One Shots - Formula 1 [REQUESTS CLOSED]

88. - Nico Hulkenberg

This is a request from leag42 ! Enjoy xx

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"I don't regret anything." Was the first thing Nico told you that day. He had been awake for quite a long time. He didn't get much sleep, actually, his mind was racing and he couldn't realise you were lying in his bed. He also couldn't realise how you made him feel.

It took you some time to remember what happened the night before. Your mind was cloudy with sleep and the effect of the alcohol you had drunk. To say you were surprised to find yourself naked in Nico's bed was an understatement. But soon enough, everything came back to your mind.

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It was one of your childhood's best friends' birthday and you had accepted to come. It was a long time since you saw her last and it would also be a good way to catch up with old friends you weren't in touch with anymore. What surprised you was the presence of Nico Hülkenberg, Formula 1 driver and your sister's first love.

Nico and you always got along. He was the same age as your sister, 2 years older than you, but he never treated you like a kid, which is something you really appreciated. You remembered the nights your sister talked to you about Nico, how fast she fell in love with him. Their relationship didn't last, though, because your sister died from being knocked over by a car at the age of 19.

It was heart-breaking. For some time you couldn't talk, you barely ate, until your parents decided to send you in a university abroad to start a new life. You left Germany and never turned back. Nico didn't keep in touch. You followed his career from afar and supported him, but you never tried to reach him. You figured seeing each other would bring back the memory of your dead sister, for the both of you.

Seeing Nico was a bit of a shock because it had been 10 years since you last saw him. You just made a sign of the head in his direction, not daring to start a conversation with him. Your friend put a cocktail in your hands and you had a couple more before you finally felt comfortable. Your sister was still a sensitive subject and you didn't expect it to come up in your mind like that tonight.

"Are you planning on avoiding me all night, Y/N? If I remember correctly, you're quite a talkative person." Nico surprised you by sitting next to you at the kitchen's bar where you thought you would be in peace.

"Wh-what?" The sound of his voice was like an old melody your mind used to enjoy. "Sorry. That obvious, huh?"

"Considering there are only 15 people in this room and you talked to every one of them but me, yeah, I guess it's pretty obvious." He smiled casually and leaned his head on his hand, his elbow resting on the kitchen counter, facing you. You couldn't help but stare at his face. He had changed. Of course he was the same as before, but with a couple of wrinkles around his eyes, stubble on his chin and, in general, a more mature face. His body was also much stronger than it used to be, you could clearly see he was a professional athlete. "So tell me. Do you still plan to change the world?"

His grin made you laugh, he was referring to the 17 year old you who had to talk about her professional project in high school. You had rehearsed your speech in front of your parents, your sister and Nico, and you talked about how you wanted to work for children's rights all around the world. How he still remembered that, you didn't know. But it made you feel warm somehow, to know that he used to listen to you and kept your words in mind.

"Yes, I do. I'm working with UNO at the moment, actually. I spent a year in Bangladesh and now I'm supposed to make a report about children's conditions of life there. We believe this will help us change things."

"I love how you're so passionate about this. You literally change people's life and help children have decent life conditions. And here I am, driving a fast car that pollutes a lot." He shook his head and chuckled.

"You change the world too, in a way. You inspire people. You are an idol. During my time abroad, I actually used to watch your races and it really helped me. It still does."

You had finished your 3rd drink but decided against taking another. You needed to think clearly if you were to talk more with Nico.

"You should come to a race next season. I'm inviting you. We need to keep in touch, I don't want to wait another 10 years to see you again."

"I'd like that, thank you. I'm sorry I didn't keep in touch after, you know." It was difficult to keep your eyes on him as you started thinking about your sister. Sometimes you wondered if you would ever grieve. It felt like every day was a battle, more difficult than the one before, and you couldn't seem to find a way to win.

"No, it's my fault. I just made myself busy with races and practices. And honestly, knowing you went abroad was a relief because I thought I wouldn't have to see your face again. It reminded me too much of hers. But I missed you, Y/N. A lot. Actually, I didn't realise how much I missed you until earlier when I saw you enter the room."

"I missed you too Nico. You were such an important part of my life back then. I admit it was easier for me too not to have any contact with you. But I think it's alright now, it's time to move on and start living our life."

"I agree." You shared a smile and somehow you couldn't seem to be able to look away. The two of you started chuckling at the awkwardness of this feeling, but none of you broke the stare. There was comfort in this awkwardness. You felt at home next to him.

"Alright, I should go home. I had a little too much to drink and I'm not sure I can trust myself right now."

Nico nicely accompanied you to your apartment, not having drunk anything himself. The road seemed to have sobered you up a bit. Yet the tension was becoming unbearable in the Infiniti car. Each breath you took was more difficult than the previous one, as if the car lacked oxygen.

Nico kept glancing at you while driving. He couldn't help but admire your beauty. You turned from a cute awkward teenager to a gorgeous strong woman. You didn't look like your sister anymore. Of course you shared the same physical traits, but you looked so independent, so fierce yet so fragile. Nico felt attracted to you, like a magnet. He was Adam and you were Eve, so beautiful and tempting, he knew he was about to taste the forbidden fruit.

As he parked the car in front of your building, none of you dared to say anything. As if your minds were connected, you both turned to each other at the same time and kissed passionately. Reluctantly, you had to separate to get out of the car, his lips finding yours again quickly again as he leaned you against the car. You kissed in the lobby, in the elevator, all the way to your apartment. Once the door closed, there was no barrier between you. Your clothes were thrown away, some torn up, in a desperate attempt to calm the fire inside your bodies.

The both of you felt like sinning. Was it OK? Was it politically correct? All you know is that you fell asleep feeling alive for the first time in 10 years.

---

"I don't know if it's OK, but honestly I don't care what people might think right now. I've never felt anything like what I felt yesterday." He was playing with a strand of your hair as your head was lying on his naked shoulder. You felt at peace.

"I want to be egoist for once. I want to think of myself. I don't regret anything either, Nico. But you have to know I'm broken. I don't want you to think this will be easy." Your voice was weak, yet you've never been so sure about anything in your entire life.

"So am I, Y/N. But I believe, maybe this is what's meant to be. Maybe we're supposed to heal each other."

You sighed in comfort at his words and he left a tender kiss on your temple.

For the first time in 10 years, you felt better than the day before. You were ready to move on.