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Airports are normally a very no-fuss affair for Lewis. A discreet black car picks him up and drops him off at the VIP entrance. From there, it is a series of handovers to different security teams before he finds himself at the first class lounge.
But it’s the end of a triple header, the car isn’t where it should be, and there’s only a week’s break before the next race, so yeah, some decompression is definitely needed. He just wants to take it slow and look around a little, so instead of the usual brisk walk down the grey and barren hallways straight to the lounge, Lewis does the route through the winding immigration lane. Barring the hot pink Valentino shoes (sue him, he loves those shoes), it is a pretty incognito outfit. It’s also a red-eye flight and the airport seems to be relatively quiet, so he feels somewhat confident that no one is going to recognise him.
After doing all the necessary security checks, Lewis finds himself wandering around the retail shops with an hour to kill before he has to board. It’s nice – getting to wind down a little and expel whatever residual adrenaline he has from the race weekend. Eventually, his feet carry him to the electronics section of one of the shops, stopping in front of the photography section.
Seb had mentioned that he might want to try photography lately. His garden was thriving now with his undivided and devoted attention, and he did off-handedly mention once that it might be nice to get a camera to photograph some of the rarer, seasonal plants that he had so proudly grown.
***
“You know your phone has a camera right?” Lewis teases, relaxed as he lies tucked up in the hammock, thoroughly enjoying the view that is Sebastian repotting some plants.
“It’s not the same,” Sebastian huffs. “I need to feel the camera in my hands and adjust all the bits to take the photo that I want.”
“You can do that with your phone. Mind you, yours is even newer than mine so the quality should be better.”
That earns a tsk from Sebastian. “And yet I can never work out the buttons. You spent too much on that phone for me, liebling. I still think we got scammed at the store.”
Lewis snorts at that. “It’s just how much phones cost nowadays, Seb. But if you do want to get a camera, I think you should go for it. I’m sure the photos you take will be lovely.”
“Good.” Sebastian turns and beams at him, face soft and open. There’s a light sheen of sweat on his forehead from the tendrils of summer heat that have stretched into spring. It’s too much for Lewis to look at him like that and not do anything, so he clambers off the hammock and settles on the ground next to Sebastian, cupping his face with both hands before pulling him in for a kiss.
***
Where was he even supposed to begin? Sebastian has not bought a camera yet, that much he knows, but that is about it to his photography-related knowledge. The long and bulky lenses look a little intimidating, so Lewis rules those out first. He considers a film camera next, sleek and modern, but with a vintage flair he knows Sebastian would appreciate. Then, he thinks about how that might spur Sebastian on to build a proper film developing studio somewhere in the house and puts it back. Eventually, he settles on a beginner-friendly DSLR.
***
Lewis lands in Switzerland around five in the morning. By the time he’s out of immigration and hailing a cab, it’s closer to seven. Sebastian had offered to pick him up, but Lewis did not want him to have to wake up so early. Nevertheless, it seems that all this forethought did not achieve its desired effect, because the moment Lewis touches down, his phone dings in quick succession with messages from Sebastian.
4:45 AM
Seb: Hello, are you here yet? :-)
Seb: Oh, the ticket says your estimated arrival time is at 4:55 am. I am a bit early.
5:00 AM
Seb: How about now? I even gave you a 5 minute buffer ;-)
5:08 AM
Seb: What do you want for breakfast? I was thinking pancakes :-)
5:12 AM
Lewis: ive just deplaned :)
Lewis: why are you not asleep!
Lewis: pancakes do sound lovely though~
Seb: Too excited to stay asleep :-)
Seb: I can pick you up if you want. I will drive at the speed limit and can be there in 30 minutes.
Lewis: you and i both know you are not driving at the speed limit ;) thank you seb but i’ll get a taxi! i’ll see you soon ❤️
Seb: See you! ❤️
***
Lewis rings the doorbell and goes in anyway. It’s become a habit for them now – Sebastian leaves the door unlocked if he’s awake, but Lewis rings anyway to let him know he’s back. Sebastian rushes out of the kitchen, wide grin on his face, as he pulls Lewis into a hug and buries his face in the juncture of Lewis’ neck and shoulder. Sebastian smells of their shared herbal shampoo and his shirt is soft under Lewis’ fingertips and– oh, Seb is wearing his shirt . They pull back just ever so slightly.
“Hi,” Sebastian whispers, the same wide smile still etched on his face and the corners of his eyes crinkling.
“Missed you so much,” Lewis replies softly, lips brushing against Sebastian’s with each word. “You missed me too?” He tugs on the shirt that Sebastian is wearing.
In lieu of a reply, Sebastian tightens his arms around Lewis’ torso as he presses his lips to Lewis’. Lewis sinks into Sebastian’s embrace, left hand firm on the nape of Sebastian’s neck, while his right hand flies up to cup his cheek, fingertips stroking the warm and sensitive curve of his ear.
“Does that answer your question?” Sebastian asks with a teasing lilt when they finally pull apart.
Lewis’ face scrunches up as he smiles back at Sebastian, nodding almost shyly as his cheeks light up with a warm blush.
“Your timing is perfect,” Sebastian says, pulling Lewis into the kitchen. "I was just about to start making the pancakes. The batter’s ready!"
“Oh, wait a minute. I got you a gift!” Lewis turns back to his now-abandoned luggage, rifles through his carry-on duffle bag, and pulls out the camera that he had meticulously wrapped in layers of his jackets for the flight. He then shoos Sebastian into the kitchen and seats him at one of the bar stools at the kitchen island, careful to hide the box behind his back the entire time.
“For you,” he says proudly, finally handing the box over to Sebastian.
“For me?” Sebastian's eyes widen with excitement.
Lewis laughs. “Yes, Seb. For you,” he confirms, as if there was anyone else he’d be buying a camera for.
Sebastian’s deft hands make quick work of the packaging, and the camera is unwrapped in seconds. He inspects it slowly, a bright grin on his face before he carefully places it back into its box. He then pulls Lewis closer to stand between his legs and places a kiss on his sternum, firm enough that Lewis can feel it through the fabric of his shirt. He looks up at Lewis, blue eyes earnest and twinkling.
“Thank you, liebling. I love it!”
Lewis smiles indulgently at Sebastian, stroking one hand through his unruly curls.
It used to scare Lewis how viscerally he craved Sebastian’s happiness above so many other things, especially in the early days of their relationship, when they were still dancing on the fine line of will-we-won’t-we. So often did he find himself thinking of Sebastian while passing by a shop, or when discovering a new book or song, or when reading some article, only to belatedly realise and attempt to understate the intensity of his feelings. Nowadays he gives himself in to it completely, always seeking out new ways to make Sebastian laugh or smile.
Lewis leans down and plants a kiss on Sebastian’s forehead. “You’re welcome, Seb. I’m glad you like it.”
“Now a present like that definitely deserves some pancakes!” Sebastian winks, releasing Lewis from his embrace and moving over to the other side of the island to retrieve the bowl of batter he had left aside.
“What do you think you’re going to photograph first?” Lewis asks as he watches Sebastian heat up a pan and smother a generous amount of vegan butter on it.
Sebastian hums. “You,” he decides. “Or us. I’m not picky.”
Lewis lets out a delighted giggle. “I thought you wanted a camera to take photos of your garden!”
“Well I can take photos of you and the garden. Or you in the garden.” Sebastian smiles, evidently pleased with his clever compromise.
Then his smile shifts into something less innocent.
“Or if you prefer, I could take photos of you in bed,” he adds. His voice still sounds the same, but the way he is looking at Lewis nearly knocks the breath out of the latter.
Sebastian’s words paint a most delicious picture in Lewis’ mind and –oh, is that not a lovely idea? Suddenly, the fact that they have not seen each other in person for three weeks makes itself painfully known to Lewis.
“Someone’s cheeky,” he replies coolly, trying to downplay how much Sebastian’s words have affected him.
“Ah, but you didn’t say no,” Sebastian points out as he flips a pancake.
“I didn’t say no,” Lewis agrees.
They regard each other silently for a moment.
Lewis is in the midst of contemplating skipping breakfast and dragging Sebastian to their bedroom when his stomach lets out an almost comically loud gurgle.
Sebastian laughs, features softening. “Alright, pancakes first. Then we play with the camera,” he decides.