Chapter Text
"Go to dinner, trouble. I'll be there in a minute".
Kimi nodded, a small, relieved smile on his face when he left the office. Toto wasn't disappointed in him anymore, and the guilty pit in his stomach was gone.
At least, that was until he remembered the one other person on the team who would be less than impressed with his antics.
George.
His team-mate. Mentor. Annoying, pseudo-big-brother who called him poppet like they were in a period drama. Although, Kimi would rather come last in a race than admit the stupid nickname made him feel like he had a second family on the grid.
Which was Kimi found himself trying to be invisible on the way to the hospitality unit for dinner; head down, hoodie up. He'd managed to avoid George heading back out of Toto's office and through the garage, but Kimi knew he couldn't avoid the older driver forever.
Especially at dinner.
Kimi paused outside the glass doors of the hospitality entrance, staring at his reflection. He looked fine...pale, maybe. And guilty, he realised. Definitely guilty.
For a moment Kimi considered skipping dinner entirely, but he could imagine exactly how that'd go down if Toto and Sergi found out. Definitely not an option. Racking his brain for an excuse he could use, Kimi was so deep in his thoughts he didn't hear the footsteps behind him.
"Kimi".
There was absolutely no missing the distinct British accent.
Kimi felt his cheeks flush as he turned, feeling a lot like a child who'd been caught red-handed doing something naughty.
George stood a few feet away, arms crossed, brows raised.
"H-Hey" Kimi winced at how nervous he sounded, trying his best to be casual. "Didn't see you there".
George tilted his head at that, and Kimi's stomach sank. "You've been avoiding me".
Kimi didn't think his face could get any redder as a wave of embarrassment washed over him. "No I haven't! J-just busy...lots of interviews, t-testing...Toto lectures...normal stuff..."
George took a step closer, closing the gap to look down at the rookie sternly.
"Normal stuff like stealing a credit card, huh?"
Kimi winced, the familiar feeling of guilt creeping back. "I-it was a joke?"
George didn't smile.
The pair stood in silence for a moment as several team-members and engineers trickled past into the hospitality.
"Look," Kimi started, "I know you're mad, I get it. I made the team look bad and I-I embarrassed everyone...especially Toto..."
George's face remained unreadable as Kimi continued to ramble.
"I got told off..." Kimi's tone was desperate now. "Toto gave me the whole dis-disappointed speech. And he...s-smacked...y'know..."
"Good," George said simply.
Kimi blinked.
The older driver's expression softened, just slightly, as he uncrossed his arms.
"What you did was incredibly stupid".
Kimi nodded, looking down at the pavement. "Yeah"
"And reckless" George continued sternly.
Kimi nodded again, not trusting that his voice wouldn't wobble as his eyes threatened to fill with tears.
"And immature".
Another nod.
George sighed as he caught sight of a tear running down Kimi's cheek, even with the younger boy avoiding his gaze.
"But...you're also 18. And unfortunately for me, that means I'm stuck watching you grow up in front of the whole world".
Kimi looked in surprise, sniffling before scrubbing at his cheek with the sleeve of his jumper. "So...you're not mad?"
George gave him a long look, before shaking his head fondly. "Poppet, I'm always mad at you about something. That's just the nature of being your older brother by proxy".
Kimi groaned at that, playfully pushing at the older driver. "Georgeee...can you not with the poppet nickname right now? I'm trying to be serious".
"That was me being serious" George said with a small smile. "I'm disappointed, but I also know you didn't do it out of malice. You thought it was funny. It wasn't - but you've learned that now, hm?"
"Yeah", Kimi said softly, rubbing the back of his neck. "I really have".
George studied him for a beat longer, before wrapping an arm around his rookie. "Good. Then it's dinner time".
Kimi leant into the touch as the pair walked into the hospitality, George finding an empty table. "You're not gonna make me give a speech to the team or anything, are you?"
That got a laugh out of the older driver. "Tempting", George teased. "But no. Toto's already played the 'serious father figure' card. I get to be the forgiving older sibling".
Kimi pouted at that, loading his plate with pasta. "I don't need two dads in this team, you know".
George chuckled fondly at that. "I'm not your dad. I'm your annoying big brother who occasionally calls you out when you deserve it".
"And calls me poppet". Kimi said cheekily, avoiding George's hand that had reached out to poke him in retaliation.
"Exactly".
As they walked back to the table, Kimi nudged George lightly with his elbow.
"Thank you, George", he said softly. "For not being too angry".
The older driver ruffled Kimi's hair gently. "That's what brothers do".
Kimi rolled his eyes but didn't argue. Because deep down, a part of him didn't mind. If finding a pseudo-family meant having people around him who cared enough to be disappointed, but still stuck around afterward? He could live with that.
Even if it came with a stupid nickname.
"George?"
"Yeah?"
Kimi attempted to conjure up his best attempt at puppy-dog eyes. "Can we like...not tell Lewis about this?"
George raised an eyebrow, shaking his head. "Poppet, you wish".