Chapter Text
Sebastian had just entered the paddock as a torro rosso driver, a young omega barely 20 years old, and full of hopes. Was it his first race? No. Sure but was it his first race in a competitive team also no. Still it was Torro Rosso, the team that would lead him to Red Bull, which again, was it a good team? He couldn't say. He really couldn't. So why did he feel like the world was at his feet.
Nothing could dampen his spirits, not even if he were to crash his first race ever. Second race, a small voice corrected him. So to say that something did actually manage to crush his spirits was a lot.
It wasn't the race, despite the car which seemed to hate that it was being driven, and wouldn't listen to him he still managed P16. He was satisfied, it wasn't points, like with the bmw but he'd finished, something even his teammate couldn't do. And the moment he got out of his car, he ran to his team who was nothing but encouraging. Good. Once they had given their support, he excused himself to change before he looked over the race data. On his way to his motorhome, it happened, something that made him stop in his tracks.
Because as a young lad in his dream sport having clawed his way to the seat, he expected a lot of comments — about his age, about his attitude, about his skill, even about his gender, but what he did not expect still managed to happen.
“Fuck that bitch looked hot when he got out of that car.”
He would live, if someone had said he was a bad driver because he was an Omega, maybe even that driving did not suit him as an Omega. But the comment that completely ignored him as a driver made the ground beneath his feet shatter like glass. He hadn't realised his scent had shifted as he just stood there straining his ears for a voice long faded into the crowd.
When he was brought back to the world again it was because of someone having collided into him.
The scent hit his nostrils before he could look up. Clean, sharp, like the smell of a cold winter day. The iceman.
“Bwoah. Sorry.” The man said and started on his way again before suddenly stopping for a moment. “Good work there. For a rookie.” He said sharply, but not unkind and was on his way again. Before Sebastian could reply though the man had already vanished into the crowd much like the voice earlier. He forced himself to move finally, making his way to his motorhome again.
“Alright!” He told himself once he was in the privacy of his driver's room. Sure he wasn't expecting it, but the comment wasn't that much worse from the usual Omega’s often heard. And the sport was dominated by male alphas. So it made sense. He nodded again and soon got busy with his work completely forgetting about it.
Things went fine, a few races had gone by and his team had been supportive. Mostly. Except now he heard it more often. Ugh fucking Omega's can't drive to save their life. He smiled still. Atleast he was being acknowledged as a driver unlike that weird comment he'd heard in the first week. He chuckled and apologized again for not getting points. Or maybe truly for being an Omega.
And then it happened, his first dnf. Spa, Belgium. And the second time he felt his heart crushed. Right as he returned,
“Oh lord, the way he whined on the radio?” It was someone from his team. “I'm gonna make it my wakeup alarm. Atleast then he'd be more useful than he is now.”
Not racing related. He ran to his motorhome again. Once he was in he slapped himself. Cursing his damn mouth for whining, like a freaking whore. He hit himself until any sound he could produce died. Until he no longer sounded like he was a desperate bitch everytime he was hurt.
His cheeks were red and stung by then but now he no longer whined at the pain. Nodding to himself he smiled. Now no one would be able to say anything about his voice. Good. He went back out, after checking his cheek didn't look too different. Just in time for the race to end. Raikkönen had won it. He decided that he'd congratulate the older alpha, if nothing else, to return the compliment the man had given in Hungary.
When he made his way to Parc Ferme he was glad to reach before the man himself. And by a stroke of incredible luck, found himself face to face with him the moment Raikkönen got off from his car.
“Need something?” The older asked him before he could say anything. And then after a pause, much like the first time he continued. “Meet me after the interview. Too loud here.” He said before being engulfed by his team who could no longer wait.
It took Sebastian too long to realise what had actually happened. And even longer to admit that he was left completely tongue tied. Kimi Raikkönen of Ferrari, championship contender had so graciously been the one to strike up a conversation when he failed.
Stupid.
----
It was almost evening by the time Kimi was done with the podium, the interviews, the congratulations and now he could finally go to his motorhome and relax. When he reached near though he smelt it again, the salted caramel smell, burnt, granted now it wasn't as burnt as it was the last two times. And fainter overall.
Vettel, this year's rookie, was there. And then he remembered getting out of the car after the race and walking towards him, drawn to the burnt caramel like the first time he'd bumped into him. Now he was wondering if the Omega had a permanently burnt smell, and it wasn't an indication that something was off. But the closer he walked the more he could take in his appearance and the more he realised the scent was not naturally burnt.
Looking at the Omega, who seemed at a loss of words, he’d chuckled internally. It probably was strange to see the iceman come to him first, so he had decided to back off and told him to meet later. Which he supposed was now, but looking at him from a distance as the Omega paced about clearly nervous made him wonder if he'd somehow pressured the young one unduly. He did not want to be one of those who singled him out for his gender. He knew how that felt didn't he, as the first beta driver.
He took a deep breath and then made his way to the motorhome.
“Vettel.” He said and although he was sure he made enough noise to alert the younger he still managed to startle him like a deer in headlights.
“Oh hey! Mr Raikkönen, I mean Raikkönen. Congratulations on your race win! You looked like you were flying. I mean obviously you don't need a rookie like me telling you that but I -” Kimi chuckled, not able to stop himself as he listened to the boy ramble on.
“Thank you.” He said to ease the boy's nerves. “And just call me Kimi.”
Sebastian flushed deeply at that and Kimi couldn't help but find it adorable. An urge formed deep inside him to squeeze his cheeks.
“Kimi.” He said as though testing the word before continuing. “I was amazed by your race. I'm hoping that you win. I mean technically I was rooting for Ferrari, but out of the two in Ferrari I am supporting you.”
Kimi realised the rookie had a habit of rambling, and, no sense of danger. To openly admit these things to a person he barely knew was suicidal in this political world of F1. He simply nodded. But the urge to squeeze his cheeks was already growing into something more protective. He'd have to make sure that the boy was not hurt because people didn't care to see the driver apart from his gender and all the “omega” habits.
“Care to discuss race data?” He asked as smoothly as he could. Nothing weird just letting him in the inner circle a bit more.
Vettel seemed to have malfunctioned at that. “Race data? As in my race? The race that lasted 8 laps?” He said and Kimi internally cursed himself for not having known that.
“Not today's, it's an open offer.” Great save.
Sebastian slowly nodded before a smile bloomed on his face. “I would love to. Race debriefs with a Ferrari driver and championship contender. Kimi you're being serious?”
“You like Ferrari?"
At that Sebastian flushed again.
And Kimi who, though he didn't need it, found the elevated bread notes of his scent as a silent confirmation, nodded to himself.