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Bright lights. Bustling crowds. Loud noises. Lots of very good food.
That’s how Oscar would describe Tokyo, or at least that’s how he would if someone ran up to him and told him to give just a few words. All, or at least most, of the teams were there for a few days to relax and have a little fun before the Grand Prix in Suzuka, which happened to be Oscar’s first in Formula 1. For many, ‘have a little fun’ meant getting piss drunk and roaming the streets looking for one of those quick-stop ramen places that were open seemingly 24/7, but for him, the prospect of that seemed a bit iffy. Having fun struck him more as some hot cocoa and either a movie or some Call of Duty. Tokyo was a lovely place, don’t get him wrong, but he liked to enjoy it sober.
Lando had tried to convince him to go out to a club the night before, but he had declined the offer, deciding to just lay in bed and watch some random, very humorous Japanese game shows that he could only slightly understand. The night had surely been fun for him, or at least relaxing, but there was a tinge of guilt that lingered in Oscar’s heart when he thought about the pathetic pout that his teammate had given him when he’d politely said that he wasn’t interested in getting wasted. He wanted to spend time with Lando, he really did. He was willing to make a lot of sacrifices to get close to him, but he would’ve preferred for them to find a middle ground of collective enjoyment. What that was, who knew? It wasn’t until a small text conversation with his seemingly very drunk teammate had sparked an idea for both of them.
OP: did u want to do something tomorrow night?
LN: well i wante to do somethig w u tonight
LN: i wish u were here
LN: but i can setle
LN: whatcha thinkng
OP: something that doesn’t involve the club
LN: how abooooout
LN: the club
OP: haha aren’t u so funny
LN: have a sense of humor oscaaaaaaaar
LN: wat do u think about karaoke its one of my fav thing to do when im here
OP: i mean
OP: i’ll try anything once
He’d laughed at Lando’s less-than-clever spelling but accredited it to the fact he was probably out having a very good time. Karaoke was an interesting suggestion and one that he certainly hadn’t expected. Singing with Lando, though? He could think of worse things. He didn’t consider himself a very talented singer, but he was sure Lando wasn’t exactly Beyonce either. And to be fair, the prospect of watching the Brit with blushed cheeks belting it out into a microphone didn’t sound half bad. In fact, it made Oscar blush himself.
It was no secret that he was keen on his teammate. Every time he opened social media, he found himself being accosted with accusations of being “heart-eyes-Piastri” with the way that he looked at Lando. Was it really that bad? Sometimes, he squinted at himself really hard in the video clips that fans uploaded; sure, he did look a little enamored, but was it that noticeable? Lando hadn’t said anything, and Lando was always saying something. Sometimes nice things, sometimes a little more cheeky.
So as he found himself standing next to Lando in the pleasant, albeit a little bit noisy, Tokyo air the night after they had texted, he convinced himself that there would be no heart-eyes-Piastri going forward. They were going to go out and have fun as teammates and do a bit of bonding. Nothing too hard about that, right? He’d save any feelings he had lingering about for another time when they were just lounging around together playing games. Yet already as he followed Lando toward a shining neon sign that read “KARAOKE” along with some kanji he couldn’t understand, he already felt his eyes wandering to back muscles that were very pronounced beneath Lando’s tight t-shirt. The Brit spun around and Oscar composed himself immediately, smiling.
“This is the place I was telling you about. The one Carlos and I used to come to a lot. Suuuuch a fun spot,” Lando explained with a grin, Oscar nodding as they kept walking. Mentions of Carlos weren’t always taken kindly by him, especially if they were related to racing, but he understood the good times Lando had had with his former teammate. If he got to step into that role and get taken to the same places, that was certainly a compliment to his place in Lando’s heart.
“I’m sure it’s lovely,” Oscar murmured as they stepped inside, his eyes scanning the different posters of Japanese and international singers alike that were taped to the walls. “Just know I suck at singing.”
“You’ve already told me, like, a thousand times, mate,” Lando chuckled, shaking his head as the receptionist led them to the private room they’d booked. “And I already told you a thousand-and-one times that I don’t care.” Oscar’s eyes wandered around the room as the receptionist shut the door behind them, leaving them alone. It was soundproofed, most definitely, with some strobe lights reflecting along the walls. There was a couch and a coffee table with a few beers set on it. He was sure Lando had ordered those to get them loosened up, and he wasn’t complaining. He’d likely need a few in his system to let himself go enough to start actually singing. Oscar sat down on the couch, grabbing a beer from the table and the remote that controlled the karaoke machine, skipping briefly through the first few songs that showed up on the screen to see what they had to offer.
“Aw, good memories flooding back.” He jumped a bit as Lando flopped beside him on the couch, leaning against him. Keep it cool, Osc. Easier said than done. Lando reached over, grabbing the remote right from Oscar’s hand before leaning forward to grab himself a beer as well.
“Hey, I was using that,” the Aussie deadpanned, rolling his eyes at his teammate’s usual immaturity. Not that he was mad that they were getting so close to each other on the couch, almost a little too close for Oscar to keep that aforementioned deadpan. Lando giggled, shaking his head and nudging Oscar’s shoulder.
“Nuh uh, I’ve heard what you listen to in your driver’s room. I’m controlling the music.”
Oscar couldn’t help but let out a laugh as he reached over to grab it back, being met with Lando’s hand on his chest pushing him away. “No fair!”
“Fine, fine, but just give me the first song, okay?”
“Mate…” Oscar shook his head, leaning his head back into the cushions and taking a sip of his beer. “Fine.”
Lando indeed did not just give him the first song, but that was what he’d expected. Empty beer bottles littered the coffee table as Oscar leaned back into the cushions, sure of the fact his cheeks were rosy from the alcohol. And, well, the fact that Lando was standing up next to the screen belting his heart out, too. He was sweating from the exertion that it took to scream into the mic after emptying a few drinks, and Oscar quite liked that look on him. He himself was holding his own mic eagerly, waiting for when he got a turn to pick a song. With a slight buzz, he’d already managed to half-sing a song or two, which was very amusing to Lando, especially when he hit the occasional voice crack. The song Lando was currently half-shouting, half-singing was called “Dance Wiv Me” by Dizzie Rascal, one that Oscar had heard in passing.
“What's up, darlin'?
I been keeping my eye on your movements
I can't see no room for improvement
Why you all over there on your Jack Jones?
You need to let me get behind your backbone
'Cause I'm the man for the job, let me work it
I won't waste no time, I'll make it worth it
One hundred percent, I'll make it perfect
You got a body to die for, let me work it.”
“You got the next verse, Osc!” Oscar snapped back to reality when Lando turned to him before running to flop on the couch next to him. He wrapped his arm that wasn’t holding his mic around the Aussie’s shoulder, grinning at him with fervor only a drunk Lando Norris could manage. There was sweat on his forehead and a wild look in his eyes as Oscar tried extremely hard not to completely melt into their embrace. “C’mon, I’ll sing it with you!” Well, there was no choice, was there?
“Now it's murder on the dance floor
I wanna take this further than the dance floor
I ain't forceful but I'm still hardcore
You're gonna give me everything I ask for
It's not a long ting, you're the boom ting
Maybe more than a hotel room ting
I'll never know if I just walk past
I really wanna dance so I guess I'll just ask.”
The lyrics were a bit dirty for Oscar’s taste, so he couldn’t help but blush as the words tumbled out of his mouth very out-of-tune. But he continued to sing along, mostly following Lando’s lead, as more and more words showed up on the screen. The verses went on past the one Lando had asked him to duet, but he kept singing along despite not being asked to, spurred on by the way that Lando’s arm tightened around him with every passing line. It was getting hard to maintain his calm persona, but he tried his best up to the end of the song, when he audibly let out a gasp. Lando shouted a loud wooooo! into the mic, his eyes scrunching with the volume of his smile as he leaned over to look at Oscar. “See, I knew you had it in you. They should hire you for Eurovision. Fuck, mate.” Lando was breathless trying to manage even that string of sentences, obviously exhausted from the quick, upbeat song. They two sat there for a moment, Oscar making note of the fact that Lando’s arm had remained around him despite the fact that the song was now over. He kept staring straight ahead at the screen, focusing on the strobe lights instead of Lando’s heavy eyes that were in fact staring straight at him. Knowing it was rude not to acknowledge a friend’s gaze, he turned to Lando, hoping that his blush was at least somewhat hidden by the lighting.
“That was fun.”
“Aw, is Os-cah having fun?” Fuck. Lando pronouncing his name always set him off. He shuffled a bit on the couch, gripping the microphone in his hands until he was white-knuckled. No heart eyes, no heart eyes, he assured himself as he maintained eye contact with Lando nodding his head.
“Sure, sure. Lots.”
“I knoooow I said I would give you the next song, but I’ve got a fabulous suggestion,” Lando said with a cheeky grin, reaching forward to grab the remote. Oscar rolled his eyes, letting out a sigh. That was fine, honestly, as he hadn’t even thought about what he was going to suggest. Lando was much better at thinking of good karaoke songs. “This one’s great. Will really knock your pants off.”
“Isn’t it socks?”
“Whatever, I don’t know. I’m drunk.”
I know. That comment had made Oscar… think, though. Any of those curious thoughts were set aside though when he watched Lando pick the song he wanted, the title showing up on the big screen.
“Love Story” by Taylor Swift.
Now, Oscar was sure he’d heard this one before. He wasn’t a ‘Swiftie,’ per se, but he had listened to quite a few of her songs in passing. He couldn’t quite pinpoint which one this was amongst the few songs that shuffled around in his head, but he was sure Lando had good taste. And the title? Well, it definitely made those thoughts that had been wandering around in his brain amplify quite a bit. He looked over to Lando, raising an eyebrow. “Is this really a good karaoke song, mate?”
“Sure it is,” Lando snickered, pressing play to let the sound of a strumming guitar fill the room. Oscar’s Adam’s apple bobbed in his throat as he held the mic in his hand, stealing a glance over to Lando as he closed his eyes and swayed to the music. His eyes shot open a moment later, though, giving Oscar only a split second to compose himself as his teammate looked over to him with hooded eyes. “I’ll start, okay? You can pick up the next verse, I’m sure the song’ll catch on once you hear the first bit.”
“We were both young when I first saw you
I close my eyes and the flashback starts
I'm standing there
On a balcony, in summer air
See the lights, see the party, the ball gowns
See you make your way through the crowd
And say, "Hello"
Little did I know.”
Oscar knew the song now, that was for sure. And he also knew that the way it was making him feel was something extraordinary. The way that Lando closed his eyes momentarily during that verse, his voice so much softer than any of the previous songs they’d sung. It was only when Lando looked over at him as a prompter to sing the next verse that he realized he’d been staring, and he’d been staring hard . Blushing with embarrassment, he turned towards the screen, trying to focus his attention on the lyrics. Yet it was impossible to deny the fact that he could see Lando’s relaxed gaze as he watched Oscar.
“That you were Romeo, you were throwing pebbles
And my daddy said, "Stay away from Juliet"
And I was crying on the staircase
Begging you, "Please don't go"
And I said.”
And then they were singing together, and Oscar could feel as Lando started to move a little closer to him each second, and seeing as they were already hip-to-hip, it was, well, quite close. His mind was growing foggy, the words spilling out of his mouth but his brain completely elsewhere. Elsewhere being Lando Norris. After all the glances they’d shared during McLaren videos, all the times that Oscar had laughed at Lando’s jokes when they weren’t that funny or Lando had made fun of himself or the two of them just in an effort to make Oscar smile. They were just teammates, though, right? That’s what teammates in Formula 1 did together, he was sure of it. Because there was no way that Lando was climbing into his lap at that very moment as they sang the chorus together.
"Romeo take me somewhere we can be alone
I'll be waiting, all there's left to do is run
You'll be the prince, and I'll be the princess
It's a love story, baby, just say yes.”
The song was going on, but neither of them were listening. And that was because Lando’s lips had somehow found themselves mashed against Oscar’s. Despite the fact that he was completely overwhelmed, whether it be the noise, the feeling of Lando crawling into his lap, or the fact he was kissing him, Oscar pressed back, letting Lando’s arms wrap around his neck. There was no going back, then. No more hiding heart-eyes-Piastri. Every moment where he’d bit his tongue and masked his blush melted into that embrace. He hadn’t kissed too many people in his life, but this… this was surely the best he’d ever had. The way that Lando pushed closer and closer to him with every passing second they maintained their kiss had his head spinning.
Unfortunately for them, they weren’t immortal, and so they needed a breather. Lando pulled away with a gasp, panting a bit as Oscar attempted to gather himself despite the fact that a kiss-drunk and real-drunk Lando Norris had just decided to make out with him. He looked up at Lando, the latter now fully straddling his hips, with what he could only describe as the most loving look a human could give another. The grin that spread across the Brit’s lips only made that enamored feeling that was taking him over spread even further.
“Shit. You look good from this angle,” Lando mumbled, his hand reaching under Oscar’s chin to tilt his head up, quickly stealing another kiss from the Aussie. He felt like he was going to faint.
“That’s not just drunk you talking, right?” he asked sheepishly as Lando’s fingers lingered along his chin just a second longer, drawing a wide grin from the Brit as he rolled his eyes. It was a valid question though, right? He didn’t want the two of them waking up in the morning (possibly in the same bed, but that might’ve just been Oscar’s tipsy brain taking over) thinking they were just going back to normal teammate business.
“I’m not that drunk. And plus, sober me has been watching you give me bedroom eyes for what, our entire time as teammates?” Lando laughed, Oscar tensing up with embarrassment. Apparently “heart-eyes-Piastri” hadn’t just been a fan delusion.
Oscar looked up at Lando once more, his heart beating quickly in his chest as he took in an angle of his teammate he had never thought he’d have the pleasure to witness. “What does this mean, then? For us?” The look Lando gave him had him ready to melt on the spot.
“It means I like you, Piastri. Now, can we finish the song or what?”
✩✩✩✩
When the two had arrived in Austin, McLaren had told them they were going to be doing a “finish the lyric” sort of video. That sounded quite fun as a concept. Quite fun until Oscar heard the words come out of Lando’s mouth as they both stared at the computer screen in front of them.
“Taylor Swift. Love Story. ”
The two of them looked at each other for only the briefest moment, but the feelings that poured between them were surely visible. Memories of that night at the karaoke bar flooded into Oscar’s mind. They’d been official - secretly official - since that night a month before, but it still felt like yesterday the way that Lando had kissed him like nothing else mattered. Maybe he was blushing; obviously, he couldn’t tell. What he did know, though, was the way that Lando closed his eyes and sang the words that had gotten them into this mess to begin with made a wide smile set itself on his face. He couldn’t imagine a world where Lando Norris wasn’t beside him, whether that be in the McLaren lounge, side-by-side on the grid, or in the comfort of a hotel room. There was just something so special about them.
Opening his eyes, Lando turned his head to face Oscar, a clever smile stuck to his face. Oscar wished he had a camera in his brain to keep that look stored away forever and ever. “It’s a love story, baby just say-”
“Yes.”