#i too would be insecure if my driver wasn’t lewis

[pinkjamblesss]

“megan this, megan that, bitch, boo-hoo. you’re really mad megan ain’t wanna fuck with you.”

[yukyuki]

As Simple As That- LH’44

summary- It had been rumored that Lewis Hamilton was dating someone, but she was not famous nor “anyone special” but they don’t know what she means to Lewis. ❤️‍🔥

warnings- smut 🔞mdni!, age-gap, insecure reader, language, some grammar errors, slight aftercare, fluff ☁️, romantic Lewis

a/n- he is just the type to do this! ✨I know I’ve been gone for like the longest time so have a Lewis fic <3

You smiled softly looking at your finished curled hair swinging it gently styling it more. You put on your glossy lip oil you smiled at yourself in the mirror. All the sudden your phone rings and you grabbed it, you believed it had been a text from Carmen since you and her had planned a double date with your boyfriends. But no, apparently someone must have tagged you in their post, clicking on the notification you see pictures of you and Lewis. Lewis’ fans have seen you two around LA in the arcades and malls having cute dates. The cute pictures of both of you bring a smile to your face, there was one where you were playing basketball in the arcade, getting drinks while holding hands, him holding your bag and even both of you kissing. Your smile got bigger with each picture until you reach the section that Lewis had prohibited you from going, the comments.

comments

“Can’t believe THE LEWIS HAMILTON is dating a girl like her!”

“what’s so special about her? Isn’t she like years younger than him?”

“she probably wants the fame”

“she’s so ordinary and she’s honestly not that pretty”

“Lewis deserves so much better not a child!”

All those comments started to hurt your feelings really bad, even though you had promised yourself to not let anything like this hurt you, but they started to get into your head, setting your phone down on the bed you take a deep breath and stare at yourself in the mirror which you gasp quietly seeing Lewis already standing behind you.

You watched his eyes scan your body from behind, he looked at the dress hugging your waist down to the skirt that was loose yet he couldn’t help but go crazy for your body curves. Coming closer to you his ink covered hands land on your waist leaning to kiss your shoulder slowly resting his chin in your shoulder.

“you look so pretty my love, I think this is my new favorite dress on you” he whispered looking at you in admiration through the mirror. You give him a soft smile slowly resting your soft hands on his rough ones.

“Lew…do you…do you think I’m too ordinary or…a child… to be dating someone like you?” you asked making his eyes go wide as his embrace around you loosen slightly. He never thought you would be asking him something like that, to which he suddenly felt nervous and concerned as to what had made you ask that and what would happen.

“Y/n, sweetie where does that come from? You are an amazing girl, and I think I should be the one questioning myself as to why I’m with someone so perfect as you” he said smiling as you gently smile slowly shrugging your shoulders looking slowly towards your phone on your shared bed.

“No Lew, you’re right…I…sorry, I just…social media is such a horrible place” you say still looking at your phone slowly walking towards it grabbing it, it was left on and it was like hate towards you was trending.

Giving your phone slowly to him he saw the previous comments but started to scroll and the new ones just grew worse as he shook his head giving you a sign that he was angry, he wasn’t the type to yell or get aggressive when angry but from the time you’ve been together you’ve learned to see that anger through his eyes and knew exactly when he was mad.

Taking the phone back you sit on the bed, glancing at the screen.

comments

-she’s such a whore you guys she’s dated another driver before right?

-what!? she has??

-oh no wonder she’s after MY Lew

-she’s probably just his sex toy for the moment!

-he’ll leave her soon

He slowly kneeled down in front of you taking your phone away.

“Don’t you ever let those comments in your pretty head okay love…those people just have nothing to do…and they think that by doing this they might achieve something…those are not true fans loves, my actual fans loves you” he comforted you seeing tears starting to build up in your eyes. He quickly moved you on the bed and he laid next to you holding you close. Your head rested on his chest as his heart beat soothed you down as a tear rested on your cheek.

“I know love, I just…I don’t know I’m being hated on too much…what if those comments now get to you? and you leave me when you realize I’m not like other girls” you say softly as he moved propping himself on his elbow looking at you wiping your tear away with his thumb.

“baby of course you aren’t like other girls…you’re way beyond perfect in my eyes and that’s what matters, I’ve experienced those comments myself telling me I couldn’t achieve something and here I am…you my love you are too perfect you’ve become a target” he whispered kissing you softly.

“You’ve been my greatest supporter and been there through my lowest, we have never fought and when we do it only lasts 5 minutes or less, now you ordinary? baby you are extraordinary…you are not an extravagant girl you are definitely smart, you take care of me and show me your love in all the ways you probably can, you my love are as simple as that and I couldn’t ask for more” he said which ended in you being a crying mess you slowly wrap your arms around his neck hugging him tightly making sure to let him breathe you kiss his temple pulling away.

“I think I just fell in love with you again Lew” you say giggling through sobs wiping your tears.

“I fall in love with you every day baby” Lewis responded showing his teary white coming down to kiss you rubbing your sides. You smile at the feeling slowly rubbing his chest up to his face cupping it in your small hands. Your phone started ringing with more hateful DMs, Lewis head slowly turned about to reach for it as you slowly stopped him pushing your phone of the bed.

“I need to feel loved right now Lew” you whispered blushing pecking his lips.

He chuckled quietly at you as he nodded kissing your cheeks as his fingers slowly came in contact with the zipper to your dress.

“you know what I also love about you?” he asked you smiling softly seeing how your eyes started to sparkle and how your big eyes looked at him as you hummed waiting for his answer.

“our “alone time” it’s always filled with love and not forgetting how beautiful you look” he started making your cheeks start to redden as you covered your face in embarrassment.

“Lew” you whined giggling as he pulled your hands away gently kissing them softly.

“it’s true baby…you’re even perfect when we’re making love…your body, your actions, your sounds they are all so perfect to me” he whispered in your ear smiling as you squirm gently feeling embarrassed but so happy to have someone like Lewis to your side.

“can we…make love tonight?” you whispered to him slowly moving your hand up to his hair gently twirling one of his braids around your finger.

“we can watch the movie after, through my projector” you say making him chuckle as he now got shy. Even after years of being together till now your love making was always gentle in a way that he was never harsh with you, until this day he always made sure you could feel all his love.

As you kissed him slowly again you reach down to his shirt pulling it off as you kept it close feeling its warmth as your free hand rubbed his cheek feeling his beard against your soft palm he moved to hovered over you slowly unzip your dress as the kiss got more passionate.

“you lips are so perfect” he whispered through the kiss as your hands rubbed his strong arms giving him soft scratches sitting up slowly you take your dress off as his eyes admired your body you smiled at him as his finger slowly traced your forearms down to your hand pushing you back on the bed. His eyes couldn’t look away from the new lingerie set he saw you wearing, a black laced push up bra that made your boobs just more perfect to him.

“god see baby? you’re like a goddess…my goddess” he whispered kissing your neck down your collar bone to your cleavage as his hands moved to your thighs squeezing them. Moaning quietly at his touch you started to grow wet for him down on your core. You bit your lip watching how his hand made its way into your panting making you gasps as his cold rings touched your warm sensitive skin.

“Lew” you whispered rubbing his shoulders as he his hand reached behind you unclasping your bra pulling it off as it landed somewhere in the room.

As his mouth wrapped around your nipple his fingers started to tease your clit rubbing it gently with his thumb. His hand slowly moved reaching to your panties taking them off as your body got goosebumps from the chilly air hitting your core. Noticing he kissed your forehead pulling the sheet on you making sure you were warm.

Reaching down to his pants and boxers he let you unbutton them before he finished taking them off. In a few minutes you two were naked under the sheets kissing and touching each other before he pulled away turning you to your side.

Giggling quietly against his lips your turn comfortably as he laid next to you pulling your back against his chest.

“Lew…what are you doing?” you whispered blushing as he laid his arm under your head and lined up himself to your entrance.

“We can always try new things baby…is this okay?” he asked as you moved your hand back touching his cheek nodding slowly as your eyes closed slowly releasing a moan as he entered you, he went in gentle but deep like always yet the stretch he gave you was always amazing.

His free arm slowly hugged your waist as he also moaned quietly into your ear. Holding his hand softly your head fell on his other arm moaning his name louder.

“Lew…go faster baby” you whispered with eyes half closed as he did what you told him picking up the pace. You whined in pleasure once his skin was slapping against your as you sat up slowly moving his hand to your clit as he added pressure to your clit.

“oh fuck!” you screamed feeling a knot on your lower stomach throwing your head back, looking at the sweaty Lewis next to you, you placed a passionate kiss on his lips before moving away, getting on top of him sinking down on him. Groaning at the feeling and the sight of you was driving him crazy his hands resting on your ass as you moved up and down was enough to come for you there and then.

“god you’re so perfect…look at you” he whispered biting his lip pulling you down kissing you as you kept moaning moving your hips harder

“L-Lewis…I’m coming” you said as he nodded quickly admiring you, he was always ready for you. Placing butterfly kisses on your neck down to your collar bone you threw your head back releasing on him scratching his shoulders as he followed after a few seconds.

Wrapping your arms around his neck he held you close bringing you back down on the bed, kissing your cheek he pulled out of you.

“I’ll be right back my love” he whispered to you reaching his shirt giving it to you before pulling on his boxers going to the bathroom you couldn’t help but smile tiredly looking towards the bathroom waiting for your boyfriend to come back. After a few minutes he came back with a two towels.

Moving into the bed he slowly wiped your sweat off your forehead gently down to your neck, as he reached for the other one moving down, cleaning your part, you couldn’t help but blush. You were truly so lucky to have him. Wrapping your body in one of his silk sheets he joined you under the other covers and pulled you close to him in the same position you started with your head on his chest.

As he kept admiring you and sharing sweet kisses his phone rang which he reached for not letting his body leave yours.

“Hello?” he answered to which you remained quiet enjoying his heartbeat and his soft voice hugging his waist.

“Oh sorry mate, couldn’t tell you sooner something came up…yup last minute…I couldn’t ignore it” he said looking down at you smiling at his little lie which you tried to hide your giggle.

“yup yes definitely next weekend, enjoy you guys! have a good night” he said before hanging up.

“can’t believe I had to lie baby…I hope George believes it” he said softly rubbing your shoulder.

“I bet he will, he’s too distracted sometimes” you say snuggling closer to him, the rest of the night you remained in each other’s arms watching movies on your projector, eating popcorn and sharing touches and kisses. You both for sure were such a simple but cute couple and that night you proved again what you meant to Lewis.

[cheriladycl01]

Could you do fic for Checo Perez with wife reader? He had some insecurity about his abilities to race against the grid and she just hugged and comforted him. Add something else to it if you want to. Tag me later Thanks!! :))

The pressure is insane… - Sergio Perez x Wife! Reader

Plot: Checo replacing Alex was probably the best thing to happen to him in his Formula One career. However, so much pressure comes from being in that second Red Bull seat, not just the team but the fans too, and Checo doesn’t like the pressure on him.

When Checo came into the seat, and performance wasn’t great, people in the team told him it would be fine and to keep his head up because everyone knew he was getting used to how different the Red Bull Car is thanks to Max’s driving style.

But at it came to his second season, and it didn’t seem like things were improving much, Christian kept talking to him, explaining what was expected of him as if he hadn’t already informed him over 100 times.

He was just struggling with a car that was clearly built for their main driver, which is why Pierre crumbled under pressure and it’s why they couldn’t put up with Alex when he didn’t learn the car quick enough for them.

The gave Checo the benefit of the doubt throughout 2022, but when Red Bulls most dominant season came around it was without a doubt that your husband had to step up.

And in your eyes he had, getting two race wins under his belt, but he wasn’t consistent enough for Christian and it seemed that he wanted Checo to be actually challenging Max more.

It got worse when the Ferrari and McLaren started to beat him despite being in the worse car, and it was deemed a ‘driver issue’

Sergio felt awful, for a man who had been racing for as long as he had, he never felt doubtful of his abilities to put on a show and drive to the best of his ability.

But now, in the Red Bull seat, he actually understood the words ‘under pressure’ because he was under it constantly.

“Baby what’s wrong with you, you’ve been jittery all week” you ask your husband who was currently watching over some of his old races with a notepad.

“Hmmm?” He asks not even throwing a glance in your direction.

You knew he wasn’t listening.

“Well I just think that when aliens invade Earth that we should have a bunker ready and prepared so that you and I can help create a new civilisation after the government kill them all …” you say trying to grab a reaction from him.

“Hmmm yeah that’s really nice” he starts but then he looks up and his head cocks to the side as if his brain just processed the words you said. “Wait what?” He asks.

You chuckle and little bit happy to have his attention.

“I just wanted to see if you were listening, I asked what’s been up with you lately” you say softly, taking a seat next to him, reaching over to grab the remote and pause the race he was observing so his full attention was on you.

“Nothing wrong, I’m fine” he lies.

“Hermoso, we’ve been married for 6 years, I know when somethings up” you smile taking his hand into yours and kissing the back of it softly while watching for his reaction.

“I just … nevermind it’s stupid” he sighs looking down.

“None of your feelings are stupid baby, please let me in” you say calmly.

“I just feel like, I’m so singled out on the grid. You’ve got so many amazing drivers and then there’s me. Lewis is a 7x world champion, and and Max my own team mate has won 2, and he’s probably going to win this year by a landslide and then there’s Fernando again he has two championships, and then you’ve got all this new talent in Lando, and Charles and Carlos and now that Oscar is here, it’s getting tough” he admits and you softly smile at him.

“Where have all these doubts come from honey?” You ask, you knew he didn’t think he was the best driver, but he never once compared his abilities to individual drivers.

“Christian said that if I didn’t improve he’d replace me with Yuki, Liam or Daniel and that i might not even get a AlphaTauri seat as a replacement” he says putting his face in his hands with a soft sigh.

You pull him into a hug in which he nuzzles his head into your neck.

You are an incredible driver, there’s just such an insane amount of talent on the grid right now, you being one of them. World champion or not baby, your still one of only 20 drivers in the world that are here! Your a race winner and I’m so proud of everything you’ve done. You are incredible” you smile wrapping your arms around him while you feel him shake a little, presumably where he’s crying.

“Im just awful at it all. Driving, being a husband … you’ve been asking for a baby for 3 years and I keep telling you no because I’m so career focused but I can’t even seem to be good at that career” he complains and you almost laugh.

“Oh honey, I think you forget you are without a doubt the best thing that’s ever happened to me, child or no child. And where you aren’t ready because your at a point in your career that is crucial, I’ll always understand that darling. You are all I need, you are all I want. And I married you because I’m happy with you” you say tightening your hold on him.

“You know, I would never not be ready to have a kid. If you want one, we can have one. I’d never say no” he argues wiping his eyes and looking at you, only for you to release a breath of relief.

“Thank god, that night in Saudi Arabia really stuck” you admit and he cocks his head to the side not understanding. You take his hand and place it on your stomach, there wasn’t much of a bump, but a slight and minuscule weight gain was there. Enough that when he run his hand over your tummy he could feel it.

“Are you saying?” He asks and you nod.

“I know, I know it’s not the right time because your so stressed and I’ve been so nervous to tell you because I know you’ve had a lot on your plate since being in Red Bull and it was such a shock to me” you start to ramble thinking you should have waited.

“No this is the best news ever! This has made my day, my week, my year even!” He smiles before lifting you up and twirling you round.

“I love you” he says pulling you in for a kiss, happy with life.

And now he didn’t have anything to worry about, as long as he was able to provide for you and your child or children in the future he knew he could handle the pressure because now there was something else riding on it!

A/N: hey guys I didn’t realise tumblr only lets you do 50 tags per post! So I’m not sure what to do about taglist anymore? Any suggestions?

Taglist:

@littlesatanicassholebitch @hockey-racing-fubol @laura-naruto-fan1998 @22yuki @simxican @sinofwriting @lewisroscoelove @cmleitora @daemyratwst @lauralarsen @the-untamed-soul @thewulf @itsjustkhaos @purplephantomwolf @chasing-liberosis @summissss @gulphulp @starfusionsworld @jspitwall @sierruhhhh @georgeparisole @youcannotcancelquidditch @tallbrownhairsarcastic @ourteenagetragedy @peachiicherries @formulas-bitch @cherry-piee @spilled-coffee-cup @mehrmonga @bigsimperika @blueberry64857959 @eiraethh @lilypadlover @curseofhecate @alliwantisadonut @dark-night-sky-99 @i-wish-this-was-me @tallrock35 @butterfly-lover @barnestatic @landossainz @darleneslane @barcelonaloverf1life @r0nnsblog @ilove-tswizzle @laneyspaulding19 @malynn @viennakarma @landosgirlxoxo @marie0v @yourbane @teamnovalak @nikfigueiredo @fionaschicken @0picels0 @seomako @urdad-hot @tinydeskwriter @ironmaiden1313 @splaterparty0-0 @formula1mount @styl1shl1v

[sparkle-d]

waiting game | daniel ricciardo

pairing: daniel ricciardo x you

summary: in which you switch your phone with daniel's without knowing

tags: falling in love; chatting and messages; kind of enemies to friends to lovers

warnings: insecure reader; f!reader; dumb people

chapter: 3/?

(you: blue/ daniel: orange)

✧.* tag list: @bloodyvalentine93 @organasith @verstappens-hat @idkiwantchocolatee @landhoe @theplobnrgone @iamasimpingh0e @chiliwhore @buendiabebeta

chapter 3 - secret

You enter through your apartment‘s door and lean against it when you close it. You feel tired - more like drained - arriving home late at night. You had to use all of your social skills with these drivers that you usually aren’t close with. Max and Lando were one hundred per cent okay, but who kept messing out and annoying you was Daniel.

He noticed that you were a bit stiff around him, not really distressed about being in his presence, but he wanted to make you get used to being around him. Daniel made jokes with you, about you and your best friends, debated with you about the world's economy even though he didn’t say anything that made sense at all and you were sure he was describing the plot of Game of Thrones without noticing. He dared you to take some shots and you only did two and fooled him into thinking that you drank more than that. 

Daniel was drunk and at some point you got comfortable with him. He made you laugh when he wasn’t being a pain in the ass and discussing with you about which racing movie was the best. Cars was the only option for the spot in your opinion.

“Listen up, the soundtrack is amazing, McQueen character development is amazing, his friendship with Mater is wholesome and in Cars Two there’s Lewis Hamilton, what’s better than that?”

You sound as drunk as Daniel when you start to state your points. Maybe being around him makes you as silly as him. You even stopped being so concerned about your surroundings while talking to him.

“The lack of a character based on me is what doesn’t make Cars better than Speed Racer.” Daniel answers you with a grin.

“Why would they put such an annoying character in their movie?” You smile at him sarcastically when he looks offended, feeling like you’re winning the discussion “Okay, Speed Racer is a good movie, but the cartoon is better. There’s no discussion here.”

“Exactly!” He shouts jumping from the couch “Now we are speaking the same language, cupcake.”

Without noticing, he steals another genuine smile from your face, turning it into a giggle.

Only when you left Max’s apartment, it’s when you realize how out of energy you were. Daniel got all of your attention and you didn’t notice that your phone had completely died out of battery  too. You didn’t touch it during the whole night.

You groan as you head to your room, searching for your charger. You connect it to the energy and use your time to get ready to bed. It’s when you lay down that your phone lights up and comes back to life.

You watch the messages pop up on your screen and notice that your phone has been off for way too long. 

buttercup said: daniel is so drunk

buttercup said: do we need to save her from him?

bubbles said: if she needs help she would’ve texted us about it

bubbles said: she’s just fine i bet

buttercup said: he’s telling her about his monaco win he loves to brag about it

bubbles said: he talks so much omg

bubbles said: we should wait until their conversation is over so we can leave

bubbles said: max is so wasted too

buttercup said: yeah

buttercup said: when she’s finished with daniel we can go

You slap your face almost too hard, because they could’ve saved you from the misery of listening to drunk Daniel, about things you didn’t care about because you were already annoyed about Daniel himself. But no, they decided to wait for you to come ask for help, as if they weren’t your best friends since forever and didn’t know when you were struggling with something.

blossom said: yes fuck face, i didn’t send you a bottle with a rescue message inside of it because my cell phone ran out of battery

blossom said: but i was asking for help with my eyes for you to save me from daniel

blossom said: i hate you two

After letting a snort out and closing your group chat with Pierre and Charles you go through your older notifications. There’s a couple of messages from your mysterious boy, and as you read the notifications, your face warms instantly. Your cheeks are red and your ears are so hot they even feel sensible to the touch. 

You read again, making sure your eyes didn’t fool you.

hot stuff said: well

hot stuff said: i ahve a lingerie kink

hot stuff said: does thsi count as a screet?

Your phone is on top of your bed and you stare at it, your hands landing on your hips as you sit on the bed to take a breath. You try to think about what you would answer to hot stuff. You aren't very familiar with these kinds of things, but you probably have an idea of what a lingerie kink is, and just thinking about it makes your cheeks red again.

Hot stuff likes to see people in lingerie, right? Well, you don't understand it very much, but he probably doesn’t enjoy seeing EVERYONE in lingerie, only certain and specific people. People he has second intentions with. You can’t even think about this matter without almost bursting with only the thought of it.

You need to be very sure of yourself to agree to be only in lingeries in front of another person. It’s too vulnerable in your opinion.

You try to think about yourself showing a part of your body to someone else like that. Maybe your torso? Or your legs? Your chest? You couldn’t do it. No, no, no, no, no. Your body isn’t something you think others would like to see. Not even with beautiful lingerie on.

Would hot stuff be turned on if you showed up to him with lingerie?

No.

Jesus.

Scratch that.

You shake your head, because your mind is going in a certain direction you don't want to think off. You shouldn’t think about it because hot stuff isn’t even a close friend of yours, why would you jump into something else like this?

But… you wonder what is hot stuff’s type.

You look good in dark blue…

Before you can continue on thinking about things you shouldn’t, your phone lights up with a new message. Your heart rate increases without noticing, it could be anyone, but from where you are, you can kind of see the “hot stuff” stamped on the notification.

You watch it for a few seconds, when another notification pops up, startling you. You decide you should answer it, at least show hot stuff you're there and didn’t disappear after he said something like that.

hot stuff said: well sorry for these messages skdjfng i think this was a very intimate secret for me to share

hot stuff said: i’m really ashamed right now that i’ve come back to my normal senses. i was a bit drunk and

hot stuff said: i-

You let a soft laugh escape, you could imagine hot stuff getting nervous from telling you about his kink out of nowhere. If he’s as anxious as you, he’s totally freaking out at that moment.

ma fraise said: no worries! i found it amusing that i think i can totally imagine it being your preferences 

You shake your head. Why would you imagine it being his preference? You don’t even think about these kinds of matters. You’re getting nervous too.

ma fraise said: but also it made me intrigued by it

ma fraise said: so that’s why i didn’t answer

ma fraise said: it had me thinking i guess

ma fraise said: are you still drunk?

You wait, but the answer doesn’t come very fast.

hot stuff said: what were you thinking exactly?

hot stuff said: no just took a shower and only embarrassment is left in my body

There’s two options here: you could simply end this conversation here and go to sleep, or you could answer hot stuff’s question. Even if you feel like this conversation is going in a different way than you imagined, you have nothing to lose here. It won’t hurt to chat a little with someone you enjoy the company of, after a horrible night.

ma fraise said: don’t worry we all get drunk sometimes xD

ma fraise said: well i was thinking about how different people are 

ma fraise said: i tried to think about what makes that your kink, and i think i figured it out, but that’s a very strange concept for me

hot stuff said: why is it strange? i think it’s a very common kink

hot stuff said: i mean…

ma fraise said: it’s not a very common thing for me about enjoying people using lingerie

ma fraise said: actually i wouldn’t know if i enjoy or not because i never thought of it

ma fraise said: what’s the basic criteria for your kink?

hot stuff said: be someone i have an attraction for like any other kink i guess

hot stuff said: i don’t crave on seeing everyone using lingerie - don’t get me wrong

hot stuff said: binotto for example i, not in a million year, will want to see him wearing lingerie you know

hot stuff said: he’s not my type

You have a small smile on your face, because he mentioned someone he’s almost sure you know since you let out by accident that you’re a Ferrari fan. Sometimes you think that hot stuff is very caring in your friendship and you feel like you’re growing more and more into trusting and enjoying having his company with you.

Maybe switching your phone with a stranger wasn’t the worst thing after all.

hot stuff said: but you i would be interested in seeing

hot stuff said: even tho i have no idea what you look like

And you throw your phone away from you.

(prev chap // next chap)

[morkleemelon]

pairing: mark x reader, best friend! haechan x reader, gender neutral

genre: college! au, angst, based on the song ‘drivers license’ by olivia rodrigo

warnings: language, heartbreak, allusions to a broken past, mention of parental issues, college party with alcohol

word count: 5021

song recs: drivers license - olivia rodrigo, heather - conan gray, happier - ed sheeran, a soulmate who wasn’t meant to be - jess benko, someone you loved - lewis capaldi

I got my driver's license last week

Just like we always talked about

'Cause you were so excited for me

To finally drive up to your house

But today I drove through the suburbs

Crying 'cause you weren't around

The apartment door shut behind you with a soft click as you return after a long day of classes. Feeling around the wall in the dark, you switch on the overhead light, the murmur of electricity giving its greetings.

Your living space is underwhelming: you’ve allowed yourself minimal furniture to save on funds and what little you do have is unfortunately not tidied well.

Unopened mail scatters across your plaster countertop. One in particular seems out of place amongst the dull grays and whites of the others, the bright smile of a supposed student greeting you with a cartoonish “congrats! you passed your driving test!”. 

It all seems pointless now.

Your body aches as you set down your backpack and strip off your outer layers. It’s mid-spring in Seoul, so daily downpours of rain is a given.

Tossing your raincoat carelessly over a nearby chair, you don’t mind as the raindrops patter onto the wood panel floor as you make your way to the living room couch. The worn out leather used to be comfortable, but now it scratches at your skin with the memories you had attached to it.

You remember when he used to be here with you. You’d laughed together, cried together, talked together until the moon went to rest and the sun took its place in the sky. Everything was brighter then when he loved you.

Mark had chased after you first. He’d taken to you almost immediately after you’d met; he was walking downtown with his friends and when he wasn’t careful where he was going, backing into you and causing you to spill your tea all over yourself. He was flustered, running into the nearby café to get you napkins to clean yourself off. You said it was okay, but he insisted he give you his number so he could pay to get your shirt cleaned or buy you a new one.

Pulling a blanket throw over your legs, you switch on the tv to drown out the quiet. Your eyes fix on the old soap opera, but you aren’t really paying attention. The roaring laugh track falls dead to your ears as you pull the blanket closer over yourself. The space next to you feels so empty.

Mark was never subtle about liking you. After that first time you met, he made it his mission to make you his. You weren’t sure about it because he was part of the popular crowd and you weren’t one to date around. Not to mention, being pursued so earnestly was a new experience for you, one that seemed too good to be true. The first time he asked you out, you rejected him. You thought he would give up then, realize you were nothing special and you would go back to your sheltered life. That was what you grew to expect from others.

But unhindered, he persisted. Much to your astonishment, he snaked his way into your everyday life, chipping away at your walls piece by piece. When it rained, he had an umbrella waiting. When you cried, he had the tissues ready. Piece by piece, you let him see inside. You could never forget the moment when he finally succeeded and your resolve came crumbling down.

He was sitting right there, on the cushion not one arm’s length away from where you sit now. Mark was never shy about telling you that you were beautiful, that you were special, but this time he prepared a special weapon to win you over.

Mark sat there strumming his acoustic guitar, the one his big brother gave him for christmas, as he so excitedly boasted to you. 

“This is a song I wrote about you,” he said, peering into your eyes. His voice was soft and he seemed shy for the first time. Fingers dancing on the strings, he was genuine and vulnerable in front of you. “Forever,” he sang and ‘forever’ you believed.

So you let yourself love him back. 

You kissed him first, to his surprise. You mustered all the courage you had and you leaned over his instrument to cup his warm cheek, pressing your lips quickly to the corner of his mouth. Maybe it was short and you had missed a little, but your heart raced with anticipation. “How would he react?” you had worried to yourself afterwards. You had your doubts, that is, until he kissed you back. 

Mark’s hands were laced through your hair as he brought you in again, this time deeper than the first. Moving his guitar onto the floor beside you, he pulled you into his lap and you kissed him back with all the love you had. It felt so natural, moving your lips against his and feeling his breath fan across your wet skin as he kissed a line down your neck.

You could still feel it, only now it burns.

He asked you to be his and you breathed a “yes” back. He kissed away your insecurities, insisting they made you all the more special. Piece by piece, then all at once, you gave yourself to him. 

Days turned to weeks then months, you came back to your apartment together, kissing, loving, he always went out of his way for you. “This is it,” you thought, “he’s the one”. 

You talked about him with your friends all the time, gushing about how good he was to you. Mark integrated into your friend group with ease and he got along especially well with your best friend, Haechan. When he met your mom, she wouldn’t stop praising how well mannered Mark was. In every way, he was perfect for you. And in every way, you believed he would be forever.

One of the things Mark always teased you about was your lack of a license. Most students your age had one now that you were in university, but you had yet to take the test out of fear. Mark let you drive his car around the parking lot and the two of you laughed at your jolting stops every time you hit a curb. You said you were scared, but he held your hand and told you it was okay. With his help, you drove the small white car around in circles until the fear went away.

You promised him that once you got your license, the first place you would go was his house since he always had to drive to yours. Mark’s face lit up in such a way that could only be pure joy and you kissed the night away. He said he couldn’t wait.

But, you guess, now he can.

And you're probably with that blonde girl

Who always made me doubt

She's so much older than me

She's everything I'm insecure about

Yeah, today I drove through the suburbs

'Cause how could I ever love someone else?

It was only so long before you came across your first problems. Part of it was your fault; you were foolish enough to believe that you would always be the most important one in his life. You’d grown so used to Mark’s special treatment and constant reassurance that when he treated you any different, you got so scared.

It was a saturday night and he wanted to bring you out to a party. You begged him to stay inside like you always did, just the two of you, but you could tell he really wanted to go. 

“Can’t you go without me?,” you asked, lying next to him in your bed.

“I wanna show you off,” he whined back, pulling you into a suffocating hug.

“Ah, fine!,” you squealed, your chin wedged in the nape of his neck as he squeezed you tight. He pressed a dozen kisses all over you then.

“It’s not a big deal,” you thought, “this is the least I can do for him”.

When you showed up to the party, you stuck right by his side. You had never been to one before, the alcohol and drugs making you uncomfortable. The trap music blared loudly as sweaty, intoxicated students grinded on each other shamelessly. Unfamiliar men looked at you with hooded, lustful eyes and you pulled at the hem of your short dress in discomfort. Mark hardly regarded you except for a hand at your waist and chatted freely with his friends that you didn’t know.

You felt out of place. Even without drinking anything, it wasn’t long before the heat of the frat house made your head spin and you tugged at Mark’s arm to get his attention.

“Baby, I want to leave,” you pleaded.

“What? But we haven’t been here for even an hour, ___”. Mark looked so disappointed as you interrupted his drinking game.

“I’m sorry, Mark, I really don’t want to be here,” you insisted, hoping he would once again leave everything and come to you. 

For the first time, he hesitated. And for the first time, you saw her.

“Mark!,” an unfamiliar voice shouted over the cacophony. A blonde girl headed over to you. She was tall, clearly older by the way she carried herself. Her skin glistened with sweat from the party, but it didn’t take away from her gorgeous features. Even as her makeup ran slightly, you took in her looks with a pang of envy.

“Oh, hey!,” Mark greeted, his hand leaving your waist to pull her into a hug. Your heart tugged with jealousy. The way she looked at him and the way he didn’t even seem to see you as he chatted with her made you sick to your stomach. You felt like you couldn’t breathe.

Turning around, you weaved your way through the crowd towards the exit. The cold night air greeted you as you opened the front door to leave. You shivered at the difference in temperature as you made your way quickly down the driveway. It felt so wrong to be walking away from Mark, but the emotions crowding your head made you take one step after the other.

All the rest of you begged for him to stop you, to run after you and reassure you like he always did. So when you felt his hand grip your elbow, spinning you around, tears streamed down your face in relief. 

“I’m sorry, ___,” he apologized, hugging you close. It was so warm. “I’m sorry”.

And you forgave him so easily.

And I know we weren't perfect but I've never felt this way for no one

And I just can't imagine how you could be so okay now that I'm gone

Guess you didn't mean what you wrote in that song about me

'Cause you said forever now I drive alone past your street

But that fight was the first of many. Each worse than the last - it started with bickering about little things like being late for dates or accidentally missing calls. Much to your greatest fear, Mark became noticeably slower to respond to your messages and always seemed to cancel your plans together, if you even made them anymore. Slowly, you found yourself sitting alone in your house more, waiting for him. 

Still, you believed in him naively. Every couple fights, right? And he promised you forever. Just like every other time, he would come back to you and all would be well. You loved him like you’ve never loved anyone, even more than yourself.

But what you didn’t know was that you were pressing on the gas while Mark was slamming the brakes - your relationship became dysfunctional and before you could admit it, you were the only one hanging on.

 You pressed too hard and everything exploded.

“We’re just friends, I don’t know what’s not clicking!,” Mark huffed angrily as he paced around your apartment kitchen. 

“I’m not saying anything, all I mean is that I wish you’d told me that you were driving her home,” you reply, raising your voice slightly.

“You don’t own me, ___, I don’t have to tell you everything! What about you and Haechan, huh? You’re always hanging out with him and I never say anything!”. His voice was almost a shout, nothing like the loving tone he always used with you. He started packing up his things.

“Chan is my best friend, you know that,” you answer, voice breaking slightly as tears began to form. 

Mark zipped up his bag, pausing to look up at you. His gaze was stiff, but it softened slightly at the sight of you. You could tell he was thinking about his next move. You thought it would be just like every other argument you had - he would pull you into his chest and the rhythmic beat of his heart would tell you he forgave you. After all, you had his promise of ‘forever’. 

But this time, he turned away. He sauntered towards the door and with his hand on the handle, he fired his words like arrows to your heart.

“I think we need a break”

And just like that he left, the door clicking softly behind him.

One second, two, three.

You waited with your breath hitched in your throat for him to come back. 

Four, five, six. 

Tears dangled from the tip of your chin before splattering against the wooden floorboards as you listened for his footsteps to approach again.

They never did.

And all my friends are tired

Of hearing how much I miss you but

I kinda feel sorry for them

'Cause they'll never know you the way that I do

Yeah, today I drove through the suburbs

And pictured I was driving home to you

That night left you utterly broken. You stood there in shock until the gravity of your pain brought you crashing down. Crying and crying more, you waited still for him to come back. Mark broke down your walls only to leave you defenseless - sheltering yourself was a good defense mechanism, one that was supposed to prevent you from being hurt like your dad did your mom. 

In every way, you blamed yourself. You were never good enough for him and you never did nearly as much for him as he did you. A piece of work, that’s what you were. You didn’t deserve him and now he finally realized it.

You had cried all week, barely leaving your room to eat and go to class. You debated calling in sick, but even that cost energy you didn’t have. Checking your phone religiously, the pressure in your chest grew greater each time you saw he didn’t text or call.

Your last two messages were left unread: you’d asked him to call you to talk and you said you were sorry for doubting him.

Calling your friends was the only relief that came to you, but you felt bad for always bothering them. They didn’t have the words to comfort you. Well, there wasn’t anything they could say to comfort you. 

But the final blow was yet to come. 

Your phone buzzed with a message and your hand instinctively rushed to check it. 

A message from Mark?

Your heart dropped when you saw it was only a calendar reminder.

“Driver’s License Test Today!”

You squeezed your eyes shut then as the memories of the times you spent practicing with Mark flooded back unwillingly. Shifting around in your cold bed, you wrapped yourself closer into the mess of sheets. He praised you as you got better, setting up the appointment himself.

“You can do it, babe,” he smiled at you widely from the passenger seat, “Once you get your license you can come over to my house all by yourself”. He leaned in close and you instinctively tilted your neck towards him to meet his lips. Kissing the sensetive spot where your jaw meets your ear, you let out a soft sigh of content. “And we can have so much fun”.

Struggling to ignore the stinging pain of the recollection, it took everything in you to muster the energy to go. Something in you still believed that maybe he would come back. Maybe he just needed time to think and he still meant forever. Maybe he was hurting just like you.

So you go to the dmv and you drive just like you practiced with Mark’s old white car, only this time with your own rental. The proctor ticked away at the boxes as you cruised around the familiar suburban streets. You’re glad he didn’t mention your puffy under eyes and slept-in hair.

“Alright, kiddo” the proctor finished signing the checklist as you pulled back into the original parking lot, “congrats! You passed!”.

You smiled and thanked him, but you didn’t feel happy. After the proctor hopped out of your car, you checked your phone to see you had a missed message. Heart racing, you unlock it quickly, hands shaking while you typed in your passcode. It had started to drizzle outside.

“___, I’ve been thinking a lot and I think it’s best if we broke up. I just don’t love you anymore. I’m sorry”. 

You dropped your phone.

Minutes must have passed before you could move a muscle. Rain pattered gray against your windshield and you watched as the droplets ran down and disappeared into the wipers. You felt like you couldn’t breathe.

Your body on autopilot, you start the car, the old engine skipping a few times before running smoothly. Hardly thinking, you cruised through the suburban neighborhoods outside of Seoul, not sure of where you were going, but needing to go somewhere. 

“Mark,” you say to no one, “Mark”. The second one was barely a whisper. You repeated his name to yourself as the rain bore down harder, tears falling down onto your lap. Curling your fingers tighter around the steering wheel, you sped down to the only place you knew to go.

“What the hell,” the boy at the door stated, staring bewildered at your soaking form. You sobbed, raindrops mixing with your tears so it was unclear which was which. Lighting cracked in the dark sky, followed by the inevitable rumble of thunder. Your car was pulled over the side of the road and you stood shivering pitifully in front of your best friend. 

Haechan took you inside, offering you a towel and dry clothes while you said nothing, not trusting your voice to handle words. Of course, the two of you were close enough to understand this and he offered you silence back. 

You cried into his lap as he patted you on the arm. The fireplace crackled in the background, but you still felt so cold. 

“He broke up with me,” you hiccupped out finally, grabbing onto his hands for dear life. You hadn’t voiced it out loud yet and the words left your throat like knives.

“That son of a bitch,” Haechan cursed, letting you grip onto him, not saying anything about the pain. 

“I-I,” your body shook as you hiccupped uncontrollably. He shushed you, stroking your hair with his other hand to calm you down.

You took deep breaths, closing your eyes to try to pacify your trembling sobs and make the pain go away.

“It hurts,” you finally managed, “It hurts so bad”. 

Haechan squeezed your hand in acknowledgement, not knowing what to say. Just like that, he held you for hours until his legs went numb and your small gasps calmed into steady breathing. Still, he didn’t move.

“One day,” he softly broke the silence, brushing invisible circles on the back of your hand, “it’ll all pass. You might think he’s everything right now, but if he wasn’t ready to love all of you, he doesn’t deserve you”. 

And it was after letting those words sink in that you slowly began to notice the warmth of the fireplace. 

Red lights

Stop signs

I still see your face

In the white cars

Front yards

Can't drive past the places

We used to

Go to

'Cause I still fucking love you, babe

You drifted asleep on his lap then, peacefully. When you awoke, your best friend was no longer in your embrace and you blinked to remember where you were. For a second, just a small second, you forgot about what happened the day before. 

Shifting up to a sitting position, you stretched your sore neck and looked around to Haechan in the kitchen. A sizzling noise accompanied by the alluring smell of bacon wafted over. Your stomach grumbled - it had been a few days since you’d had the appetite to eat something. 

You made your way to the familiar kitchen, one you had spent many days hanging out in. Haechan tilted his head towards the sound of your approaching footsteps.

“You’re awake?”

You nodded in response. He wore a floral apron as he cooked, his hair still messy from sleep. For the first time in a while, you smiled.

After breakfast, he let you drive to school.

“I didn’t know you got your license,” the boy remarked as he buckled in.

“I did. Just yesterday”. Your voice was still slightly hoarse from crying. With your best attempts in Haechan’s bathroom, you washed the tears from your face. You hoped you could pretend you were okay.

But as you drove along, you passed the house that you had so temporarily forgotten about. The white car parked outside of Mark’s home pierced your chest with dull pain as you remembered the promises you made together. 

“That’s cool. Did you finish the bio project?,” Haechan made his best attempt at capturing your attention, understanding what was going through your head. 

You couldn’t reply.

Sidewalks

We crossed

I still hear your voice

In the traffic

We're laughing

Over all the noise

God, I'm so blue

Know we're through

But I still fucking love you, babe

The rest of the ride was silent as you struggled to keep it together. You thought about how Mark used to kiss you whenever there was a red light, leaning across the dash to tell you he loved you. You used to laugh at the ticklish feeling of his fingers feeling around your jaw to get a better angle to your lips, squealing at him to go when the light changed green.

You felt numb as you sat in your morning bio lecture, heeding no attention to your professor’s voice. Haechan sat next to you, observing your pained expression with concern. 

“___, you okay?”

The question only makes you feel worse and you lean your chin weakly against his shoulder. You let out a small whimper, lips trembling as you hid your face in his neck. Grabbing your hand, he led you out of the dark lecture hall. You didn’t have the energy to ask where you were going as he pulled you out of the university science building. 

“Give me your keys, I’ll drive,” Haechan directed. You obliged. 

Seoul traffic picked up and the two of you sat listening to the radio. 

“You wanna go get coffee?,” your best friend asked. 

You didn’t answer, listening to the melody of the acoustic music playing on the radio. It reminded you of the song Mark wrote about you all those months ago. Haechan accepted your silence as affirmation and he pulled into a quaint café lot. A white car is parked in front of yours and you think you’re seeing things because it looks like Mark’s. Everything seemed to remind you of him.

You didn’t notice that Haechan got out of the car until he held your door open for you. Numbly, you step out, not taking your eyes off the white vehicle. 

It was Mark’s.

Haechan realized the same too late and you were already staring through the café window. There he sat, the person you’ve been dying to see and hear from. Mark sat there and across from him, you recognized the blonde from the party. He left her for you then, but now you couldn’t say the same.

He looked so happy, happier than he was with you in the last months of your relationship, his smile reaching his eyes and his nose scrunching up as he laughed at something she said. Mark’s eyes sparkled as he looked at her. You don’t miss how his hand gripped the edge of the chair behind her back so his arm was almost around her shoulders. 

He looked so okay without you.

Haechan pulled you under the small café umbrella as it started to drizzle. You were turned away from the window, out of sight from Mark, but the image was already burned into the back of your head.

“What am I supposed to do, chan?,” you whimpered, letting your tears soak into the taller boy’s chest as he hugged you close, “I still fucking love him”. 

This time, he didn’t answer as you gripped onto his tee shirt. He didn't have to as you remembered your best friend’s words from the night before: “It’ll all pass”.

“It’ll all pass,” you thought desperately, although you felt like the sidewalk would swallow you whole. “It’ll all pass,” you repeated, this time out loud, the words feeling like cement as you sobbed into your best friend’s shirt. 

It started to rain harder before Haechan spoke, his voice rumbling in his chest against your cheek, “It’ll all be okay one day, I promise”. You held onto these words for dear life.

…

Switching off the television, you shuffle out of the living room to get ready for bed. It’s been a week since then and you still repeat Haechan’s words to yourself every night. They serve as your only consolation to fight against the knowledge that Mark found somebody new. Somebody that isn’t you is making him happy now. Somebody that isn’t you is hearing that they’re special, that they’re beautiful.

Still, you pressed the band-aids to your bullet hole.

“It’ll be okay,” you whisper to yourself as you turn your bedside light off, “It’ll pass one day”. The promises wash around your head until sleep invites you in and finally the dull pain of being awake can be ignored.

The bright light of morning came as a surprise, waking you from your slumber. You shield the golden rays from your eyes with a tired hand, although welcoming the rare sunshine in a month filled with rain. Birds sing their weekend song as you stretch the sleep from your bones. For the first time in a while, your room appeared bright.

Brushing your teeth, you make a peace sign in the mirror at your messy hair. Letting out a single chuckle, you flop your atrocious bun to the other side. For the first time in a while, the ache in your chest doesn’t feel quite as painful. Spitting out your toothpaste foam, you take the time to cleanse your face properly, patting on your favorite moisturizer after.

You brush through the tangles in your hair, looking at your reflection, taking in the first image of yourself trying to heal. It isn’t a lot, but it’s everything.

Strolling to the kitchen, you pour yourself a bowl of cereal. Munching away, you pull open the living room curtains, letting the morning light stream in. There you stand, watching the bumblebees rub against the pink flowers to drink their nectar.

“Cheers,” you whisper, raising your spoon up to the window before bringing it to your lips. Finishing the simple meal, you debate what to do next. 

You look to the couch, wondering if it would be okay to sit and waste your day away with netflix. Just then, you feel a buzz from your back pocket.

“____, you free?” the message reads. It’s from Haechan.

You reply that you are and he asks you to come over to hang out together. Looking to the couch then back to your phone, you head down to the door to grab your keys and your license. Before you leave, you pause, looking at the cluttered letters collecting dust on the countertop. Before the door clicks shut behind you, they’re in the trash and the counter smells of lemon disinfectant.

The weather is so nice. You feel the warmth against your face as you walk down to your car. It’s not the rental anymore because Haechan helped you find a used one that you could afford. It’s bright red, your favorite color, and it doesn’t skip when you start the engine. 

You cruise down the suburban streets with the windows down to feel the fresh breeze play with your hair. It smells like cut grass and petrichor. 

Turning onto the familiar street, you expect your heart to clench at the sight of Mark’s house, but it doesn’t. You press the gas pedal a little harder as you speed past the white car parked in the driveway. Taking a deep breath, you drive past his street. 

Maybe it hurts a little, but you don’t cry anymore. You turn the wheel smoothly as you pull onto a different road, just like the way you always practiced. Maybe it hurts a little, but you’re always thankful for the time you had with him. You turn the radio to your favorite channel, letting your body sway to the relaxing guitar tune. Maybe it hurts a little, but you’ll always love the song he wrote about you. Even if Mark doesn’t mean it anymore, someone new could. 

Following the route you now have memorized, you steer into your best friend’s neighborhood.

Maybe you’re driving alone, but it doesn’t hurt so much. Not when there’s someone waiting for you.

I know we weren't perfect but I've never felt this way for no one

And I just can't imagine how you could be so okay now that I'm gone

Guess you didn't mean what you wrote in that song about me

'Cause you said forever now I drive alone past your street

Yeah, you said forever now I drive alone past your street

©️morkleemelon all rights reserved

[mish-tique]

Could you do protective Alpha Lewis with Omega Max ✨

hi anon! sorry it took a while but here we gooo. big shout out to @transparentpot for making the cutest 4433 fanart and lowkey keep me motivated to write this.

Hit "keep reading" or read this on my ao3. And don't be afraid to sent in your own requests in my asks! info is available here.

As they got older, things changed. Of course they did. Racing tracks got changed, teams disappeared while new ones appeared and drivers seemed to keep changing. But nothing changed as much as their pack did.

It had always been dynamic but for some reason, Lewis realized this morning just how much it had changed. To the point where Max was one of the oldest and that almost felt wrong to Lewis. Because in his memories Max was still the youngest driver to enter the grid and technically he was, due to the FIA changing rules about the super license, but they weren't the youngest anymore. Not even close.

Lewis really didn't understand why it hit him now, with Max to him in the nest the omega had made for them the day before. He didn't know yet if it were just Max' hormones acting up or if his heat was coming close but he couldn't complain. Because after years of practice making nests - regular ones, heat ones, those for the whole pack and those emergency ones when someone was incredibly sad, Lewis had seen them all. He never complained, they were great and Max' smell was so good it relaxed him in no time.

But as he kept thinking, he began to observe his omega. But not just his omega - Max, winner of the world driver champion ship, the cutest, sometimes the harshest yet also his sweetest boyfriend. Though he had started thinking about finally proposing with that ring because really, they weren't getting younger. But those sweet, happy thoughts were pushed aside when he looked closer and saw how exhausted Max looked.

He hadn't been taking care of Max properly.

Because Max wasn't just Max, he was one of the best racing drivers - though not at the top anymore. At one point Max and Lewis himself too got replaced by younger blood, newer talent and they both decided on a more midfield team. It had been strange at the beginning, somewhat insulting sometimes, but somehow it just meant fun for them now. But that aside.

Next to being a racer Max was an omega, and not just an omega. He was one of the eldest omega's and mated to Lewis, meaning he became the pack omega. It came respect and love as much as it came with pressure. Because it meant they went to Max for their daily dose of smiles and hugs, but for comfort too when needed, sought advice when no one else felt smart enough or when they simply needed a listening ear. All of those things, so many pack members and most of them went to Max for all of it.

Lewis knew it wasn't easy but as he looked at the eyebags Max was sporting, it seemed like he hadn't been stepping up enough as pack alpha. Omega's were usually seen as comforting but surely he could do something too.

And while he noticed that his scent had soured in worry, he couldn't help but be filled with warmth too. Because he was so, so increbly proud of his omega. So proud of his boyfriend, his love, his mate.

But Max' spare time was scarce and almost all went into the pack. Lewis started wondering how he could help and couldn't help his own scent from souring. Because as he overthought everything he dismissed too easily before, Lewis noticed that only two race weekends had passed and that this season would be the hardest one ever, pack-wise.

While certain guys like Charles, Carlos, Lando and George had stayed, they had gotten a whole load of fresh names too.

Fresh names that seemed to either be unable to control their nature for whatever fucking reason or ones that were somehow just always stuck in drama. That only Max could fix, who knows why.

Hell, last week Lewis had even walked into the scene of one of the newbie alpha's yelling at Max. Where they got the guts, no idea, but they seemed to have gotten manner lessons from guys like Mazepin, from back in their days. It had taken 5 seconds for Lewis to snap out of it and pull rank on the idiot, commanding them to submit and learn his fucking place because Lewis would turn around in his fucking grave before one would dare to show such attitude to Max Verstappen.

Honestly, the disrespect.

Lewis' scent must have soured too much because he suddenly noticed Max waking up, the omega's scent smelling worried. But Lewis managed to ease it quite quickly with a smile.

"Slept well?"

Max did one of his cutest wake-up rituals and Lewis had to stop himself from smothering him with kisses. Well, fuck it. Lewis didn't have to stop himself from anything so he just did so - kissed him breathless. His omega mewled and damn it now was not the time to get horny.

"I did, what time is it?" Max asked.

Looking at the clock Lewis got surprised because they rarely slept in nowadays, but here they were. "Almost eleven," he replied and he almost wished he didn't because the omega was out of the nest within seconds, smelling even more worried.

"Fuck, Christian needed help with his press scandal and Louis-"

Lewis stopped him right there with a look. "What?" Max was obviously confused and worried, his smell souring and damn this was not wat Lewis wanted.

"No, no you did nothing wrong don't worry," he soothed the omega, pulling the younger one in his arms. While they had gotten years of practice now, Max was still insecure about his role as omega, especially as pack alpha. "In fact, you have been amazing, working so hard," he praised, happy at how Max preened at that, "But I want you to take care of yourself too. It has only been a month and I feel like if we keep this up you're gonna neglect yourself the whole season."

Max seemed to understand it, though reluctant. "But if I don't do it, who will?"

"I will," he reassured. Which apparently didn't appease his omega, who gave him an unimpressed look. "What? I'm the pack alpha, have some trust in me."

He was a bit offended but the chuckle Max let out soon pushed that away. "I know," Max said while getting closer, into the nest again, "It's just that I don't see you handle omega drama yet. Really, how jealous can they be, I swear I should be paid for relationship counseling."

Lewis laughed at that, resting his chin on Max' head, rumbling at how his omega pleased him, even by just sitting next to him. "You're the pack omega but most definitely not the only one. Charles knew how to keep Lando in line, he should be able to keep these guys in line too. And Lando was the devil himself at that age - you know what they say, takes one to know one. I'll have a talk with them, they'll understand. Sleep some more and maybe then come to the pack room to have some fun? No counseling, no drama, just snuggles."

Max seemed to actually glow at that.

So that was what Lewis did - he called a meeting. He might've neglected his duties a bit too much so he just called everyone. Young alpha's got reminded of the rules, even if they were silent ones. Omega's got told that they could go to him too for help or one of the other older omega's like Lando and Charles. Said omega's got asked to stay longer and were understanding when he explained the situation.

It was around 4 o'clock and while Lewis had no idea what the omega had done all the time, he seemed rested and smelled very happy. So Lewis scented him, updated him on the situation and if he found his omega in a pack nest within the next five minutes, he kept that information to himself.

[foreverformula1]

How much would I like to work for each F1 team:

Mercedes

9/10-Anything

Well payed for any position I have whether I am a driver or not, I can take home all driver trophies so it’s ‘fun’ even if I get 2th behind Lewis(frustrating too) and don’t forget that they are currently 2th-3th on the social media standing on WTF1 ,it has a good team overall.

RedBull

8/10-Anything else

Well payed for any position I have whether I am a driver or not, the team looks fine overall except for the principal and others ‘in power’ like Helmut Marko or head engineers,basically anyone who has a power over the drivers. Anyway, I would have to think a bit before getting one of the leading positions next to Helmut or Chrisian Horner since they are pretentious and Horner made fun of Gasly on Drive to Survive.

6/10-Driver

The officials get to have fun interviews,meetings and experiences but they’re treated horribly(and that’s why I don’t give them 7/10 + because of the fact that the drivers don’t get to keep the original trophies).

10/10-stunts only

I would LOVE being the stunt driver way more than being the official driver,like I already mentioned before,they officials obviously still do more experiences but the stunts are the most exciting part of the team that drivers did only some times, so I’d say 10/10 as an official stunt driver(they don’t seem to have an official one but I’d try to be that one anyway) also,it’s not as demanding in time as an official driver contract. Here’s the link of what I am talking about.

Renault

9/10(driver)

?/10(other)

I don’t have any information about how much non drivers get paid and I don’t have enough videos of the rest of the team but until now every driver seemed satisfied to be with that team and the interviews are nice. Anyway the mechanics haven’t had the best first impression from me since they also made fun of Grosjean on ‘Drive to Survive’. Anyway,now that it’s becoming ‘Alpine’, the car and colours already motivate me even more.

McLaren

6/10-Driver

McLaren is one of those teams who keeps their drivers’ trophies and even though they have a successful history, it’s not successful enough for me to become their driver with that condition. Anyway, some say that one of the reasons why Lewis left that team is because of the trophies,indeed he only has his first one from his days with McLaren. Although they seem to often have fun experiences.

9/10-Other

They also seem to have fun in their own way and I really liked the video of McLaren about how their staff’s maintained their mental health during quarantine. I don’t know if they are payed enough or not though,but I have seen that they travel in groups:They have a private jet for the rest of the staff only and a private bus so I guess that even if they are payed averagely,they don’t have to spend money on transportation which is pretty much expensive if you are not one of the main figure of the team. Anyway the mechanics and principal haven’t had the best first impression from me since they also made fun of Grosjean on ‘Drive to Survive’ (yes,them too).

Racing Point

3/10-Driver

After what’s happening this year, I would just feel a little bit under pressured,hoping not to loose my seat especially after what Perez has done for the team. They don’t seem to have as much fun or experiences as others and I wouldn’t feel 100% comfortable to work for a team that has ‘stolen’ another team’s engine. There’s also the whole drama of the unreported Covid case. Basically,there are too many controversies caused by the leaders that have you in in social media and tabloids as one of the possible main faces. If you asked me last year, I wouldn’t have decided such a low mark.

5/10-Other

I guess that they are payed averagely or enough at least from what I have seen happening in Drive to Survive, I also heard that if it wasn’t for Perez ,half of the team would have been dismissed because of the lack of money. I think that they are simply OK now that they have money coming in. I don’t know much from the team overall but they are dominating the social media team standings (on WTF1 on YouTube). But like on the driver’s case,it isn’t amazing working for a controversial team,even when you are not the face of it. Just earing this and that about your team makes you want to part away. Especially if you are one of the mechanics who had to build the car,you’d just feel insecure about the whole copycat thing. There’s also the fact that the mechanics made fun of Grosjean and Sainz for crashing on ‘Drive To Survive’.

Ferrari

8/10-Driver

Because each one of them has their own particular experience which can go from very well to simply good: Even when you don’t leave as the most satisfied driver,your time there has been memorable and it’s literally a honour being associated with the first and most successful (not anymore...) team ever,which also has most fans out of all teams. Ferrari also has a thing for traditions and strikes back at whoever talks badly about them,so I would have to pay attention to what I say but that’s not a problem for me since I am a private person and I don’t talk much. Many fun/media experiences guaranteed whether it’s for Ferrari’s social media presence or not. A lot of money for sure,not only from Ferrari but from the sponsors too. Be aware that getting famous has a lot of cons too,especially during this digital era that has a lot of haters and misunderstandings. But if you are a calm and cautious driver,everything should be fine. But on the other side,Ferrari has ‘ruined’ many drivers in past (that’s what most people say,I believe that even if they weren’t as fortunate,like I already said,they had benefits from it).

10/10-Other

In Ferrari even mechanics are well paid and if we are talking about 2020 I’d say that it’s ever better being with Ferrari since I am Italian,although they don’t have races in Rome. Saying that you work with Ferrari even if you have a small role will always put a good impression in everybody.

Alpha Tauri

9/10-Anything

Another Italian based team,so it’s a good preference for me. The whole team seems good for now. They also have some interesting experiences but not many.Though now that they are with RedBull, I don’t know if the drivers get to keep their trophies.

Alfa Romeo

8/10-Anything

The last Italian team,like I said, I have a slight preference for them in terms of comfortabiliy.The environment seems overall fine and they had to have something to convince Kimi to move from Ferrari OR he wanted to keep being in the business but had small problems in Ferrari want convinced him to move away. Whatever happened he seems happier than when he was during his Ferrari days and remember that’s he’s being paid A LOT LESS than before(37 millions from 2014-2017 to 8 millions in 2020). I just hope that they can succeed in future.

Haas

6/10-Driver and leaders

Even thought it was fun hearing Gunter Steiner on Drive To Survive with his accent, I am anti profane and I couldn’t tolerate being around him all the time as a driver or other big image of the sport. They don’t have many any experience and that’s makes the team a little boring.

7/10-Other

I like that the team does its own thing and it’s sad that this year’s car starts good but the farer you go,the worse it gets. Good team so far. But I didn’t feel comfortable when they laughed at Gunter’s joke on Grosjean at the gathering,still,maybe they felt obligated. Here’s what I am referring about regarding the car:

Williams

8/10-Anything

It must be sad being the very last team,especially when you’ve had such a successful past. Not to talk about how the whenever they are on points ,something happens .🥺 But all these years they seem to have a good environment. And as in 2020,they showed me that they ALL have at least a little bit of happy sometimes,on and off YouTube and they are currently 2/3 on the Social media team standings on WTF1. Speaking of,I like how they laugh at their condition. The drivers are fairly paid and maybe the rest of the team too but it’s sad that they don’t even gain points,so they probably haven’t seen additional money for years.

Percentages from bottom to top:

Racing Point-160

Haas-260

RedBull-280 (non classified stunt position)

McLaren-300

Williams-320

Alfa Romeo-320

Renault-360 (to revise because there’s almost no information about the rest of the team)

Final 3,tie lineup adjusted from least to top pick.

Alpha Tauri-360

Still under RedBull leaders. I am not sure about that but they may or may not keep my trophies because it’s what RB does. May be obligated to give space to rookies or RB drivers and move to RB or another team.

Mercedes -360

Fun experiences but not fun enough for me.

Ferrari-360

Actual fun experiences. I can stay close to home.

My thoughts on this:

Honestly I didn’t expect to give McLaren such a low mark , they’re a good team overall but it’s off, same for Haas but I kind of expected it on them.

Pay attention:

Every team worker except drivers, gets paid a certain amount of extra money depending on how much they score after each race. For example Mercedes P1 and P13 ,they gain 5 thousands each for the P1 an 0 for the P12. Another example is Ferrari P2 and P3,they gain 3 thousands each for the P2+ 1 thousand each for the P3. It’s called Prize Money and it’s given from CVC,not the team. Drivers don’t get it because they already have the amount of it decided on the contract with the team.

When I say ‘fun’ experiences, I don’t mean that they all have to have fun all the times. I mean that people or enjoying their time on work and being productive and proud at the end of their day. Not everything that is fun means people laughing, I went trought this: People thought that I hated my time there just because I wasn’t joining and unconditionally enjoying them all the times and that mindset made them annoying and annoyed by me so I didn’t feel wanted anymore and felt even more uncomfortable than before. That’s why McLaren had 9/10 on ‘Other’: The fact that they talked about mental health made them more likable as a team because it’s not blind or unresponsive towards their crew’s state. I hope that they learned from when they made fun of Grosjean on DTS. RB drivers and engineers also have interesting experiences but considering but considering the other cons I didn’t rank them higher on ‘Driver’.

[providentially-demonic]

The Devil and the Dead: Chapter Twelve

So, Final Chapter is here at last. This one has fought me and fought me to write. This is the end of the main story of the Demon!Arthur AU, based on @ectoimp‘s absorbing AU sketches (Most of which can be found here!).  It doesn’t mean that this is the end of the story as a whole, there are several more side stories to be written and more adventures to be had.

I’m giving credit and kudos to @arthurtristankingsmen, @phantoms-lair, @answrs and of course, the illustrious @ectoimp for some of the discourse which guided the idea from vague AU to the story that did not want to stop running through my head.

Summary:  At first all he knew was darkness— rage, pain and the ultimate sting of betrayal.  And then Lewis opened his eyes…

Back to Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve: Reconciliation of a Sorts

They made it back to the van without further incident and Vivi held open the back door so Lewis could climb in, still carefully cradling a sleeping Mystery. He hadn’t really thought much about looking at the van when he’d first gotten in it, but now with his locket back and his senses much clearer than before, he noticed that very little had changed. Arthur’s clutter of electronic components were still in their places, if a little dusty. Lewis’s bag was still in its place, also untouched, though Vivi’s showed signs of being used recently. He nodded at the box that held their gear for when they needed to camp out in the back of the van on stakeouts. “Can you grab me a blanket? I want to keep Mystery wrapped up in one, just in case.”

Arthur shivered, his wing membranes rattling like dry leaves, but obeyed, dragging out a thick cotton blanket. Vivi took it from him with a smile and nodded to the driver’s seat, while she came to Lewis and helped him bundle the sleeping dog into it. When Mystery was a dog-burrito, Lewis shifted himself to hold the bundle of dog and blanket comfortably on the seat.

Arthur climbed back into the driver's seat and spent a few minutes arranging himself before starting the van. Lewis relaxed a little when the rumble of the engine didn't wake Mystery. Arthur carefully backed the van until he reached a place where he could turn it around. Once on the actual road, he turned on the headlights and picked up speed, a barely there smile curving his lips. Lewis could almost feel the pleasure Arthur was getting from being behind the wheel of his beloved van again.

Vivi was smiling gently at Arthur, like she too, understood how he was feeling, now that he’d gotten past the initial nervousness of driving again. The silence was comfortable and comforting, reminding them all of the time before the cave. Lewis glanced down at the sleeping dog in his arms, wondering if they would be able to reassure him that Arthur was really Arthur. Maybe they could never be what they had been before, but if they could just find some sort of balance...

Arthur pulled carefully off the road, not too far from where the cabin was, hiding the van carefully in a tangle of undergrowth. Twisting his hands together, he glanced at Vivi. “Sorry we have to walk.”

She smiled and reached over to cup his cheek. “I understand. This place has to remain a refuge... for now, at least.” Her eyes sparkled with determination. “We’re going to find a way for you to come home too, I promise.”

A muddy flush climbed Arthur’s cheeks, but he leaned his head into Vivi’s hand, eyes sliding shut. “Maybe,” he allowed softly, “But for now, this is my home too.” He opened his eyes and glanced back at Lewis. “Lewis made it that way.”

Lewis ducked his head, pleased that Arthur admitted it was a home too. For a long time, Arthur had resisted calling the place home, reluctant to call it anything but a place to stay. “It’s our home too,” he agreed, hefting Mystery carefully.

Arthur slid out of the driver’s seat and hurried to open the door for Lewis. He glanced uncertainly up at him. “Y’know, you can go home for real, right? A pair of sunglasses is all you need for a disguise. That’s not exactly gonna work for me though.” His laughter was soft and self-depreciating.

“Hey!” Vivi’s voice was sharp and she slid out of the van to fix Arthur with a glare. “We’re gonna find a way, so don’t you even start that!”

Arthur wilted under her look.

Lewis sighed. “We’ve been over this, Artie. I might go home for a visit, but until you can go home for real, my place is here with you.” He tilted his chin up as is daring Arthur to say otherwise.

“Darned skippy, buddy boy.” Vivi added, reaching out to tweak the tip of Arthur’s nose. “Mine too. I can commute to work and back.”

“Vivi—!’ Arthur flushed darker. “That’s like like a hundred miles from here, right, Lewis?”

“A little under, but yeah.”

Vivi chuckled. “That means you better keep the van in tip-top shape for me, Artie.”

Arthur shook his head stubbornly. “You— How about just weekends, Vi? Coming out here every day won’t keep this place hidden, right?” he appealed desperately to Lewis.

Vivi planted her hand on her hips, glaring at him mulishly.

“Weekends,” Arthur bartered, “And long weekends and holidays, just not every day. Please. I don’t want you driving this when you get off from work and are tired. Plus,” he added ingeniously, “Think of the money you’d be spending in gas!”

Vivi shook her head stubbornly, but suddenly softened, rushing the last few steps between them to wrap her arms around Arthur’s waist. “Don’t care,” she added with a sniffle. “I just want us all back together again.”

Arthur flapped his bandaged wings to keep his balance, but all the fight went out of him at her mournful tone. He wrapped his arms around her in a desperate embrace. “I want that too, really. But it's for the best if you don’t waste time and gas driving all the way out here daily.”

Lewis desperately wanted to hug both of them, but his arms were full of blanket and sleeping dog. “Vi— you can get a few days off, right? Just— just stay for a little bit right now— a few days. We can figure things out from there. I—” He hesitated, glancing down at Mystery. “I think that we— we should all be together, just for a little while. Maybe it will give us all some peace of mind.”

Vivi sighed, her cheek still pillowed on Arthur’s chest. “Y-yeah. Duet owes me some time off. I’ll call in tomorrow and let them know I won’t be in for a few days... through the weekend at least.”

She reached out and caught Lewis’s sleeve, tugging him close enough to slip her arm around his waist.

Lewis leaned against her a little and pressed a kiss to the crown of her head. “Good.”

Vivi glanced up at him. “I want to stay here. I hate going back to an empty apartment full of echoes when everything I love is out here.”

Lewis sighed. “Let’s go inside. I really need to hug you, and to do that, I need to set Mystery down.” He summoned up more of his wisp lights to illuminate the ground around them.

Sniffling a little, Vivi pulled away from Arthur. “Yeah. Let’s go inside. I need that hug, and I need some answers on what I’ve missed.” She tapped a finger to her temple. “Everything is still a litt— okay, a lot— jumbled in here.”

Lewis ducked his head, abashed. “Sorry. I didn’t mean—”

She reached up and flicked his nose. “I know that. But you still did. And yes, I’m still angry at you for messing up my head, but I understand why you did.”

Hesitantly, like he was afraid Vivi would reject it, Arthur held out his hand. “C’mon, let’s go inside. Lewis can make something to eat and— and we can all sit down and talk.”

Vivi slipped her fingers in his without hesitation. “Yeah, I’d like that. I’ve missed his cooking. Or at least I think I have. I kept missing something whenever I was eating, and not knowing what.” She started into the trees toward the cabin, her sense of direction unerring. “But the talking, oh, yes. There is so much talking needing to be done.” She glanced back at Mystery. “But getting my fuzzface there to chill out is the first order of business. I’m not having him try and make you miserable, Artie.”

Arthur glanced back at Mystery too and shivered, his wings rustling. His tail lashed once before reaching out and snugging around Vivi’s waist. He flushed a little but didn’t try to pull it away. “I’d like it if he didn’t try to kill me again. I— I can live with him not trusting me. I don’t always trust me.”

“Shoosh your facehole on that.” Vivi scowled. “I trust you. Whatever that thing did to you, you fought it back, and won.” Her free hand came up to brush against his cheek. “If Mystery could see what I see right now, he’d know he was wrong.”

Arthur sighed, leaning his head into her palm. “I hope you’re right...” His voice dropped to a whisper. “On all counts.”

Vivi tweaked his nose. “I said shoosh on that. Don't you doubt me.”

Arthur lapsed into silence, but his hand remained in Vivi’s and his tail curled around her as he carefully led the way back to the cabin.

Lewis desperately wanted to get there so he could set Mystery down and sweep them both up in a healing hug. They all needed to be reassured of each other. Speaking of healing... Lewis eyed the tattered gauze on Arthur’s shoulder and wings. It was more than a little worse for the wear, and he could see dark spots where more of the blisters had broken open.

“When we get back, I need to change your bandages,” Lewis said quietly. “It looks like some of the blisters broke.”

Arthur glanced back with a wry smile. “Feels like it too. I don’t know what that was, but it hurt.”

Lewis, having overheard the conversation with Mystery, kept his mouth shut on just what it was. He knew better than anyone about Arthur’s insecurities about the demon and how much of it remained.

Vivi said nothing, either, though her lips had pressed briefly into a thin line. She wasn’t going to say anything about what Mystery had thrown either. She wiped the expression away when Arthur glanced her way. “I can get more bandages from the van if you need them,” she said only.

Lewis allowed himself a chuckle. “I got it covered.”

“Big guy...” Arthur turned back to him, eyes wide and worried. “Are you sure— after all that, I mean?”

Lewis nodded, his smile widening a little. “I’m fine. I feel... better. Mystery’s freak-out did me that one favor, I guess.”

“You’re sure?”

“Promise.”

Arthur sighed, but nodded. Just then he came upon the ring of mushrooms, pausing to glance at Vivi. “Um...”

Vivi stopped beside him and sketched a quick curtsy, hampered only slightly by her hand in Arthur’s and his tail around her waist. “For the welcome and safe passage, our thanks.”

A brief gust of wind rattled the leaves around them and she smiled before stepping carefully over the line of white-spotted mushrooms. Arthur followed.

Lewis was the one to hesitate this time. He stopped just outside the line, looking worriedly at the bundle in his arms. Maybe his faith wasn’t as sure as Vivi’s seemed to be, but things around here had happened that there was no logical explanation for, and he thought it best to be on the safe side.

“Um, Arthur, can you go get some of the bread I baked this morning, and some of the cheese? Along with the usual milk and honey?” He glanced down at the ring with a significantly raised eyebrow.

Arthur nodded. “Um, Vi, just give me a sec, okay?”

Vivi did not let go of his hand. “I’ll help you.”

Lewis waited outside the ring, his mind on Mystery’s breaking of the peace and comfort that this place had exuded since he had found it after their escape from the cave. “I’m sorry,” he whispered. “We’ll make him understand.”

Arthur and Vivi came out with their hands full. Vivi had the bread and some of the cookies he’d made last night, as well as the glass bowl he usually put the milk in. Arthur had the cheese and the saucer for the honey as well as the jar of honey. He also had some butter and a small glass full of something that sparkled red in Lewis’s wisp lights.

Vivi helped Arthur set up the offerings on a tree stump. Lewis waited until they had stepped away before ducking his own head and stepping over the line of mushrooms. He glanced down at the glass and raised an eyebrow at Arthur. “My cooking wine?”

Arthur had that muddy color on his cheeks that meant he was blushing again. “Vivi suggested it. Said it was a good way to gain favor. The cookies were her idea too.”

“Vivi does her research,” Vivi chirped, putting her hand on Lewis’s arm. “Baked goods and wine are considered proper offerings. Later we should get some proper wine, though, not cooking wine.”

Lewis just nodded, accepting her knowledge, and let Arthur hold open the door for him. He carefully deposited Mystery on the couch, before nodding to the kitchen door. “C’mon. I want to rebandage those before anything else.”

Arthur nodded. The next sound out of his mouth was an ‘eep’ of surprise when Lewis swept both him and Vivi into the hug he’d been longing to give them. Vivi melted into the hug, tucking one arm around Lewis’s waist and the other around Arthur’s. Arthur stiffened for barely a second before pressing tightly to Lewis and leaning his head into Vivi’s shoulder.

Lewis squeezed them as tightly as he dared, relishing in the feel of them in his arms, the sense of them comforting and warming something deep inside. He pressed a kiss to the crown of Vivi’s head and a second one on Arthur’s temple. He wanted nothing so much as to keep holding them forever, but the soft rustle of one of Arthur’s tattered bandages coming loose brought him back to the moment at hand.

Sighing, he released his hold and waved a hand toward the kitchen. “Bandages first, then food, and then—” he glanced back at the couch. “We’ll talk about what we’re going to do to keep Mystery from trying something stupid again.”

Heaving a tired sigh, Vivi looked back at Mystery. “I know his head is just as messed up as... well, all of ours, but right now I just want to swat him with a newspaper like he he’s a naughty puppy.”

Arthur managed a weak chuckle, picking at the bandages on his shoulder with the tips of his claws. “If that would work, Vivi, I’d be all for it.”

Lewis snorted, pointing Arthur at one of the backless stools at the kitchen island. “I’d suggest a squirt bottle, but filled with that perfume from your grandmother that always makes him have a sneezing fit.”

Arthur’s chuckle was a little more real this time as he seated himself on the stool, adjusting his tail and lowering his wings a little so Lewis could more easily bandage them again. “Only in his little form, though. He might sneeze fire in the bigger one.”

“Good point,” Vivi chuckled. “Maybe the newspaper then and the squirt bottle otherwise.”

Lewis plucked Arthur’s fingers away from his shoulder and began to unwrap the dirty bandages, revealing the weeping blisters and damaged skin. Arthur bit down on his bottom lip and let out only the tiniest of whimpers at the pull of the gauze.

Vivi let out a hiss of dismay and crowded close to look at the damage. “No, a wrapping paper roll. They make a loud sound that spooks him.” She winced in time with one of Arthur’s flinches. “Thought right now I’m thinking uncharitable thoughts about getting my bat.” She reached out and gently brushed her fingers along the savage older scarring on his shoulder below where the blisters were. “Was this—?”

Arthur shuddered and drew in on himself a little. “It’s from when I fell,” he whispered, his eyes darting toward the living room.

Vivi’s gaze followed his and her lips set into a hard, thin line, a dangerous look in her blue eyes. “Did he—?”

Swallowing, Arthur dragged his eyes back to hers. “I don’t remember much, just flashes of Mystery’s big form and teeth and pain and then— then I was falling. The rest—”

Lewis made a shushing noise, smoothing antibiotic cream on with a soft touch. “Don’t. It’s long over. You don’t need to try and remember everything that happened.” Frankly, Lewis would rather not have his own memories of the aftermath of the fall. Even though the rage and mental pain he’d felt then had burned away in the purifying fire, the helplessness remained like a yawning void in the stomach he no longer had.

“The rest—” Arthur continued with a stern look of his own. “Well, I was delirious and sick for most of it, but it was not a fun time for anyone concerned. I don’t think we want to dredge up the memories and I know for a fact you don’t want the details. Trust me.”

Lewis managed a half-hearted scowl but taped the gauze pad down and moved on to one of Arthur’s wings. There the burst blisters looked even worse with the fragile skin of the wing membranes. “I hope these don’t scar. Scar tissue will pull really badly when you spread your wings.”

“Not like I’ll be flying anyways,” Arthur peered at the wounds that he could see and made a face. “Ouch.”

Vivi leaned in. “If we treat any scar tissue with some of that medicated scar cream regularly, the scarring should be minimal and not hamper stretching your wings. I think you would look good flying though. Why not?”

“Heights.” Lewis and Arthur answered at the same time.

Arthur went on. “We both fell, Vi. Don’t ask us to do heights.”

"Also," Lewis added. "What if someone sees him, or worse, films him?"

Vivi snickered. “Tempo would have its very own cryptid. You know everyone and their brother would try to disprove the footage. And most of the ones that would believe it, would be out here in the woods at night, fair prey for anything.”

“I know this place is well hidden. You’re the only one ever to find it without a guide, but I’d still rather not risk Arthur’s safety and our sanctuary.” Lewis said as he carefully treated the broken blisters, before gently rewrapping the wing.

Vivi heaved a theatrical sigh. “Fiiiiiinnne! But how cool would it be for Tempo to have a cryptid?”

Arthur poked her gently with a claw. “Considering I’m said cryptid, not very.” His tone was sour.

Vivi turned to face Arthur and captured his face between her hands. “Hey, you know I would never, ever do something to risk you, right? I’m just joking. Besides, who wants those creeps hunting in my territory?”

Arthur sighed. “I know, Vi.”

Lewis finished his rebandaging job and moved to the sink to wash his hands. “Putting our cryptid status aside, what sounds good to eat?”

“Anything!” Vivi pumped a fist in the air.

“Anything?” Arthur raised an eyebrow at her.

“Oysters are not meant to be on pizza, so anything but that atrocity,” she amended. Then her eyes widened. “Oh man, you’ve been out here for months with no access to it! Do you want me to make an emergency pizza run?!”

Arthur chuckled and caught her hands. “Vi, it’s fine. Lewis makes it even better than the pizza place, anyway.”

“Oh...” She deflated. “And here I was ready to take the pizza place by storm until you got your fish booger pizza.”

“Eww.” Arthur poked her. “You’re a booger.”

Vivi dodged his poking finger and glommed onto his waist in a hug. “Snot on you!”

Arthur squirmed but relented to being hugged with a chuckle.

Lewis, meanwhile, went to the freezer and pulled out a frozen pizza he’d made and put away for later. Not Arthur’s infamous Surf’s Up but just a basic supreme. It would do for now. He turned on the oven while  unwrapping it and setting it on the baking sheet.

Vivi was suddenly at his elbow. “Ooh, did you make that or buy it? It looks yummy.” She poked at the digital numbers on the oven. “Are you hooked up to the city grid for power? Cause they might find you that way.”

Arthur joined them, “No. Lewis... well, he—”

“I create it,” Lewis finished when it seemed Arthur was stuck on what to say. “I can create things through willpower, I guess you could call it. This place...” he chewed on his lip for a moment. “It was a wreck when I found it. I needed it to be a place to rest for Arthur and I, and it was.”

“He did, but doing so much wiped him out,” Arthur cut in, laying a hand on Lewis’s arm. “When— when he has to rest, the power and the water cut out, but it’s never for long. The cabin stays the same, though.”

Lewis looked down at him, eyes wide. “They do?! Why didn’t you say anything?! ¡Dios!”

“Lewis—” Arthur started. “You have to rest. You— you said something bad happens if you get too tired.”

“Translation: ‘You need rest too, dumbass’.” Vivi put in, miming a punch at Arthur’s shoulder. “Just spit it out, Artie.”

Lewis snorted and slid the pizza in the oven. “I’ll rest when I need to and not before.”

“You are not turning into another Arthur on me, ghost-boy.” Vivi poked a finger hard at Lewis's chest. “I cannot cope with two people who think there is some sort of substitute for actual sleep.”

A muffled sound from the living room caught all of their attention. Arthur stiffened, his wings mantling involuntarily and every hair on his tail standing on end. His pupils shrunk to pinpricks. Lewis moved between him and the living room.

“Ah-ah-ah,” Vivi held up a hand. “None of that now. I am not having another impromptu roadtrip in the middle of the night because no one can keep their head. Lewis, if you can keep your cool, you can come with me to talk to more-floof-than-brains. So no more explodey fireballs, clear? Artie, you stay put and watch the pizza, please.”

Startled out of his visceral fear, Arthur lowered his wings and fixed her with a glare. It was half-hearted at best, but miles better than the wild-eyed panic. “I’m only not arguing because I know why you said that.”

Huffing her bangs out of her eyes, Vivi reached out and ruffled his hair. “Because I care, dummy. Just stay put until we can get Mystery to listen.”

Arthur batted her fingers away with a huff of his own, but nodded. “Just— just get him calmed down.”

Vivi clinked a fingernail against the amulet Arthur still wore. “He can’t hurt you. Remember that.”

Arthur nodded slowly. “But he hurt himself because he’s not thinking clearly. Don’t let him do it again.”

“I won’t.”

Lewis followed Vivi’s determined stride into the living room, where Mystery was stirring, one hind leg kicking puppy-like at the blanket wrapped around him. His eyes were still closed and he let out a soft whine when he could not kick free of the blanket.

“Up and attem, ‘Stree.” Vivi flopped down on the chair opposite the sofa.

Lewis stood behind her chair. Like this, Mystery looked harmless, but he wasn’t making that mistake again.

Mystery lifted his head. One of the lenses of his glasses had cracked in the struggle and it was the first thing he focused on when he opened his eyes. Then his gaze slid up to Vivi, and then further up to Lewis. His eyes widened, and the muscles in his shoulders bunched.

“None of that now.” Vivi’s tone was sharp as glass. “Or I will whap you with a newspaper like the overgrown puppy you are.”

Mystery’s ears lowered, canting backwards. “You don’t have a newspaper.”

Lewis manifested a rolled-up newspaper and passed it down to Vivi. “Try again.”

VIvi glanced down at the paper. “Nice party trick.” She brandished it in the direction of Mystery’s nose. “You settle your fudge bunny muffins down, or I will hit you with this.”

A low rumble started in Mystery’s throat. “Vivi...”

“Don’t you ‘Vivi’ me, boyo.” Her teeth were bared in a feral grin. “The time is for me to talk and you to listen or Mr. Newspaper gets his say.”

“Mature, Vivi.” Mystery glared. “You—”

The newspaper was raised threateningly. “I said not-Mystery-talky-time. This is Vivi-talky time, and Mystery-shut-up-and-listen time.” She leaned back in her seat. “Point the first: if you attack Arthur again, I reserve the right to have him,” she cocked a thumb over her shoulder at Lewis. “Flambé your fuzzy ass. This is non-negotiable.”

Lewis gave Mystery his most threatening glower.

Mystery’s shoulders hunched up around his flattened ears and there was a growl underscoring his every breath.

“‘Stree!”

Mystery flinched from the sharp bite of Vivi’s anger.

Heaving a sigh, Vivi leaned forward to rest her elbows on her knees and hold Mystery’s attention. “Listen to me, Mystery,” she pled. “You're not thinking straight. None of us have been— because none of us got out of that cave entirely undamaged—”

“Vivi—”

“Still talking.” But she didn't raise the newspaper again. “And you should be listening— ah-ahh, that means really listening!” She cut him off when he opened his mouth. “Think about it. You think Arthur is the monster of the cave. And yet you stole the anchor of the creature that could have protected me... weakening him, and running off. Leaving me in the same room as the demon you were so intent on protecting me from. If he were really the demon, I'd be dead now, not threatening you with a newspaper like a puppy that piddled on my shoes.”

Mystery's ears came up all at once and he looked aghast. “I—”

“Are just now realizing what a mistake that would have been— if Arthur were in fact the demon you've been so intent on naming him.” Vivi continued with remorseless honesty. “Look at me, Mystery! Even without all my memories, do you think anything posing as someone I know as well as Arthur could have fooled me enough— to the point where I would have risked using your own hoshi no tama against you?”

A whine building in his throat, Mystery leapt off the couch.

Lewis tensed, but Mystery, belly against the floor, inched over to Vivi. Tentatively, whining softly the entire time, he put his chin up on her knee.

All the breath escaped Vivi in an enormous sigh. “Silly,” she chided, her voice soft. She rested her free hand on the top of his head. She set the newspaper down and gently removed his cracked glasses. “Couldn't even see the truth before these got broken. Maybe you need a new prescription?”

Whimpering, Mystery clambered gracelessly into her lap, butting his head up under her chin.

Cradling him close, Vivi sighed again. “Shh.” She held him close for a few moments, carding her fingers through his fur.

Mystery remained that way for several minutes, cuddled quietly in Vivi's arms.

“Can you trust me to know that, in spite of what he looks like, that is Arthur?” Vivi tilted Mystery's head up to look at her.

“I— I can believe you believe that is Arthur, but, Vivi— holy water would have done Arthur no harm. It's all in the belief. Like a vampire and holy symbols. They only have power if the holder believes they do.” Mystery shook his head. “If—”

“You believed he was a demon,” Lewis cut in, voice hard. “There was the belief.”

“It doesn't work that way!” Mystery retorted, glaring over Vivi's shoulder at Lewis. “Yes, I believed, but that would have had no effect—”

“Unless Arthur believes it too,” Vivi interrupted, eyes wide with sudden understanding. She looked up at Lewis.

He bit back a curse. “He— he fought against the demon, e-even when he was dying. He fell too, Vi, and his injuries were— were as mortal as mine. But that thing in him wouldn't just let him die. It tried to take him over. I—” Lewis shuddered. “I heard it just once. But Arthur fought it, fought so hard. He won, but he said, even though he couldn't hear its voice, the rage, he could still feel that.”

“He has doubts about his own humanity,” Vivi chewed on her lower lip. After a moment her expression firmed. “That just proves that it really is him. The demon wouldn't have those doubts.”

“I can't trust that, Vivi. I have to protect you.” Mystery whined again, obviously torn. “I want to believe that it really is Arthur, but every instinct in me screams that it is not.”

“And every instinct I have and every single thing I know about Arthur tells me it is.” Vivi fixed him with a look that invited no argument. “And until he does something that proves me wrong, you are going to give him the benefit of the doubt.”

Mystery chewed the thought over like a bone he could not be sure he liked the taste of. “I will give him that, for you, but you cannot make me trust him, Vivi.”

“That means no scaring him either,” Lewis growled. “He's scared to death of your other form.”

Mystery grumbled. “I will try not to intentionally scare him.”

Vivi wasn't buying it. “No intentionally accidental scares either, bub. Or I will make you regret it.”

The timer dinged in the kitchen. “Um, pizza is done,” Arthur called. “You guys ready to eat?”

“Yes, we are.” Vivi glanced down at Mystery. “Behave,” she warned.

She and Lewis led the way into the kitchen. The pizza pan was on the counter, sending up an enticing scent, and Arthur was huddled on one of the stools, feet drawn up and bristled tail switching nervously as he watched Mystery trot in behind them.

“Artie,” Vivi murmured, stepping close enough to smooth a hand down his arm and take his hand.

His relaxation was minimal but it showed in a tiny sigh and his fingers twining in hers.

Lewis cut the pizza and served out slices while Vivi leaned contentedly against Arthur. Mystery watched from the floor, eyes wary.

It wasn't perfect, or what it had been before, but Lewis would take it. For now, it was enough that they were together again. Fractured but whole

“I hope you two are ready for questions, because I have all of them!” Vivi chirped, startling a nervous laugh out of Arthur. “And being that I'm calling in this weekend, you are at my mercy until they are answered. Every single one of them.”

“There is no escape from the questions, even in death,” Lewis intoned solemnly, a hand across his forehead like a fainting starlet.

The laughter was from all of them and it was faltering, but real. It gave him hope. Hope that someday everything would be all right again.