so wrong, so right (LN1)
Summary: You were never supposed to be kissing your brother's ex team-mate. It was so wrong, so why did it feel so right?
Lando X Fem Reader
Carlos X Sister Reader
Word Count: 2.9K
Author Note: I speak two languages but unfortunately Spanish isn't one of them so please let me know if there is a mistake! I will never be over Carlando ever, so this is what my brain comes up with! I promise I don’t only write for Lando this was just in my drafts waiting to be finished! As always a like, reblog, or comment is always appreciated! Requests welcome and encouraged! Enjoy! Muah!
Carlos's words had been clear from the moment he noticed Lando's eyes linger on you a second too long.
"Aléjate de Lando." (Stay away from Lando.) He said gripping your shoulders. "Te lo digo en serio. Él es un buen tipo, pero este mundo, esta vida… no son ninguna broma. Los fans, los medios, los paparazzi: te harán pedazos en cuanto los vean juntos. Solo intento protegerte." ("I mean it. He is a good guy, but this world, this life, it's not a joke The fans, the media, the paparazzi, they will tear you apart the second they see you together. I am just trying to protect you.")
You nodded in promise.
And you meant to keep it.
Honestly you did, but now standing here, with Lando looking at you with that familiar longing in his eyes, you weren't sure you could keep that promise anymore.
You were just trying to escape the downpour, and somehow got stuck in the small hallway with Lando waiting for the storm to pass.
It wasn't like you minded all that much, or at all.
Lando and Carlos were close, being team-mates at McLaren for a time. After Carlos departed from McLaren they maintained that closeness. Lando could often be found at your house, your familia treating him as one of them.
It was only natural through this that you grew close to him too.
He was funny, charming, sincere, and not to mention attractive.
He was also totally off limits, according to your older brother.
He'd had the talk with you on more than one occasion. So because of this you never pushed for anything serious to happen. But part of you always secretly hoped he might make a move.
"Jeez, you're shivering." Lando whispered, looking at your soaked apparel.
You had to lean in so you’d be able to hear him over the heavy rain.
"I'll be fine." you said, not even believing the lie you were trying to sell.
"I can't let you freeze, come here." Lando said taking a step closer.
The scent of rain, champagne, and the sharp metallic tang of the garage radiates off him.
He pulls you in his arms rubbing his hands from your shoulders down to your wrists trying to transfer some warmth between your bodies. You couldn't fight the blush that spread to your cheeks so you did the safe thing and stared at the floor. You stood in silence for a couple of minutes before Lando's hands slowed to a stop.
You look up finally meeting his orbs but he was already staring at you. His eyes trail down to your lips, then back to your eyes, his chest rising and falling in heavy, ragged breaths. The playful persona he usually had, is entirely gone.
"Lando, you really shouldn't be looking at me like that," you breathe, your hands flattening against the cold wall behind you.
Carlos’s words echo like a warning siren in your head, Stay away from him. The fans will tear you apart.
"hmm, looking at you like what?" he asks, his voice dropping an octave.
He takes another step closer, crowding you until the heat of his body cancels out the chill from the rain.
"like you want to ruin my life."
Lando lets out a low, breathless laugh that sounds almost painful. "And what if I said that I do," he whispers.
Before you can process the words falling from his lips, his hand moves.
His palm is warm, though slightly rough from the steering wheel, as it cups the side of your neck. He tilts your chin up, his eyes searching yours, looking for a rejection that you are incapable of giving.
Then it happens.
He leans down and kisses you.
The impact is like a punch to the gut. The kiss is neither gentle nor careful. It is a sudden, desperate release of years of stolen glances in the paddock and playful flirting. His lips are warm and taste faintly of salt and champagne. He groans softly against your mouth, his fingers wrapping lightly around your neck, pulling you closer until there is absolutely no space left between you.
Your hands find the wet fabric of his shoulders, gripping him tightly as your mind goes blank. Every rule, every warning from your brother, and every fear of the public eye dissolves under the sheer intensity of his mouth moving against yours. He shifts his weight, pressing his body firmly against yours, pinning you to the wall as the kiss deepens, turning fierce and more demanding.
You can't help but moan as his free hand grips your waist, pulling you up slightly, his thumb digging into your hip hard enough that you were sure there would be a bruise there.
You gasp into the kiss, and he takes advantage of it, his tongue brushing yours, sending a sharp jolt of electricity to your spine. For a few seconds, the entire chaotic world of formula one drowns out to just the sound of the heavy rain and the frantic rhythm of your heartbeat against your ribs.
Before anything could go further a loud laugh echos from the corridor followed by a door opening. You pull away quickly. Lando stands there breathless, gasping for air. You take a moment to take good look at him, his eyes hazy, his lips flush.
"Lando I think someone's coming." you breathe, snapping him out of whatever trance your kiss put him in.
He drops his hands back down to his sides, looking as if it takes him every single ounce of willpower he has to do it.
"Go." He whispers. "Out the back exit. Now." His voice is rough and pained, not wanting the moment between you to vanish with your exit.
You don't think. You turn and run down the opposite staircase, your lips burning and your mind racing, leaving him alone in the dark corridor.
What the hell just happened?
Where did that come from?
Did you seriously just have an intense make-out session with your brother's ex team-mate?
And more importantly, why were you desperate to do it again?
A million thoughts race through your mind as you make your way back to the William's garage. As soon as you got back, your brother could register something was going on. He knew you better than anyone after all.
"¿Qué te pasa, hermana?" (What's wrong sister?) He asks his bushy eyebrows furrowing slightly in concern.
"Nada, estoy bien; total y absolutamente bien. Pero vaya lluvia… es una locura." (Nothing, I'm fine, totally and completely fine. What about this rain though.. crazy.) you said, the words pouring out of your mouth.
Truthfully you weren't fine. You were anything but.
You couldn't stop thinking about Lando. His lips, and the way they felt on your own. His hands and his strong fingers that gripped your neck, pulling you deeper in to the kiss. It was enough to make your head spin and your thighs clench.
“Voy a optar por ignorar lo increíblemente raro que te estás comportando ahora mismo.” (I’m choosing to ignore how incredibly weird you’re being right now.) Carlos said giving you a look that said he would dissect whatever this was later.
“Gracias.” (Thanks) you said unable and unwilling to make conversation right now.
As if on que your phone lit up, Lando’s name popping up on the screen.
You were filled with excitement and a little bit of dread.
we really need to talk about what just happened, when can I see you?
Oh god.
He was regretting the kiss already.
That had to be it.
It should have never happened. You promised Carlos it wouldn’t. But why couldn’t you stop thinking about it?
You knew this wasn’t practical. You couldn’t be together. It wouldn’t work. Social media, would eat you alive, chew you up and spit you out.
Maybe it was for the best if the two of you never spoke of the kiss again.
It was an intense fleeting moment, and now you both had gotten it out of your systems you could return to normal, right?
For forty-eight hours, you ghosted him. You ignored the texts and calls. You stayed firmly planted in the William’s garage.
Until now.
The heavy door of the hospitality unit clicks shut, cutting off the roar of the paddock. You turn around, a cup of lukewarm coffee in your hand, and freeze. Lando is standing there. He hasn't changed out of his team kit. His curls are still damp from a shower, and his jaw is set in a hard, unfamiliar line.
"Is there a reason you're ignoring me?" he asks. His voice is lower than usual, stripped of his typical playfulness.
"Lando, you really shouldn't be in here," you whisper, glancing toward the door. "Carlos is just down the hall. If he sees you.."
"I don't care about Carlos right now."
Lando takes three sharp steps forward, closing the distance between you until you can see the slight tremor in his hands.The easy-going paddock golden boy is completely gone, replaced by someone else entirely.
"I don’t understand you. You won’t answer any of my texts or calls. You won't look at me. You're acting like nothing happened between us." He said.
"That’s because nothing can happen," you say, your voice cracking as you back up against a desk. "Carlos is right. The fans, the press... they'll ruin my life, Lando. They'll scrutinize everything. I can't do it."
Lando stops right in front of you. He doesn't touch you, but the heat radiating from him is overwhelming. He looks down at you, his hazel eyes dark, intense, and completely wrecked. He swallows hard, his chest rising and falling rapidly.
"Just tell me one thing then. Tell me you're not still thinking about that kiss, cause it's all I can fucking think about."
The raw honesty of the words hangs in the quiet room. He steps closer, closing the final inch of space, his breath warm against your cheek.
"Tell me you forgot it," he whispers, his voice breaking. "Tell me you feel nothing for me, and I swear I’ll walk out that door and never bring it up again. But don't lie to me."
You felt as if someone had sat a two ton weight on your chest. You couldn’t tell him any of that, and he knew it. He was just waiting for you to say it out loud.
“I can’t.” you say voice cracking under the pressure of his intense gaze.
“then kiss me.”
It was a simple demand, but the weight of it was heavy.
You knew if you were to kiss him again you’d be treading in unfamiliar territory, a territory you promised Carlos you wouldn’t step foot in. But looking at him now, you didn’t care about all the reasons why you shouldn’t, you just did.
Your hand found the nape of his neck, your fingers threading in his curls, pulling his face down to yours. You placed your lips on his hurriedly. The kiss just as intense and fierce as the first. You got lost in the rush of the moment. Every doubt fading with each brush of your lips unit all you could feel was Lando.
Suddenly, the heavy electronic latch of the hospitality door clicked open.
"¿Hermana?" (Sister?)
Carlos stopped dead in his tracks. The door swung fully open, framing him against the bright lights of the hallway. Lando pulled back instantly, his breath hitching as he tripped over his own feet. He scrambled to smooth down his shirt, his face instantly flushing a deep, unmistakable crimson.
You froze, your heart hammering against your ribs as you turned to face your brother.
Carlos stood in the doorway, his expression shifting rapidly from confusion to utter disbelief, and finally to a dark, protective glare. He looked at Lando, then at you, his arms crossing slowly over his chest.
"Are you serious right now?" Carlos said, his voice dangerously quiet.
Lando opened his mouth, but only a breathless squeak came out. He raised his hands in a surrender, backing up until he hit the wall.
"Carlos, mate, it’s not what it looks like. Well, it is what it looks like, but it’s completely innocent.. no, wait, not innocent, but.." Lando tried to explain, fumbling over his words.
"Do you have any idea what you are doing?" Carlos asked, his voice dropping to a harsh, fierce whisper. He pointed a finger toward the locked door, gesturing to the world outside. "The moment someone takes a single photo of you two together, your life changes. The paddock, the media, the fans, they will tear you apart."
He stepped closer, his protective instincts completely overriding his anger.
"They won't care about your achievements, your career, or who you are. To the press, you will instantly become 'Lando’s girlfriend,' and they will scrutinize every single thing you wear, say, and do. I am trying to protect you from that circus." He said looking directly at you.
Lando shifted uncomfortably beside you.
Carlos had a point. But it was time you stopped doing whatever everyone else wanted, and started to do what you wanted.
"I'm not fragile, Carlos," you said, your voice dropping to a sharp, steady whisper that cut right through his lecture.
You took a step closer towards him.
"Do you honestly think I haven't thought about all of that? I’ve watched the media dissect your life for years. I know exactly how vicious they can be."
You took another step towards your brother.
“I know you want to protect me, but I am not going to hide or live in fear just because some internet trolls and reporters want a headline. This is my choice Carlos, not yours. You don't get to decide who I love just to keep things comfortable for yourself in the garage.” You spoke, immediately looking for Lando’s reaction as you dropped the L word.
Lando smiled a real, genuine smile, and you could tell this feeling wasn't just on your side. You turn back to Carlos seeing his jaw tighten, clearly stunned at your defiance.
Carlos stared at you for a long, heavy moment, the anger in his eyes slowly giving way to exhaustion. He looked at Lando, who finally stepped forward, placing a supportive hand on your shoulder.
"Carlos, mate I’m not trying to cause any trouble," Lando said quietly, his voice devoid of his usual paddock jokes. "I really care about her. I’m not going to let anyone treat her like a headline. You know me better than most people, you know that isn’t me."
Carlos let out a defeated sigh, closing the gap between you. He took your hands in his giving you a look full of love.
"I guess that I spent so much time worrying about the cameras and the politics that I forgot you are perfectly capable of handling it. You're strong, and I'm sorry." Carlos admitted, a small, smile finally breaking through.
You offered him a smile in return. You knew he couldn’t possibly stay mad at you anyway. He was your brother, your first friend, and your loyal protector. He turned his attention towards Lando, pointing a warning finger at him.
“You better make her happy, and I swear if I walk in on something like this again, I won’t just be giving a lecture.” He growled, but you could tell there was no malice in his words.
Lando grinned, the tension breaking instantly as he gave a quick nod.
"It’s a deal mate.”
With one last affectionate squeeze of your shoulder, Carlos turned and walked out of the hospitality suite.
The moment the door clicked shut behind Carlos, Lando dropped his head against your shoulder with a dramatic, exaggerated groan.
"Jesus, I think my heart actually stopped for three whole seconds," he mumbled into your hair, his arms wrapping around your waist to pull you in to him.
You couldn’t help but laugh, the tension finally gone.
“I think we handled that beautifully.” You said.
“You did for sure, me not so much.” He joked pressing a kiss to the tip of your nose.
“I mean he did give us his blessing.” You noted.
“Which means you have no excuses left.” Lando teased placing a palm on your cheek.
“No excuses.” You laughed.
His gaze softened, full of an affection that didn't need to be hidden behind locked doors anymore. He tilted his head, closing the distance between you again. This time, slow, sweet, and completely uninterrupted.
The leak happens on a Thursday. A blurry photo of you and Lando leaving a restaurant together hits the internet through a gossip account. Within hours the chatter is overwhelming.
Is that Carlo's sister?
When did this happen?
As you hit the paddock on Friday, you notice dozens of long lens cameras thrusted in your direction. You take a deep breath, reminding yourself you can handle it.
However in your mind you can already see the tweets dissecting the outfit you had chosen, or the fact that you maybe had spent one too many minutes talking to Arthur Leclerc.
It was fine.
You could handle it.
Logging on to social media proved to be a mistake. F1 twitter and tik-tok were going crazy, fans were analyzing old footage of races and interviews trying to look for the signs they had missed. It made you feel as if your relationship was scripted.
But for as bad as you had it., Lando and Carlos possibly had it worse.
Instantly reporters tried baiting your brother for a reaction in the media pen.
How does it feel to know your team-mate was only friends with you to get close with your sister?
Do you approve?
Has it been happening behind your back?
Each time Carlos shut them down with a professional yet icy glare as he redirects the conversation back to the team's performance and strategies for the weekend.
During the press conference for McLaren, reporters completely ignored racing questions, and instead bombarded Lando with questions about his personal life.
When had it happened?
Are you officially together?
What does Carlos think about the relationship?
Aren't you worried it will affect your friendship?
Lando, in true Lando fashion relied on a lot of awkward laughing, trying to stress that he would prefer his private life to stay private.
It was a circus, just as Carlos said it would be.
However, despite the noise, you and Lando, became closer.
On Saturday Lando made a point to walk with his arm wrapped around your waist right in view of the fans and media, refusing to let them bully you in to hiding.
He loved you and he wanted everyone to know it.
Carlos is the one to officially break the internet, when he included Lando in a family photo dump. Lando joked about it in the next interview, saying their bromance could now be a permanent family affair.
So yes, it came with scrutiny. It came with cameras. It came with opinions of people who didn't know any better.
And maybe it was wrong.
But it didn’t matter.
Because it felt so right.
