Chapter Text
Oscar
The air crackled with anticipation as November descended upon the Formula 1 paddock. "So, it's that time of year again," a voice announced from the front of the room, "as the winter holidays approach. Today, we're having all the drivers draw names for Secret Santa." A young woman holding a box and a microphone said behind the camera. "The Formula 1 social media team is kicking off the festivities!"
One by one, the F1 drivers came up and drew a slip with the receiver of their holiday gift written on. “Hi, Oscar, it’s your turn now. Do you have someone in mind that you’d like to get?” Oscar stepped into the frame as the voice said.
“Hmm, no idea. Haha.” The Aussie replied, a touch of nervousness in his voice, as he reached into the box.
That was a lie, of course. As soon as this year’s Secret Santa was announced, a singular thought had invaded his mind and refused to leave: What’s the chance he’ll get the one person who’s been on his mind constantly? He couldn’t help but imagine the grin on his teammate’s face if he nailed the perfect gift—a grin that would undoubtedly send his own heart racing.
He carefully drew out a slip of paper and unfolded it. A surge of involuntary laughter bubbled up. He couldn't believe his luck. It was as if the universe had heard his silent plea.
“Lando Norris.” The woman announced as Oscar showed the slip with his teammate’s name to the camera.
"Oh, your teammate! It should be easy to get him a present he'll love, right?"
"Yeah, it would be," Oscar said, his voice a little too tight.
--
It was nothing but easy. Now that he had Lando's name in his hand, the real challenge began: finding the perfect gift for his teammate, his crush. What could he give that would convey not just gratitude for the friendship but also a glimmer of something more?
As soon as he got off camera when it’s Yuki’s turn, he searched left and right in the crowd, looking for the familiar face. He could really use some advice from his best friend on the grid.
He spotted the blond American driver standing by the side.
“Mate! You would NOT believe whom I got.” Oscar blurted this to Logan’s face when he got to the other driver's face, his excitement barely contained.
“From your flustered composure and that disgustingly wide grin on your face, I think I can hazard a guess.” Logan replied, a knowing smirk playing on his lips.
"Him," Oscar confirmed, then added softly, "Lando."
Logan was the only one driver who knew about Oscar’s little crush on Lando. Afterall, he’s also the only one who knew that Oscar likes guys. Growing up racing alongside one another since they were both teenagers, they forged a particular kind of kinship. In a group of insanely competitive drivers, he has always found solace in Logan. They’re each other’s confidante.
“Congrats, lover boy. So, what are you gonna give him?” Logan showed a genuine smile and asked.
“I haven't a clue. That's why I came to you.” Oscar said through a slight grimace. “Somehow, I didn't really think I'd actually get his name.”
“You know, it may not be a bad idea to take this opportunity to tell him how you feel,” Logan suggested. “I've witnessed enough heart-eyes directed his way to know you're smitten with no cure.”
"Um, that'd be a suicide mission. For our friendship. I don't want to lose him, not after knowing how good his company is," Oscar confessed, his voice laced with apprehension.
"But hypothetically speaking," Oscar continued, "what's a gift that says 'thank you for the year's hard work, I couldn't ask for a better teammate to drive alongside, and also are you into guys and down for us to be something more than friends?'"
"How about a teammate medal and a sexy picture of you with nothing but a bowtie?" Logan teased.
"You're utterly no help," Oscar retorted, a blush creeping up his neck.
"C'mon, don't you want him to unwrap you on Christmas?" Logan pressed, his voice playful.
The image of Lando unwrapping him… and then unwrapping himself… sent a jolt through Oscar. "Shut up," he mumbled, attempting to regain his composure.
"All I'm saying," Logan said, placing a hand on Oscar's shoulder and giving it a light squeeze, "is that you might regret not telling him. And I have faith in Lando. He wouldn't let what you two have disappear."
Oscar looked at Logan, a wave of gratitude washing over him. It was comforting to have someone understand, someone to confide in.
"Thanks, man," he said sincerely.
--
Sitting cross-legged on his king-size bed, Oscar pondered the perfect gift for Lando. Deep down, he knew that putting this much thought into a PR secret santa gift seems kind of an overkill. Most drivers would likely opt for something generic, perhaps a car-related item, and there was nothing wrong with that. But Oscar wanted to give Lando something special, something that would truly make him smile.
He yearned for the opportunity to bring a smile to the face of one of his favorite people, and he was determined to put his best effort into it.
Before they were teammates, Oscar never really gave particular thoughts to the British driver. Just another young and talented driver in the grid with strong potential and maybe a cute laugh, but that’s it. It’s not until he himself joined the papaya team, don the orange suit, that the two drivers started to really get to know each other.
People may think that Lando’s extrovert, hyper, slightly disaster vibe wouldn’t really clash well with the quiet, reserved, bit nervous energy of Oscar. Well they couldn’t be more wrong. Lando had a way of bursting into Oscar's quieter moments, dragging him into unexpected adventures. And Oscar, despite his initial reluctance, actually enjoys the noisy presence of Lando, or being dragged to different places by him. In Oscar’s eyes, Lando is like a puppy high on energy drinks, always seeking attention and radiating pure joy. Oscar found himself drawn to that energy, to the way Lando's laughter filled the room, to the way his eyes crinkled at the corners when he smiled.
Lando had so easily carved out a space in Oscar's heart just for himself, almost feeling like there's always been this one missing piece.
Logan's words echoed in his mind, refusing to be silenced. He acknowledged that his crush on Lando was growing, a slow and steady current that he could no longer ignore.
He’s always been cautious. The kind of guy dipping his toes into the water to test the temperature and never the braves who dive head first into the pool. And that's how he'd approached his feelings for Lando. "Too much at stake," he constantly reminded himself. "Too much to lose."
But he was starting to realize that he couldn't continue this charade much longer. Pretending to be just teammates while harboring such deep affection (and attraction) for Lando was becoming increasingly difficult. He felt like he was about to burst with unspoken emotions. Also, Oscar is starting to get worried that he’s too obvious lately. And to add to his growing anxiety, he'd noticed fans commenting on the way he looked at Lando during interviews, as if they could somehow sense the unspoken connection. He was bound to be caught sooner or later.
Perhaps this was the perfect opportunity to confess. He'd live either way, wouldn't he?
With a heavy sigh, Oscar sank back into the soft mattress. He reached for his phone, hoping to distract himself with mindless social media scrolling. But every photo he encountered, every post featuring Lando – Lando talking to Max, Lando on the podium, Lando with his camera – pulled him back into the whirlpool of his emotions.
As he studied a recent photo of Lando, trying to recall what he had been photographing, an idea struck him.
------
Lando
Lando had drawn Logan for Secret Santa.
He's not quite sure how to feel about it, but it's not like he was hoping to get anyone specifically (at least that’s what he’s been telling himself). It’s just that he’s not particularly close with the American driver, though he seems like a cool dude to hang around, they never had much interaction in the past.
Looking around, he saw that Max just finished his turn, coming off the camera. Lando whipped out his phone and opened up the text with him.
maxy
Lando
who u got
Max
Why should I tell you?
Lando
cmon u can tell me if its me uknow
i want a mansion by the monaco see thisyear thx
Max
I’ll get you a shock collar
And it's not you
It’s Charles
Lando
cream ur pants when u saw th name then ?
w/ ur massssive crush
Max
Fuck off
No crush
It’s just …
…. he’s really handsome
Lando
simp
cackling
Max
Shut up
Who did you get?
Lando
i got logan
dunno whato give
Max
You should ask Oscar that
Aren’t they quite close
Lando
hmm u rite
theyr close
v close
Lando scanned the room, searching for both his teammate and also, possibly the recipient of his Secret Santa gift, seeing that Oscar and Logan were often seen together, deep in conversation.
Oscar wasn't typically the most outgoing member of the grid. He was more of a polite-but-slightly-reserved kind of guy. He would chat and banter a bit with everyone friendly enough, but always managed to keep his distance somehow. It was a stark contrast to Lando’s usual loud presence when they were first paired up. But Lando, with his infectious enthusiasm, had gradually chipped away at Oscar's reserve.
Lando was proud to consider himself one of Oscar's closest friends. They hung out often during breaks, celebrating victories and commiserating over setbacks. Lando had even become a fixture in Oscar's hotel room, often finding himself curled up on the couch while Oscar watched television instead of being in his own room. Oscar never seemed to mind, and Lando sensed a genuine warmth in their easy companionship.
Lando is a people person. He thrives in a crowd, and lives for the attention and constant company of other human beings. Even so, it somehow feels different when he’s alone with Oscar. There was a sense of calm, a quiet understanding that is reserved only for the two of them. They felt comfortable in each other's presence, a rarity even for someone as social as Lando. He'd also discovered that Oscar possessed a dry wit and a surprisingly goofy side, adding another layer to their already strong bond.
However, Lando knew that Oscar had other close friendships on the grid. Logan was a prominent figure in Oscar's life, their friendship dating back to their teenage years.
Spotting them across the room, Lando noticed the familiar intimacy between them. Logan's hand rested on Oscar's shoulder, their heads close together. As Lando took in the intimate sight, something in his tightened.
Lando had a nagging suspicion for a while now, that the two drivers are perhaps … more than friends. The closeness they shared, the long phone calls Lando often overheard, the unspoken affection that seemed to radiate between them – all the pieces seemed to fit (at least for Lando). Once the thought appeared, it lodged inside Lando’s head, with a bitter taste lingered in his mouth.
For some reason that Lando cannot comprehend, a pang of something akin to jealousy pierced him. He knows it was silly, just because Oscar is now his teammate doesn’t mean Lando got the monopoly on him. But a childish part of him felt a sense of loss, as if his "playdate" with Oscar was being interrupted.
Shaking his head to dispel the unwelcome thoughts, Lando refocused his attention on the two men. As he watched them, an idea began to take shape in his mind.
--
The first thing Lando did when he got back to his room was to turn on his laptop and open the folder where he stored his photographs. He'd taken up photography a few years back, capturing his life through the lens of his camera. With the life of an F1 driver, his subjects were varied: engineers, fans, and, of course, other drivers. It wasn't uncommon to see Lando with his Leica Q2 at the track, capturing moments both big and small.
He started searching for specific faces: Logan, of course, but also Oscar. He was initially drawn to the idea of finding a photo of Logan and Oscar together. If his suspicions about their relationship were correct, it could make for a touching and perhaps even a bit mischievous gift. Lando could imagine teasing Oscar by giving his "boyfriend" a photo of them together for a PR video. He could almost picture Oscar's ears turning pink at the thought. And he’s always love to see Oscar like that.
But then he wondered, if a picture of Oscar and himself would make the man as happy. It’s a dreary thought (and useless one). But Lando’s having those ones concerning Oscar quite often.
But then he wondered, would a photo of himself and Oscar have the same impact on Oscar? The thought felt a bit melancholy, a bit pointless. Lately, he'd noticed a recurring theme in his photographs – Oscar. Oscar's bright laughter, his soulful eyes, seemed to dominate his memory card. The pale skin, the way his eyes crinkled at the corners when he smiled, the way his face seemed to light up from within… Lando realized he'd been staring at Oscar's photos for almost twenty minutes without even realizing it.
Shaking his head to clear his mind, Lando stood up and decided to take a break.
---
Oscar & Lando
Oscar was scrolling through his phone, searching for inspiration for his Secret Santa gift for Lando when the voice came.
“Osc!” The voice accompanied by a series of knocking on Oscar’s hotel room door jolted the man upright.
“I’m coming.” Frantically Oscar shutted off his phone and got up to open the door.
"That quick, huh?" Lando teased, holding up two bottles of beer. "Netflix night? I need some distractions."
A grin, perhaps tinged with a blush, spread across Oscar's face as he wordlessly moved aside and let Lando inside.
It has become sort of a thing for them for the past few months now. Finding themselves with one another on nights of race weekends. They’ll meet in one of their hotel rooms without so much as a plan, just beer, chips, sometimes candy, or just the need to have someone familiar to have a nice moment with.
They settled onto the bed, popping open the beers and navigating to Netflix.
"So, why the need for distractions?" Oscar asked as he scrolled through the movie options.
"Well..." Lando began, then hesitated. He wasn't sure how to explain that he'd been captivated by Oscar's image on his laptop screen. "Who did you get for Secret Santa?" he asked, changing the subject.
"Don't think I didn't notice your very not subtle topic change," Oscar remarked with a smirk. "C'mon, what's going on with you?"
Lando sighed, "Nothing really, just mulling over what to gift my lucky recipient." He wasn't exactly lying. "Now, your turn. Answer the question."
Then it’s Oscar’s turn to hesitate. "Uhmm... let's just say... it's someone I'm quite fond of." He tucked the comforter up around his neck, focusing on the Netflix screen.
"Ooh, why the mystery? C'mon, tell me, Osc, I can help you come up with an awesome gift!" Lando prodded playfully.
"Shh. I'm watching this," Oscar said, pressing play on a romantic comedy.
Lando settled back against the pillows, taking a sip of his beer. "Someone Oscar's very fond of," he mused. His first thought, of course, was Logan. But that couldn’t.
He wondered, who else held such a special place in Oscar's heart?