Right. A Yukio x Toshiro F1-themed AU that nobody asked for? Here you go! *chucks it*
…
Lights Out
Headphones in, music blaring; that's how Yukio liked to get into the zone on race days.
He blocked out the roar of the crowd, the whirring of engines and clattering of mechanics running around the grid. He avoided the media as he closed his eyes and leaned back into the fence. He inhaled deeply, calming his nerves. The Japanese heat was nearly unbearable, especially in his heavily-branded fireproof race suit, but at least there was a nice breeze blowing through.
Yukio focused on that, and decidedly not on the humidity that left him constantly drenched in sweat.
His teammate, Chad, sat beside him, more than happy to quietly tune the world out too. Chad was cool, Yukio didn't mind him at all and that in itself was a blessing in this sport. It was, after all, one of the only major sports where your teammate was often also your biggest rival.
Yukio dared to crack open his eyes just a fraction, just to remind himself of what was going on around him. Hundreds of people, in their own respective team uniforms, ran around the grid and pit lane behind him. Yukio spotted a helicopter in the sky, hovering over the track; the media, no doubt. From above, everyone running around must have looked like a moving kaleidoscope against the black road.
It was amazing how many people worked for each team. There were only ten teams and two drivers for each, but there were hundreds of people involved; Engineers, mechanics, higher ups, lower downs.
Drivers were scattered, left to their own devices at this point in the day, many opting to find a quiet spot in the shade and maybe listen to music to pass the time.
Ichigo Kurosaki, the reigning World Champion, was one such driver. He sat against the opposite fence, across from Yukio, frowning deeply as he nodded his head subtly to whatever music was feeding into those giant headphones. He always looked so mad before a race, more so by the fact his teammate and rookie driver, Jinta, was poking his ribs and asking what he was listening to.
On Ichigo's other side sat Rukia, a driver for her brother's prestigious motor company, Kuchiki Motors. She was sketching by the looks of things, probably one of those weird bunnies she loved so much. She was nice enough – until crossed. Yukio always thought twice before trying to overtake the cherry blossom pink cars, and he didn't put it past them to send him flying into the barrier at their first opportunity. Okay, that was a slight exaggeration; no driver would intentionally cause another driver to crash.
Well. Almost no driver.
Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez stood under a black umbrella in the sunshine, grinning widely in a way that was most definitely hostile. The whole Las Noches team gave Yukio the creeps, from Jaegerjaquez to their team principal, Sosuke Aizen. Aizen, who was one of the youngest team principals out there, had been the record ten-time F1 World Champion before he had retired a few years ago. Even though he had retired from driving, he still ran the Las Noches show, and they were a force to be reckoned with. They were known for having reckless drivers and frequently causing crashes. They were regularly penalised for dangerous driving, but they often scored the most points too.
Yukio shuddered once more, which caused Chad to tilt his head slightly at him.
"Las Noches," was all Yukio said in answer to the silent question, and Chad simply hummed in quiet agreement.
They returned to their own worlds and against better judgement, Yukio continued to gaze at the busy track.
He saw more drivers; Renji Abarai, the other driver from Kuchiki Motors, talking to a Sky Sports reporter and Rangiku Matsumoto of Daffodil Racing waving to her home audience in the grandstand as she made her way back into the paddock. She smiled and blew them kisses and they roared in support. Yukio rolled his eyes; Rangiku was a talented driver but she was an even more gifted flirt. Up close or far away, one person or a grandstand full – no audience was too much of a challenge. Except Yukio, the only openly gay driver in the line-up – not that she hadn't given it her best crack and hadn't gone home empty handed having made Riruka beside him lose all sense of dignity. It was embarrassing to watch as Yukio's (apparently 'straight') team engineer became but a puddle of goo and gibberish in front of another team's veteran driver.
"I mean," Riruka had spluttered, flushing bright red when Yukio brought it up time and time again (he'd never let it go). "She's just so… you know?"
"No?"
"You know!"
"I think you need to call up your university and ask for your money back," Yukio had commented dryly.
"Shut up!" she snapped. "English is my third language and don't forget I can make or break your next race."
Yukio had rolled his eyes but surrendered. Riruka could indeed make or break his race but the third language wasn't a valid card to pull anymore. She was fluent in English, they all were. It was the common language of the sport, and they had to speak it on the radios so no one could accuse anyone of cheating.
He himself had been speaking English his whole life. He learned it at school from day one and he'd been raised in this sport, to the point his father spoke it more to him growing up than he did their native Swedish. Riruka was both Thai and French but her English was perfect.
Yukio barely spoke Swedish anymore. He didn't have anyone to speak it to. Not with a German team principal, a Thai/French engineer and a Mexican teammate, while driving for a Chinese company in a car with a Japanese engine, for a sport that started in Britain.
Oh yes, it was all very international. Of course it was – the season consisted of twenty-something races over five continents. It was a global phenomenon.
No wonder there were so many people on the track, tending to cars and rattling off instructions in various languages and accents. Obviously there were media representatives too, and a number of lucky individuals with the right security passes and a shit tonne of money that were merely soaking up the atmosphere.
Yukio spotted one across the grid; his own father. The man was swinging back a flute of champagne, wearing white linen trousers and boat shoes – on a race track. He could get away with it of course, especially since he was the CEO of the wealthiest team in the sport.
The canary yellow blinded amongst the other teams. It was surely strategy – why else would he pick such a heinous colour; looking at one of the Hans Vorarlberna Global (HVG, as they were often known) cars was akin to looking directly at the sun – during an eclipse.
Thank God Yukio had never had the dishonour of calling himself a HVG driver. No, he'd been kicked out of home at sixteen, just before he could graduate from the karts to Formula Four.
Instead, Yukio had been signed to Xcution, the Chinese sports fashion company that nobody thought had any business in the motor racing world – until they started winning.
Well, Chad had won. He had been the World Champion three years ago. These days it was hard to beat out Ichigo with his Team Urahara strategies and funding, but he was still one of the best in the line-up. Yukio himself was doing well enough for a second year driver, usually finishing in the points (or the top ten) at each race, but he was still yet to make a podium.
Today Yukio would make it on the podium. He felt it in his core.
It might have been his father's influence, but Yukio lived and breathed Formula One.
It was the best motor racing sport in the world! It was undeniably in Yukio's blood. He had grown up on the race track. He had learned to drive karts at three years old. Twenty years on and he was determined to one day become the world champion. He would get there eventually. He would do it in a black and gold Xcution uniform, and he would smirk down at the canary yellows and the man in stupid boat shoes. He would be a champion of his own name, with no association to Hans Vorarlberna Global or the man who owned it.
That was the dream anyway.
"Up."
Yukio glanced up and found Riruka standing over him. She looked serious as a shadow cast over her face. In one hand she carried a clipboard, in the other, Yukio's helmet.
It was finally go time.
Yukio jumped to his feet and followed Riruka to the starting line where the drivers would all line up for the national anthem of the home circuit - in this case, Japan. She left him there, standing between Chad and Renji as the formalities kicked off. The national anthem was sung by a woman in a traditional kimono, and it would have been lovely if Renji's tone deaf voice hadn't overshadowed it in Yukio's ear as he sang along.
"Feeling good?" Riruka asked when they reunited and she guided him through the twenty cars lined up on the grid to find his. After a decent performance yesterday, Yukio had qualified to start the race in seventh position.
"Brilliant," Yukio answered. "Suzuka is my favourite track. Let's do this."
"I believe in you," Riruka agreed. "Just remember this is home turf for a lot of drivers today, and watch out for Jaegerjaquez and Kuchiki ahead of you, they won't be easy to pass."
Yukio winced, seeing Grimmjow and Rukia slipping into their cars ahead of him. They were in second and third positions respectively, with Ichigo starting in first and Rangiku in fourth, the latter winking at him when he caught her eye. She slipped on her emerald green helmet before climbing into the car. Chad was in fifth and to Yukio's annoyance, he had Bruno Bangnyfe from HVG in position six. Behind Yukio, Renji Abarai and the two drivers from Reverse London, Ninny and Noel, would be striving to overtake him, and behind them another ten competitors that were not to be underestimated. The twenty most elite racecar drivers in the world, all queued up on the grid, ready for a cutthroat race.
This was the Japanese Grand Prix.
"We're also keeping an eye on P15," Riruka informed him lowly as Yukio settled in the car. "Hitsugaya, the reserve driver for Daffodil. He has subbed in for Takezoe today and he's good."
Yukio grunted, unconcerned. Rangiku was the biggest threat at Daffodil. Their other driver, Takezoe, wasn't worth what he was being paid. He hadn't finished in the points, or the top ten, for a race this season. When he tested positive for COVID-19 on Friday after practice, the reserve driver had stepped in. But if Takezoe was the permanent driver and his performance was that weak, Yukio wasn't concerned about whoever the reserve was.
Yukio sat in the car, helmet on and all checks complete. Mechanics hovered around the car, keeping the tyres warm, waiting for the signal to clear the track.
"I want to get on that podium today," Yukio told Riruka, feeling confident. Even though a lot of the drivers were Japanese and this was their home, Yukio felt a win coming today.
His engineer fist-bumped him.
"I'll do what I can," she promised.
The signal to clear the tracks was given, and there was a flurry of colours as everyone but those seated in the driver's seats fled from the track.
They had to do the formation lap first, where all the cars would drive one lap of the track at a more controlled pace, keeping to their starting positions. Yukio focussed on connecting with the car and finding fluidity in his steering.
The cars returned to the grid and took up their starting positions for the race.
Yukio stared ahead, watching the five red lights hanging overhead come on, one at a time. This was it.
He took a deep breath as the fifth light came on. That was the moment when the world stood still. The final moment of peace before-
Lights out!
In an instant twenty engines erupted to life and the cars took off at impossible speeds.
The force pinned Yukio back into his seat but he held strong. He had command over this car and over this race.
The start of the race was hectic as always, especially at Suzuka which was an especially difficult circuit. The first turn was always the scariest as every car was pressing to find a good position and pinpoint the perfect entry speed for the corner. Yukio managed to do exactly that and just before the corner, he got in front of Bruno. Yes! That would have pissed his father off.
There was a long race to go however, and the next turns came quickly. Yukio weaved with the road and defended his position as the queue of cars either side of him lengthened out – the fastest cars were getting further ahead, and the slower cars were beginning to fall behind.
By the third lap, Yukio felt comfortable in the car and on the track. This was second nature to him now, it felt as natural as breathing.
"Bangnyfe is point seven of a second behind you," Riruka spoke in his ear. "Keep him behind."
"Understood."
He could see Rukia ahead of him, she had a good two seconds on him at this stage. There was another car further ahead but it was too far for Yukio to identify the team.
No bother, he would catch it eventually.
By lap eleven, Yukio was hotter on Rukia's heels but she was defending her position just as well as he was from Bruno. Soon it would come down to team strategy and finding the right time to change tyres in the pit lane.
Fifty three laps for this circuit and it was a game of patience, but none of them could sit on their first set of tyres for the entire race. As it was, Yukio started to feel his grip going on lap twenty-seven.
"Box," Riruka called him to the pit lane.
Thankfully, Xcution had one of the best pit crews around. They had all four tyres changed in 2.4 seconds and then Yukio was flying back out onto the track.
Despite the quick stop, Yukio was pushed back to position thirteen. It was all relative however, since in the next few laps, many of those cars that had snuck ahead were called to the pits for their own tyre changes.
By lap thirty two, Yukio was in his original position of seventh, with both Rukia and Bruno turning into the pit lane ahead of him.
"Press, press, press," Riruka called over the radio. "Don't let them come out ahead of you."
Yukio pushed ahead, forcing the car faster up the straight. He saw the cherry blossom pink and canary yellowing moving out of the pit lane, preparing to exit. He had to get in front of them here as they returned to the track.
"It's going to be close," Riruka warned him as Rukia's car began to shoot out, just as Yukio zoomed by-
He made it!
By narrowest fraction. In fact, he was certain Rukia was about to take out his rear wheel but she slipped behind him and they avoided the crash. Yukio found himself in fifth!
"Kuchiki and Bangnyfe are on fresh tyres," Riruka reminded him and burst his bubble for a moment. "They will be looking to overtake at every opportunity."
Yukio clenched his jaw under his helmet. He had to hold on.
"Who's ahead?"
"Chad," Riruka answered. "Three seconds. Ahead of him is Jaegerjaquez, 3.8 seconds from you."
"Let's get them."
Around and around they drove, the Suzuka circuit twisting and turning. Crowds and sponsor signs passed at dizzying speeds.
Yukio held onto his position and he was even gaining on Chad and Grimmjow. He could see them clearly and they were fighting to hold onto their positions. Riruka instructed Yukio to stay where he was, and support Chad from behind. The strategy was for Chad to get past Grimmjow before Yukio overtook either one of them.
Yukio reluctantly agreed. This was what it meant to be a part of the team. Sometimes he had to support the leading driver, so he did that.
Lap forty one was when the retirements started to happen. First, Riruka told him that Reverse London's Ninny had to retire when her car lost power completely. Shortly after, while trying to defend his position from Chad, Grimmjow's front tyre hit the barrier and Chad's car was hit in the ricochet. Yukio swore as he just slipped through without getting struck as well as both cars spun into the tyre wall.
"Are they okay?" Yukio asked Riruka hurriedly.
She promised him she was checking, and eventually she told them that both drivers were physically unharmed but were both out of the race due to the damage sustained to their cars. Yukio sighed, relieved that no one was hurt but disappointed to hear his teammate had retired, which meant Xcution wouldn't gain any points from him.
The silver lining was that Yukio was now in third place with roughly ten laps to go. Ichigo and Rangiku lead the race further ahead - it was unlikely that he would catch them now but no one could ever predict what might happen. Yukio had to drive his best at all times.
The crash had meant the remaining cars were stuck behind the safety car for several laps as the clean-up crew got the cars and debris off the track. It allowed the back of the pack to catch up or, in the case of poor Jinta, un-lap themselves. Yukio had Rukia, Renji and Noel on his tail. As soon as that safety car was gone, Yukio knew he would have a fight on his hands. He didn't know where Bruno had gone, but he had obviously fallen back behind the Kuchiki Motors and Reverse London.
It was lap forty-eight when the safety car pulled away and as predicted, Rukia was immediately gunning to overtake him. Yukio gritted his teeth and held her off.
Ichigo and Rangiku were too fast, disappearing again as Yukio held up the middle of the field, desperate to hang on to his position.
Five laps to go, he could do it!
However a lap later, and very suddenly, a car flew by Yukio, before Riruka had even called on him to watch out for it. It was an incredible double-overtake as the new car slipped past Rukia and Yukio with ease and cut back along the inside of the approaching turn.
Yukio watched, his jaw dropped inside his helmet, as the car shot off again, disappearing around the next corner.
"Who the hell was that?!" Yukio screeched down the radio.
It looked like a Daffodil car but as far as Yukio was aware, Rangiku was in P2 and several seconds ahead of him.
"Hitsugaya," was Riruka's answer.
"Who?!"
"Daffodil reserve driver."
Yukio swore. The unknown driver that started in P15 and had somehow gained twelve positions in a single race. Just who the Hell was that guy?
"No way he is the reserve driver," Yukio uttered in disbelief.
"I told you he's good," Riruka sighed. "Watch your back, you haven't lost Kuchiki."
Yukio jerked quickly, cutting Rukia off on the turn just before she could slide past him. She was driving aggressively now, no doubt feeling the same frustration that Yukio was.
That anger and annoyance didn't leave Yukio as he passed the chequered flag on lap fifty three. He finished the race fourth. It was his best finish and worth a fair twelve points to his season score and that of his team, but it wasn't a podium finish like he wanted.
"You drove fantastically," Riruka told him calmly over the radio as he crossed the line. "Well done, Yukio."
"Thanks," he grumbled back. He had driven well, part of him knew that. He had to remind himself that it wasn't that he had driven badly at all, it was that the unknown reserve driver had just driven better – than anyone, it seemed.
Hitsugaya had jumped up twelve positions, finished on the podium in third place and managed to get the extra point for fastest lap too.
When Yukio reunited with his team, Riruka showed him the footage. It was truly incredible to watch. At the start of the race, the emerald green car had sat back, almost timid in his driving, but then he struck when the time was right. The way this guy drove was hard to explain. He moved so fluidly, he made the car look like water. It was beautiful.
Yukio wanted to know just who exactly this guy was and why the Hell he was only the reserve driver.
…
Yukio snubbed the media in the paddock, walking right past reporters as they called his name. He was looking out for Toshiro Hitsugaya, keeping his eyes peeled for the sharp green of the Daffodil uniform. The podium ceremony was in a few minutes and Yukio, having decided to be a good sport, wanted to congratulate his competitor - and just maybe find out what his secret to his success was.
He hadn't seen Hitsugaya where his car was pulled up in the third position spot, and he hadn't seen him at the weigh-in just after the race.
He walked up towards the cooldown room where the podium finishers were waiting for the call up to the ceremony. On his way, Yukio passed the Daffodil garage and wasn't surprised to find the entire team in party mode. They were singing and stomping their feet, celebrating having two drivers on the podium that afternoon. Yukio shook his head but he couldn't help but chuckle as he saw the team principal, Isshin Kurosaki, lifting and shaking one of his engineers and singing so loudly his voice boomed over everyone else.
It must have been ever better for Isshin, since not only was it his two drivers that came second and third in today's race, but it was also his son that had won it! Isshin was Ichigo's father, but Ichigo had signed to Urahara Racing when he reached the F1 a few years ago. Unlike with Yukio and his own father, there was no bad blood between the Kurosakis. It was simply the best seat for Ichigo at the time and Isshin had encouraged him to take it. That was the kind of relationship Yukio wished he could have had with his own father.
The Xcution driver carried on walking, and just before the cooldown room, he spotted Rangiku and her teammate. He had almost missed them - they were standing on the grass in a narrow gap between two garages, seemingly for a moment of privacy. Yukio stared, surprised at how small the reserve driver was.
Physically, Hitsugaya must have been around Yukio's size, and that was to say, rather petite. He was being hugged by Rangiku, and she enveloped him, holding him tightly to her well-developed chest. It felt like a private moment but Yukio had barely registered that in his mind before he realised he was already walking towards them. He thought about turning away and leaving them to it but before he could, Rangiku raised her head and caught his eye.
"Yukio!" she beamed at him, releasing her teammate and instantly Yukio felt his bones being crushed in a tight hug. She had definitely been more gentle with Hitsugaya.
"Rangiku," Yukio wheezed, unable to breathe. "Congrats."
She released him and Yukio vaguely heard her thank him, but he was desperately trying to get oxygen back into his lungs.
"You were great today too!" she told him as she shifted out of the way, revealing her teammate behind her. "Have you met Toshiro? I'm sure you've seen him around, right?"
Yukio's breath caught in his throat as he laid eyes on Hitsugaya. He had seen him around alright, and he was stunning. Like, drop dead gorgeous. He had wild white hair and deep teal eyes, and a soft smile that contrasted his dangerously sharp jawbone. Yukio had never had the courage to talk to him, or even ask about him. All Yukio knew was that he worked for Daffodil; he must have been an engineer or a mechanic, Yukio had thought, having often seen him in the garages working on the cars. He was also frequently with Rangiku during down time, they seemed to be close friends. If Rangiku wasn't the gossip mongerer she was, Yukio might have enquired about the sexual orientation and relationship status of her should-be-illegal-to-be-that-hot friend.
"Uhh," Yukio managed. God he was in trouble now.
"Nice to meet you," Hitsugaya - Toshiro - gave him a polite smile that made Yukio's entire body tingle. It was akin to feeling like he was going to faint, but in a really cool way.
Toshiro went for a handshake but Yukio, who had exactly two brain cells in the face of intimidatingly beautiful men, found himself falling forward, stumbling into a hug that Toshiro neither wanted nor was prepared for. The reserve driver caught him in surprise, staggering back slightly, and Yukio felt two hands gripping his arms as they tried to steady him. His legs felt like jelly, and another hand grabbed the back of Yukio's race suit and pulled him up straight.
"Easy there, Yukio," Rangiku's voice was teasing.
"Sorry," Yukio flushed, voice giving away his panic. "Concussion," he lied. "Gotta go."
Toshiro looked at him in concern as he turned and hurried away, refusing to look back. Oh dear God, he'd just done a Riruka.
…
He told Riruka what he had done, but he wasn't sure why. She laughed for a solid twenty minutes and had teased him every hour of every day since. She called it payback, Yukio called it annoying.
She did, however, provide some interesting insight into the man that had stolen the show at the Japanese Grand Prix.
"He's twenty-five, Japanese," Riruka told him as they sat on his bed in the hotel after the race, watching the post-race press conference, driver interviews and race highlights. "He used to drive for Daffodil and he was their hero. In his first season, he won six races and made it onto the podium ten times. He was a shoe-in for the World Champion. He's a real prodigy."
"So why is he the reserve now?" Yukio scrunched his nose up, thinking about Takezoe, whose best result this year had been fourteenth at Monza in Italy.
"He had a bad crash," Riruka sighed. "Couldn't get back into the car. I guess Isshin convinced him to step up today."
Yukio frowned at that. It left a bad feeling in his chest, and that feeling followed him for days after the race.
He only had to Google the name and Toshiro Hitsugaya's entire, albeit short-lived, F1 career was on Wikipedia. Yukio read through it, impressed by the guy's race performance and results. It had been updated recently to include the win in Japan, and as Yukio scrolled further down, he read about the crash Toshiro had been involved in.
It had been at the Belgium Grand Prix, four years ago. Yukio vaguely recalled the news of the crash now, but he had been in the F3 at the time and he was gunning for a promotion to the F2. He had stopped focusing on the F1 to concentrate purely on what was happening in his own division and with his own driving. But he did remember hearing about it, and he remembered it because one of the drivers had died that day.
Momo Hinamori. She had been a driver for Las Noches, and Aizen was her teammate. According to the Wikipedia entry, it was actually Aizen who seemingly caused the crash, although he was cleared by the race authorities and the FIA, as an overtaking attempt by him went horribly wrong and it caused Toshiro and Momo's cars to crash into each other and then the concrete barrier at super high speeds. Both were taken away by ambulances, but Momo succumbed to her injuries and passed away that night. Toshiro underwent surgery and months of physical rehabilitation and survived - but he resigned as an F1 driver.
Yukio had read all that on the flight to Texas for the USA Grand Prix. He was supposed to be sleeping but he couldn't once he started reading.
He ended up giving into temptation, and he watched the clip of the crash on YouTube. It was truly horrible. It was a miracle Toshiro survived it as Yukio watched replay after replay of his car slamming into the concrete. It looked slow on the screen, but the speeds they were travelling at never translated well. The force he had hit the wall at should have killed him, but it only broke his legs, arms and fractured his skull.
Momo's crash story was similar, but heavy debris from one of the cars had landed on top of her helmet, and her neck had been broken.
Kūgo remembered the crash when Yukio asked him about it, but seemingly thought Yukio's questions were coming from a place of concern for his own safety on the race track.
"Don't worry," he had said, clapping a reassuring hand on Yukio's back. "You have the Halo now. That protects you."
The Halo was the protective barrier over the car's cockpit and it was designed to prevent large objects or debris from hitting the driver. It was criticised when it was first introduced a few years ago, mostly by the dinosaurs of the sport who thought it wasn't as aesthetically pleasing as the traditional car, but arguments had ceased in the last year or so when the Halo had proven to save lives.
The FIA had even stated the Halo might have saved Momo Hinamori, if only it had existed at the time.
…
Still feeling uneasy by both the research he was doing and the memories of just how horrifically he had embarrassed himself in front of indisputably the most gorgeous man he had ever laid eyes on, Yukio found himself wandering around the garages on the Thursday night of the USA Grand Prix.
He and his team had arrived in Texas that morning, and the day had been spent checking in, walking the track and in team strategy meetings. He was sent away by Kūgo under orders to relax, and Yukio felt a night time stroll was exactly the answer to that.
He had a lot on his mind, and the fresh air was helping. He walked around the paddock and up into the pit lane. The garages were open and a few mechanics were inside, working on their cars. Yukio paused outside the Daffodil garage, spotting a familiar head of white hair inside. Toshiro was sitting by one of the cars, a laptop in front of him. He was concentrating on the screen, a slight dip in his brow as he worked.
Yukio hesitated, but after taking a breath and giving himself a silent pep talk, he walked over. He reached the entrance of the garage and knocked against the threshold frame.
"Hi," Yukio coordinated his brain to tell his mouth to smile in a friendly manner. Toshiro glanced up at him and surprise flickered in those teal eyes.
"Hey. Yukio, right?" Toshiro tilted his head. "How are you feeling?"
It took Yukio a beat to remember that he was supposed to have had a concussion last week.
"Oh fine, thanks," Yukio chuckled awkwardly, feeling a bit of heat in his cheeks but he willed himself to remain calm. "Um… I just wanted to apologise for last week and congratulate you on your race."
Toshiro's lip twitched at that, and if Yukio wasn't seeing things, there was a bit of colour in the other man's cheeks too.
He gestured to the seat opposite him and Yukio accepted the invitation to enter.
"Congratulations on your race too," he murmured, and a sheepish smile followed. "Sorry I stole the podium finish from you."
Yukio waved him off, suddenly that felt like the last thing on his mind. Toshiro could have his car if he wanted it, that's how taken with him Yukio was.
"I'll get you next time," he promised, feeling more confident to play things a little cheekier.
Toshiro sighed though. "Hopefully not. I don't intend on racing again if I can avoid it."
Yukio wanted to pry, but he didn't think it was appropriate.
"That would be a real shame," he offered instead.
"You sound like Isshin."
"That's terrifying."
Toshiro laughed at that. It was a short laugh, one of the ones that take someone by surprise, like they weren't expecting to find something that funny. It was musical.
There was a brief moment then, when Yukio looked at Toshiro and Toshiro looked back at him. They might have shared a shy smile, but Yukio had no control over his face and his eyes were locked on teal.
"Do you want to see what I'm working on?" Toshiro offered, a sly smirk on his lips and a slight raise in his eyebrow.
"Are you allowed to show me?" Yukio questioned. Most teams were very hush hush when it came to their car development and strategy ideas.
"I don't see why not," Toshiro shrugged, looking back down at his screen. "This will be yours next year too."
Yukio raised an eyebrow as Toshiro stood from his seat and relocated to the one next to Yukio. Their knees touched as the laptop was placed down on Toshiro's leg, and he twisted it so Yukio could see.
It was CAD design for an engine, specifically for an F1 car engine. It clicked then for Yukio, who remembered just who supplied the engine inside his own car. Xcution were a sports fashion brand, not a car manufacturer, and so they bought their engines off Daffodil, who were a car manufacturer and arguably the biggest in Asia.
"You design the engine for our cars?" Yukio asked, blinking in surprise.
Toshiro hummed. "It's a team effort."
Remembering the Japanese Grand Prix and seeing the footage of Toshiro's incredible race, Yukio wondered if that was why Toshiro drove so well. He must have been so in tune with that engine. He designed it, probably even built it and installed it into the car he was driving. No doubt he would have been at the early morning practices, when engineers usually drove the track to test the car's performance and how it responded on the track. He understood the car better than anyone.
As it turned out, Toshiro really knew his stuff when it came to the mechanics of a car. Yukio listened in awe as Toshiro talked and showed him the ins and outs of the engine design on his laptop. He spoke about cars with a lot of passion, and under it all Yukio thought he heard another passion - to drive again.
"Do you like driving?" Yukio asked, perhaps somewhat suddenly as Toshiro's eyes flickered back to him, a little taken aback.
He appeared to hesitate, his eyes a little sadder.
"I love it," Toshiro answered at last, his tone soft. "I just don't like racing anymore."
"Because it's dangerous?"
"I guess," Toshiro swallowed, and his eyes returned to the screen. "When there are nineteen other cars around and every one of them wants to win, some of them will do whatever it takes. I can control how I drive, but I can't control anyone else. At those speeds it only takes one small mistake…"
He trailed off with a slight flinch of his body, one he quickly masked as a shiver, and Yukio sighed internally. There was clearly some trauma there and after watching the clip of the crash Toshiro had been involved in, he could hardly blame him.
Something possessed Yukio to put his hand on Toshiro's knee and squeeze it gently.
"I wouldn't want to pressure you to race again," Yukio told him, choosing his words carefully, "but I hope you won't let the past hold you back if you're ready again one day. You don't want to regret it and personally I think you're too much of a talent for this sport to lose forever."
Toshiro was still looking at his screen, but there was a hint of a tug at the corner of his lips.
"Do you think so?"
"I do," Yukio grinned. He'd seen the footage. "And you know, cars are far safer now. The Halo is there and it has proven it works."
"Oh I know," Toshiro did smile at that. "I designed it."
Yukio stared. "You did?"
Toshiro nodded, and he navigated on his laptop until he opened another CAD file, of what looked to be a very early design of what was now the Halo on top of every F1 car and other cars across other divisions and motor sports.
"I drew this in hospital," Toshiro murmured. "The day of Momo's funeral."
His eyes glazed over as he remembered that day. The silence that followed was heavy, and Yukio's hand moved from Toshiro's knee to on top of his hand. Toshiro's fingers curled over the top of Yukio's, his skin incredibly soft.
"The Halo is incredible," he breathed and beside him, Toshiro's lips twitched again.
"Thank you."
…
Practice on Friday went okay but not brilliant. Why? Because Yukio had been in the Daffodil garages until one o'clock in the morning. He would have stayed later too, if it hadn't been for the curfew that eventually forced them out of the paddock.
He and Toshiro had been in there for hours that night, talking endlessly about cars and the sport.
Kūgo hadn't been impressed with Yukio's performance but it was only the practice. Yukio would need to be sharper tomorrow for the qualifying race.
Still, the threat of a poor performance the following day was not enough to keep Yukio away from the Daffodil garages again that next night. Toshiro was there again, and this time he was on the tools as he worked on Rangiku's car, which had sustained a bit of damage when she scraped the barrier after taking a corner just a fraction too tightly.
Again, they talked for hours. They talked about growing up in their respective countries, and their relationships with their teammates and principals.
"Oh Isshin is mad," Toshiro agreed with Yukio's comments on the man, chuckling gently. "Though I respect him as my boss, and he's kind of like a dad to me so I guess I can forgive the insanity."
"He's like a dad to you?" Yukio echoed questioningly, trying to picture that.
"He's just been around for a long time is what I mean," Toshiro told him as he bent over the front tyre of the car to adjust something. "I've known him since I was four; he's had a big influence in my life."
"That's nice," Yukio hummed. "My dad's a prick."
Toshiro's eyes widened, more at the brutality of the language than in disagreement of the statement. He was silent for a moment before he straightened and looked at Yukio with serious eyes.
"Did he really kick you out?" he asked.
"Yep." It was hardly a secret.
"For being gay?"
"Yeah," Yukio shrugged to mask any other emotional body language cues. "I was sixteen."
It could have been his villain origin story, but Yukio was determined to be the hero. He always joked about that; He had to try and put some humour to it all, even if it made him lie awake at night on the brink of tears that were a spicy cocktail of unadulterated fury and crushing sadness.
He didn't make the joke tonight though. Toshiro looked too unsettled to hear it.
"Wow," Toshiro grimaced. "He is a prick."
Yukio had to chuckle at that. Toshiro was too gentle to be throwing insults like that around, however true they were.
That was something Yukio had learned in the hours spent talking. Toshiro was unbelievably kind and sweet. He didn't have a bad word to say about anyone. He was soft, in the most positive way. Gentleness of that nature was so rare in this sport.
"What about your parents then?" Yukio asked. Despite reliving his own trauma, it was nice getting to know each other. Besides, he had a gamble he wanted to play on. "Were they any nicer when you came out?"
"My father passed away when I was baby," Toshiro answered part way. He wiped his hands on a cloth as he came back to sit next to Yukio. "My mother too. Car accident, of course."
"You were raised by Isshin?" Yukio guessed.
"I was raised by my grandmother," Toshiro corrected, "who was very supportive when I came out to her, by the way."
Yukio grinned. He loved it when his bets paid off.
Toshiro pursed his lips, knowing very well what Yukio had been trying to scope out.
"But Isshin knew my family," he continued after a moment. "I was in karting with Ichigo, so he really looked after me growing up. I feel like I owe him so much, I hate disappointing him."
He looked sad at that, and Yukio wondered if that's what Toshiro thought Isshin felt about him not racing.
He asked and Toshiro sighed.
"He wants me to race again. He was so happy when I stepped in for Takezoe." Toshiro explained. "He knew I was… apprehensive, to say the least, so he stayed on the radio with me in Suzuka. Truthfully, I think I would have had a panic attack without him."
He chuckled dryly at that and Yukio grimaced.
"At least you know he cares?" Yukio offered. "My father pretends I don't exist. Except when he wants to slate me in the media."
Toshiro made a disapproving hum; he'd obviously seen that too.
"It's his loss," Toshiro sighed. "Sometimes we're better off with the family we choose. They love us for us."
Yukio hummed in agreement, thinking of Riruka and Kūgo - even Chad. They were people who really cared about him.
That night they went home earlier, and Yukio got his eight hours of sleep.
…
It became a routine.
Four nights a week, the F1 teams were in town (whichever town was hosting the Grand Prix that week), four nights a week Yukio turned up at the Daffodil garages, and four nights a week Toshiro was there.
In Texas, Yukio had finished sixth in the race. He blamed himself for being distracted but he still didn't stop going to those emerald green garages. The Mexican Grand Prix was next, and Yukio was better prepared. His body had adjusted to his new routine, and the thought of catching up with Toshiro after practice, qualifying or the race only made him want to drive faster. He had started in P3 in Mexico City that day, but due to a poor tyre strategy coupled with some unexpected rain. Yukio had ended the race in fifth position.
Still, the evenings were well spent. Yukio started bringing drinks, and Toshiro had food waiting for him.
On the Friday after practice at the Brazil Grand Prix, Yukio turned up to find Toshiro had written the word 'Hej' plus a smiley face in ketchup on his dinner plate.
Yukio had grinned and taken a picture on his phone, before he Googled how to write out 'Konnichiwa' in the right characters and tried to copy it on Toshiro's plate. It looked dreadful in the sauce but when the engineer saw it his eyes lit up.
"That's really good!"
He must have been lying but Yukio took the compliment. 'Hej' was far easier and he figured Toshiro probably just appreciated the attempt.
Yukio ended up qualifying in pole position the next day. He would start in first position for tomorrow's race, his first time leading the grid in his F1 career.
Kūgo told him he was getting better at driving, but Yukio thought he might just be falling in love.
…
It was probably frowned upon to spend the final minutes before his race with the engineer of another team, but Yukio did it anyway. Toshiro was busy of course, hovering around Rangiku's car, but he still chatted and laughed at Yukio's silly jokes and stories. Rangiku was there too, grinning in a mischievous way that was surely going to bite Yukio on the ass later. Yukio decided not to pay her any mind, given he was feeling especially good and confident today.
He was giddy for the race – he was starting in pole position and nothing – nothing – was going to stop him from making that podium today. Hell, he could even win it!
"Good luck," Toshiro told him, his eyes beaming. Yukio just wanted to hold him… amongst other things.
Alas, the middle of a busy, media-ridden grid with a grandstand filled with spectators probably wasn't the place.
"I'll meet you in the garage again tonight?"
"It's a date."
Yukio chuckled and they shared a smile. Riruka had turned up and was trying to tug her driver away, so Yukio let her but not without one last wink at Toshiro.
The vibe between them was electric today – Yukio hoped that meant something would happen in the garage tonight.
"Focus" Riruka reminded him sternly. "Race first, crush later."
Yukio rolled his eyes but nevertheless, followed her to the starting line. After the national anthem of Brazil, Yukio returned to his car and climbed in, helmet on.
There was some honour to be felt as Yukio led the formation lap and set the pace for the others. It was only a parade, but Grimmjow was tailing close to him, as if already gunning to overtake. He was starting in second today, and in third was his teammate Ulquiorra. They had performed very well in qualifiers yesterday, and surprisingly Ichigo hadn't. He was starting in eighth today, which meant he would have his work cut out for him to get past the seven in front.
They pulled back up to their starting positions and Yukio took a deep breath. The world was silent for a moment as he stared out onto the track ahead of him, no cars blocking his view.
This was his moment.
The red lights came on. One, two, three, four, five, and then-
Lights out!
Yukio's car shot forward, his reaction time good but beside him, Grimmjow was already closing in.
They were coming into the first turn when Yukio pushed ahead, triumphant to see Grimmjow cutting back in behind him, unable to overtake. The triumph didn't last long however, as Yukio had only just acknowledged Grimmjow slipping behind him and was starting to hear Riruka's guiding voice in his ear, when a big bang stopped everything.
Looking back, Yukio vaguely remembered losing control of the car as the front hit the barrier wall and something else slammed into it from behind. He didn't remember the car being upside down and skidding along the road on its roll hoop and Halo. He didn't exactly know how his car ended up wedged on its side between the barrier and catch fencing, or how he got out of the car from there. He did know, however, that he had been in a big crash when the ambulance turned up.
Stewards were with him, panicking as he tried to shake them off and move away from the car. He was concerned it might catch on fire but he couldn't walk properly and his whole body hurt. He heard Riruka in his ear, asking him if he was okay.
"I'm fine," Yukio told her, the stewards and the paramedics, but they didn't quite believe him.
The paramedics forced him to lie down and they carried him on a stretcher into the back of their ambulance.
It wasn't until he was at the race medical centre with Riruka that Yukio really understood what had happened.
It was indeed a big crash. He was lucky to be alive, let alone unharmed. Relatively unharmed anyway; he had a slight concussion, whiplash and some other superficial scratches and bruising, but nothing major.
The doctors didn't even insist he be transferred to the hospital, they were happy to observe him at the medical centre for the evening, and all being well, Yukio would be allowed to leave that night.
Yukio watched the replays on his phone and grimaced. The crash looked horrific, he was beyond lucky.
It looked like Grimmjow had hit him from behind when he cut back in, and being sandwiched between him and the barrier had caused the car to flip and skid away.
"You were travelling at a hundred and sixty miles per hour," Riruka commented quietly over Yukio's shoulder as she watched the replays too. "We all thought you were gone."
Yukio patted her shoulder briefly. It must have been hard for her to watch, worse when he hadn't answered her over the radio immediately. He had been in too much shock for a moment.
His crash had caused chaos down the grid too, as Grimmjow braked and Ulquiorra slammed into the back of him, and further down the line a distracted Noel hit Rukia and the two of them spun out, taking out Ichigo.
All cars were damaged, and a red flag stopped the race.
Noel, Rukia and Ichigo were forced to retire due to the serious damages sustained to their cars, but Las Noches managed to fix their cars in the time before the race restarted. That pissed Yukio off, but he was glad to see Grimmjow punished with a significant time penalty.
Yukio managed to catch the final few minutes of the race. Ulquiorra won, Renji came second and Bruno came third.
Yukio snarled. Aside from Renji, that was a terrible podium line-up.
He was disappointed, to say the least. Yukio's moment became all about his crash rather than his possible win.
His father took the opportunity to slate him for it too.
"The boy was never cut out for racing," his father had told a journalist when she flagged him down for some post-race comments. Even through the camera, Yukio could see the contempt in the eyes that matched his. "He doesn't belong on the grid. He doesn't belong in the sport at all."
"Don't," Riruka instructed, seeing his expression. She made him shut down the stream and put his phone face down. "Make Vegas a new week," she told him softly, "and you do belong on the grid."
Yukio nodded but he was almost too angry to speak. She got someone to bring his headphones and he spent the remaining hours in the medical centre with his music unsafely loud, his phone face down, and his eyes closed.
It was nearly midnight when they finally declared him fit and released him. Riruka wasn't too happy that Yukio instantly set off in the direction of the garages but as he told her, he had a date and crash or not, he wasn't standing Toshiro up tonight.
When he arrived at the Daffodil garage, Yukio was surprised to see Rangiku there. She was watching with concern as Toshiro marched around her car, wringing an oiled cloth between his hands, seemingly his equivalent of anxious pacing. She spotted him and the relief on her face was instantaneous.
Toshiro caught her expression too and whipped around to see Yukio. He looked terribly stressed.
"Sorry I'm late," Yukio smirked at him, hoping to ease the tension.
In a second, Toshiro was in his arms, wrapping himself firmly around Yukio's midsection.
"You're okay," he croaked, voice muffled as his face was pressed into Yukio's neck.
"Yeah," Yukio hugged him back tightly. "Did no one tell you?"
"They did," Rangiku piped up, "but they were not believed. Good to see you tonight, Yukio."
She winked in her usual way before she slipped out of the garage door and didn't return.
"Isshin wouldn't let me go see you," Toshiro croaked again after a moment of silence. "He said it would be too much."
Yukio exhaled deeply, burying his nose in thick white hair. It must have brought back bad memories for Toshiro, from his own accident. After all, he and Momo had been taken to the medical centre, but while Toshiro was transferred to the hospital, Momo had died there.
"I'm fine, seriously," Yukio told him. He leaned back and hooked a finger under Toshiro's chin, guiding him to look up. "Your Halo saved me today."
Teal eyes were swimming with worry and something else, something far more intense. For a moment, Yukio was captivated. He was always captivated by those eyes but tonight, they were even more piercing and powerful.
There was only a beat, and then Toshiro's lips were on Yukio's, and Yukio nearly went limp as a jolt surged up his spine. He stumbled back a couple steps, and thankfully he managed to hold onto Toshiro, their lips never parting as they fell backwards.
Yukio's back hit the wall, right on the light switch.
Lights out.
He pulled Toshiro closer, his mind and body finally catching up as he kissed the man back with every bit of energy his tired, sore body still had. The jolts kept coming, his skin burning as if Toshiro was igniting every nerve ending inside him. It was electric.
Their lips moved and so did their hands, alternating between feeling each other and simply holding on.
Eventually though, Yukio pulled back. He was breathless as he rested his forehead on Toshiro's. He took a moment to breathe; he'd never had a kiss like that.
"You are…" Yukio panted, "incredible."
Toshiro sighed quietly. "You're going to be the death of me, I know it."
Yukio couldn't help but smirk in the dark. He loosened his arms to allow Toshiro to adjust, the man curling himself into Yukio's chest and neck again. He could have probably heard Yukio's heart pounding.
Yukio wasn't sure where they should take things from there, but he made a decision when he felt the slight tremor in Toshiro's body. He was still so wound up from worrying about Yukio, and reeling from seeing a visually horrific car crash that obviously reminded him of his own.
"Come on, let's get out of here," Yukio murmured, patting Toshiro's hip gently. "I've got to get some sleep and you look like you need a snuggle."
"I don't snuggle," Toshiro mumbled as pulled out of Yukio's hold.
Yukio couldn't see his expression in the dark, but he imagined it was like a grumpy little kitten.
"I don't believe that."
He was right too. They turned the lights back on, Toshiro collected his stuff and they left the garage. They held hands as they walked back to Yukio's hotel room, and once in the room, they both changed into Yukio's most comfortable hoodies and joggers. They climbed into the bed and Toshiro found comfort on Yukio's chest.
In the morning, Toshiro was still there, sleeping peacefully with his ear over Yukio's heart, and Yukio smiled up at the ceiling.
Yeah, he was definitely falling in love.
…
"Toshiro Hitsugaya, would you do me the honour of joining me for a drive?"
Yukio grinned as Toshiro glanced up from where he was sitting, on the front of Rangiku's car in the pit lane. He'd seemed deep in thought, and surprised to hear his name. He smiled when he saw him though, that same small one that made Yukio's body tingle, though he didn't feel like he was going to faint this time (and that's what Yukio calls progress).
It was Friday morning in Las Vegas, ahead of the final race weekend of the season. There was a free practice session on that morning, and that's where Yukio had found Toshiro, dressed in a driving suit and holding a helmet.
Yukio rarely went to the Friday morning practices, usually leaving that to his mechanical team to use it to test the cars and often the reserve driver would get a few laps in. He and Chad would then turn up for the Friday afternoon session and Saturday morning session to get their practice time in. It seemed the Daffodil team worked in a similar manner, and that's why Yukio knew Toshiro would be there that morning, and as Yukio had hoped, he'd been driving the car himself.
Toshiro bit his lip, seemingly hesitating for a moment.
"Sure," he agreed at last. "The car is driving beautifully this morning, so don't think I'll be going easy on you."
Yukio grinned at him. "I wouldn't have it any other way."
A mutual smirk was shared before Toshiro stood up and turned. He gestured something to Isshin, who was in the garage and returned a thumbs up. Yukio also received a wink from the Daffodil team principal before he wandered back to his own car further down the pit lane.
The car revved to life beneath him and he sailed out of the pit lane behind Toshiro. When they hit the open circuit, they gunned it, increasing their speed and taking off towards the first corner.
As he was in Suzuka, Yukio was again stunned by the fluidity of Toshiro's driving. This was a man who really knew how to drive his car. For a while, Yukio was happy to sit behind him, just watching with a smile underneath his helmet. He wanted to race Toshiro again one day, but after last weekend's incident, he wasn't sure he was going to get Toshiro on the grid ever again. Yukio's race had clearly rattled him, but at least he could still partake in the practice sessions.
The Friday morning sessions were a lot slower and quieter, so that was probably the only reason he was out today, but Yukio took it. After all, it was a beautiful sunny morning at the start of another thrilling race weekend, and Yukio was out doing his favourite thing with an outrageously gorgeous man. There wasn't much to complain about, except maybe the breezeless desert heat.
Their first lap was a relaxed cruise. It was fast, yes, but neither were racing. They just drove, and Yukio loved it. There were other cars on the track, but they were mostly ignored.
Part way through the second lap, Yukio decided to be a little cheeky, to see if Toshiro would bite. Between turns five and six, there was a long straight, and Yukio used it to overtake Toshiro. The Japanese driver did indeed bite as he too accelerated. They were racing again and it was game on.
This time Yukio was ready for him and wouldn't be caught off guard, and he defended his position for as long as it took. They only had another ten minutes of the practice session left anyway.
He was expecting Toshiro to be a little more timid when it came to fighting for his next overtake, with perhaps the fear of crashing holding him back. Yukio was prepared to play it a little safer than normal, to not make Toshiro too uneasy, but he didn't need to apparently. With a minute of the practice session to go, and when Yukio was starting to think he'd won their mini race after holding the lead six laps, Toshiro shot past him.
He flew by and slipped back in front of Yukio as they rounded the next corner. Yukio stared, watching the flaps on the rear wing of Toshiro's car close as he braked into the turn. He had used his DRS, or Drag Reduction System, to give him the extra push past Yukio.
"Son of a gun," Yukio chuckled. Now that was cheeky.
In a race, that would have been totally illegal, given they weren't in a DRS Zone where he'd overtaken, but this was practice and practice was fair game as far as DRS usage was concerned.
Toshiro won the race again, through slightly nefarious means, and they pulled into the pit lane just as the practice session was wrapping up.
He parked up and jumped out of the car. Toshiro was already out of his and walking towards Yukio, grinning widely.
Yukio sat on his car and shot Toshiro what was supposed to be an unimpressed look, but he could feel his lips twitching for a smile.
"Sorry," Toshiro offered with a smirk.
"No you're not."
"No, I'm not."
Yukio chuckled, and he captured Toshiro's waist and pulled him close. It was ballsy, with so many people around and all that media, but Toshiro came willingly, a sly smile on his face. His hands landed on Yukio's arms, and he squeezed the slightest bit when Yukio tensed his lean biceps.
"You're going to get in trouble for this."
"I know," Yukio grinned. "I don't care. They know what I am."
"Handsome?"
"Obviously."
Toshiro grinned, and his hands moved, linking behind Yukio's head as his forearms came to rest on Yukio's shoulders. The blond hummed, appreciating the closeness, and he tightened his own arms around Toshiro's middle.
"So," Yukio drawled, "Garage dinner tonight? I'll bring the energy drinks, you bring the protein bars?"
God he was romantic.
"While that sounds wonderful," Toshiro started, voice silky, "it might have to be tomorrow night, I'm afraid."
"You got a hot date or something?"
"I personally wouldn't call Isshin a hot date, no," Toshiro tilted his head, nose scrunching up. "He does want to take me out for dinner though, to 'discuss the future' as he puts it."
Yukio's spine straightened. "He's going to push for you to race next season?"
Toshiro hummed. "I'd say so. Daffodil aren't too impressed with Takezoe's performance and his contract is up at the end of this season."
"Interesting," Yukio said, unable to read Toshiro's opinion on that. "You're going to hear Isshin out then?"
Toshiro said nothing, he just sighed and nodded.
What that meant, Yukio wasn't too sure yet. Toshiro was either reluctant to have the conversation because he knew categorically that he didn't want to race again and he didn't like letting Isshin down, or perhaps it was the other situation, where a part of him really did want to compete, but there was a voice in his head that kept reminding him of the past.
For Yukio, he would love to see Toshiro on the grid again and to race him properly, but he also knew that he might never be able to perform well if he wasn't ready to commit wholeheartedly to the competition. Fear was extremely debilitating.
"Tomorrow night it is then," Yukio murmured.
He stood then and the two of them pulled apart. The Xcution mechanics were getting antsy, wanting to wheel the car back into the garage so they could work on it. Toshiro too had to get back to work, but Yukio didn't let him go without a brief kiss to his knuckles.
That exchange ended up going viral on TikTok.
…
There were only five laps of the Las Vegas Grand Prix and Yukio was in the lead.
He wasn't sure how, to be honest, but he was killing it today. Ichigo was hot on his tail though, and Rangiku and Chad not too far behind that, so even with only five laps to go the race, it wasn't nearly over and anyone could win it.
"You're doing great, Yukio," Riruka encouraged him through the radio. "Keep pushing, hold that position."
Yukio grunted back, that was about all he could manage. He was hanging on for dear life here, determined not to have his third podium opportunity in recent weeks snatched from his grasp.
He held on around every turn and pushed through every DRS zone, refusing to let Ichigo get close enough to use it.
Ichigo had already won the world championship with the points he'd won over the entire season, he didn't need this podium today. Yukio did - he needed to prove to his team, his father and even himself that he deserved to be here, racing with the best of the best.
Well, maybe not all of the best. Yukio was yet to beat Toshiro, but if he was lucky, he might get a chance next season.
As it turned out, Isshin had indeed taken Toshiro out to convince him to take a permanent seat on the grid next year. Apparently he had done that every year since Toshiro retired, and every year Toshiro had instantly refused but buckled enough to agree to the reserve driver position. This year, however, he promised to give it some genuine thought.
Toshiro seemed pretty torn last night when Yukio had met him in the garage, their normal routine returning. He didn't give much of an indication which way it would go, and Yukio too tried to stay impartial - though he did point out just how damn fine Toshiro looked in a racing suit, in case that might sway him. It didn't, but it did get Yukio to third base.
Things actually went a lot further than that last night, and Yukio found himself grinning mid race at the memory.
"Focus!" Riruka screeched in Yukio's ear, ruining his accidental reverie and shocking him back into the race just as Ichigo was about to overtake him on the inside of the turn.
Yukio pulled in front just in time, fighting for his position.
"One lap to go," Riruka reminded him. "The podium is yours, now take the win!"
Yukio felt a weight fall off his chest. He had podiumed? Well nothing was confirmed but it meant Chad and any driver behind him were likely too far back to catch up to Yukio now, even if Ichigo and Rangiku got in front. Of course, Yukio had to actually make it to the chequered flag yet, and you know, not crash or have an engine malfunction.
As hard as it was, Yukio managed (only just) to keep his mind off the man whose bed he'd woken up in this morning and instead, remembered his life work and passion for racing. He focused and he pushed, and in good time, he saw that chequered flag.
He flew over the finish line, 0.4 seconds ahead of Ichigo, and 0.9 seconds ahead of Rangiku. It was a good old fashioned grandstand finish, and Yukio had won it!
He screamed down his radio at Riruka and his team, unable to believe it. He stuck his hand out the car and waved to the crowd that were jumping up and down in the stands. He grinned at the fireworks being sent off either side of the track. He teared up when he saw his team hanging over the barrier, cheering for him, their driver who had just won the Las Vegas Grand Prix.
The podium experience was one of the best moments of Yukio's life. Someone handed him a trophy and a bottle of Champagne. Ichigo and Rangiku doused him in it, and Yukio in turn doused Riruka, who got to go up there with him as his constructor. The scenes were mad as thousands of voices cheered for him.
It was Yukio's moment, even if Ichigo had technically won the Championship. He would get his podium later and somewhere else, so now the celebration was purely for this race alone. It was for Yukio.
Through the champagne spray, flash photography and so, so many people. Yukio caught two people's eyes.
He saw his father, standing with his arms crossed, his expression halfway pissed off and halfway impressed. Yukio sent him a challenging look - just who didn't belong on the grid now?
And then he turned to Toshiro, who was grinning ear to ear and cheering for him (and probably Rangiku, his teammate, and Ichigo, his family friend). Yukio paused his celebration for a moment, making sure he had Toshiro's eyes on him, before he winked and mouthed 'this is you next year'.
Toshiro rolled his eyes, a slight smirk tugging at his lips, and it told Yukio all he needed to know.
Toshiro Hitsugaya would race next year.
…
"Christmas in Sweden?"
"New Years in Japan."
The season was over, and Yukio and Toshiro stood in the lobby of the hotel, watching with grim expressions as Isshin and Ichigo fought over the best way to pack the luggage in the back of Isshin's hired car.
Rangiku stood nearby with Yoruichi, Ichigo's engineer, calling out teasing and mostly insincere offers to help the two men.
For now, the teams had to return to their head offices, in their respective home countries. That meant Yukio was following Riruka, Chad, Kūgo and the rest of his team back to China and Toshiro and the Daffodil family were heading home to Japan.
The two countries were close enough, but soon enough Yukio would be travelling to his real home in Sweden for the winter.
He and Toshiro, who had indeed made their relationship official shortly after Yukio's podium moment, agreed to meet up at various times in various countries so they could spend time together before the new season kicked off and chaos reigned again.
They were to do ten days in Seoul, as soon as they were allowed to go on break, as a fun little holiday. Then they would spend Christmas in Yukio's home country, New Years in Toshiro's, and - if their principals let them take the time off so close to their pre-season duties - they would spend Valentine's Day weekend in Paris.
"We're going to be fine," Yukio murmured, tightening his arm around Toshiro. "I'll miss you, but it will all be worth it."
Toshiro's lips twitched. "You say that now, wait until next season starts, when-"
"-You're kicking my ass on the track?"
"-When we're competitors," Toshiro corrected.
Yukio shrugged. He wasn't worried about that. One of his favourite moments of the last few weeks was driving beside Toshiro. Even when the stakes were high and everything was on the line at each Grand Prix, Yukio only wanted to better himself as a driver and as a competitor, and Toshiro would do the same. What happened on the track would stay there, that was true racing.
Yukio turned Toshiro to look at him, and cupped his cheek gently. Teal eyes were bright and soft, just like their owner. They came together, their lips pressing gently as their arms tightened around each other.
"When we have our first podium together," Yukio murmured when they broke apart, "I'm going to kiss you in front of everyone."
Toshiro chuckled dryly at that, his grin widening. "I can't wait."
…
Looked up 'the end' in Swedish but the word is 'Slutet' apparently and it got me giggling.
Did I credit Toshiro with the invention of the Halo? Absolutely, let's move on.
Female drivers in the F1? Would be very nice.
Am I going to finish The Stars Incline Us? I sure hope so.
Do I have the motivation? No more questions please.
Thanks friends x
