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Sebastian’s walking down the hallway with Mick when he spots Lewis in the corner with Angela. Lewis is still wearing his balaclava, his face turned away, but Sebastian can see the exhaustion carried in his entire body. He cuts off whatever Mick is saying with a quick apology as he heads over to them. He meets Angela’s eyes questioningly as he’s approaching and she gives him a brief nod. As soon as he’s close enough, he wraps an arm around Lewis’s shoulders, drawing him in. Lewis doesn’t turn his head but Sebastian can feel him lean in.
“Lewis,” Sebastian starts, suddenly realizing that his words will be inadequate. Up close, the disappointment and heartbreak is evident in Lewis’s eyes. They’ve both already experienced every emotion through the years they’ve raced in Formula One, but it doesn’t stop feeling fresh and raw every single time. He squeezes Lewis’s shoulder gently as Lewis automatically slides his own arm under Sebastian’s to pat his back a few times.
“Lewis, you are amazing. You are an incredible driver and the way you fought back this season when you didn’t always have the car is unbelievable. It shouldn’t have ended this way but what you’ve achieved this season…” He tilts his head, urging Lewis to look him in the eyes. He wants to show Lewis that he's here. He hopes his words and expression convey all the admiration and empathy he feels for Lewis. “Nobody can take away what you’ve achieved, not only this season, but everything you’ve done for this sport. I know you’ll be ready to fight again next season.”
“Thanks, Seb,” Lewis answers, attempting a smile that doesn’t quite reach his eyes. He wipes his face with a towel.
Sensing that Lewis doesn’t want to discuss it and that anything else Sebastian says would just be empty platitudes, he aims for a subject change as he rubs Lewis’s back comfortingly. “So, I may have won one million jelly beans for the overtaking thing if you want any,” he jokes, hoping he can distract Lewis for a couple moments.
He knows what it’s like to lose a championship and run through every moment of the season thinking about all the things he could have done differently to change the final outcome. But even he doesn’t know what it’s like to have the championship cruelly taken away in the final moments in a seemingly deliberate act of sabotage. “I’m aware you don’t eat sweets very often but it is simply too many jelly beans for myself.”
That startles a soft laugh out of Lewis. “Congrats on the overtakes. I can’t take the jelly beans, you earned them.” Lewis wraps his arm around and pats Sebastian on the back several more times as he glances at Angela. She’s watching them, patiently waiting for them to finish. “I think I have to go. Probably have to talk to a lot of different people.” His voice sounds flat, dejected. He doesn’t make a move to pull away.
Sebastian isn’t quite ready to let Lewis go yet. He wants to make Lewis laugh again. He wants to ease the pain of the loss, just a little bit. He leans in a little closer and lowers his voice, even though he knows Angela can still hear him perfectly well. “If you want to hide, I know a place in Switzerland.” He pulls away slowly, patting Lewis’s shoulder blade and massaging his other shoulder.
Sebastian feels Lewis’s arm trail across his back before Lewis reaches for the bottom of his balaclava. Instead of laughing off the suggestion, he asks, “Does this place also have room for a bulldog?” His tone is serious even as the end of his sentence gets muffled when he starts pulling off his balaclava.
“Of course,” Sebastian answers easily. He and Lewis have never spent time together outside of the season, but their relationship has been slowly changing over the past few years. He would gladly welcome Lewis into his home.
He gives Lewis’s arm one last lingering squeeze and nods to Angela. As he’s walking away, he sees Mick approach Lewis to offer a hug as well. He smiles to himself as he pulls out his phone to text Lewis his home address.
Sebastian never gets a reply from Lewis but he isn’t surprised. He can only imagine how exhausted Lewis must be from the entire season and from the ongoing drama surrounding the final race. He wouldn’t blame Lewis if he needed a break from Formula One. Or even a break from the entire world.
A few days after Sebastian returns home, the doorbell rings just as the sun is beginning to set. He expects a delivery person or one of his neighbors dropping off a holiday pie. Instead, he finds Lewis standing outside his front door with Roscoe and a couple suitcases at his feet.
“Surprise,” Lewis announces with a small grin. His skin glows in the golden hour light. “Sorry I didn’t call ahead.” He appears less exhausted compared to immediately after the race but the weariness is still present. Before Sebastian can answer, Roscoe jumps up onto his legs, panting and eager for attention.
“Hey buddy!” Sebastian crouches down slightly to vigorously scratch Roscoe behind the ears. He peers up at Lewis as he’s petting Roscoe. “What if you came all this way and I wasn’t home?” he teases.
Lewis shrugs, holding Sebastian’s gaze even as his smile turns slightly embarrassed. “Then I would have called to find out where you were,” he replies without hesitation. Sebastian feels a rush of affection. Lewis is here, specifically seeking out Sebastian’s company.
Sebastian moves the suitcases into the foyer and steps back to let Lewis and Roscoe in. Roscoe trots past them straight into the living room and begins sniffing around the couch. Sebastian closes the door behind Lewis and turns to face him, the silence stretching out but not uncomfortably.
Lewis studies his hands as he fidgets with his rings and answers Sebastian’s unspoken question. “I don’t want to talk about it. I can’t—yet.”
Sebastian reaches out and gently touches Lewis’s hands, stilling them. “Okay. Well, how about a tour? Or, if you want to rest, I can show you your room,” he offers, hoping his tone conveys that he doesn’t have any expectations of Lewis. He wants Lewis to have whatever he needs. If Lewis really just requires a place to hide and be alone, he can provide that.
Lewis shakes his head. “I would love a tour. And your company.” He looks at Sebastian fondly and motions as if to say, lead the way.
They decide to bring up the luggage later so Sebastian starts his tour in the living room. Roscoe, who had lain down on a throw rug, scrambles up to join them. Roscoe walks alongside Lewis as Sebastian shows him around the house.
When they’re in the kitchen, he points out the window at a shed in the corner of the backyard. “There’s my beehive. It’s not too big yet, but if you want to meet the bees I can introduce you.”
Lewis chuckles. Sebastian realizes he’s missed that sound.
“Seb, I would love to meet your bees sometime.” Lewis stares out the kitchen window, an inscrutable look on his face. “It’s beautiful here. It seems so peaceful,” he says wistfully. “I love Monaco but I don’t see myself living there forever. A place like this feels more like home. Somewhere you can slow down, take your time.” He pauses, considering. “Somewhere you can build a family.”
Sebastian doesn’t reply immediately, content to study Lewis as he takes in the mountains and processes his thoughts. Lewis finally turns away from the window toward Sebastian. “Yeah, this is home,” Sebastian agrees, trying to find the right words to communicate what he’s feeling. “I’m glad you’re here.”
Lewis’s expression is open and tender. “Me too,” he says quietly, eyes flickering over Sebastian’s face.
Sebastian doesn’t know what Lewis sees, but he’s sure he’s not doing a good job of hiding his emotions. His expressions have always given him away, especially when it comes to Lewis. He clears his throat. “So, do you and Roscoe want to see where you’re staying? Then we can talk about dinner options.”
Roscoe perks up at his name and circles Sebastian’s feet. Lewis nods in agreement. “I am getting a bit hungry now.”
They stop by the foyer to pick up the suitcases and Sebastian leads the way up the stairs. “Ah, here we go,” he announces as he opens the door to the guest bedroom closest to his room.
Lewis has a stunned expression as he takes in the fact that the bedroom is already prepared for them. Sebastian had done it right after getting home just in case Lewis decided to take him up on his offer. He had even gotten a large dog bed and chew-toys for Roscoe. Roscoe immediately starts playing with a toy shaped like a car.
“How did you know I would come?”
“I didn’t,” Sebastian admits with a sheepish shrug. “But I wanted to be ready in case you did.”
“Thank you,” Lewis replies gratefully. “Not only for letting me stay here but also for what you said after the race. It means a great deal coming from you.” He pauses, then confesses, “I miss our battles. You fought me hard but fair and we were always able to celebrate with each other. You’ve been a really good friend and I’m glad the world is starting to see what a great man you are.”
Sebastian runs his hands over the tops of his ears, overwhelmed by Lewis’s praise. “You’re welcome. We’ve been through a lot together, haven’t we?” Although that’s an inadequate description of their relationship. Sebastian thinks about how their lives have been entwined since they were teenagers. They’ve shared countless moments, both high and low. They’ve been a part of each other’s milestones and they’ve grown closer for it.
A loud snore interrupts the moment. Roscoe’s fallen asleep in the dog bed. Lewis snorts. “He’s tired from traveling. But he’ll be hungry when he wakes up.”
“We should probably have dinner ourselves,” Sebastian suggests.
As they head downstairs, Sebastian tells Lewis, “I was going to make vegan lasagna and roast vegetables for dinner before you showed up. But we can do something else if you don’t want pasta tonight.”
Lewis raises an eyebrow. “You make vegan lasagna?”
Sebastian pretends to be offended. “I’ll have you know I can cook many different things.”
Lewis laughs and shakes his head. “I look forward to finding out. Vegan lasagna sounds delicious. I think I can afford a cheat day.”
When they’re back in the kitchen, Lewis inspects the photographs and cards on Sebastian’s fridge as Sebastian gathers the ingredients and supplies to make dinner.
Sebastian tells Lewis excitedly, “I tried this recipe for the first time a few weeks ago. It’s really very good. I couldn’t believe how much the ricotta tasted like the real thing. Did you know it’s made of almonds?”
He’s so focused on the mise en place he doesn’t notice Lewis moving closer. When he looks up, Lewis is standing right next to him, near enough to touch. There’s a smile on Lewis’s face, the kind that crinkles the corners of his eyes. The kind that Sebastian associates with every time he’s said something that delights Lewis. Sebastian can suddenly feel his heart pounding in his chest.
Lewis takes Sebastian’s face between his hands and kisses him. It starts slow and sweet and tender. It feels like everything their relationship has been progressing toward. Sebastian drops the bag of almonds he’s holding and grabs Lewis’s waist, tugging gently. He feels Lewis smiling into the kiss as Lewis crowds Sebastian against the counter and slides his hands into Sebastian’s hair. The sensation of Lewis’s body against him makes him deepen the kiss until they’re both panting for it.
When they finally pull apart, Sebastian leans his forehead against Lewis’s as they catch their breaths. Lewis is wide-eyed and flushed, his mouth quirking into a smile. Sebastian marvels, not for the first time, at how beautiful Lewis is.
“I still can’t believe you’re actually here,” Sebastian murmurs, his hands stroking Lewis’s lower back.
“Is it too forward of me to ask how long I can stay?” Lewis blurts out.
“As long as you want,” Sebastian answers, leaning in to kiss Lewis again.