Chapter Text
It’s late, sometime past midnight and Liam knows he needs to be up early tomorrow, yet he makes no attempt to turn off his phone, and his eyes can’t seem to pry themselves away from the screen. He just lays in bed staring at the video playing on loop, over and over again. It’s a TikTok of him and Isack, posted on the VCARB page, one of the first ones they recorded together.
Liam isn’t usually sentimental but when he stumbled across the video on his feed he couldn’t help but feel an ache in his chest. He tries to soothe the feeling, telling himself that he’ll still see Isack around the paddock, still gets to talk to him. But that’s not enough, Liam wants to record dumb videos with Isack, sit in boring meetings with him and be the first to congratulate him after a good race. Liam wants Isack back.
He knows it’s not fair to write his new teammate off like that. Arvid is nice, funny and he seems competent enough. Still, they are only acquaintances at best, almost never talking to each other outside of work. With Isack it was different, they got along well both during and after work, and Liam found that he really enjoyed the frenchman’s company. But after the announcement of Isack’s switch to Red Bull they stopped talking almost entirely; their schedules making it impossible for them to see each other.
Before he knows it he’s in his contacts, finger hovering above a certain number. His eyes dart between the screen and the clock on his nightstand. He hesitates, it’s one in the morning, Isack is probably sleeping. Right as he’s contemplating on just calling it quits and going to sleep himself a text message pops up on screen.
Isack 01:13
Bro are you moving on already? :,(
[See attached video]
Liam breaths out a laugh as he realises it’s one of the videos he and Arvid filmed the other day. He quickly types out a reply.
Liam 01:13
lmao you know i could never replace you mate
Isack 01:14
Mhmm seems to me like you two are having the time of your life
Liam 01:16
nahh trust me we barley talk
Isack 01:17
Seems like you two get along well enough, unlike others
Liam 01:20
what, having trouble with max?
Isack 01:24
Idk being his teammate is cool but i get nervous around him haha
Liam 01:24
Wanna talk about it?
Liam jolts up from where he’s been laying in bed, his phone ringing and Isack’s number flashing across the screen. He feels his throat go dry as he answers the call and hears the familiar voice on the other end.
“Hey man,” Isack’s soft accent floods Liam’s mind and oh, how he’d missed that sound.
“Hello, uh- how have you been, mate?” Liam manages to get out, hoping Isack didn’t notice the shake in his voice. His question makes Isack pause on the other end, and then with an exasperated sigh he answers.
“It’s been hectic, moving up to the main team and all that, but overall I’ve been… good,” It sounds like a question when he says it, like he’s unsure of the answer himself.
“Is the team treating you well?” Liam tries to be as vague as possible, trying to see if Iscak wants to talk about it.
“Yeah, yeah they are great,” Isack follows his short reply with a question before Liam can say another word, “But how have you been, bro? The only sign of life I see from you is when VCARB uploads a new video,”
“I guess you’ve noticed that I have been swamped with media duties,” Liam laughs and waits a beat for Isack’s reaction, he hears nothing on the other end, “It’s probably the team’s plan, so me and Arvid get acquainted,” The mention of the rookie’s name seems to pique Isack’s interest.
“How is he- Arvid? Is he good? What is he like?” Liam has never heard Isack stumble over his words like that, like he needs to get all of his questions out at once.
“He’s alright, pretty chill dude I guess? Like I said I haven’t really spoken to him much,” He shrugs out of habit, aware that Isack can’t see him.
The other end of the call goes silent again. As Liam waits for an answer his eyes drift across the dark room, finally landing on a window. He has a pretty nice view from his hotel room, overlooking the London skyline with a clear view of the dark night sky. He catches himself looking at the stars, he’d never noticed that they were so bright before. When Isack finally answers Liam is still staring up at the sky.
“You two will get along well, I can tell-” Before Isack can get the rest of his sentence out Liam gasps quietly as something catches his attention.
“Shooting star,” He whispers to himself, but Isack hears it.
“A shooting star- what?” Irritation clear in his voice at being interrupted.
“Ah sorry, I saw one just now,” Liam tries to lighten the mood a little, “Looks like I have to make a wish now, eh?”
“Wait, you believe in that stuff?” Now Isack just sounds confused.
“Honestly, I’ll believe in anything just to get me through this winter,” Liam looks down to the snow-covered streets and shudders.
“Are you sure it wasn't a satellite?” Isack teases, accepting the change of topic.
“Fuck off, I know what I saw,” Liam quips back.
“Sooo, what did you wish for?”
“Mate, if I tell you my wish it won’t count,” Liam insists, and for the first time during this call he hears Isack’s muffled laughter.
“Whatever you say, bro,” He can practically see Isack shake his head as he says it, and it makes Liam smile.
“Is it cold in Paris too?” Liam asks on a whim, trying to keep the conversation going.
“I don’t know, I’m not in Paris,” Isack replies curtly.
“I thought you posted about visiting family?” Liam cringes a little as he says it, now he just sounds like a stalker.
“I did a few days ago, now I’m back in London for some testing,” Liam stares out into the void of his hotel room, a sinking feeling settling in his gut. Isack has been in London this whole time and hasn’t reached out?
“You could’ve told me that,” Liam sighs. He hears faint shuffling on the other end until he hears Isack’s voice again, this time he’s a little out of breath.
“I figured that you've been so busy with your team and all, if I visit I'll just get in your way,” Isack argues.
“Maybe I want you to get in my way,” Liam says it before he can stop himself and hears how Isack's breath hitches.
“...Do you want me to come over now?” Isack sounds desperate now, but honestly that makes two of them. Liam shoots a quick glance at the clock, and shit, it's way past two now. He thinks about the decision he’s about to make; he can probably get away with skipping a couple of interviews tomorrow.
“Yeah, I do,”