Chapter Text
Oscar wasn’t one to hopelessly pine.
It wasn’t an opinion, really. It was a statement, a fact. Everyone who knew Oscar - more, or less - would say that. He wasn’t one for longing stares, hopeless romance, and all that jazz. He was a pretty straightforward guy. Someone who wouldn’t hide his feelings, who would go for it. He was someone who always saw the whole ordeal of having a crush as a waste of time - if you like someone, just tell them, he always thought.
He swore to himself he would never be like that. He found himself cringing at the stories his friends would tell him about their love lives. The butterflies in their stomachs, the constant daydreaming, their heartbeats speeding up. He was of course happy for them, but it all seemed so fake and staged.
Which is why being around Lando was so weird. So unusual from anything he ever experienced before.
Because Lando did make him feel like a teenager in love. Lando made him want to giggle and kick his feet and message Logan every time Lando even glanced at him (which was a lot!). Lando made Oscar feel warm, made his skin tickle when they touched, and made his heart beat faster than ever before. Lando made him nervous and shy, and a little bit awkward - even more than usual.
And as much as Oscar, quite obviously, liked Lando, he didn’t like the state he was in.
Not only because it was new or strange. It was his least concern. He was more worried about Lando finding out, Lando not reciprocating his feelings, Lando not wanting to talk to him anymore or hating him, others finding out and hating him, The press finding out, Mclaren suing him-
Okay, maybe he was panicking more than he needed. He was sure that even if Lando did miraculously find out, he wasn’t cruel enough to make fun of Oscar. Lando was kind, and he always wanted people to feel loved (one of the many many reasons Oscar fell for him). And he for sure wouldn’t hate him (or at least Oscar hoped so). He also knew that people around the paddock were great and supportive, even if not everyone was as vocal about their support towards queer people as Lewis or Sebastian, back in the day. The media was probably the most valid reason to be stressed about. He didn’t want to be forever remembered as “that one gay Formula 1 driver”. He wanted to be Oscar, Mclaren’s driver, maybe future world champion. Not that he wasn’t proud of his identity, but he wanted to be a person beyond just that part of himself.
For most of 2023, he hoped it would pass. The stupid crushes usually do, right?
But it was a foolish hope. Here he was, in 2024 Bahrain testing, very much not over Lando Norris.
And one of the biggest of his worries has started to become reality - people began to catch up.
Of course, he had seen all the “Oscar ‘heart eyes’ Piastri” jokes. He always cringed at how smitten he looked next to Lando. But in his defence, it was Lando’s fault for being so kind, welcoming, and caring. Oscar had nothing to do about it, he looked at Lando as if he hung up the stars because, in Oscar’s life, he did. He knew that fans adored the way Oscar followed Lando around like a love-sick puppy. It wouldn’t be a shock to many if he were to announce that he is in love with Lando Norris right here right now.
However, he didn’t expect the drivers to catch up. And okay, maybe he underestimated the power of the duo that his best friend, Logan Sargeant, and Lando’s childhood friend, Alex Albon were. But he did not think they would realise that. Or at least he did not think it would all happen so quickly.
So, when he got a text from Logan inviting him for a padel match with him, Alex, and Alex’s friend, he thought nothing of it. He quickly replied confirming that he would be there and didn’t suspect anything. He moved on with his day, thinking he was all safe and sound with his pining in private.
You can only imagine the horror on his face, when, left alone with the two Williams’ drivers, after Alex’s friend had left, he began to be questioned.
“So, Oscar” Logan hummed, and immediately, Oscar knew this was going in the wrong direction. His friend had this shit-eating grin he always had when he thought he outsmarted Oscar in literally anything. “When are you confessing your little crush to-”
Logan couldn’t finish his sentence, as he was interrupted by Alex kicking his shin, which the American hissed at way too dramatically, mumbling something about being ‘terribly injured’.
“What Logan meant to say, is” Alex took the lead, smiling innocently, as if nothing ever happened. But Oscar was still lost. His secret that he hoped was kept so well, that he made enough effort to make all the longing gazes and gentle touches look like just a friendship to be hidden well enough… it was all crushed. They knew. And if they knew, possibly more people knew. Possibly Lando knew. But before he had the time to panic, Alex continued with his speech. “We both noticed that you may be a little head over heels for Lando. Not that it’s a bad thing! We of course support you!”
“I don’t,” Logan added, before he was smacked gently by Alex yet again. “What? He could’ve chosen anyone in the paddock, but it had to be the most oblivious and stupid person ever, Mr Lando Norris himself?”
“You are talking about my friend, Sergeant. And you should support yours! It’s not like he had a choice.” Alex protested, offering Oscar a kind smile. He appreciated the gesture. He was sure that if it was on Logan’s terms, he would be dying from embarrassment already. And or now? Only a slight blush, he wasn’t doing terrible! “We just wanted to… help? Look, I could call myself a little bit of an expert in the whole “love department”! And, apologies, but it doesn’t seem like you will make a move on your own anytime soon.”
“And we can’t stand the sight of you both pining for each other anymore” Logan finished, seemingly proud of himself for getting a little teasing at Oscar.
“I- I don’t need any help. There is no-” Oscar mumbled under his breath, looking down at his shoes as if they were the most interesting thing on earth. He couldn’t even finish his sentence before he was interrupted by Logan
“I swear to God if you are going to say that ‘there is no crush’ I’m going to post a coming out tweet from your account when you’re sleeping”
“Logan! You are not helping the case, you are just making him shy!”
“I am helping! If I wouldn’t stop him he would go on about how he isn’t in love with Norris, and, of course, he is! Don’t tell me that would help the case!”
“Yeah, but by embarrassing him, you will just make him not talk to us.”
As Logan and Alex continued their banter, Oscar closed his eyes and tried to steady his breathing. The secret was out. It wasn’t his thing anymore. Logan and Oscar knew, and they wanted to act on it, and oh God, what if they were here just to get information out of him so they could later make fun of him and-
“Look what you did Logan! He’s panicking now” Alex hissed, turning his attention to the Australian. “Hey, Oscar… we did not want to overwhelm you. We just… we both care. I know we aren’t the closest, but you are a good guy. And I care about Lando. We might have not talked about it, but I have a feeling this is not just one-sided.”
Oscar wanted to protest. He wanted to beg Alex to stop giving him hope because it was the last thing he needed. What he needed to do was get over this stupid crush, grow up, and stop hoping for something that had no reason to be true. Someone like Lando wouldn’t be in love with someone like Oscar. Not in this universe, and not in any other. Lando was the sun and Oscar? Oscar wasn’t the moon. He wasn’t even a star. He was a void of darkness compared to the blinding brightness of Lando. Lando deserved better than to be drained by the black hole that Oscar was. But he couldn’t say it out loud. He didn’t want worry, or worse, pity.
“I- I appreciate the thoughtfulness but-”
And once again, before he could finish, he was interrupted. Logan clapped his hands, the grin appearing on his lips again. Oh no, Oscar was fucked.
“Splendid! Time to make landoscar real, baby!”
Oscar was so, very, royally, fucked.