Chapter Text
Oscar Piastri isn't a stranger to some, well, stranger trying to sneak out of his roommate's room. The woman lets out a soft squeak when she sees Oscar in the kitchen, quickening her footsteps and she makes for the door. Oscar averts his eyes, both out of disinterest, and to save her the embarrassment as the woman makes her walk of shame. When the door finally clicks shut behind the lady, Oscar's eyes flit up to the clock on the wall. It's already noon and although the woman has left, it seems like her one night stand partner is still asleep, judging by the lack of noise behind the now ajar door.
Oscar grabs a glass and fills it to the brim with water then digs out some painkillers. With those in hand, he heads to Lando's room. Sure enough, the other man is still dead asleep with only his brown curls visibly peeking out of his quilt. Oscar drops the pills onto the table and debates for a moment.
There’s plenty of water in there for Lando to drink. Surely, he could spare some for other uses. Oscar pulls back the quilt, just enough to reveal his roommate's sleeping face (no, his sleeping face was definitely not cute. Oscar totally didn't have a problem), then tips the glass.
"Shit!" Lando startles awake, flailing his arms wildly to stop the random assault on him.
It takes a moment for him to orientate his hungover brain to realise Oscar is standing next to his bed, the offensive cup in hand. Lando shoots him a wounded glare. But with how much of a miserable mess he looks though, there's no heat in that look.
"I'm heading to work in a bit. Didn't want you to oversleep," Oscar explains, shrugging innocently. "Drink up and take those pills."
Lando grumbles under his breath but moves to take the glass from Oscar. Oscar is totally normal about it when their fingers brush. Totally. Normal.
He doesn't flinch and doesn't nearly upend all the contents of the glass over Lando.
Fortunately, Lando is too distracted reaching for the pills. His eyes are also barely open, which Oscar sees as a saving grace. Once Oscar is satisfied seeing Lando swallow the pills and drain all the water, he grabs both to place them back in the kitchen.
“I'll be back for dinner,” Oscar calls back as he heads to the door.
Lando lets out a noncommittal grunt, just loud enough for Oscar to hear, from where he's probably still burrowed in his bed, hating his whole life choices.
~
Oscar comes back at 10 from the café he works at part-time, bringing back leftover pastries that would've been thrown away. He hopes Lando doesn't mind eating a croissant sandwich for dinner.
He also has stupid heart-shaped cookies. Because he's stupid and wanted to gift Lando fucking heart-shaped cookies.
Lando is in his face the moment he hears the door open.
“Hey, mate. Welcome back.”
Oscar definitely doesn't melt at the way Lando looks so bright and happy welcoming him back home.
“Hey. I hope you're fine eating leftovers from the café,” Oscar says as he lifts the bags in his hand. “And, uh, I got cookies too.”
Lando peers inside the bag to take a look at the cookie. “You sure those are for me?”
Oscar just looks at him questioningly.
Lando drops his voice suggestively. “Those are heart-shaped cookies. Shouldn't you be giving it to your special someone?”
Oscar can't stop the blush that spreads across his cheeks. “I don't- There's no-” He cuts himself off and sighs. “Just shut up and eat the cookies, Lando.”
Lando looks ready to tease him some more so Oscar shoves the bags into Lando's hands and flees into the bathroom to wash up. Because Lando doesn't need to know that he's already doing exactly that - giving those heart-shaped cookies to his special someone.
Lando is thankfully too distracted by how good the cookies taste to continue teasing him later when they're sitting on the sofa having their dinner. And Oscar is pleased that he likes the cookies, even if Lando doesn't understand the meaning of those heart-shaped cookies.
~
Lando Norris
u free tonite
?
Me
Yeah. What's up?
Lando Norris
im hanging out w some of the guys tdy
u wna come
Me
Sure
Lando Norris
ill send the address
[Location]
Oscar puts his phone away, directing his attention back to his lecture, when his phone buzzes again. He picks it up.
Lando Norris
make sure to look hot
not that u dont alrdy
;)
Oscar wants to throw his phone across the lecture hall. Alas, he can't. He really needs to save up for rent this month. Instead he thunks his head down on the table with a groan, earning him a few startled looks.
~
Oscar doesn't actually dress up too much. He just wears a plain white button shirt with a pair of skinny jeans. Not too fancy, but not as plain as his usual plain t-shirts. He hopes Lando can at least appreciate the fact that he spent five minutes fighting his hair that was left sticking out in about twenty different directions after his nap earlier.
He finds Lando and their friends in a booth tucked in the corner. The music is loud and the press of bodies is almost stifling, but Oscar can't deny he does enjoy going out once in a while. Plus the trashy techno blasting on the speakers isn't that bad. It suits his music taste somewhat.
Lando waves him over when he spots him approaching.
“Oscar!” he shouts over the music. “Looking good.”
Lando slings an arm around Oscar to tug him into the booth as soon as he is within range. As if he wasn't already heading there. This only results in Oscar falling over him and they end up tangled for a few seconds. Oscar has to brace himself on the cushion, caging the slightly smaller man below him, to avoid completely crushing him with his weight. And now Oscar has to force himself to think about absolutely anything but Lando being crushed by his weight because no. He isn't going there.
Someone at the table wolf whistles. Oscar thinks it's Daniel. Or Max. They both could be horribly childish. Must be all those years rooming together. Their sense of humour was really alike. Or that might be precisely why they were able to room together for that long.
“Get a room, you two,” George teases.
Lando just wiggles his eyebrows at him, a smirk growing on his face. Oscar quickly pushes himself up and yanks Lando up so he'll stop letting himself sprawl there on the cushions, looking horribly inviting. The fact that half his buttons are left open and completely exposing his collarbones and chest doesn't help, the silver chain necklace providing a stark contrast to his tanned skin.
Oscar immediately diverts his attention elsewhere and starts up a conversation with Charles, who is directly opposite him, to ask about his university projects. Oscar is curious to know what he's busy with, being an architecture major. In turn, he tells Charles about the many engineering assignments he has.
“I'm actually working on something for my brother back at home. Did Arthur tell you about it?” when Oscar shakes his head, Charles continues, “You could come over to Monaco some day if you're interested to see it. Maybe over the holidays?”
“Yeah, I'd like that,” Oscar agrees. “It’s also been awhile since I last met up with Arthur.”
Charles smiles. Arthur was the whole reason Oscar was rooming with Lando in the first place. Everyone present there, besides Daniel, had attended the same high school. Although Oscar was a few years younger than Lando and the others, he knew Arthur. After graduation, he'd mentioned to Arthur in passing that he was looking for a roommate. Fortunately, Arthur had known his brother’s friend was looking for a roommate too. And from there, Oscar grew closer to Lando’s friends too.
How Max and Daniel started living together was a bit more of a mystery due to the age gap. But they got along well. And it was hard for anyone not to get along well with Daniel.
“I think my family would like you there. And maybe your engineering knowledge could come in handy for the actual construction works,” Charles jokes.
“Not for free, mate,” Oscar says with a playful wink.
Charles laughs. “Maybe we'll adopt you into the Leclerc family. You already know two of us. Might as well consider you a brother at this point. A family privilege discount sounds good.”
Lando suddenly sidles up to Oscar in his booth. “What are you guys talking about?”
Lando takes a sip of the drink in his hand.
“I'm talking about giving Oscar my last name,” Charles says.
Lando immediately chokes on his drink as he slams the cup down. “You- What. The fuck.”
Oscar hurriedly smacks Lando on the back. His face is very red which is concerning. Except Oscar can't tell whether it's from the choking or an indignant blush. Charles doesn't look at all concerned, which leads Oscar to believe it's the latter.
But he's still sputtering, so Oscar takes pity on him and explains, “Charles was talking about adopting me so I could give him family discounts for my services.”
At that, Lando finally clears his airways enough to nod in satisfaction.
“Yeah, Charles. Stick to your own man. Although if anything, I think you'll be the one taking on his last name.”
Now it's Charles's turn to choke, only that he's choking on air since he hasn't taken a sip of his drink. Somehow, his choking noises across the table is enough to attract Max's attention despite having two whole bodies between them on their side of the booth. He stops talking mid sentence to lean over Daniel and George to get a better view of Charles.
“Charlie, you okay?” he asks.
Charles flaps a weak hand at him as he calms down from his coughing fit and gives a weak but assuring smile. That seems to be enough to appease Max to drag his attention back to Alex and Daniel to continue their conversation.
Oscar watches this interaction with keen interest. “When did that happen?”
“Nothing is happening.”
“Since forever.”
Charles and George reply at the same time. Charles gives George a dirty look and repeats more firmly, “Nothing is happening.”
“Yeah, keep telling yourself that, mate,” Lando says as he moves to stand.
He doesn't give any warning as he tries to squeeze himself out of the booth. Oscar tries his best to flatten himself against the seat cushions and goes as still as he can. He can just feel the way Lando's arse slides across his lap because he's very much sitting on him at this point.
And really, screw Lando and his tight pants. Oscar is wearing skinny jeans. It'll be way too obvious if an accident happens now. Fortunately, the moment passes fast enough that no difficult or hard incidents happen. Still, Oscar will definitely not be thinking about that contact for the next few weeks.
“Lando, could you get more drinks please,” Alex calls after him once Lando is out of the booth.
“Nah, get it yourself. I'm gonna be a little…busy,” Lando says then vanishes into the throng of bodies on the dancefloor.
‘Busy’ was an understatement. Oscar doesn't see him for the next round of drinks, for the next few hours, even until they're all gathered by the door ready to call it a night. Oscar swears he hadn't spent half the night searching out the older man in the crowd. And he refuses to acknowledge the hollowness he feels. He's not disappointed. Not one bit. He and Lando were just roommates, nothing more. It wasn’t his business what the other man got up to in a club.
“Oscar, you gonna be alright going back by yourself? Your roommate still seems pretty occupied,” Alex says.
Max adds with a shrug, “I doubt he'll even be making his way home tonight.”
“Yeah, I'll be fine,” Oscar reassures them. He keeps his voice even. Because he's not disappointed.
He tells himself so as he rides the taxi back. And as he unlocks the door to enter the empty apartment. And as he curls in bed and it's too quiet. He's not disappointed.
He dreams of brown curls, sunshine, and a too-loud laughter. It's not quiet and it's not too empty.
He’s disappointed when he wakes up to find it all just a dream.
~
Oscar is steaming the milk when his phone buzzes in his back pocket. He's busy so he doesn't respond immediately. It buzzes again. And again. And again.
He feels a weight in his back pocket then the weight is lifted. Literally lifted. Because Logan has just fished his phone out of his pocket and is scrutinising his lockscreen in interest.
“Logan,” Oscar hisses in warning, trying to kick his American coworker who dodges easily.
“Oh, this is good,” Logan clears his throat and the blood drains from Oscar’s face, “It says, ‘Oscar babe, I missed you’ , sad face emoji, then an image. I wonder what that could be. Nudes maybe?”
Oscar is thankfully done with steaming his milk and it takes everything in him not to slam the milk pitcher down on the counter as he lunges for Logan. Logan doesn’t resist and lets him snatch his phone back. He even nudges Oscar to the back, laughing, as he takes over and picks up the pitcher.
“I’ll take care of this, man. You can go and reply to your boyfriend. Just, well, you know, remember there are cameras in there. Don’t want you getting caught doing something you shouldn’t be doing,” Logan winks.
Oscar can feel his face heating up. “Lando isn’t my-”
“Yet,” Logan cuts him off and just about cackles in his face.
Oscar doesn’t know who he should kill first, his annoying coworker or his stupid roommate for bothering him with stupid messages while he’s at work. But he doesn’t waste his breath arguing and enters the storeroom, shutting the door behind him. He takes a deep breath as he leans against the door, and opens his messages. Sure enough, to no surprise, it’s Lando.
Lando Norris
oscar babe
i missed u
:(
[Image]
Oscar slams his head back against the door and squeezes his eyes shut, because that photo should be illegal. Or it was going to make him do something illegal. Something that Logan had clearly already warned him against.
The picture is Lando lying in bed. His bed head looks far from ugly. His groggy hooded eyes are anything but unattractive. He is clearly shirtless judging by his fully exposed neck and collarbones. He has a slight pout on his full lips.
Oscar wants to kiss that pout off his face.
Okay fuck that’s the wrong train of thought. He forces his eyes open to tap out a reply.
Me
Lando
I am at work.
Logan saw my phone.
Lando Norris
dont care
everyone shld know anwy
Me
Know what?
Lando Norris
that ur mine
Me
Lando
What
Lando Norris
😘
Me
I’m going back to work
Lando Norris
wait!!
Me
?
Lando Norris
i sent u a pic
and i miss u
dont i get 1 in return
pls :(
Me
…
Everything in Oscar tells him to ignore the other man and get back to work. But he’s a weak man, and even weaker to Lando’s pleading. He snaps a hasty picture and presses send before he can think too much about it.
Lando Norris
cutee
Fuck. Lando is going to be the death of him.
When he comes back out to the front, his face is even redder than before he had fled. Logan opens his mouth to say something, but is interrupted by a sudden influx of customers. When Oscar thanks them for their patronage, he’s sincere for once.
~
Oscar gets home from a long day of classes. Lando’s room door is shut. Which could mean he is either busy with another girl, or he’s streaming. Oscar knows he’s streaming. He was watching on his way back.
He’s always tuned in to watch Lando’s streams. He’s never mentioned it to Lando - he already has enough fans as it is. He makes a ridiculous amount for someone who mostly stays home playing games until ungodly hours of the morning. But Oscar knows how much he’s worked to get to this level of fanbase. He deserved it.
He closes the stream on his phone as he nears Lando’s door, listening through the thin wood. He can hear Lando’s loud hyena laugh and despite the door standing between them, it sounds a lot better hearing the real thing in person than having to listen through his little phone screen.
He stands there for an embarrassingly long time. He finally forcefully peels himself away from the door and goes to wash up.
~
Oscar almost gets a heart attack when the bell jingles and a familiar mop of curly brown hair makes his way in. His first instinct is to duck behind the counter. He’s an instinctual creature with fast reflexes.
He ducks behind the counter.
He peers up and meets Logan’s confused but amused eyes. Oscar furiously makes a shushing gesture and points up in the direction of the door, praying that Logan won’t throw him under the bus for once.
“Hey, Lando,” Logan says in greeting.
“Hey, mate. Is Oscar in here?” Lando asks.
Logan’s eyes flit downwards to where Oscar is crouched on the floor. Oscar shakes his head furiously, trying his best to communicate via telepathy, that no, Oscar is not here.
Logan, that backstabbing bastard, tilts his head in Oscar’s direction, “Yeah, Oscar is right here.”
Lando supports himself on the counter and lifts his body up to peer over. Oscar curses Logan out in his head before reluctantly bringing his gaze up to meet Lando’s eyes.
“Hi?” Oscar forces out with a grimace.
Lando looks very amused. Oscar wants to hit him. “What’re you doing down there, mate?”
“Um,” Oscar says eloquently as he slowly gets up to his feet, buying time. “I was resting?”
Lando turns pointedly to the storeroom which also serves as their breakroom. Oscar pretends he doesn’t get what he’s hinting at and just blinks at him.
“Well, if you’re done resting,” Lando says, “I came to ask if you wanted to eat out today. You’re finishing your shift soon, aren't you?”
Logan makes a show of looking down at his notably very empty wrist. “Oh, look at the time, Oscar. Time for you to clock out, mate.”
Logan shoves him to the tablet to clock out, practically kicking him out. Oscar levels Logan with an unimpressed look. He still has another hour on the clock. It wasn’t right to abandon Logan just for a, well, not a date.
“It’s fine,” Logan reassures him. “You can make it up to me another time.”
Oscar still feels guilty but he relents. If Logan was so eager to play a failing matchmaker, Oscar would let him do whatever he wanted. He quickly puts away his stuff and goes to meet Lando out in front.
“So, any place you have in mind?” Oscar asks as they begin to walk down the sidewalk.
Lando taps something into his phone and pulls up an image to show Oscar. “Yeah. There’s a new café that just opened. Alex told me about it. A café that sells actual food, not your little pastries that you pass off as actual meals, Piastri.”
Oscar thinks he should say something about the horrible joke Lando has just made. Piastri and pastry. How original. Instead, Oscar opens his mouth and says something drastically different.
“It’s still tasty, isn’t it?” he doesn’t know whether he’s referring to pastries or himself.
At that question, Lando’s eyes drop from his face to rake down his body. It takes everything in Oscar not to freeze up on the sidewalk. If he knew better, he would think Lando’s gaze looked hungry.
“It is,” Lando agrees once his eyes make it back up to meet Oscar’s. Oscar doesn’t know whether he’s referring to pastries or him.
They hold each other’s gaze for a moment. Oscar doesn’t know how he’s still walking in a straight line because he feels drunk staring into Lando’s blueish greenish ones. He’s surprised he isn’t the first to avert his gaze when Lando finally turns away and coughs lightly. He brings his phone back up to double check the directions to the café.
The rest of the walk isn’t as eventful but it’s not awkward. Lando starts running his mouth about anything and everything under the sun, and Oscar happily listens and laughs over little things Lando says. Dinner goes pretty much the same way and Oscar appreciates that. It’s always easy with Lando.
Except when Lando goes and makes it difficult.
The waitress comes by to check on them after they’re done with their meal. Oscar doesn’t miss the way her gaze roams over Lando, or the way she leans in a little too close, or the way she giggles almost obnoxiously, or the way she leans in close to whisper in his ear. And Oscar wishes he isn’t close enough to make out what she’s saying. But he can tell. And from the way Lando pauses awkwardly when they make to leave, Oscar knows why he’s hesitating.
Oscar ignores the twinge in his heart and says, “You’re not gonna be an arsehole for abandoning me after dinner. This isn’t a date. I can go back by myself.”
There’s a mix of relief and uncertainty warring on Lando’s face. Oscar tilts his head in the waitress’s direction, indicating for Lando to go ahead. He must look convincing enough because Lando finally nods and bids goodbye with an “alright, mate, see you then”.
He’s disappointed. That was just a normal dinner between two friends, roommates. It wasn’t a date.
He wishes it was.
It’s only when he’s once again alone in the empty, quiet apartment that he finally puts it into words. The words he’s never admitted to himself, the staunch refusal a poor attempt to protect himself from having his heart be broken.
“I’m in love with Lando Norris,” Oscar whispers, and it’s too loud.