Random (one) shots

Checo & Esteban

This is for marvelmood on AO3, I really struggled with it and whatever I tried I never really liked it which is also why this is so short.

Comfort after a race

Set in 2018

POV Checo

Sergio was on his way to his driver's room after he had finished all his press duties, when he heard a distant sobbing sound.

He stopped walking and listened more closely, only to find out that the sound came from Estebans driver's room.

Hesistantly, he went over to the younger one's room and knocked on the door softly. The sobbing sound stobbed almost immeadiately, before a small yes reached his ears.

Checo slowly opened the door to the room. Esteban was sitting on the small sofa in the room slumped together, looking so much younger than normal.

Sergio entered the room carefully and closed the door behind him. He wordlessly sat down next to his younger teammate and laid an arm around him.

"Cry it out and then we can talk alright?"

The tears had already started building up in Esteban's eyes and after Checo's words he fell against the other driver.

Checo could feel his t-shirt getting wet where Esteban was resting his head on his shoulder, but he didn't care. He just stroked Esteban's back with one hand, holding the others head close with the other.

After a while Esteban stopped sobbing and just hugged Checo quietly in the awkward position they were still in. They were both sitting on the couch, turned towards each other, but their feet rested on the floor.

"Want to tell me what's wrong now?"

Esteban shrugged and then nodded his head slightly, pulling away from Checo and sitting up properly again.

"I - the race was shit and, they just, they told me before the race that I they won't extend my contract for 2019 and I wanted to prove them wrong and instead i proved them right. I probably should never drive a car ever again.

That wasn't even a rookie mistake, it was just my inability to drive."

Checo's heart broke a little more with every sentence. He felt so sorry for the younger driver and he couldn't really understand why they wouldn't extend the contract with him. And then also be so crucial to tell him right before the race.

"Listen to me Esteban, you are an amazing driver and you have every right to be here. You earned your place in Formula 1 and the mistake you made today doesn't change that. Was it a stupid mistake? sure, but we've all been there before.

You can't learn if you don't make mistakes. You still have some time to find another seat and even if you don't promise me to not stop fighting, alright? I expect to be here again, you will come back stronger!"

"Thank you, Checo!"

Checo only smiled and ruffled Estebans hair. He had grown extremely fond of the younger driver while they were teammates and he would certainly miss him on the grid next year.

"Now let's watch a movie together, that always helps. Any wishes in particular?"

"Cars?"

Esteban looked so young in that moment and Checo simply couldn't say no to these puppy eyes.