Chapter Text
Lonely, was one word to describe how Lewis was feeling at the moment. He was currently at a karting race in Parma,Italy hoping to make a name for himself like he was doing in England. At 13 years old Lewis knew he was destined for greatness. He was already signed into the newly developed McLaren Driver Development Program making steps towards being in Formula 1. But with the little taste of fame came along the nasty comments from other kids and parents around him. Lewis knew he and his father looked different and were not well off. Yet, he held his head high and left everything on the track.
Lewis is currently cleaning his cart using an old dirty rag to hopefully take attention away from the scratches and tiny dents his father can’t afford to fix or repaint. However, this task is soon interrupted by a boy with the brightest blond hair Lewis has ever seen.
“Hello, I not seen you before. My name Nico.” The boy said in broken English with a thick German accent.
Lewis just stared at the boy mesmerized by his beauty. Why was he talking to Lewis? What had Lewis done to garner such attention from this boy?
Nico raises a hand in front of Lewis’s face which instantly draws his head back to what the now introduced Nico said.
“Sorry… umm. Hello, I am Lewis. And… yeah. I guess you can say I’m new here?”
“Ohhh. What you doing?”
“I’m just cleaning my kart. Want it spick and spam so when I win, my kart is shiny and beautiful.” like you, Lewis wanted to say.
Nico chuckled at this causing Lewis to continue staring at him like it was the most beautiful sound he has ever heard.
“You are very funny, Lewis. Your age is what?” Lewis loved the way Nico said his name. His accent very prominent.
“I’m 13. And you?”
“Me too! Do you want food? I have food at my kart.” Lewis looked at Nico. He had just met this boy and will soon be racing against him. Was it the best idea to dine with the enemy? But the way Nico is looking at him, with a spark of hope twinkling in his eyes. How could Lewis turn him down?
“Yea, I can eat.”
“Good. Follow me”. Nico grabbed ahold of Lewis’s hand, causing a stir in his stomach he couldn't quite pinpoint. “Very big place. Don’t want you lost.” Lewis just nodded along not really listening to Nico but focused on their warm hands together.
Lewis and Nico walked hand in hand while Nico led them around to his kart where the promise of food was waiting.
“Here we are!” Lewis looked away from Nico and looked at his kart. It looked almost brand new.
Nico then went to the kart where there was a bag next to it filled with food. Nico held out the bag to bag Lewis. When Lewis looked into it he saw sandwiches and chips.
“Go ahead and get some food. I cannot eat it all.” Nico commented when he saw Lewis just staring.
“Thanks.” Lewis reached in and grabbed a sandwich and some chips.
Now eating together the boys sat down eating the food like they were starving.
Wanting to break the silence, Lewis started up a conversation.
“Sooo, umm… why did you want to talk to me? I don’t exactly fit in here.” Lewis mumbled out. It was more of a question as to why Nico chose Lewis to talk to and not the other boys.
“Because you’re lonely. And I’m lonely. Also, the boys don’t like me…” Nico added, looking away from Lewis. His cheeks flushing red like he had just told Lewis an embarrassing secret.
“Why?” Questioned Lewis before he could stop himself. Why wouldn’t people want to be friends with Nico. He was nice, caring…beautiful.
“Because I am also different in my own way.” Nico looked away from Lewis and Lewis took that as a hint to change the topic. What did Nico mean he was different? He looked pretty normal to Lewis.
“Umm.. So are you from around here?” Asked Lewis wanting to know more about this beautiful boy and change the topic.
“No, I was born in Germany but I live in Monaco.” Nico casually said.
“M-Monaco!?!? Like where THE super rich people live?” Lewis asked with wide eyes. Just who is this boy? Is this the different he was talking about? That is a good type of different Lewis thought.
Nico looked at Lewis and laughed. “I guess. Yeah”
Just before Lewis can ask any more questions. A strong scent of mint and sea salt envelopes him. Lewis looks up to an Alpha standing in front of him. Lewis can only make out the edges of a mustache and blond hair (but not as blond or as luscious as Nico’s he notes.) with the sun glaring in his eyes.
Anfreundend? (making friends?) The alpha asks the younger boy. Lewis just looks at Nico wondering who this guy is and how he knows Nico.
“Ja, Papa.” (Yes, dad)
This causes Lewis to snap his head back to Nico. Papa? This Alpha must be Nico’s father. Lewis immediately shoots off the ground to introduce himself to the alpha towering over him.
However, before Lewis can even get a word out he instantly recognizes the man with the sun no longer in his face. Keke Rosberg. THE 1982 Formula One Champion was standing right in front of Lewis. Then it clicked THE Keke Rosberg was his Nico’s dad. That is what he meant by different.
Lewis stared at him awestruck until he snapped back into reality. “Good morning Mr. Rosberg. My name is… L-Lewis. And Nico and me- ”
“Are friends”, Nico says finishing off Lewis’s sentence.
Keke looks between Lewis and his son who is smiling. “Well, nice to meet you Lewis. But we must start getting ready for the race, which I believe you should do too.”
“Of-of course, sir.” Lewis turned towards Nico, his new friend, “It was great meeting you. I’ll see you in the rearview mirrors on the track.”
“Hahaha. Very funny, Lewis.” Oh how he loved how the boy said his name. “I see you on the track soon.”
Lewis then walked away from Nico and his father, still in awe. His mind was on autopilot as he could still smell the overpowering smell of mint. Lewis somehow figured out his way back to his kart where his own father was waiting for him. He could smell the distress that was oozing off his father, not the sweet oranges he usually smelt like.
“Lewis, I have been looking everywhere for you. I go to the bathroom for 5 minutes and you disappear for an hour!” An hour?!?! Was that really how long he was gone for? It had only felt like 10 minutes. With Nico it seemed as if time had stopped passing.
“Ummm, sorry dad. But I met a friend who's my age and his father is THE Keke Rosberg. He was super big and scary but he was a really nice Alpha.”
Lewis was not used to talking to celebrities and Alphas let alone someone who was both. Most of his family consisted of betas like his father but there were a few alphas sprinkled within the mix. However, Lewis didn’t care about his “second” gender, he was only focused on racing at the moment. But he knew he only had about 2 years until all would be revealed. Then everything about him would be based on that one ruling.
Lewis shook his head. Why was he thinking about that kind of stuff right before a race and all of a sudden? Those thoughts were for future Lewis.
“Oh, that’s great Lewis. I’m glad you're making friends but remember why we are here. We are here to race. Now let's get the car to the track. The race is going to start soon.”
Nico was in front leading the race. He had a great start and when Nico checked his rear view mirror he saw a familiar kart belonging to the new boy. Lewis wasn’t far behind Nico and was gaining onto Nico by the second. Electricity was coursing through Lewis’s veins. It has been a while since anyone has put up a good fight.
Lewis was pulling all the tricks he knew. Late braking, speeding up on turns, sticking to his line, leveraging his weight to try to get ahead of Nico. But it seemed that Nico knew these tricks as he was doing the exact same thing just farther ahead. Of course, his father was an F1 World Champion.
1 lap left and Lewis knew he could pass Nico with how little the lap was. Lewis knew that a straight was coming and was going to utilize it to his advantage. The straight came up. The two boys fighting for first. Who will win?
Lewis stood on the top step with his trophy in hand and his other hand on Nico’s shoulder who was just a step below him holding a smaller trophy. They were beaming up at each other despite knowing that they had pushed each other to the limit and yet here they were looking so happy.
“I told you I would win.” Lewis whispered into Nico’s ear as Nico stood on the top step to take the celebratory picture with the 3 podium sitters.
Nico laughed, “Savor it. Because next is mine.”
Lewis looked at Nico. Me and Him are going to be great friends.