5

so i sneak out into the garden to see you

we keep quiet, 'cause we're dead if they knew

so close your eyes, escape this town for a little while

🧡

They stood outside Zak's office like kids about to be called into the headmaster's office. Except instead of guilt, they were carrying something far heavier: the truth.

Oscar's hand brushed Lando's. Lando didn't grab it. Didn't squeeze. Just let it happen.

That was the thing now - every little touch had weight. Even in silence, they were saying I'm here.

Zak greeted them like it was any other day. No raised brows. No suspicion. Just a casual nod, then a gesture to sit down.

They didn't sugarcoat it. Oscar explained most of it - how the first message came, then the second. How the photo in Shanghai had been the last straw. How they didn't know who was behind it, just that it was real and getting closer. How scared Lando had been that night.

Zak didn't flinch. He didn't ask stupid questions. Didn't pry into things that weren't his business. When Oscar finished, he leaned back in his chair and nodded slowly.

"All right," he said. "Here's what we'll do."

Security around McLaren facilities would be doubled. All paddock entries would be cross-checked against a tighter list. Someone from internal security would comb through footage, see if they could find the man Oscar saw. He told them to keep things subtle in public for now - don't give whoever this is anything to use.

"But you're not alone in this," he added firmly. "We've got you."

Lando exhaled for the first time all morning. Oscar sagged beside him like someone had cut a string.

When they walked out into the corridor, quiet and weightless with relief, Oscar mumbled under his breath, just loud enough for Lando to hear:

"See. Prince."

Lando's elbow bumped him with a grin. "Don't be jealous, princess."

Oscar froze. His whole body tensed. His face turned a shade of red that had nothing to do with embarrassment and everything to do with oh my god.

Lando caught it immediately.

He stopped, turned to look at him with a slow, teasing smirk. "Kinky, are we?"

Oscar made a strangled noise in his throat, shook his head violently, and started speed-walking toward the car.

Lando cackled all the way down the hall.

By the time they reached the car park, Oscar had composed himself enough to slide into the passenger seat without combusting. Barely.

Lando, smug as ever, slid into the driver's side. The moment the door shut, the car filled with tension again - just a different kind this time.

He didn't start the engine.

Instead, he leaned over, one hand still on the key, the other trailing up Oscar's thigh in the slowest, most deliberate way possible.

Oscar's breath hitched.

Lando leaned in, so close his breath ghosted over Oscar's ear, voice dropping low and smug. "You're so pretty when you blush, Osc."

Oscar was burning. His ears were practically glowing.

But he didn't push Lando's hand away.

Didn't move.

Didn't say a word.

Lando started the car, a satisfied smile tugging at his lips as he drove them away. One hand on the wheel. The other still far too high up Oscar's thigh for him of them to focus.

Oscar stared out the window, face hot, heart louder than the engine.

They didn't talk much on the ride home.

But that silence?

It wasn't fear this time.

It was something else entirely.

🧡

Oscar sat in the passenger seat, stiff as a board.

He hadn't moved since they parked. Lando's hand was still high on his thigh, warm and possessive, burning through the fabric of his joggers. And Oscar - he couldn't move. Not with his pulse hammering, not with his skin tingling everywhere Lando touched.

Lando knew exactly what he was doing.

He knew Oscar wanted more - wanted him. But he wasn't going to give in just yet.

He wanted Oscar to ask.

Oscar was still staring straight ahead, jaw clenched, trying to pretend he wasn't seconds away from unraveling.

So Lando leaned in, pressed a kiss to the edge of his jaw. Then another, lower. And another, just beneath his ear.

Oscar's breath hitched.

His mind went white noise as Lando's teeth grazed the sensitive spot below his earlobe.

A sound slipped out of him - a whine, broken and breathless.

Lando pulled back, smirking.

"What was that, Osc?"

Oscar turned toward him, eyes wide and blown-black, cheeks flushed a deep pink. He looked wrecked already and Lando hadn't even touched him properly.

He tilted his head, dominance etched into every inch of him.

Oscar swallowed. Hard.

"In... inside. Please," he managed. "I want to go inside."

Lando grinned, smug and slow, and slid his hand off Oscar's thigh, placing one last kiss to his neck.

"C'mon then, darling."

Oscar moaned - genuine, guttural. The pet name in Lando's accent knocked the breath out of him.

He scrambled out of the car, cheeks flaming. Lando followed at a much more leisurely pace, amused and entirely in control.

By the time he reached the front door of his apartment, Oscar was fidgeting like he might combust on the spot.

Lando loved it.

He unlocked the door but didn't open it - just stood there, one hand on the handle, the other planted on the wall beside Oscar's head, caging him in.

Oscar's back hit the wall with a soft thud. His heartbeat was so loud he could barely hear anything else.

Lando leaned in, gaze flicking across his face.

"You sure you're okay, Osc?"

Oscar nodded - way too fast.

Lando chuckled, deep and dark.

He finally opened the door, and Oscar practically stumbled inside, heading straight for the bedroom like a man possessed. Lando toed off his shoes slowly, watching him go, then followed at his own pace.

He stepped into the bedroom, closed the door with a soft click.

Oscar turned around, already breathless, backlit by the warm light of the room like something from a dream.

A very dirty dream.

Lando smirked. "Cat got your tongue?"

Oscar didn't answer - couldn't. He looked wrecked already, eyes wide, lips parted.

Lando crossed the room in two strides, grabbed Oscar's wrists and pinned them easily above his head against the wall. One hand. That was all it took.

Oscar shivered.

His knees nearly gave out, stomach fluttering as heat rushed through him at the realization - at the effortless control Lando had.

Lando leaned in, voice low against his ear.

"You can think about that later, Oscar."

Oscar whimpered.

"What do you want?" Lando asked, barely above a whisper, his mouth at his neck, breath hot.

Oscar's head dropped back against the wall. "Want you," he mumbled, barely audible.

He felt Lando exhale against his collarbone.

"Please, Lan," he begged. "Need you."

That did it.

Lando let go of his wrists and tugged Oscar's shirt off in one swift movement, his own following instantly. Their bodies collided, lips crashing as they stumbled toward the bed.

Clothes hit the floor in a rush.

Oscar's nails dug into Lando's biceps as Lando pushed him down gently, hands gripping his waist with just enough force to leave a mark. Lando's mouth was back on his throat, moving lower, biting bruises into his skin like a claim.

Oscar gasped, back arching.

"Please, Lando. Need you- just give it to me, please-"

Lando's hand slid between his legs, fingers working him open with maddening precision. Oscar cried out, body trembling.

"You ready for me, darling?"

Oscar nodded frantically.

Lando raised an eyebrow.

"Words, baby."

"Yes," Oscar gasped. "Now. Please - need you now."

Lando kissed him once more, then pushed in carefully. Oscar cried out, clutching at Lando's arms.

"Fuck-" he breathed.

"You can move," Oscar whimpered.

Lando obeyed, slow at first, and Oscar fell apart beneath him.

"Doing so well for me, princess," he whispered.

That was it.

That word - princess - sent Oscar spiraling. His release hit like a freight train, Lando following with a low moan moments later.

Afterwards, Lando cleaned them up gently, the cockiness giving way to something softer.

Oscar curled into him, spent and dazed, cheek pressed to his chest.

"Night, Lan," he murmured.

Lando pressed a kiss to his forehead, voice warm and fond.

"Night, princess."

They fell asleep like that, the world quiet around them, like they'd escaped reality, even just for a while.