Chapter Text
Sunlight streamed into the bedroom and illuminated the huddled together mass on the bed. During the night, both Nico and Seb had shifted and now, Nico had his head firmly tucked under Sebastian’s chin, arms wrapped tightly around the other German’s waist. The taller of the two had his own legs close to his body, representing a cute little ball but Sebastian, who had been wide awake the minute Nico started whimpering in his sleep, watched with concerned blue eyes how Nico tried to protect himself from the attackers in his dream.
At first, Nico started to mumble in his sleep before slowly tossing and turning around, eyes knitted tightly together and lips pressed into a firm line. Sweat decorated his forehead and glistened in the sunlight. But the movements slowly ebbed away and now, Nico seemed to search for his proximity, desperately clutching his hoodie even while being deep asleep. And from the next second to the other, tears started to escape the closed eyes, whimpers and little shouts mixing together. His breathing picked up and for Sebastian, this sight stung his very core, seeing his best friend so small and fighting against the demons in his sleep. As soon as the shouts turned into screams, Seb sprung into action.
Immediately, he started whispering soothing words and placed sweet kisses on the forehead. And somehow, this quieted the younger down, the frown on his face disappearing and also his breathing leveled out. He observed Nico for a few minutes, tucked the soft blond hair behind his ears and laid back down.
But the silence didn’t last for too long because the sudden snoring of Kimi one room away, started and Sebastian knew: now he wouldn’t be able to shut his eyes no more.
Moving carefully and trying not to disturb the currently peacefully dreaming Nico, Sebastian shifted onto his back and grabbed his phone from the bedside table. He held his breath when he felt Nico shuffling beside him but the other just moved closer and settled down again. Sebastian waited until he saw the steady rise and fall of Nico’s chest before continuing.
He opened his phone and was immediately greeted by a too bright screen and a few messages from Charles and Lance.
From “best teammate you’ll ever have” (yes, Charles had chosen that name):
- 21:37: Hiya Seb. Lance and me figured out what happened and gave Nico’s stuff to Kimi. Do you need our help?
- 21:45: It’s me again. For real, just call and we’ll be there
- 21:46: Lance is one room next to me. He isn’t feeling too well and I was able to get Carlos to cook him some soup. You know my cooking abilities aren’t the best… Anyways, he’s feeling kind of guilty because it were his fans. Maybe you could write him?
- 03:56: Actually, I’m sorry. I kind of take you for granted. And I never tell you how glad I am for your help … so. Thank you.
- 03:57: deleted
From Lance:
- 21:40: Hello Sebastian. I am so sorry for what happened. Could you maybe tell Nico, that I didn’t want this to happen? Unfortunately, I don’t have his phone number. Can we please talk tomorrow? I truly feel guilty about my stupid post …
- 22:23: It’s me, Charles. He’s sleeping now.
Sebastian had to smile at the messages. Although the two could be very handful most of the time, you could always count on them when needed.
He quickly wrote them back, easing their worries and inviting them over some hours later. But they needed to wait until Nico gave them his go.
Feeling proud of them because he didn’t receive an immediate reply, which indicated that they were probably sleeping right now, Sebastian got up and dressed himself quickly. After that, he searched for the mentioned bag of Nico, ruffling through it until he found a very comfortable looking grey hoddie and a pair of sweatpants.
Returning to the bedroom, he placed both items next to the sleeping German, a hand carefully brushing through his hair again, before he left the room.
Shuffling along the narrow corridor, the German tiptoed over to the sofa, Kimi was sprawled over. He had to suppress a smirk because the sight right in front of him was priceless. The Finnish driver was on his back and had every limp he possessed spread around him, more or less representing a starfish. A snoring starfish to be precise.
Sebastian bent down, wrapped the blanket a bit more firmly around the other’s ahoulder and pressed a sweet kiss upon his - hopefully soon to be - husband’s cheek. Eyelashes started to flutter shortly before once again resuming to their original position.
Happy about that, he steered to the direction of the kitchen to prepare a light breakfast … and to get a much needed cup of coffee.
***
He just finished setting the table when he heard a loud yawn behind him. Turning around he looked directly into green green, with a hint of tiredness in them. Kimi wordlessly walked past Seb, touching his elbow as a sight of greeting before taking the already brewed coffee. He hummed in appreciation after taking the first few sips before walking over to Seb again and hugging him.
Sebastian, very used to this soft side of Kimi, immediately returned the hug and breathed in the smell that was so unmistakably Kimi.
The two of them enjoyed the quiet moment before their hungry stomachs alarmed them.
While Kimi took a seat and stared hungrily at the eggs, Sebastian left the room only to return with a key and keycard.
At Kimi’s confused glance he just replied with a “you will see”, before their started their breakfast consisting of cereal the rest of Kimi’s ordered pizza.
But as comforting as it should have been, in reality it wasn’t. While Seb took another bite of his cereal, he noticed how Kimi was rubbing his neck and grimacing the whole time. Instantly, guilt consumed him.
“Should I help you? How was your sleep, was it that uncomfortable?”, concerned blue eyes scanned the man in front of him, searching for any more indications of hurt or uneasiness.
Kimi just chuckled and waved him off: “I’m alright, Sebby. But I’m more worried about that kid of yours. Didn’t look too… good yesterday.” Kimi trailed of at the end, clearly searching for a better word to describe the state Nico was in.
Sebastian acknowledged it by shortly humming and looking down at his spoon. But before they could discuss this situation any further, a rattling doorknob alerted them.
On cue, both of them turned to the direction the sound was coming from and an embarrassed looking Nico emerged in the doorway, a blush decorating his cheek. After a pointed stare from his fellow countryman, he decided to sit down, in between Kimi and Sebastian. He mumbled a quiet “good morning” and settled for keeping his head down, fumbling with the strings of the grey hoddie.
Kimi was confused. What was this all about? And as if Sebastian was a mindreader, he explained it: “After such an episode Nico always got embarrassed and would rather go away and leave a short text message in form of “thanks” instead of facing the situation and talk this through. So, in order to not catch him like an animal I used to look the door and keep the key.”
“Yeah, and I have hoped he’d forget it this time”, the sulky voice of the Hulk complained, but he shyly looked at Kimi, asking for the milk standing right next to him. The Finn just clicked his tongue and gave said item to the younger man.
And just like that, the three of them continued on with breakfast as if it were the most normal thing in the world.
Seb got Nico to put a cold cloth on his blue eye and he even put a cream on the raw skin of his cheek. After that a truly harmonic peace settled in and Kimi had to say: it was very refreshing to have Nico around. His shy jokes and his excitement was very infectious and Kimi grew fond of the German very quickly.
Especially the well known routine between him and Sebastian made him realize how close they truly were. Every movement or simple eye contact was memorized so the two of them were able to communicate just by simple gestures.
Sebastian needed a kleenex? A simple nod towards the paper roll and he had it.
Nico wanted the cereals? No problem, Seb knew it already and handed it over.
Just an out of context “thank you” made them stop briefly. Simultaneously, both Kimi and Sebastian turned to look at the tallest of them. With wide eyes and a blush yet again manifesting on his face, Nico swallowed down before continuing.
“Thank you guys. I am so sorry for interrupting your … time together yesterday but I needed to see someone. I also want to apologize for being so whiny yesterday and complaining a lot and I- autsch! Hey that hurt!”, Nico said while rubbing his head.
Kimi meanwhile threateningly held up his weapon of choice - a spoon - and warningly waved it around.
“One more stupid apology and I’ll get the knife.”
Sebastian had to hide his smile behind his cup of coffee, amusement very much present in his eyes.
Nico stared at his friend, muttering a quiet “traitor”, before continuing, observing the spoon cautiously.
“But I mean it. No Kimi, let me continue and take the spoon down! I should deal with different persons having different opinions over a topic. I should accept that some like me more, some less. But I agree with you: what they did was wrong.”
Sebastian crossed eyes with Kimi. Yes, luckily Nico thought about this all like he predicted it. Yes, being beaten up over a rumor wasn’t acceptable. But Nico doubting himself? That still wasn’t out of the room and Sebastian probably needed to have some more talks with Nico and the low self esteem of his. And apparently Kimi, who somehow adopted the gentle giant too, thought the same.
But everything to its own and rightful time.
Because a sudden knock on the door followed by a full blown body slam against it, interrupted them.
Without second guessing anything, Nico got up, took the keys Seb held out to him and opened the door. And there he stood literally face to face with a fuming Antonio and a desperate looking Charles, with Lance face timing him.
“You!”, the Italian said and pushed a finger against Nico’s chest and stepped further into the hotel room. Even Charles who furiously tried to pull the angered Italian back had no chance to stop him.
“Where is Kimi?”, Antonio spoke, angry eyes staring daggers at Nico. But the German was clearly unfazed by it, smiling a bit before pointing a finger to the kitchen.
Like a rocket, the Italian rushed past him, clearly on a mission.
Charles, who somehow had to catch his breath, just gave Nico his phone before taking some much needed breaths complaining that Antonio was way too fast for his own good.
Taking the phone, Nico waved to a sniffling Lance who, at the sight of the German, burst in tears. Taken back by this reaction tried to joke a bit.
“I know that I don’t look that good right now but crying? Damm…”
“I AM SO SORRY, NICO”, the Canadian screamed hoarsely while wiping his tears away.
Nico leaned his head to one side and asked in confusion: “For what?”
Charles took pity on him briefly explained how both Lance and him found out about the rumor and the beating.
Nicos’ eyes softened at that. He pulled the Monegasque driver into a short hug and promised Lance that it was clearly not his fault.
Relief instantly flooded through the AM driver but a yawn interrupted him. He really had needed the confirmation of Nico himself. Then Nico gently ordered him to take a break and relax before giving the phone back to Charles.
Charles meanwhile noticed how the German was holding his right side or how the swelling of his eye was getting enormous.
“You know, if Seb doesn’t take you to medical, I will?”, and to increase the effect, he put his hands on his waist and squared his shoulders.
Nico’s groans of displeasure made him smirk, knowing that he won this part of the discussion.
A loud yell of “Kimi” interrupted their little moment.
***
“Kimi”, Antonio yelled while standing right in front of the Finn, who just took a bite of his pizza and let out a muffled “bwoah”.
Apparently that was the wrong thing to do because the fuming Italian in front of him just angrily put his hair in a bun, being completely serious.
“If you don’t like me no more, just tell me! Why didn’t you tell me that I was bothering you? Why was it Charles who had to tell me that you rather spend time with Nico than me?”, he pouted at the end, crossing his arms in front of his chest.
“Wait stop nonono. It wasn’t meant like that, Tonio!”, Charles piped up, trying to escape Sebastian’s “I am disappointed” face.
“Look, we saw how you wanted to go to Kimi. So we told him that you have - right now - no time for him because you were with Nico. But somehow this spiraled out of context and … hey, can I have the last slice of pizza?”, Charles explained, sat down before he started to eat.
Kimi pushed his chair back and stood face to face with Antonio.
“To be clear: I like you, Tonio. But you don’t have to be jealous over others if I decide to spend time with them. You are still very dear to me. And…”, but the Finn wasn’t able to continue because suddenly he had his arms full of a very lean Antonio who hugged him tightly.
With a shaky voice he began: “Sorry Kimi but I was worried you were just bearing with me. I know I can be difficult but we’re such a good team. I never want to bother you.”
Kimi just laughed at that.
“Do you really think I would brush any other driver’s hair voluntarily?”
This of course made the other Alfa Romeo driver blush before they all decided to continue eating. And if Kimi and Seb made the others stay in order to watch some movies. No one complained.
(“Does he always help you clean the dishes?”
“You mean Nico? Yes Charles. He always does that. He even puts them back to their original place.”
“Dammit, me, Mick and Lance now really have to pick up the pace. He makes us look bad.”
“Actually, Mick helps me too. Maybe not as much as Nico but…”
“Dammit!”)
***
While everyone fell asleep, Nico and Seb went to the balcony to talk without disturbing the rest.
They took in the beautiful landscape, Sebastian’s hand squeezing Nico’s neck briefly before resting on the railing.
The unspoken “you still have to go to medical” or the “thank you for everything” didn’t have to be mentioned. It was still present but the two friends had found one another again. And at that moment, this was much more important.