#truck norris moment

[whatwooshkai]

splish splosh has 23 been done yet for the ask game? :3

(also I swear to Primus HEATWAVE STOP DOING THAT UR GONNA GIVE EVERYONE A SPARK/HEART ATTACK-)

"This song sucks," Heatwave snaps, giving his engine an annoyed rumble.

"This is the lesser of all evils," Kade argues back, waving a hand. "Radio's shit right now."

"Fine," Heatwave growls, and suddenly the dial starts spinning, stations flipping rapidly. "If Earth radio is so shit, I'm putting on my radio."

There's a burst of static, a beat of silence, then a voice fills the cab, speaking a language Kade has only ever heard snatches of.

"Is he speaking Cybertronian?"

"NeoCybex," Heatwave corrects automatically. "Common. We have more than one language, you know."

Kade shakes his head. "Okay. Whatever. Is Cybertron, like, a gazillion light years away? How the fuck are you getting this station?"

Heatwave's head on the monitor gives a little tilt, and the cab rumbles, as if he's shrugging. "You can always call in to Truck Norris' show. I don't question it."

"Wait. Wait. Back the fuck up." Kade grips the wheel and leans forward. "'Truck Norris?'"

"Yeah," Heatwave says. "That's the host's name. What about it?"

"I-" Kade doesn't know what to say. How is he possibly supposed to explain to Heatwave that his strange radio host who apparently has a frequency that is strong enough to reach Earth has a name that's basically a stupid pun of a famous human. How. "I feel like you're not hearing yourself."

"Wait. Shut the fuck up," Heatwave snaps, and Truck Norris seems to be finishing off a sentence. Kade does as asked, staying silent as fucking Truck Norris speaks again, and then a familiar voice speaks over the radio, his voice a mix of soft clicks and purrs and whirrs, with the cadence of a question.

No fucking way.

But it's over just as fast as it happened, and Truck Norris' voice is back, a soft click coming through signalling the end of the call in.

"Okay, let me get this straight," Kade demands. "You not only can get this radio station from a billion-jillion light years away, you can also call in?!"

"Yeah," Heatwave says, his voice heavily accented for a second. He resets his voice box, and the accent is gone in the next sentence. "He's always taking callers."

"I feel like you're not understanding how freaky this is," Kade stresses, tapping a nervous beat on the wheel. "I'm not science guy, but this shouldn't be possible at all-"

"Shut up," Heatwave snarls, and Kade shuts up, as the volume dial spins and suddenly sound is flooding through the speakers.

It's unlike anything Kade has ever heard before. The closest thing he can relate it to is experimental rock, but even that's a stretch.

It sounds like heavy machinery and it sounds soft and loud at the same time, and there must be someone singing, a powerful, echoey, a mechanical voice holding and hitting notes most singers could only dream of.

And it's... not bad. In fact, Kade kind of likes it.

Heatwave's head on the monitor is bobbing along softly, as if doing it unconsciously.

They're quiet for a while once it's over, listening to Truck Norris talk and another bot call in, before Kade finally asks: "Was that a song?"

"Yeah," Heatwave says quietly, but there's a smile in his voice. "My favorite, actually. Haven't heard it in a while." The beginning of the song plays a bit, before suddenly being cut off. "And I have it recorded now." He's quiet for another moment, before asking, "What'd you think?"

Aw. That's... oddly vulnerable, coming from Heatwave. So Kade is honest. "I liked it," he says. "And I think I'd like to hear more."

Heatwave's engine gives a delighted purr.

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

"What's this?"

Kade's head snaps over to the CD Haley is studying. "Oh, that?" he says smoothly, holding out a hand, which she places it into. A clear jewel case and a CD with "Heatwave" scrawled on it in sharpie. "I think it's a band," he lies easily. "Found it in a thrift store. I searched them up but there's nothing, so they must be really underground. It's this weird, like, experimental metal rock. Want to listen?"

"Sure!"

It's actually a CD of Heatwave's favorite Cybertronian songs. Boulder and Graham took the recordings and burned them onto a CD for him, and they're working on ones for the others. Still, no one has questioned Truck Norris yet.

Kade's actually taken quite a liking to Cybertronian music. It's kind of pretty, in its own way. And Cody absolutely loves it. Human vocal chords are not built for the proper pronunciation of NeoCybex "words", but that doesn't mean he's not going to try.

The CD loads and the first song begins to play. Haley looks taken aback for a second, before leaning forward, falling into the rhythm immediately.

It makes it a little hard for Kade to keep his eyes on the road.

[f1girliefics]

Their Reaction to You Being Pregnant - Preferences

A/N: Both planned and unplanned pregnancies below.

Daniel Ricciardo

It was a planned pregnancy and yet it hit you like a truck. You have been trying for so long, you almost gave up.

You planned a special dinner and even bought a special gift for him.

Little socks.

You gave it to him during dinner and watched as his face morphed into confusion.

"Isn't this too small for me to wear?"

"For you, perhaps, but not for our little one." you put him out of his misery as his smile grew bigger and bigger and tears fell from his eyes.

He would be so proud to finally become a dad.

Max Verstappen

Your pregnancy was unplanned but it was a nice surprise.

You had a stable relationship and you did talk about children before.

The way you told Max was not cute or romantic, you just basically blurred it out one day while watching TV.

"Come on Max! Your baby mama is craving some popcorn."

Oops.

He was shocked but then you spoke again. "I'm pregnant." to confirm what you just said.

Once he is able to close his mouth and talk, he will tell you that he is indeed happy.

"I just can't believe it!" he said.

"With the way you behaved for the entire summer break... I'm not shocked." you gave him a wink as he handed you the popcorn.

Fernando Alonso

He always wanted you.

Even if you were years younger. You didn't care about his age, you loved him.

It was a complicated love with many headlines.

Your pregnancy became one of the biggest, claiming you are a gold digger.

But Fernando didn't care for the headlines. He loved you and your baby.

Even if it was an unplanned baby, it was definitely not an unwelcome one.

"I would do anything for the two of you." he promised you the day you told him about your pregnancy.

Lance Stroll

You told him about your pregnancy on his birthday.

At first, he didn't believe you, but then he would be so thrilled he picked you up and spun you around for two minutes.

You had to tell him you would throw up if he didn't put you down.

Lewis Hamilton

You two would be trying to have a child for years when you finally get pregnant.

Both of you would be told by your doctor after weeks of hope due to your symptoms.

He would be so happy, he would shed many tears and he would be unable to stop hugging you.

On your way home, you would stop by to start and plan your baby's room.

George Russell

He would be in the middle of a meeting when you texted him. He could only check your messages after the meeting. George would drop his phone upon seeing the picture you sent.

5 pregnancy tests, all positive.

He would pick up his now broken phone and call you, rushing to his car to go home.

But you picked up the phone and you sounded so happy, it made all his worries lift off of his shoulders.

"We are having a baby George! I'm so happy!"

All his worries and doubts, out the window, the second he heard your laugh.

George will never forget that moment and how he cried of happiness at a red light.

Lando Norris

You two constantly joked about you getting pregnant.

When you started using pills instead of condoms, it was a constant joke between you two.

Lando did like to play with the idea of getting you pregnant.

But neither of you was serious until you took a test.

Positive.

"Okay, that is only a little plastic, the doctor needs to confirm." he would say and the next day you would be at the doctor's.

And the doctor did confirm, you were indeed 3 weeks into your first pregnancy.

You two sat in the car after the visit in silence.

Your mind was empty yet is was filled with thoughts.

"Let's grab something to eat before we go home." he would finally speak, making you look at him, you smiled when you saw the happiness in his eyes.

All your worries were gone because you knew you two can do this.

Oscar Piastri

To say that your pregnancy was a shock would be an understatement.

Both of you stared at the result for hours in silence.

Then, you finally spoke up. "Well, at least now we know I don't actually hate you."

He would laugh. He would laugh so hard that tears would fill his eyes.

You and your baby will be in good hands. Oscar would be the best father ever.

Carlos Sainz

You were on a vacation in Spain when you started to feel sick. You thought it would pass but Carlos insisted on visiting a doctor. This is when the news of your pregnancy hit you.

You didn't speak much Spanish, but that word, you understood.

Almost like a truck, it knocked all air out of your lungs.

When the doctor left, you turned to Carlos.

"Looks like we will have a little one running around soon." he spoke as he laughed but tears also left his eyes. "I'm so happy." he said, finally calming you down.

Charles Leclerc

After getting Leo, you didn't even talk about babies anymore. You were happy where you were in that moment.

But of course, the universe and a heated night had different ideas.

Your pregnancy was confirmed by the doctor and now you just needed to tell Charles.

You travelled to his upcoming race and had a plan.

But that plan all went out the window the moment he finished first.

Suddenly you completely forgot about everything and everyone as he hugged you close and you told him.

"Now our baby can say their father is number one!" you didn't even realise what you said.

"You're pregnant," he said and you nodded, crying from happiness. "PREGNANT!" he yelled as suddenly the trophy in his hand wasn't the most important thing.

[thelostconsultant]

Double surprise

pairing: Lando Norris x reader

summary: Lando wants to surprise you, but in the end you surprise him too.

Lando could tell Max was already planning to bang his head against the coffee table, but it honestly wasn't his fault. Maybe he was terrible at making decisions at the moment, yes, so what? It's not like he had anywhere to rush at this time, and if he was a true friend, he would stay to provide emotional support.

Because Lando was preparing for something big, and the first step was asking a jewelry store employee to jump in the hotel he was staying in with a bunch of engagement rings. If he showed up in the store himself, social media would be full of pictures within a matter of minutes. He didn't want to ruin the surprise. And it was also much more comfortable this way.

“Lando, just pick the third one. You said it yourself, that's her style,” Max tried.

With a thoughtful hum, the Brit picked up the said piece and took a better look at it. “Yeah, it's true, but,” he began, then came to a halt as he grabbed the last one the jeweler showed him. “I don’t know, the first one is a classic, but what if she prefers something modern and trendy?”

The jeweler watched him in silence, the patience of a saint radiating from his smile. He had been there for two hours now, it was already nine in the evening, but he not once made a comment about still being there. “Which one is closer to what she usually wears?” he asked softly, trying to guide him towards a decision.

Lando thought for a moment. “The classic one,” he replied while he took a closer look at it again.

One big, round white diamond with two smaller stones on its side, completed by a yellow gold band. It was clean. Nice. Something simply elegant for her. But then he glanced over at the other one and saw the curved white gold band with a big, pear shaped yellow diamond, and a voice in his head told him that was the one. People would go insane over it when you shared it on social media.

He looked up at the jeweler with a thankful smile, then turned to Max. “All right, I'm buying both. She'll get the trendy one, but if she doesn't like it, all I'll have to do is pull out the classic option. She can even wear whichever she prefers depending on the day,” he explained his master plan.

Max let out a sigh of relief and mouthed ‘finally’ under his breath, while the jeweler clapped his hands together and closed the box with the rest of the rings. Meanwhile Lando had a huge grin on his face, clearly satisfied with his decision. He solved the problem. Sure, it took two hours, but he wanted to pick the perfect ring for you.

Since he specifically asked for rings already available in your size–which he only knew because he stole one you wore on that finger–he kept the chosen ones and said goodbye to the jeweler after paying for the items. Once they were left alone, Max picked up the rings and took a closer look at them, carefully examining every centimeter, every curve, and every stone. As if he was waiting for approval, Lando raised an eyebrow at him.

“Good choice if you ask me. Seeing her disappointed in your taste wouldn't make you feel good, even if she said yes,” Max said with a short laugh before putting down the jewels.

Rolling his eyes, Lando stretched his arms above his head and fought back a yawn. Media day always took a lot out of him and today wasn't any different. Add the stress of making the right decision and he felt like a truck had hit him. “Thanks, mate,” he told his friend.

“When will you ask her?”

“She arrives tomorrow, so I guess I'll get it over with as soon as I can. I need an extra boost for qualifying,” he added with a laugh.

Max gave him a ‘good luck out-qualifying me’ look, but Lando was too hyped to notice. So he let out a sigh and decided to voice his only concern. “So you want to get this over with? Sounds romantic.”

“You know what I mean,” Lando said defensively, giving him a disappointed look that was mixed with the hurt feeling because he dared to joke about him not being serious enough about it.

“Well, tell me how it went.” Max patted his friend on the shoulder before standing up, then watched him with a small smile. “But I'm proud of you. She's nice and has a good influence on you… You chose wisely.”

“Thanks. See you tomorrow at the track?”

Max nodded, then he raised his hand to wave him goodbye and left the hotel room. This left Lando alone with his thoughts, and he began to wonder if he would succeed. The two of you had been going through a bit of a rough patch lately, and he told you this trip was all about fixing that. You would join him for the race weekend, then you would stay in the area for a little trip, just the two of you, away from curious eyes.

His mother told him this plan of his might backfire, because you weren't entirely pleased with him right now, and who knew, maybe you would consider this a way to force you to stay in this relationship. He obviously didn't want you to feel that way, but he didn't want you to leave him either.

His phone buzzed next to him, and when he took a look at it, a wide smile grew on his face. “Hello, beautiful,” he answered happily.

“Hey, you have a moment?” you asked him hesitantly.

“For you? Always.”

There was a short pause, he could hear the traffic in the background, but before he could ask you where you were, you took a deep breath and began to talk. “So I said I'm gonna arrive tomorrow, but I won't.”

Lando felt like he was stabbed in the heart, like the air had been knocked out of his lungs. “What do you mean you won't? You promised to come here, you can't just back out of it! Unless it's a family emergency. Is it a family emergency?” he asked, barely able to hide the anger that latched onto his voice.

You remained silent for a while and he silently cursed under his breath. How could you do this to him? You had agreed you would join him two months ago, there's no way you couldn't plan that much ahead back then. But then you let out a laugh, one of those adorable laughs he loved so much, and his anger disappeared at once.

“I'll send you an address. Get in the car and meet me there,” you told him.

“I'll be at the track all day and you arrive in the morning, don't tell me you won't–”

You cleared your throat to interrupt him. “I was talking about now, you muppet. Or are you about to sleep?” you asked him teasingly.

Lando huffed and rolled his eyes. But then it struck him, you were talking about now, you were talking about him driving to that mysterious location, which meant… “Wait, you're already here?” he asked you.

“Just meet me. There's something I need to tell you.”

And with that you ended the call. He didn't have the brain capacity to stop you, and it didn't occur to him that he could have called you back. Instead he stood there, staring at the screen of his phone until the notification popped up. He put the address in the search bar and checked the map. It was close, only a fifteen minutes drive from his hotel.

Without hesitation, he grabbed his keys and headed to where you were apparently waiting for him. He was already standing in front of the elevator when he realized he left the rings in his room, and he didn't want to leave without them. So he ran back and picked up the two boxes, putting them safely in his pocket.

After a car ride that seemed painfully slow, he finally arrived at his destination. According to your message, you were right here, but when he looked up, he noticed it was a private clinic. Hoping this was the right address, he went closer to the door and it opened right away, so he went inside and tried to figure out where to go next. This place was huge, and at this time it felt like he was in The Walking Dead.

“Mr. Norris? Please, follow me,” a woman in her thirties told him with a polite smile, gesturing towards the elevator.

“Where are we going?” he asked when the door closed behind them.

The woman only watched him with a mysterious smile, probably perfectly aware of what was happening, but she didn't say a word. She probably promised to keep your secret, which was nice, but also extremely annoying. Why in a clinic? Did something happen to you? But you sounded happy, surely everything was okay.

Before they stopped, the woman handed him an eye mask and asked him to put it on. At this point he didn't dare to ask questions, so he did as he was told and followed her guidance after the elevator came to a halt. After she made him stop, he heard a door open and he was soon pushed ahead to enter.

He waited. Someone would hopefully come over to tell him what this was all about, and until then he decided to remain silent. And then he felt soft fingers trace his cheek, only to find the edge of the mask and slowly pull it off his head. There you were, happy and in one piece. With a smile, he was quick to pull you into a hug.

“I missed you,” he whispered as he kissed your head then buried his face into the crook of your neck. “What are you doing here? Or rather, what are we doing here in a clinic?”

“I have a surprise for you,” you purred into his ear, and he could feel your nails scratch the skin on the back of his neck as you spoke. It felt nice. He missed this.

For the first time, he took a look around the ultrasound room, and when he noticed the posters on the walls, his suspicion began to grow. “Wait a second,” he began as he took a step back and looked you in the eye. “Are you…?” He pointed at your abdomen with a raised eyebrow.

With a laugh, you took his hand. “I am. Eight weeks in,” you informed him.

For a while he was staring at you with a dumbfounded look on his face, but then he stepped closer to pull you into a passionate kiss. What started out as something serious soon turned into a series of giggles from the both of you. Lando was the one who pulled away, suddenly remembering something.

He excused himself and stepped outside for long enough to find the main ring’s box in his pocket, then returned with his hands held behind his back. There was no plan, at least not for these circumstances, so he had no choice but to improvise. You looked confused and he had to flash a smile at you to let you know it was okay.

“I… You know… Damn it. Okay, so there was a plan, I promise, but you didn't really leave me a choice. Pick a hand.”

“What?” you asked with a confused look.

“Choose a hand. Left or right?”

You let out a thoughtful hum, visibly thinking about the answer. Then you flashed a wide grin at him and said, “Right.”

It was in his left hand, but nevermind, he grabbed the box with his right one and held it out for you. “This is yours,” he said nervously.

The shocked look on your face made him worry, but it slowly melted away as you slowly opened the box and saw the ring inside. You took it out to take a better look at the piece of jewelry, and soon a smile grew on your face before you finally turned to him.

“What do you say?” Lando asked.

“You didn't ask me anything.”

With a roll of his eyes, he reached out to take the ring and took your hand as well. “Will you marry me?” You nodded without hesitation, tears already forming in your eyes, and he quickly put the ring on your finger before you could change your mind. He kissed you again, but he could tell you were looking at your new ring behind his back. “You like it?” he asked once he pulled away and took a look at it as well.

You nodded. “It's beautiful.”

Lando reached into his pocket for the other box, and showed you his plan B. “If you'd prefer something classic, here's this one too,” he explained.

“You're insane. One ring is more than enough,” you told him with a laugh.

“Well, I know how many shoes you have, this can't be any different.”

With a playful laugh, you slapped his arm. “An engagement ring is different, trust me,” you said as you leaned closer. “I love you.”

“I love you too.” He looked around and motioned towards the machine in the corner. “So… Are we here so I can take a look at my child?”

You nodded and went out to ask the doctor to come in. Meanwhile Lando couldn't help but think about how much organizing it must have taken to get this ready, but he was honestly grateful, because it was a big surprise. A big and amazing surprise. This was one of the reasons why he loved you so much, and all he wanted was to make your life as good as he could in return.

[coff33andb00ks]

Recipe for the Perfect Christmas 1/12

One part small town girl coming home from the big city. One part handsome stranger. Five parts lifelong friends (don't forget to include their partners). One part stubborn father. A dash of Christmas spirit. Part: One of Twelve Pairing: Oscar Piastri x ofc (with appearances from Mark Webber. Lando Norris, Carlos Sainz, Esteban Ocon, Pato O'Ward, and George Russell) wc: 3,965 warnings: none nav: One | Two | Three | Four | Five | Six | Seven | Eight | Nine | Ten | Eleven | Twelve a/n: did someone order a hallmark christmas fic? (it was me, i ordered it). special thank you to @leodette for helping me out with this!! also yes named ofc not sorry, and shout out to Zuz, @driverlando, @snoopyracing, @spiderbeam, @landinhoe, @maxlarens for letting me use them as side characters. Soundtrack: spotify ⋆❆⋆ apple music

Part One

Natalie Webber made the drive a couple of times a year, but this time there was a finality about it. Possibly because her car was packed with everything she cared to bring with her. Or it could have been that her low fuel light came on as soon as she passed the sole gas station. Groaning, she kept going.

She wasn’t ready to be seen. Although she had a feeling that everyone already knew she was coming back.

It never failed to amaze her how the town never changed. The diner next to the gas station. The post office, the town hall. The town green was situated across from the town hall, and when she drove by, she saw people setting up for the annual bonfire. She recognized a few of the people and kept going. Past the café and the hardware store and the bookstore. Then the general store on the corner, across from the bakery.

She could practically taste the croissants as she turned.

One block and she was home. Home. Not the penthouse apartment overlooking the city. Home, with its graveled driveway and slate stepping stones to the front stoop.

She stared at the two-story brick house for a moment, finally cutting the engine and letting go of the steering wheel. Her father’s truck was where he always parked it and she sighed, knowing he had walked down to the town green instead of driving. Glancing at the front door she could see a note tacked in the middle of the autumn wreath and rolled her eyes while she climbed out of the car and walked to the door.

Gone to the green to help, then to the bakery to do prep for morning. Be back by dark. Love you.

The front door was unlocked, because of course it was. She wondered if it would do any good to fuss at her father about it but knew it would be like every other time. He’d been on this earth for however many years without her managing every little detail, and he’d do just fine now.

It took fewer trips to unload her car than she had thought it would, and was still light out when she sat on her old bed in her old room. It smelled of lemon furniture polish, fabric softener, and vanilla. Her gaze landed on the dresser and her vision blurred with tears.

A small plate, piled with sugar cookies. Her favorite. Leaning, she grabbed one, blinking the tears away as another note fluttered to the floor.

Welcome home, sweetie

"Oh dad," Natalie sighed, picking up the note and tucking it into the frame of the mirror.

When she'd called him in tears asking if she could come home he'd told her that her room would always be there for her. And in the ensuing weeks she'd been able to pick up on the excitement in his voice. Having her home for a few days wasn't the same. Running the bakery didn't give him many opportunities to visit her, not to mention he hated anything larger than the next town over, which only had three traffic lights.

She just wished she'd come home a success. Not the abject failure she was.

Picking up another cookie, she busied herself with unpacking, trying her best to stuff the accessories she'd amassed into the bedroom she had lived in for eighteen years.

The clock on the mantel in the living room chimed as she brought the empty plate downstairs. Just as she stepped off the bottom stair the front door opened and—

"Natalie."

She could hear his joy and noticed several things as she moved to greet him. His limp had worsened since she'd last seen him on Father's Day. His hair was grayer. There were shadows under his eyes. She had never seen him look so happy to see her. His hug was tighter than she remembered and she held onto him, allowing herself to be his little girl for a moment.

"Don't cry, sweetie," Mark soothed when a sob escaped her. "Come on, into the kitchen."

The kitchen was as it always had been. Bright an spacious with the lingering aroma of coffee and spices. She wiped her tears away and, knowing he wouldn't sit down and let her wait on him, made him at least help fix the pot of coffee and put together turkey sandwiches for an early dinner before the bonfire.

Spotting a small wooden box on the island counter she pulled it close and lifted the lid. "What's this old thing doing out? You don't need help remembering your old recipes do you?"

"Of course not." He watched her flick through the contents. Index cards, scraps of paper, most of them in his handwriting.

Natalie smiled as she pulled out the stained, crumpled brown paper bag that had her grandfather's brownie recipe jotted down. "I'll never forget you giving me this when I said I wanted to make brownies," she murmured. "I couldn't read half the measurements, and Papa didn't even have the oven temperature or bake time on here."

"You figured it out," Mark reminded her with a chuckle. Taking it from her, he carefully tucked it back into the box and replaced the lid. "I'm gonna finally type them up."

"Finally doing a cookbook?" she guessed. She'd been telling him for years that he should. Had even suggested he just do a few copies at a time to give to friends.

"No…" Shaking his head, he smoothed his fingers over the top of the box. He looked about to say something, then cleared his throat. "I got you some of that almond milk for your coffee."

"Thanks." When she'd come to stay for Christmas two years before he'd acted as though she'd insulted him and his entire lineage.

Mark Webber drank his coffee black. No sugar, no cream or milk, no flavorings. At home, he drank it out of his favorite mug: off-white with a red handle that his late wife had given to him their first Christmas together. At the bakery, he had it out of his second-favorite mug: the garish blue one with #1 Dad in yellow letters that Natalie had given him for Father's Day when she'd been six.

Mark Webber also drank his coffee strong. She'd forgotten how strong he made his coffee and, when he moved to sit at the table, she added more sweetener and almond milk to her mug before joining him.

He waited until they'd finished their sandwiches and had each eaten half a cookie before speaking. "Do you know what you're gonna do yet?"

"No." The cookies were perfect. Golden brown on the bottom, just soft to the touch. They melted in her mouth and she reached for another. "I guess I'll start looking Monday."

"There's no rush."

"Dad… I'm too old to be living at home supported by you."

"Nonsense. You're never too old to need your dad's support."

The cookie turned bitter in her mouth. "I'm supposed to be looking after you by now."

"Just because I'm getting a little slower—"

"Have you scheduled your knee replacement?"

"Ah," he grunted, scowling as he lifted his mug. "It can wait."

Natalie blinked. "Are you insane? You can't—"

"I can. I'll have it after the Christmas rush."

"What? Christmas is almost a month away!"

"And then I'll schedule my replacement and take time off like you've been telling me to do for years."

She drew in a breath. Don't argue. Don't argue. Don't argue. "Have you hired extra help at the bakery?"

He didn't answer.

Natlie somehow kept her voice gentle. "You're only making it worse."

"I wear a brace at work. I take pain medicine when I need it. I even use that fucking cane. You make it sound like I'm tap dancing twelve hours a day." He stood and she noticed he moved with deliberate steps to refill his coffee.

"Can you at least try to take it easy?" She frowned. "The business is still good isn't it?"

"Of course it is." He flashed her a smile. "In fact, I—"

"Since I'm unemployed, I'll help out. I can't bake as well as you but I can do the basics."

His brow furrowed and he slowly took a sip of coffee. "You mean that?"

"It's the least I can do."

His brow relaxed. "I'm glad you're home, Natalie."

She thought of the penthouse that she had told herself over and over she loved. The job she had thought had been her dream come true. The carefully laid plans for her life. One tiny hiccup had caused it all to crumble to dust.

Swallowing hard, she managed a smile. "Me, too."

"It's as cold as a witch's ti—"

"Natalie Rose." Her father's tone held the same warning it had when she'd been a rambunctious little kid.

"Well it is," she muttered, zipping her jacket up to her chin.

"Once the fires get going you'll forget the cold."

Shoving her hands into her pockets, she stood beside him on the corner. "How's your knee?"

"It still bends. It's fine, sweetie."

She didn't fully believe him. It had to hurt, especially in the cold. He'd insisted on walking to the bonfire, and if he noticed she intentionally slowed her steps so he wouldn't overdo it, he didn't say.

"Natalie!"

"I thought that was you driving through town this afternoon!"

The familiar voices had her forgetting the chill in the air. Next to her, her father cleared his throat.

"I see the pastor," he said as Sasha and Lilli approached. Then, showing no signs of having a bad knee, he hurried away.

Natalie hugged her two longtime friends, enthusing over how good it was to see them again, even though they'd made a trip to visit her just a few weeks before.

"Maddie's here," Lilli said, gesturing to one of the benches. "You know her doctor put her on bed rest but she still came?"

"Her mom is the mayor she kind of has to," Sasha laughed. Arms linked the three made their way to the bench, and Natalie sat next to Maddie on the bench as Sasha rushed off to find Susie and Amira. The group tried to quickly catch up but it was impossible, because seemingly every town resident had to walk by to welcome Natalie home.

Familiar faces she'd known all her life. Some genuinely happy to see her, some surprised, and a few looked as though they were happy that she'd failed at her city life. Smiling with relief when Susie suggested cider, she pulled her jacket hood over her head and walked with her friend across the square, past the towering structure that was roped off to keep children from getting too close. Dotted around the perimeter of the square were smaller fires for the marshmallow roasting.

"Did your dad abandon you?" Susie asked, reaching out to grab the arm of her son Michael when he began to skip away.

"Nah, he went to talk to the pastor." Natalie scooped Michael up and was rewarded with a grin as the boy. "Where are Hannah and Estie?"

"They're coming. The mare is close to foaling, and you know how he is when that happens." Susie rolled her eyes. "Hannah insisted on staying with him."

"At least this time you're not about to have a baby," Natalie teased. It was one of Susie's favorite stories, how her husband Esteban had been so caught up in the birth of a foal that he had missed the birth of his daughter. It was good-natured teasing, especially now that Esteban had made up for it by making sure to attend every moment of his son's birth the next year.

"We have to have a girls' night," Susie insisted while they stood in line for cider. "Come by the café for lunch tomorrow? Or do you have plans?"

"I've been home for four hours, when would I have made plans?"

"So you haven't met the new neighbor?"

"What new—"

"Daddy!" Michael squealed.

"There's my darling boy." Esteban Ocon was grinning as he strolled up, passing Hannah off to her mother and immediately slipping Michael from Natalie's arms. A second later his arm was around his wife, tucking her close to his side so he could kiss the top of her head. Looking at Natalie, his grin widened. "Hey, stranger."

"You saw me two months ago," Natalie snorted, letting Hannah jump into her arms for a hug.

"Doesn't count, it was for five minutes and on pavement, not grass." Esteban shuddered dramatically.

"How's Bonny?" Susie asked him.

"Restless. The vet said it'll probably be late tonight, but we knew that already. He's coming by again after the bonfire. I'm not staying long, I don't want her to be alone. Did Mark do cookies for this year?" Esteban glanced at his watch then at the next stall.

"He said Mrs. Parker picked them up this morning," Natalie told him.

"Cookie?" Michael asked hopefully.

"Of course, let's go find some cookies. Mommy can get us cider, hm? And we can roast one marshmallow before I have to get back to the farm," Esteban assured gently, ushering both Hannah and Michael towards the cookie stall.

"I'll find you," Susie called after him.

Natalie watched him herd his kids off then turned her attention back to Susie. Her friend was admiring Esteban's retreat, smirking. Natalie snorted and poked her in the arm. "What new neighbor?"

"Oh! Right, sorry. I was distracted…" Susie gave a little sigh before turning to face Natalie. "What?"

"Stop planning the conception of your third child and tell me about the new neighbor."

"I'm not planning a conception, I'm planning—"

"Susie!"

"Sorry. Jeez. Anyway, your new neighbor? Oscar Piastri. He's fixing up the old Alonso place on Halifax Street. You remember, the yellow Victorian with the two turrets?"

Natalie wanted to question how someone three blocks away could be considered a neighbor but knew better. If a family moved into one of the old farms out on Route 15, they were a neighbor. It was just how it was. "He bought that big old house?"

"No, no, he's fixing it up for his friend. Max something. Very nice. Married with two kids about Hannah and Michael's age—"

"The new neighbor?"

"Max. Oscar's single." Susie stepped up to the stall and requested four ciders, dropping a few dollars into the jar. "Max and his family are moving to town after the holidays I think. Estie has Max and Oscar over quite a bit. Max is looking to buy a local business."

Natalie shoved some cash into the jar and scooped up five cups of cider as well, balancing them between her hands. "What business?"

"I don't know, nobody's selling that I know of. Sasha hasn't heard a word either." As the wife to the town's sole real estate agent, Sasha would know. "I asked Estie but he said he doesn't know. I think he misheard. Or he's just being mean because he knows I need to know all the details." Susie huffed with annoyance. "He's such an ass."

Natalie slowly counted to three.

"But he's got such a great ass, I forgive him."

Natalie laughed, and noticed people moving closer to the center of the green. "Go find your ass."

"Lunch?"

"Lunch," she promised, carrying the ciders back to the other girls. Lando was on the bench with Maddie, gently massaging her baby bump, and pouted playfully when Natalie didn't hand him a cider. George had Lilli wrapped in his arms, and Carlos was fussing over Sasha for not wearing her hat. Natalie vaguely recognized the man standing with Amira and absentmindedly rubbed her empty ring finger as she stood near the couples. The mayor spoke and Natalie listened to her words about spreading light and good cheer, then politely joined in the applause as the mayor held a torch to the base of the structure. A ripple of excitement swept through the crowd and Natalie's eyes swept up, watching the flames spread up the structure. Then, one by one, the smaller fires were lit.

Music began to play and the atmosphere was light. Giggling children, lighthearted chatter. Natalie looked around for her father, saw children lining up for marshmallows and skewers, adults settling on blankets by the smaller fires. She glimpsed Susie with Esteban, Hannah, and Michael. The scent of burning sugar and wood filled the air and she sipped the cider, apologizing when she bumped into a woman holding a toddler. She sidestepped, wincing when she stepped into a man.

"Sorry," the man said, grinning as one hand shot out to steady her. The other hand clutched an energy drink.

She didn't recognize him and wondered if he was the new neighbor. The woman turned, chastising him for being clumsy, and Natalie offered a quick smile. "No, no, it was my fault. Wasn't looking where I was going."

"Neither does he," the woman said with a playful grin. "He always says it's a great way to meet new people. Since we're moving into town soon, I suppose he has a point. Hi, I'm Eve. This is my husband, Max."

"Lucas," the toddler announced, patting his chest.

"I was getting to you," Eve said.

Natalie smiled at the boy, who was starting to wriggle in his mother's arms and tugging at the hat on his head. "I'm Natalie. You're moving into… Oh! Into the old Alonso place?"

"Guilty as charged," Max said with a grin, tugging the cap down on his son's head. "As soon as Oscar finishes getting it ready. We still live up in Fairview while Eve finishes her contract, but I'm back and forth helping Oscar and—"

"He means slowing down Oscar's work," Eve put in. "The house was supposed to be finished by Thanksgiving—"

"It'll be finished by the end of the year," Max insisted gently, taking a sip of his energy drink. "Stop worrying."

"Cookie?" Lucas asked, snatching the hat from his head.

""We're going to get cookies and cider right now, darling." Eve grabbed the hat and handed it to Max. "Great meeting you, Natalie!"

"You too," Natalie replied, watching her head towards the stalls.

"Do you live in town?" Max asked, turning to face her fully. He tipped his head, grinning again. "You're Mark's daughter."

"You know my dad?" she asked, stepping to one side when someone bumped into her and blinking in surprise when Max suddenly reached out to catch a girl by the arm.

"Watch where you're going, please," he said in a firm but gentle tone of a loving parent.

"Sorry!" The girl tipped her head back to stare up at Natalie. "Sorry, ma'am."

"No harm done," Natalie assured her.

"My daughter Grace," Max introduced. "This is—"

"Grace!"

Natalie stepped aside again when a man jogged up. Glancing at him, she was surprised to see him in only a thin jacket despite the chill. Brown hair fell over his eyes as he skidded to a stop, bending to give Grace a playful glare.

"Brat," he said. "Why did you run away from me?"

"I saw Daddy," Grace told him, hugging Max's leg.

The man snorted derisively. "He's not that great." Swinging her into his arms, he spun her in a quick circle. "You're still a brat."

"Just like you," Grace said, sticking out her tongue.

"Don't tell Lucas, but you're my favorite."

"My friend Oscar," Max said to Natalie. "Osc, this is Natalie."

Oscar gave her a quick glance, nodding. "Hi."

"Hi," she greeted.

"Can we get a marshmallow now? Please?" Grace asked. "Before they're all gone."

Natalie finished her now-cold cider. "You don't have to worry about that. Mrs. Parker always gets more than enough."

"Is she the old lady with the funny laugh?"

"Grace," Max groaned, clapping a hand over his face. "Don't be rude."

"You said it's not rude if it's true."

"Don't say everything I say," Max muttered.

Grace heaved a sigh and turned to Natalie. "I'm sorry if I was rude."

"She does have a funny laugh," Natalie told her in a stage whisper. "I got in trouble once for saying she sounded like a donkey."

The girl's eyes widened comically. "She does! I told you, Daddy!"

"Oh god. Let's get a marshmallow," Max sighed, holding out his arms. "And remember your manners, okay?"

Oscar chuckled as father and daughter headed off. "His curse is having kids just like him."

Natalie nodded. There was a brief silence as they stood there, and she cleared her throat. "Have you had to do a lot of work on the house?"

Oscar nodded, running a hand through his hair. "Quite a bit, yeah. Still a ways to go before it's done. I don't have to sleep in the camper anymore, though."

Another brief silence. "My friend Susie mentioned—"

"Esteban's wife?" Oscar flashed a quick smile. "Nice woman."

"Yeah, she's great." Why did this feel so awkward and stilted? She never had trouble talking to strangers. Her old work friends had teased that she could strike up a conversation with anyone.

The song playing over the loudspeakers changed and she brightened, spirits lifting as one of her favorite Christmas songs began to play, drowned out briefly by Oscar's groan.

She glanced at him curiously. "Not a fan of Perry Como?

He snorted. "He's alright. Not really a fan of Christmas music."

Her jaw slackened. "Really? How come? I mean, that's none of my business, sorry. I'm sure you have a valid reason. Do you not celebrate?"

"Oh I celebrate it. I just hate Christmas music."

"That's impossible. No one hates Christmas music," she insisted.

"Maybe hate is too strong a word. I… Dislike it. It gets stuck in my head and it's played nonstop as soon as Halloween is over." He shuddered. "Disgusting."

"I haven't met one person who's said they hate Christmas music…"

"C'mon, be honest." Oscar moved closer. "Isn't there a Christmas song you can't stand? One that comes on and you want to kick a reindeer?"

Natalie let out a shocked laugh. "No! Christmas music is perfect."

"Nothing's perfect," he scoffed.

Somehow they'd fallen into step next to each other, falling in line to get marshmallows and skewers. Natalie smiled at Mrs. Parker when she was handed a skewer then trailed along beside Oscar towards a fire. "Christmas music is perfect," she said again as they settled on a bench. "It's superior. Even when I'm not in a Christmassy mood it lifts my spirits."

"Even the one about a hippopotamus?"

"That one makes me giggle." She held her marshmallow close to the flames.

"Two front teeth?" he asked skeptically.

She laughed, shaking her head. "Sorry, I love it. It's all wonderful. Even the religious ones are great. Magic and hope and the promise of good things."

He shook his head. "I guess you have a point."

"Plus most of them have jingle bells. What's not to love?"

Oscar hummed. "You're on fire."

Natalie frowned, watching the firelight dance on his face. "Is that a Christmas song? I don't think I've ever heard that—"

"No." He reached to cover her hand with his, pulling her marshmallow from the fire. "Your marshmallow."

For the first time she noticed his eyes were brown. Finally dragging her gaze from him, she saw her charred marshmallow and groaned, shaking the smoking brick off the skewer, heard the faint sizzle as it landed in the flames.

"You can have mine," he offered.

"It's fine. I don't even like them that much," she said with a shrug.

He gave her hand a squeeze before letting go, eyes meeting hers. And suddenly she couldn't feel the disappointment over losing her marshmallow.

[nayziiz]

One Night in Miami | LN4

Summary: An eventful night with a close friend turns Lando’s world upside down when he’s forced to confront his true feelings about her. As they return to normal, he cannot seem to forget their time together and neither can she. Will they find each other once again?

Pairing: Lando Norris x OC (Renn)

Warnings: Smut, a lot of angst, fluff

Author's note: A little context around this series, if I may. I started writing this on 24/04/24, before Lando's Miami win. All the fours in the date - IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN A SIGN, is all I'm saying. Anyway, as always, please send through your feedback, suggestions, or requests!

Masterlist

CHAPTER 1 - Miami 2023

Lando had invited all of his closest friends and the Quadrant team out to Miami for the Miami Grand Prix. The city buzzed with anticipation, the atmosphere electric with the excitement of the upcoming race. The streets were alive with the hum of engines and the vibrant energy of fans from all over the world.

For Lando and his friends, it was more than just a race. It was a week of fun, filming content, and partying until the sun rose over the glistening Miami skyline. Amongst the attendees was Pietra’s best friend, Renn. When Pietra moved to London, Renn was the first person she met and they instantly became good friends. It was a natural introduction to Max, Pietra’s boyfriend, and then Lando, Max’s best friend. Lando and Renn were quite literally cut from the same cloth in terms of their humour and banter. There was natural chemistry from the get-go between them.

The sun was setting over Miami as the group gathered at a beachfront bar, the warm breeze carrying the sound of laughter and music. Lando, with his infectious grin, was in the centre of it all, regaling everyone with stories and jokes. Renn, standing beside him, matched his energy effortlessly, their banter a seamless dance that had everyone in stitches.

“Remember that time we tried to film that prank video and ended up getting chased by security?” Lando said, his eyes twinkling with mischief.

“How could I forget? I still have a scar on my knee from hiding in that hedge!” Renn laughed, shaking her head. Pietra, sitting nearby with Max, watched the exchange with a knowing smile.

“You two are a dangerous combination,” she said, raising her glass in a mock toast. “But I have to admit, it’s entertaining.”

The days in Miami were a blur of excitement. The group spent their mornings filming content for their respective channels, capturing the essence of the city and the thrill of the Grand Prix. They interviewed drivers, explored the paddock, and even managed to get a few laps in on the track.

In the afternoons, they lounged by the pool or explored Miami’s vibrant neighbourhoods, soaking in the culture and cuisine. Renn and Lando often found themselves paired up, whether it was trying out the latest food trucks or challenging each other to a game of beach volleyball. The week culminated with the much-anticipated Miami Grand Prix. However, the race did not go according to plan for Lando or McLaren. Technical issues plagued the car, and despite his best efforts, Lando couldn’t climb the ranks. He finished far lower than he had hoped, and the frustration was evident as he stepped out of the car.

In the garage, Lando was a mix of frustration and devastation. His usually bright demeanour was clouded with disappointment. Renn, always the one to lighten the mood, tried to joke around, but Lando was not feeling it. Sensing his need for support, she shifted from humour to empathy, offering a listening ear and comforting presence.

Throughout the afternoon and early evening, they had a few moments alone. Lando vented to her about his frustrations with the car, his feeling of inadequacy as a driver, and the pressure he felt to perform. Renn listened intently, offering small touches on his arm, reassuring words, and a calm presence.

Deciding to forget the entire race weekend and write it off as one to learn from and move past, Lando and the group decided to go out clubbing. The vibrant Miami nightlife beckoned, promising an escape from the day’s frustrations. The city’s pulsating energy was the perfect antidote to their subdued spirits. They headed to one of Miami’s hottest clubs, a place known for its electric atmosphere and celebrity sightings. As they entered, the thumping bass of the music enveloped them, and the flashing lights painted the scene in vibrant colours. Lando led the way, determined to let loose and shake off the negativity of the race.

On the dance floor, the group immersed themselves in the music, moving to the rhythm and letting the beat drive away their worries. Lando and Renn danced together, their chemistry undeniable as they laughed and moved in sync. For a while, the frustrations of the day melted away, replaced by the sheer joy of the moment. At the bar, they ordered rounds of exotic cocktails, toasting to friendship and resilience. Lando, his spirits lifted by the music and the company, found himself smiling and laughing more freely. Renn stayed close, her presence a steady source of comfort.

Later, as the night deepened and the club continued to buzz with life, Lando and Renn found themselves on the rooftop terrace, looking out over the city. The Miami skyline was a breathtaking sight, a sea of lights stretching out into the horizon.

“I needed this,” Lando admitted, leaning on the railing. “Just to forget about today, even if it’s just for a little while.”

“We all need to let go sometimes. You’ll come back stronger, Lando. I know it,” Renn nodded, her gaze fixed on the distant lights.

Despite her reassurance, the disappointment in his race result lingered. Lando couldn't shake the frustration gnawing at the back of his mind. As the group continued to revel in the club’s intoxicating atmosphere, one drink led to the next and the next. The flashing lights and pulsing music blurred together, creating a haze that Lando eagerly embraced, hoping to drown out the nagging sense of failure.

Renn stayed by his side, matching him drink for drink, her laughter and energy unwavering. She knew he was still struggling and wanted to be there for him, even if it meant getting a little too drunk herself. Their friends cheered them on, oblivious to the deeper emotions at play. At some point, the decision to leave was made - perhaps unspoken but mutually understood. They stumbled out of the club, giggling and leaning on each other for support. The cool night air hit them, a stark contrast to the club’s warm, enclosed chaos. They ordered an Uber, collapsing into the backseat in a fit of laughter, still trying to keep the party going.

As the car sped through Miami’s neon-lit streets, the city’s energy seemed to pulse in time with their still-racing hearts. They exchanged slurred stories and jokes, but beneath the surface, Renn could see the tension in Lando’s eyes. The alcohol had numbed the sharp edge of his disappointment but hadn’t erased it. When they reached the hotel, they managed to navigate the lobby with a mix of stealth and stumbling, trying to keep their giggles under control. Renn’s hand was a steadying presence on Lando’s arm, guiding him towards the elevator and up to his room.

Inside, the room was dark and quiet, a stark contrast to the vibrant noise they had left behind. Renn flicked on a lamp, casting a soft, warm glow across the room. Lando collapsed onto the edge of the bed, his shoulders slumping as the weight of the day settled back onto him. The party, the drinks, and the laughter had been a temporary reprieve, but now reality crept back in. Renn watched him closely, her own drunken haze giving way to concern. She could see he was still not himself, the disappointment etched in his features despite his attempts to mask it.

“Lan,” she said softly, sitting beside him and placing a hand on his back. “You don’t have to hold it all in.”

He looked at her, his eyes tired and a bit glassy from the alcohol.

“I just... I wanted this weekend to be different,” he admitted, his voice cracking slightly. “I feel like I let everyone down.”

“You didn’t let anyone down. Things just didn’t go as planned. It happens. But it doesn’t define who you are or what you can do,” She shook her head, her hand rubbing gentle circles on his back.

“I know that, but it’s hard not to feel like I’m not good enough sometimes,” Lando sighed deeply, his gaze dropping to the floor.

“You are more than good enough. One bad race doesn’t change that. You’ve got so many people who believe in you, who see how incredible you are,” Renn moved closer, her hand shifting to hold his.

She leaned her head against his shoulder, the closeness providing comfort to them both. For a moment, they sat in silence, the room’s quietude enveloping them. The world outside continued its frenetic pace, but in this small bubble, they found solace in each other’s presence. The alcohol’s numbing effect was beginning to wane, but the warmth of Renn’s words and touch remained, helping to ease Lando’s troubled mind.

“Are you going to be okay tonight?” she asked, her voice soft with worry. Lando sighed, the weight of his emotions evident in his response. 

“No,” he admitted, his voice tinged with vulnerability. “Not at all.”

Renn’s heart ached for him.

“Should I stay with you until you fall asleep?” she offered gently. He looked up at her, a flicker of gratitude in his eyes.

“I’d like that,” Lando conceded.

The next moments were a blur of movement and quiet coordination. Lando stripped off his shirt, the sight of his toned torso briefly catching Renn’s attention. He then grabbed his sleep trunks and disappeared into the bathroom to change. Meanwhile, Renn began discarding the thousands of pillows that adorned the bed, creating a comfortable space for them to settle in. When Lando returned, he held out one of his shirts for her.

“Here, you can change out of that,” he said, gesturing to her sequined dress that shimmered under the soft light.

“Thanks,” she replied, taking the shirt with a grateful smile.

Renn went into the bathroom to change into the cool cotton shirt, a welcome relief from the constricting dress. It smelled faintly of him, a comforting blend of cologne and something uniquely Lando. When she emerged, she found Lando already in bed, looking slightly more at ease in his sleep trunks.

She slid into bed beside him, the mattress dipping slightly under her weight. Without hesitation, Lando moved closer, laying on top of her, his head resting on her chest. The proximity was intimate, yet felt completely natural. She began brushing his hair back, twirling his curls between her fingers in a soothing rhythm.

They stayed like that for a while, the silence between them comfortable and warm. Renn’s touch seemed to calm Lando, his breathing slowing as he relaxed against her. She could feel the tension leaving his body, replaced by a soft, sleepy tranquillity. Eventually, Lando looked up at her, his eyes meeting hers with a vulnerable intensity. Without a word, he leaned in and pressed his lips to hers, a gentle, heartfelt kiss that conveyed all the emotions he couldn’t put into words. Renn kissed him back, her fingers still tangled in his hair, her heart swelling with a mix of tenderness and affection. When they finally pulled apart, Lando rested his forehead against hers.

“Thank you,” he whispered, his voice barely audible. Renn smiled, her hand caressing his cheek.

“Always,” she replied softly.

As the minutes passed, their quiet touching took on a different quality. It was still gentle, but there was an undercurrent of something deeper, something more intense. Lando’s hand began to move, tracing slow, deliberate paths up and down her side. His fingers grazed her ribs, slipped under the hem of the shirt she wore, and rested on the smooth skin of her hip.

Renn’s breath hitched slightly, her heart beating faster in response. She continued to twirl his curls, her other hand drifting to his back, where she traced light patterns with her fingertips. The tension between them grew, an unspoken understanding passing through their shared glances and touches.

Lando’s hand ventured further, moving up her inner thigh and over her underwear, pausing briefly at her hip bone before slipping under the shirt yet again. The sensation sent a shiver through Renn, her body reacting to his touch. She looked down at him, their eyes locking in a moment of mutual recognition. His fingers continued their exploration, brushing against the sensitive skin just below her ribs. Renn’s hand stilled in his hair, her breath catching as his touch sent sparks of sensation through her. The room seemed to grow warmer, the air thick with the tension building between them.

Slowly, Lando shifted, lifting himself slightly to look into her eyes. His gaze was intense, filled with a mix of vulnerability and desire. He leaned in, their lips meeting in a kiss that started soft but quickly deepened, fueled by the emotions they had been holding back. Renn responded eagerly, her hands sliding down his back, pulling him closer. Their kisses grew more urgent, a silent communication of their need for each other. Lando’s hands roamed under the shirt, finding the curves of her body and memorising every inch with his touch.

With a gentle but insistent tug, Lando pulled the shirt up and over her head, discarding it to the side. He paused to take in the sight of her, his eyes filled with admiration and desire. Renn reached up, cupping his face and pulling him back down for another deep, passionate kiss. While their kisses intensified, Lando’s hands continued their exploration, his touch sending waves of pleasure through Renn. She arched into him, her body responding to his every movement. His mouth left hers, trailing kisses down her neck and across her collarbone, each touch igniting a new flame of sensation.

Renn’s hands were not idle either. She traced the lines of his muscles, her fingers memorising the feel of him. She slid her hands under the waistband of his sleep trunks, encouraging him to shed the last barrier between them. Lando complied, kicking off his trunks and returning his attention to her. She pushed her panties to the side before he pushed his tip through her folds. He moved slowly as he entered her, savouring each moment of contact. Their bodies pressed together, skin against skin, the warmth and closeness intensifying their connection.

The intensity between them surged, and suddenly they were fucking like prisoners who had just been released after a ten-year sentence. Their movements were frantic, fueled by a desperate need to feel each other fully. There was no room for hesitation; only raw, unfiltered desire. Lando's hands gripped her hips tightly as he thrust into her with a fervour that spoke of all the emotions he had bottled up throughout the day. Renn matched his intensity, her nails digging into his back as she arched against him, meeting each of his powerful thrusts with equal force.

Their breaths came in ragged gasps, the sound of their bodies colliding filling the room. The bed creaked under the strain of their passion, but they paid no mind. Every touch, every kiss was a release, a cathartic expression of everything they felt for each other. Lando's mouth found hers again, their kisses bruising and desperate. He moved faster, deeper, their shared rhythm driving them both to the edge. Renn cried out his name, her voice a mixture of pleasure and urgency, urging him on.

The tension built to a breaking point, their bodies trembling with the force of their connection. They came together in a shattering climax, their cries mingling as they clung to each other, riding out the waves of pleasure that crashed over them. Afterward, they lay tangled together, their bodies slick with sweat and still trembling from the intensity of their lovemaking. Lando rested his head on Renn's chest, listening to the rapid beat of her heart as their breathing slowly returned to normal. It had been the first time something like that had happened between them. Sure, they shared a few kisses every so often when he would be gone for a few weeks, but nothing like that, never full blown, passionate lovemaking.

“Fuck,” Lando moaned, the tension gone from his body. He hesitated for a moment, not wanting to break their skin-to-skin contact, but he also wanted to clean her up after cumming inside her. Renn felt his hesitation and gently cupped his face.

“It's okay,” she whispered, smiling softly, her fingers brushing over his cheek. He nodded, kissing her tenderly before reluctantly pulling away.

“I'll be right back,” he promised, slipping off the bed and heading to the bathroom.

Renn watched him go, feeling a strange mix of contentment and vulnerability. The intensity of their lovemaking had left her breathless, but she also felt a deep sense of connection with Lando that went beyond physical pleasure. Lando returned with a warm, damp cloth and a look of tender concern on his face. He carefully cleaned her, his touch gentle and reverent. It was a quiet, intimate moment that spoke of his care and respect for her.

Once he was done, he discarded the cloth and slid back into bed beside her, pulling her close. They lay there, wrapped in each other’s arms, the silence between them filled with unspoken emotions. The disappointment of the day was a distant memory, replaced by the warmth they had found in each other's arms.

[kathlare]

Would you maybe write something were Amelia gets sick while her and lando are around her family and they see how good lando is to Amelia and start to come around a bit more and like him

Thank you so much for your request! I love this idea and I'm so happy to write this for you! I really hope you like it!

shifting tides

Lando Norris x Amelie Dayman

Summary: Lando Norris and Amelie share a quiet moment together as she recovers from an illness following a hectic weekend at Coachella. Lando’s care for her is evident, but it also marks a turning point in their relationship as they navigate their past, trust, and the subtle shifts in how Amelie’s family views him.

Wordcount: 1.5 k

Warnings: just fluff

request over here!

April 15th, 2024 - Los Angeles, California

Lando Norris sat on the edge of the plush sofa, his fingers tracing the rim of a cup of tea as he glanced over at Amelie, who was curled up on the opposite side. She was wrapped in a soft blanket, her hair messy from the long weekend at Coachella. Her usual vibrant energy was nowhere to be found, replaced instead by a tired, pale expression. He could tell she was exhausted, but there was also something deeper—a cold, or maybe something more, that had knocked her out of her usual state.

It had been a whirlwind of excitement over the past few days, from her stunning Coachella performance to the rush of fans and the constant excitement surrounding the event. But now, she was lying on the couch, her body visibly fighting something she couldn’t shake.

—How are you feeling?— Lando asked softly, his voice low and careful, not wanting to aggravate her.

Amelie gave him a half-hearted smile. —Like I’ve been run over by a truck.—

Lando laughed, but it was a soft chuckle. —I can’t imagine Coachella was easy on your body, especially with everything you’ve been doing.—

She nodded, her eyes closing for a moment before she answered. —It’s just too much. I didn’t expect to get sick.—

He set his tea down on the table and leaned back, his eyes never leaving her. —You should rest. I can grab you some water or...—

—No, it’s okay,�� she interrupted, her voice still weak. —I’ll be fine.—

He raised an eyebrow, but his expression softened. Amelie always pushed people away when she wasn’t feeling well. She hated showing vulnerability, especially in front of her family. She was always the strong one, the independent one. But when it came to Lando, she didn’t have the strength to push him away.

Lando watched her closely, noticing how she curled into herself, the blanket wrapped tightly around her like a shield. He knew this wasn’t just the usual tiredness from her busy schedule. She was genuinely sick. Amelie’s usual strength was gone, and he couldn’t help but feel a little helpless seeing her like this.

—Amelie, please let me help you,— Lando said, his voice a mix of concern and care. —You don’t have to do this alone.—

Amelie turned her head slightly, meeting his gaze for the first time since they’d sat down. There was a flicker of appreciation in her eyes, but also reluctance. She had never been one to rely on anyone, let alone ask for help. It was always hard for her to admit when she needed it, especially after the tough times she had been through.

—You don’t have to be here, you know,— she murmured, her voice still fragile.

Lando’s face softened. —I want to be here.—

Her lips twitched upward at his persistence, but she didn’t push him away. That was something new, and Lando noticed it immediately. When Amelie got sick, she usually isolated herself, refusing to let anyone see her vulnerable side. But now, she was allowing him to be there, something he took as a sign that she trusted him.

—Okay, fine,— she sighed, looking exhausted. —Could you grab me some water?—

Lando’s smile returned, a soft but knowing one. —Of course. I’ll be right back.—

He got up, making his way to the kitchen where Amelie’s family was gathered. It had been a bit of a strange dynamic between him and her family, given their history. They knew about their past—about the messy breakup and the time they’d spent apart—but they didn’t know how serious things had gotten now. Amelie had told them about them being together again, but her family hadn’t exactly embraced the news with open arms. They were protective of Amelie, especially after everything she’d been through, and they had their doubts about Lando. They hadn’t seen the side of him that he was showing her now—the attentive, caring side that was willing to drop everything for her.

In the kitchen, Amelie’s parents were sitting with Callum and Stella, chatting casually, but Lando could feel the tension in the air. They were all watching him as he filled a glass with water.

Elias, Amelie’s father, was the first to break the silence. —How’s she doing?—

Lando paused, unsure how much to reveal. —She’s not great. Just a cold, I think.—

Victoria raised an eyebrow. —She’s stubborn. Doesn’t like admitting when she’s sick. But you seem... invested.—

Lando chuckled softly, glancing over at the family, feeling their eyes on him. —Yeah, well, I care about her. I’m not going anywhere.—

There was a moment of silence, the weight of the words hanging in the air. Then, Callum, who had been unusually quiet, spoke up.

—You’ve been good to her, Lando,— he said, his voice calm but serious. —I can see that. She’s not one to let people in easily, but you’re different.—

Lando was surprised by the compliment, but he didn’t let it show. —She means a lot to me, so I want to make sure she’s okay.—

Victoria gave a small nod. —We can see that. Just make sure you’re good for her, yeah? She’s been through a lot.—

—Of course,— Lando replied without hesitation. —I want to be here for her. I know how much her family means to her.—

The subtle shift in their expressions didn’t go unnoticed. They weren’t fully convinced yet, but for the first time, they saw him as more than just the guy who had hurt Amelie in the past. They saw him as someone who genuinely cared about her, someone who wasn’t going to walk away.

Lando took the glass of water and walked back to the living room, where Amelie was still curled up on the couch. He could feel the change in the atmosphere as he entered, as though the conversation in the kitchen had shifted something in the air.

Amelie looked up at him with a weak smile. —I was starting to wonder if you’d forgotten about me.—

Lando chuckled, sitting back down beside her. He handed her the glass of water. —I wouldn’t do that, Ames. I’m not going anywhere.—

She took the water gratefully, sipping it slowly. She felt weak, her head still spinning from the exhaustion, but there was something calming about Lando being there. Something that made her feel safe.

Her family had always been her rock, but Lando... he was proving to be something more. It wasn’t just about the chemistry between them or the way they had always flirted. It was about the trust she had in him now. He wasn’t just her boyfriend; he was the one person who, for the first time in a long time, wasn’t pushing her away when she needed help.

—Thanks, Lan,— she murmured, her voice soft and full of appreciation.

Lando leaned in, brushing a strand of hair from her forehead. —You don’t have to thank me. I’m just doing what anyone would do for someone they care about.—

Amelie smiled, but it was a tired one. —Yeah, but... you’re doing it when I actually let you. That’s rare.—

Lando chuckled softly. —Well, I guess I’m lucky then.—

As Amelie leaned back into the cushions, her eyes closed, a peaceful expression settling on her face as she sipped her water. Lando watched her with an intensity that was hard to ignore. It wasn’t just the physical attraction that had drawn him in—it was everything. She was strong, independent, and fiercely protective of her family, but in these quiet moments, he saw the cracks in that armor. And he wanted to be there to help her patch them up.

The room fell into a comfortable silence, but Lando could sense that the atmosphere had shifted. Her family, who had been cautiously watching him just moments ago, now seemed to be observing them with more warmth. Amelie wasn’t pushing him away; in fact, she was allowing him to take care of her. That spoke volumes to her family, and they weren’t blind to it. Lando had no intention of pushing himself into their lives, but the more he saw of how close-knit they were, the more he wanted to be a part of it.

After a while, Amelie’s mom, Victoria, entered the room, holding a tray with some homemade chicken soup and a warm blanket. Her eyes flickered from Lando to her daughter, her expression softening.

—Thought you might want some soup, honey,— Victoria said, setting the tray down on the coffee table in front of Amelie.

Amelie glanced up, offering a weak but genuine smile. —Thanks, mom.—

Lando saw the way Victoria’s eyes lingered on him, a subtle shift in her gaze. She’d always been protective of Amelie, and rightfully so, but this time, Lando didn’t feel like an outsider. He wasn’t just the guy who had hurt her daughter years ago. He was the one sitting beside her now, making sure she was taken care of.

—You look after her well, Lando,— Victoria said softly, a hint of approval in her voice.

Lando looked at her, caught off guard but also deeply moved. —She’s important to me, Victoria. I won’t let her down.—

Elias, who had been quietly observing from the other side of the room, nodded slowly. —That’s good to hear. She’s been through a lot, and we just want to make sure she’s in good hands.—

Lando stood up, grabbing the spoon and offering Amelie a bowl of soup. —You’ve got nothing to worry about. I’m here for her, no matter what.—

Amelie’s eyes softened as she took the soup from him. Her family had always been fiercely protective, and while they hadn’t fully embraced him yet, she could see that the subtle shift in their perception was happening.

—You’ve really turned a corner with them, you know?— Amelie whispered as she took a spoonful of the soup.

Lando leaned back, his gaze lingering on her. —I just want to make sure you’re okay. That’s all that matters right now.—

Her smile grew warmer, and for the first time since she’d gotten sick, Amelie felt a sense of comfort. She didn’t have to carry the weight of everything on her own. Not anymore.

As they sat there, the sounds of her family laughing and chatting in the background, Lando couldn’t help but feel a sense of gratitude. The relationship with Amelie wasn’t perfect. They both had their own baggage, their own history, but the way things were unfolding felt right. He was beginning to understand why her family had been so protective—why they had been hesitant at first.

But now, in this quiet moment, Lando realized that this was more than just a relationship. It was a partnership. And he was in it for the long haul.

[dilemmaontwolegs]

The Aftermath || LN4 {9}

Pairing: Lando Norris x widow!reader Summary: Lando risks upsetting the FIA to give you the memorial they denied a year ago. Warnings: 18+ only, alcohol, fluff, tearful Lando 🥺 WC: 2k

F1 Masterlist || One || Two || Three || Four || Five || Six || Seven || Eight || Nine || Ten || Eleven || Twelve || Thirteen || Epilogue

“Ride with us!”

You frowned down at Lando’s grinning face from the balcony above the garage thinking you had heard him wrong. “What?”

He pointed to the grid where the trailer for the parade was hooked up and waiting. “You too, maman.”

Maria squeezed your arm with a smile as she turned towards the stairs. “Let’s not keep them waiting.”

Lando met you at the bottom, his arm curling around your waist as he guided you to the gate at the back while Zak walked with Maria. His lips brushed your cheek as he dipped his head to whisper, “Think something’s going on with those two?”

You smiled at the sound of Maria’s laugh and shrugged. “I don’t know, but as long as she’s happy then it’s got to be a good thing.”

Lando’s hands gripped your waist and lifted you into the back of the trailer before he leapt up to join you. It was only once you had taken hold of the rail tightly that you spared a glance around the other drivers and noticed they all carried wreaths.

“What’s that?”

Lando shrugged shyly as he stepped in behind you, one hand holding the rail with you and the other waving to the crowd. “Since you missed the memorial at home I thought maybe we could have one of our own.”

You turned away from the crowd and he dropped his waving hand to cage you between his arms as the truck began to drive down off the grid, saving you from jostling at the sudden movement.

“Won’t the FIA have a problem with that?”

“What can they do? Penalise all of us?” he laughed. “And if it’s a fine, we’re happy to pay it.”

“They’ll blame you.”

“They’ve made so many wrong conclusions, but at least they would be right this time,” he joked. “Relax, love, it’ll be fine.”

Lando went back to waving to the fans and you smiled at the ones who held up signs for René, most of them orange hearts or the French flag with his driver number in the middle. 

It wasn’t long that the smooth ride slowed and the trailer came to a stop at the barrier that had long since been replaced but you still saw the mangled metal and oil slick in your mind's eye. 

You startled a little when Lando’s hand came to rest on yours and gently pulled it free of the rail. You shook your head to clear the image and the sounds of the track returned along with Lando’s calm voice as he murmured encouraging words in your ear. 

You focused on his voice as he jumped off the back of the trailer before offering his hands to catch you next. Already the other drivers had made their way off track and were placing the bouquets and wreaths along the barrier. Some whispered quiet prayers and signed the cross, while others took a moment to reflect in silence.

You drifted over to the barrier with Lando at your side and sank to your knees in the soft grass running your fingers through the blades, waiting for the crushing weight to settle into your chest. The seconds ticked by as the wind picked up, the breeze a cooling welcome touch to your skin, but still the pain never came. There was only the permanent sense of sadness that hung like a small cloud in the sky no matter how sunny the day was.

“I miss you,” you whispered as you plucked a single red rose from the bouquet Lando held. Its sweet scent reminded you of the garden you had planted with René at home and the thorns dug into your palm as your hand tightened around the stem before you laid it among the rest. “You should see your fans. There’s so much love for you here, I can feel it all around me. Your mum was right.”

The drivers started to make their way back to the trailer and Lando pressed a kiss to your forehead. “When I was waiting beside him at the altar he made me promise if anything happened to him that I would take care of you. I never got to say the words to him because the doors opened and you walked in looking like an absolute angel,” his voice was thick with emotion and he cleared his throat before placing his bouquet with the others. “You have my word, René, I swear on my life.”

He grabbed the sunglasses tucked into the collar of his hoodie, pushing them over his red eyes and you wrapped your arms around his waist as he buried his head in your neck. 

“He knows, babe,” you murmured as you rubbed his back until the small shudders of his silent sobs eased, being his strength for once. Neither of you acknowledge the damp marks on your shoulder, neither of you said a word as he looked at the flowers once more before heading back to the trailer. 

“Take as long as you need, love,” he said quietly as he went.

You stood alone absorbing the moment, basking in the love that was surrounding you as you touched the cold metal barrier and looked back at Lando to see Maria placing her hand on his shoulder with a small smile. “Watch over him, Ren. Please keep him safe, for me.”

You were drunk, and so was Lando. There was no other way to put it. Finishing third had not been expected after the car’s performance in qualifying but, by luck or miracle, the conditions had been perfect for him to set a fast pace and move up the grid. So, needless to say, you were celebrating the hell out of the accomplishment with Lando in a packed nightclub full of his supporters and team.

“I’m so proud of you, baby!” The smile hadn’t left your face since he passed the chequered flag but with all the alcohol in your system you couldn’t feel the ache of the muscles in your cheeks. You cupped his face and traced his dimples with your thumbs before kissing him and getting lost in the spur of the moment.

“I love you and I am so lucky to have you.” There was no stopping the words flowing from your mouth, you were too excited for him since it had been a while since his last podium. The pressure from his Principle to get more points could finally ease a little and he was already looking more relaxed. “I think I drank too much, the room's kind of spinning.”

Lando’s laugh was contagious as he took the glass of champagne from your hand and finished it for you with a suggestion to dance instead. It took far longer than expected to make it through the crowd to the dance floor with everyone wanting to stop and congratulate him but you were happy to take it slow seeing how happy it made him.

He eventually extracted himself from the crowd and caught up to where you had found yourself under the lights and amongst the swell of people dancing the night away. His fingers laced with yours as he drew your hands up his body before he draped them around his neck and he pulled you closer.

You didn’t even notice the hundreds of people around you when Lando started moving against you. There was nothing but him and the music that his hips moved to, and the sound of his voice as he brushed his lips below your ear.

“You are breathtakingly beautiful, love.” The song changed and you turned in Lando’s arms deciding to tease him back as you danced against him, rolling your hips to the sensual music. His hands tightened their grip, his fingers digging into your hips where they had come to rest. “We need to leave before I do something very naughty right here in front of all these people.”

You peeked over your shoulder to see his bottom lip caught between his teeth and his glazed eyes full of promise. “But this is your party.”

“So I can do what I want, and I want you.” He kissed the space where your shoulder met your neck. “You’re driving me crazy.”

You stepped out of his touch, immediately missing the warmth of his body against your back, and took his hand. A grin grew on his face when you tugged him forward and he was quick to overtake you on the way to the door, separating the crowd and keeping you tucked in behind his body like a shield.

The cool air of the night hit your lungs and a shiver rolled down your spine at the sudden drop in temperature until Lando pulled you closer and waved for a taxi. It was hardly worth putting the seat belt on for how far down the road the car was going to take you but after Lando had opened the door for you he had walked around the car and taken his seat he had tutted after seeing the belt buckle empty.

“Not on my watch, love,” he said as he reached over you and grabbed the belt. “I need you safe and sound.”

Your lips pressed into a line when you tried to hide your amusement at his protectiveness. “Yes, daddy.”

His eyes flashed to yours and he curled an eyebrow up before he started biting his bottom lip again. “What did you say?”

The taxi pulled into the hotel entrance and you didn’t wait for Lando to come and open your door. You were already walking to the room as fast as your high heels would allow while he rushed to pay for the fare.

You could hear him racing to catch up when you turned down the hall that your suite was on. A squeak escaped before you could silence it when he caught up and pinned you to the door with his body, his lips stealing the soft moan that followed.

“What. Did. You. Say?” he enunciated between each kiss as he swiped his card over the handle and opened the door.

You almost fell backwards as it suddenly swung open but Lando’s arm curled around your waist and pulled you flush against him. Your lips parted with a heady sigh as you felt his hard length begging to be freed from his jeans but he smirked and shook his head when you tried to reach for him.

“Uh-uh, I’m still waiting,” he tutted as he walked you backwards into the room and kicked the door shut behind him. “I want to hear that little quip again, love.”

You teased him with a smile as you reached behind your back for the zip that kept your dress on. “I didn’t realise you were so eager to be a father.” 

“You know that’s not what I mean,” he chuckled as he moved your hand and dragged the zip slowly down your spine. “But with you it wouldn’t be so bad.” 

“Wouldn’t be so bad?” you repeated with a cocked eyebrow and a playful smile. “I understand the ‘no rizz Norris’ now.”

The material slipped down your body and you felt Lando’s exhale warm across your neck before he kissed your racing pulse. “Do you want me to tell you how much I would love to settle down with you, start a family and grow old with you? Because I will. I want it all. With. You.”

You tilted your head to give him more access as his words and the alcohol made your head spin. All of the futures you had once thought would be with René had died with him, but they came crashing back with Lando and you could see it playing out in your head. “When were you planning on telling me this?”

He smirked as his hands trailed down your body before he grabbed your thighs and picked you up, your legs wrapping around his waist as he made his way to the bedroom. “When you called me daddy.”

Click here for part ten.

Tagging: @yunnie-f1 @neiich @zendayabelova @stillbreathin @dr3lover @writerscurse @christianpulisic10 @alwaysclassyeagle @alexisquinnlee-bc @purplephantomwolf @lightsoutletsgo @pleasantducktimetravel @pierre-gasllllllyyyyyy @holy-macncheese-balls @belennasif @ophcelia @love4lando @ryiamarie

[willowsnook]

Whisky sprite in a wine glass please!! 💖💖

josh allen x riccardo!sister

you're mine, end of discussion

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

Accepting your dream job was one of the best days of your life, but it came with one catch: you had to relocate to Buffalo, NY. Having lived in Australia your entire life, the move was daunting. Luckily, your brother Daniel had a good friend in Buffalo who offered to help you move in.

Daniel didn’t say much about his friend—just that his name was Josh and they’d met through work. So, you were taken by surprise when a truck full of three giant men pulled up outside your building, ready to help. “Josh” turned out to be Josh Allen, quarterback for the Buffalo Bills.

He and his teammates were a huge help moving your things, and before leaving, Josh insisted on giving you his number "just in case" you needed anything.

It turned out you did need him—quite a lot. From restaurant recommendations to navigating the healthcare system and learning the ins and outs of American football, Josh had been your go-to guy. He even invited you to a Bills game, where you spent most of the time confused about the rules. That led to a weekly ritual of Josh coming over to watch old football games or movies to educate you.

After five months, the two of you had grown close, and you'd developed feelings for him. Too scared to risk your friendship, you kept your crush to yourself. Josh was in his offseason now, meaning he had more free time to hang out, which only made your feelings harder to ignore.

"By the way," you said casually one evening as you lounged together on your couch watching a movie, "I booked our plane tickets for the Miami Grand Prix next weekend."

Josh looked over at you, confused. "You got me a ticket?"

"Well, yeah," you replied, unsure why he was surprised. "I thought you’d want to see Daniel."

A grin spread across his face. "Just figured you’d ask first."

"You spend every weekend with me, dummy, so I knew you were free."

"Are you saying I don’t have a life?" he teased.

"If the shoe fits," you shot back with a smirk, and before you knew it, Josh had launched himself over the couch to tickle you. You squealed, trying to push him off, both of you laughing until he paused, realizing the compromising position you were in. He quickly moved away, his cheeks slightly red.

"Well, I am excited to see your brother race," he finally said, and you smiled.

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

Race day at the Miami Grand Prix was electric, and you were thrilled to be back in the paddock. Josh’s eyes lit up as he took in the sights, clearly fascinated by the behind-the-scenes of Formula 1.

"Y/N!" someone called out, and you were soon enveloped in a big hug from Lando Norris.

"Hi Lando," you said into his chest. "I missed you."

"I missed you too," he said grinning before looking to Josh who was just happy to be there. "Going to introduce me to your boyfriend?"

"This is my non-boyfriend Josh, Josh this is Lando," you introduced and Josh shook his hand.

"Non-boyfriend?" Lando teased in a whisper. "That’s not what the press thinks."

You rolled your eyes, well aware of the photos circulating online that speculated about you and Josh. Being Daniel Ricciardo’s sister meant you were used to media attention, but this was new territory.

Shoving Lando playfully, you glanced over to see Josh chatting with your brother, who was pulling you into a hug as soon as he noticed.

"My beautiful sister has returned!" Daniel announced loudly, causing you to bury your head in his chest in embarrassment. He didn’t stop talking, though, dragging Josh along to the RB garage while catching up with him.

Later, as you walked through the paddock, more drivers greeted you, some eyeing Josh with curiosity.

"I feel like Daniel’s not the only older brother I should be worried about," Josh muttered as you two found a quiet moment.

You laughed. "Please, you’re twice the size of all of them."

After the race, Josh wandered off to talk to another NFL player while you waited for Daniel. When he emerged from the garage, you hugged him tightly.

"Are we going to talk about how I sent him to be your friend, and now he looks at you like you’re the center of the universe?" Daniel teased, making you blush. "You know how many drivers asked if I was okay with your ‘boyfriend’?"

"I don’t even know if he likes me like that," you admitted, voice small. "He’s so nice to everyone, it’s hard to tell."

"Trust me, he does," Daniel said sighing.

"It's your fault buddy, you basically asked him to fall in love with me," you teased and Daniel groaned. Josh was waiting up ahead and you returned his big smile, thinking about what Daniel had said.

"I have to go do interviews, but I'll see you guys later tonight," Daniel said and you waved goodbye as he left.

"Hungry?" you asked Josh as you walked toward the exit.

"Starving," he replied.

Ten minutes later, you were seated across from each other at a casual burger place. As you scrolled through your phone, you asked, "Did you have fun today?"

"Yeah, it was awesome. Really cool to see how everything works behind the scenes. Do you miss going to races?"

"Sometimes," you said thoughtfully. "I’ve known a lot of the drivers for years, so I miss seeing them."

Josh nodded. "I could tell how much they care about you—especially by the way they treated me."

You giggled, nodding in agreement. "Yeah, we’re definitely not beating those ‘more than friends’ allegations."

"I don’t think I want to," he said casually, and your jaw dropped.

"What?"

His eyes twinkled with amusement. "I like you a lot, Y/N. After getting your darling brother’s blessing, I feel pretty confident saying that you’re mine. End of discussion."

"And you didn’t think to ask what I thought?" you teased, feigning outrage.

"Well, you’re with me all the time, dummy," he said, throwing your words back at you with a playful grin. "I figured you’d be okay with it."

You laughed, shaking your head. "Touché."

[i-heart-yellowstone]

45 - The not Spaghetti Dinner

Part 46

Raised Fair Share of Hell

Please leave comments and what you’d like to see ❤️

Two weeks later - Faith’s pov

Once finishing my last class of the day I borrowed my roommates car heading out to the rig site that my boyfriend had been working on day and night for the past two days, trying to clean out one of the major parts of the machine that pulled the oil from the dirt below it.  

Cooper’s father was standing in front of his son who was sitting on the tailgate of a white truck with the company logo on the side of it.  “Well…I want you to come see your mama.”

“She’s still here?” Cooper asked with knitted brows. 

He explained back to him.  “She’s gonna stick around a while.  We’re gonna give it another shot.” 

“Why would you do that?” My boyfriend shook his head with a gentle smile on his face. 

Tommy chuckled knowing he was being ridiculous.  “Cause that’s how fucking stupid I am - Son, I’m sorry for looking into her behind your back.  I just don’t think you should have dropped out and I was thinking maybe she could convince you-“ He glanced over his shoulder seeing me leaning against the car I had parked beside his work truck. 

Cooper lightly glared at his father, changing the subject instantly to the dinner.  “What time should me and Faith be at the house?” 

“You’re mama," said seven.  But you know it’s whenever we get the work done for that day.” Tommy explained before I pushed myself off the car and began walking over to the pair.  I was wearing an orange flower shirt, dark blue jeans and knee high brown boots.  

I sent his father a smile waving when I had reached the pair.  “Hi Mr. Norris.” 

“Hi Faith, I’ll see you two later.” He nodded, walking back over to his vehicle and leaving the oil site. 

Putting a hand on my hip I asked him simply.  “Are we going somewhere with him tonight?  I thought this was an unplanned date night since you’ve been working nonstop for the past few days.” 

“My mama is apparently planning a family dinner even though we haven’t ever had one in like the last ten years.  I would’ve told you sooner but he just told me about it tonight, so I’m sorry.” He apologizes with a half smile on his face. 

Rubbing my hands down my arms I slightly felt nervous at the thought of meeting the rest of his family.  I wasn’t sure how his father felt about me recently.  “It’s okay I guess.  I just hope they’ll like me.” The way I heard his father talk about his ex didn’t sound anything like my parents' relationship so I was terrified his mother wouldn’t like me. 

“I’ll still like you afterwards, Faith.  That’s all you need to remember when we have dinner with them.” Cooper responded by sliding off the edge of the truck tailgate, kicking up dust with his boots.  He raised his right hand tilting my chin upward so I’d look him in the eye.  “Cross my heart and hope horses are in heaven.” 

Chuckling, I scanned my gaze over his messy work clothes and stopped at the green hard hat that was sitting on his head.  “I like seeing you in uniform, Norris.” My mothers words ringing in the back of my head when he wore his cowboy hat he got from the gang back home. 

“I wouldn’t really call this a uniform, babe.” Cooper held out his arms looking over his dirty yellow shirt, blue jeans and boots he was wearing at the moment. 

Gently tugging him into me by the fabric of his shirt I wrapped my arms around his neck connecting his lips with mine.  “It’s a uniform to me.  Hey uh - are you done with work I was thinking we get out of here and return Caroline’s car a little earlier and have some us time before family dinner.” I smirked lightly with our faces almost touching the other. 

“Uh - sure we can do that.” He leaned down kissing me lightly getting the idea of where my head was at.  We made the drive out to Tech leaving her car in the parking space I had taken it from before I climbed up into the passenger seat of his truck. 

Crawling over his counsel I placed my lips over his and to my surprise he didn’t pull away.  My hands started to trace his form, I began to run his fingers up and down his chest softly while I began to feel his hand start to crawl underneath my shirt unknowingly. He removed his hand feeling me jump away from him, brown eyes filled with sympathy.  “Sorry-sorry I - I uh - we don’t have to do anything you’re not comfortable with.” 

“I’m a virgin, Cooper.  I’m not rushing into anything physical.  Unless you want to..” 

His face turned bright red like a tomato.  “I’ve never had sex either.  I’ve - I’ve just kissed some girls before you but that’s all.” 

Running my freehand through his hair I noticed his red ball cap laying on the dash of his truck.  Picking it up I pushed it down onto his head, chuckling.  “Well then we don’t have to rush into nothin’ like my Aunt Beth thinks we have.” Cooper nervously chuckled, leaning in and reconnecting our lips for another kiss and we stayed there until it was almost dinner time. 

Cooper and I parked his truck in the doorway where he rang the doorbell hearing a loud squeal coming to the door before it got gently opened by a tall blonde woman in a red dress and high heels.  “Hey, baby, come here. Oh, my God, you're so skinny. God, you're filthy. Have you been playing football?” She hugged him, grinning brightly eyeing his clothes up and down. 

I gently push the door closed behind me, biting my lip, feeling my face turning red at her question. “I-I was - we - we were dropping her roommate's car off.” Cooper cleared his throat doing his best to not become a blushing mess in front of his family. 

They didn’t need to know what we were really close to doing in the backseat of his truck. 

Thankfully she didn’t notice how embarrassed we both were and asked her ex husband even though he didn’t seem to be the one running the dinner show. “Mm. Well...God, wash your hands. Oh, babe, take your boots off.  And do we have time for Cooper to take a shower?” 

“Hell, it's your show, honey.” Tommy responded by sending me a concerned look. 

“I'm not gonna take a shower.” Cooper didn’t agree with what she had suggested and rather intertwined my hand with his closest one introducing me.  “Uh mom - this is Faith Dutton, my girlfriend.  Faith, this is my mom Angela.” 

Angela gasped throwing her arms around me quickly, hugging me before she held my shoulders looking over my body.  “Oohhh she’s got some muscle to her.  Do you work out at the gym daily?” 

“I grew up working on a ranch my family owns out in Montana.  Ms. Norris.” I smiled lightly seeing she was still grinning at me so I must be making a good first impression. 

“That’s so fascinating.  Do you like do horse shows out there or ranch weddings?” 

Shaking my head no I wasn’t exactly sure how to respond to her question.  “We don’t really do that sort of thing.” 

“Her family raises cattle that they eat type stuff, mom.” Cooper takes my hand in his eyes, seeing my whole body stiffening with nerves. 

“Here, come sit next to your sister.  Tommy, grab her a chair from the kitchen.” She gently pushed us in the direction of the table.   He got up from his seat, came back into the room and sat me beside his son. 

Cooper whispered to his sister taking the seat next to her.  “You smell like the beach.”

“You smell like a goat.” She challenged back. 

A larger guy who clearly worked with Tommy attempted to leave the room. “I'll see y'all after a while.”

“Sit.” Angela shouted and the guy came back sitting across from me at the dinner table.  Angela took her seat at the front of the table with her husband at the other end and a huge grin on her face.  “My whole family together for the first time in...it's been ten years. Sorry. I'm just so fucking happy.  Should we bless it?”

Tommy shrugged his shoulders.  “Why not? I can use anything I can get today.”

Angela grinned holding her daughter's hand.  “Grab hands.”

“I couldn't care less.” Intertwining my hand with my boyfriend and his father’s hand in my other I heard Cooper scoff and roll his eyes.  

“God cares.” Angela scolded her daughter who still wouldn’t hold her brother's hand for a minute.  “Ainsley, hold hands.”

His sister muttered under her breath, placing her hand over his.  “So gross.”

Closing my eyes I held in a laugh when she began the prayer.  “Lord, thank you for this day and thank you for bringing my family back together.  And thank you for Dale and Neal...and my son’s new girlfriend.”

One of Tommy’s other workers who looked to be an attorney corrected her.  “Nathan.”

“Oh, shit. Sorry, Nathan. Nathan, God. Course you know his name 'cause you're God, but I didn't know it. I know it now.Thank you for this food...which looks damn good, if I do say so myself...I found a butcher that imports wild boar from Italy, if you can believe it. If you're gonna make a Bolognese, it is by far the best to use wild boar

and not just ground pork.” She cursed looking up at the ceiling and I glanced over to my boyfriend with a very confused expression on my face at the way she was doing a prayer. 

Dale, the larger guy near Cooper’s father asked softly. “Are we still praying?”

“I'm not sure. Maybe she forgot.” Tommy opened his eyes, shaking his head. 

Angela finally got onto finishing her odd prayer so we could all start grabbing some food from the table in front of us.  “Help us to be mindful of those less fortunate. Help us to celebrate you by living our very best life. Amen.”

“Well this is definitely different from my family dinner.  Everyone is still sitting at the table actually eating, unlike my aunt Beth.” I whispered into my boyfriend’s ear. 

Cooper smiled in my direction responding with some food in his mouth.  “Trust me they’ll be fighting soon enough.  Then we can go and get ice cream or something afterwards if you want.” I swallowed the bite in my mouth feeling someone staring at me for a long time.  Shifting my gaze I eyed his younger sister who was giving me a disgusted look. 

Tag list @bvbwestfall @hcwthewestwaswcn @child-of-of-the-sunshine @elenavampire21 @keep-the-wolves-close @kmc1989 @tallrock35 @whatelsecouldgowrong @lover-of-books-and-tea

[bucket-of-f1]

How I Got Into F1 (the long version)

@littleblacksheep17

One of my earliest memories I have of my grandfather is sitting on his lap in the living room at three years old, watching forty or so cars rip around an oval track at 200 miles an hour.

It was the Daytona 500, and it was the coolest thing I had ever seen. I was still a few weeks out from gaining any form of meaningful consciousness, and yet my little neurons were firing on all cylinders (heh) telling me that this was exactly where I wanted to be. It was NASCAR.

WAIT, before you start throwing rocks at my head for being a dirty stock car enjoyer, let me just be very clear:

Fuck off.

Motorsport is motorsport. They all require an insane level of strength, coordination, endurance, and skill. Racing is the most raw form of sport humans can achieve, whether it’s on foot or wheels. I will not tolerate motorsport purists.

That being said, I will say that NASCAR is a very different type of racing from Formula One. Some people love it, some people don’t, and that’s okay! I don’t need you to enjoy all types of motorsport, I just don’t want to hear any negative comments about one version being worse or easier or pointless compared to another.

Anyway, NASCAR. My grandfather was a huge American motorsport fan. NHRA, Indycar, I’m pretty sure he watched CART when that was still a thing, he loved dirt oval racing, he’d watch AMA motorcross it it came on — if it was American and involved vehicles going fast, he wanted to watch it. So of course, I grew up sitting with him, watching cars go around tracks, finding out why some drivers were good and some were bad, why this car was faster than another, how engines worked, the whole thing.

My grandfather also built cars from the ground up — not just as a mechanic, he like, built his own truck with pieces he bought and took from the junkyard. It was a thing of beauty: black, sleek, it smelled good, okay I’m rambling back to motorsport.

Anyway, of course the moment my uncle found out about my love for racing, he introduced me to rally. He’s an at-home mechanic and a firefighter. He’s always loved the outdoors, and cars, and he’s a bit of an adrenaline junkie. Snowboarding, skiing, motocross, dirt buggies, mountain biking, and of course, rally — if it’s outside and just might kill him, he loves it. He likes camping and hunting and diving, he’s just probably my favorite person on the planet.

Between my uncle and my grandfather, motorsport was kind of a no brainer of an interest to pick up.

I also got really into mechanics when I was about seven years old, when an interest in WWII turned into an obsession over the technology behind airplanes and tanks and the like.

And then, the short version comes in. I’m sitting at my desk, bored, it’s lockdown, everyone’s stuck inside, and my YouTube recommends me Formula One highlights, because I’d been watching NASCAR and WRC and WEC a lot, especially when I just needed background sound (I’ll attach the video I’ve been using to fall asleep recently, it’s just the most beautiful sound ever).

So I watch the highlights, I think “this is cool” and then of course YouTube gives me clips of Verstappen and Riccardo cackling together, Norris being giggly in interviews, Hamilton and Vettel and Alonso and Kimi, the whole vacuum of F1 personality just dumped on me week one.

And of course, I fell in love.

Give it four years, a whole lot of spare time, ADHD with mild autism and OCD symptoms and oops Bucket Of F1 Facts :3

<><><>

Here's the video I use to sleep. If you're gonna try it to sleep too, start at minute 19 because there's a pit stop about 15 minutes in:

It's part of a like, 6 video series or something I think. It's a cool onboard too.

[biblioflyer]

Housekeeping & Mandalorian

It was never my intent that this blog would talk exclusively about Star Trek, indeed my one mildly viral essay is actually about Captain Marvel, but wow I am having a really tough time with The Mandalorian. I see some stuff in it worth talking about, those with an eye for the symbolic would note a lot of heavy religious and messianic symbolism in the early episodes: sacraments, baptism etc.

Which is really neat. It always thrills me to see a very thoughtful approach to cinematography in pulp. Its why I have a weird soft spot for Zack Snyder. His movies are very silly in terms of plot, but they're visually interesting from an art history point of view. I needed a little bit of emotional distance from the high water mark of the Global War on Terror, but even the aggressive patriotism and military fetishism of Michael Bay's Transformers has its moments.

But in most other respects, I'm just not feeling The Mandalorian. The metaplot and the implications of what I think is going to turn into a trinitarian power struggle between Bo, Din, and the Armorer is kind of neat. The world building that is happening on the New Republic side is....something. I'm highly supportive of trying to "do a Clone Wars" on the sequel trilogy. That is to say, remodel the trilogy by creating meaningful links to other pieces of the franchise and reframe a lot of the story and emotional beats by virtue of these connections. Its what Lucasarts did with the prequels.

Yet, I recognize that there was some intentional cognitive dissonance intended in the way that Tim Meadows' scene was filmed. The way it has all of the beats of an office comedy without the laugh track. We are probably supposed to be horrified at how callous this bureaucrat is. Intellectually that's the case, but emotionally? I just didn't feel anything. I figured out that it was going to come down to a beleaguered New Republic lacking the resources or will to help Navarro.

I wasn't quite prepared for there to not be any whiff of sentimentality on the part of the requisitions officer. I'm not really a fan of this "meet the new boss, same as the old boss" kind of approach to the New Republic. I know in both continuities, this is more or less how it turned out, but I'd still rather see some sentimentality, some despair that the New Republic has too many fires and not enough fire trucks. As it is, it just seems to be reaffirming the overall gloomy mood of the sequels that everything the heroes did had turned to ashes long before the First Order opened fire with Starkiller Base.

Then there's the set piece action sequence in "The Pirate." The liberation of Navarro should feel triumphant. But it didn't. From the moment the Mandalorians embarked on Bo's transport, I had a sense that this was going to be a turkey shoot. The Mandos were going to waltz in there and be about as menaced as Chuck Norris assaulting a preschool at nap time. And I was right. Paz Vizla aka the Heavy, even tanks a direct hit from an E-Web, goes down, but gets back to his feet again in no time. After the battle he's walking and talking without even a limp to suggest cracked ribs or anything of the sort.

This isn't even Star Wars action movie logic at this point, Luke, Leia, Han were always on the backfoot and experiencing one or more reversals per fight which is what made their triumphs more interesting. They avoid major injury for the most part, but they also are frequently stymied from achieving their goals and have to find clever ways to persevere.

I get it, these are Mandalorians. The most feared warriors in the galaxy this side of the Jedi, and they were up against a bunch of drunk and disorderly pirates. Narratively speaking, of course it should be incredibly one sided. And that's a boring narrative! If you really wanted to establish how badass these guys are when they're working together in large numbers, sure, an establishing scene would be great for that. But this was kind of silly. Every last one of them is a Captain America right down to the bad guys pouring on a hail of gunfire that never hits anywhere but his shield.

Beskar is plot armor, okay sure. But like Captain America's shield, it shouldn't be abused. It should be used to permit the heroes to do things that nobody else could, up to a point. Yet, like Captain America's shield, there has to be limits. Those limits are clearly visible on every Mandalorian's body. Its the seams in their armor, the places where they don't even wear armor.

Also the capital ship nerd in me is so despondent. This series is leaning into the same beats as Rogue One and The Last Jedi where capital ships are functionally helpless against fighters to a degree that just makes it all the more questionable why anyone would arm them and send them directly into harm's way, let alone build some that are the size of major metropolitan areas.

Am I missing something here? I can see the mold of the emotions that I think I'm supposed to be feeling, but the liquid beskar just hasn't been poured in.

Do I just need to finish Clone Wars or at least watch that Mandalorian saga playlist on Disney+?

Anyway, more Star Trek content is coming. I'm going to watch the latest episode of Picard after I post this. I'm working on some essays pertaining to S1E4 but its getting down into the weeds on some of my thinking on how the show explores different ethical perspectives and uses challenging subject matter to do so and why I think its uncomfortable for OG TNG fans, but I'm trying to exercise the right amount of care and precision when exploring tricky territory while not getting too verbose, and its not going well. What I have isn't lending itself well to chopping it up into smaller, more topical essays. I probably need to be my own harsh editor and make some tough choices about where to cut and just link out to essays that are already saying a lot of the same stuff, just a little differently.

[j2memories]

The New York Times article (August 12th 2021)

Jared Padalecki on the ‘Walker’ Finale and ‘Supernatural’

In an interview, the actor and producer talks about the season finale’s big twist and the “Supernatural” prequel that took him by surprise.

By Max Gao

Aug. 12, 2021

This interview contains spoilers for Thursday’s season finale of “Walker.”

More than a year after his wife’s murder at the U.S.-Mexico border, Cordell Walker (Jared Padalecki) returned to the scene of the crime with his family and the man responsible for pulling the final trigger: Stan Morrison (Jeffrey Nordling), the longtime Walker family friend, Texas Department of Public Safety chair and recently elected district attorney.

The twist was a secret that Padalecki — who serves as a star and executive producer of “Walker,” a modern-day reboot of the hit 1990s series that featured Chuck Norris as a high-kicking Texas Ranger — had been keeping since production on the show began last fall.

“The big difficulty for me was having to tell white lies to my friends and family and fellow cast and crew,” Padalecki said in a recent interview. “I didn’t feel good about it, but I’m learning to put that line between friend and fellow actor.”

Thursday’s season finale revealed the events leading up to the death of Emily Walker (played by Genevieve Padalecki, Jared’s real-life wife). Emily was dropping off water for migrants one night when, in a case of being at the wrong place at the wrong time, she heard a truck hit a pothole and found a group of people smuggling drugs across the border through a side road. While Cali (Katrina Begin) wounded Emily, it was Stan who, fearing the wrath of a powerful crime syndicate known as the Northside Nation, delivered the fatal blow. Stan and Cali paid off a dying man named Carlos Mendoza (Joe Perez), who agreed to confess to the crime only two days after the fact — only to be exonerated by Cordell’s sedulous search for the truth.

In a phone interview from his home in Austin, Tex., Jared Padalecki spoke about the pivotal confession scene in the finale, the evolution of his Cordell Walker, the impact of his 15-year run as Sam Winchester on “Supernatural,” and the brief online fallout from his reaction to that fantasy drama’s upcoming prequel. These are edited excerpts from the conversation.

What do you think motivated Cordell to force Stan to confess to his crimes in front of the entire Walker family?

Season 1 saw Cordell Walker still reeling from his wife’s murder and trying to put on a happy face and professional face, but really going through a lot of turmoil behind the scenes. I think he realized that the only way he could refrain from killing Stan outright was to get him to confess. Being an attorney and the D.P.S. chair, Stan knew all the loopholes and all the ways out. Walker had to set his eyes on a goal, so what was going through my head [as an actor] at the end of [Episode] 17 and all of 18 was that I just have to get this guy to say the truth and to agree to tell the truth in public.

I actually added that line on the day where I say, “Tell my family what happened.” Then, in that moment, it just occurred to me to say, “Tell Emily’s family.” [Nordling] did such a powerful job in that last scene of pulling the line between somebody who’s ashamed, but finally just ready to release the proverbial escape valve on all the pressure that’s been building up for him.

How does finally uncovering the truth about his wife’s death help Cordell to move forward?

He just needed to exhale, and he’s at a better place now. Now he realizes he needs to be there for his kids, for his parents, for his brother, for his work partners, and for himself. We’ll see in Season 2 that Walker has found some degree of closure.

How much influence did all of the stories of families being separated at the U.S.-Mexico border have on this series?

I was reading an op-ed from a law enforcement agent in Texas about how they were bound by duty and how they had to obey the law, but they just couldn’t bring themselves to put a 3-year-old in a cage. People talk all the time about how a coin has two sides. But in reality, a coin has three sides: there’s heads, tails, and the edge. So we wanted to find that edge, that gray area, and really lean into it about somebody who takes their job very seriously, who risked their life to make others’ lives safer, but also still has a deep moral code.

We developed the show before the pandemic and things came to a fever pitch between our communities and our law enforcement in different parts of the country. And America doesn’t really have a big appetite right now for tall, white, straight law-enforcement agents roundhouse kicking minorities in the face — and nor did we, so that lined up. [Laughs.] We’re more interested in these stories of a parent or a human being who find themselves stuck between a rock and a hard place.

How did you begin the transformation from Sam Winchester to Cordell Walker last year during the pandemic?

We had already been developing “Walker,” so I was able to spend some time leaning into who this character might be. And at the time, I think [the showrunner] Anna [Fricke] and the gang had already broken five or six stories. I used that time selfishly to really try and develop Cordell Walker even further, because I knew that getting the phone call to go back to Vancouver and finish “Supernatural” would come in a snap.

I did 327 episodes of that show, and that is basically 2,500 full days of filming and all the days in between of prepping and trying to figure out who Sam is, so it wasn’t difficult to get back to Sam. Frankly, knowing the last few episodes of “Supernatural,” I didn’t really want to live as Sam every day, because they were so sad. [Laughs.]

Do you still find yourself grieving the end of “Supernatural”? How did that show change your life?

We, the people who worked on and watched “Supernatural,” were all fortunate to have that time to prepare for a loss. And ultimately, the loss still was tragic and dramatic. But in another sense, “Supernatural” never really died. I still talk to [Jensen] Ackles, Misha [Collins], and the rest of the gang. I did “Supernatural” from age 22 to age 38, and I’ll never deny that my time and experiences on that show are certainly a part of who I am now. It’s still a part of me. I could film a scene as Sam Winchester right now because he lives in me, and I’m certain he always will.

I’m sitting in my office right now, and behind me is my last-ever tape mark. The last day of shooting when we shot on that bridge, which was the last shot of the series, we had our tape marks. My dear friend [the actor and stunt man] Jason Cecchini picked up the last tape marks — my red tape mark and Jensen’s blue tape mark. He put them on a call sheet and framed them, and as we all said our goodbyes, he handed them to us. I have so many reminders. The mother of my children is somebody I met on the show in Season 4, and now we have three kids! It sounds like a cop out, but because I thought about it so much, I can’t even begin to explain how much it changed me.

In June, you posted on Twitter that you were “gutted” to learn that your former co-star Jensen Ackles and his wife, Danneel, were working on a “Supernatural” prequel without your knowledge. What exactly happened that night?

I hadn’t heard of it, and then he and I chatted [the next morning]. He just kind of explained: “Man, it’s not picked up yet. It’s not even written yet.” He knows and I know how much “Supernatural” means to both of us, and it wasn’t a secret he was trying to keep, necessarily. It was just something that he didn’t feel really even existed yet. But he has been like: “Hey, I’ll let you know what’s going on.”

I love Jensen deeply. He’s my brother — he has been for many years, and he always will be, no matter what. He’s spent more time with me on camera than anybody probably ever will, so he knows my strengths and weaknesses more than I do, and vice versa. I respect his opinion.

It was just one of those things that because it was online, and people were assuming I was part of it, I really wanted to just say: “Hey, I’m not keeping a secret from you guys. I just don’t know about this.” And I should be old enough to know better than to put something out there and expect that people will understand. It’s hard to tweet a specific tone. If you write it online, it’s like, “Oh, he doesn’t know! They’re going to kill each other! The world is ending!” And I’m like, “No, no, no.” [Laughs.] I try to avoid social media as much as possible because of that.

Link to the article

[dreamauri]

♪ — 𝗟𝗢𝗢𝗞 𝗔𝗧 𝗛𝗘𝗥 lando norris x fem! mechanic! reader (fluff) fic summary . . . while on a drive, lando's car breaks down and you're the best mechanic in town.

( my master list | more of lando norris ) ( requests | taglist )

"Now my phone's dead too." Lando scoffed throwing his phone on the leather seat. He's been standing at the side of the blue carbon covered £380,00+ car for the past 20 minutes. He was in the middle of utterly no where, with no cars passing by ( the people that did stop, happen to not speak English nor Flemish Dutch for that matter yes lando tried speaking dutch to italians ).

What a lucky day.

And it was about to get a lot luckier when another car passing by stopped after Norris waved over. "I need help, with the car." He tried saying slowly, switching to Dutch to try his chances.

"I can . . . I can help push it? to uh . . . car doctor?" "Yes, car doctor, that would be great. Thank you." And so after about 2 hours of hard work, the two men ( well one man, one boy lando small ) arrived at a town where several other men came and helped Lando to the mechanics shop.

"Ask kiku. Uhhh . . . Kiku help with car. Very good."

Lando made sure to thank everyone before they left, going through the door. "Un momento per favore." [one moment please]. A female voice shouted through the garage, she was laying on a skateboard rolled under a car.

"Matteo!" she shouted again startling Lando. "Matteo. Porta qui il tuo culo e aiuta quel dannato uomo." [Matteo. Get your ass over here and help the god damn man]. 'Matteo' seemed to have either passed out and taken a nap or walked out. "marcire All 'inferno . . . Cosa c'è che non va nella tua auto?" [rot in hell . . . what's wrong with your car] You asked giving up on finding your co worker.

"I'm sorry?" Lando asked again feeling nervous in this situation, making you pause your tweaking. You rolled from under the car, looking at the British driver. "There shouldn't be anything wrong with your car." You spoke in English, fluently, rolling back under and continuing with the wrench.

"You didn't even take a look at my car-" He was stuttering. Lando was surprised and shocked. It's not everyday you run into a hot Italian women, that can fix cars and speaks English like she's from Chicago or Milton.

"What did you do to it. Were you racing with it? Drifting? Rallying? Or did you completely destroyed it, cause I don't have any carbon fiber or fancy doors and steering wheels."

"No." He replied to all of your questions. "Then it's fine. There's a gas station two roads south from here-" "You don't even know what the model of the car is." He argued, not believing you.

"You're Lando Norris, aren't you? its a 765LT Spider, McLaren." You answered with no hesitation, making the boy zip his mouth. "What do you want, Mr. Norris?" You asked again getting annoyed.

"I was told to look for, uh, Kiku was it?" He said unsurely. You sighed, grumbling a few Italian cuss words under your breath as you finished your current task. Rolling out, you stood up, lifting your tank top and wiping your face dry from the sweat, which in turn smudged some grease on your face.

Fuck not being attracted to Italian female mechanics, you were hot. Very attractive in Lando's eyes.

"I'm Kiku." You told him, handing him the greasy wrench. It was a stupid nickname a few friends gave you as a joke, and it stuck. You looked out at his car hand on your hip as you examined it. "Can you turn it on?" You asked as you approached it, ready to open the back trunk and check the engine.

Lando looked grossed out at the wrench, setting it on a random surface as he unlocked the truck. You examined the car for the next 15 minutes. "I can give it back tomorrow. It's not a big problem. Like I said, you're just out of gas."

"But the measure doesn't say that. And If it's just out of gas, shouldn't you be able to give it back today?" "Yeah. That's the problem, your fuel sender is lying to you and I have to change it." You patted his back, moving back into your garage.

"But I can't stay here forever." "What's wrong with this place?" You asked frowning, looking him in the eye. Lando was going to open his mouth before he closed it quickly. "Nothing I just don't-" why was he rushing? He didn't have places to be at the moment. ". . . I don't have a place to stay?" He answered, more like asked from how unsure of himself he was.

You looked at him for a few seconds. "You can wait over there, just don't touch anything." You told him sighing, nodding towards a few chairs near your office.

★ ☆ ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

"I'm not getting in." Lando refused, looking at your green car. Well it wasn't any green car. It was a classic, a Ferrari 250 gte. Highlight Ferrari. "Yeah, I'm definitely not getting it."

"Suit yourself, the coyotes here would not pass on eating you alive." You joked, not even sure if there were coyotes. "It's not everyday you get to eat a formula one driver, especially a British McLaren driver named Norris." Yea that statement did it for Lando, quickly getting in the car and closing the door after him.

"Good boy." You humed, not really thinking about it as you pulled out the driveway and made your way home. Lando could feel his face redden, hearing your praise, crossing his arms and huffing.

When you arrived at your house, the McLaren diver was quick to jump out first. "Think fast." Lando turned around, quickly catching the keys you tossed. He dropped them once he saw the yellow and black logo with a yelp.

You were laughing at him, moving to his side and picking up the keys, moving towards the house. "casa mia è casa tua." you told him as soon as you unlocked the door. Landor entered after you, copying you as you took your shoes off. The first thing the British driver felt was warmth, your space was giving him solace. This place felt like home.

"You can look around, I'm not going to take long in the shower." You set your bag down on the floor near the couch, making your way to the bathroom. Land did look around, he felt curious. You clearly knew him but he knew so little about you. While scouting for information he found your collection of music discs.

When finally came out fresh, Lando was quick to ask you about a few pictures he found. You two were quickly becoming close with one another. Sharing stories and jokes.

"What about this one?" Lando pointed to one on the grand piano. "Oh yea, I can totally see the picture, Mr. Norris." You chuckled. You were busy with your hands, making dinner for both of you ( you usually ordered out but it world be rude to do that with a guest around so you were putting your heart out in the spaghetti you wee making from scratch, something you knew would impress the McLaren driver ).

Lando picked up the photo frame walking over to you. "Why do you keep calling me by my last name? I have a first name, or did you forget." He chuckled looking at you. "Cause your first name sounds like London." You teased joking. It was out of respect, you did not want to get on his bad side, and it did sound like London just a bit.

Lando smiled laughing. "Well, I'd rather you call me by my first name." "Of course, Mr. Norris." You teased, leaning your forearms on the counter, flicking some flower on his face. He only held up the photo in return. "Oh, I remember this." You hummed, wiping your hand in a towel, taking the photo.

"It was before the last race for the European karting championship. I think I was . . . eleven in that picture?" Lando moved beside you looking down at it. You were in your kart, with your helmet on holding a thumbs up.

You took a moment looking at the photo, your father was sitting beside you on the floor, delivering the kart it's last few tweaks before the race. "You karted?" Lando asked, ruining the moment.

"No." You sarcastically replied, pushing the picture on his chest. "I flew planes at the age of two." You rolled your eyes. "Did you win?" "Hell yeah, I did. Do I look like some weak ass sissy?" You replied laughing. "That championship was mine. I Literally beat up Albon and Leclerc. "

"Really?" He was interested, leaning forward to listen closely. "What else did you race in?" "Just that really." You shrugged smiling. "Other than the karting track a few blocks down." "There's a karting track a few blocks down?" You looked at him blinking quietly. "I think answered your question before you answered it."

The boy looked away chuckling nervously. "Right." "I can drop you off tomorrow morning while I fix your car." You offered as you gently cooked the chicken alfredo. "Really?" You looked back at him deadpanning. "I mean, I'd enjoy that. Thank you."

★ ☆ ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

"Hey, I never got to ask, why didn't you continue with racing? You won the championship after all. We could've been competing in f1 together." The sun had already risen again and Lando was unwillingly sitting in your car as you drove through the town. "Not everyone is high born, Norris." You sighed, shrugging. "It's my cannon event. Besides, I'm happy like this."

After finally fixing the lying fuel measure, you drove the McLaren to the karting track, honking the horn to get the attention of the race car driver.

Turning back from the fence, Lando smiled upon seeing you lean on the blue carbon in the car park. "You fixed her!" "Of course I did." You chuckled, tossing him his keys once he was close enough. "You're free to go Mr. Norris." You chuckled getting off the McLaren and patting his back. "I don't need to leave just yet . . . by the way do you have plans next week?" "Why what are you up to."

lando.jpg

lando.jpg lesson learned, always carry a portable car mechanic with you

alex_albon ease my heart and tell me thats not who i think it is ↳ youruser long time no see alex ↳ alex_albon THE POWER OF CHRIST COMPLES YOU ↳ user 💀

charles_leclerc omg ew, kart theif ↳ youruser you're ew, you took my kart first! ↳ charles_leclerc it was a good kart ↳ alex_albon your only win ↳ charles_leclerc THATS MEAN

user who's that ↳ maxverstappen1 a nightmare ↳ youruser hey max ↳ maxverstappen1 BEGONE DEMON

[kathlare]

crossroads of the past

Lando Norris x Amelie Dayman

Summary: Set amidst the vibrant energy of race day in Austin, the chapter explores the internal struggles of Lando Norris as he wrestles with unresolved emotions and the weight of an unexpected upcoming reunion.

Wordcount: 1.3 k

Warnings: just fluff

request over here!

October 22nd, 2023 - Austin, TX

The dry Texas heat hung over the Circuit of the Americas like a heavy blanket, even in the morning. Lando leaned against the side of the flatbed truck, the one they'd all pile into for the driver parade. Around him, engines roared faintly in the background, and the buzz of fans filtered through the paddock. The energy of race day always had a distinct pulse to it, but today, his mind felt... elsewhere.

—This fucking heat, man,— Charles muttered, running a hand through his damp hair as he leaned against the same truck. —Why does it always feel like we're about to melt here?—

Lando chuckled, dragging a hand through his own hair. —At least it's not humid. Could be worse.— His tone was light, but his head was far from the conversation.

The group of drivers waited together, some talking animatedly while others scrolled on their phones or sipped water. Checo, standing with his arms crossed and a small grin on his face, looked particularly content.

—What’s with the smile, mate?— George asked, his British accent cutting through the air as he nudged Checo lightly. —Did you finally bribe Christian to let you swap cars with Max?—

The group laughed, but Checo waved a hand dismissively. —No, no. Just excited for next week.—

—Ah, Mexico,— Alex chimed in, nodding thoughtfully. —Always such a good crowd there. They love you, don’t they?—

Checo smiled proudly, his chest puffing slightly. —Of course. It’s always special to race at home. My family will all be there, Stella too, and her side of the family is coming as well.—

At this, Lando’s ears perked up. His grip on the railing of the truck tightened slightly, though he kept his face neutral.

—Amelie’s coming too, I imagine?— Charles asked casually, a small smirk tugging at his lips.

Checo nodded, not noticing the way Lando stiffened beside him. —Yeah, of course. She wouldn’t miss it. She’s been busy with projects this year, but family’s family. She’ll be there.—

Lando’s chest felt tight, like the heat of the Texan sun had turned inward and was pressing against his ribs. He turned his gaze to the horizon, pretending to focus on the distant grandstands, but his mind was already racing. Amelie. He hadn’t seen her since July at Penelope’s birthday party, and even then, they hadn’t exchanged more than a stilted greeting.

It was hard not to let her name pull him under. Amelie. A name he’d tried to push out of his head more times than he could count, only for it to find its way back like a stubborn echo. Every time he thought of her, it was like opening an old wound—one that never quite healed, no matter how much time had passed.

Lando swallowed, forcing himself to stay rooted in the present. But Checo’s words had stirred something in him, a restless energy he hadn’t expected. Next week in Mexico. She’d be there.

For a moment, the noise around him seemed to fade. Lando stared ahead, his jaw tightening. He tried to remind himself how things had been left between them: messy, unresolved, and painful. Yet, even with all the bitter memories, all the fights and misunderstandings, there was a spark of something else—a longing that he couldn’t quite shake.

—You alright there, mate?— George’s voice snapped him back to the present. Lando blinked, realizing he’d been gripping the edge of the truck a little too tightly.

—Yeah, yeah,— he said quickly, forcing a grin. —Just zoned out. Heat’s getting to me.—

George raised an eyebrow but didn’t press further. Around them, the conversation shifted to strategy, tires, and turn specifics. But Lando’s mind was stuck on Checo’s words. Family’s family. She’ll be there.

He didn’t need a reminder of how close Amelie was to Checo’s family—or to her sister Stella, who had practically become his surrogate big sister during his early F1 years. For better or worse, their paths were always intertwined, even if he tried to avoid it. And now, he’d have to see her again in Mexico.

The last time they’d spoken properly felt like a lifetime ago. It was May 2021, right before everything crumbled between them. She was busy filming Wicked, her star rising higher than ever, while he was in the thick of the F1 season. At the time, it felt like their lives were moving in completely different directions, and Lando had convinced himself that walking away was the best choice. He’d even told himself it was mutual—she was too busy, he was too busy—but deep down, he knew better. He’d hurt her. And in the process, he’d hurt himself too.

And then there was Penelope’s birthday in July. That fleeting moment when they crossed paths again, and all he could manage was a pathetic, awkward “hi.” She hadn’t looked angry, but she hadn’t looked happy to see him either. Just indifferent. And somehow, that hurt more than anything.

—You’re thinking about her, aren’t you?— Charles’ voice cut through his thoughts, quiet enough that only Lando could hear.

Lando turned sharply, his face flushing. —What? No. Who?—

Charles gave him a knowing look, leaning closer so the others wouldn’t hear. —Amelie. Don’t bullshit me, mate. You’ve had that same look on your face since Checo brought her up.—

Lando groaned, running a hand through his hair. —Fuck off, Charles.—

—Relax,— Charles said with a smirk. —I’m just saying, maybe you should talk to her. It’s been what, two years? You can’t avoid her forever.—

—We don’t talk for a reason,— Lando muttered, his voice low. —And it’s not exactly the kind of thing you just... fix overnight.—

Charles shrugged, crossing his arms as he leaned back against the truck. —Maybe. But if you’re still thinking about her this much, maybe it’s worth trying. You’re not the same guy you were two years ago. At least, I hope not.—

Lando didn’t respond, but the words hit him harder than he wanted to admit. He wasn’t the same guy he’d been in 2021. Or at least, he hoped he wasn’t. Back then, he’d been impulsive, selfish, and too wrapped up in his own insecurities to realize what he had until it was gone. Now, two years later, he’d like to think he’d grown up—at least a little.

But would Amelie see that? Would she even care?

—Alright, lads, time to load up!— one of the organizers called, gesturing for the drivers to climb onto the truck.

As they moved into position, Lando’s thoughts were still spinning. Next week, he’d see her again. He didn’t know how, or when, or what he’d even say to her, but he knew one thing for sure: he wasn’t going to waste the opportunity.

This was his chance. His chance to prove to her—and to himself—that he’d changed. That he could be the guy she needed, the guy she deserved.

And maybe, just maybe, he could fix what he’d broken.

[lickmeleclerc]

| Best Friend | Lando Norris Imagine

Based off the song You Are In Love by Taylor Swift in which Lando confesses you’re his best friend

“Strange look on his face

Pauses, then says

You're my best friend

And you knew what it was

He is in love”

His blue eyes matched the color of the water beneath the boat as the sun was beginning to sink into the ocean warmed them, they felt intimating watching you as you walked down the staircase leading to the stern of the boat both hands held champagne flutes filled to the top bubbling. Lando laid on his back his hands behind his head as he watched you make your descent. He’d switched out his swim trucks for a matching sweat suit as the breeze set in for the evening. His gaze made your cheeks flush hoping it would present as a sun kissed glow from the day celebrating.

“Congratulations again to us!” You laugh handing him a glass. You wrapped your cardigan around yourself covering your midsection still clad in your swimsuit from sunbathing earlier before taking a seat beside him.

“We better get a one two everyone year in Monaco if we get to celebrate like this.” He laughs before raising his glass to cheers.

“I’ll cheers to that.” You join in a light while tapping his glass before taking a drink. Both of you laugh lightly before turning your gaze to the view. Monaco was stunning, it was dream to be in a place like this, a dream to be experiencing this life.

“I’m so jealous you get to call this place home.” You speak again after a few moments of silence bringing your knees to your chest regretting not changing before coming back from below deck.

“It was definitely interesting in a good way, a good feeling of being able to wake up in my own bed for a race.” He responded taking another drink before a childish giggle escaped his mouth. The fuzzy feeling behind your eyes indicating all the champagne on the podium and celebratory acts on the yacht and now this final glass as the boat was returning to the dock has finally caught up with both of you.

“And I’ll get to nurse my hangover tomorrow at home, that’ll be nice.” He added before giggling like a school boy again. You returned a giggle not being able to control it erupting from your stomach and moved to lay on your back. Lando mocked your actions his head level with yours, shoulders touching. The laughter died out and all that was heard was the small waves crashing against each other. The lightheadedness and motion of the waves bringing a relaxing feeling to your being, a happy sigh escaped your lips. An absence of warmth against your shoulder caused you to sit up. Lando was sitting legs crossed. You match his position facing him a smile on your face before you could question his actions he placed his hand on your knee his face has changed from relaxed and the intimidating look in his eyes was now underlying with nervousness. His piercing eyes met yours again before quickly diverting back to the placement of his hand.

“You know Y/n” he paused and licked his lips his hand feeling tingly as it laid on your knee he let out a breath before finishing, the questioning look in your eyes and slight furrow of your brows urged him to continue.

“You’re my best friend.” His words were quite and confusing. Why make such a simple saying a declaration in a moment like this. Of course you’re his best friend and him yours. But as the words set in and the way his gaze fell at your silence it all seemed to make since in the haze of celebratory acts and the way he held you tightly on the podium earlier when he pulled you onto the top set next to him. How he always shared your success as his own and wanted to arrive to races together and teased you with his wittiness every chance he got. How his compliments of your appearance were played off as silly remarks. A realization hit, Lando is in love. With you.

“You’re my best friend too.”

[finaledenialist]

masterlist of w*lker reviews to brighten up your day!

‘W*lker’ review: A forgettable reboot which takes itself too seriously

“The prolific American freelance satirist and cultural critic Joe Queenan had once described the Chuck Norris-starrer Walker, Texas Ranger as a show ‘so corny and predictable that it appears to be in slow-motion even when it’s not.’ (...) Its 2021 reboot, simply titled Walker, seems no different.”

The CW's W*lker Is Just as Cheesy and Awkward as the Original W*lker, Texas Ranger

“W*lker’s political point of view may be slightly updated, but everything else about the show feels musty and stilted, completely out of place with the modern genre shows (...)  P*dalecki fits awkwardly into the role (...) W*lker’s fixation on his dead wife is manifested in gauzy, Hallmark-style visions of her watching over him and his family, giving the P*daleckis the chance to gaze longingly at each other (...)  When he tries to call her back and gets no answer, he lets out a hilariously overwrought manly wail of sorrow (...)”

‘W*lker’ Review: ‘Ranger’ Gets a Reboot 

“only the pilot was available to review and the introductory episode is hampered by the task of having to introduce everything. That said, the show’s creator, Anna Fricke, might have done this more tidily (...)  The opening moments of the first episode involve the death of W*lker’s wife under circumstances that go unexplained, as do the man’s anguished cries (...)  All this soft-spoken Texas muttering may be regionally authentic, but it doesn’t help with the details.”

and (because I am in love with how passively-aggressively Wall Street journal phrased this):

“it is suggested that he ran away at precisely the time his kids needed him. Rather than rush home to see them when he gets back from his mysterious mission, he parks his enormous pickup truck in a public park. Where he starts drinking. Only to be taken into custody by State Trooper Micki Ramirez, who, just coincidentally, is about the become a Texas Ranger and—gasp—W*lker’s partner.”

CW Reboots W*lker but Forgets to Give Him a Personality

“W*lker is very much one side of the coin, and that's one of the main problems with a show that wants to be a little progressive but can't leave behind its black-and-white origins (...) Introducing audiences to this many characters and tossing in a mystery of the week makes the premiere a little crowded, but it’s also surprisingly flat and slow in terms of pacing (...) There’s just nothing here to hold onto (...)  "W*lker" isn't the edge of the coin as much as one of those quarters that's been through the system for so long that it's lost all of its luster.”

'W*lker' Review: A Rusty Texas Ranger Reboot Led By An Awkward J*red P*dalecki (my favourite by far)

“the CW reboot is as outdated as they come but hey, at least it pretends to be serious (...) His sorrow-channelling reaction is cringey at best (...)   It all hints at an all too simple, nay, mind-numbingly basic plot (...) W*lker is a show you have watched all too many times (...) a wholly forgettable story (...) no emotional depth”

and

“P*dalecki is so awkward in his ridiculous Ranger hat, it had me wishing I could knock it right off his head by the sheer power of my will. This wayward son has “carried on” to a very bizarre destination.”

+ bonus (not a review per se, and it will probably make you angry)

‘Walker’: How Detention Of Children At U.S.-Mexico Border Served As Jumping-Off Point For CW Reboot