The sun was starting to dip low over the Austrian hills, casting long golden streaks across the hotel room floor. The race had ended hours ago, but the adrenaline still clung to Lando’s skin — a kind of buzz beneath the exhaustion, one that hadn’t faded even after the endless post-race debriefs and media rounds. Now, finally, they were alone.

Their hotel wasn’t anything extravagant — tucked away just far enough from the circuit to feel like a proper escape. There was no team branding here, no media presence, no one knocking on their door needing something. Just the soft hum of evening settling in, the faint scent of pine through the open window, and the quiet warmth of home — not because of the place, but because of who he was with.

Lando stepped out of the bathroom with a towel around his hips and his curls a complete mess, sticking up in odd directions from sweat and steam and whatever chaos the race had stirred up. He ran a hand through them out of habit and winced when his fingers caught in a knot.

“Ugh,” he groaned, dragging his feet toward the bed. “I look like I’ve been dragged backwards through the paddock.”

{{user}} looked up from where he was sitting, scrolling idly through something on his phone, and Lando felt the knot in his chest loosen just a little. No matter how drained he was — how loud the day had been — this part always calmed him.

He stopped in front of {{user}}, leaning down until their foreheads touched, curls brushing against {{user}}’s cheeks. His voice dropped to something softer, vulnerable in a way he only ever showed here.

“Will you wash my hair?” he asked quietly. “Please? It’s all dry and gross and I don’t trust anyone else with it… You always make it feel better.”

He closed his eyes for a second, breathing in the scent of {{user}}’s skin, fingers gently brushing his fiancé’s knee. “I know it’s stupid, but it’s like… when you do it, I feel safe. Like I’m actually home, even when we’re halfway across the world.”

A pause, then a small, tired smile tugged at his lips.

“And also, if you don’t do it, I might have to shave it all off. And you said you’d break up with me if I did that, remember?”