#i go to restaurants like... once a month max

[cosmogyros]

Literally can't pay my rent until I get paid for September, which hasn't happened yet. Today is Friday, and Monday is the last day of the month. I'm so tired of being poor.

[loveluvrs]

the slip up l lando norris x reader

request/summary – lando and reader are in a secret established relationship, until lando accidentally slips up on stream

author's notes – first piece of writing, feedback appreciated!!! this is just my thoughts written down honestly, i didn’t have much idea where i was going with it so enjoy.

Max was streaming with Lando at his place. Lando drags his feet over to the stream room, sitting on a chair next to Max. He was scrolling on his phone, trying to pass the time. 

“Mate, I’m gonna leave, you’re being so boring,” Lando joked under his breath as he ran a hand through his hair. 

“I’ll make things more interesting then. Chat, wanna know something really interesting about Lando?” Max asked with a mischievous smile as he looked back at Lando. Lando watched with suspicion of what max could say next. 

“Lando’s got a secret girlfriend,” Max sings to annoy Lando. Lando’s eyes shot up, his heart pounding as he turned off his phone, the same phone he was using to text you, his girlfriend. “I don’t, chat, don’t listen to him. He’s just trying to piss me off,” Lando says as he shoots Max a glare. 

—————

A few months later, everyone has chalked up that interaction to Max simply trying to annoy and rile up Lando, and no one thought much of it. On a miracle of a night in spring, Lando was in Monaco and decided to stream. He had a hoodie on, his hair all messy, but a smile on his face. About an hour into the stream, I knock on the door of his stream room quietly. Lando immediately turned off his video and mic, telling chat to give him a minute. 

I walk in, a black slip dress on with a cropped white cardigan, my hair and makeup done all fancy. “Hi, baby,” Lando says as he pulls me in by the waist, onto his lap. “Girls night tonight, right?” He says with a soft smile. He always makes sure to pay attention to anything I’ve mentioned to him, including my plans to hang out with Lily and Carmen tonight, Alex and George’s girlfriends. 

I hum in response. “Yeah, we’re gonna get dinner and then take some Instagram photos,” I say as I stand up from his lap, “you like the dress? It’s new.” I give him a little twirl to show off the dress. 

Lando smiles brightly. “I love it, baby, you look gorgeous. Like always,” he says as he leans in for a kiss. “Text me when you’re done and need me to pick you up, yeah?” I nod and smile. 

Once I leave, Lando puts his headset back on, turning his mic and camera back on. He scrunches up his face as he’s met by shouting from Max into his headset. “What’s your problem, man?” Lando asks with confusion. Max sighs. “Lando, you had your mic on the whole time. People heard that whole conversation and I was trying to tell you but as always, you ignored me,” Max says with some frustration in his voice, but mostly amusement. 

“Oh,” Lando says as he realizes what has happened. Not knowing what to do, Lando panics and ends stream. 

When my friends and I reach the restaurant, we find it pouring rain, which was the most of our worries since the restaurant was outdoor. With frowns, we all pile back into the car and drive ourselves home. I arrive home only twenty minutes after I left, my dress soaked. My brows furrow in confusion to see Lando on the couch on his phone when i come back, and not on stream. 

I slip off my shoes. “I thought you were streaming?” I ask softly as I make my way over to him. “What happened to you? You’re all soaked! Here, let me get you a towel and you can get dressed into some of my hoodie and sweats to get comfy,” Lando says, trying to avoid the fact that he had just live streamed his whole conversation with his girlfriend. 

I saw the panic in Lando’s eyes. “Stop,” I say as I stood in front of him, “what did you do?” Lando shoots me a bright grin. “I love you, babe. So so much. And you know I’d do anything for you.” This made me even more suspicious. “Lan,” I say as my eyes narrowed.

“Okay, okay. I might have forgotten to mute my mic when we were talking right before you left. I swear I thought I had turned it off!” He says as he panics before beginning to ramble. “And I called you baby, and gorgeous, and your voice was heard too. And Max was telling me the whole time through my headset, but it was off and even if it were on, you know I don’t think about anything else when I’m with you. And there were thousands of people on the stream and you specifically told me you wanted to keep it private because you didn’t want to get hate crimed by the fans and you wouldn’t be able to handle it and I mean, I wanted to but it just slipped and im so so sorry but-“ He stops in confusion when a giggle escapes my lips. “Why aren’t you upset?” He asks slowly.

I smile as I slip my arms around his neck, his hands instinctively wrapping around my waist. “Well. Number one, you’re cute when you panic. Number two, no one saw me, so it’s okay. I mean, considering how in love you are with me, they were bound to find out at some point that you had a girlfriend,” I tease with a smile tugging at my lips. 

He scoffs and rolls his eyes playfully at me. “Okay, yeah. I am absolutely in love with you. Still, you’re not bothered by this?” he asks slowly, hesitation lacing his voice.

“I promise I’m not. It was a mistake. Plus, that just means it’s gonna be all the more fun trying to watch them figure out who it is you’re dating,” I say playfully with a giggle. 

“That’s true,” Lando says softly with a hum, “I love you.”

“I love you too. Although, don’t make me have to have you on adult supervision every time you stream now to make sure nothing else slips out of your mouth,” I tease as I playfully poke his side. 

“Ah! Okay okay, promise,” he says with a giggle as he leans in for a gentle and loving kiss.

[norrisjpg]

novacane - ʟɴ⁴

in which, lando is completely and utterly obsessed with his girlfriend, and can't seem to keep his hands off of her - especially when she's in that dress.

contains: NSFW; smut, oral (f recieving), fingering, body worship, p in v, unprotected sex, squirting, cockwarming; tiny bit of fluff at the end.

lando norris x unnamed female character

...

...

lando thought he was actually going to die. there in rome, he was sure of it. they had been together for two years at this point, and don't get him wrong, she always looked good - but something about the air in rome was making him fall in love with her all over again, and he was going feral.

the couple had decided to spend a few days in italy together, first venice, second maranello, and last rome.

venice had been brilliant, spending a few days with max and pietra, exploring the city together, and many other late night activities. maranello had been nothing if not wholesome, that being where his beloved girlfriend's family lived - lando having rekindled his bromance with her dad and older brother, and not to mention seeing his favourite dog again.

"can you help me with my heels, baby?" her voice snapped him out of his trance.

fucking hell.

she had walked out of the bathroom, looking like a divine treat for him to devour. it was a sundress - her sundresses always did unholy things to him - of course, and her tanned skin looked particularly endearing against the flimsy white material.

his mouth hung agape, eyes flitting over her body rapidly. his mouth could have (and almost did) water at the sight of his girlfriend, looking oh-so-innocent with her pretty eyes and glossy lips.

again, lando thought he was actually going to die.

"yeah, come here." lando gestured with his fingers, getting up so she could perch on the edge of the bed.

he got to his knees before her, grabbing her ankle gently and delicately tightened the clasp until it clung to her skin snugly, repeating the same action on her other ankle.

"thankyou, sweetheart." she responded, running her fingers through his hair briefly.

yep, he was definitely going to die.

...

if he thought he was going to die earlier, he was dead now.

she was sat there, fiddling with the necklace he'd bought her a few months ago, blinking at him through her lashes as she spoke about their plans for the rest of the summer break.

he could have actually fall to his knees in the restaurant right there and then - she looked utterly and completely irresistible.

"can we go now, please?" lando pleaded for around the third time.

he had asked her after they had finished his main course, and then after they'd finished their desserts, and now when they were having another drink.

"god, what's gotten into you?" she laughed as she swallowed the remainder of her wine.

"nothing, i just want to go home." he shrugged, trying not to let her onto the fact he was planning every single thing he was going to do to her once that hotel room door was closed.

"okay, weirdo." she shook her head with another laugh, before politely asking for the bill.

technically, it was her turn to pay for dinner - but lando never let her pay anyway. his credit card was being swiped across the card machine before she could even get hers out of her purse.

"let's go, come on."

...

as soon as that hotel door had latched shut behind her, lando turned into some sort of rabid animal with no self control.

she found herself pinned up against the door very quickly, dress bunched up at her hips as he began his assault on her neck.

“god… needed you since i seen you earlier.” lando murmured, hoisting her legs up around his waist.

“yeah?” she nodded, arching her eyebrows as her eyes fluttered shut.

“mhm.” he hummed, his hand shifting to her lower back as she was then moved to her feet. “look so pretty — turn around for me?”

she spun her heel slowly, allowing lando to effortlessly pull on the delicate white bow, the thin straps loosening and falling below her shoulders. his hand trailed back down her arms, pulling the dress down and allowing it to fall to a puddle at their feet.

“so gorgeous.” he whispered, hot breath fanning the back of her shoulder — before his hands whipped her around to face him again.

"you think?" she responded quietly.

"of course, pretty girl." he pressed a kiss to the side of her neck, before spinning her round and walking her backwards to the bed - eye contact very, very intense.

a gentle shove rendered her flat on the bed, propped up on her elbows shortly after her back hit the soft mattress. just as he'd done earlier, lando dropped to his knees and now started to remove her heels.

god, she looked divine.

she was now only wearing the prettiest white lace underwear, but lando was trying not to focus on it - due to the fact that he was painfully hard, and that if he looked at her, all of his self-control would fly out of the hotel door (not that she would have minded that.)

a quick toss of the heels behind him made soft thuds in the room, but lando was already softly kissing up from her ankle to her inner thighs, rendering her unable to think about anything else.

"god..." she breathed out, tossing her head back as he skimmed his nose over the delicate fabric of her panties.

a soft chuckle reverberated through her from lando, he was literally laughing into her pussy - how hot could this man get?

"someone's needy." he whispered, lips brushing against the lace once again, resulting in her clenching around nothing.

"shut up." she whined. "just do something, please?"

"as you wish, baby." he mumbled, tugging her underwear down effortlessly and discarding them across the room.

he was like a man starved, denied of watching his girlfriend squirm underneath him for a mere few hours - that seemed to feel like years.

not that she needed any sort of lube, she was soaking wet by the time lando's thumb circled over her clit agonising slowly, but lando felt it necessary still to let a string of his saliva drip down on her aching cunt, spreading it adequately around with his tongue.

she was just about to beg, but he latched his lips onto her before the pleads could leave her lips. the noises made between his lips and hers were disgustingly hot, his fingers slowly beginning to prod at her entrance, teasing her tightness. his tongue drew shapes on her clit, he was spelling his fucking name, and she was seeing stars when a thick middle finger slid into her.

over and over again the same shapes danced over her heat, and lando slowly began to curl his finger to push against her g-spot. an almost pornographic moan left her lips as she felt the pressure of his index finger alongside his middle finger inside of her - whines and whimpers now a constant sound in the room.

they weren't just from her either, when her hips pushed into his face, lando wasn't ashamed to let a low groan out, the vibrations making her back arch up off of the bed - only for her to quickly be pushed back down by a veiny hand.

"fuck.. lando..." she moaned airly, a hand clutching onto his hair for dear life.

the soft bite to her clit was what sent her over the edge and into space. her legs shook around his head, the most lewd moans tumbling loudly from her lips. he pumped his fingers in and out of her and kitten-licked her through her orgasm, allowing her to float on her cloud of ecstasy for a little longer as she spasmed around him.

"you with me, pretty?" he softly spoke, now having moved his hands from her heat to her ribs, gently rubbing his thumbs up and down.

"yeah." she panted, nodding her head. "so fucking good."

he laughed airily, pressing soft kisses from her lower stomach up to her pillowy lips - swollen from how much she'd bitten down on them over the past few minutes.

their kiss was soft and gentle, she could taste herself on his lips, making her grow all-the-more wet again.

"take this off." she murmured into his lips, making a small noise resembling both a laugh and a whimper leave his lips as she tugged at his shirt.

he began to unbutton his shirt, while her hands frantically made their way down to his dress pants, unbuckling his belt and unzipping his trousers. both items of clothing were quickly a puddle on the floor, his boxers swiftly following.

lando's necklace dangled down and rested just below her chin, then sitting comfortably on the centre of her neck as he kissed her again - teeth clashing and tongues pushing against each other for dominance (lando won, obviously.)

the hand that wasn't holding his body up above her, made its way down to his erection, running it up and down her slit to lube it.

breaking the kiss, the look in his eyes asked her the inevitable, and a quick nod followed.

the tip of his cock pressed into her, still stretching her out. you would have thought that after almost three years of very frequent sex, both would get used to the other - but no, every time they felt each other, it was like the first time all over again.

she quite literally fluttered around him, eyes squeezing shut as he bottomed out a few moments later. a low groan escaped his lips, cut short when he realised her eyes were closed.

"hey, eyes open, baby." he whispered, tapping her cheek gently. "want to see the look in your eyes when you fall apart, yeah?"

pretty eyes met his once again as she blinked up at him, some form of a moan leaving her lips as he spoke to her - how could such dirty words come from a man who looked like a fucking angel?

"good girl." he nodded, pressing a small kiss to her nose as he began to slowly thrust in and out.

now, usually, rough sex was lando's thing - but there was something about the way she looked up at him, it made him want to fuck her nice and gentle, slow and deep - so he did.

his strokes were fucking delicious, taming the fire in her lower belly in just the right way - a way that was building the indescribably incredible knot thick and slow. something was different, it was overwhelmingly good - the softest yet neediest moans tumbling from her lips at an almost alarming rate.

maybe every other deep thrust, she'd clench around him, even more blood rushing to his throbbing cock - he wasn't really sure if it was her that was pulsing around him or it was himself, but either way, it felt fucking good.

his lips made their way to her boobs subconsciously, feeling as if he'd neglected them. swirling his tongue around one hard nipple, he slid two fingers inside of her mouth to wet his fingers - before returning them to the nub his mouth wasn't paying delicate attention to, pinching and pressing the pads of his fingers to them.

sensitive from her previous high, the next one was encroaching quickly, warmth spreading to her inner thighs and lower tummy. he could immediately tell she was close. there were tell-tale signs - loud moans would turn to quiet, short, sharp whimpers, she'd become grabby with her hands - needing something to clutch onto as she fell into the abyss of ecstasy - simultaneously clenching around him so tightly that sometimes she'd accidentally restrict his movement - and all were currently taking place.

"go on, pretty girl, cum for me."

she was so gone.

lando's back suffered as her nails scratched into it, leaving red lines painted across the muscles - his trainers wouldn't ask any questions, it's not as if they hadn't seen worse marks before anyway.

she tried so so hard to keep her eyes open, but it was just too hard. her eyes fluttered closed as her mouth hung agape, eyebrows arched as her nose scrunched up a little - lando wanted the image etched onto his retinas.

she gushed all over him, pretty liquid squirting from her cunt, painting his abdomen shiny as the juices splattered on him.

she thought she was going to die, and she would happily like this.

that was actually all it took for him. hot ropes of cum spilled deep into her, stuffed up against her cervix as he tried his hardest to keep thrusting into her - his hips stuttering as he started to get a little overstimulated.

slowly but surely, the two came down from their mind-blowing highs, lando rolling them over so she was laid on top of him, her walls still unconsciously clenching and fluttering around him.

"you good, baby?" he whispered, his hands rubbing up and down her back.

"think so, tired now." she smiled wearily, pressing a soft kiss to his lips, before letting her head roll down into the crook of his neck.

"want to sleep or clean up?" lando asked softly, running his fingers through her hair.

"sleep, definitely."

[no-144444]

pale blue- o.piastri

your first season as an f1 driver doesn't start the best, and you quickly realise McLaren doesn't like women very much. On top of that, your race engineer is as smug as the rest of them, and you have to deal with him all the time.

pairing: race engineer! oscar piastri x f1driver! fem! reader

warnings: lots of misogyny, lando is an asshole in this, illusions to ed behaviour, reader is not in a good head space, all of mclaren is super sexist, mentions of crashes and injuries.

part one | part two | part three | part four | part five | part six

୨ৎ⋅୨ৎ⋅୨ৎ⋅୨ৎ⋅୨ৎ⋅୨ৎ⋅୨ৎ⋅

Baku. If you won this weekend, you’d be ahead of Max in the standings.

Quali came around much too quick, and it was only your first time on the circuit. Everyone seemed to forget the fact that you were a rookie, just because you were winning. You were on your final push lap, it was going well, but all it had to do was get you out of the bottom 5 (which you were in right now). 

“Yellow flags!” Oscar called over the radio, causing you to instinctively slow down. 

“What happened?” you panicked, radioing in. 

“I’m not sure, but… we’re P15 and time is over. Sorry Y/n.” 

“Fuck,” you whispered, hitting your steering wheel. “Where’s Norris?”

“He’s through.” 

“The team can get a win this weekend, sorry about this guys,” you sighed, driving your car back into the pits and getting out of the car to get weighed and do your interviews. The time passed, and the debrief was clear, Lando was up in P2, ready to take the win tomorrow as you were once again, put on the back foot. 

As you walked out of the room, pretty ready for a night of watching movies on your lonesome (you could finally look at screens again), Oscar came up to you. 

“My family is here,” he told you. “If you’d like to meet them, we’re getting dinner. You’re more than welcome to join-”

“I wouldn’t want to impose-” you started.

“Please,” he begged. “My sisters really want to meet you.”

You smiled. “I’ll head back to the hotel and get changed.”

He smiled. “I’ll pick you up.”

୨ৎ⋅୨ৎ

He was shitting bricks when he knocked on your hotel room door. He was wearing a pale blue shirt and linen pants, something his mum had gifted him, and all he wanted was to see you have a night of being relaxed. He knew his family could be quite crazy, but he thought his mum’s sarcastic humor, Hattie’s easy conversation, Eddie’s laid back nature, Mae’s endless stories, his dad’s kind nature, and Tim’s easy charisma, it would all go well. They could do most of the talking, and you could just watch and enjoy it, even if you didn’t feel like talking. 

You opened the door, a beautiful pale blue dress on your body, finalising your outfit with a pair of earrings. He stood there, stunned. 

You were gorgeous. That was a fact he had been made acutely aware of months ago, but you were really beautiful tonight. He didn’t speak, and your cheeks heated as you let out an awkward laugh. 

“I’m ready, sorry it took so long,” you smiled, stepping out from your room. “Let me just grab my jacket,” you said before turning and walking back into your room. His jaw actually dropped seeing the backless dress that went down to the end of your back. Thankfully, he picked his jaw back up before you turned around.

“These are for you,” he said, handing over the bouquet that had been clutched in his hand for a few moments, also pale blue lilies. 

“They’re beautiful,” you smiled, surprised by the gesture. “I’ve never gotten flowers before.”

He frowned again, but smiled before you caught him. “I’m glad I could be the first one.”

You smiled, placed the flowers in your room, and joined him in the hallway. “So where are we going?”

“My mum found this really nice restaurant just a few minutes walk from here, if that’s alright?” 

“Sounds perfect,” you agreed. As you two walked to the restaurant, you chatted about the weekend ahead, ideas for strategies, and at some point, he’d linked his arm with yours. You didn’t really mind.

୨ৎ⋅୨ৎ

The Piastri family were hilarious. Mae had told you so many stories by the time the appetisers rolled around, that you actually had to brace yourself against Oscar to stop yourself from falling off your chair. You were sat across from Mae, with Oscar to your left and Tim to your right. Their easy banter was amusing to say the least, and the conversations you had with Hattie about music, and with Eddie about her college courses were truly enjoyable. You loved hearing about their lives, such stark contrast to yours. Nicole and you ended up speaking about pilates and Oscar’s affinity for not doing his own laundry (you’d lived with him for two weeks, she apologised). By the end of the night, they’d all become your friends, and you’d barely seen Oscar, but he’d been watching you all night. He’d seen the way your eyes lit up every time Hattie mentioned a band or song you liked, how you listened so intently to Mae’s stories, how you cared about the topics his mum spoke about, how you threw jokes back and forth with his dad and stepdad, how you asked such good questions about Eddie’s studies. 

He loved it. He loved seeing you be free. He loved seeing you smile. He loved seeing you happy. 

“I love gardening actually,” you answered when Nicole asked if you had any hobbies. 

“She has a beautiful garden in Monaco,” Oscar explained, getting his phone out to show pictures. You felt yourself beam with pride. Pride wasn’t an emotion you allowed yourself to feel very often, but Oscar’s unashamed pride on your behalf must’ve been rubbing off on you, because you went through your entire garden in detail and gave Tim some advice on his garden. 

୨ৎ⋅୨ৎ

You walked out of the restaurant feeling lighter than you had in a long time. You weren’t thinking about racing, you weren’t thinking about McLaren, you weren’t thinking about the tall order that tomorrow would bring, you were thinking about Oscar. He was busy saying good night to his family, wishing them well and telling them he’d see them tomorrow, and you stood and watched. He was so… Oscar. So calm, so loving, so caring. It made you feel… good. He made you feel good. Being near him made you feel good. 

He turned to you and linked your arms, both of you starting the walk back to the hotel. “What did you think? Too much?”

You smiled. “They’re perfect. Very kind, very intelligent, very nice people, just like you. I see where you get it from.”

He beamed with pride. The night was a success. You had enjoyed yourself, and his family had met one of the most important people in his life. “I’m glad.”

“I’m really happy I came, thank you for inviting me, Osc,” you smiled.

“No problem,” he whispered. 

The rest of the walk back to the hotel was quiet, but he noticed how you held him closer than before, up until you finally got outside your room. You leant against the door, a bashful smile on your face. 

“Thank you for tonight,” you said. “I really had fun, for the first time in a while. Thank you, Osc.”

His heart was beating out of his chest. The prettiest girl in the whole world had a nickname for him. “I’m really glad you came, I had a lot of fun too,” he admitted. He took a step closer. 

Was he going to kiss you? Did you want him to?

“I’ll see you tomorrow,” he smirked, close enough to kiss you, but all he did was hug you, tucking your head into his neck. “You’ll do great tomorrow.”

“If I win it can I meet your family again?” you asked in a small, nervous voice. He chuckled. 

“You can. But you also could probably see them whenever you want, you have all of their phone numbers,” he reminded you. 

You shook your head. “I want you there too.”

“I’ll be there,” he whispered. “I’m always here for you, you know that, right?” 

You nodded gently. So small, he almost didn’t feel it. 

But he did. It was there. 

“Thank you,” you whispered, then retreated into your bedroom. 

You fell against your bed, so many questions swirling around your head as you pondered your growing feelings for your race engineer. He did the same thing. He sat at the end of his bed, wondering what he would do. He thought back to what his mother told him. 

She held him close, hugging him as the night ended. 

“She’s happier,” she smiled, talking about you. 

“Yeah?” he asked. “What did you think of her?”

“I think she’s wonderful,” Nicole smiled. “The girls love her too. And I suspect you do too.”

He sighed, nodding. His mum always found out. She smirked. 

“How do I-?” he questioned but she stopped him. 

“It’ll happen, with time,m” she assured him. “She likes you too, she’s just not there yet. Don’t worry about it too much. Just be there for her. She needs someone.”

“I am here for her,” he assured her. “She wanted to meet you guys so badly,” he chuckled. 

“She’s alone, isn’t she?” she asked. He knew better than to lie to his mum and nodded. 

“I’m glad she has you Osc,” she smiled. “She’s good for you. You’re good for her.” 

“I hope so,” he chuckled. 

“It will be, with time,” she reminded him with a kiss to the cheek. “We’ll see you tomorrow. I love you.”

“Love you too mum,” he smiled. 

He just needed to wait. He was good at that. He was a patient man, and if waiting meant seeing the real you with your real smile in that damned pale blue dress again, he’d wait a million lifetimes just to make you happy. 

God, that was a little bit pathetic, wasn’t it? 

୨ৎ⋅୨ৎ Baku was one of your favourite circuits, you decided when you sat on the grid, waiting for the lights to go out. You had a good start, gaining places. Up in the points in one corner. After overtaking a while, a few laps of shouting at Oscar over the radio about pitting, you came into the pits, went back out, and somehow, got to the lead. 

And you crossed the line first. Again. 

“I guess we’re getting dinner again tonight,” you chuckled, a smile on your face. 

“I guess we are,” Oscar nodded. “Stellar drive,” he commented. “Well done.”

7 time Grand Prix winner. You stepped up on the top of the podium, and you enjoyed it. You were the Champion, as of that day. Oscar took his celebratory selfie with some more of the team, and dinner was set for 8pm. 

You liked Baku quite a lot.

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[natailiatulls07]

Pen Pals

Oscar Piastri x Female!Reader

Summary - Strangers to pen pals to lovers

Warning - Cuteness overload!

Reader works in redbull as a media girl

-

Hi there,

I'm Y/n and I'm excited to write you! I've had a few pen pals in the past but none have really worked out.

But I digress, maybe we should start by introducing each other with a few fun facts; I love formula one! I am and will always be a cat person, having two cats of my own and my favourite past time would have to be finding and trying new recipes which either works or becomes a disaster, there's no inbetween!

I look forward to hearing about you and hopefully we'll get on well with eachother!

Yours truly,

Y/n

-

Dear Y/n,

It's lovely to meet you! This is my first time so go easy on me! I loved reading your letter and found it quite ironic as I am also a big fan of formula one.

A few facts about me is that my favourite film is 'ten things I hate about you' even though my friends always tease me for it. My favourite formula one driver would have to Oscar Piastri, next best rookie since Hamilton in my opinion.

Who's your favourite driver? And which team do you support??

Yours truly,

Oscar

-

Dear Oscar,

What a coincidence! I would definitely agree that Oscar Piastri is a great driver, espercially after winning a sprint in his rookie year! But however, I am a Max Verstappen girl through and through so that also means I'm a redbull supporter as well. But I have respect for each and every other driver and team!

I don't see how your friends can tease you about your favourite film, it is a iconic late 90s film with a stunning cast! See picking a favourite film for me is hard! There's too many to pick from like paddington or pretty woman or even oceans eight!

So what gotten you into starting to write pen pal letters??

Yours truly,

Y/n

-

Hi Y/n,

Yeah with my job I find that alot of the people I talk to are very fake and greedy. I felt as those if I just starting writing letters to someone I could keep an anonymous identity. I hope you'll respect that, I'm sure you will!

Don't get me wrong I love my job, it's something I worked my whole life for. But it feels some what suffocating sometimes.

What about you? You said that you've had pen pals in the past but none have really worked out. I can't see why though, you seem lovely and have a great taste in sport!

Yours truly,

Oscar

-

Dear Oscar,

Understandable. I promise to remain respectful and I won't pry. I think a pen pal is the perfect way to step away from our lifestyles, it gives us someone that won't judge and you can realise to them.

I started writing to pen pal when I started college. I moved away from all my friends and had a rocky break up with my boyfriend at the time.

So from then I tried to find the best pen pal. But believe it or not, not many people start a pen pal to talk to others and hear others but to just talk about themselves.

A pen pal relationship should be equal and not one sided so often those relationship will have lasted just under two months. But lets not dwell on the past.

Wait important question now! What is your zodiac sign?? It tells you alot about a person.

Yours truly,

Y/n

Time skip a few months -

Hi Y/n!

Just read your last letter, loved your descriptive story about your now sister in laws hen party! I need to see those drunk photos immadiately.

My summer break just started, I have a lot of down time and not a lot to do. Please do you have any suggestions!? I have a feeling that I'm going to spend my summer moving between the gym, my apartment and my local store.

How did the date with that guy go? Was the trip to the jungle mini golf really worth it? I remember I went on a date once, we went to a nice restaurant and by the end of the night she was black out drunk. WORST DATE EVER!!

Yours truly,

Oscar

-

Dear Oscar,

I would give you suggestions on what to do this summer. However just like you, my sofa becomes me seconds home after my bed. Well actually every summer me and my bestfriend deciated a day to binge watching all the Harry Potters! We go all out, getting themed snacks and making a fort out of blankets.

Oh my god! The date was horrible! All he did was talk about his family riches and how 'successful' he is. And to add salt to the wound the place was filled with whiny children. NEVER AGAIN!

Also I've add the photos from the hen party to the envelope, non of them have my face in it but you can see that the bride is enjoying herself.

Yours truly,

Y/n <3

Photos in the envelope -

-

Hey Y/n,

Looks like the hen party looks as exciting as it sounded! Send my crograts to the bride and groom please.

I'm sorry your date went like that, I hate rich snobs who just glot and I work around them a lot lol! A girl like yourself doesn't deserve to be treated like that, you deserve fancy restaurents and meaningful date. I know I would give you the world.

Harry Potter marathon?? Mmm doesn't sound like a bad idea, I might rope my friend into then, he's british so he'll feel right at home!

Anyways I've been thinking...over these last few months I've grown to trust and adore our little letters back and forth. And I was wondering if you wanted to exchange numbers or something, idk.

I'm actually in Barcelona next week for work, but we can arrange something if you wanted. I just feel like I'd want to put a face to a name and exciting personality!

Yours truly,

Oscar

-

Hi Oscar,

The world huh? Thats a bold statement...

Wait that ironic! I'm also in Barcelona next week, we could meet somewhere. I can't really do Thursday through to Sunday, that's when my work really starts.

But yeah we can meet at some coffee shop or something, I seen some nice recommendations on tiktok recently.

I'm actually really excited for this! I've never had a pen pal that actually worked out, let alone wanted to meet me, so I feel lucky! Yeah these letters have been fun to write, it's like I've learnt so much from you. Thank you so much!

OMG did you watch the last f1 race in Montreal?! Oscar Piastri, Max Verstappen and Daniel Ricciardo podium! I'm sooo proud Piastri, he is slowly but surely moving up and competing with Verstappen for my fav driver! There I said it!

Yours truly,

Y/n <3

-

Dear Y/n,

Is Piastri growing on you Y/n?? Ooo that's exciting! But you wouldn't want to disappoint the current world champ, his no 1 fan is going to the dark side!

I would definitely give you the world! In a heart beat actually, you've single handedly made me feel normal and human again and I am forever thankful for that!

So you're working Thursday through Sunday...the exact days that formula one is active in the same city. I feel bad for you honestly, I'm sorry...

How about we meet up on the Wednesday? Should we meet at the three marks coffee?? I've heard great things about their coffee!

Meet me there at 1pm! I actually can't wait! See you then!

Yours truly,

Oscar <3

Outside the cafe -

Stood just outside the cafe, Y/n fiddled with her bag. She didn't know why she was so nervous, she would trust her pen pal Oscar with her deepest darkest secret if needs be.

Busy was an understatement. And Y/n knew fully well why, it was the reason why she was here this week. Formula one. Being one the media girls at redbull meant that she had to attend every race, not that she was complaining.

Just down the street was Oscar, walking head held high and a large grin on his face. He was beyond excited to meet the mysterious Y/n.

When they both began sending letters to each other, they agreed that neither would pry for surnames, addresses and other personal details.

The one thing they decided to do today was dress in all white, making it easy for each of them to pin point each other.

Oscar approached the cafe, his eyes scanning the area for a women dressed in all white. Until he spotted her, it was love at first sight!

He was obsessed with how she stylied her hair, and what she decided to dress like considering the white rule. "Y/n!" Calling out her name, as he made a quick walk towards her.

Y/n could hear her name being called and when she turned she came face to face with the one and only Oscar Piastri smiling down at her. A gasp broke through her lips, surprised that he was her pen pal.

"You're my pen pal?" She asked in disbelief. The Australian driver nodding his head excitedly. "You let me hype you up about your driving and didn't tell me?"

They both broke out into laughter. "Yep! And I loved it!" Oscars face held a cheeky grin, that Y/n instantly fell in love with.

-

After settling down in a small secluded table just outside the cafe, Y/n turned to Oscar. Her face now holding a cheeky grin. "Is now the best time to tell you that I work at Redbull as a media girl?"

Now it was Oscars turned to look shocked, shaking his head in disbelief.

"So you're telling me we've been right under eachothers noses the whole time!?" Neither expected that they were in reality quite close to each other whilst they were sending letters back and forth.

"What are the chances? Right?"

"Fancy leaving Redbull and join me in Papaya? maybe then Oscar Piastri will be your favourite driver..."

"Oscar!"

-

[f1amour]

✧˚ · . 𝐃𝐈𝐑𝐓𝐘 𝐋𝐈𝐓𝐓𝐋𝐄 𝐒𝐄𝐂𝐑𝐄𝐓 — 𝐏𝐀𝐑𝐓 𝐓𝐖𝐎

pairing: daniel ricciardo x reader

warnings: angst (but happy ending <3), miscommunication , age gap (reader is 26 daniel is 35), jealous!daniel

authors note: very short and sweet part two of dirty little secret sorry it took me awhile to put it out, i was getting some writers block so it was a very rushed plot but it’s a happy ending hopefully that makes it up <3 i may write some small blurbs to this series since i really enjoyed writing this request but writing a full fic can take me some time and i hate keeping people waiting

part one

─────────────────────────

MARCH 2025

It's been a year since you had last spoken to Daniel and while you see him around the paddock it wasn't the same. Despite being heartbroken from that night on the balcony and his words that cut into your heart you still sent him a congratulatory text when it was announced he would be racing for Red Bull along Max once again in the 2025 season.

It had been something he talked to you about hoping he could prove himself once again to a team he regrets ever leaving. The text was left on read for days until you received a one word response from him, "Thanks."

His response and behavior for the rest of the 2024 season was killing you and you decided you would never speak to him again. He didn't seem phased by that when you had seen him with a new girl at your brother's engagement party.

You wanted to hate him. Your mind hated him but your heart…oh your silly heart would always belong to him.

"I…I don't understand. You worked with us for two years now and you said working here was your dream after leaving Mclaren. Why are you going to Ferrari?" Max asks disappointed while you sit with him in your office.

You stare at Max and give him a smile with tears in your eyes, "I can't be around him, Max. I'll have to be around him 24/7 for social media duties and my heart can't take the pain seeing him act like I didn't even matter to him as a friend."

And I can't bear to see him with her.

Max can see this wasn't just an argument about Daniel being a shitty friend, no he knew something more had happened even though Daniel refused to tell him he knew deep down something more had happened between the two of you.

"I'm gonna miss you." He says truthfully, you had actually made his days where he would have to film and post things for social media fun. Max saw your passion for the job and knew it was better to do it in an environment where both drivers would make her feel appreciated.

─────────────────────────

Going into the 2025 season was a breath of fresh air you hadn't felt in awhile and you were doing well on the Scuderia Ferrari team, getting close to both Charles and Lewis had helped heal the sadness you had carried over you.

You were finally moving on despite still being in love with someone who would never love you.

Your brother was at the first race of the season to support Daniel at his home race and back with Red Bull. You hadn't seen him in months so despite knowing Daniel would be at the restaurant Luka had reserved you went to finally catch up with your brother.

"Seriously, you look glowing. You sure there isn't a man in your life being that reason for the smile on your face?" Luka's fiance, Amelia asks you while you take another sip of your second glass of wine.

Daniel's expression falls when he hears her question towards you and your brother focuses on the now interesting topic regarding your love life, "Oh do tell dear sister? Finally got yourself a man?"He jokes with you, only for you to slap his head.

"No you dingus. The only men in my life are Charles and Lewis." You tell them with a straight face until you say Lewis's name and you break out in a smile.

"No fucking way! You and Hamilton?! Danny why didn't you tell me about this?" Your brother questions Daniel.

Daniel stares at you for a moment but you look away not seeing the sadness in his eyes, "Uh I didn't know they were together." He says flatly.

You roll your eyes and glare at the Australian, "No one said we were together."”

"Well the way you fucking smile over hearing his name seems like there is something there." He spits back. The table now grows silent tension obviously between the two of you.

"What's going on with the both of you? You used to be so close. I was shocked to see you leave Red Bull even though Daniel would be back on the team. Remember in 2019 when they offered you–."

"Fuck off Luka! People change and grow up. I did what was best for my career not to follow your boyfriend around.” You cut your brother off from revealing something you had kept from Daniel for years now.

"Please you're the one who's been in love with him for five years." He scoffs, his face drops after saying those words realizing the mistake he had made.

Daniel looks over at you, "What…what did he just say?"

You stand up from the table and throw the glass of wine you hsd left on your brother, "Best big brother ever!" You walk away from the dinner table and avoid the stares from other people.

"Y/n! Y/n wait up! We need to talk what he said back there–."

"Now you want to talk? After a year of ignoring me, you want to talk now? Well sorry but I don't have time for you anymore." You send Lewis a quick text asking to pick you up with an immediate reply saying he would be there in five minutes.

"He said you love me…was it the truth?"”

"Fuck danny I mean everyone could fucking tell but you! Yes…I loved you. Loved. I don't love you now, I don't love the Daniel in front of me. The Daniel I love would have never done what you did to me. What did you call me again? Oh, a dirty little secret? That's all I would ever be."

Daniel shakes his head holding back tears, “That’s…look my wording for that was fucking terrible. But I promise what you feel I feel as well. Fuck I lo—.”

“Don’t. Please don’t say it, Daniel. I’ve loved you for so long that I would forgive everything that has happened if you tell me you love me. But that isn’t fair to me. You have been terrible to me since that night. You’ve ignored me like i meant nothing. As if we weren’t friends before that night. I’m sorry but please don’t tell me you love me when your actions have shown the opposite. Good luck this weekend.” Your heart was hurting as you said the words but it was needed. If Daniel said he loved you then you would forgive everything and you can’t do that to yourself.

─────────────────────────

It was media day for the Australian GP and Daniel hadn’t been able to sleep ever since you told him you loved him two days ago. He fucked up and he knew that but he also knew that he does love you.

His actions so far may not be proving that but he now has it set in his mind that he will prove to you how much he loves you.

“So I’m gonna ride in the car while Lewis drives and I ask questions?” You ask Charles who nods placing the helmet on you.

“Why aren’t you doing that? It would make more sense and I could get better content with both of you.” You tell Charles but he just shakes his head.

“No it’ll be fun just trust me. Now go!” He smiles widely shoving you into the car with Lewis already in the car.

You sigh and grab your planner going to the Noah where you had questions ready, “Alright Lewis, you better drive safe I wanna get back in one piece. So where do we—.”

The car takes off quickly and your planner falls to the floor, “Lewis slow down!” You yell at the Brit but when you look over you realize it’s not Lewis driving the car but Daniel.

“Daniel! I…what are—.”

“I love you! I’ve been in love with you for quite some time now. I met you in the Redbull headquarters looking lost on your first day and I knew you would mean something to me. I…I don’t believe in love at first sight but when I first saw you I felt a pull and an instant connection I never felt with anyone else. Our conversation flowed so well and god your smile…your fucking smile made my entire day. It makes me happy every single day of my life seeing that precious smile on your beautiful face. So when I realized I was the reason for the frown on your face and not seeing that smile on your face because of me for a year…I was a fucking idiot. An idiot who has been scared to love because of their own insecurities. I wanted to tell you for so long how I felt, sunshine. But when we were at McLaren I was living a fucking nightmare. A nightmare you helped me survive despite all the trauma they’ve left me and so I thought that confessing my feelings you’d leave me and I don’t know if I could survive not having you in my life.”

His eyes filed with tears still driving at a safe pace knowing you were in the car. His breath shaking at the mention of the team who crushed his confidence, your hand reaches over to his thigh and you give it a squeeze encouraging him to continue.

“But I was also conflicted with being your brother’s best friend. I thought it was could lose our friendship but that’s when I realized if he was my friend he would support us. Which he does…I asked him after dinner the other day what he would think and he says I’m an idiot for ever holding these feelings back. Because I met you first you were my best friend way before he was. You are the love of my life. You…I have to look you in the eyes. Fuck this.” He stops the car and gets out quickly running to your side and helping you out of the car and taking your helmet off along with his.

His hands cup your face, “Danny, there’s people that could be watching.” You whisper softly looking into his brown eyes.

“I don’t care. I’m in love with you. I love you. I love the way your eyes light up when someone is telling you some good news. I love the way your nose scrunches when you laugh. I love the way you cry every time we watch a romcom and the characters admit they’re in love with each other. I love how passionate you are for your friends and family. I love how you marched down into the Mcalren office and gave Zak a piece of your mind after they ended my contract. I love that you love me so deeply you denied working for Red Bull as the social media manager in 2019 because I would be gone the following year. Your eyes. Your smile. Your lips. Your hands. I’m in love with every part of you and more. I want you in my life forever. I want to come home with you and tell you how my day went. I want to share my highs and lows with you. I’m going to love you for the rest of my life whether you choose to have me in your life or not. As long as I’m alive you’ll always be loved by me.” Daniel lets out a deep breath finishing his confession and looking down at you waiting for a response. His heart beating 10 times more than if’s usual rate.

“I…I love you, Daniel. I love you so much it hurts me. I was such an idiot for not saying it sooner. So many wasted years we could have been together. You’re my life, baby. I breathe for you. I live for you. I could stay in your arms forever. You’ve showed me unconditional love as a friend but now I want more. Your smile brings sunshine in my darkest days. I want to love you for the rest of my life as well. Together and forever.” You ignore the cheers from half of the drivers that had all ran down the track to see why the car had stopped but seeing Daniel pulling you closer to him gave them an indication it was all good news.

“Let’s give them a show, sunshine.” Daniel whispers against your lips before pulling you into a deep kiss. Missing his lips after a year you pull him closer if that’s even possible, your hands tugging on his hair.

“If you tug on my hair some more I’m gonna get a boner in front of everyone.” He says against yours lips.

“Danny!” You slap his chest, pulling away from him only for him to lift you up and wrap your legs around him.

“Fucking hell mate took you guys long enough to finally admit your feelings.” Max says walking up to the two of you.

“Shut it, Maximilian.” You glare at him before smiling over at Charles and Lewis who were walking over to you with the biggest grins on their faces.

“Oh I’m going to give you guys do the most annoying challenges for the socials next week. How dare you set me up?” You get off Daniel to walk over to them, Daniel stays attached to you though.

The two Ferrari drivers shrug, “He called me last night to find out what our relationship was before he told me the plan he had to confess his feelings. I had to laugh when he thought we were dating.” Lewis chuckles.

You join him and look at Daniel, “Come on baby, you really thought me and Lewis were together? I smiled at his name the other night because the same night he had called me before dinner saying he got stuck in the car…turns out Charles had his keys and kept locking the door on him so he couldn’t get out. But it’s cute you were jealous.” You pinch his cheeks.

“I’m so getting you back for that.” Lewis glares at Charles who decides this was his best chance to run off.

Daniel smiles down at you, “I love you.”

You kiss him softly, “I love you, always.”

─────────────────────────

[wroetominter]

Come back, be here - George Clarke

In which Y/n and George are friends, who live an ocean away and can’t stand the distance.

Pairing: George X Femreader

Warnings: none, flufffff

Cool breeze whipped my hair around as I walked down the streets of New York on my way to the shop on the corner. The January air was crisp and cool, just how I liked it. I had been living in New York since starting my YouTube career a few years back. It was a great city, with many opportunities for career development - usually. I had fallen into the UK YouTube scene quickly, which made my American roots a bit more difficult in my career.

Luckily for me, a lot of my friends loved the city and would frequently visit. Recently George, Max, and Andrew had visited during a brand trip they had been on.

———

"Max! That is so not how that happened!" I yelled at him from across the table.

"That is most certainly how it happened, I remember it clearly!" Everyone at the table erupted in laughter. Max had told a story about me from one of my more recent trips to London. We had been on a night out and I allegedly stood up on the bench we were at in the club and started dancing above everyone, singing at the top of my lungs.

A blush crept to my cheeks, looking at George sat next to me, hoping he would save me from this embarrassment. "Sorry love, that is what happened." I sighed, knowing I could trust his word as he was the sober one that night.

"Well, at least I kept my clothes on." I laughed.

During this all too short trip, we had visited all of the tourist destinations together. The Met, Rockefeller, and a ton of different restaurants and bars.

When it came time to leave, I stood in my apartment with George. Max and Andrew had an earlier flight, and had left a few hours ago.

"I don't want you to leave" I pouted at him. He smile down at me, pulling me closer for a hug.

"I'll be back before you know it, or you'll be in London I'm sure." We pulled back, I still held onto his arms looking up at him.

"I'm going to book a flight now. It sucks being so far away from all of you guys."

"You could always move to London." He raised his eyebrows.

"I could, if I can manage a work visa somehow..." I trailed off, trying to think of how to logistically do this.

"You'll figure it out. Until then, I unfortunately do have to go home." I pouted once again, wrapping my arms around his waist and hugging him tightly.

"I'll miss you." I said softly into his sweater.

He hugged me back tightly, swaying us together. "I'll miss you too, I'll call you when it's morning for you." I shook my head.

"Call me when you land." I said pulling back from his embrace and leaning against my counter.

"Y/n, it'll be 4 in the morning your time when I land." He explained.

"I don't care, call me anyway." He laughed it off, shrugging his jacket on and pulling the handle of his suitcase up. I walked to the door with him, sadly watching as he left. "Bye George, see you soon!" I said. He waved to me as he left, elevator closing down the hall. I felt sad closing the door to my apartment, sitting myself down on the couch.

I always felt a pang in my chest when I left my friends. They had become such a pivotal part of my life in recent months. I sat with my laptop in my lap, browsing the internet trying to research moving to the UK as an American. I sighed, not finding much helpful information. I figured I should just sleep it off and worry about it later, setting my laptop on the table I pulled the blanket over my body and drifted to sleep.

I woke to the sound of my phone ringing on the coffee table, reaching over instantly and seeing George's name.

"Hello!" I answered, trying to be as chipper as I could seeing as I had just woken up.

"I told you I would wake you up." He said laughing. I looked over to the clock to find it was now half 3 in the morning. George had left nearly 10 hours ago at this point.

"It's fine, I wanted you to. How was your flight?" He sighed through the phone.

"Awful to be honest. I miss you." The tone of his voice became really serious with those words.

It wasn't exactly a secret I had become closer to George than the rest of the group. We had so much in common that everything just came easily with him. I had myself fully convinced if there wasn't an entire ocean between us we would likely be dating at this point.

"I know Georgie, I miss you too... I was actually looking into moving to London the second you left my apartment." I admitted.

"I looked into it on flight as well. I talked with my manager and she mentioned that if you're signed with a company abroad you can usually get a work visa for that country. She said she's done it a few times before for some of her American talents." My heart nearly skipped a beat. He had been thinking about it too.

"Aw, you asked for me?"

"Of course. Don't you realize I want to see you more often? Ideally daily if I can". Oh. He was fully flirting with me now. Borderline admitting feelings for me.

"Are you sure you could handle seeing me every day? I fear you would really see how annoying I am at that point" I laughed, part of me knowing it was true.

"You could never annoy me darling. If anything I'm sure my dry jokes would send you running eventually." Darling. Damn, that one hit me right in the chest. "I have to run though, about to get in the uber home. I'll talk to you later, yeah?"

"Of course, I'll call you. Bye bye Georgie" I said.

"Bye love, see you soon."

After we had hung up the phone I flopped onto my back on the couch, feeling my chest swelling with emotion. I want to see him so badly.

———

I had been hiding this from nearly everyone I knew for months. It was eating me alive every second of every day. After George told me his manager had helped people get work visas in the UK, I knew what I had to do.

I had secretly reached out to her, inquiring about how I was to go about this. I urged to her the importance of keeping this a secret from everyone. I wanted to keep it hidden in case something didn't work, I didn't want to get anyone's hopes up.

It had been a whirlwind of emotions, between getting myself signed to their talent management, to the intense amount of paperwork that came with it. I had made it work, and finally received my authorization to move with a work visa.

I coordinated with an estate agent to secure an apartment right away. Having been to London many times, I had already picked out a few areas of the city I wanted to live in. Luckily in this virtual world, I was able to do everything remotely, from my tour to the application process.

Taking a final look around my empty apartment I locked the door, heading to the office to turn in my keys.

I rolled my suitcase behind me, ready to leave my life in New York behind.

———

After my long flight, all I wanted to do was see my new place. I still hadn't told anyone I was in the country, let alone moving there. I had been dodging FaceTime calls from George for the last few days, knowing if I saw his face or heard his voice I would crumble and give in telling him everything.

After collecting my keys for my new apartment, I took a look around at all of the boxes I had shipped here over the last few weeks. It was basically my entire New York apartment, just in boxes.

Now to put my plan into action to tell everyone. I started by unpacking a few essentials, taking a shower and freshening my outfit. I took a selfie in my living room with all of my boxes, making sure that the background was clear in the window, showing off my London city view. After making sure I had everything packed into my crossbody, I locked my door and made my way to George's flat.

I realized that I had to tell someone that I was there, to be able to get into the building. I decided Arthur Hill would be my safest bet. I sent him a text message asking him to let me into the building, as I was there to surprise George. He obliged quickly, and I was granted access to their building.

I felt my nerves building as I reached the door to their flat.

Wiping my clammy hands on my jeans, I knocked on the door. Secretly hoping that George wouldn't answer so I could play out the surprise, and calm my nerves a bit.

Luckily for me, Chris answered the door. "Y/n! What are you doing here?" He exclaimed, immediately pulling me in for a hug.

"Surprise visit! How are you?" He replied with the normal pleasantries, letting me know he had been well. "Is George home?"  I asked him.

"Yes, he's in his room. Let yourself in. Do you want me to film?" He asked. I instantly handed over my phone and nodded.

Waiting for his queue, I walked down the short hallway to George's room, silently turning the knob and opening the door. His back was to me at his desk, headphones in, blocking out sound.

"Hey stranger" I said, immediately pulling his attention from his computer. His eyes lit up and he jumped to his feet, tossing his headphones on the desk and coming to meet me, instantly wrapping his arms around my waist and picking me up in a tight hug, his face nuzzling into my neck.

"How did you know I needed to see you today?" He said softly, his hand stroking my hair softly.

"Just had a feeling I guess." I replied.

Chris stopped the video "you guys are too cute." He handed me back my phone and I thanked him. He excused himself and I directed my attention back to George who hadn't removed his arms from my waist since we had hugged.

"Is this why you've been dodging my calls?" He joked, smirking at me.

"It may have been." I retorted.

I thought for a minute about how to tell him I was here to stay. I considered just showing him the photo but it didn't feel grand enough considering I had just moved across the ocean, essentially for him.

"Take a walk with me?" I asked him.

"Erm, sure?" He finally pulled away, eliciting a pout from me as he grabbed a sweater, pulling it over his body.

We walked together, making the short trip between his flat and mine. He continues to ask me where we were going, and I continued to assure him he would see shortly. I could tell he was frustrated with the answer, but I knew it would be worth it soon enough.

We came to my new door, and he still didn’t seem to be understanding. I could almost visibly see the gears turning in his head as I reached out to unlock the door and stepped in.

He followed suit slowly, looking around the room. He recognized my handwriting on the various moving boxes labeled around the room.

He turned to face me “is this a prank?” He asked me, searching around the room with his eyes, likely looking for a hidden camera.

I shook my head, smiling at him. “Not a prank. I’m here to stay.” A grin broke out on his face and he wrapped me in his arms once again. I let out a sigh, feeling content snuggled into him. The soft smell of cologne lingering on the sweater he was wearing.

Taking me by surprise, his hands brought themselves to my face, cupping each cheek and he pressed his lips to mine in a kiss. I kissed him back, finding myself smiling into the kiss. He pulled back, keeping his forehead pressed to mine.

“You have no idea how long I have been waiting to kiss you.” He admitted. I leaned in, kissing him again, my arms tightening around him as I deepened the kiss.

“I think I have a pretty good idea.” I smiled at him.

London was going to be very good for me.

[munsonluhvr]

NOT SO WELL HIDDEN SECRET

steddie x reader fic, sfw! when dustin catches you kissing Eddie, when you're supposed to be in a relationship with Steve, the three of you are forced to tell your friend the truth about your secret poly relationship. word count - 2.4k

It had been going so well. Somehow, you, Steve and Eddie managed to keep your throuple relationship a secret, hiding it from all of Hawkins and your friends. Through the several months since you and Steve, who have been dating for several years, added Eddie to your relationship, you kept it between the three of you, meeting up in the dark of the night. Steve’s parents constantly being gone all the time and Eddie’s uncle working at night made the perfect environment to foster your new relationship dynamic. There had only been one instance where you were sure your relationship had been exposed; it was only a matter of time really. 

You sat at Benny’s Burgers with Steve, Eddie, and Dustin Henderson; the unknowing fourth wheel. It was quiet at Benny’s, the brutal murder of the owner causing people to abandoned the once popular spot, but you and your friends enjoyed the quietness of the restaurant, feeling as if you had rented out the place just for you to go. 

Dustin had laughed so hard at a joke Eddie had made that he spit out his soda that he sipped through the red and white stripped straw. You, Eddie, and Steve laughed in response, your cheeks starting to burn from smiling so hard. “It’s been so long since we’ve all gone out together,” Dustin says through his laughs. “It’s been a long time since I’ve hung out with any of you, actually.” 

“Life gets busy, Henderson.” Steve says, his body tensing. Steve already knew where the conversation was headed. 

Dustin scoffs, placing his cup on the tabletop. “You’re telling me. You three are busy all the time. Whenever Eddie is busy, so is y/n and Steve; whenever y/n is busy, so is Eddie and Steve; whenever Steve is busy, so is y/n and Eddie,” Dustin says almost to himself. “Are you guys hanging without me?” 

You look down at the burger that’s wrapped in its paper that rests in your lap, your stomach twinging. You hated to lie to your friends, especially to Dustin. Your friendship meant with him meant something to you and you knew for a fact that Steve and Eddie felt strongly about Dustin, wanting to always be there for him and protect him. The four of you had forged a special relationship, and it helped that Mike and Eleven, Lucas and Max were in their own worlds in relationships. Now, you , Steve and Eddie had, in some way, left Dustin to fend for himself. 

You shook your head. “I’ve just been really busy with school committee and debate.” 

Eddie follows your lead. “My uncle has had me strapped to the house to help him with some repairs; it’s like one thing after another.” 

You, Eddie, and Dustin look to Steve to hear his excuse. Steve’s eyes grow wide. “Yeah, I’ve been picking more shifts up at work at Scoops Ahoy and Robin has been taking up all my time bitching about some girl she likes..” Steve says, looking to you for approval. 

Dustin hums, biting into his burger. “Excuses,” Dustin mumbles, shaking his head. Across the table, Steve shifts uncomfortably and beside you, Eddie shakes his head. The guilt riddled all three of you. 

You look at Dustin, trying to be sympathetic towards his feelings. Dustin’s face, however, clearly expresses his suspicion but you know your little lies buy you a little more time for you, Steve, and Eddie to pull together an explanation for your secret relationship. 

Later that night, back in Steve’s grand living room, the three of you experience your first argument. 

“I didn’t like lying to him,” Eddie exclaims, laying against the arm of Steve’s family couch. You look at Eddie from where you sit on the other end of the couch. “None of us did, Eddie. You think Steve and I wanted to lie to Dustin?” 

Steve paces across his living room, his hands planted on his hips. “We just have to figure out how to introduce our relationship to people, it’s been several months, and this relationship isn’t ending anytime soon.” Steve says but realizes his assumption. “Wait- right? This relationship isn’t ending anytime soon?”

You nod, rolling your eyes, and Eddie glances at Steve, an annoyed look on his face. “No, it’s not ending anytime soon,” You and Eddie say at the same time, sharing a glance.

“Okay, then we have to do it soon, everybody should know.” Steve says, standing in one spot, his arms crossed.  “It’s about time.”

You sigh, rubbing your forehead. “It’s just complicated, our relationship is still niche, its the 80s, not many people will understand it.” 

Eddie grunts, sitting upright. “Not much else will impact my reputation, I’m already Eddie ‘the freak’ Munson.” 

You place your hand on Eddie’s knee. “We’ll figure it out, overtime, let’s just try to avoid Dustin's questions about our absence, like change the subject, so we don’t have to lie to him.” 

Steve and Eddie hum in response, easing their shoulders down. Promising to figure out how to reveal your relationship to Hawkins brought some hope; it’d be nice to not have to meet at night, hiding behind Eddie and Steve’s front doors. As it has been said before – it was only a matter of time. 

Dustin watches from the front of Hawkins High as Steve’s station wagon pulls into the parking lot, you in the passenger seat. Initially, Dustin was waiting for Lucas to get to school, but he becomes entranced by watching you and Steve that he no longer scans the parking lot in search of his friend. 

Dustin watches as you open the passenger door to Steve’s car, leaning through the open window to place a long, deep kiss on Steve’s mouth; Steve’s uniform giving away that he’s clearly headed to work a shift at Scoops Ahoy, dropping you off at school as a courtesy. “Gross,” Dustin mumbles, watching you and Steve’s mouths entangle with each other. Dustin watches Steve mumble ‘I’ll pick you up after school’ against your lips. Dustin remembers when Steve would pick him up after school, taking him wherever he wanted to go. 

 A car behind Steve honks, pulling you and Steve apart. You wave to Steve, looking over your shoulder as you walk into the school. As Steve pulls away from the school, and away from you, Lucas slides up to Dustin, instantly rambling about how Max is mad at him for the second time that week. 

It’s early, school not beginning for thirty more minutes, but you had been dropped off at school early, hoping to say hello to Eddie before his early Hellfire meeting and before the school day starts. If you had been more thoughtful, you would have realized that a Hellfire meeting needs Hellfire members, and that two of them were trailing behind you in the hallway, headed to the same classroom. 

You reach the classroom where the Hellfire club meets, slipping in the room without looking over your shoulder. Dustin frowns noticing you slip into the classroom, ignoring Lucas who still rambles beside him. “They do hang out without me,” Dustin thinks to himself, a flame of anger sparking inside him. 

“I’m going to the bathroom before the meeting starts” Lucas says, breaking off from Dustin suddenly. Dustin ignores Lucas, opening the door to crack it open. Dustin peers in, about to yell, make a big deal about how all three of you sat and Benny’s and lied to his face, but he’s stopped by what he sees. Your arms are thrown around Eddie’s neck, your bodies pressed together. Eddie’s arms are wrapped around your waist, one of his hands tucked into your pants pockets.

Dustin’s jaw slacks, not believing what his eyes are seeing. You lean on your tip toes, pushing your lips into Eddie’s, his mouth happily obliging to be pressed against yours. Dustin continues to watch,  seeing how you and Eddie’s mouth pull away, Eddie leaning down to whisper something into your ear that makes you laugh, your cheeks tinting pink. 

Dustin feels conflicted, but most of all he has hatred towards you and Eddie. Dustin knows that Eddie knows you and Steve are in a relationship, you had been for a year before Eddie joined the friend group – How could Eddie help you cheat on Steve? Dustin feels sick, letting the door close shut gently. He leans against the tiled wall, his mind racing with too many thoughts. 

Seconds later, you push the door open, entering back into the hallway. You notice Dustin leaning against the wall, his face contorted painfully. Your heart beats rapidly; you had totally forgot that Dustin, or any of the other Hellfire members would be headed to the room at the same time. 

“Dustin?” you say, watching as his eyes flick to you. “Are you okay,? You look sick.” 

Dustin clears his throat, pushing himself off the wall. His eyes flick across the hallway, looking anywhere but at you. “Yeah, a little. Were you visiting Eddie before school starts?” 

You frown, nodding as you tilt your head to the side. “Yeah, I brought him lunch, you know how he always forgets to pack it himself. Are you sure you’re okay?”

Dustin nods, “Uh-huh.” 

You reach out, pinching his face between your fingers. “If you start to feel unwell, go to the nurse.” And you walk off, trying to act calm as you sense Dustin may be catching on. 

By the end of the day, Dustin is fuming. The eight hours in school proving to be a toxic environment for thoughts to brew. It had been almost impossible for Dustin to look at Eddie for the entire Hellfire meeting, Lucas noticing and asking him if he was all right. Eddie, too, noticed, wrapping his arm around Dustin sympathetically as he ushered the Hellfire members out of the classroom. At lunch, Dustin almost threw up watching you and Eddie laugh across the lunch table, jokes flying between you two with ease. How dare you flirt so casually, Dustin thinks, and Steve isn’t even here to put a stop to it. 

Dustin had made himself sick, thinking about different scenarios on how he would have to tell Steve what he saw in the Hellfire meeting room, it would surely break Steve’s heart and break up the small group that you, Eddie, Dustin, and Steve had created. While Dustin’s other friends had been pairing up, becoming too busy to spend time with Dustin, you, Steve, and Eddie, Dustin’s older friends, had taken him in, providing him a safe refuge. Now you and Eddie had ruined it all, now Dustin would have to ruin it too; it would all be done once he told Steve. 

When Dustin walks out of Hawkins High after school has concluded, he sees Steve already parked in front of the school, leaning up against his car as he talks to several kids who Dustin knew were Steve’s friends while he went to school at Hawkins. Though Steve had graduated, he would always be ‘King Steve.’ 

“Steve,” Dustin says, approaching Steve and the other kids that crowd around Steve’s car. “I need to talk to you. It’s important.” Steve frowns, but nods, saying goodbye to the few that he had been talking to while waiting for you to come out of school. 

“What’s up, Henderson? You don’t look too good.” Steve says, placing a hand on Dustin’s shoulder. 

“I saw something bad today and I’m afraid to tell you because you’re going to be really upset, especially at y/n and Eddie, and it’s going to ruin everything-“ Dustin rambles, his voice cracking. 

“Woah, woah,” Steve says, interrupting Dustin. “What did you see?” 

“I saw Eddie and y/n kiss in the Hellfire meeting room, this morning.” Dustin says, his eyes wide like saucers. 

Steve sighs, looking up and over Dustin. In his eyesight, Steve sees you and Eddie standing against the outside of the high school, talking to one of your debate friends. “Come with me,”  Steve says grabbing ahold of Dustin’s forearms. Dustin squeals, reluctantly following Steve across the parking lot. 

“Excuse us,” Steve says to your friend once he and Dustin approach where you and Eddie were standing. Steve grabs your forearm, pulling both you and Dustin to the side of the school, hidden by the trees that line the side of the building. Eddie follows behind you three, rubbing the back of his neck with his palm. 

“Go,” Steve says to Dustin. “Tell y/n and Eddie what you saw this morning.” 

Dustin narrows his eyes at you and Eddie, his arms crossing against his chest. “I saw you two making out, almost having sex if I do say so myself.” Your jaw slacks, glancing at Eddie. 

“We were not-“ You start to object but you know it’s no use. You sigh. “Dustin we have to tell you something.” 

You glance at Eddie, then Steve, both look at you, gesturing towards your young friend. You sigh once more. “We’re in a relationship. All of us. Eddie, Steve, and I are dating; it’s called a throuple or polyamory.” At first, Dustin says nothing, his eyes pinging from you, to Steve, to Eddie. 

Dustin’s jaw slacks, the realization kicking in. 

“A relationship? You’re gay?” Dustin says to Steve and Eddie. Both Steve and Eddie mumble nonsense. “I think it’s called bisexual; I don’t know what we are honestly.” Steve says, shaking his head, using his arms while talking.

“So,” Dustin says, his eyes still flicking to the three of you. “You know that Eddie and y/n kiss? Do you three have sex together?” Dustin exclaims, his eyes growing bigger and bigger. With a groan, Eddie buries his face into his hands, shaking his head. 

“Dustin,” you interject, shaking your head. “That is not the point. The point is that Steve knows that Eddie and I kiss and hangout with each other when he isn’t there and he’s okay with it. And that our relationship is something we’ve hidden from you and we’re sorry – it’s still new and we don’t know how everyone will react when we are more open about whatever this is between the three of us.” 

“So, nobody else knows?” Dustin asks, his arms unraveling from in front of him. 

“Nobody, just you. Can we keep it a secret until we figure out how to tell the others?” You ask, hoping Dustin will comply. “You’ll tell them all eventually, right?” Dustin asks. 

Steve nods. “Of course, Henderson.” 

Dustin hesitates, still confused by the whiplash of thinking you were cheating on Steve with Eddie to learning that Steve knows and you three are in a relationship with each other. Finally, Dustin nods. “Okay,” Dustin asks, a little relief hitting him that he still has his friend group. “But can we go back to hanging out with each other all the time?” 

[ladykailitha]

Icarus Part 25

Damn. I actually hate seeing that number up there. Because that means it's done. Eight months, twenty-five chapters, 52895 words, and one hell of a ride.

I'll start posting the sequel on Tuesday, and will post Sundays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays until it's done. I hope to get it done before October's end. But that's not looking likely at the moment.

But once it's done, I will post the epilogue. This was actually written first and was a way for me to flesh out the band members. Then I just wanted to dive right in to writing the full story. A link to the original idea here.

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 Part 7 Part 8 Part 9 Part 10 Part 11 Part 12 Part 13 Part 14 Part 15 Part 16 Part 17 Part 18 Part 19 Part 20 Part 21 Part 22 Part 23 Part 24

~

The rest of the American tour while it had its ups and downs was pretty much was uneventful. When Steve got back to Cali, he got some actual therapy from someone Gareth’s therapist, Dr. Sam Owens recommended to him. To not only deal with the abandonment issues left by his parents and Nancy but to help deal with the sudden onslaught of fame.

It was going well.

It was the therapist that had strongly recommended going on the vacation with his two best friends. That really helped put his life in perspective.

They were out celebrating Gareth’s one year of being sober and everyone had been invited. Jeff, Brian, and Eddie, of course. Even Vickie made it out. Dustin, Will, Mike, Max, Lucas, Ellie, Hopper, Robin, all the members of The Fallen, sans persona. Gareth had really become friends with all of them, yes even Steve. Gareth and Shane became really close. It was nice to see.

“Cheers!” Jeff said holding up their glasses of sparkling apple cider that they had all brought to share.

“Cheers!” the rest of them cried, clinking their glasses together.

They had rented out a nice surf and turf restaurant for the occasion and everyone was catching up. The owner was a friend of Jonathan’s, Argyle Rivera. He had gotten his start with a pizza food truck and it just exploded.

“So what did you and Mike decide to do?” Steve asked when there was a lull in the conversation. “I know you two weren’t sure the last time I was in Hawkins.”

Mike and Will shared a bashful look before Mike said, “I wrote a children’s book and Will illustrated it. We sent it out to a couple of different publishers so we’re just waiting to hear back.”

“That’s amazing!” Dustin cried. “You guys are going to be awesome.”

“Yeah,” Will said brightly. “I finally convinced Jonathan into going in to photography at the local community collage and he’s doing really well.”

“Nancy is going to school, too,” Mike said quietly, knowing how most of the group felt about his sister.

Eddie raised his eyebrows. “Yeah? What is the once great Nancy Wheeler going to be studying?”

Mike perked up a little that someone had taken a interest in what he said. “She’s actually going into journalism. Especially to be a war corespondent. After everything rightfully fell apart after the incident with The Fallen and Corroded Coffin, she took a hard look at her life and decided she hated the person she had become. So she’s been in therapy and has gotten into her dream school of Emerson.”

“That’s good,” Steve said quietly. Robin gave his a hand gentle squeeze and he returned it with a grateful smile.

“What are doing next, Ellie?” Brian asked. “Designing more epic costumes for the rich and famous? I saw that dress you designed for Lupita Nyong’o for the premier of her new movie. That was a gorgeous shade of purple.”

Ellie’s face dimpled in the force of her wide, happy smile. “Something like that. I’m just glad the dress turned out so well. I’ll be heading back to New York, to stay this time. I got a job at a fashion house that I’m really excited for.”

“What about you and Dusty?” Lucas asked, tilting his head. “I thought things were going great.”

Both Dustin and Ellie share a blushing smile.

“We’re still together,” Dustin replied. “I’ll be in Boston and she’ll be in New York. We’ll going to try and make it work.”

Max nodded. “Long distance can suck, but if the other person is worth it you can make it work.” She nudged Lucas’s shoulder and he grinned back.

“So you didn’t get traded to Lakers like you wanted?” Gareth asked Lucas.

He shook his head. “Maybe next year. But in the mean time, Max has a couple interviews at Tony Hawk’s video game company as a mo-cap performer for the female characters in his games.”

Everyone oohed and ahhed and congratulated her.

“I don’t have the job yet,” she muttered, but happily soaked up the attention anyway.

Dustin turned to Steve and Robin. “When are you two going to do something with your lives?”

Eddie winced and Steve and Robin didn’t even have to glance at each other to be suddenly on the same wavelength of doom.

If this was an anime you would have have seen the dark waves behind their heads.

“We make good money doing what we do,” Robin said darkly. “Yeah, it’s a bit jack of all trades, but it’s fun. We’re never stuck doing the same thing. We get travel all over the world. We get to meet famous people and all the perks of fame with the drawbacks of having our privacy invaded on the regular.”

“Jack of all trades, but master of none,” Dustin said to be pedantic. “Don’t you guys want to do something specific, like a teacher or a doctor?”

Robin snorted. “No.”

Chrissy hand covered hers, and Robin gave her a squeeze back. She was fine, just annoyed.

“Yeah,” Steve said. “And I don’t why being a jack of all trades is bad thing. Focusing on one thing is great for the people who can do it, but I love the different jobs. Roadie one tour, PA another, then EMT the next. It’s great.”

Dustin frowned, stabbing his plate with his fork.

“My therapist says people are like plants,” Gareth said, “some people are trees and they grow up slowly. Some are bamboo and in the right environment shoot up super fast. But some people are like periwinkle and grow out sideways. Robin and Steve are like that. It’s still growth, just not the growth you want them to have.”

“I guess,” he huffed. He looked up at Steve. “Are you happy doing what you do?”

Steve and Eddie shared a glance. “Yes, for all its faults, I am very happy.”

He nodded and they went back to celebrating Gareth’s year of sobriety. But under the cover of the loud celebration and raucous laughter, Vickie and Simon chatted quietly to themselves.

~

Steve and Eddie lay on the bed in Eddie’s mansion curled up together after sex.

“What’s wrong?” Eddie asked Steve when he had curled up under his chin and held on tight.

“We were out celebrating,” he murmured, “and I couldn’t even tell them we were in a relationship.”

“Most of the people there already knew, babe,” Eddie murmured. But when Steve didn’t say anything it clicked. “You wanted to tell the kids. Especially after the bomb Mike dropped about Nancy moving on.”

Steve nodded.

Eddie scooted down the bed to look Steve in the eye. “Whatever you do or don’t tell them is entirely up to you I don’t care either way.”

“You don’t care that we’ll never get to go on dates or be seen holding hands or kissing?” Steve asked seriously.

Eddie shook his head. “Do you want to know why?”

“I guess,” Steve said with a half shrug.

“Because when I first got into the music business,” Eddie murmured, “I slept with anyone who would give a passing fancy.”

Steve looked up at him in confusion. “But I thought you already had a crush on me then?”

“I did,” Eddie confirmed. “But here’s the thing, sweetheart, do you know who’s partners get torn apart the most in celebrity relationships?”

Steve shook his head.

“Those with non-famous partners,” Eddie said. “If your partner is anything other than a C or B list celebrity when you’re an A-list, you get called out for ‘slumming it’ and their partners get called all sorts of nasty names, but especially ‘gold digger’. Which is the last thing I wanted for you.”

“Is that why you were okay with being with after you found out I was secretly famous?”

Eddie rose up and tackled Steve into the pillows. “You listen close, Steve Harrington. That was absolutely not why. I didn’t even show up with the flowers intending on confessing anything other than knowing your secret. It was like I suddenly saw all the facets of the diamond I’d been admiring for years and realizing any reason I had to not put myself forward were stupid.”

Steve blinked up at him in awe. “Oh.”

“Yeah, baby, ‘oh’,” Eddie huffed. “Continuing to protect you from the shame and humiliation of the slings and arrows of the media is my mission in life, okay? And if you ever decide to come out, either as bisexual as Steve or as Steve as Abbadon, I will be there for you. One hundred percent.”

Steve’s eyes welled up and he nodded. “Okay.” His lips quivered. “I love you so much. I just want you to be happy.”

Eddie kissed him fiercely. “I know you do and you make me very happy. The Fallen, Abbadon, being closeted? All that? That’s just a part of you that I love.” He bounced onto the bed. “In fact...”

He grabbed his phone and started going through it. “Eureka!” He turned the phone around to a paint of a night, shielding a maiden from the sun and a large crowd of people. This is us, babe. I am the knight and you are my maiden. I won’t get tired, or upset that you need protecting.”

Steve blushed. He sat up and pulled up his knees to his chest. “When we first started coming up with names for us, we didn’t originally all have the same letter.”

Eddie raised his eyebrows. “Wait, really?”

Steve shook his head. “Spence was just Death. Shane was always Astraeus. Simon was struggling with finding a name that fit.”

“And did you have your name picked out?” Eddie asked gently, knowing where this was going.

He pursed his lips and nodded. “I didn’t think we’d make it this far. I really thought we would have crashed and burned by now.” He closed his eyes and hung his head. “Part of the myth with Icarus and the wax wings that people forget was that he was flying all over the place. That if he flied straight and true like his father suggested, he would have survived. But he flew too close to the seas as well as the sun.”

Steve sighed and then looked over at Eddie. “And that’s what I thought I was doing with the band. Flying too low with the fact that we were preps wanting to break into the metal scene and then flying too high with the personas and masks. I was going to not only wreck my life but the lives of people I cared about.”

He let out a low shuddering breath. “That maybe I should have listened to my father. To go to college, to get a degree in business, to fly straight.”

“So what changed your mind?” Eddie asked. “Other than Shane wanting everyone to have all the same letter as a middle finger to everyone trying to guess your identities, I guess.”

Steve let out a watery chuckle. “Shane reminded me of the beginning of Icarus’s story. That he had grown up in the labyrinth, never seeing the sky. How could his father had not seen that of course Icarus was going to play the second they were out? That, yes they were fleeing for their lives, but this was the first time his son had seen the sun, felt the breeze on his face and touched the waves on the sea.”

“But if Daedalus had played with Icarus instead of yelling at him, his father would have been able to keep him from getting too close to the things that would have harmed him,” Steve finished. “That he would have been there to catch his son when he began to fall.”

“So what was the lesson?” Eddie prompted.

“I wasn’t Icarus,” Steve said. “I was always free, I might have fallen from grace according to my parents, but that like God in the Christian story, they were cruel and cast me out because what they wanted for me wasn’t what I wanted.”

Eddie smiled. “So you became Abbadon instead. The one that fell but God still relied on to destroy the wicked. The opposite of Steve Harrington. The boy that rose up like a phoenix from the ashes to be better than his parents dreamed.”

Steve nodded. “Yeah. Icarus was the first to fall mythos wise, but Abbadon was the one people fear coming back.”

Eddie pulled him close. “Well, you’re my angel, now. Fallen or not, I’m not giving you up for anything.”

Steve kissed him softly. “I’m putting a lot of trust you, Munson. Don’t fuck this up.”

Eddie laughed and kissed him fiercely. Then he proceeded to show Steve all the ways loved him.

Steve knew he might always have doubts and fears, but now he had the support system he always needed.

It was more than past time to fly and in Eddie’s arms there was no limit to how high he could go now.

And he wouldn’t want it any other way.

~

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[supernovafics]

Hi I was wondering if you could do a next part for just a feeling where reader does let it show that she doesn't feel comfortable about vanessa and steve and that she's jealous and you could add whatever else you'd like but also if you could include steve canceling the date with Vanessa (him not gonna see her again/anymore)

𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐅𝐈𝐑𝐒𝐓 𝐅𝐀𝐋𝐋 𝐎𝐅 𝐒𝐍𝐎𝐖

"i'll be there for you" universe masterlist

pairing: bestfriend!roommate!steve harrington x fem!reader

word count: 3.3k words

warnings: explicit language, (slightly)jealous!reader, smoking weed (reader and steve), some angst

summary: in which the kids stay over at your and steve’s apartment for the night. when it’s long after midnight and the kids are asleep in the living room, you find steve sitting out on the fire escape. a late night conversation full of honesty ensues, and it manages to bring up more questions than answers

author's note: thank uu for the request !! i was already in the middle of working on this when i got it lol so some stuff is a lil different. hope you enjoy though🫶🏾

general note: everything in this universe/series can be read as standalone oneshots but to understand the full “lore” it would prob be best to read the other stuff too<333

.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。. .・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.

Winter 1985

Somehow in the five months of you and Steve living in your apartment, a sort of “tradition” quickly managed to form where once a month the kids would stay over for a night. 

They’d set up camp in the living room; Max and El always got the couch, while the boys spread out their sleeping bags on the floor.

It was a proper sleepover, and why it was happening at your apartment instead of at any of their homes still confused you and Steve a little, but neither of you really minded; you both really enjoyed spending time with the group of teens.  

Tonight was a little different, though. While you and the kids were playing a particularly heated game of Uno circled around the coffee table, Steve was out on a date. With Vanessa.

It was only their third date, but those always felt pretty defining to you, and at this point you were just waiting for him to tell you that things were serious with her, or getting there.

Steve hadn’t really talked about her that much to you, and you couldn’t help but wonder if that was more your fault or his. You definitely hadn’t been as adamant with asking questions about how things were going as you’d been with other girls he had gone on dates with. 

Vanessa was in one of your classes and over the last few weeks she told you more than enough about her and Steve, even though you never asked; how great their first date getting dinner at some restaurant had gone, their second date to the movies, and their long phone conversations that would happen practically every other night. 

You did not need to hear all of that from him too.

But still, you expected him to tell you something about what was going on with him and her. 

If you were going to solely take Vanessa’s words for how things were going, which you kind of were since she was the only one you heard anything from, you would believe that everything was sunshine and daisies between them, and it was only a matter of time before he was telling you that he had a girlfriend.

The last time the two of you had a conversation like that was when he told you about Nancy. It was only two years ago, but it somehow felt like so much longer. That conversation— which happened one night at Steve’s house; his parents were gone like usual and yours were too busy to ever notice you sneaking out and biking twenty minutes to his house almost every night— went perfectly fine because you were getting into your own relationship then too, so the timing felt ideal to say the least. 

If only things could be that serendipitous this time around.

Because you weren’t sure you’d be as excited when he told you now. Not when you could barely remember the last time you went on a good date, and you hadn’t even managed to find anyone to simply have a crush on lately. 

Other than the fact that you had hated most of your classes this semester, you were glad that it had finally ended yesterday because it also meant that you’d, hopefully, see completely new people in your classes next year.

If Steve was about to get into something serious, maybe you could too. 

It still didn’t fully make sense to you why you felt so affected by it this time around; why you were still feeling jealous for reasons that felt simultaneously stupid and completely valid.

You figured that ultimately you just didn’t want things to change. 

“Your turn,” Dustin said, bumping your arm and pulling you out of your thoughts.

“Oh, my bad,” You responded as you placed down a card and then El went. 

“What were you thinking about?” Lucas asked.

“Um, nothing, really.” You shrugged. “Just school stuff.”

“How is college?” Will asked. “I think you’re the only person we know that’s in it right now.”

You thought about your answer for a moment. “In order to make sure you guys stay inspired and excited to go to college in four years, I will respectfully decline to answer that question.”

Max laughed a bit. “So, what you're saying is, it sucks.”

“Technically, I didn’t explicitly say that. So none of your parents can hate me or call me a shitty influence,” You responded. “Anyway, though, are you guys hungry? I should probably order the pizza now.”

“Great subject change,” Mike said with a laugh.

“Thank you,” You smiled as you got up from your spot on the arm of the couch, which had been entirely uncomfortable but worth it so that the kids were comfortable. “You guys can skip my turn for now. And I will be taking my cards with me because I don’t trust any of you to not look at them while I’m gone.” 

“Good choice,” You heard Dustin say as you walked toward the phone in the kitchen.

You ordered three pizzas— a pepperoni, cheese, and one that was half of each— from the place that you and Steve would always go to that was only five minutes away. You were saying a quick, “Got it, thanks,” to the guy on the other end of the line who had just told you that the pizza should be delivered in about thirty minutes, when the squeaky front door opened and in walked Steve. The kids’ chorus of Hi’s and Hey’s were immediate and Steve smiled back at them and said a quick “Hi” of his own before heading into his room. 

That very short interaction gave you no indication on how the date went; if Steve seemd happier than when he had left earlier that evening or if he was the same. But, you wanted to know what happened tonight. You felt like you needed to know, and surprisingly you actually wanted to ask him. If something big had happened, you knew that he would have to tell you sooner rather than later, but you’d rather just get it out of him now. 

Maximizing on that small surge of courage, you gave his door a quick courtesy knock before walking in and closing it behind you. 

“Hey,” You said as you sat down on his bed. “How was your date?”

He was pulling off the blue short sleeve Polo he had on and slipped on a T-shirt that you immediately recognized because you had gotten it for him a couple Christmases ago. It was a dark green shirt that had a tree and a bear on it and said “Yosemite National Park” across the top. You found it at a thrift shop and thought it was cool even though neither of you had been to that park or even to California. 

Steve met your curious gaze. “Long story short, we won’t be seeing each other again.” 

“Oh,” Was all you could say at first because hearing that answer completely confused you. You also felt like a complete asshole for immediately feeling relieved by his words. “Oh, um, okay… Can I have the long version of the story?” 

“Maybe later,” Steve said, and for the first time in a long time, it was actually hard to read your best friend right then. He didn’t look sad, but there was something about his words that kind of felt sad. “I’d much rather just play Uno with you guys right now.”

“Okay,” You said with a nod. You were still so curious about everything— your mind was already cooking up a plethora of potential scenarios of what could’ve happened between him and Vanessa tonight. But, you decided not to push him further on it right then. “I hope you’re also in the mood for pizza and watching Ghostbusters. It was pretty much a unanimous decision by the kids.”

He smiled at that. “That’s honestly not surprising.” 

.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。. .・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.

You weren’t entirely sure why you couldn’t sleep. 

It wasn’t because of the kids making noise, like what would usually happen, because they all knocked out around midnight; right after raiding the freezer and eating pretty much all of the ice cream you and Steve had in there. 

Maybe you were hungry again. You didn’t really think that was it, but you’d rather just go with that thought process than continue to lay restlessly in your bed.

You got out of it and wrapped the throw blanket that sat folded across your desk chair around you before walking out of your room. You tiptoed around the boys and their sleeping bags scattered around the living room and headed to the kitchen counter where the pizza boxes were; you hoped there was a stray slice in at least one of them.

Before you checked any of the boxes, something outside the large window that led to the fire escape managed to catch your eye. The Christmas lights that you and Steve strung up a week ago around the railing of the fire escape were shining brightly like they did every night. But, unlike every night, right then, Steve was out there sitting on the old metal stairs. 

Your eyebrows furrowed as you went over to the window, once again maneuvering around the kids and their sleeping bags, and then opening it wide enough so that you could step out onto the fire escape. When you smelled what exactly was happening out there, you quickly closed the window behind you. 

“I feel very offended that you didn’t bring me out here for this,” You said to Steve, eyeing the joint between his fingers as you sat down next to him. After immediately getting hit by the cold night air, you were glad that you had a blanket wrapped around you, and you gave some of it to Steve. 

“I didn’t wanna wake you,” He said, grabbing the end part of the blanket that you slung around his shoulders and adjusting it.

“You can always wake me up for this,” You told him as you pushed yourself even closer to him so that you both were nicely huddled within the throw blanket. “And for anything, really.”

He smiled at you. “So, whenever I find a spider in my room, I can wake you up to kill it for me?”

“I’m not even going to dignify that question with an answer because you already know that Eddie is our designated bug murderer,” You told him with a small smile before taking the joint from him and bringing it to your lips. 

Things became quiet aside from the random street noise below, and it stayed like that for a bit. It was freezing out, and the thin blanket actually wasn’t providing a lot of warmth, but you didn’t mind the goosebumps starting to rise on your skin right then, especially your bare legs.

You turned your head a little to look at Steve. “Can I finally get the full story now of what happened tonight, or do I still have to live in suspense?”

At first, he didn’t say anything, and you almost thought that he still wasn’t going to tell you everything. But then he took a quick drag of the joint and then started speaking. “We got takeout from this burger place that she likes and then went back to her apartment to watch a movie. After the movie we were talking and she asked if I thought that what we’ve been doing could lead to something serious because that’s something that she wants right now. And I told her that I’m not looking for something serious right now, so she said that we shouldn’t see each other anymore.”

You weren’t sure what you thought Steve was going to say, but it wasn’t necessarily that. It didn’t sound like the dramatic and abrupt ending that a part of you expected to hear about. The way things ended between them made sense to you— they wanted different things. In your head, that was probably the most civil way things could end between two people. 

“Oh, okay,” You said with a nod. “You seemed so weird earlier, like kinda sad, so I fully thought you were going to tell me something really bad happened. But, that doesn’t sound too bad.”

Steve looked away from you then. “It’s just… I kinda feel like shit about lying to her, though.” 

Your eyebrows furrowed as you passed the joint back to him. “What did you lie about?” 

He was quiet for a long moment and you wished that he was looking at you so you could read his face. “For the most part, I do want something serious. But, I just couldn’t really… see that with Vanessa. I couldn’t picture any sort of a “future” with her.”

“Oh,” You breathed out. You fully didn’t expect to hear him say that, and it was easy to tell how bad he felt about that brutal honesty. “Don’t feel like shit. It’s good that you lied.” You lightly bumped your knee with his so that his eyes met yours again. “If you had told Vanessa that you do want something serious with someone but that someone’s not her, it would’ve just hurt her more.”

“I just don’t get why I couldn’t see it, y’know. And that’s the most confusing part about everything,” He said with a shake of his head, and it was you that felt the need to break the eye contact this time around. “She’s great and things were going really good. Us being together and having something serious would’ve made sense.” 

“I think that sometimes the stuff that feels like it should make sense just doesn’t end up feeling right,” You said, your gaze solely focused on a car driving below and you couldn’t help but wonder what the driver was up to this late at night, or early in the morning, depending on how one looked at it. “And I know that was probably the most cryptic and fortune cookie kind of answer, so I’m sorry.”

He laughed a bit. “No, I think I understand what you mean. Kinda.” 

You gave him a small smile as he gave you back the joint. You took a slow drag from it and then exhaled out into the freezing Winter air.

You weren’t entirely sure how much time had passed over the next few moments. All you knew was that you were nicely high, and all too quickly the cold didn’t bother you so much anymore because of that, and you suddenly felt the need to let out your own version of brutal honesty.

You closed your eyes and then let out a breath. “I’m sorry.”

Steve’s eyebrows furrowed at your words. “For what?”

“That your date went bad. That I’m kind of relieved that it did.”

You knew that you would’ve told him that eventually. It was hard keeping secrets from him, it had especially been hard not telling him how you’d been feeling the past few weeks. And it felt easier to say it all now because your mind was a little fuzzy and felt a lot less chaotic.

Steve was quiet for a second, letting your words linger in the air as he took another drag. “Why are you relieved?”

You sighed, already knowing that your next words would be somewhat of a lie. “I don’t know…”

He lightly bumped your knee. “That’s not true.”

“I was kind of jealous and really annoyed about you going out with Vanessa,” You said and then sighed again. “Because… It’s just… Things are so much easier when it’s just me and you, I think. When neither of us are in relationships.” Your eyes were still closed and you were leaning your head against Steve’s shoulder as you spoke. “And I know we both want to find someone, and eventually have something serious and long-term and whatever. But, that doesn’t change the fact that when it’s just you and me… it’s really fucking nice.”

“I agree. Completely,” He said, voice soft.

The sigh you let out that time was one of relief. “Good. It’s nice to know that we’re both selfish and clingy in this friendship and just wanna keep each other for ourselves.”

You were only slightly joking with your words. 

“In that case,” Steve started. “Maybe we should just date then.”

You let out a giggle as you finally opened your eyes and lifted your head before taking what was left of the joint away from him. “Okay, and I think that’s enough weed for you tonight. I think it just killed all of your most important brain cells.”

“I’m kidding, I’m kidding,” He told you and poked your side, which only made you laugh harder. “But, you’ve never thought about it before? Not once?”

“When I’m drunk and high, yes. At least, I think I do. Most of the time I can’t fully remember,” You answered, your giggles finally subsiding. “But, when I’m sober, no. I never think about it.”

Steve laughed at that.

“What?” You asked as you placed the small bit of what was left of the joint on the ledge of the window.

“I think I’m the same way. I only think about it when I’m so fucking drunk, or high like right now.”

You thought about his words for a second. They felt funny to you just like he thought, but they also felt like something different too. 

“Is it weird that we do that?” 

His gaze left yours for a moment. “I don’t know. Probably. Maybe.” 

Maybe you two should’ve talked about it more; what that all meant, if anything. But you didn’t say anything else because it was easier to just convince yourself that all of what was said just then meant nothing, instead of even thinking about the slim possibility that maybe just maybe it could actually mean something. 

So, you kept your mouth shut instead of asking a potentially friendship altering question, and you hoped to God and the universe and whatever else was out there that you wouldn’t be able to recall this part of the conversation in the morning. 

“It’s snowing,” Steve said, and you were so grateful for the abrupt subject change because of his observation right then, and you hadn’t even noticed that it was snowing until he mentioned it. 

It already seemed to be coming down a fair amount and you smiled at how pretty it looked. You had always loved snow, and you especially loved it even more after you met Steve because you then finally had someone to have snowball fights and build snowmen with. 

You wiped away a snowflake that landed on your cheek. “The first fall of snow on the first day of Winter. How poetic?”

“Very,” Steve nodded. “Hopefully it’s not too bad by the morning. The kids will be annoyed if they can’t go to the diner for breakfast. And then we’ll sadly get stuck with having to cook them something.” 

“Do you think that they just use us for free food and rides?”

“Oh, yeah, definitely,” He didn’t hesitate to answer. “Wanna go inside? I think the cold is making my high wear off too fast.”

“I would say yes, but I think my ass is now permanently frozen to this stair.” 

Steve looked down. “Woah, shit, I didn’t even notice you were wearing shorts.” 

“Wow, such a bad friend. You didn’t notice my suffering?” You said sarcastically with an overdramatic shake of your head. “And to think that I came out here to be a great friend and make sure you were okay and not wallowing out here alone. I even let you use some of my blanket.”

Steve laughed at your dramatics as he shrugged the blanket off of his shoulders and fully wrapped it around you instead. “Come on, let’s go inside. You can use the heated blanket that my mom got me last Christmas, if you want.”

“Aw, maybe you are a good friend,” You said jokingly. 

He playfully rolled his eyes at you and stood up. “I just know that if you get sick, I’ll never hear the end of it.”

You smiled at him as he started pushing up the window. “You know me so well.”

.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。. .・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.

let me know ur thoughts<333

(requests are open for stuff you wanna see in the universe/series!🫶🏾)

[nyoomfruits]

for the ask meme: 5 + 68, landoscar!

THANK YOU TO @ocontraire FOR HELPING ME OUT WITH THIS ONE <3

bar/restaurant au + heroic sacrifice

It's the calm before the storm, that small moment right after family meal and right before their first reservations, tables all set and silverware shined. Lando's standing in front of the bar, double checking the reservations, while Oscar's behind it, cutting a lemon.

"How's the apartment coming along?" Lando asks, when he's made absolutely sure all reservations have a corresponding table. "Managed to find a couch yet?"

Oscar wrinkles his nose, tosses the ends of the lemons and sweeps the rest into an ingredient container next to the limes and the maraschino cherries. “Logan thought he found one but when we went to look at it,” he shudders. “There were stains, Lando. Stains. Questionable ones.”

“Oh, yikes.” Lando mimics a retching motion. “Well, have to keep looking then I guess.”

Oscar hums, grabs a glass and fills it with water, two ice cubes, and a singular slice of lemon, places it in the exact spot Lando always keeps his drink, hidden out of sight from the rest of the restaurant by the coffee machine. When Lando raises an eyebrow at him Oscar sighs, and adds a pink straw. “We were planning on doing a thrift store run on Sunday but Zak gave me the opening shift, so.”

Lando drops the pen he’d been fiddling with. “Zak did what?” He asks.

Oscar shrugs, a dismissive little motion that Lando learned long ago to not actually dismiss. “It’s fine, it’s just this once. Bella has this family thing, so.”

“No,” Lando says, “no, he can’t do that to you. You hate the morning shift.”

Oscar rolls his eyes. “We all have to do things we don’t like as much sometimes.”

“Yeah, but,” Lando frowns. “Last time it took you weeks to recover. Months! You do realize you have to get up at 7am right?”

Oscar looks at him, bemused. “Lando, seriously. I’m fine. And it wasn’t months. It was two days max. I’m just not a morning person, I’ll live.”

“No, no, no, do not worry. I will relieve you of your duties. I will fall on this sword for you. For you are my brother in arms and I have sworn to protect you with my life,” Lando’s reached over the bar to grab Oscar by the shoulders, and Oscar’s face is doing some kind of crossover between fond and exasperated.

“That’s sweet, Lando, really. But I’m fine.”

“For death,” Lando says, completely unfazed. “For glory. For brotherhood. Fear not, my beloved. I will save you from these atrocities.”

Oscar pinches the bridge of his nose. “We’re not even. I’m not your beloved, Lando.”

Lando perks up, smiles. “But you could be,” he says, winks.

“Sure,” Oscar says, dubiously. “Anyway, really, I’m fine. One morning shift won’t kill me.”

“No, no, no, let me do this for you. Just promise me one thing,” Lando says, still dead serious. “If you have children someday, if they point to the pictures, please tell them my name. Tell ‘em how the crowds went wild. Tell ‘em how I hope they shine.”

“Okay, now you’re just quoting Taylor Swift at me,” Oscar says throwing up his hands, making Lando’s hands drop off his shoulders.

Lando pouts at him. Oscar frowns. Lando pouts harder. “Fine,” Oscar relents, shoulders sagging. “Fine you can have your weird heroic sacrifice or whatever you want to call it. Take my Sunday morning shift.”

“Yay,” Lando says, beaming brightly. “Think of me, when the sun falls behind the heavens. I’ll go tell Zak.”

“Your sacrifice is greatly appreciated, you absolute dumbass,” Oscar drawls after him, as Lando skips off in search of Zak. With his back turned, Lando misses the ridiculously fond, endeared smile Oscar sends after him.

[ragnarokhound]

hey it’s me, the ole ball and chain. I’m making stir fry for dinner. can u grab a bottle of wine?

anyways i think i need to direct your attention to a roppiepop comic where Jason takes Tim on a date — and then tim freaks out because they’re retracing the steps of a murder case he just solved. This seems like perfect characterization to me: jason is wining and dining tim and cooking him fancy meals and Tim is overthinking everything to the max. Jason is shopping at the local natural grocery store for organic pasta and fresh lemons and tim is making a conspiracy bulletin board, red strings and all. jason is doodling “jason drake wayne” in his diary and tim is creating a computer program to analyze jason’s texts.

it all comes to a head when tim starts furiously interrogating jason about his motives after showing up at home to find a candlelit dinner and a bottle of wine waiting for him

Hey sweetheart, you got it. You want a red or a white, or dealer's choice?😘(Also, uh, hun, if you want to talk about including """balls"'" and """chains""" more in our relationship, then we can open the floor to that--)

!!! I think I know which comic you're talking about, and it's one of my favorites uwu as someone who, like Tim, also needs it laid on THICK to understand that someone is flirting with me fr fr and not just doing a bit with me (I did improv in high school, it is my curse to constantly 'yes, and' my way into misunderstandings 😔) I adore inflicting this particular brand of miscommunication on the blorbos ESPECIALLY with the batfam because they're so used to reading between the lines and anticipating each other's plans that it is HILARIOUS to me when they have enormous blind spots when it comes to mundane, non-vigilante related things, and especially with each other.

Like Jason thinks Tim knows it's a date because he accepted the flowers and smiled at Jason when he ordered the wine and seemed to be pleasantly surprised when Jason took him to this restaurant (because he'd seen Tim here more than once last month, so he must like the food here, right?). 'Clearly Tim is on board. Tim is pleased with this sequence of events. Tim definitely knows it's a date. Good job Jason, you've got this in the bag, you'll be kissing him on his front stoop by midnight'

Meanwhile Tim is in full mental lockdown, why did Jason ask Tim out in such a public setting, clearly there's something going on, clearly because he brought Tim a bouquet of the flowers found scattered at the crime scene of the murder case he was working last month, he knows something Tim doesn't; clearly because he ordered the red Jason is signalling that they're being watched and need to act natural; clearly because they're at the very restaurant Tim was staking out last month, where's the fire, Jason--

Tim being extremely suspicious of a legitimate attempt to woo him is everything to me, and I love it when Jason is only slightly more normal about it than him lmfao

[semperama]

trick or treat🧡🧡 (idk if you want specific ish requests or not, but just in case ex husbands maxiel maybe? 👀 nothing spookier than that lol)

Always SO happy to talk about ex husbands maxiel. Here's a (possible, I can't commit this to stone) headcanon for how they end up back together (because of course they end up back together):

--

After Max retires from racing, he starts spending more time at home with his sister and mother and less and less time in Monaco, and he and Daniel see less and less of each other. Daniel had been finding excuses to show up to races, helping out with commentary and stuff, but once Max isn't there, he starts splitting his time between Australia and LA, depending on business obligations. They go from seeing each other frequently to almost never and it's--Daniel feels hollow, like he's been carved out inside, and if something hits him wrong, he'll shatter into a million pieces.

He ends up deeply depressed in ways he can't acknowledge, going through the motions of his own life. Nothing feels right anymore. Food doesn't taste right. The air doesn't feel right on his skin. He still smiles and laughs and sees his friends, but sometimes it's like he's watching his life from a distance, not really experiencing anything anymore.

Then one day he runs into Max in LA, just like he used to before they were even dating, when his heart started beating fast at the sight of him but he wasn't able to acknowledge what that meant. It hurts this time, because even after the divorce, Max always used to tell him when he was going to be in town, but this time he didn't.

(What he doesn't know is that Max has been suffering too. He only retreated into his family for comfort. He's only stayed away from Daniel because the exes-with-benefits thing started to hurt too much. He always, always wanted to ask Daniel to give him another chance, but he was too afraid Daniel would say no.)

Daniel invites Max back to his place and realizes too late how shameful it is--unwashed dishes in the sink, empty cans and bottles scattered around, clothes on the floor of the bedroom (including one of Max's old Red Bull t-shirts, which he sleeps in sometimes, even though it lost Max's smell a long time ago). But Max doesn't comment on any of it, and they fuck on Daniel's rumpled, unwashed sheets, and afterward they hold each other for a long, long time, and Daniel has to keep biting down on his bottom lip to keep from saying something he shouldn't, or shouting, or sobbing.

Max is the brave one who finally says, "I miss you," and Daniel gives in to the impulse to ask Max to stay with him for a while. Max has a flight in a couple days, but he changes it and ends up staying with Daniel for a couple weeks instead, and even though they don't talk about what it all means, Daniel feels like he's coming alive again. His chest hurts constantly--like the pins and needles of the blood rushing back into a limb that was asleep--but that's better than the numbness he had before. They fall back into their old routines, going for runs along the same routes they used to take through the hills, visiting the restaurants they loved, curling up on the couch to watch dumb movies. Daniel ignores texts and calls from friends, because he doesn't want to shatter the illusion.

Then it comes time for Max to leave, and Daniel just--can't. He thinks he might die if he has to watch Max walk out the door again. He literally will lie down on the floor and never get up again. While Max packs his things, Daniel hovers, pacing the bedroom, opening his mouth and then closing it again against words he knows he doesn't have a right to say.

Finally, finally, he lets himself croak, "I don't want you to go." Max turns to him, and his eyes are red, and his hands are balled into fists, and he says, "I will stay, if you tell me to."

They cancel Max's flight. A month later, Max goes with Daniel back to Perth. The ache in Daniel's chest goes away. His smile feels real again.

[natailiatulls07]

You're gonna leave me, aren't you?

Max Verstappen x female!reader

Summary - They were bestfriends then lovers but in end they were strangers left with the memories of what was

Warnings - mention of his father, mention of Jules Bianchi’s death, bad google translate, breaking up, sad ending kind of??

-

2015

Max met her in secondary school, his life was crazy. Between juggling school, his fathers harsh parenting and formula three, he met Y/n. They became bestfriends almost immediately.

Y/n was like a breath of fresh air in his chaotic lifestyle. Always patient and understood if he couldn't hang out. It did help that she knew what Max was getting himself into, her father would watch formula one and he was a big fan of the sport.

When Max got signed to Toro Rosso in 2015, Y/n was the first one he told. He remembers the phone call oh so well.

-

After a couple of rings, Max heard her through his phone. She sounded tired but would always have a cheery aura to her even through the phone.

"Max are you alright?" It was then when Max realised that Australia, where he was for the grand prix, was six hours ahead of the Netherlands. This meant that it was currently four am for Y/n.

"Yeah sorry, I just realised what time it is for you..." He tooking a sharp breath, debating whether he should let Y/n sleep and tell her later. "I have news, it's very exciting!"

Max heard her shuffle in bed. "Oh yeah, go on"

"You better be clearing you schedule because I'm going to be in formula one!!" Y/n's audible gasp was heard through the phone. "Formula one zonneschijn!"

Of course since it was the middle of the night, Y/n kept her celebration quiet. So in hushed whispers she replied. “No way! Max that’s amazing”

Max could of sworn he heard her voice break. Was she crying? “I’m so proud of you Maxy!”

-

Max swears that day was the day he fell in love with her. They were only 17 and 16, mere teenagers. But his whole perspective of her changed.

Sadly Y/n couldn’t make his formula debut but he knew that she was watching on from home. She was studying, trying to get through college and through to university.

Of course the two kept close, face times and messages became important to them as Max was travelling his way around the planet.

Soon enough Max caught up the courage to ask her out over summer break. He took her to their favourite restaurant. And whilst on the date, he then asked her to be his girlfriend to which she nodded excitedly with a big smile on her face.

Everyone was happy for the new couple, admittedly upset they didn’t see much of the two together because of their privacy and schedules.

-

2016

It was in 2016 when Max started driving for Redbull racing that he also started to drift from Y/n. He didn’t want to and it wasn’t a choice he made easily.

Of course growing up, Max saw what happens in motorsport. He knew it was dangerous and always life threatening.

Max was in the paddock when he watched Jules Bianchi crash in 2014. He knew how it effected Jules’ close family and friends, Max was friends with Charles who struggled.

He remembers being told that Jules died after Jules was in a coma for nine months.

And Max didn’t want that weight on Y/n if something were to happen. He didn’t want the press to crowd her and he didn’t want to give her that much grief.

So he drifted, as much as he hated it, he drifted away from. This of course drew red flags for Y/n.

Before they would text non stop every day but now Max barely replied. Before they would spend almost all his free time together, binge watching their favourite shows or eating at their favourite restaurant or even just napping together.

But now Max would intentionally fill his time with work, much like his father once did. He remembers looking in the mirror and just seeing his father, that scared him but it didn’t stop him.

-

Y/n had managed to get ahold of Max, she called him asking if he could meet her at their favourite restaurant. Unlike her usual cheery tone, she sounded deflated.

Pulling up to the restaurant, he saw her through the window sat at their table. And as he walked in, he didn’t receive his usual warm hug from her so he just sat down opposite. Looking at her as if he didn’t know what was going on.

“Hey what’s up?” Max asked the girl opposite him. He was scared of her, she wasn’t Y/n.

“Um…how do I say this?” Her soft voice came out still as deflated as before. What Y/n said next hit, the new formula one driver hard. “You’re gonna leave me…aren’t you?”

It was as if everything around Max had stopped. Only then did he realise what he did to her. Max thought that this was the best option, drifting away, but instead what he had done was make her feel unloved and feel like the relationship was one sided. “No. No of course not zonneschijn!”

He was quick to protest but was quick shushed when Y/n started to shake her head. “Max…please don’t, don’t try to tell me different because you are…you’re gonna leave, it’s okay”

Collecting her stuff, Y/n started to leave. Max couldn’t do anything, he knew what he’d done and he knew he could come back from that. “I love you Max…always have and always will” Y/n whispered before turning her back to him and leaving.

Max watched her walk out of the restaurant and walk home, he felt ashamed and regretful that he lost the best thing he’ll ever have. But he promised to keep her in his heart until the day that he would die.

-

2023

It was over seven years since Max last saw her but he never let her out of his heart and mind. He had just won his third world championship and Sky Sports had pulled him over to have a quick interview.

“Hi Max! Well done on your third world championship, how are you feeling?” The sky sport journalist asks whilst Max is handed his mic.

“Yeah I feel so grateful that I am able to achieve this for the third time” Max smiles politely, not the biggest fan of post race/sprint interviews but pr insist.

“Is there anyone who you feel like you owe this to? Any family? I know that your father is very supportive of your career”

“Um yeah…” He takes a pause, and then his mind goes back to his sunshine, Y/n. “I think I’ll have to thank an old friend…she knows who she is, I hope she knows that I appreciate and love her more and more everyday” Looking into the camera, Maxs heart tells him that she is there watching from home supporting him.

He also knew that everyone knew who he was talking about, they always did.

-

[drpeppertummy]

u can tell ive been fuckin around with this for months bc its set before school starts😭😭😭😭😭 shoutout 2 my beloved colleague @tummyfreakoftheweek for providing input & inspiration

[mild hunger, comfortable stuffing, super tame, marianne doesnt even hassle him she is looking respectfully]

Max sighed as he looked over the diner menu. For most people, it was an overwhelming wealth of information, pages and pages of densely-packed text rattling off nearly every category in the book of greasy American cuisine, beginning with all-day breakfast and working all the way down to an appealing list of desserts. For Max, it was another reminder that the world was simply not built for people with dietary restrictions. Nearly everything on the menu threatened to grab him by the guts and shake him around like a chew toy; even the things that might not typically have gluten were almost certain to have some level of cross-contamination in a small town diner like this. The list of items that were guaranteed to be safe, nestled down in a footnote at the bottom of the page, was small and unimpressive.

"We can still go somewhere else," Keonda reminded him, noticing his discouraged expression.

"We're already here," he said with a dismissive wave of his hand. "I'll find something."

"Are you sure? There's not much there," said Helen.

"Helen, I just wanna eat and go home and go to bed. I don't wanna be out any longer than we have to."

It had been a long, sweaty, stressful day at work, as the days before students started often were. Max and Helen had been wrapped up enough with their own work, staying well past when they were supposed to, but they'd taken a couple hours before leaving to help Keonda decorate her classroom--it was a difficult enough task with two hands, but having only one made putting up posters slow going. Together, though, they'd gotten the place looking sharp. Tired and hungry, they'd all decided that nobody wanted to go home and cook, and that they'd run out to the nearest restaurant for a quick dinner before going home and promptly collapsing. Keonda had offered to treat them for their help. Max had every intention of swiping the bill before she could take it.

By the time the waitress came to greet them, Max had noncommittally decided on flounder. Just broiled; he fondly recalled enjoying fried flounder many years ago, but he couldn't have that anymore unless he made it himself, and rarely did he have the desire to go to the trouble of making such a mess. In fact, in the twenty years since his celiac diagnosis, he could only recall having made it once. Broiled was a poor substitute, and he wasn't particularly enthusiastic about the bland-sounding meal, but it was what it was. He was beyond exhausted, and he'd have eaten the placemat if it meant filling his empty stomach and getting home quickly.

"Well, aren't you all a lively-lookin' bunch," the waitress teased with a friendly smile. She turned her gaze toward Keonda, lifting up her notepad. "What're we having tonight, cutie pie?"

Keonda, ever the avid breakfast fan, ordered a stack of blueberry pancakes with fresh fruit and home fries, and Helen, more in a savory mood, went with an open-faced roast beef sandwich with steak fries and a side of vegetables. Max, the hungriest he'd been all week and more aware of it than usual, felt more and more unenthused about his flounder as he listened to his colleagues order, but he didn't have the brainpower to rethink his choice. He also didn't have the time--before he knew it, the waitress' warm, piercing eyes were upon him, an expectant, almost hungry-looking smile on her face.

"Can I have, um, the broiled flounder?" He looked up, then back at the menu. "Uh, the gluten free one," he added, knowing broiled flounder was likely elsewhere on the menu and uncertain if they were the same.

"You got it, handsome," she said, jotting it down on her notepad. He blushed, and Keonda stifled a giggle. "How about your sides?"

Max's brain went blank. He'd forgotten about sides. He quickly glanced back at the gluten free section of the menu, but no sides were listed. He flipped to the back page and scanned over the list of sides. None of them were marked gluten free. He supposed the steamed vegetables might be safe, but he'd learned by now not to trust an assumption. He could ask, but the idea of prolonging the visit any further made him want to crumple to the floor.

"Ah… Can I just, uh, do it without sides?" he stammered, looking back up. The waitress--Marianne, her nametag said--looked concerned.

"No sides? Oh, honey, I know that little piece of flounder isn't gonna fill you up. Don't think I didn't hear your tummy growling when you came in!"

"It's fine, I just--if it's no trouble, I'd rather just leave them off," he insisted reluctantly. Marianne considered that for a moment, and then it clicked.

"You're worried about the ingredients," she said. He nodded sheepishly. "Y'know, sweetpea, I've got a cousin who can't have gluten," she explained. "I know she goes through an awful lot of hassle makin' sure everything's safe. Tell you what--you pick any side you like, and I'll personally make sure they don't add anything you can't have."

"Oh, really, it's fine," he began, but she waved her hand.

"Come on, now. No trouble. You three are just about the only people in here, after all. There's not much goin' on in the kitchen tonight. Why, I think I saw the cooks sitting around playin' poker just a minute ago. Now, is gluten the only thing?"

Max was skeptical, but Marianne was insistent, and with her sympathy for her gluten intolerant cousin, he supposed he was willing to trust her word. He gave in and ordered broccoli and a baked potato--they seemed like safe enough options even if the friendly waitress were to let him down, although, for some reason, he had an odd, uncharacteristic faith in her. She began to turn away, then paused, looking back down at him.

"Y'know, pumpkin, nobody likes plain old flounder unless it's fried up in breadcrumbs," she said, a sympathetic smile on her face. "Maybe we could find a way to liven it up for you, cutie pie, hm? How's that sound?" Max tried to decline--he hated the idea of anybody making more of a fuss over him than was absolutely necessary--but, with a charming smile and the argument that the cooks were just dying for something interesting to do, she won him over. He supposed, after all, that the risk of cross-contamination was low enough if they were the only ones ordering, and something about Marianne was alluring and persuasive enough to wriggle through the cracks of his untrusting shell. He just hoped, as he watched her walk away, that he wouldn't regret letting her talk him into it.

"Handsome," Keonda teased, reaching across the table to poke him with her straw. Helen broke out into laughter, and Max gave them both a look of playful irritation.

"Well, I am," he said defensively, hand on his hip.

"She likes you," Helen chuckled, giving him a playful pinch on the side. "You see the way she was eyeballing you?"

"Oh, shut up." He swatted her hand away and she tousled his hair roughly. He had, of course, noticed Marianne's striking fondness toward himself in particular--it would have been impossible not to--but he chalked it up partially to her concern about his dietary restrictions and partially to the typical friendly demeanor of the average diner waitress. Her friendliness had lifted his spirits a little, though. Right now he didn't mind the idea of spending a little time at the diner; the rush to get home had eased up, and although he was still apprehensive about what the overly-eager waitress had in store for him, he was looking forward to dinner.

The three got to chatting, the energy coming back to them now that they'd had a moment to sit and catch their breaths after the long day. They talked about the coming school year and all the things they still had to do, plans they were looking forward to and silly things they had to complain about, laughing and joking and poking gentle fun at each other until finally Marianne returned with a tray of dishes.

"Alright," she said, setting the first plate down in front of Keonda. "Pancakes for this little cutie pie, here's your sides… Roast beef for the fine lady over here… And the flounder for this skinny little sweetheart," she beamed, setting down a steaming plate before Max. "Now, I don't know if it'll hold up to our usual, but I had them fry it up in cornstarch for you--in clean oil, don't you worry. I double checked everything, nothing on the broccoli but salt, pepper, and garlic, and the flounder has a little garlic powder and onion powder in the breading. That alright?"

"That's--absolutely," he said, eyes darting between her and the plate. "I really appreciate it, really. It looks fantastic." He wasn't lying; the fish looked delicious, and it smelled just as good.

"You'll have to let me know how it is," she said with a wink. "Maybe we can give that little gluten free section a makeover. Get it looking just as good as you, hm?" She gave him a friendly pat on the shoulder and left him blushing as she walked away.

"She's barking up the wrong tree," Helen snorted, elbowing Max.

"Maybe it's you she's after, huh? 'Fine lady,'" he teased. "Don't know where she got that from."

"Shut up and eat your fish," she said, giving him a playful shove. She didn't have to tell him twice. His belly had been rumbling since they left work, and Keonda had already dug into her pancakes while they were bickering. After keeping his empty stomach waiting all day, he gladly picked up his fork and broke off a bite of the flounder. It was light and crispy and flavorful, and still strikingly hot.

"How's your flounder, handsome?"

"Hot," he said, covering his mouth as he spoke around the steaming mouthful of fish. He gave a thumbs up with his other hand. That molten first bite was difficult to swallow, but his stomach greeted it with open arms. He nearly went straight in for another bite, but, deciding it needed to cool for a moment, turned to his broccoli instead. It pleasantly surprised him; he was expecting the typical bland steam job diners typically gave their vegetables, but the light seasoning was enough to bring some life into it. The flounder was the real star, though, and it barely had time to let out any steam before Max was flaking off another piece.

"How are you gonna gripe all day when you burn your tongue off?" asked Helen, amused by his clear discomfort. Max simply waved his hand at her, and she laughed. Though he was still exhausted and sore, he felt better already, rejuvenated by a mixture of good food, friendly moods, and having had the chance to relax for a minute. His stomach was no longer aching with hunger, and he didn't feel half as irritable as he had twenty minutes ago. As he scooped up a forkful of baked potato, he thought he might even survive the next day.

The conversation died down as the three friends ate, focused on filling their empty stomachs. Marianne smiled as she approached the table. There was little she enjoyed more than the sight of somebody enjoying a good meal, and a quiet table was a sure sign of satisfaction.

"Sounds like we're enjoying ourselves over here," she said, a bright, friendly smile on her face. "How'd everything come out? Good?" This was met with a unanimous chitter of approval and a couple of thumbs ups, and she clasped her hands together, pleased with the response.

"Fantastic," she beamed. "How's your flounder, honeybunch? Better than broiled?"

"Absolutely," Max nodded.

"Oh, good! I'd have hated to see you leave unsatisfied. You go ahead and eat up now--especially you, cutie pie, you look like you could use a couple of good meals in you," she teased, winking at Max. She wasn't wrong; Max didn't eat nearly enough in his day to day life, his schedule and appetite both bogged down by work and anxiety and plenty of other factors. He'd been doing better since losing his single status, but he had a good long way to go on the road to self care. He blushed and gave her a sheepish smile, and she was on her way.

It wasn't long before Max felt comfortably full--not stuffed by a long shot, but content enough to take the rest home--but Helen and Keonda were both still eating, and, knowing the crispy coating on the fish would be best while it was fresh, he made the uncharacteristic decision to eat a little more. He had no intention of overdoing it; the last thing he needed to spice up these busy days was a bellyache. He supposed it wouldn't hurt to fall asleep on a well-stuffed tummy, though. Maybe he'd even sleep more soundly than usual. That was an alluring thought. Taking care not to eat too quickly, he scooped up another bite of potato.

Marianne watched the trio as she wiped down the counter. She was particularly taken with Max. She'd have loved to take him home and put a few pounds on him, though he struck her as a man who already had somebody to be loyal to. That wouldn't stop her from enjoying him for the evening, though, and she was pleased to see him eating his fill. He certainly looked like he could use it. As she watched him, wishing she could feed him a nice hearty meal every night, she wondered whether he'd be able to eat any of their desserts.

Max was beginning to fill up now, a warm, gentle tautness beginning to bloom in his belly. By this point, though, there wasn't quite enough of his dinner left to take home. He considered it, wondering whether it might make a good snack; it wasn't enough for a full meal, even for his tiny appetite. Had Keonda and Helen been ready to go, he would've just brought the rest home. They weren't, though, and, not wanting to sit around making things awkward, he kept going.

He was no stranger to the feeling of his belt tightening around his middle, but that familiar sensation coming from a good meal rather than an upset tummy was a nice change of pace. Despite its fried coating, the flounder was light, not too oily or rich, and while he was beginning to inch past his typical threshold for full, he didn't feel uncomfortable at all. As a matter of fact, the warm pressure in his belly was pleasant. Still, he was running out of space, and, inevitably, slowing down. He paused for a moment, resting a hand on his belly. It was rounder than he expected, and he glanced down, surprised.

"I didn't think you could get that much in there," Helen chuckled, giving his tummy a playful nudge.

"Me either," he said. Restaurant portion sizes were typically a lot more than Max's stomach could hold, and it was rare for him to clean more than half of his plate. Right now, though, only a small fraction of his dinner remained, and he was considering trying to finish it. If it hadn't been enough to take home when he first felt full, it certainly wasn't now; it would be a light snack even for him. Of course, it didn't seem like a light snack at the moment. On top of his already full tummy, it seemed like a lot. Still, he felt like he might just be able to squeeze it in. He waited a moment longer, giving his stomach a second to settle, and picked up his fork again.

The last few bites went down slowly, and Marianne relished them from across the diner. Max was a scrawny thing, but she could see the slight curve of his full tummy pushing out against his shirt. She could tell he was stuffed by the way he ate cautiously, hesitating between small bites, clearly not wanting to push his stomach too far too fast. She watched as he held a tentative hand against his stomach, trying to judge whether he could fit one last bite. To her pleasure, he went for it, then sat back with a sigh, looking sleepy.

"Well, good job, sweetheart, I didn't think you'd eat the whole thing!" Marianne gave Max a grin of approval as she approached the table. "You don't look like you could fit another bite, but is anybody feeling dessert?"

"I might get something to go," said Keonda. Helen nodded in agreement. Max looked apprehensive. He remembered passing by the counter when they came in, boasting a wide array of cakes and pies, but he didn't have high hopes for any of them being gluten free, and when his turn came around after Helen and Keonda ordered, he simply declined. Marianne went to get the two desserts without a fuss, and that was just fine with him. When she returned with three boxes, however, he was confused.

"I thought you might want a little something sweet afterwards, and I didn't want you leaving empty-handed," she explained, "so I had one of the girls run across the street and pick this up for you just in case. I don't know how much you like chocolate, but it was the only gluten free thing they had left."

"Oh, gosh," Max exclaimed, both touched and embarrassed. "You didn't have to do that."

"I won't have anybody leaving underfed on my watch," she insisted with a dismissive wave. "Besides, you look like you could use a little extra sugar--not that you aren't sweet enough as it is, of course."

Max successfully took the bill before Keonda had a chance and was promptly met with a playful smack. The three left the diner in good spirits, a stark contrast to the irritable, exhausted group who had gone in about an hour ago, and as they said their goodbyes for the evening, there was a certain optimism in the air that the coming days wouldn't be so difficult. Max thought about Marianne as he drove home, the slice of gluten free chocolate cake sitting safely in the passenger seat and the seatbelt gently hugging his rounded belly. In the past twenty years of his life, he couldn't recall ever having such an enthusiastically accommodating server. The surprise dessert had made his week, and that flounder had been the best meal he'd had in a while. He felt thoroughly content, tummy happily digesting the big dinner, and, after sneaking just one bite of the cake before putting it in the fridge, he slept well that night, better than he had in days.

[hylianengineer]

It's been months since I visited London and I still think about it sometimes.

London is bizarre because you can go there, having never been in the UK in your whole life, and recognize landmarks from your childhood storybooks. You can know the names of the royal family members the buildings are named after, but not why you know them.

London is a city that is still very palpably the seat of one of the largest, most powerful empires in recent history. You can feel it. You can see it in the ostentatious wealth and the cultural gravity. London exists as much in myth as it does in reality, and if you grew up anywhere that was once connected to the British Empire, or even anywhere particularly globalized, you probably know that myth somewhere deep within your brain. It's weird.

Some parts of it are very beautiful and some are very disturbing and many are both at once. It's ancient and modern and touristy and messy and it's world-class museums and fast food restaurants all crammed in together.

There's no place like London - and I mean this both in the Sweeney Todd sense and the complementary one. ("There's a hole in the world like a great black pit / And the vermin of the world inhabit it / And it's morals aren't worth what a pig can spit / And it goes by the name of London!")

It's weird to think about as a USAmerican, because London isn't unique in this position as a huge, cosmopolitan, deeply complicated city - New York is another example. There is everything in New York, good and bad, but it's easier for me to overlook the bad parts presumably because I'm USAmerican and have a cultural blindspot the size of the Empire State Building. It is also a bit different I think because New York isn't the seat of US government - although, fun fact, it almost was. So it doesn't get the same reputation, the same close ties to empire - it does have them, it just hides them a bit better. I mean, it is home to Wall Street, for starters, and it attracts rich and famous people just like London does. It has its bastions of incomprehensible wealth and privilege, and also a great deal of poverty. I guess big cities are just like that - or all cities, really, but the farther up the totem pole you go, the bottom seems farther and farther away. Sorta creepy actually. I know New York's geography and landmarks even better than I know London's, but it wasn't such a shock seeing them in person because, sure, I'd never been there, but at least it was the same country. I knew plenty of people who'd been there.

Also, New York City is recent. London is bafflingly old - New York, like most of America, likes to pretend nothing ever happened there before about 1500, and nothing of consequence for at least a hundred years after that. That's bullshit, of course, but it means the dominant (colonial) cultural narrative many of us have grown up with has only four-hundred-ish years of history to work with, max. You go to London and see individual buildings much older than that. It's bizarre, as an American, not even because we don't have things that old here, but since our colonialist narrative ignores things that old, they aren't often discussed with the same sort of reverence (it's unfair and stupid but that's how it works). Like, that's stupid, all of earth is equally incomprehensibly old to us humans (don't come at me for this, geologists, I know the age of rocks is actually hugely variable but we weren't here for most of that!). Anywhere you stand on this planet has as much history as London or New York or anywhere else but we don't think about that because the cultural narratives we're told don't encourage us to think about it that way. That's weird. What momentous events happened right where I'm standing that I'll never know about?