#zm22 x reader

[babybearnation]

in the heat of your electric touch

⎇zane maloney x gn!reader - it's his first formula e weekend (oneshot) ⎇author's note: thank u fox for sending my own idea to me so i had an excuse to write it. this is legitimately so self-indulgent lol. (kofi for first formula e fic) ⎇content warnings: reader suffers with migraines and deals with one in this fic ⎇word count: 1.5k

The air seemed to buzz with excitement and anticipation. Cameras shot every angle of the paddock as media personnel and drivers and staff zipped back and forth between garages and the track and other areas that littered the small paddock.

Y/n had been in both the F2 and F1 paddocks before, but they'd never really gotten used to the pure chaos and busyness of them. Formula E's paddock was no different. A few people smiled at them as they passed, but no one really paid them much mind.

After all, why pay attention to the complete and utter rookie's partner, when you could pay attention to the complete and utter rookie?

Speaking of Zane, where was he? Y/n looks around, trying to spot familiar tattoos and a familiar blue & yellow polo. No such luck. Y/n sighs before unlocking their phone again. As much as they hated it, it made sense why Zane wasn't there - he was busy prepping for free practice one. Y/n supposes they'll see him later.

"What's with the frown, my love?" A familiar accent fills Y/n's ears as tattooed arms snake around their waist. They smile and turn their head slightly, catching sight of Zane's face.

"Just missing you, that's all." Y/n says, locking their phone and leaning back into his embrace. The familiar feeling of a race suit zipper digging into their back softens their anxieties. "You ready for FP1?"

"As ready as I'll ever be. You sure you don't wanna stay in the garage with my parents?" Zane asks, pressing soft kisses over Y/n's neck and cheek. They hum at the feeling, a soft smile filling their face before a sigh slips from their lips.

"It'd be an awkward first meeting, that's for sure." Y/n chuckles before pulling away from Zane's grip and spinning to face him. They lean forward and kiss him softly, only pulling away when someone coughs behind them.

A blue and yellow clad member of staff smiles apologetically at the pair and Y/n sighs, understanding that this is the moment where they'll have to say goodbye for over an hour. With one last soft kiss, Y/n allows Zane to leave. As he walks away, they call his name one last time, smiling when he turns back to face them with wide, hopeful eyes.

"Good luck, you got this!"

Y/n's eyes roam over the screen, watching the small section bars fill up to show Zane's progress through each one. Eventually, after finishing a complete lap without skittering off on that one dodgy corner every seemed to be struggling with, Zane places 20th. Not the quickest, but also not the slowest.

After a few extra minutes, the free practice session comes to an end and Y/n flicks the screen off, relishing the respite from the blue light. With a sigh, they fall back against the couch in Zane's driver's room, taking slow measured breaths.

The silence and stillness of the room allows Y/n to soak it in all. Zane hadn't made it to Formula 1, like he'd always wanted. But he'd made it Formula E, and he seemed so happy and at peace here. The team treated him like the future champion Y/n know he is and really, could they ask for anything more than that?

With another heaving sigh, Y/n sits up, eagerly counting down the minutes it would take for Zane to finish his debrief meeting and come and save them from boredom.

If Y/n thought day one of the weekend was chaotic, it had nothing on day two. Thousands of fans had poured into the stands to watch the twenty-two electric cars race around the streets of Sao Paulo. It made Y/n shiver with anticipation.

"You sure you wanna stay in my driver's room?" Zane asks, a mirror from the day before. His blue and yellow race suit sits snug on his frame and Y/n leans forward, tugging him into a hug. They sigh softly.

"I'll be okay. Be better for my head, anyways. Good luck, baby, you got this." Y/n says. Zane was due to be stolen away for qualifying any minute now. Free practice two had gone well - Zane finishing P20 once more - but qualifying was a whole different beast.

"Thank you, my love. I'll try my best for you." Zane says, gently pushing Y/n's hair back from their face. Y/n smiles and pecks his lips once before sighing when they spot familiar staff members over his shoulder.

"You could crash out of every race and I'd still happily call you mine, baby. Now go on, before we get properly interrupted again." Y/n says, smiling. Zane kisses them once more before walking off, turning back with a smile when Y/n yells good luck at him again.

With a weary sigh, Y/n heads over to Zane's driver's room, ready for some peace and quiet.

P19. Zane had qualified P19. Y/n is happy about that, despite the pained expression on their face . It's not last, and isn't that all that matters? Zane gives them a quick kiss on the cheek as he checks in on them before rushing off to head to his debrief. Not a lot of time stood between the end of qualifying and the beginning of the race and Y/n knew it'd be pretty minimal amounts of contact with Zane until after the race.

Y/n's head throbs slightly and they wince, laying back against the soft couch. With a shaky hand, they lift their phone up and quickly shoot Zane a message, letting him know that they're taking a nap and that he should wake them before the race.

No response comes after five minutes, so Y/n locks their phone again before sighing and closing their eyes. Just a small nap to hopefully get their migraine to disappear.

Hopefully.

Y/n feels blessed right now. The nap had shifted the migraine away and now they could watch Zane's first ever race in Formula E without constantly having to squint against the bright lights of the screen.

After the delay from Frijns' car not starting, the race was off and Y/n found themself constantly sipping from their drink, anxious and nervous about what was happening not only to Zane, but to all the other racers out on the track.

Y/n's migraine threatened to peek back into existence after watching Wehrlein's crash, but still Zane continued on, creeping closer and closer to the points with each lap around the Sambadrome. When, at last, he crossed the finish line in P12, Y/n couldn't help but tear up, hands clasped in front of their face.

Without thinking about their previous migraine or any awkwardness from encountering someone who didn't know about them, Y/n darts out of Zane's driver's room, eagerly scrambling to get to the pitlane, ready to greet their boyfriend.

As the cars pull up, Y/n spots the blue and yellow Lola Yamaha ABT - the only one to finish the race - and darts over, joining Zane's team and parents with a soft smile. No one seems to mind their presence, so Y/n waits for Zane to notice them as he walks over.

Zane smiles and thanks his team first before getting hugs from his family members. He's about to walk away when Y/n calls out his name, causing him to spin on the spot. He rushes over instantly, wrapping them in a tight hug.

"Y/n, my love! Did you watch the whole thing? How's your head? Are you feeling any better?" Zane fretfully asks, his voice muffled through his helmet. Y/n laughs and nods, cradling his helmet with both hands.

"I feel a lot better and yes, I did watch the race. I'm so proud of you, baby. So fucking proud." Y/n says, tears pricking the corners of their eyes. They remain faintly aware of the eyes on the pair of them but Y/n continues to smile softly at Zane for as long as he lets them.

At last he has to leave, his eyes relaying his frown as he slowly shuffles away to do his post-race cooldown and his debrief. Y/n smiles after him before turning to face his parents, a light blush on their face as they meet his parents' interested stares.

"It's nice to meet you two..."

Y/n sighs sleepily, pressing closer to Zane's side. Zane huffs out a soft puff of breath, tightening his grip around Y/n's waist.

"'M so proud of you, you know that, right?" Y/n sleepily murmurs. Zane kisses their temple, fingers deftly squeezing their side to show a small part of his love.

"I know. You're my biggest fan, aren't you?" Zane says. His voice is gruff with sleepiness and Y/n smiles softly to themself. Perhaps they should shut up and let him sleep, but just a little extra conversation wouldn't hurt, right?

"The biggest." Y/n responds. Zane chuckles softly before tucking Y/n even closer into his side. Y/n hums happily, eyes slipping closed as warmth washes over their figure.

"You're the best I could ever ask for, my love."

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