writingfortoomanyfandoms - Tumblr blog

writingfortoomanyfandoms · 1 day ago

Text

Safe From the World

Pairing: George Russel x Single Mum!Reader

Summary: George and Y/N have been best friends since they were kids - every year they fell more and more in love

Warnings: Swearing, some angst, parenthood, also SO MUCH YEARNING

Word Count: 6,500

Requested: “i need you” anon here!! if you don’t mind repeating concepts, a fic like that would george would be adorable 🥹 like going through karting, single seaters, then williams to mercedes. if you don’t want that, dad george is always a favorite (especially girl dad george)!

if neither of these interest you, i can come up with other ideas! so excited to see what you come up with for any driver!!"

A/N: I hope you enjoy! Let me know what you think! Also let me know what other drivers you want to see me write for - requests are still open ❤️

Age 9 (2007)

When Y/N was 9 years old, her family moved house. She was upset, having had to move away from all her school friends, and not even the promise of being able to pick the paint for her new room was enough to cheer her up.

She was sulking in the garden of her new house - sat on the grass at the back of the property with her knees drawn to her chest and her back against the hedge - when a football landed on the ground in front of her.

Y/N turned her glare onto the football, as though it was the cause of all of her discontent. Then she jumped when a voice rang out from beside her.

“Hi! Sorry - can you give that back?”

She looked around, and saw a head peeking up from behind the hedge that separated her garden from her neighbour’s. She thought for a second before sighing and getting to her feet to retrieve the ball.

“Thank you!” The boy grinned when Y/N passed it over. “I’m George! It’s nice to meet you.”

“I’m Y/N,” she responded.

“Do you like to play football?” George asked her, tilting his head.

“Um… I don’t know.”

“That’s okay! Do you want to play with me?”

Y/N weighed up the options in her mind - she didn’t want to do anything that could possibly hint to her parents that she was getting over the move. But also… sulking in the garden was kind of lonely.

“Okay!”

Y/N ran back inside her house where her parents were unpacking some of the kitchenware.

“Hey, kiddo - you feeling better?”

“George wants me to go play football with him.”

“Who’s George, sweetheart?” Her dad asked.

“Next door!”

Her parents shared a look.

“Alright - let me walk you over. We’ve been meaning to introduce ourselves anyway,” her mum said at last.

When they knocked on the neighbour’s door, it was George who answered with a bright, beaming grin.

“Y/N!”

“Hi! This is my mum.”

“It’s nice to meet you, Y/N’s mum,” George recited. “May we go play football?”

Y/N’s mother laughed quietly.

“Could you grab your mum for me when you go?”

“Okay!” George chirped, grabbing hold of Y/N’s hand and pulling him through his house. His mother was sitting on the living room couch reading a book, and the pair of them paused in the doorway. “Mum, Y/N’s mum wants to talk to you.”

George’s mum’s head snapped up, eyebrows raising.

“Oh - hello, dear! You must be the neighbour’s kid!”

Y/N looked down at her feet, suddenly shy.

“Hello.”

“It’s so lovely to meet you - we’ve been meaning to come over and welcome you to the neighbourhood,” she walked over to stand in front of Y/N, smiling down at her. “I’m Alison.”

“Nice to meet you,” Y/N mumbled.

“We’re going to play in the garden,” George announced, not waiting for a reply as he pulled Y/N through the house.

Age 11 (2009)

“Y/N!”

Her face broke into a grin at the sound of her best friend calling her over. She gave an apologetic look to her new friends - at least, she hoped they were her new friends - and made her excuses to peel off from the group, carrying her tray over to the table George was seated at.

“Hey!”

“I've not seen you all day,” George groaned.

“I’ve been making friends,” Y/N teased, sitting down across from him.

“The food sucks.”

“Benjy and Cara did warn us,” she pointed out, though grimaced the moment she took the first bite of the school dinner. “Come on - show me your timetable. I want to see what teachers you’ve got.”

“I’m still so mad we’re not in the same class,” George grumbled, pulling out his timetable all the same.

“We might get put into the same set for maths?” Y/N suggested. “We’re probably about the same level, right?”

“I hope so,” George agreed.

The rest of lunch passed in a blur, and when it ended Y/N waved at George as she ran to catch up with the other girls in their year - she was determined to fit in with them, especially since her and George weren’t in the same class.

“Who’s that?” One of the girls - Amy - asked.

“Oh - George! He’s my best friend.”

“How do you know him?”

“We’re neighbours.”

“He’s kinda cute,” Amy mused, still looking over at where George had rejoined the boys in their year.

Y/N shifted uncomfortably - it wasn’t something she had ever considered before. But now she found that she didn't like the idea of anyone else thinking of George that way either.

“He’s great,” Y/N said in lieu of anything else.

“Is there anything going on between you?”

Y/N wrinkled her nose, shaking her head.

“Just friends - besides, he’s too busy for anything like that.”

“Busy?”

“He competes in Karting races,” Y/N informed the group proudly. “He’s really good.”

“Like… go-Karts?” Amy asked, raising her eyebrows.

“Kinda… but more serious. It’s how people get into Formula 1,” Y/N said knowledgeably.

“That’s cool, I guess,” Amy hummed, before turning away to talk to someone else.

Y/N feels kind of wrong-footed, sure she’s managed to say something wrong. But then she looked back over to her best friend, only to find him already looking at her. George offered her a bright smile across the hallway, which Y/N returned immediately, feeling warmed from the simple reassurance of his friendship.

Age 13 (2011)

“So… I’ve got something to tell you.”

Y/N looked up from where she was doing her maths homework sat at the kitchen table in the Russell house. George looked nervous, pen tapping against the paper of his own workbook, and he was chewing his lip.

“Is everything okay?”

“Yeah, yeah - just…”

“Oh God,” Y/N pushed her workbook away, giving her friend her full attention. “You're about to tell me you want me to ask someone out on your behalf, aren’t you?”

“What?!” George spluttered. “No! Why would you think that?”

Y/N gave him a sly grin.

“You were just acting so weird. Thought I’d snap you out of it - because that would be the worst thing you could have to ask me.”

“Really? Not like… me asking you to help you murder someone? That wouldn’t be worse?”

Y/N lent back on her chair, pondering.

“That would depend on who you wanted to murder. I think I’d mostly trust you to have good reasons.”

“That’s… good to know. I’ll keep you in mind when I set out on my vigilante justice missions.”

“Awesome,” Y/N beamed. “Is that all?”

“No! Obviously not!” George laughed, balling up a piece of paper to throw at her.

“Well will you just hurry up and tell me?”

“Why are you so mad I’m distracting you from maths?”

“I could’ve discovered a passion for algebra for all you know.”

“Have you?”

“No - but that’s besides the point.”

George laughed, warming Y/N from inside out. He had looked so worried when he said he needed to tell her something - she was just relieved to have been able to ease that concern. Whatever he had to tell her wasn’t worth his anguish.

“Just tell me what’s going on,” she said when George had sobered up.

“Ah - my parents have… they’ve agreed to let me drop out.”

“Drop out?”

“Yeah - get homeschooled instead,” George confirmed.

“I… I didm’t know that that was something you wanted.”

“It’s just to give me more time to focus on driving - I need to be able to go to all the races, you know?”

“No, yeah,” Y/N agreed, still feeling a little wrong-footed. “That makes sense, I guess I just.. thought you’d tell me you were asking them about being homeschooled.”

“I didn’t know how to bring it up, and I didn’t really think they’d agree to be honest.”

“Of course they did - they know how good you are at karting,” Y/N snorted. “I’m happy for you, George,” she promised, seeing how her friend’s brow had pinched again.

“Yeah?”

“Yeah - I mean, I’ll miss you, obviously. But we’ll still be friends - you’re stuck with me forever, now, you know that. I’ll just have to come to more of your races,” she said determinedly.

“I’ll save a space for you.”

Age 17 (2015)

“Y/N! George is here!”

Y/N frowned into the mirror - she hadn’t been expecting her best friend’s company. She finished applying her make-up as quickly as she could, and headed downstairs.

George was leaning against the kitchen doorframe, chatting with her mother - there was an easy smile on his face, and a Tesco bag hanging from his fingers.

“George? What are you doing here?”

“Hey!” He seemed to do a double take when he turned around and set his eyes on her. “You… you look nice?”

“Oh - thanks,” Y/N said, somewhat unenthusiastically. “Did you text me?”

“Ah, no! I thought we could do a movie night, though? It’s been a while since we’ve hung out.”

Y/N shifted uncomfortably, avoiding his gaze.

“Unless… you already have plans?”

“I’m sorry, Georgie.”

George shook his head immediately, blushing.

“No - I should’ve texted.”

“I mean, you never do,” Y/N said, trying to joke but it fell flat. “And, to be fair, I’m usually around.”

And that was true - when she knew George was going to be at home between races, she tried to make an effort to make herself available to him. Because she missed him when he wasn’t around - and he so often wasn’t at home anymore, and with her A-Levels coming up she had so few opportunities to travel and watch him race anymore.

“What… will you still be here tomorrow?” She asked hopefully. George brightened at that, nodding.

“Yeah! I should be. So… rain check?”

“Rain check.”

It was as if a weight had been lifted from her shoulder, and she was able to smile at him properly as she ignored the guilt still rolling around her stomach.

“It’s nice to see you, though,” she said, and George pulled her into a hug.

“I’ve missed you,” George confessed. Y/N squeezed him in return, wanting to ease his sadness.

“I’ve missed you too.”

“So… where are you going dressed like that?” George asked, pulling away and gesturing at Y/N’s outfit. “And - are you wearing make-up?”

“Yeah I’ve… I’ve got a date,” she admitted. George reeled back as if she’d slapped him. He stared at her with wide-eyes.

“A date?”

“Yeah.”

“I didn’t know you were dating.”

“I wasn’t aware I needed your permission,” Y/N snorted.

“I mean - I didn’t know anyone had asked you out."

“Is it such a surprise?” Y/N asked, feeling wounded at his shock.

“No, that’s not-“

As if on cue, the doorbell rang.

“Y/N-“

“I’ll see you tomorrow, George.”

When she turned away from him, he reached out to grab hold of her hand to stop her.

“I didn’t mean it like that,” he said urgently. “Anyone would be lucky to have you, okay? I was just surprised that you hadn’t told me.”

Y/N softened immediately. She never had been particularly good at staying mad at him.

“You’re not around as much anymore,” she shrugged, not trying to hurt him but needing him to understand. “My life goes on when you’re away racing. I can’t tell you every little thing that happens.”

“I know,” George agreed. He tugged her back to him to press a kiss to her forehead. “You’ll tell me about it tomorrow, though?”

“You’ll get the full lowdown,” Y/N agreed with a grin. “I’ll need your honest judgement about this guy.”

Age 21 (2019)

“George!”

Y/N practically tackled George in a hug. He laughed loudly, hugging her back.

“Having fun?”

“Best day ever!” Y/N confirmed, pulling away from him just so she could beam at him.

“Worth the jet lag?"

“Of course,” she laughed, pulling him back in for another quick hug before stepping back. “Lando’s been buying me drinks.”

“Of course he has,” George groaned.

“I can’t believe we're here!”

“Why? Didn’t think I’d make it?” George joked, resting his arm over her shoulder and leaning in to be heard over the loud music.

“Obviously I knew you’d make it,” Y/N scoffed, jabbing him in the side. “It’s just amazing that we’re actually, you know… here!”

‘Here’ was a club in Australia - hours after George had finished his first race as an F1 rookie. Not as a reserve or a test driver, but as a signed driver for Williams. And, no, his debut race hadn’t been quite what George had been hoping for, and he had finished behind both of his fellow rookies, but in this moment, that didn’t matter.

Because Y/N had been his best friend for years, and the whole time that she’d known him, it had been all he’d wanted to talk about.

“You proud of me, Y/L/N?”

“Always,” Y/N responded immediately.

Pink spread across George’s cheeks, and Y/N was suddenly hit with just how close together they were - George’s face just inches from hers. Rather than step away, though, she reached a hand up to rub her thumb over his cheek. George leaned into her touch, his eyes dropping down to her lips and then quickly flicked back up to meet her gaze - a question in the look.

Y/N began to pull him down, close enough that they were sharing the same breath. Her eyes closed in preparation.

Before their lips could touch, though, a hand clapped down on her shoulder.

“I got us shots!”

Y/N flinched back from George, whose blush had spread so that the entirety of his face was bright red, crawling down his neck. But the two of them recovered quickly, plastering grins on their faces instead as they turned their attention to Lando and Alex.

“Were we-“

“No,” George laughed, cutting off Alex’s words. “I think I have some catching up to do."

They avoided each others gazes the rest of the night.

Age 22 (2020)

“No boyfriend tonight?”

Y/N offered George a strained smile, rolling her eyes.

“No need to sound so disappointed,” she joked. Then, patted the grass next to her. “Join me for a little bit?”

“Thought you’d never ask.”

George sat with his back against the hedge, placing two glasses of champagne on the ground between them.

“I’ve not seen you all evening - are you… okay?”

“Just not really in the partying mood,” Y/N confessed with a sigh. “I’m glad you’re here though - I thought you’d go back to Monaco, there must be so many F1 New Year parties for you to go to.”

“I thought about it,” George admitted. “But I’ve barely seen you since I’ve been back - and Mum very unsubtly hinted that she'd like me to stay longer, so…”

“I’ll give my thanks to your mum.”

“I think she’s worried about you, to be honest,” Y/N looked over, only to see that George was already watching her carefully. “I know I’ve been a terrible friend lately-”

“You’ve not been a terrible friend,” Y/N cut him off angrily. “You’re busy - you’re driving in Formula 1, George! That’s your dream, don’t apologise that you’ve, what? Missed a text or two?”

“There was a time that you’d tell me everything. And that I’d be around to hear everything,” George lamented.

“You’re still my best mate, alright? I still love you to pieces. That’s not going to change.”

“Okay…” George hesitated, then pressed further. “Then… what’s going on? What’s got you so upset lately.”

Y/N chewed on her lip anxiously.

“Promise not to make a huge deal?” She requested finally. “Or, well… at least hide it, because it is a big deal, but I’m not prepared to calm you down.”

"I was ready to promise, but now I am getting worried,” George warned her.

Y/N let out a long breath, then nodded, resigned to what she was about to tell him.

“I missed my period,” she breathed. “And I’ve been nauseas like… every day.”

“Oh,” George’s eyes were wide. Then his gaze darted down to the champagne glasses he’d brought out with him. “I guess we won’t be having champagne to ring in the new year.”

Y/N’s resulting laughter boarded on hysterical, burying her face in her hands. Immediately, George wrapped an arm around her shoulder and pulled her into his side in a hug.

“It’s okay, it’s going to be okay,” he promised her, pressing a kiss to her hair.

“I could be overreacting,” Y/N sniffled. “I might not even be…”

She trailed off, unable to even voice the word. George just kissed the top of her head again.

“But if you are, it’s not the end of the world, darling. I promise. Your boyfriend…”

“I told him, like, a week ago - he… hasn’t replied to my texts since.”

“Dick,” George huffed, tightening his arms around her. “Well - you’ve got me, okay? And your parents will be so excited to be grandparents.”

“I doubt this is how they’d hoped it would happen,” Y/N whispered.

“Maybe not,” George agreed. “But they’ll be happy as long as you are.”

“I am,” Y/N confessed. “Like. I’m terrified, but…”

“You’d be a good mum,” George told her. “If you are pregnant.”

Y/N pulled away from her best friend, wiping at her eyes as she offered him a watery smile.

“Thanks.”

George stood up, stretching his arms above his head. Then held out a hand to her.

“Come on - let’s sneak out to that newsagents down the road and get you a stick to pee on.”

Age 23 (2021)

The door to her hospital room was pushed open, but Y/N couldn’t find it in herself to draw her eyes away from her daughter.

“Hey, darling.”

The familiar voice was enough to distract her briefly, and her eyes widened when she looked up at George who was smiling fondly at her from across the room.

“George? What are you doing here?”

“I flew back as soon as I could,” he crossed the room, but hesitated before taking the seat next to her hospital bed. “Can I…”

“Of course - you don’t need to ask,” Y/N laughed quietly, turning her eyes back to her daughter. “But what about the race? I tried to watch but…”

“It’s okay, you definitely have a good excuse for missing my first podium,” George teased. Y/N’s head shot back around to him.

“What? You got a podium?”

“Sure did,” he agreed proudly.

“Why the f-“ she cut herself off with a panicked glance down at the bundle in her arms. “What are you doing here? You should be celebrating!” She scolded in a quiet voice.

“Of course I flew back,” George snorted. “This is so much more important.”

George leaned over, peering down into her daughter’s little face.

“She looks so much like you,” he whispered, awed.

“You think?”

“Oh yeah,” George promised. “She’s beautiful - do you have a name for her yet?”

“Emma,” Y/N told him with a tired smile.

“I didn’t know Emma was on the list.”

“It wasn’t,” she shrugged. “But she just… looks like an Emma?”

“Yeah, I can see that,” George agreed. He reached out a gentle hand and smoothed some of her hair back from her face. Y/N leaned into the touch.

“Thank you for being here.”

“I’m sorry I wasn’t here earlier - I take it… he didn’t show?”

“No,” Y/N sniffed. If she was being honest, she wasn’t overly torn up about her ex-boyfriend’s absence - perhaps she would have been more upset if she had ever actually expected him to show. “My parents were here, though - as were yours.”

“I think they’ll be claiming Em here as their own granddaughter,” George confided.

“Yeah, I got that sense,” she agreed, laughing quietly. “It’s nice - I just want her to be surrounded by people who love her, you know?”

George just smiled, then lent over to press his lips to her temple.

“Want me to sneak you some contraband? What are you allowed to eat?”

“I would do unholy things for a cheeseburger,” Y/N confided, gaining a burst of laughter from her best friend.

“I’ll see what I can find,” he vowed, standing up.

“When you get back - you’ll tell me about Belgium? Find me a replay of your podium?”

“If that’s what you want,” George agreed with an achingly fond smile. Y/N’s heart thudded with want, though she did her best to smother it. “That reminds me, actually - I bought Emma a present.”

“You didn’t have to do that.”

“I was killing time at the airport,” George dismissed, rifling through the bag he’d brought with him. That wasn’t quite enough for him to be able to hide the pink in his cheeks. Y/N knew him just a little bit too well to believe his white lie, but she let it go. “Here.”

In his hands was a soft toy - a lion, to be exact. It had fluffy fur, and a smile stitched on. And the sight of it was enough to bring Y/N to tears.

“Oh - shit, I’m sorry, darling. I didn’t mean to overstep!”

George crouched down at her side immediately, worry creasing his brow. Y/N shook her head, frustrated at her own crying.

“You didn’t overstep - I’m sorry I just haven’t slept, and I just keep crying over everything. There was a pigeon on the windowsill like an hour ago and I cried when it flew away,” she babbled, trying to wipe her eyes, but stopped when she realised doing so would mean having to move Emma. George seemed to understand what she wanted though, and wiped away the tears with the cuff of his own jumper. He was smiling again at her story, worries clearly put to rest. “It’s just so lovely of you.”

“Of course, darling,” George said. “Apparently lions are the national animal of Belgium, so I thought it would be fitting.”

“I see how it is - you just want to have a reminder of your first podium,” she teased. “Every time you see my daughter, you’ll be taken back to Belgium.”

“You caught me - can’t believe my plan’s been found out so soon.”

Age 24 (2022)

Emma was crying - she’d been crying for the last hour straight. And, frankly, Y/N was tempted to join her.

“I’m sorry, sweetheart. I wish you could tell me what you need,” Y/N whispered to her daughter, bouncing her carefully. She’d tried feeding her child, tried changing her - done everything her parents had suggested, but nothing seemed to be working.

Then there was a knock at her door. Y/N tried to ignore it, focusing on her daughter, but the knocking kept coming. She felt the tears building up in her eyes, speed walking out to the front door and looking through the peep hole.

Immediately, she felt like a weight had been lifted from her shoulders, and she opened the door.

“George,” she sighed, her lips being pulled up at the corner involuntarily. “What are you doing here?”

“A guy can’t visit his best friend anymore?” George joked. He moved into the hallway Then he gave her a sympathetic smile. “Come on, let me hold my Goddaughter.”

“We’re having a bad evening, aren’t we Em?” Y/N warned, pressing her lips to her daughter’s head.

Emma hiccuped, then raised her head slightly to look at George. Seeing his arms stretched out towards her, the one year-old lifted her own hand towards him, still crying.

"You want a George cuddle?” George asked, and Y/N let him lift Emma from her arms. He bounced the little girl slightly, rubbing her back. “There we go,” Emma’s cries slowly quieted down and Y/N shook her head in disbelief.

“I’ll be having serious words with her about playing favourites,” she said, prompting a laugh from George.

“She’s just missed me - haven’t you, Nugget?”

Emma let out a sigh and pressed her face further into George’s neck.

“I’m sorry - the flat is such a mess. We weren’t expecting company.”

“Just thought I’d drop in before heading to my parents’ is all,” George shrugged. “I missed my two favourite girls.”

“Your mum won’t appreciate that,” Y/N joked. “Do you wanna sit down? I’ll make some tea?”

“Sure - I can go, though, if this is a bad time?”

“You’ve managed to calm Em down, you’re never allowed to leave,” Y/N told him, in lieu of admitting that she desperately wanted him to stay. That if she had it her way, he’d be a constant presence in hers and Emma’s life. That she missed him so terribly badly when he was off travelling for races or staying at his home in Monaco.

George grinned at her, and Y/N had a sneaking suspicion that he understood what she really wanted to tell him.

“Then we’ll go get settled, won’t we, Angel?” He cooed.

“Mama?” Emma murmured at that.

“Yes, sweetheart?” Y/N asked, still getting used to the fact that her daughter was starting to speak.

“Pod?”

It was the extent of her vocabulary - ‘Mama’ and ‘Pod’. Yet every time Emma would say one of those two words, Y/N’s heart would soar with pride.

George seemed to feel similarly, if his wide grin was anything to go by.

“You want Pod? Let’s go find him, yeah?” George said. He looked over at Y/N.

“In her room - by her crib I imagine,” Y/N instructed. “Thank you.”

“Of course - let’s go get Pod.”

By the time Y/N had made the two cups of tea and carried them into the living room, George had already made himself comfortable on the sofa, with Emma curled up by his side clutching her beloved lion toy. George had switched the TV on - some CBeebies program that had just become background noise to Y/N by this point. Emma’s eyes were focused on the screen even as she looked on the verge of falling asleep, one of Pod’s ears in her mouth.

George was talking to her quietly, and Y/N strained her ears to hear him. George had never quite got the hang of baby talk, for all the time he spent babysitting and helping Y/N out when he could. Instead, he talked to her as though she was anyone else - inquiring seriously about the program that was on and listening intently to the unintelligible babbles he got in return.

Y/N handed George his mug, sitting down in her armchair.

“You got any plans for summer break?” Y/N asked after Emma finally dropped off to sleep.

George continued to run his hand up and down her back.

“Nothing in particular - but I remember you saying Emma’s on an animal kick at the moment, right? I thought we could head to the zoo one day? That one with those milkshakes our parents refused to buy us?”

“I think Emma’s also a bit to young for those milkshakes,” Y/N pointed out with a grin. George gasped dramatically, clutching at his chest with the hand that had been holding Emma.

“I hoped this day would never come! We’re having to become the forces that we so opposed when we were young!”

“Parenthood changes us all, George,” Y/N agreed solemnly. “But you don’t have to factor us into your plans over your break - I’m sure you have more exciting things to do.”

“You’re my best friend,” George said to her, rolling his eyes. “I miss you when you’re not around - you and Emma are why I’m back here for summer break, okay?”

Y/N bit her lip, then nodded.

“Okay - I’ll take a look at zoo tickets.”

Age 25 (2023)

“Mummy? George win?”

“No, sweetheart - but he did really well.”

“George here?”

“I’m sure he’ll come see us soon, sweetheart,” Y/N said, admittedly a little unsure how truthful that was - after all, it was his home race, and while he hadn’t gotten a podium he had driven well.

Emma gave a long-suffering sigh and buried her face into Y/N’s neck.

“She doing okay?” Alison asked quietly, coming over to rest her hand on Y/N’s back.

“I think we’re a little tired, aren’t we, sweetheart? It’s been an exciting day.”

“It sure has,” Alison agreed, brushing her fingers over Emma’s hair ever-so gently. “I know George was so glad you were able to make it though.”

“First,” Emma muttered.

“Yeah, darling - your first race,” Alison said. “Did you have fun?”

Emma raised her head for a moment, giving Alison a considering look. Then she nodded solemnly before returning to her resting place.

“Yeah, we’re very proud of George, aren’t we?” Y/N murmured.

“It’s nice to have you back at a race as well,” Alison added, her voice low. Y/N grinned at her best friend’s mum.

“It’s nice to be back - especially be back and not pregnant,” she joked, bringing a laugh from Alison who clearly was also remembering when Y/N had attended Silverstone in 2021 while 7 months pregnant with Emma.

“I’m sure George won’t mind you heading to his driver’s room to wait for him,” Alison assured her.

“Yeah - I think Emma needs to get out of the crowd,” she agreed. “Let him know where we’ve gone?”

“Of course.”

The moment they reached George’s driver’s room, Emma fell asleep on his sofa, clutching Pod to her chest. Y/N had expected to be waiting a while for George to appear - after all, he would surely want to check-in with his parents following the race.

But instead, it was only fifteen minutes later that George burst through the door with a wide grin on his face. Though he stalled almost immediately after seeing Emma’s sleeping form.

“Sorry!” He whispered.

Y/N crossed the room, wrapping her arms tightly around him.

“Congratulations!”

“I didn’t get a podium,” George pointed out, squeezing her back.

“Fifth is nothing to sneeze at,” Y/N lectured.

“I guess I was hoping having you and Em here would guarantee me a win.”

“I guess we’ll just have to keep coming until that’s true,” Y/N joked.

“You know you always have a paddock pass.”

Y/N bit her lip, heart thumping in her chest when she saw the fond look in George’s eyes. Before she could make a move - she wasn’t sure if it would be to lean in or step away, as she had so many times before - there was a sleepy voice from behind them.

“George?”

“Hey, Nugget!” George squeezed Y/N’s hips, looking apologetic when he broke apart from her to crouch down by the sofa.

“No pod?” She asked.

“Pod’s right here, Angel,” George said, poking at the lion Emma was holding.

“No! George pod?” Emma insisted.

While her daughter’s vocabulary had grown over the past year, she hadn’t quite got the hold of full sentences yet. And even with the amount of time George spent with the two of them, and calling Y/N when they were in different countries, there were still times that he couldn’t quite interpret what the toddler was saying.

“She’s asking if you got a podium.”

“Oh - no, no podium this time,” George told her fondly. “Did you enjoy the race though?”

“Go fast,” Emma said, nodding tiredly. “Mummy? Gift?”

“Alright, sweetheart,” Y/N soothed, going over to where she had left her rucksack earlier on in the day before the race. She brought it over to the sofa, unzipping it and placing it beside her daughter so that she could look through.

“Here!”

Rather than getting the gift out herself, Emma instead gestured for George to take the whole bag. George looked at Y/N for permission, but she just covered her mouth with her hand to stop herself from laughing.

"You didn’t need to get me anything, Nugget.”

“Proud,” Emma yawned, tipping forward and knowing that George would be there to catch her, just as he always had been.

Sure enough, she fell into George’s arms, and he lifted her back up, sitting down on the cushions himself and settling her on his lap. Then he went into the rucksack, pulling out the crumpled bunch of flowers they had bought the previous day, as well as a small keychain with a lion on it.

George held the items up to Y/N, raising his eyebrows.

“I tried to explain that you don’t have car keys,” Y/N said, dissolving into giggles at the memory. “But she thought that didn’t make sense, and so you needed a Pod of your own for your ‘fast car keys’.”

George burst out laughing, ducking down to press a kiss to Emma’s head, even though she had already dropped back off to sleep.

“I’ll have to have a chat with my engineering team."

Age 26 (2024)

George stood as Y/N approached the table, following the host. His cheeks were slightly pink, and his eyes were wide when they landed on her.

“Hey,” he breathed.

Y/N’s hands tightened around her handbag, feeling suddenly awash with nerves.

“Hi,” she whispered. “Sorry I’m late.”

George stepped towards her, face breaking into that familiar smile. Y/N’s heart fluttered, and it hither in that moment that she was allowed to feel like that now. She was allowed to admire how attractive he was.

George’s hands went to her arms, drawing her in closer so that he could press a gentle kiss to her cheek.

“What’s ten minutes when I’ve been waiting for this since we were eight,” he joked. “You look beautiful, darling.”

“Thanks, George,” she replied. “You look great too.”

George beamed in response, before going around the table to pull out Y/N’s chair for her.

Y/N took the time to glance around the restaurant he had chosen - it was way out of her pay grade, but George had already assured her that dinner was going to be on him. The lights were low, creating an intimate atmosphere.

“Everything okay?”

“Yeah - just admiring the place,” she assured him. “This is a great view,” she added, gesturing to the window, which had an impressive view of the London skyline.

“You look so out of your depth,” George informed her. Though, when Y/N looked at him, his expression was nothing short of adoring.

“Well not all of us are millionaires, Russell,” she teased. “For real, though - you trying to impress me?”

“Is that not the point of a first date?” George inquired, eyes crinkling at the edges with his smile, even as his blush deepened.

“My daughter has thrown up on you on several occasions, I think we’re beyond impressing one another.”

George burst out laughing at that, rolling his eyes.

“Let me try at least!”

“Sure, sure - I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to ruin your plans.”

George hesitated for a moment, then reached across the table to grab her hand and gave it a squeeze.

“You couldn’t ruin this evening if you tried.”

Y/N felt the heat rising to her cheeks, and had to look away.

“I am sorry I was late, though - Emma didn’t want to let me leave.”

“Really? I thought she likes her new babysitter.”

“She does,” Y/N confirmed, admiring the way George’s brow softened immediately at the reassurance. It never ceased to amaze her how he seemed to worry over the toddler as much as she did. “But then she discovered that I was going to dinner with you, and was very upset about having been left out.”

“Oh no!” George laughed.

“The only way I could calm her down was promising that we’d have no fun without her, and only do grown-up things like taxes.”

“I see - so when we go to the park tomorrow, I should make sure to tell her what a miserable evening we had tonight?”

“Exactly, I’m glad you’re so understanding about this.”

Age 27 (2025)

George pressed a kiss to her cheek as he moved past Y/N around the kitchen sink.

“Everything okay?” Y/N asked, turning her face towards her boyfriend, who immediately pecked her lips.

“Yeah - bath time was a success,” he promised her. “We did play pirates, though, and I haven’t had a chance to clean up yet so be careful if you go in there.”

“Couldn’t dodge her splashes, huh?”

“Em was very excited by the prospect of taking down the navy,” George confirmed solemnly. “She also said she wanted to get changed herself.”

“Yeah - she’s on her independence kick at the minute,” Y/N confirmed, setting the final plate onto the drying rack and draining the sink. George was already handing her a dishtowel the moment she turned to face him.

Y/N dried her hands, then stepped towards him, looping her arms around his neck and pulling him down to kiss her properly. George smiled into the kiss, his hands going to her waist and tugging her flush against his body.

“Thank you for sorting her,” Y/N whispered when they broke apart.

“Thank you for trusting me with her,” George responded, brushing their lips together again. “I love you.”

Y/N grinned at that, kissing him again. Even now the words never failed to give her a thrill. “I love you too.”

“Daddy! Will you read me a story?” Emma called from the doorframe.

Y/N and George broke apart at her voice. Y/N smiling over at her daughter, not noticing anything amiss, until she looked back at her boyfriend to see the shock in his expression.

“George?”

“She called me…” he whispered, trailing off.

“Daddy, please!” Emma requested. She was holding Pod to her chest, staring at George with pleading eyes. Apparently, she hadn’t noticed anything wrong about her words.

“I’ll talk to her?” Y/N offered, her heart sinking slightly at the idea. “If you’re not alright with it.”

George swallowed heavily, shaking his head. There were tears in his eyes as he turned to Emma, crouching down.

“Come here, Angel,” he said, holding out his arms.

Emma immediately came towards him, cuddling into his chest as George picked her up.

“Is it okay with you?” George asked Y/N instead, clutching onto her daughter - their daughter.

Y/N brushed her hand down Emma’s hair, still wet from the bath, and then reached to press a kiss to George’s cheek.

“As long as you’re here forever.”

George placed a long kiss to the top of Emma’s head, a tear escaping to land in her hair.

“How about both of us read you a story, Nugget? That okay with you?” George asked.

“Okay, Daddy,” Emma agreed easily. “But you have to do the voices - Mummy’s bad at them.”

#george russell #george russell x reader #george russell fanfic #george russell x you #george russell imagine #gr63 x reader #formula 1 #formula one x reader #formula one fanfiction

56 notes · View notes

writingfortoomanyfandoms · 3 days ago

Text

I need you anon if you see this I need you to know I’ve gone a little crazy with your request and so I really hope you enjoy it when I post it bc I’m low-key v proud of it ❤️

#court talks

1 note · View note

writingfortoomanyfandoms · 5 days ago

Text

in case you missed it!

Requests open!

send in some requests for formula 1 drivers - I've tagged the ones I've thought about writing about, but feel free to request for others and I'll for sure try!

P.S. just to let you know - I don't write smut

7 notes · View notes

writingfortoomanyfandoms · 5 days ago

Note

Hey, would it be possible for you to add you f1 masterlist to the 'normal' masterlist so it is easier to find ☺️ love your way of writing, and have been here since BoRhap(kind of miss that time) 🤩

Heya! Yep - my bad, I completely forgot about that 😂 but it's there now, I'll also link it below for you ❤️ thank you so much! Wow an OG reader, thank you for sticking with me! (lowkey so do I lmaooo)

F1 Masterlist

#court talks #asked and answered #nonny

0 notes

writingfortoomanyfandoms · 5 days ago

Text

Requests open!

send in some requests for formula 1 drivers - I've tagged the ones I've thought about writing about, but feel free to request for others and I'll for sure try!

P.S. just to let you know - I don't write smut

#court talks #formula 1 x reader #lando x reader #lando norris x reader #charles leclerc x reader #george russell x reader

7 notes · View notes

writingfortoomanyfandoms · 6 days ago

Note

this might sound crazy but i think about your “i need you” series all the time. it’s always a comfort fic to reread, and now you write for f1??? the best news ever omg my worlds are colliding. i’m already in love with your lando fics and will love anything else you write for them 🫶🏻

if you’re looking for requests, george is my absolute favorite driver and doesn’t get a ton of love from writers! alex is also another one that deserves more love (sweet alex deserves the world fr). oscar and lando are always fantastic options as well!

aww this is actually the loveliest message ever!! Thank you so so much!!! I wrote "I need you" so many years ago now and then sorta peaced out of here 😂 but it's so validating to know that people still like that fic and it stuck with them so thank you so much for letting me know ❤️❤️❤️

I can for sure try and write something for George or Alex - if I do open requests please send something in and I'd be so happy to give it a shot. I'm so glad to hear you've enjoyed the Lando stuff lately - there's been like no comments so it makes my evening to hear that people are reading and enjoying them ❤️

#court talks #asked and answered #nonny #no joke I'm just here sitting in my room grinning at the screen like an idiot #this is the nicest message #thank you so so much

1 note · View note

writingfortoomanyfandoms · 6 days ago

Text

Thinking of opening requests for F1 drivers - who would you want me to write for??

#court talks #formula one #formula 1 x reader

0 notes

writingfortoomanyfandoms · 6 days ago

Text

Formula One Masterlist

Lando Norris

Cool Points (Lando x footballer!Reader): Part One // Part Two //

Having fought long and hard for custody of her two younger siblings, Y/N was ready for smooth sailing at least until the F1-obsessed twins became teenagers. What she wasn’t expecting was for Lando to come and turn her world upside down

Blink Twice (Lando x Russel!Reader)

When George insists she come and spend the 2025 F1 season with him after seeing how she’s struggling with her chronic pain, Y/N isn’t expecting for Lando to show her how easy he finds it to look after her

George Russell

Safe From The World (George x single mum!Reader)

George and Y/N have been best friends since they were kids - every year they fell more and more in love

#masterlist #formula 1 #formula one #formula 1 x reader #lando norris x reader #lando norris fanfic

49 notes · View notes

writingfortoomanyfandoms · 6 days ago

Text

❤️❤️❤️❤️

Blink Twice

Pairing: Lando Norris x Russel!Reader (with chronic pain)

Summary: When George insists she come and spend the 2025 F1 season with him after seeing how she's struggling with her chronic pain, Y/N isn't expecting for Lando to show her how easy he finds it to look after her

Warnings: Swearing, some angst, lots of talk about chronic pain

Word Count: 5,037

A/N: Just want to give the disclaimer - this fic is based off of my own experiences with chronic back pain, I haven't specified any diagnosis and I understand that this won't be everyone's experience with chronic pain, but I hope that you still enjoy. Let me know what you think, and if you want me to continue writing for F1 :)

George and Carmen were beaming as Y/N entered into the arrivals section of Monaco airport, rolling her suitcase behind her. A smile came to her own face as she caught sight of her older brother and his girlfriend, the ache in her back feeling a little easier to ignore.

She allowed her handbag to drop to the floor, and let herself be drawn into a tight hug by George, who squeezed her to him.

“Hey, Bug - glad you made it.”

“Thank you for inviting me,” she responded, pulling away from him to embrace Carmen instead.

‘Inviting’ was her polite way of saying ‘insisting’, but neither Carmen nor George seemed inclined to correct her - clearly happy to keep up the facade that there had been no begging from their parents, nor from themselves to get her out to visit.

“The fans are going to be so excited to see you back in the Paddock,” Carmen said, “and I’ve missed you there, too.”

“Not just the fans, either - Lando’s insisted on taking you out for dinner tonight,” George added eagerly.

“All of us,” Carmen assured her, likely seeing the look of panic on her face.

“Right - but he’s said he’ll pay for you,” George said, slinging her bag over his shoulder and grabbing hold of her suitcase, while Carmen linked their arms together.

“Oh - I mean, I’m kind of tired,” Y/N said a little lamely.

“He’s picked a restaurant near our place,” George told her, his voice suddenly so much softer than before. “Even offered to pay for a taxi for you.”

“He’s pretty excited to see you,” Carmen said.

“How much have you told him?” She asked instead, a little aghast at the accommodations being made for her.

“Not much,” George promised immediately. “I think he just overheard me and Mum talking on the phone about you coming to stay.”

“Good to know you and Mum gossip about me,” Y/N said, sighing. She tried to hide her smile as she saw the way that George paled, immediately trying to backtrack and reassure her. She met Carmen’s eyes, smirking a little and her brother’s girlfriend snorted.

“Evil,” Carmen whispered.

Her smirk softened into a smile, and George’s words cut off as he seemed to realise she was largely messing with him. Despite all of her earlier resistance, she had to admit that it was nice to be with her brother again.

That evening, when Y/N got out of the taxi, she was surprised by how much of a relief it was to see Lando Norris waiting for her outside a restaurant. The driver bounded over with the bright beaming grin she was so used to seeing on him.

The moment that she was standing up, Lando was pulling her into a hug.

“Good to see you, Mini-G!”

“I thought we agreed you’d stop calling me that,” she grumbled, but squeezed him back.

“Ah - you know that thing about old habits,” Lando responded, pulling back. As he did so, he grabbed hold of her handbag. Y/N gave a weak protest, but knew it was in vain, and Lando quite quickly threw his arm over her shoulder to steer her into the restaurant.

“No greeting for us?” George called. Lando glanced back over at him, raising his eyebrows, then waved them off with the hand that wasn’t over her shoulder.

“Anyway - I picked this place because they’re supposed to have incredible tiramisu, and I thought, what better way to celebrate your visit?”

“You don’t even like coffee, Lando,” Y/N laughed, finding herself leaning into him despite herself.

“But it’s your favourite,” he retorted.

The four of them filled the space it took for them to get seated at the table in the restaurant Lando had picked out with chat about Y/N’s flight, and how she was settling in to George and Carmen’s apartment. As they ordered they made small talk about what she wanted to do while they were in Monaco, how she wanted to make the most of her break.

It was after their food arrived that George and Carmen went into their own conversation, and Lando turned to her again.

“So - how’s life as an editor?” He asked, twirling some noodles around his fork. “Are you still enjoying it?”

“Yeah! I kind of love it,” Y/N admitted a little bashfully.

“That’s good - I remember you weren’t sure when you first took the job.”

“Glad I decided on this instead of teaching,” she replied, prompting a laugh from Lando.

“I think you would’ve made a good teacher,” he protested, though it was a little half-hearted.

“Ah well - I’ll keep it on the back burner for now,” she smiled at him.

If Y/N was being honest, she wasn’t entirely sure why her and Lando had struck up the friendship they had. Of course, they had met through George - years ago, when she used to hang out at karting to cheer on her brother, not that he had appreciated having his baby sister there, labelling her as an embarrassment more than anything else.

Perhaps that was why Lando had been so insistent on befriending her. Maybe he had found it funny to keep inviting Y/N to the races, and to seek her out in the audience to chat to, because George’s annoyance was always so dramatic. Regardless of why he had initially set out to befriend her, however, she had come to value his place in her life, and always looked forward to seeing him and Alex whenever she did make an appearance in the paddock.

“It's good that you were able to get time off, though - it feels like ages since you last had the chance to come to a race.”

Y/N shrugged a little self-consciously, swallowing her own mouthful of food.

“Well I’m off on sick leave for a little bit, and then my boss said I can do some work remotely anyway,” Y/N told him. When she glanced over at him again to gauge his reaction, she saw that he’d gone red in the face, clearly embarrassed. She smiled a little. “George insisted that returning to the paddock would fix all my health problems.”

“I mean I’ve heard that it’s a common prescription these days,” Lando joked. “So are you going to to all the races, then?”

“I’m not sure I can do all the travelling - but I’d like to,” she said.

“I’ll make sure you get you a McLaren jumper to wear,” he teased.

“Don’t even think about it, Norris,” George inputted.

“Just wait - I give it one race weekend before she jumps ship to hang out in my garage rather than yous,” Lando bragged, resting one hand on the back of Y/N’s chair and grinning at her brother.

“I mean Oscar’s been driving pretty well this season,” Y/N mused, just to hear the indignant squarks of the two drivers at the table.

“I’m sure Alex would welcome us at Williams too,” Carmen offered.

“‘Us’?” George demanded. “Good to know that both my sister and my girlfriend are planning on abandoning me.”

“I've got a favourite Russel, George.”

“What can I say,” Y/N sighed dramatically, leaning back in her chair, her head nudging against Lando’s arms. “I’ve just got so many fans.”

A week later, Y/N found herself sitting across the table from Lando on a flight back to Monaco. Cards were spread out over the surface in front of them, George and Carmen asleep on the chairs beside them.

“So, since I won does that mean you’ll spend next weekend in my motorhome, Mini-G?”

“Does that work on all the girls?” Y/N asked, raising her eyebrows.

A blush rose to Lando’s cheeks.

“I didn’t mean for it to sound like a line, muppet.”

“Just comes naturally, huh?”

“Stop it!” Lando groaned, his cheeks going a deeper pink, and Y/N started to laugh a little at his clear embarrassment. “You are the only girl I have invited to the motorhome, I promise.”

Y/N’s laugh began to die down, the sound softened with her fondness for the man, but her smile remained in place - until the plane hit a moment of turbulence and she grimaced at the jolt to her already aching body. Lando’s expression dropped as he noticed the change and he lent over.

“Are you okay?”

“Yeah,” Y/N got out. “Just… already achy and turbulence doesn’t help.”

“Is there anything I can do? What usually helps?”

Y/N bit her lip, considering whether or not to accept his help. Then there was another jolt of pain down her spine, making her mind up for her.

“Ah - in the front pocket of my bag there’s a heat patch - would you be able to get it out for me?”

Lando was on his feet after the first few words, already reaching up into the overhead lockers to grab down Y/N’s bag. There was a look of deep concentration on his face that under normal circumstances would have made her smile.

Lando made a noise of triumph, dumping her bag on his seat and holding up the heat patch.

“Do you want me to put it on?” He asked. Y/N hesitated again, then thought about having to twist her arms around to get the patch to where she was feeling the most pain and quickly made her decision.

“Yes. Please.”

“Okay,” Lando said, his voice suddenly much quieter. “Where do you need it, darling?”

Y/N didn’t have the capacity in that moment to unpack that pet name. So instead, she lent forwards a little and tried to push up her jumper to give him access to her back.

“On my shoulder blades - on the left side?” She asked, still trying to raise her jumper.

A warm hand settled on the exposed skin of her waist, stilling her. Then Lando ever-so gently lifted her jumper and shirt the rest of the way. Then he very carefully pressed the head patch to where she had asked, pressing down as though he was worried even the most gentle of touches would break her.

Lando seemed to hesitate for a moment, then Y/N’s breath caught in her throat as she felt him duck down to press a kiss to the top of her head.

“Better?” He asked, voice a little hoarsely.

“Give it a minute,” she responded, managing to get out a laugh.

“Can I do anything else? I’ve got some painkillers in my bag?”

“I’ve got my own, but thank you,” Y/N said, offering Lando a proper smile when he retook his seat opposite her. “I’ve got a schedule for them,” she added, seeing how Lando still looked deeply concerned.

“Is it… always there?”

“The pain?” Y/N asked, and Lando nodded his head.

“You don’t have to answer if you-“

“It’s okay,” Y/N shrugged, even as her heart thudded in her chest. “Yeah - it’s… always there. Some days are worse than others, of course, but there’s always the like… baseline pain, you know? Sometimes my mobility is really low because of it, which is why I was worried about the travelling, and sometimes it keeps me awake for a few days…”

Lando seemed to digest her words, going quiet. Y/N’s eyes began to wander around the cabin as she waited for his response, getting more and more nervous as time went on. When she looked at her brother, however, she noticed how he seemed tense despite maintaining the facade of being asleep.

“I… that sucks,” Lando said at last.

Y/N couldn’t help it, snorting with laughter.

“Thanks man.”

“Sorry! I just… I’m thinking,” Lando tried to excuse.

“You don’t need to understand it, Lan. I barely understand it a lot of the time.”

“I’m…”

“Rethinking the invite to your motorhome?” She meant for her words to come out as teasing, but knew she had fallen short with the way his eyes snapped to hers in alarm.

“Never,” Lando told her, completely sincere. “I just wish I could do something to help you.”

Y/N glanced back over to her supposedly sleeping brother, and saw how he had relaxed again, and there was a very small upturn to his lips. She felt a wave of love for George, who had always been protective of her, but that had been turned up to the maximum since she started being open about her chronic pain. Even if he did resort to some rather underhanded reconnaissance tactics to make sure she was okay.

“Just… being you is enough,” she confessed, hoping that her brother understood that she was talking to him too.

“I’ll get you the comfiest chair,” Lando vowed. “The most cozy chair - with a hot water bottle and all. You can have your own corner in the garage.”

Y/N laughed at how solemn he sounded, reaching slowly over to the table to pick up a card and flick it at him.

“Don’t make promises you can’t keep, Norris.”

Over the next few months, every time they would fly out to a different race, Lando would present her with a travel cushion and a new box of heat patches, offering them to her with a grin as soon as they boarded the jet.

At the races that he could convince her to hang around the McLaren garage rather than with George at Mercedes, he had kept his word and there was a papaya coloured padded chair just for her in a corner. It had made her laugh, too, when half-way through the Chinese grand prix an employee had appeared at her side offering a McLaren-branded hot water bottle - confessing to Y/N with a grin that Lando had had it specially made for her.

Then a few weeks later at Bahrain, Y/N was having a particularly bad flare up, and Lando had noticed her stiffness immediately. He had come to her side and wound his arm around her waist, offering her some extra stability as he slowly helped her weave through the crowds in the Paddock - all the while whispering jokes in her ear to make her laugh and distract her from the pain as best he could.

Photos had appeared on her Instagram barely ten minutes later when Lando had gotten her through to the security of the Mercedes garage, all of which speculated over their relationship. It had given Y/N a stab of guilt, not sure how Lando would feel about the sudden interest in their friendship, but when she had seen him after the race he hadn’t brought it up - all that had been said were a couple of teasing comments from George and Carmen, which she had been all too happy to ignore.

They settled into a kind of routine, and Y/N had never expected anyone to be so willing to make accommodations for her, often without her even having to ask. It seemed that to Lando, it was second nature to try and look after her, and it had been on one of their numerous shared flights back to Monaco that he admitted he’d done some of his own research into chronic pain conditions - an admission that had touched her more than she was willing to admit.

Now it was the Wednesday before the Monaco race weekend, and Lando had invited her, George, Alex, Carmen and Lily over to his place for dinner. After having eaten, they had retired to Lando’s living room to play some rounds of Mario Kart.

Y/N had hung back in the kitchen for a moment to take her evening painkillers out of eyeshot from Alex and Lily. When she slowly made her way into the living room, Lando immediately gestured for her to join him on the sofa, the empty side of which was covered with various scattered cushions. The two couples had already started a game on the TV, and Lando leaned over to Y/N as she began to get herself settled.

“Did you ban everyone else from having cushions, Lan?”

“Yes! Yes he did!” Alex inputted, not taking his eyes from the screen.

Lando grinned at her unashamedly.

“I didn't know which ones you’d like best,” he offered by way of explanation. “I also have a hot water bottle if you need it,” Lando added, lowering his voice slightly.

Y/N smiled at him, leaning over to rest her head on his shoulder.

“Thank you - I’m okay for now, though.”

Lando momentarily tensed up at her touch, then seemed to relax into it, his arm snaking around her to carefully pull her closer.

“Comfortable?”

“Could use another pillow,” she joked. Lando chuckled under his breath, squeezing her waist.

“Don’t even joke - I’ll buy more,” he threatened.

They remained curled up together until the two couples had finished their round of Mario Kart, at which point they retreated to their separate sides of the sofa - Y/N feeling embarrassed at the open affection between her and her brother’s friend.

Y/N swapped in for George for the next two rounds of Mario Kart before handing off the controller to Lily to take her place as she felt herself beginning to tire. She settled herself properly in the pile of cushions, eyes lazily on the screen as her blinks got heavier and heavier.

“You wanna head home, Bug?” George asked, noticing her beginning to doze off.

“I’m fine,” she said through a yawn. “Maybe you should focus - or are you hoping for a Bullet Bill?”

Lando and Alex cackled at her comment, immediately taking up teasing their friend. Y/N smiled a little, allowing her eyes to close again.

Y/N was roused briefly from her nap when someone placed a blanket over her, before smoothing a hand over her hair. In the haze of sleep, she was dimly aware of the continued chatter of her friends and the sound of a new round of Mario Kart starting - so she just readjusted her position on the sofa, and pulled the blanket tighter around herself. She drifted off again to the quiet sound of Lando chuckling under his breath.

She was woken later to Lando gently shaking her shoulder.

“Hey, Mini-G - George and Carmen are getting ready to head home.”

“Oh - right,” she pushed herself up properly, wincing at the lances of pain through her back. Lando’s hands immediately went to her arms as though to try and ease her movements.

“You okay?”

“Yeah - always stiff after sleeping,” she admitted. “Help me up?”

Lando helped her to her feet, the blanket dropping back down onto the sofa. Before he could pull away fully from her, she wrapped her arms around him in a tight hug. Lando let out a little “oh” noise of surprise, but recovered quickly to hug her back. Y/N smiled, tucking her face into the crook of his neck, feeling him place a kiss on her shoulder.

“Sure you’re okay, darling?” He murmured.

“Yeah - just… can’t thank you enough for everything you’ve done for me, you know?”

Lando pulled away from her, eyes crinkled in that familiar, achingly fond smile. He cupped her chin and pressed a gentle kiss on her forehead.

“Of course,” he whispered, “you don’t need to thank me for trying to make you comfortable.”

“You do it without me even asking,” Y/N said aware that she sounded a little awed. “Of course I need to thank you.”

“If I can do something to help you, I’m going to do it,” Lando responded. Y/N went to move away from him, to go and find George and Carmen, but he grabbed hold of her hand. “Spend this weekend with me? Be my lucky charm?”

Y/N bit her lip.

“I already promised Carmen I’d hang out at Mercedes this weekend,” she hesitated before pressing a quick kiss to his cheek. “I’ll cheer for you too, though - I always do.”

This time when she stepped away, Lando didn’t stop her - just stared at her with surprise. His Adam’s apple bobbed in his throat as he swallowed, but she didn’t wait for a reply, leaving him alone in his living room as she went out into the hallway where George and Carmen were waiting.

When they got back to George’s apartment, Carmen took herself off to bed immediately. When Y/N went to go to her own room, George called for her to stop.

“Something wrong?” She asked.

“Hot chocolate?” George offered, holding the door to the kitchen open with a hopeful smile.

“Always.”

It had been their tradition for as long as she could remember - her and George sitting in their kitchen at home making hot chocolate whenever they had something to talk about. When George had been worried about leaving school, he had told her about it over hot chocolate in the kitchen. When Y/N had panicked over what to apply for at university, she had talked it out with her brother in the same manner.

She followed her brother into the kitchen, following his gesture to sit down while he pottered about making the drinks. George joined her at the island, sliding over a mug topped with a frankly excessive amount of whipped cream and marshmallows.

“So… Lando, huh?”

“Oh my God,” Y/N laughed.

“What? A guy can’t look out for his little sister anymore?”

“There’s…” Y/N trailed off, thinking back to the moment her and Lando had just shared. “Okay there may be something going on,” she conceded.

“Well yeah - that much is obvious,” George snorted, rolling his eyes. “I mean the man has been half-way in love with you since we were kids.”

“That’s not true.”

“Please - every time you’d miss a Karting race he’d spend the entire time pestering me about where you were. It was so annoying. And don’t get me started on what he was like when you dated Tony in your first year. He was inconsolable, Bug.”

“Shut the fuck up - that’s not true.”

“You get him at his best. I’m cursed to see the both of you when you mope.”

“I don’t mope!”

“No, I suppose not,” he agreed in a considering tone. “But you nag.”

“I ‘nag’?”

“‘George, has Lando eaten enough today?’, ‘George, is Lando okay after that race?’, ‘George-‘“

“George, can you stop chatting such absolute shit,” Y/N mimicked, cutting him off.

“I’m sorry,” George laughed, nudging her playfully. “It’s nice that you seem to be… on the same page now.”

“He’s just… sweet, you know?”

“Yeah - he’s very sweet with you,” George agreed. “I was so worried about you, Bug,” he sighed after a moment. “I know the past year has been… shit for you. I wish you’d… talked to me.”

“It’s been more than a year, George,” Y/N said gently. “I don’t… remember a time when I wasn’t in pain. I only realised that that wasn’t normal, like, a year ago.”

“Oh…”

“And so I’m still trying to get used to talking about it in the first place, right? I wanted to talk to you, I just… didn’t know how.”

“I’m glad you can talk to Lando,” George said after a moment. “I am. I promise. I just wish you’d talk to me about it too.”

“To be honest, I don’t talk too much to Lando about it,” she shrugged, thinking back to their conversations. “He checks in, and asks me questions when he has them, but I think he’s done a lot of research.”

“I’ve tried to do the same,” George admitted a little awkwardly. “But-“

“It’s okay, George,” Y/N assured him. “There’s a lot of information. What you’ve done is more than enough.”

“All I’ve done is drag you around the world to watch me race,” George laughed.

“I’m living so many people’s dream! But what I mean is that you saw I was struggling. You gossiped with Mum, and yeah dragged me to Monaco, but… I feel more like myself now than I did this time last year.”

“You mean that?”

“Of course I do.”

“And that has nothing to do with you spending more time with Lando?”

“You’re so annoying sometimes!”

“What? You think me and Mum only gossip about your health? I’ve been giving her weekly updates about you and Lando and she’s been far more interested in those.”

The two of them shared a moment of laughter. Then Y/N took a drink of her hot chocolate, allowing the comfortable silence to wrap around the two of them.

“You really think he likes me?”

“Wow it’s been so long since I was in school,” George said, entirely deadpan.

“You wanted to talk! Gossip about boys with me,” she joked.

“Of course he likes you. He’s been waiting for years for the right time to ask you out.”

“Well, when could be better than when I’m going through a health crisis?”

“I mean this with all the love in the world, Bug,” George said sincerely, and when Y/N looked at him, she saw the sympathy in his eyes. “It’s… chronic, right? I know you were joking, but I’m not sure you can wait to just be healthy again.”

Y/N hated the sting of tears in her eyes, knowing her brother was right. Immediately, George was wrapping his arms around her to pull her into a hug and whispering apologies.

“Don’t apologise, I know you’re right.” She wiped at her eyes furiously. “It just sucks.”

“Yeah,” George agreed. “It does. And I wish there was something I could do about it.”

“Just wingman me and we’ll be fine,” Y/N tried for a joke. George scoffed.

“Please, you don’t need a wingman. Not for Lando.”

Lando won at Monaco, because of course he did. George hadn’t had a good race, and even though he was clearly upset, when he got back to his driver’s room, he saw the look on Y/N’s face as she tried to temper he excitement on behalf of Lando and just laughed. He waved her off with instructions to go ‘get her boy’.

Y/N made her way over to the McLaren garage, immediately beelining towards his driver’s room. She wasn’t sure how much longer he would be held up with media obligations, but she was content to wait for him. She was deep in the twitter tag, reading the fan reactions to Lando’s win when the door opened and the man of the hour entered.

Lando’s hair was pushed back from his face, and there were indents on his face from the balaclava and helmet. His eyes were sparkling and he was grinning manically. The expression faltered just momentarily when his gaze landed on her, the he was beaming again, eyes crinkled at the edges now as he strode across the room and dropped to the ground in front of her chair, wrapping his arms around her shoulders and pulling her into an awkward hug.

“You’re here,” he breathed.

“I wanted to congratulate you,” she replied, dropping her phone in favour of returning his embrace.

“I thought you’d be cheering George up.”

“I got leave,” she joked, pulling out of his arms to smile at him. He gazed at her fondly, and her heart thudded in her chest, thinking back to Wednesday and the moment they had shared, and the assurances that her brother had offered her. She cupped his face in her hands, revelling in how he lent into the touch, and she brushed a thumb over his cheek. “Think you might still need that good luck charm next week?”

Lando studied her for a section, considering her words. Then, he raised one hand to her cheek and lent in, gently brushing his lips against hers. He pulled back, searching her eyes again, and seemed to find the answer he wanted, and he smiled at her before leaning back in, pressing a firmer kiss to her lips.

Y/N sank into his touch, her eyes closing as she slid her hands to the back of his neck, hoping to drag him closer to her. Lando’s tongue swiped across her lip, and she immediately granted him access, and he let out a soft moan as his tongue began to explore her mouth. She lent down further, silently cursing the angle as she was desperate to remove any space between them.

But the movement sent a jolt down her back, and against her will she let out a little whimper of pain.

Lando’s reaction was instant, him pulling back and searching her desperately to understand what had happened.

“I’m okay!” She promised immediately, trying to pull him back in.

Lando huffed a laugh, pecked her lips again but then pulled away fully.

“You’ve had your afternoon meds yet, right?” He asked.

“No - I was too stressed during the race to eat, and then I kind of forgot,” she admitted. Lando smiled fondly at her, grabbing hold of her hand and giving it a squeeze.

“Come on - let's get you some food.”

“Don’t you have more media stuff to do?” Y/N argued, but allowed herself to be helped to her feet, though refusing to let go of his hand.

Lando tugged her closer to place a kiss to her forehead.

“I’ve been waiting for this chance for years, darling - media can wait. Let me take you on a date, where you can eat and take your painkillers so you can be more comfortable, and I can do this right.”

“Waiting for years, huh?” Y/N asked in the hopes of diverting his attention away from her embarrassment.

“Oh yeah,” Lando said immediately, grinning back at her. “Pretty sure I’ve been in love with you since the first time you came to a race.”

“Lando,” she groaned, forcing him to stop with her. “You can’t just say things like that and expect me not to kiss you.”

Lando laughed loudly, seemingly relieved that there was nothing seriously wrong. He reeled her in closer again, and kissed her - soft and sweet, and she melted into him.

“For the record,” she whispered when they broke apart, dropping her forehead to rest on his shoulder. “I love you too.”

899 notes · View notes

writingfortoomanyfandoms · 7 days ago