Chapter Text
The thought had been swimming around in his mind for a while now. Like a swan in a little pond that resembled his brain. It was no beautifully majestic swan though, rather a malicious one. The kind that mercilessly bites your hand if you dare to get too close to it. Whenever Lando had a moment to think, the thought was right there. Biting him like a pissed off swan. Forcing him to painfully dwell on it. It was Sunday evening when the thought “bit” him once again.
Lando was sat in Carlos’ hotel room, wearing comfy grey sweatpants and a loose black t-shirt. The TV was on, showing the bright green of the virtual pit they were currently playing their FIFA match on. Outside the old town of Imola glowed in golden colours. The main square, Piazza Matteotti, just a few streets away was bustling with race fans.
FIFA was their way of ending a decent race Sunday. Lando came 4th while Carlos put his Ferrari in P6. There were no podiums for them but at least some valuable points for their teams. It was a result they had to be pleased with. Their cars were getting there, but there was no doubt they were still a few car-lengths behind the Mercedes and the two Red Bulls.
“VAMOS!”
Carlos cheered triumphantly as one of his players easily kicked the ball into the net.
4:0.
Lando’s FIFA skills were even worse than usual tonight. In fact, he could barely concentrate on the bright screen, messing up shots and confusing the buttons on the controller.
“Mate, you’re shit. Even for your skill level this is horrible” Carlos remarked in an amused tone. The older one shamelessly enjoyed beating Lando, but this was a little bit too easy to feel like an actual accomplishment.
Lando was stuck too deep in his thoughts to come up with a snarky comeback, making the Spaniard glance at him in confusion. The Brit always had a comeback. Even if it was just an annoyed eyeroll.
Carlos hit the pause button and it took Lando a few seconds too long to realize they weren’t even playing anymore.
“Okay, what’s up with you? The race was good, no?” Carlos asked, eying the younger one scrutinisingly.
Lando huffed as he absentmindedly combed through his hair. His curls had gotten a bit longer at the top and he still hadn’t decided if he liked that or not.
“Yeah, yeah. P4 is great. It’s just –“ he stopped abruptly in the middle of his sentence, biting his bottom lip nervously. He slumped against the backrest of the sofa they were sitting on in frustration.
That stupid swan was furiously taking snaps at him by now. In his mind obviously. There was no actual swan. Wait, how did he come up with that weird metaphor again?!
The Ferrari driver raised an eyebrow at him questioningly, urging him to continue. The Brit swallowed hard. He knew his ex-teammate well enough to know that Carlos wasn’t going to drop this. He really shouldn’t have brought it up, even if it has been bothering him for weeks now.
“It’s just, I’ve been thinking about something lately” Lando admitted, not really giving much away and staring at his hands instead. God, was he really going to talk to Carlos about it?
“Go on” the Spaniard just said, dropping the controller he was still holding and turning sideways so he could look at the younger one properly. The dark red fabric of the sofa cushions underneath them shifted a little bit at the movement.
“I’ve been thinking about something and - well, actually I think you could kinda help me with it.”
The way Lando said it, made it sound more like a question rather than a statement. Fuck. This was a stupid idea, but it was definitely too late to pull back now. And where for god’s sake did that last part even come from?
Carlos was one of his best friends, he had witnessed some of Lando’s most embarrassing moments, but there was still some dignity left. Well, he was about to throw that out of the window.
“So, you know that I have never really dated anyone” the McLaren driver started, making Carlos’ ears perk up in surprise. They’d never really talked about Lando’s dating life or lack of thereof before.
“I’m honestly just bothered by my absolute inexperience” Lando sighed loudly. “What if I finally meet someone I’m interested in and totally mess it up. Like, I’m a fucking Formula One driver but I don’t even know how to kiss someone properly?!”
A slight flush was creeping up the Brit’s neck. This was so embarrassing and frustrating. Did he actually just tell Carlos he doesn’t even know how kissing works? How old was he? 10 or something?
Lando had no idea where he was going with this, but he knew Carlos had lots of experience. He was one of the most desired bachelors in Spain after all. He has dated beautiful, rich, and influential women in the past and as far as Lando could tell from Carlos’ very rare stories about his dating life, he even had some experience with guys. And although he was currently single, it was obvious that Carlos had competences that Lando clearly lacked.
Carlos was charming, and flirtatious when he wanted to be and Lando was sure the Spaniard could put his tanned and perfectly toned body to good use. Wait- Holy shit, did he just let himself think about Carlos’ sex-skills? No - no, no. Bad idea.
Carlos stared at him almost unbelievingly, his pupils wide.
“But you have kissed someone before, no?” he wanted to know. Curiosity was shining in his amber eyes.
“I have. But that was back when I was in school and like 16 or something. And it was messy and clumsy and just plain horrible. It’s just… I don’t know” the younger one groaned and almost ripped out the fringes of the pillow that was neatly placed next to him.
Lando hid his face inside his hands out of embarrassment. By how hot his cheeks felt, he was sure he was blushing like crazy.
“Hey, easy cabrón. That’s nothing to be ashamed of” Carlos tried, but Lando stayed unconvinced.
“Can you help me? Like tell me how it works? Kissing, I mean” Lando mumbled, totally flustered as he pleadingly looked up at the older one. Was he really asking this? Apparently.
Instead of laughing and making fun of him, the Spaniard put his hand on the Brit’s shoulder protectively.
“Ah, I’ve been waiting for the day when you finally ask me for help in the ladies department” he grinned almost proudly.
Lando swallowed hard and nervously fiddled with his slim hands.
“Well… uhm it’s actually the boys department” the young driver admitted, asking himself how he had managed to get himself in this situation. Casually coming out to Carlos hadn’t really been on his agenda for today.
“Oh.”
Carlos eyed him. Surprise was writing all over his well-defined face. Lando was pleased when he noticed it was solely surprise and not shock.
“Cabrón, I-I didn’t know, but that’s awesome. I’m glad you told me” Carlos assured his friend, his eyes full of pride and softness, making Lando genuinely smile for the first time this evening.
“Kissing boys can’t be too different from kissing girls, right?” the younger one wanted to know, eager to continue with their previous conversation.
“I guess not” Carlos replied after thinking about it for a second.
“So, what do I do? How do I properly kiss someone?”
The Spaniard leaned back on the sofa and rested his chin on his palm, seemingly contemplating something, before he sat up straight again and directly faced his ex-teammate.
“We could practise?” He suggested, voice low and steady. Just like he’d just suggested playing another round of FIFA. If Lando had understood correctly though, that wasn’t what the Ferrari driver meant. Not even close.
This time it was blue eyes that widened in surprise. Lando’s heartbeat quickened as even more heat rushed to his face.
“Li-ke us? Right now?” he stuttered, blinking a few times to make sure he wasn’t making things up.
“Yeah. I mean, I could just show you how to do it. It’s easier and you’d get some actual hands on experience, you know” Carlos reasoned casually, shrugging his shoulders.
It was unfair how calm the Spaniard managed to stay when the younger one was seconds away from a nervous breakdown.
The voice in his head was screaming in alert, just screaming loudly.
“If you want to, of course” Carlos quickly added, eyeing his friend up and down to make sure he wasn’t uncomfortable.
Lando just blushed even more under his warm gaze.
The Brit thought about it for a second. Not like there was actually a chance of him denying that offer, but still. Carlos was his best friend, it was just for practise reasons, nothing else. Carlos did this because he was trying to be helpful, nothing else. It was going to be fine.
“I think that would actually help me out a lot. So, yeah, let’s do it” he eventually said, trying to hide the fact that his pulse was abnormally fast.
Not even in his wildest dreams had he dared to fantasize about having his first proper kiss with someone as hot as Carlos. He wasn’t complaining though. Definitely wasn’t complaining.
“Sure. I’m just going to sit here, and you try to make a move on me. Pretend I’m a guy you are into” the Ferrari driver explained as he moved the pillows that separated the two of them out of the way.
Well, pretending he was into Carlos wasn’t going to be very hard, considering the fact that Lando has been carrying around a stupid schoolboy-crush on the older one for years now. It was more the “making a move” and “kissing” part that made him panic.
“Oka-y, but don’t expect me to know what I’m doing. I’m gonna do bad” Lando muttered sheepishly.
“Don’t worry, pequeño. I’m gonna guide you through it” Carlos assured him, his voice soft and sincere.
The McLaren driver took a deep and almost shaky breath, in an attempt to calm down his nerves. Then he looked up at his ex-teammate who was casually positioned at the other end of the sofa. He was wearing one of his infamous polo shirts again. Lando didn’t know how he did it, but for some strange reason Carlos managed to pull them off.
After another quick breath Lando braced himself for what was going to happen soon. Were they really doing this? Was this something friends did for each other all the time? He had no idea. Must be, he guessed.
His heartbeat was racing a hundred miles a minute, as he slowly scootched over to where Carlos was sat. His nervous fingers dug into the soft fabric of the sofa before his thigh touched Carlos’ and he almost jumped at the contact.
“Pretend I’m a date you took back to your room or somewhere quiet. We’ve had fun all evening but now you want to seal the deal.”
Lando was sure there was something ironic in what Carlos said right there, but his mind was all over the place, unable to really make a meaning of things.
He just nodded, certain that if he tried to say anything it would come out as senseless stuttering.
“You should start with light touches on my arm or leg just to see if I’m fine with you getting closer” Carlos advised.
The young driver did as he was told and clumsily reached out to where the Spaniard had propped up his legs on the dark red sofa. His fingers ghosted over his naked ankle, right below where his black trousers had ridden up and exposed bare skin.
Lando was a nervous wreck by now. His heartbeat pulsated in his ears. It was almost too overwhelming, but the look on Carlos’ face was encouraging and inviting, so he continued.
The Brit moved even closer to his ex-teammate, avoiding his dark brown eyes while doing so. This was definitely not how he had expected his evening to go.
One would have thought that driving an F1 car at 300 kph had to be the most exciting thing Lando did today, but no. He was going to kiss Carlos freaking Sainz in just a few seconds. And that just simply beat everything else.
Lando brushed the Spaniard’s arm cautiously, as if his tanned skin could burn him. Carlos placed one hand on the younger one’s waist, steadying his position that was almost on his lap. His skin felt hot underneath the other’s touch.
Their eyes met. Blue and Brown. Pupils dilated.
“Go for it” Carlos told him, his voice was low, almost a whisper.
Lando swallowed hard, but there was hardly any spit left. His mouth was as dry as the dessert, while his hands were ridiculously sweaty. His cheeks were hotter than the sun by now and yes, his hands were most definitely shaking.
‘You can do this’ he mentally hyped himself up and before he knew it, he was leaning in.
He had seen people kiss countless of times. This couldn’t be too difficult, right?
The Brit’s eyes fluttered shut automatically. Resting on his arms, he moved forward to close the distance between him and his ex-teammate. It was slow and hesitant, and Carlos did nothing to rush it.
And then they made contact. It was the same kind of adrenaline rush as if their cars had touched on the race track. Heartbeat fast and the world spinning around him.
As soon as their lips met, Lando’s mind went blank. Just blank. It felt like there was not a single thought left inside of him, just pure bliss. Carlos’ plump lips were incredibly soft against his. He slightly tasted of coffee and chocolate cake. It was addicting.
But then Lando’s heart surprised him by doing somersaults and backflips, making all of his thoughts rush back into his brain, like the cars on their way into turn one.
He quickly pulled away in shock. Staring at Carlos breathlessly.
Doubt, hesitance, and a heart that felt so different to just mere seconds ago made the younger one question everything that just happened. Was a single kiss supposed to make him feel like this? Was he doing it right? It must have been horrible for sure.
He shyly looked up at the Spaniard, who seemed slightly taken aback by the brevity of their kiss. It had merely been a quick peck. Lando hadn’t even moved his lips at all, just pressed them against the other driver’s.
“Okaay, well that was nice. But a little bit hesitant. I want to feel like you really want this” Carlos explained, calmly and unaware of the storm of thoughts that was raging inside the younger’s mind.
Meanwhile Lando was reduced to a nervous and blushing mess, and it didn’t help that he was still only centimetres away from Carlos’ face.
He could practically feel the older one’s breath on his own skin. And yes, that certainly was the cause of the goosebumps that spread all over his arms.
“Do you want me to show you?” the Ferrari driver asked his flustered best friend.
And oh god, this was surely going to be the death of him, Lando thought.
Lando couldn’t say no to that, could he? Was it smart to let Carlos – his best friend, whose kiss just made him feel like the world had been turned upside down – teach him how to kiss? Probably not. But meh, he needed the practise session. At least that’s how Lando justified his desire to kiss the Spaniard again.
Since the Brit was practically speechless by now, he just nodded his head determinedly.
Carlos glanced at him gently as he slowly reached out to touch the younger one. It was only a light brush across Lando’s cheek, but it got his heart racing with anticipation and adrenaline even more than before.
With a quicker movement Carlos cupped the McLaren driver’s face and connected their lips again. His arms sneaked around Lando’s slimmer frame, holding him in place firmly.
The Spaniard started moving his lips and Lando tried to follow his rhythm. This time their kiss was slow, but deep. Their lips met with much more force and determination than before. It was a whole new feeling for Lando, but damn did he like it.
Once again, the Brit felt his doubts vanish, wrapped up in the extasy that was Carlos’ soft lips. Kissing his former teammate, he wondered why he had never done this before. Kissing he meant. Not kissing Carlos in particular. That was not the road he wanted to go down right now. But if kissing was always like that, he really had missed out during all those years.
Want stirred in his stomach like a cup of brewing hot tea. He moved against Carlos’s lips as if he needed them to live, holding onto his shoulders for support. They set a steady rhythm, as they melted against each other. Gleaming heat rushed to a bunch of different regions of his body, making him feel like his blood was boiling.
After an undeterminable timespan, they broke apart to catch their breaths, but wouldn’t let go of each other just yet. The skin under Carlos’ touch tingled warmly. They were still so close that their noses almost brushed against each other.
“That was good, no?” The Ferrari driver asked with a small grin, his voice almost unnoticeably lower than usual.
“Yeah” Lando croaked speechlessly, no energy left for teasing Carlos about his kissing skills. They were amazing anyway, so he really had no reason to lie.
They stared at each other for a fraction of a second. A “did we actually just do that?” hung in the air.
It was just a practise session, Lando reminded himself before Carlos broke the silence.
“It’s your turn again, cabrón. Show me what you’ve learned.”
Lando didn’t need to be told twice, already eager to enclose the older one’s lips again. So, he just did.
He started out slowly just like Carlos had, taking his time to sync their movements. His body felt hot all over. Almost gleaming. He had gotten the hang of this now. And all it took was his ex-teammates guidance as well as his plumb, red lips.
A kind of hunger he had never experienced before washed over him. The Brit pushed himself closer against Carlos, who expertly pulled him onto his lap. Lando gasped against the older one’s lips in surprise but still kept going, not wanting to break apart so soon.
Their chests met as their crotches rubbed together and Lando thought he was going to die right then and there. He was already semi-hard from making out, but now his loose sweatpants could barely hide his erection.
“You ready for tongue?” Carlos asked breathlessly, breaking only a few centimetres apart. His amber eyes were almost black as he eyed the younger one intensively.
“Show me?” Lando asked, his voice so inviting Carlos let out a satisfied grunt.
And then the Spaniard’s mouth was back on his. Pink tongue licking over his bottom lip. Lando parted his lips willingly, letting his ex-teammate in. Carlos started licking into his mouth skilfully, exploring the wet warmth. Then their tongues met, battling it out like on the race track. Both of them too competitive to let the other gain the upper hand too easily.
Lando’s hand automatically went up to Carlos’ lush dark hair. He had been wanting to touch it, ever since they first met in his rookie season. The Spaniard groaned as the younger one combed his fingers through the almost black strands, pulling at it in a surge of courage.
Carlos made a sound at that, which went straight to Lando’s dick.
The Spaniard’s hands had wandered from Lando’s waist down to his hips. They fit together like two puzzle pieces as the younger driver wrapped his arms around the other’s neck.
Their lips and tongues met again and again. Lando’s movements had started to become automatic, mind blank and body buzzing. It felt like pure heaven as they continued to make out, the FIFA match long forgotten by now.
Lando had to channel all of his willpower to stop himself from grinding against Carlos. It wasn’t that kind of lesson after all… But damn, did he want it to be.
It was way past midnight when the two best friends broke apart. The adrenaline that was rushing through the Brit’s veins had overshadowed his tiredness. He would already be fast asleep if it weren’t for Carlos’ delicious lips that kept him wide awake and needy.
Both drivers caught their breaths. The Spaniard’s hair was ruffled and messy. His lips were a darker shade of red, slightly swollen from where Lando had nibbled on the pink flesh.
‘So dreamy’ Lando realised, still in a state of ecstasy.
“Happy with your practise session?” Carlos asked, trying to fix his messed up hair.
“Yeah” Lando gulped, his cheeks flushed bright red and a little speechless.
This was certainly way more than what he had hoped for. He was still baffled by the fact that Carlos had suggested it in the first place. But that’s what friends were for, right? Right?
There was a bit of distance between them now, as much as possible with Lando practically still sitting on Carlos’ lap.
“How did I do?” the Brit asked sheepishly, scratching the back of his neck. Under his trembling fingertips he could tell how burning hot his skin was. Carlos must have noticed as well.
Kissing the Spaniard had definitely felt right, but he wasn’t really the one to judge his technique.
“You really are a quick learner, eh?” Carlos said with a grin and Lando’s heart soared at that.
They had went from a hesitant peck to a full on make out session. Tongue and all.
“So, it was good? You liked it?” the young Brit stuttered eagerly, wanting to be totally sure.
Carlos nodded, not letting the McLaren driver out of his sight. There was something twinkling in his amber eyes, but Lando couldn’t quite tell what it was. Pride or satisfaction maybe?
“You did really well, mate. Got it all figured out for when you need it now.”
Right, the whole reason they did this in the first place was for Lando to be prepared for the future. So that he wouldn’t get all nervous and scared of meeting and taking boys out on dates. That’s what it was all about. Nothing else.
“Yeah, thank you, Carlos. I- I don’t even k-“
“No worries” the Spaniard shrugged it off with a kind smile, just like giving somebody kissing lessons was an everyday favour. “I’m just glad I could help. It’s almost like back in your rookie days when I shared all my data with you, huh?” he teased.
Lando laughed at that. “It kinda is, yeah.”
The Brit searched his brain for words, wanting to express how grateful he was for his best friend’s guidance. He had helped him out a lot tonight, but he didn’t really know what to say. He couldn’t just say ‘Thanks for letting me snog you. I hope you didn’t notice the hard-on you gave me’, could he?
He settled with just giving Carlos a look of gratefulness mixed with a hint of admiration. The Spaniard was naturally good at reading Lando’s feelings anyway. He’d get it.
They looked at each other for a short and silent moment. Then Carlos reached out to brush a strand of Lando’s hair out of his face. It was a soft and slow gesture compared to their heated make out session from before.
“You look tired, cariño. Our flights leave early tomorrow. We should head to bed” Carlos suggested, as Lando supressed a yawn. It was way past their normal bedtime by now. They had also driven a whole formula one race today and that alone was exhausting enough.
Still sitting on the Spaniard’s lap, Lando took one last glance at Carlos. He wouldn’t really get the chance to see him up close like that again.
There were still traces of his fingers left in the dark hair of his ex-teammate. His brown eyes were warm and content, if only a little tired. Lips dark red and wonderfully plumb as ever. Lando could count every long eyelash and every freckle on the Ferrari driver’s face from here.
The Brit carefully, but swiftly climbed off Carlos’ lap. He was still semi-hard, the adrenaline from their make out session hadn’t worn off entirely yet, but he hoped his loose sweatpants would cover it up.
Lando walked across the fancy hotel room. Most of Carlos’ belongings were packed already since they’d both fly back home tomorrow. The TV was still running, their game of FIFA would forever stay unfinished.
The Spaniard followed his younger friend to the door, after Lando had collected his phone and key card.
“Night, Carlos. Thanks again, for- for…you know.”
“Again, no worries. That’s what friends are for, right?”
“Right.”
‘Yeah, friends. Just friends.’ Lando thought as he slipped out of the hotel room and closed the door behind him.