y'all i'm so emo about my way being the closer for tour... out of all their upbeat hits... to do an stripped down my way felt like it wasn't for the general public... it was meant for eyekons.
and Sophia being emotional about it made me lose it, truely felt like her 'i made it' moment...
summary: sophia finally watches you race in person, and you decide you're tired of hiding
1.6k
based on this request
a/n: i know absolutely nothing about f1. i had to search a few things to write this, so i apologize if there are any errors
The world knew you as the young driver who was bringing a lot of wins to Ferrari. All fire, precision, focus and a name the commentators couldn’t stop repeating.
What the world didn’t know was that, between all the training and the races, you had fallen in love with Sophia Laforteza.
You had met her during a fashion brand’s compaign both you and Katseye had been invited to. Both rising stars in your respective fields. One shoot, one conversation, one shared laugh, and suddenly your life changed.
It started out as casual, just little check-in texts. Soon came the video calls, even if your time zones didn’t match in the slightest.
Before either of you could understand, the distance didn’t seem to matter anymore.
You were both deeply invested. And you were, somehow, making it work.
Except, no one could know. Well, no one except close friends and family.
Ferrari’s PR team had been clear when you started racing for them, “No distractions, no relationships. Focus only.”
The girls were the first ones to find out. Not because Sophia told them, but because she was terrible at hiding her smiles and giggles whenever her phone lit up.
It took one group dinner for Megan to say, “You’re dating that driver, aren’t you?”
Sophia almost choked on her food. She had expected a lot of teasing, which she also got, but instead the girls also became protective of your relationship.
And so, you learned to date behind closed doors, when no one was watching. When Sophia was in Europe, you would have mysterious meetings in the same cities. When you were either in LA or the Philippines, Sophia would ask for rest days.
—
After a long day of racing followed by interviews and press, you were finally able to collapse on your couch. Soon after, as if she had a sixth sense that you were finally free, Sophia called you.
You talked for hours about everything and nothing at the same time.
Then Sophia quietly said. “I wish I could just be there. In the crowd, you know. Not through the tv or the phone. I want to watch you drive and celebrate with you without being hidden.”
You sighed. “Maybe one day.”
“Yeah. One day.” She agreed.
What they didn’t know was that one day would be sooner than they expected.
A week later, Sophia texted you.
I’M GOING TO YOUR NEXT RACE!!!
You called her immediately.
“What do you mean?” You asked urgently as soon as she picked up.
“We have a show in Italy, and I asked our manager if we could go watch the driver. Of course, I told her it would just be good publicity. The girls backed me up immediately, so they allowed us to go.” Sophia basically screamed in your ear.
You couldn’t control your emotions as you realized Sophia was going to be at your home race.
Still, you took a deep breath. “You sure about this? It’s going to be chaos out there.”
“You’re worth the chaos.”
—
Katseye’s van rolled past the paddock gates, and the girls pressed their faces to the tinted windows like kids on a field trip.
The noise was nothing like Sophia had ever heard. Engines going off in the distance, fans chanting, and every inch of the venue covered in red.
“Do you hear that?” Megan asked, amazed at the love you were receiving in your hometown. “This is insane. There are even flags with Y/N’s name and number. I think they are being louder than our fans during our concerts.”
Daniela grinned. “Your partner is a national treasure.”
Their arrival drew its own attention. Fans calling their names, phones raised high to take pictures, and asking for autographs.
Sophia walked in the middle, sunglasses on, pretending her heart wasn’t trying to beat out of her chest at the thought of finally seeing you race live and not just through a screen.
Daniela linked her arm through hers. “You okay?”
“Yeah.” Sophia said way too quickly.
“Liar.” Lara sang from behind her. “You’ve been pretending to look at your phone for the last 5 minutes, and it’s upside down.”
“She’s nervous because she’s going to see her partner driving live for the first time.” Megan teased.
The word partner made Sophia’s ears go hot.
“Can you not be so loud? People could hear you.” She looked around to make sure no one was listening to them talk.
“We’re in Italy. There’s a big chance most of these people don’t even speak english. You’re safe.” Megan defended herself.
“But what if they do?”
The girls could only laugh at Sophia’s nervousness. It was the kind of chaos she loved. Teasing but still gentle and familiar in a way that kept her grounded even in a foreign country.
The girls were escorted to a VIP terrace overlooking the race track.
Sophia’s breath caught when she saw your car. It was impossible to miss. Bright red with your number painted in white. Mechanics flocked around it, making sure everything was safe for you to drive it.
Then she saw you. Helmet off, leaning against the barrier as you talked to other members of your team.
Daniela nudged her shoulder. “You’re staring.”
Sophia didn’t look away. “I know, I can’t help it. I haven’t seen them in so long and they look so good in their suit.”
You glanced up as if you could sense her, finding Sophia immediately.
It was so brief, it could’ve been nothing. Just another glimpse at the stands. But Sophia knew better. She knew the way your smile softened just slightly. She smiled without even meaning to, small and private.
You both looked away before anyone else could even notice something was happening.
The race began with the kind of energy only F1 could have. The engines roared and the girls flinched at the sound before erupting into shouts as the cars drove past them.
Yoonchae clutched Sophia’s arm. “That’s so fast! How do they not crash?”
“I don’t even want to think about that or else I’ll go crazy.” Sophia answered but her eyes were locked on the red car. Every overtake made her heart jump and every corner made her hold her breath.
At lap 51, with only 2 laps left, you went for the final move. Sophia surged forward, whispering come on, come on, under her breath as she realized what you were about to do.
The crowd exploded as you finally sweept your opponent in a daring pass. Sophia’s scream joined the crowd before she could stop herself.
You were finally in the lead.
By the final lap, the red car flew down to the finish line, and the checkered flag waved.
You won.
The whole crowd exploded. The Ferrari pit crew erupted in chaos. Mechanics jumping around, hugging each other in excitement.
Sophia was on her feet, tears stinging her eyes while her hand clasped against her mouth. The girls were screaming while filming, completely losing their minds.
“They did it!” Megan yelled. “They just won!”
Sophia laughed and cried at the same time. “I can’t believe it. They actually did it!” Her voice broke.
Down below, you ripped off your helmet. You hair was messy, face gleaming with sweat and disbelief. Reporters were already starting to make their way to you.
Bur you weren’t looking at them.
You were looking up straight at your girlfriend.
And before Sophia could even process it, you started sprinting past your mechanics, the cameras and the reporters. The whole crowd screamed louder as they realized you were about to do something either really romantic or really stupid. Either way, they were curious about what you were about to do.
“No way.” Lara gasped, tightly grabbing Manon’s arm as she realized where you were running to.
Sophia froze. “No, no, no… they wouldn’t do this, right?”
But you would. You were tired of not being able to proudly and loudly love your girlfriend like she deserved to be.
And then, there you were.
Close enough that Sophia could see all the emotions running through your mind. Exhausting, happiness, disbelief, uncertainty, but also unstoppable.
The girls screamed behind her. Megan was screaming something along the lines of “Oh my god, they are going to kiss! Right here and right now!” But Sophia couldn’t hear anything. All she could focus on was you in front of her looking like nothing could stop you at that moment.
Sophia’s breath hitched as you stepped closer. She reached out instinctively, her hand brushing against your cheek.
You pulled closer by the waist, your voice barely audible through the chaos of everyone screaming. “Told you I’d win.”
“What are you doing?” Sophia’s voice broke into a small laugh. “You’re insane.”
“I’m tired of hiding.” You leaned your forehead against hers. “I love you so much.” You whispered.
Before she could even think of an answer, you kissed her.
It was like the world stopped for a second. For a moment, it was just the two of you.
Then the noise returned. The crowd cheered louder than you ever heard them during a race and cameras flashed in your direction.
Behind you two, the girls screamed while clutching each other like they were watching a rom-com in real time
And just like that, the secret was gone and they was nothing your PR team could do about it anymore.
And somehow, neither you nor Sophia cared.
You pulled back, grinning as your eyes were bright with happiness and unshed tears.
Look, y'all, I know I am the holy fuck Marisha Ray person like, all the time. But like. Holy fuck Marisha Ray. Keyleth throughout the last like 30 minutes of the episode is just. Holy fuck.
Because we already know Keyleth has deliberately been trying not to think about Vax being back, how she doesn't WANT to hope that he might be back. She knows how to deal with not having him at all, that's just been her life for the past 30 years. But she doesn't know how to deal with hope, with the possibility of having him and losing him again.
And the fucking journey Marisha takes us through, from a happy but muted and composed "Everything's still the same, you're not back" to the resigned "I'll still be here, I guess" when it seems like her expectations were confirmed, to the guarded resentment when she asks Lieve'tel, "This is why you're here, isn't it? To take him away from us again", to quiet disbelief when he doesn't leave, and then, god, when Vex.
Vex, who almost (well technically did) died tonight. Vex, who was the one to ask Vax to stay when she looked at Keyleth and saw that Keyleth couldn't. Vex, brave Vex, who kept telling her she couldn't lose hope. Vex takes her and says, let's just pretend for one night.
And Keyleth can only nod, through tears that she doesn't let fall. Says nothing. But finally lets herself squeeze Vax's hand back once.
BRENNAN: You remember the first time someone explained Apogee Solstices to you. It's a woman that you knew as a child. You don't remember her name anymore because nobody does…
A beautiful woman with raven hair, who was one of the greatest wizards you ever met, once told you what was possible on a given Apogee Solstice….
The woman who told it to you mentioned it because there was… She said she was working on something that in a few years' time might become possible. Apogee Solstices occur about every 120 years.”
Every time I watch EXU: Calamity I feel like we as a fandom never talked enough about Patia Por’co having known and learned from the woman who became the Raven Queen herself like that’s crazy!!!!!!
I find it hilarious that t & c suggested to go back and watch old cp goals as if I haven’t made a spreadsheet of every game they’ve both played for the national team and club (that I can find) and regularly pick one at random to watch while I do other things