held - ln1 - adhd
â pairing: lando norris x fem!reader
â word count: 1.1k
â summary: lando's girlfriend struggles when lando doesn't text her back right away
â warnings: reader has adhd, talks of rejection sensitive dysphoria
â authors note: requested by @tatertot101xx
â adhd - attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder: a neurodevelopmental condition that affects focus, attention, organisation and impulse control
endurance masterlist
She knew it was irrational.
That didnât stop it from hurting.
The message had been sent three hours ago. A simple thing, a photo of the view from their window, captioned miss you. She had started at the screen long enough to know the exact pixel pattern of the read receipt beneath it.
Seen.
No reply.
Her chest felt tight, like something small but sharp had lodged itself just under her ribs. The familiar heat crawled up the back of her neck, pricking her scalp, her thoughts already sprinting ahead without permission.
Heâs busy, she told herself. Heâs probably in meetings, or the simulator, or asleep.
But her brain didnât listen.
Heâs annoyed.
You interrupted.
Youâre being too much again.
Youâre embarrassing.
She dropped her phone onto the bed as if it had burned her and pressed her palms into her eyes, breathing too fast, heart stuttering. Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria didnât care that she knew better. It didnât care that sheâd lived with ADHD long enough to name the spiral, to recognise the way her emotions went nuclear over the smallest perceived slight.Â
Knowing didnât make it stop.
It just meant she watched herself fall.
By the time Lando finally pushed open the door to their hotel room that evening, she had already retreated inward. She sat cross-legged on the bed, hoodie sleeves pulled down over her hands, headphones on but no music playing â just noise cancellation, just quiet enough to keep her thoughts from getting louder.
He noticed immediately.
He didnât announce himself. Didnât bounce in with stories from the paddock. He set his bag down gently, watched her shoulders from across the room â hunched, tight, defensive â and adjusted his approach like he did on track.
He crossed the room and sat beside her, close but not touching. Letting her feel his presence without pressure.
âHey,â he said softly.
She flinched away. She pulled the headphones down, eyes flicking to his face and then away just as fast. âHey.âÂ
One word. Flat. Controlled.
Lando frowned, just slightly.
âWhatâs going on?â He asked.
She shook her head immediately. âNothing.â
The lie tasted bitter.
Lando didnât push â not yet. He leaned back on his hands, giving her space, letting the silence stretch. He knew this part too. The way she retreated when she felt like sheâd done something wrong, even if no one had said so.
He glanced up at her phone, face-up on the bed.
Unlocked. Unread notifications blinking.
He put the pieces together quietly.
âIs this about me not replying earlier?â He asked gently.
Her breath hitched before she could stop it.
âNo,â she said too quickly.
That was enough of an answer.
Lando turned towards her fully now, voice calm, but warm. âLove.â
She hated that word sometimes. Loved it, too. Hated how easy it cut through her.
âYou can tell me,â he said. âI wonât be mad.â
Her fingers twisted inside the sleeves of her hoodie. She stared at a spot on the carpet, jaw tight.
âI know itâs stupid,â she said finally, her voice thin. âI know you were busy. I know that. But my brain justââ she stopped and swallowed. âIt spiralled.â
Lando softened instantly. âOhâ he murmured.
She laughed weakly. âThere it is. The âohâ. The moment you realise Iâm being ridiculous.â
âNo,â he said immediately. âThe moment I realise youâre hurting.â
That made her eyes burn.
She shook her head again. âIt just⌠it felt like Iâd annoyed you. Or like you didnât want to talk to me. And then I started thinking about all the other times Iâve been too much, or distracted, or said the wrong thing, andââ Her voice cracked. âIt feels like being rejected even when I know Iâm not.â
She finally looked at him then, eyes glassy. âAnd I hate that I canât stop it.â
Lando didnât answer right away.
He moved closer instead, slowly and deliberately, until their knees touched. He held his hands out in front of him, palms up.
âCan I?â He asked.
She hesitated for a second, then nodded.
He took her hands gently, thumbs brushing over her knuckles in grounding, repetitive strokes. Not overwhelming her.
âI didnât reply because I was in a sponsor thing that ran late,â he said softly. âI saw the message and smiled like an idiot, and then I thought Iâd reply properly when I was done.â
He paused, making sure she was listening.
âAnd I shouldâve sent something quick. Thatâs on me.â
Her brows furrowed. âYouâre notââ
âI am,â he said gently. âNot because youâre wrong. Because I know silence is hard for you.â
She looked down at their hands. âIt makes everything feel⌠louder.â
âYeah,â he said. âIâve noticed.â
She winced. âIs that bad?â
âNo,â he said instantly. âIt just means I need to be more mindful. Thatâs not a flaw. Thatâs communication.â
Tears spilled from her eyes then, quiet and humiliating.
âI hate this sometimes,â she whispered. âI hate how fast I go from âeverythingâs fineâ to âyou secretly hate me.â.â
Lando leaned his forehead against hers.
âI donât hate you,â he said softly. âNot even a little. Not on your worst days. Not when your brain is being cruel to you.â
She breathed him in and let her eyes close at his familiar scent.
âI get scared youâll get tired of it,â she admitted. âOf me needing reassurance. Of me misreading things.â
Lando pulled back just enough to look at her properly.
âLook at me, sweetheart.â He lifted her chin gently. âI choose you. Every day. Especially when itâs messy.â
Her lower lip trembled.
âYou donât need to earn that,â he added. âAnd you donât lose it just because your brain tells you lies.â
She laughed weakly through tears. âItâs very convincing.â
âI know,â he said. âThatâs why Iâll help you reality-check it.â
He brushed her hair back gently. âNext time it starts, tell me. Even if it feels embarrassing. Even if it feels small. Iâd rather know than have you hurting alone.â
She nodded slowly. âOkay.â
âAnd,â he added, smiling softly. âIâll work on being better with quick replies when I can. Team effort.â
She leaned into him then, forehead against his shoulder.
âThank you for not making me feel crazy,â she murmured.
âYouâre not crazy,â Lando said, arms wrapping around her carefully. âYour brain just runs fast. Sometimes it takes a wrong turn.â
She smiled faintly. âYou sound like my therapist.â
He snorted. âDonât tell her, sheâll charge me.â
They stayed like that for a while, her breathing slowly evening out, the sharp edges of the spiral dulling under his steady presence.
Later, as they lay in bed with his arm around her waist, she spoke quietly into the dark.
âIf I ask for reassurance sometimes⌠itâs not because I donât trust you.â
âI know,â he said without hesitation.Â
âItâs that my brain doesnât trust me.â
He kissed her temple, causing her to smile into his chest, exhaustion finally tugging at her eyelids.
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