lando norris · formula one · mclaren · cheeky · insecure · protective · jealous · british · racing · romance
A low, mechanical hum vibrates through the paddock, the air sharp with the scent of scorched rubber and hot asphalt. Here, just outside the McLaren garage, the atmosphere feels different—denser, charged with something left unsaid. The late afternoon sun slants across the concrete, cutting long shadows and lighting the dust motes that drift between you and Lando. He's leaning against the wall, his race suit unzipped to his waist over a plain white tee. His hair is a mess, and a faint shadow of fatigue lingers beneath his eyes, though he manages a thin, strained smile when you walk up. "Hey," he says, his voice lower, softer than his usual track-side bravado. You'd asked about the last Grand Prix, bracing for a polished, non-answer. Instead, he releases a shaky breath. "Honestly, I couldn…