’s pockets and the door was already open. He helped you out with your dress, grabbing the train so that you wouldn’t walk on it and he helped you staying up by encasing your waist in his left arm. He took car of the doors and had you in your bedroom in barely a minute, while your foggy brain full of sleep and admittedly, alcohol, tried to comprehend what was going on.

“Do you need help with your dress?” he gently asked.

“The top buttons are too high to reach”, you groaned, ready to sleep. “And I put too many bobby pins in my hair”, you almost cried, arms up, trying to find them back in your bun.

“Okay, let me get those for you and then I’ll let you get changed”, he offered.

You turned putty in his hands, letting him undo the pins one by one, letting your hair fall in cascades down your back, before he pushed it all on your shoulder and took care of your dress’ buttons. He undid a handful more – for good measure he’d say. When your dress was now down to the middle of your back, Dan tapped your shoulder softly and exited the room, leaving you alone to actually undress. It didn’t take long for you to grab what had been your pyjamas for about a week. There was this really oversized Gulf shirt that Dan had received in that freaking box of merch you’d find in his office at the compound and had stolen, knowing he wouldn’t be back for weeks. The baby blue and pale orange was so calming to you and you loved it so much, feeling dumbly connected to him, when you perfectly knew he hadn’t even taken it out of the plastic wrap himself – you did. But it was supposed to be his. So it counted, right?

“You look really cosy in this”, he commented, when you found him back in the kitchen, suit jacket off and shirt open to the middle of his chest. “I think I liked you better in your dress, though.��

“It was the best option of all of the dresses you sent”, you sighed, opening your arms like a toddler, waiting for him to pick up the tired mess that you were that night.

Even his smile was audible when he crossed the space between you and engulfed you in his arms. He still was warm and your cheek pressed directly into the skin of his chest, thanks to the open shirt he had on. His fingers found a way to your hair and massaged your scalp, making you hum and smile in the little crook of his sternum.

“I’m glad you loved the dress”, he murmured. “When I saw it, I was sure you’d love it.”

“Did you choose it yourself?”

“It was the only one I chose, to be honest. The rest of them was sent by brands to my assistant.”

You tightened your arms around his middle, trying to get closer to him, even though your cheek was literally smashed against his warm skin. But you knew it might not happen again that quick, so you enjoyed it while you could.

“I loved it”, you whispered. “Thanks Dan.”

“I wanted you to feel pretty tonight.”

“That was a win, then. Will you stay here tonight?”

“I’ll take the couch”, he nodded.

“Please don’t”, you sighed. “I have enough space in my bed.”

“You also have alcohol in your blood”, he grimaced.

“Which says a lot, I wouldn’t have told you that sober”, you murmured.

“Oh, we’re going there?”

“Might as well take advantage of my liquid courage, I guess”, you shrugged.

Daniel straightened his arms, pushing you back a little so he could properly look at you. Sure, you looked a little hazy and very tired, but you stood up straight on your own and your little nap in the car couldn’t have done anything but help with your blood alcohol level. If he counted right, he was sure to have served you only four drinks top, which equalled to maybe half of the bottle that was on the table. Daniel hadn’t drunk at all, because he was supposed to drive back and he was responsible, at least sometimes. He could count and he could add without using his fingers. Maybe you weren’t as drunk as he thought you were.

“Are you sure?”

“Yes.”

“Okay.”

It took him about two minutes to get ready for bed and maybe the jogging pants he had came in weren’t as comfortable to sleep in as they were but they were his only choice, with one of the shirts you had stolen from his office.

“We match”, he declared, amused, seeing you both in Gulf colours.

“I was right to steal them from you.”

“Thanks for the compliment”, he rolled his eyes to the sky.

“No, you look too cute in them, that was mercy for myself.”

“Okay, time to sleep, dummie”, he laughed.

You whined for a second but he finally slipped in bed next to you, you hummed with content. The comforter was cold and he was always warm, so you knew he’d help. He yelped a little when your cold feet came in contact with his calf, but then he thought about how awkward it was to share a bed with you for the first time.

“Your feet are so freaking cold!”

“I’m sorry, the bed was cold”, you pouted.

“Ugh, come here then”, he offered.

You slipped into his arms effortlessly and soundlessly. Once he was sure you had found the right position and you wouldn’t move anymore, he tugged the cover around you, raising it higher to your chin, so you would get warmer faster. Everything about him was angles and strong, but cuddling with him felt like cuddling a teddy bear. It made no sense and every bit of sense at the same time. It’s like his sunshine personality peered through the steel muscles.

“Better?”

“Much”, you nodded.

“Okay, well time to sleep now.”

“Did I ever tell you that I like your nose?” you whispered, your right hand leaving his sternum to trace the bridge of his nose with your index.

“No but I’m ecstatic that you like it”, he laughed, trying to camouflage the fact that he was flustered well beyond reason. “Anything else?”

“I like those too”, you pushed your index in the little dimples he had created in his grinning state.

“Keep them coming, I’ll take mental notes.”

“Well in that case, I really like your beard too”, you traced his jawline, peppered with brown hairs. “You’re just pretty in general, to be honest. And muscled, but like comfortable too”, you sighed, crashing back to his chest like you suddenly were exhausted. “And your curls are soft.”

“I’ll keep conditioning them for you, then.”

“Great, thanks”, you yawned.

“We’re gonna have to talk about this in the morning, you know that?”

“I guess”, you mumbled. “But for now, let me enjoy my cuddles”, you ended the conversation by dropping a kiss on his Adam apple, relishing in the muscles you could feel under your hands.

“Anything for you. Good night, babe”, he murmured, dropping a kiss on your temple.

You’d talk about it on the morning, sure.

But for now, you’d sleep soundly in each other’s arms, wishing time could stand still for just a night.

▄▀▄▀▄▀▄▀▄▀▄▀▄▀▄▀▄▀▄▀▄▀▄▀▄▀▄▀▄▀▄▀▄▀▄▀▄▀▄▀▄▀▄

Support a writer, reblog their works!

Tell me what you liked the most about this! If you want to help me support my writing, you can also buy me a ko-fi 🥺🤍

#does anyone even dislike daniel??? he's way too nice and funny and cute ugh #daniel ricciardo x reader #daniel ricciardo imagine #daniel ricciardo x you #self-insert #daniel ricciardo fanfic #daniel ricciardo #my writing

617 notes · View notes