Chapter 20 - Backstreet's Back - All Right!
Why this sat in the drafts for so long, I do not know so I apologize to everyone! I've been super busy with college and haven't had time to write much...but here we are
Today was an ABSOLUTE fever dream and we all need a little somethin somethin. So I present to you - the backstreet boys (formula 1 edition)
RACES SKIPPED ARE CANADA AND SPAIN
(side note - Arthur hasn't been able to be at a race since Monaco)
Haven't been able to say this in a while but I hope you enjoy! Remember that comments, questions, concerns, reblogs, and likes are always appreciated!! Love you all :D
TAG LIST IS CLOSED
You had gotten to the paddock super early once again. But that was only because Lando and Oscar has asked you to hang out, and you’d never skip out on some good times with your papaya friends. Andrea loved you and often let you sit in his office if you were bored. Actually, all of the team principals seemed to do that.
Even Toto, which was weird considering you stole on of his driver’s car with his other driver.
Like always, you found yourself killing some time by playing Subway Surfers. You were about to get a new high score when two shadows covered your screen, making your character get arrested.
“Hey, you made me lose my score!”
You were about to tear them a new one, but your face had a shocked look once you finally pointed your head up.
“What the f-!”
“Has anyone seen the kid?” was a question that Max did not imagine that he’d hear first thing in the morning when he arrived on Sunday.
His eyes glanced to the corner that you were almost always in, listening to music. But, the corner was void of any rookie teammate. He looked toward Christian, who asked the initial question.
“Have you checked her driver’s room?”
The Brit sighed, “We checked her room, your room, hospitality, and even the Ferrari garage, Williams garage, and McLaren garage. No one has seen her, yet the log says that she’s already here because she tapped in at the entrance.”
Well, Max was stumped. And he knew why Christian was wanting to see you. They were finally in the Red Bull Ring, the home race for the entire team. It was a big deal, and Christian didn’t want you to get overwhelmed. There was a lot on their shoulders. Charles had pole, but Max was right behind him. Charles was always strong in the Red Bull Ring, almost winning in 2019 and then winning in 2022. The Ferraris had done well the last two races, and you two needed to hold them off. Thankfully, you were right behind Max in P3, but Carlos was behind you in P4. A Ferrari sandwich if you will.
Everyone was kind of counting on the both of you for a Red Bull 1-2.
“Have you seen Vito or Mitch?”
“We’re right here.”
The Dutchman turned around to see your race engineer and manager, but you were nowhere to be found. He opened his mouth to say something but Vito held out a hand.
“Yes, we’ve already tried to call her and Arthur. Both phones went to voicemail.”
“Oh god.” Max shivered. If you weren’t picking up, and your boyfriend wasn’t picking up. Well, he didn’t want to imagine what you were up to. Just as he was about to suggest looking in the garages again, Lando popped his head in.
“Have any of you seen Bug? She was supposed to meet up with me and Oscar earlier and she never showed up!” the curly-haired Brit whined.
Now, that had Max even more worried. You never skipped hanging out with your favorite Brit (after Christian) or Aussie. Before he was about to start getting a search party together, Mitch suddenly made a weird face.
“Do any of you hear that?”
The five went silent to try to hear whatever Mitch had heard.
Lando’s face scrunched. “Sounds like the Backstreet Boys?”
The group quickly walked over to the opening and didn’t know whether to be relived or just upright confused.
Because there you were, holding a giant boombox (God only knows where you got that) with sunglasses on, with Arthur to your right and one Ollie Bearman to your left. The soundtrack was indeed Backstreet Boys, namely the 1997 hit song “Everybody.”
As Max learned at Vegas, you definitely knew how to make an entrance. By now, most of the drivers had walked out of their garages to see the commotion.
And much to Max’s surprise, Nico Rosberg, Mark Webber, and Jensen Button walked up to the three of you, giant smiles on their faces. The song had ended a bit ago, and you handed the now silent boombox back to the German. The Australian of the group gave both Ollie and Arthur pretty big hugs.
“Well, Oscar lost his grid dad,” Lando said, earning a hit from said Aussie.
“Hey! He was never my grid dad in the first place.”
The now group of six made their way to the giant group of drivers, including but not limited to: Max, Lando, Charles, Carlos, Logan, Lewis, George, and Oscar (in no particular order). Arthur’s hand was behind your back as you enthusiastically talked to the very tall British brunet dressed in Ferrari red.
“I cannot believe that you come here, apparently to see me, and say that you need to be in the Ferrari garage! Arthur’s even going to be in the Red Bull one!” they heard you whine as the group got closer.
Ollie rolled his eyes. “That’s only because he’s your boy-oof. You did NOT have to hit me.” He glared down at you as he rubbed his side.
“Yes I did.” Your arms crossed as you finally stopped in front of the giant group, who were all staring at you. “Hey guys, what’s up?”
Lando mirrored your stance, even popping his hip out. “What’s up?” he jokingly mocking. “We were supposed to go to breakfast?” He pointed between him and Oscar.
A look of realization glossed over your face as you looked at the papaya drivers.
“Oooohhhh, yeah. Sorry. Uh, their fault?” You pointed at Ollie and Arthur, who both looked betrayed.
“Our fault?” Ollie squawked. “You were the one who dragged us to breakfast!”
“You had breakfast?”
“Yes Lando, I had breakfast.”
The younger Monegasque silenced you. “The big boys are talking. And then you dragged us to find Nico because you thought he had a boombox.”
“The big boys? Seriously Thur? I can take you any day.” You glared up at him.
“Oh yeah?” He cocked an eyebrow and smirked down at you, getting in your face to really show the height difference.
That’s it.
You suddenly jumped on him, bring him to the floor. The Max and Charles jumped into action, trying to get you separated. Ollie just watched with a giant grin on his face, laughing at the two of you.
“Ollie, kindly shut up?”
“Yes mom.”
The two of you were separated quickly, because you really didn’t have much malice toward your boyfriend.
“I totally won.”
“Kid, you lost horribly.”
“Max, has anyone ever told you that you don’t have to say everything that comes to your mind?”
Charles, Lewis, Lando, Oscar, Logan, and George all nodded in agreement while Max stared at them with wide eyes.
“You all agree?!”
“Can I have my drivers back please?!” Christian suddenly yelled, making everyone look at him.
“Please take her. She’s rabid.” Arthur pushed you forward, making you take a swing at him (that he was ready for and dodged rather easily).
You stuck your tongue out at him, before giving Ollie a hug and gently guiding him to Charles.
Your finger pointed at the red-clad driver. “Take care of my son please, even if you are the enemy. He likes his sandwiches without the crust and needs a nap with his blanket in 5 hours.”
“Gosse?”
“Aw you brought my blanket?”
Ollie’s face flushed red as he realized everyone’s eyes were on him. Charles just looked worried as though someone just handed him an actual child and told him “good luck.”
You turned to follow your team principal, who was muttering something about you giving him even more gray hairs every weekend. “By Ollie! Have fun!”
The parade went by smoothly. You laughed a lot when Nico brought the boombox to the interviews. He had a lot of questions for you and Max, since it was the team race today, which made your anxiety skyrocket just a bit.
You and Arthur were able to have just a few minutes of alone time back in your driver’s room.
Because this was a surprise race, Arthur didn’t have to work or be with his brother. So, he was all yours for the entirety of Sunday. However, your excitement didn’t last long as he told you that he had to go back to Switzerland for more testing right after.
You sighed as you pressed your head against his chest, his arms around you. “If I had known that you’d be gone so much, I wouldn’t have called Seb and just have kept you as my WAG.”
Arthur sadly smiled down at you. “I know chéri, but I like testing. It gives me a purpose.”
Another sigh escaped your lips as you finally met his gaze. He cooed as he saw tears forming in your eyes.
“What is wrong mon fille jolie?”
You let a few tears escape, but they didn’t get very far as Arthur wiped them off as quickly as they fell.
“I just miss you and I miss home,” you confessed, hiding your face in his neck as you stepped closer. Arthur gently brought you over to the couch and readjusted you so that you were just lying on his front.
His hands gently ran through your hair. He knew you needed to be in the car soon, but he wouldn’t let you go without trying to console you.
You continued, “And I know that we just had summer break not too long ago, but it wasn’t enough.”
Arthur just listened, know you needed to spill to feel better.
“Everyone is counting on me to bring in a 1-2 since it’s the home race. But the last two races weren’t the best. I barely got any points.” You muttered the last part, “I’m never going to win a race by now.”
“Hey, none of that.” Arthur lifted your face so that you could look in his eyes. His were filled with determination. “Do you know how amazing you are? You podiumed at your first race and are fourth in the championship. As a rookie! You are incredible. Parfois j’aimerais que tu te voies comme je te vois.” (translation: Sometimes I wish you saw yourself as I see you.)
You huffed. “I still can’t understand you, but I’m hoping that was a compliment.”
“It was.”
He moved his head down to place a gentle kiss on your lips. At the contact, a sigh expelled from your nose.
It felt so good to be so loved.
If someone was to write a poem, about how Arthur looked at you and how you looked at Arthur, their pens would be void of ink and the stars would be shadowed by their words.
The two of you were so lost in each other that a knock at the door scared you both and ended up with you on the floor.
Mitch poked her head in before shaking it slightly.
“I don’t even want to know what you were up to, but Y/n needs to get in the car.”
You quickly stood, with Arthur’s help, and grabbed your helmet, making your way back into the garage. Like clockwork, the Monegasque took your headpiece and gently made sure that it was safely secure. And, with a kiss on the “forehead,” he sent you off. He could tell that you didn’t really want to get in the car. Which was understandable. It wasn’t very often that Arthur saw you not want to drive. But he knew that you were going to be amazing today.
Starting Grid:
Charles Leclerc
Max Verstappen
Y/n L/n
Carlos Sainz
Oscar Piastri
Pierre Gasly
Daniel Ricciardo
Lewis Hamilton
Yuki Tsunoda
Alex Albon
Lando Norris
Logan Sargeant
Valtteri Bottas
Fernando Alonso
George Russell
Lance Stroll
Zhou Guanyu
Kevin Magnussen
Esteban Ocon
Nico Hulkenberg
You rolled your tires as you waited for the lights to go out. They were tense, but that helped you be ready to press the accelerator. If you weren’t tense, you knew there’d be something wrong. If you felt high-strung outside of the car, inside was 10 times worse.
All the pressure, all the doubts, all the hopes and dreams – were on your shoulders.
And you weren’t going to let them down.
“And it’s lights out and away we go for the 2024 Austrian Grand Prix! Charles Leclerc has a strong start in the initial few seconds, but Max Verstappen seems to be on a mission to turn this into a win. Verstappen gets down the inside and pushes Leclerc a bit wide to gain a position on the pole sitter. We both know that he will probably start to bolt in just a few corners.
“His rookie teammate Y/n L/n seems to also have the upper hand against the other Ferrari of Carlos Sainz as she seems to do what she does best – go around the outside on that initial turn 1 and somehow make it out in front.
“Now the track is a bit rainy, and we saw what happened the last time that happened, so we’ll keep an eye on our Red Bull number 2.”
You felt water droplets fall into your visor as you were picking up speed on the Ferrari in front of you. You knew that this “dirty air” would be much worse than regular, since it was contaminated with water as well.
You pressed your radio button when it seemed almost impossible to catch up to the red car. The rain had also stopped so your intermediates were getting dangerous to drive with.
“Mitch what is the plan because I cannot catch up to Leclerc in these conditions.”
“Do you think you can go the rest of the way in mediums?”
You thought for a moment. You couldn’t go the rest of the way on softs, as they would degrade too quickly. And hards took forever to warm up.
“Yeah. I can do that.”
“Then box ahead of Max. You’ll come out right behind him. So, he’ll give you a tow and then when he boxes, you’ll do the same. Max has priority.”
“Copy.”
You quickly pitted the next lap. The Red Bull team seemed to be on fire as you were in and out in a few seconds. You didn’t know, but they somehow set the record for a new pit stop – 1.789 seconds.
The crowd got excited as you suddenly appeared behind Max and in front of the number sixteen car.
With Max in front of you, the tow was very helpful as you started to build bigger gap. You guessed that Ferrari must have messed up Charles’s pit stop as Lando’s papaya car was now behind you, instead of Charles.
You felt bad, but that’s on his team.
However, Lando was on much fresher tyres that you were, and he was gaining in the last ten laps of the race. You really tried to not let him overtake, but he did…with five laps to go.
Mitch suddenly came over the radio. “Don’t push it like last time. We don’t need another Suzuka. Third place will be just fine.”
But you weren’t having any of that. You never responded and just kept at the pace you were going, trying to get the maximum out of the car.
You hadn’t noticed, but everyone else in the garages could see that you were surprisingly gaining on Lando. Ollie watched as you were making qualifying times per lap. The crew was holding on to each other, cheering you on. With each tenth gained, the noise grew louder.
You saw the last lap flag, and you knew you had to keep your elbows out.
“And we are coming up on the last lap and L/n has somehow made it back into Norris’s DRS. She tried to get around the outside on the first turn, but is not successful. Yet, she’s keeping herself well in the DRS and doesn’t make try to make a move on the straights.
“Here comes the last real corner of the circuit and only a small straight for an overtake.
“SHE’S GOING FOR IT!
“IT’S A PHOTO FINISH…DO WE HAVE RESULTS?”
You slowed down your car as you drove around for the cool down lap. Your finger was jamming the radio button.
“Do we have it!?”
Arthur was biting his fingernails as everyone in the garage was waiting for the results. The mechanics were happy with another P1 finish from Max, but they were on baited breath to see if you had almost done the impossible and finished in a 1-2 sequence. A steward walked over to the pit wall and gave Christian the paper with the results.
A giant smile crossed his face as he was the one to give you the news.
“Congrats kid. It’s a 1-2 finish.”
Race Results
Max Verstappen – 25 points
Y/n L/n – 18 points
Lando Norris – 15 points
Charles Leclerc – 12 points
Carlos Sainz – 11 points
Pierre Gasly + fastest lap – 9 points
Oscar Piastri – 6 points
Lewis Hamilton – 4 points
Yuki Tsunoda – 2 points
Alex Albon – 1 point
Logan Sargeant
George Russell
Lance Stroll
Fernando Alonso
Nico Hulkenberg
Valtteri Bottas
Esteban Ocon
Kevin Magnussen
Zhou Guanyu
Daniel Ricciardo
Champions Standings
Max Verstappen – 244 points
Charles Leclerc – 201 points
Y/n L/n – 124 points
Lando Norris – 115 points
Carlos Sainz – 91 points
Lewis Hamilton – 70 points
Oscar Piastri – 68 points
Alex Albon – 39 points
George Russell – 36 points
Fernando Alonso – 35 points
Logan Sargeant – 29 points
Daniel Ricciardo – 23 points
Lance Stroll – 15 points
Pierre Gasly – 12 points
Yuki Tsunoda – 8 points
Nico Hulkenberg
Kevin Magnussen
Zhou Guanyu
Valtteri Bottas
Esteban Ocon
Constructors Standings
Red Bull – 383 points
Ferrari – 292 points
McLaren – 194 points
Mercedes – 106 points
Aston Martin – 50 points
Williams – 41 points
Alpha Tauri – 31 points
Alpine – 12 points
Alpha Romeo
Haas
“OH YEAH BABY. LET’S GO!” you yelled over your radio. The crew in the garage stood up from their seats and began to hug each other.
“Oh man, that was, wow! Can’t believe that. Great job everyone. Is this what winning feels like?” you asked as you took the cooldown lap, yet there was no answer. Everyone was too busy watching that final overtake and celebrating about it.
Arthur just watched your car take a lap on the screen. He softly whispered, “I knew you could do it.” The love in his eyes could have poured out if love was a physical thing.
Mitch came over the radio as you were beginning to pull in. “And congrats kid. You have surpassed Lewis Hamilton’s rookie point record.”
“LET’S GO! THAT'S THE SHIT!”
“You really need to stop hanging out with Max all the time. He’s teaching you bad words.”
You smirked under your helmet. “I’m a girl whose friends are dominantly male. Mitch you even curse over the radio.”
Max almost didn’t want to look at whatever car was in the second place spot. He knew you’d be devastated if you weren’t there. Last he knew, Lando was behind him with you on his tail. It was your helmet that caught his attention. His body turned to see you standing on your car in the P2 spot.
His heart dropped, but in a good way. He watched you jump off and jump into the arms of the crew. Head pats were definitely deserved as you tried to touch as much of the team as possible. He laughed when you purposefully hung off the banner, just to get closer to the crew who were a bit further back.
He watched you and Mitch hold out your arms (kind of like Lando and Carlos at the Singapore Grand Prix), mirror each other, and then hug it out. He swears he saw the older lady wipe away a few tears.
Next was Christian, who gave you a big hug as Max finally made his way to the wall of crew. It was his turn for hugs, high-fives, and helmet pats.
You had just gotten to Arthur, who held onto you a bit longer than everyone else.
Just for the two of you, he whispered, “If you didn’t have you helmet on, I’d kiss you right here in front of all these people.”
Your cheeks were bright red under the helmet.
Ollie, who had been able to escape from the prancing horse, had also come to congratulate you. His hug was a tag shorter than Arthur’s, but you knew he did it to make your previous hug not look as suspicious.
You had been on the podium time and time before, but this felt different. You don’t know if it was the adrenaline, the sun, or the happiness that ran through you veins that made the trophy a bit lighter or the bubbly a bit sweeter: maybe it was all three.
You were still hungry for a win, starving, but this was just the snack to tide you over.
Down below, Arthur and Ollie had somehow gotten a hand on the boombox once again. You could barely hear it on the podium, but you had a guess. Suddenly, the music screeched to a halt, making everyone confused. You watched as your two boys had a knowing smirk on their faces. The same smirk slowly crept on your face as well.
You turned to Max and Lando, who looked equally confused. You held your trophy to your lips, as though it were a microphone. You pointed at the two men, and lip-synced the words.
“BACKSTREET’S BACK - ALL RIGHT!”
redbullracing has posted
redbullracing 1-2 in the house! The Red Bull Ring was shining as our drivers carried home two new trophies! Congrats to y/n.89 for her first record as she surpasses Lewis Hamilton's rookie points with 124 points total!
liked by y/n.89, maxverstappen, lewishamilton, and 4,203,893 others
y/n.nation THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT
y/n_on_top that fight for the win will go in the history books mark my words
landonorris please tell your drivers to slow down so the rest of us can have a chance
charles_leclerc I second this
y/n.89 idk, you all just sound like misogynists here...
maxverstappen1 what she said
lewishamilton I knew someone would have to beat it. congrats kid
y/n.89 thank you Lew! (someone should take notes ahem landonorris)
landonorris sure bug, sure
redbullfan 1-2! 1-2! 1-2!
y/n.lover she is legit currently in p3 for the constructor's championship...what do they feed her?
y/n.89 the tears of my enemies (Charles cries a lot)
charles_leclerc HEY
redbullracing lots of energy drinks and protein!
arthurxy/n Arthur back in the rb garage - too bad ollie couldn't join them
y/n.89 has posted
y/n.89 my boys are BACK
liked by y/n.nation, boxbox_express, change_ur_f-car, and 85,395 others
y/n&co God I've seen what you've done for others
rookiefan I kinda feel bad for her boyfriend...but at the same time Arthur is more than happy to show her off (her bf needs to take notes!!)
olliebearman MOM ON PODIUM
y/n.89 did you have a nice nap?
olliebearman yes until charles_leclerc forgot my blanket
y/n.89 when I find you charles_leclerc
arthur_leclerc Charles you better run
charles_leclerc HE'S 18?? WHY DOES HE STILL NEED A BLANKET AND NAP
y/n.89 you're 26???? why do you still need to call my teammate goodnight?
lestappenlove and I OOP
prema_y/n anywayyyyy the second pic is hilarious
Arthur.nation thur is glowing, wonder if he has a gf??
arthurgirly4life I VOLUNTEER AS TRIBUTE
boxbox_express the trio no one knew we needed, but the trio that we deserve
arthur_leclerc has posted
arthur_leclerc a driver, a reserve driver, and an endurance driver walk into a bar...
liked by thurthur, ferrari_fanfest, porsche, and 102,284 others
arthur4porsche this makes no sense but it's hysterical??
y/n.89 ollie actually smacked his head on the bar
olliebearman YOU SAID YOU WOULDN'T TELL - DAD, MOM IS MAKING FUN OF ME AGAIN
arthur_leclerc it was funny?
olliebearman grandpa?
charles_leclerc yes?
olliebearman not you, you forgot my blanket. the better one
maxverstappen1 take that Charles
arthur&crew if max and Charles are grandpa...does that make Christian great-grandpa??
christianhorner sadly yes
y/n.89 SADLY?? YOU MADE HIM CRYYYY
charles_leclerc w o w , could never at Ferrari
y/n.89 Charlie, you cried yesterday
redbullracing maybe the driver should become our photographer?
olliebearman has posted
olliebearman why is it that when we're together, we're always eating??
liked by ferrari, y/n.89, logansargeant, and 83,294 others
olliebear WHAT ARE THESE PICTURES I'M DYING
arthur_leclerc blocked and reported for that last picture
olliebearman why? trying to look good for someone??
arthur_leclerc say goodbye to the blanket
olliebearman too late, your brother lost it :(
arthur.nation HELLO??
y/n.89 I look sexy
olliebearman your boyfriend sure thinks so :D
y/n.89 what Arthur said, blocked and reported
prematrio what are these comments??
y/n&co shhhhh just let them
oscarpiastri guess the invites got lost in the mail??
landonorris same here...
y/n.89 you weren't in prema?
kimi.antonelli thanks for the food mom!
olliebearman brother?
maxverstappen1 here we go again
change_ur_f-car what a time to be alive
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All I Want Is You (R.R.)
Summary: Roman learning to heal through the pain and eventually realizing he’s capable of so much more than just being a Roy. He learns to love and laugh and eventually gets married!
Warning: Mentions of Logan's death, Roman's insecurity, and one mentions of his eating disorder. GN! Reader except literally one line just hinting.
A/N: I had this idea of calling Roman "Roro" and it turned into this. I just love him so much, he deserves the world.
Nicknames had been spilling from your mouth all day, you loved to annoy Roman. Calling him any and everything, “Pookie, honey, Romey bear,” especially in front of board members. You loved to rile him up, he’d sometimes lash out but for the most part he’d play it up. Following you around calling you equally embarrassing nicknames, it had become a game of sorts. Trying to see who could embarrass the other worse.
You’d have a sickening display of affection as you feed him an hors d’oeuvre at some company party. Whispering how “sweet your love bug was for you,” Gerri would clear her throat asking to pull Roman aside. They’d talk in hushed tones as he sighs and comes back to you. Muttering a half-assed apology but he has something urgent to take care of. You usher him away, knowing he’s here on business and not to entertain you even though he promised you’d have his undivided attention.
You muck around taking a champagne glass joining Willa and Connor in a conversation about cryogenics. You pretend you’re interested, nodding your head as you tip your head back gulping the alcohol. It was going to be a long night.
You drink a couple more glasses before leaving them, walking toward a window to watch the view. You couldn’t even remember where you were. Roman had told you to pack a bag and an hour later you were shoved into a private plane. He was too busy talking logistics to inform you of where you were going or what you were doing.
Cousin Greg tries to make conversation, asking some absurd question you’d probably see in a “how to make friends” blog. You relent because watching Greg squirm is entertaining. You answer asking him an equally absurd question, watching as he juggles the question in his head as he stumbles over his words. Your gaze unlike most people doesn’t move from his face, you like the way it makes people nervous. He gives you a non-answer mostly just stuttering noises as his eyes dart around the room for an escape. His eyes landed on Tom before excusing himself.
You can’t help but chuckle, Roman walks up to you. What the fuck was that all about? Was Greg trying to put the moves on you? He laughs but a piece of himself feels uneasy. He never likes the feeling of falling which is why he never allows himself to feel it. He’s always surrounded himself with faux relationships, ones he could pull around the room as arm candy to appease his father. Not that he was ever happy with Roman’s endeavors or conquests.
But you were different. You had this ability to pull him apart like a lobster at dinner. You broke him limb from limb, throwing the pieces of shell in the garbage as you exposed the soft tender meat of his heart. He’s panicked, panicked that you can be ripped away from his hands like his favorite toy. Panicked that he’ll have to watch his dad stomp on the piece of plastic destroying you into a million little pieces. He doesn’t think he’d recover if you left so he stays cowering in the back of his cage.
Slowly you unravel Roman, even when he asks stupid questions. You let him win on most occasions, you want seafood for dinner but he wants steak? Steak it is. Something about being with you is everything he’s ever wanted and not just because you let him win. You made him feel something he’d never was allowed to.
His father never had high hopes for Roman’s partner. However he didn’t feel any particular way about you. Didn’t say some mean comment, didn’t embarrass you in private, he watches you with a scrutinizing gaze but you don’t buckle. You had nothing to hide because to the Roys you were just another fling.
To Roman however you were everything. You were the reason he wanted to wake up in the morning, you were the reason he stopped counting calories as he joined you in a midnight ice cream snack. Laughing as he smears ice cream across your face because you called him your “precious little prince.” He tells you to fuck off, rolling his eyes as his ears turn red. Blood rushing up his face at all your praises. He was so unused to it, unused to the feeling of someone being proud of him.
You were never shy with Roman, always showing him off. Calling him your trophy husband as you twirl him around. Slapping his ass on the airplane, joking that his was better than yours.You show him off with pride to your parents, after you’d mentioned they were at the same restaurant as you were. He noticed their judging gazes, recognizing his face from the newspaper but you beamed. Holding his hand tight, teeth on full display as you press yourself into him, cheek resting on his shoulder as your parents say something you’re not paying attention to.
Roman doesn’t know how to act, he’d never made it to this stage. Most people weren’t willing to accept someone with sexual trauma, always leaving him because he was too emotionally scarred. They’d always give him the line that they weren’t fulfilled but you were always willing to wait. So he nods, cracking an occasional joke until you’re waving goodbye on the sidewalk and you follow him into the Escalade.
You help him through the after effects of a panic attack. He’d never done that, never really cared what people thought of him unless he could benefit in some way. So teary eyes, that he tries to pretend is caused by the window cracked open, he asks how that was. He looks away afraid of what you might say, afraid that you might end it right there because your parents hate him.
“Roro, I could give a flying fuck what they think. All I want is you, okay?” You try to reassure, reaching for his hand. He blinks away the tears, silently nodding. Someone wanted him? Even when he’s wholly broken, even when he can’t fulfill every boyfriend duty, even when he has to abandon you at boring parties? He’s afraid of the feeling in his chest, it feels like he just jumped off the balcony of his penthouse, free falling, waiting to hit the ground. He shoves away the feeling of doubt and plays those words over and over again in his head, a small smile forming as he stares at the city passing by.
He lets himself grow attached to the silly nicknames, attached to the feel of your skin under his hand, the feeling of his fingers running through your hair, the way you massage his scalp, the way you hold him in bed. Your sleepy eyes blinking at him as you whisper a new nickname before cuddling into his chest.
He liked the domesticity of you in his apartment, he’d usually feel disgusted only ever liking the feeling of being alone. But somewhere he grows accustomed to the way you leave your shoes at the entrance, seeing your toothbrush next to his, and even though he complains, the way you take half of his closet. He liked seeing your clothes together, promising he’d either upgrade the closet to fit both your needs fully or buy a new penthouse. He wanted you to have a say in the building, he was ready to let go of his “bachelor” pad, wanting you in every trace of the new home. Wanting you to be in the fiber of the new apartment so even if you left he could never forget what you shared.
Soon enough the Roys lump you in with Roman like you’d always belonged. You were practically married without the certificate, Logan would give Roman shit about it. Telling him you were a fine piece of ass and that he should lock you down before you realized the mistake you made.
In all of Roman’s sureness the doubt creeps in but you’re there through his fathers death. You’re there to console him and let him cry. You let him be vulnerable in a way he was never allowed, never judging, just reassuring. You’re there when Gojo buys Waystar. You’re there to enjoy him even when he’s lost. When he realizes that all his sacrifices were for nothing and that his entire being was bullshit.
“But you’re not bullshit to me,” you whisper. Forehead leaning on his back as you hug his abdomen. He lets himself be held, no quip on his lips as he leans into your hold.
“Roman… it’s just you and me forever and always,” you finalize. You knew in your heart it was always Roman. You were two broken puzzle pieces that somehow fit together and in your brokenness you made each other better. In your time together he transformed into the phoenix you knew he was. He opened his eyes to the abuse he endured and refused to continue the cycle.
You spent almost a year on a self healing journey, traveling the world together now that he had stopped nipping at your hand. He let you pull him out of the cage and he was free, completely free. He was fearless to love, you both relished in your time together even though his smart mouth got ahead of him sometimes. You find ways to be intimate figuring each other out. You live in the ups and downs of the relationship. Realizing that he never needed to be in a loveless marriage like his parents.
He proposes unsurprisingly to everyone. The Roys finally have something to look forward to in the life of mundane nothingness. They Pat him on the back for ‘finally not being an idiot and making the right decision.’ He surprisingly offers to take your name, says he’s ready to shed the Roy name and try out a new skin. Kendall calls him a cuck for even suggesting it, that was his legacy after all. They might not have the company but they’d always have the name and blood. You knew Roman wasn’t serious, knew that calling you a Roy would elate his little heart so you deny him.
The word fiancé is always at the tip of his tongue, he loves the word. Loves that he’s finally able to say it. When you become his wife he becomes unbearable but you’re the same. Going to restaurants and talking about the “ole ball and chain” making him late when in fact, it was him fixing his hair that made you late. Nonetheless you whip your hand around showing off your wedding ring set at everyone that glances at you, holding your head high as you walk with him. Roman was yours and you were his and somewhere you forgot where he ends and you begin.
—side story—
You notice the way his eyes light up when you call him ‘Roro’ because no one has ever called him that, so it was special to you. Also because he remembers the day in the Escalade when you didn’t outright but basically admitted your love for him. His siblings take to jokingly calling you Scooby Doo because he was
“Roro Roy” to you. It starts after you ask him to pass the salt, “Roro, pass me that please.” The Roy siblings turn to look at you and Roman. They were used to your nickname antics, sometimes jumping in with their nasty names but this was new. Seeing Roman beat red as you kiss his temple, unaware of Shiv and Kendall’s knowing smiles. Connor looking at Roman with a small smile before turning back to Willa.
“Roro raggy, Roro shit the bed” Kendall would joke in a fake accent, that just sounds horrible. The table laughs, including you.
Roman quips back something stupid but you were happy. Happy that you had a nickname and that you were a part of their lives. That Roman gets to be an uncle to Shiv’s little boy.
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