“Lap 56 Gap to Potter is 2.6, Lupin has been told to defend from the rest of the field, work on managing those tires” he hears Dorcas come over the radio.
“God bless Lupin and I got it ”he says focusing on James' red Ferrari in front. It's race 24 out of 24, the last race of the season. Who takes home the Drivers world championship comes down to this with both Regulus and James being tied at 370 points. James has won the past 3 championships but now it's his turn. He's fought bare nail and tooth for this and he's not about to give it up now. He slows down as he goes around turn 16 then pushes hard down the straight. Abu Dhabi was always one of his favorite races to watch growing up and to win his first World Championship here would mean everything. It was a fairly recent addition to the calendar and it was no Silverstone or Monaco but still it was one of his favorite tracks. He crosses the start finish line.
"Lap 57 gap is now 1.2 you should be able to catch him next lap. Don't fuck up." she comes on again
"Yea I got that Cas" he loves her to death but yea he knows not to fuck up, he'd never forgive himself if he did. He pushes harder coming around turn nine. It's his win he's not giving it up. Lupin's defending from the rest of the grid. It's just him and Potter now. Two drivers equal in points it all comes down to this next lap. They grew up karting together and sure James got into F1 first but Regulus was always the better driver. And a World Championship his rookie year will prove just how talented of a driver he really is. He can tell Potter is starting to lose grip on his tires. The teams strategy had both been working good so far but where that changed is they decided to pit Regulus a second time for softs while Ferrari had decided to keep James on the mediums. Regulus comes back around turn one and hears Dorcas come over the radio again.
"Last Lap gap is 0.9. Go get him"
He goes past turn four, he has DRS. He pushes down the straight and with the DRS and the slipstream from James' Ferrari he's able to get up right next to him. They're now wheel to wheel, his favorite kind of racing. They drive side by side down the straight but with Regulus' fresher tires he's able to push going down the inside overtaking James. P1, he's not in the clear yet there's still the second DRS zone and James is definitely close enough to get it. He can see James close behind him in his rear view mirror. There isn't enough time to put space between them both so his only choice is to defend.
They head down sector 2 and James is starting to gain. He tries to go round the outside but Regulus, having raced with him for more than 10 years, already knows how he races and doesn't let him get the chance. This win is his. He barrels down turn 14 still driving carefully enough as to not make a mistake so that there's no way James can get the position back. He turns past turn 16 and crosses the checkered flag P1.
395 to 387
"LET'S GO REGULUS YOU'RE WORLD CHAMPION!" he hears Dorcas yell over the radio and he responds by yelling back over the radio. His team principal, Minerva, comes over the radio to congratulate him. It's the first time a rookie has ever won the world title. It's a big accomplishment not only for him but for his team. He finishes his cool down lap and pulls his car into Parc Ferme right behind the Big 1 sign. He's dreamed of this moment since he was a kid it's almost all he's ever wanted. He gets out of his car and stands on his car raising his hand making a number one sign with it. He runs over and jumps into the crowd of Mercedes personnel that await him. After he hugs everyone on his team he makes his way back to take off his helmet and get his weight taken. He congratulates Remus and thanks him for defending so well, honestly if it wasn't for him he wouldn't even have this championship.
"Congrats Regulus, let's see if you'll be as lucky next year" he hears a familiar voice, one he's heard almost his whole life say from behind him. Regulus turns around standing face to face with him.
"Oh trust me it wasn't luck, let's see how well you hold up next year I doubt I'll let you get that close, Potter" he winks at him and follows Lily, his pr manager to his interview, walking past James.
The sky sports interviewer congratulates him on his win."You are the first ever rookie driver to win a world championship. How are you feeling right now?" the interviewer asks him. Regulus grabbed the mic and answered " I mean yea it was an intense race, an intense season. I think that it's incredible I mean I had such a great time the season so yea let's hope to many more." "So Regulus how does it feel you finally beat your all time rival winning the world championship?" the man asked him. "Well it's amazing I mean I've wanted this my whole life and on beating James he's a great driver you know we grew up karting together we've spent our whole lives racing together and it's amazing to be able to get the championship by beating him you know he really made me work for it." He answered a few more of the man's questions and the interviewer congratulated him again and he handed the mic back and made his way to the cool down room.
He walked into the room grabbing his P1 hat and towel wiping the sweat off him.
"Honestly I was on the edge of my seat you guys got so close, was secretly hoping you would take each other out" Lupin said grabbing his hat and sitting down watching the replay of the battle between James and himself for First.
"Not like it would've done you any good" James bitterly replied wiping the sweat off himself.
"No would've been funny though" Remus replied. Regulus took his seat in the middle and watched the various clips of the battles in the midfield. He couldn't talk he just kept replaying the last three laps in his head relishing the victory.
He looked over at James still standing. He watched him wipe down his glasses and fix his gorgeous unruly hair. He almost felt bad for him they've always been neck to neck in karting, F4, F3, F2 and now F1. It shouldn't be a shock to James that he was able to beat him. Maybe it's the whole rookie thing, yea that gotta be it, must sting. The FIA person came and collected them to walk up to the podium. Remus walked out as they announced P3.
" Hey congrats to you too Potter was scared you were gonna catch me there in the end." he said before they called for P2.
"Thanks Reg but you deserve it, you've always kept me on my toes. You're really amazing" he smiled walking out onto the podium.
Amazing? Who the hell does James think he is calling him amazing, not an amazing driver just amazing? He sighed. Well that was awfully nice maybe he's not a sore loser and it's true racing against James has made him a better driver hell if it wasn't for him he probably wouldn't have won his rookie year. He walked out onto the podium relishing his victory under the warm sun. The french anthem came on and he couldn't feel any more pride than he did at this moment. He really did it the first ever rookie to win the championship since when the sport started in 1950. He received his trophy and raised it above him kissing it.
After James and Remus got there trophies he set his down and grabbed his bottle of champagne. He shook it and sprayed it over his team in the crowd while Remus and James sprayed him. He turned to spray Remus and then turned to spray James. James laughed as he sprayed Regulus in his face. He really was taking this loss shockingly well. Once it stopped bubbling he cheered the other men and drank his champagne while James and Remus poured it over his head.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
That night he, his team, and most of the grid went out to the club to celebrate his win. He went around exchanging words with his team and the other drivers as they stopped to congratulate him and talk about the race. In fact every driver was there except James. Maybe he was a sore loser who is just obnoxiously kind. He spent the better half of the night dancing even occasionally getting into conversations with strangers. Which for him is way out of the norm. But he was having fun until he saw him. He didn't know when he showed up but he was here now sitting at the bar chatting up some blonde. It made him angry he doesn't know why but it does. He doesn't show up when the party starts but now all of a sudden he's here chatting some girl up. It's ridiculous! He can't believe he showed up late the audacity, yea that's why he's mad. And maybe it's the fact that this girl is obviously trying to fuck him. He made his way through the crowd towards the bar.
"James. I thought you were throwing your own pity party" Regulus mumbled sitting himself next to James taking his attention away from the girl on his other side. " I mean really don't show up when the party starts and now what had enough of wallowing in sadness or you just had to make a dramatic entrance?"
"Nice to see you too Reg, and yes I was throwing a pity party until I realized that's not what I want" he replied turning his full attention to Regulus as the blonde next to him rolled her eyes and walked away. "So you've definitely been having fun I mean you can't even speak properly."
"Don't call me that and I can speak properly" he sighed throwing his head on the table. The few drinks he had and the loud music had given him a headache. He really shouldn't let himself talk to James like this when he's loose from the win, who knows what stupid things he'll say. "I haven't drank that much, everyone keeps trying to get me drunk but luckily Lupin lets me hand them all to him. I really don't know what I'd do without him." he lifted his head back up to look and James and made his way to stand up. "Wanna come get some fresh air with me?" And there was the stupid thing.
"Sure" James stood following Regulus silently from behind. They walked out to the back of the club and Regulus pulled out a pack of cigarettes. "Really? Those things kill you. Does Barty know you smoke those?"
Barty, Regulus personal trainer since he was in F2. He's been his trainer and best friend ever since they met. "Who do you think shares them with me? Besides I only smoke at parties like these I'm a social smoker" he replied pulling one out and lighting it in his mouth. "You want one?" he handed his pack out to James.
"Yea why the fuck not." he said taking one out of the pack and holding it out for Regulus to light. They both stood there in silence smoking until James broke the silence. " So I can't call you Reg but you can call me Jamie?" he joked raising an eyebrow at Regulus.
Regulus turned to look at him the alley lights hitting his face in just the right way to drive him crazy. "Yea because I'm doing it to be a dick not whatever the hell you're doing." he said turning his attention away from the other man and back to his cigarette. He heard James chuckle at his comment as they fell back into silence. Why the hell did he invite James out here? What was he hoping would result from this a "wow you did so good winning your rookie season lets make out".
"Hell of a race huh I honestly couldn't tell if you were gonna catch me till that very last lap and you sure as hell did. I think that's the best race I've ever had in my life." James said breaking the silence once more.
"Thanks I mean this entire season has been crazy. It's like we were always so close, literally spent most of our races wheel to wheel. Honestly it only feels right I'm the one to break your streak. Like we grew up together always neck to neck in the championships, there's something so symbolic about that." he said pulling another cigarette out of the pack and lighting it. He blew the smoke and turned to look at James finding him already looking.
"Yea" he took another drag from his cigarette and blew the smoke out. "It seems like our lives are intertwined, our dads raced against each other and now we're fighting side by side for the title. It's written in the stars" James chuckled putting his cigarette out against the wall. Of course it's James to say something like that, to lose the championship only to say something so tragically beautiful in defeat.
"Careful there don't want us to go killing ourselves." he said watching James as he let out his laughter. He was doubled over clutching his side. "Really wasn't that funny" he looked at James with a raised eyebrow. He calmed down and pressed himself against the wall facing Regulus.
"You know the media paints us out to be rivals who hate each other's guts but I think the star crossed lovers fighting for the title would sell a lot more." he laughed pushing his glasses up his face. God how he hates him saying stupid things like that with his stupid glasses, and his stupid hair. He's always been slightly jealous or into him whatever that weird combination of I'm going to beat you but you're also stupidly beautiful. "Careful there lover boy" Regulus said "The media would go absolutely mad if they heard that" he said turning away from James looking back up at the sky.
"Wouldn't be the worst" James said staring at Regulus with such intensity he feels like the other man is burning holes in him. He turned his head back to look at James. What the hell was he saying? Toying with his feelings like that? He pushed him self off the wall. "Yea sure James" Regulus said and began walking towards the door. "See you at pre-season testing. Hope you enjoyed the party."
"Wait Reg" James said. He stopped and turned around. Why does he keep calling him that it's getting on his nerves how he just thinks he can say things like that, like it doesn't have an affect on him. "What James" Regulus sighed. James made his way to him stopping right in front of him.
"I meant what I said Regulus."
He couldn't believe it James Potter. His rival, friend, childhood buddy. Telling him what that he likes him or that they should sell it for the media? "What exactly would that be James?" he asked.
"I want you" he said and Regulus whole world shatters. The man who was his gay awakening, who he's been pining over for years, who's perfect lips he can't get out of his mind. He wants him back?
"And I don't care what anyone thinks okay Regulus we grew up together and I've always liked you. I mean everything about you is perfect they way your hair falls, the way you talk, how you so graciously get out of the car, and how you race I just. Damn it I can't believe it's taken me this long to tell you but I honestly just really understood what it is that I'm feeling. Look I'm sorry if I made it awkward but I had to tell you and-" Regulus cut him off kissing James like his life depended on it. He had wanted this for so long. It was even better than he had imagined it to be. He grabbed on to the back of his head putting his hands in his hair and playing with it. Fuck how he's wanted this. He had always admired James' curls but touching them is a whole other thing. From when they were little kids Regulus had a stupid little crush on him but that crush lasted and he's been madly in love with James ever since. He's dated other people before but it's always been James it will always be James for him. They didn't stop kissing until they both were gasping for air.
"Fuck you" Regulus breathed out. "I mean really you lose and you decide what you want me?" he said before pushing James up against the wall to kiss him again. He kissed James harder not wanting to be apart from him for any longer. When they broke apart and Regulus moved him self to kiss James' neck. "Who the fuck does that" he said in between kissing his neck. "I mean fuck I've liked you since we were kids and you now just realize?" he said moving back to his mouth.
James pushed him off slightly. "Wait you like me?"
"You're fucking kidding me right? No James I just made out with you and told you I've liked you ever since we were kids because I wanted to make a joke?" he replied grabbing James' face and kissing him again this time softer but still with passion. When they broke apart again they both stood in silence relishing in what had just happened between them with their backs against the wall shoulder to shoulder. The only noise coming from them breathing in heavily trying to make up for the lost air. After a while he felt James turn in his direction.
"Yea this is so the best day of my life" James laughed. Regulus turned to look at him and started laughing with him. "What I mean it is I don't have a care in the world I just lost the title I got you and honestly to me that's way better than some stupid trophy and number" James said staring at Regulus
"Yea it is definitely the best day of my life as well. I mean the title I've been dreaming of since I was a kid and the boy I've been dreaming of since I was a kid I don't think I've ever been happier actually." he said staring back at James. Admiring the way his hair curls and the way his glasses sit so nicely on his nose. He reached up and pushed James glasses up. Then moving himself closer to James to play with his hair. "Just letting you know that this doesn't mean I'm taking it easy on you next year. If anything I'm gonna race you even harder"
"I'd expect nothing less from the world champion" James said wrapping Regulus in his arms.