Obsessed with the idea that George, who has always had Alex by his side at almost every moment, is traumatized when Alex is not with him anymore in 2021. He is so used to the sun being in the sky, he does not know how to process that it is gone.
When Alex comes back, George is ecstatic but the idea that Alex could disappear in an instant haunts him daily. He becomes clingier, more possessive, and jealous of others being around Alex because what if they take him away.
I of course had to start with my number one boys - galex, geoalex, rusbon. whatever you call them, they are absolute babes.
a few things:
If your fic is on this list and you don't want to be, please let me know and I will remove it immediately, no questions asked.
If your fic is on this list but you have not been tagged, it's because I don't know your tumblr - please let me know and I can tag you.
I have listed the rating, word count, and a personal favourite quote from the fic. I have not included any tags or warnings. please be mindful of each fic's tags before you begin reading. please protect your own peace.
If you think I'm missing a fic, please send me a message and I will endeavour to read it.
I am really sorry if your fic isn't listed below. unfortunately I can't include every fic in fandom - as much as I wish I could, y'all are talented af.
If you have another pairing you'd like me to write a fic rec list for, please let me know. I can't guarantee I'll be able to help but will try where I can.
nsfw: a long cold war by prettydangrotten
(E. 1,254 words. complete.)
'Alex has a wave tenderness come on so strong it makes him heartsore: lovely George, who wants so little so much that he can never ask for it, who can’t separate shame from desire anymore.'
for whom you are still standing by @boxboxlewis
(M. 1,633 words. complete.)
"You are truly one of the weirdest fucking people I've ever met. Like I think people think you're not weird, because you look like a Ken doll and your interviews sound like if you fed a neural network a PR training manual. But you know and I know: you're a freak, Russell."
the two of us, in sympathy by @boxboxlewis
(M. 5,217 words. complete.)
'George lifts his mug in a salute. It's huge and blue and says "WORLD’S ONLY GRANDAD!" on the side in bubble letters. Neither of them know how it got into the flat but it has become, inexplicably, George’s mainstay.'
nsfw: intersecting lines by foxholecourts
(E. 5,817 words. complete.)
'Without much conscious effort, his thoughts land on Alex, as they often do when they're apart.'
nsfw: want you (more than anyone else) by @acrossbrazenskies
(E. 13,393 words. ongoing.)
'It's stupid to be nervous when it’s just George. Or maybe, not just George–Alex doesn’t think George has ever been just George to him.'
crude generalisations and vulgar simplifications by @janinaduszejko
(E. 14,386 words. complete.)
"Seb, who is leaving as a political advisor at the end of the year for a non-profit, has ceased to give a fuck and is just plugging his bee health initiative everytime the subject of money comes up"
you and me till the end of time by alltimecharlo
(G. 28,295 words. complete.)
'"You always smile like that when you talk to Alex. Your Alex smile.”'
champagne gold by lewisshamilton
(M. 34,445 words. complete.)
'“I like him,” he then admits and that’s the whole problem, isn’t it? He likes Alex, likes him a lot more than he thought he would and the simple thought of potentially seeing him again makes him a little weak, giddy even.'
Meeting the Family
1800 words / George/Alex
Meeting the family has never been easy - especially when they're this discerning.
@redyellowstupid - I am so sorry that times have been tough for you. I hope you know how much I love you, and I hope this makes you smile, as much as you make me smile. As soon as you told me that Galex + kitties would make you happy, I knew exactly what I had to do. Love you always, my darling.
This is the cat that George so gravely offends.
😻😻😻😻
“Do we really have to do this, George?”
Alex was watching George as he fussed with his jacket, straightening the collar and flattening out a crease by the left pocket. He looked perfect, in an Oxbridge kind of way, though he didn’t seem content, checking and rechecking himself over and over in the mirror.
George was being ridiculous - but then, that was nothing new.
“Of course we do.”
“You’ve met them so many times. So many times. They–” Alex groaned. “--fuck, no, my sisters, speaking through them, call you cousin George, for fucks sake.”
“Well that was before,” George said primly. “Things have changed now.”
Alex closed his eyes, breathed in deep: one, two, three. Willed himself not to lose his shit. “How?”
George turned to him then, arms crossed over his chest, lips pressed into a thin line. Alex recognised the glint in his big blue eyes - had seen it before on the track, before qualifying. Determination, pure and simple.
“I’m your boyfriend now, Alexander. I’d like to re-meet them as such.”
“George,” Alex said slowly, each syllable dragged out. “They’re cats.”
“A good first impression never hurts.”
Alex dropped his head into his hands, groaning deep as George pressed a soothing kiss into the thick of his hair.
😻😻😻😻
Alex’s sisters had told them upon their arrival that they’d tried to line the cats up in alphabetical order on the sofa ready for George to greet, like some kind of Royal Visit. The sofa was empty, though, and Alex couldn’t see a single one of them; he couldn’t imagine it had gone very well.
“Not to worry,” George had said, waving Zoe off with an airy smile. “I will just have to go and find them, won’t I?”
They were pointed in the direction of the stairs by a very amused looking Zoe. George, oblivious, slipped his hand into Alex’s, giving it a quick squeeze before tugging him away and into the hallway.
Horsey sat proudly halfway up the stairs, basking in a sun-spot. The honey gold of his fur shone in the hot afternoon sunshine, and Alex knew he would probably be warm to the touch by now.
Alex watched, trying not to smile, as George sat a few steps below Horsey. He couldn’t seem to get comfortable, long legs held at an awkward angle until he settled on his hip, arm outstretched towards Horsey.
Horsey regarded him curiously for a few moments, nose lifted, tail curled at the tip. Eventually he seemed satisfied, moving towards George’s outstretched fingers and sniffing at his palm. George held still, steady, smiling over his shoulder at Alex when Horsey pressed his head into the crook of his hand.
“It is such a pleasure to meet you,” George said, fingers scratching under Horsey’s chin. Alex could hear Horsey’s rumble all the way from his spot at the bottom of the stairs. “I’m George. Russell, that is. You may have heard of me, I drive for Mercedes.”
Alex rolled his eyes as George shot him a quick grin, his tongue poking from between his teeth.
“Horsey is a Williams fan, actually.”
“Poor bastard.”
“George.” Alex moved up on the stairs, grabbing George’s foot and tugging. George batted him away, grinning. Horsey watched them from his spot, unamused.
“I’m Alex’s boyfriend,” George continued, the pad of his thumb pressing a smoothing pattern to the space between Horsey’s ears. “So– no more of that cousin business, please. I know you’re from Suffolk, but it’s just plain weird.”
“For fucks sake,” Alex grumbled, but there was no malice in it. George was ridiculous - always had been, and, if Alex was being realistic, probably always would be - but he was also endearing as all hell. Funny. Charming.
Alex adored him.
😻😻😻😻
An hour later, and with most of the cats introduced to the new George, Alex and George stood outside, calling for Looky. Alex knew that at this time she was probably out mousing, but George was determined. He painted quite the picture, his smart slacks and button down paired with Luca’s spare pair of lime green crocs, shaking a bag of Dreamies treats in earnest.
“Looky,” George called, shaking the bag again. “Looky– it’s me, George.”
“I’m not sure that’s going to make her come any quicker, George.”
“You don’t know that– ah!” George pointed at the bushes that bordered the end of the garden. They were rustling, a few leaves falling onto the patio below. A few seconds later Looky jumped delicately down from her spot on top of the fence, mrowling as her paws hit the ground. She was a beautiful cat, Alex had always thought: shiny white fur and a scrunched up face, with big blue eyes and a tiny little pink tongue.
“Come here,” George cooed, shaking the Dreamies. Looky came willingly, rumbling deep in her chest as she wound herself between George’s legs, her chin rubbing against the rough fabric of his slacks. George looked thrilled, and he shot Alex a quick thumbs up before kneeling down, opening up the bag of treats and feeding Looky a couple.
“She’s such a slut,” Alex muttered, shaking his head. “The promise of treats and she’s all over you.”
“What can I say? The ladies love me.”
Alex tried to bite down on the smile that tugged at his lips as George fussed Looky.
George had always been good with the Albon cats, had always made an effort to say hello and pat them. This, though - this was effort, a concerted attempt to win their favour. George had been much the same with his family, treating them all to a fancy dinner, gifting them with personalised presents and turning up the charm until his sisters were giggling and his brother was begging him to hang out, one-on-one, please, without Alex.
(Alex knew the truth, of course. Saw George when he didn’t have his charm meter set to maximum - when it was just the two of them and he was awkward and fumbly and goofy. Alex loved him all the time, but was particularly fond of him in those moments.)
“Can I say something?”
“Go on,” Alex said, cautious just from the tone of George’s voice.
“It’s a bit mean.”
“Okay…”
“I don’t want Looky to be offended.”
“She’s a cat, Russell,” Alex said dryly, “I don’t think she’ll understand you.”
“Okay.” George continued to fuss Looky, pressing down on a particularly sensitive part of her neck that had her eyes closed, her whole body relaxed and pliant. “Well…”
“Well?”
“I wanted to ask. Um. Why does she look like that?”
“Like– like what?”
“Well, she’s kind of. I don’t know. Ugly?”
Alex watched in slow motion as Looky turned her head, her mouth opening wide before she bit down onto the meat of George’s hand, his palm. George swore and fell back, landing heavily on his arse.
Alex fell to his knees next to him, helping him back into a sitting position. Laughter was bubbling in his stomach, and he had to physically bite down on the inside of his cheek to stop it from bursting out. He took George’s hand in his, inspecting where Looky had bitten.
“I’m so sorry,” he said, voice wavering as he tried not to laugh. “Are you–?”
George caught his eye. There were tears of shock in his eyes, clinging to his eyelashes. He blinked them away, lips parted. “God,” he said, shaking his head. “I am so sorry, Alex. Looky, I’m so–”
But Looky was already gone, pushing her way into the house through the cat flap.
George looked at Alex again, stricken. “I really fucked that up, didn’t I?”
“I don’t think–” Alex couldn’t help it then, his shoulders shaking with the force of his barely concealed laughter. He let out a snort that had George batting with him with his hand. “Sorry– shit, your face. Sorry. Sorry. It’s okay, they do that sometimes–”
“No, it’s not okay! I called her ugly, she’s obviously offended.”
“You probably just touched a part of her neck that she didn’t like, George. I don’t think she cares that you called her ugly.”
George groaned, running his uninjured hand through his hair. “I called her ugly, and now she hates me. And if she hates me, Frooky hates me. And if Frooky hates me, I reckon Horsey and Tinky probably do, and if they hate me–”
Alex pressed a kiss to George’s forehead, cutting him off mid-flow. “No one hates you, you twat. I promise.”
George didn’t look convinced, but he let Alex pull him up and dust him off.
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
“But–”
“George.”
😻😻😻😻
Later, laid in his childhood bed, Tino curled up like a croissant at his feet, Alex wondered where George had got to. He’d left twenty minutes ago - for water, Alex - and had yet to reemerge.
With a world-weary sigh, Alex untangled himself from the sheets and padded out into the hall and down the stairs. Someone was talking, he could hear. The kitchen light was on, a faint glow from the stairs, and the closer Alex got, the clearer the voice became.
“Now, I’ve been hoping to talk with you all day.”
Silence.
“Alex told me not to worry, but I thought I ought to bring it up with you, too. He’s far too much of a pacifist."
The fridge motor whirred. A car rolled past outside, the flicker of headlights bright through the window.
“I am so sorry for what I said to you earlier, Looky. It was cruel. I’ve done some research– apparently breeds like yours, brachycephalic, the website said, are incredibly sought after. I should’ve known from the way that you carry yourself that you are a classy lady. A beautiful lady. It was my oversight, and I’m sorry.”
Alex pushed the door open quietly and peered around. George was sitting in one of the wooden chairs, Looky on the table in front of him, watching him as he spoke. Looky was watching him with an incredibly serious expression, head bowed as George spoke.
“I hope you can forgive me. You’re important to Alex– so you’re important to me, okay?”
Looky moved forward at that, headbutting against George. George smiled, pleased, and leant in to press a quick kiss to Looky’s fur.
“You’re ridiculous,” Alex said from his spot in the door, unable to hide the grin that was splitting his cheeks.
George jumped, just slightly, before his face split into a wide smile, his eyes pressing closed with it. “She’s forgiven me, I think.”
“Ridiculous,” Alex repeated as he walked over, curling his fingers into the fabric of George’s pyjama top and pulling him up into a sweet kiss.
Beside them, Looky batted at George with her paw, distraught at no longer being the centre of his attention. Alex could feel George smiling against his lips - he couldn't help but grin, too.
