Chapter Text
The low rumble of engines from the outside drifted through the Kick Sauber F1 Team’s motorhome in Bahrain, the sound steady like a heartbeat. Mechanics were already busy, testing equipment and rehearsing pit stops for the new season.
Nico pushed open the glass doors with his daughter balanced on one arm. Four-year-old Noemi clung to him, her small hands gripping his jacket. She was a little bundle of warmth, her tiny team jacket looked a little stiff around the edges, but she wore it more willingly than any of her princess dresses. She smelled faintly of vanilla – a painful reminder of his wife, and warm leather – echo of his own.
“Daddy, is this where you drive fast?” she asked, voice muffled against his neck.
“Sometimes,” Nico said, smiling. “But today we’re just meeting some friends. You remember what I said?”
“Stay close to daddy,” she recited, nodding seriously.
“Good girl.”
Alpha adjusted her on his hip and made his way towards the main briefing room. It was media day – photos, sponsor talks, and the official meeting with his new teammate. He’d been through this a dozen times before, but this time felt different. Not because of the new team member he was about to meet. Because of who he was walking in with.
It was one of the first times he’d brought his daughter with him, and the team had said it was fine – even setting up a small play area in one corner of the conference room. Sauber had always been decent like that, supporting him as much as they could.
As they entered, the room was already alive with voices and laughter. Engineers huddled over laptops, media staff adjusted camera lights, and in the middle of it all was someone new.
A wave of scents hit Nico: the sharp tang of coffee and a new one – sweet, like sun-ripened mangoes with a hint of spice.
Omega.
Gabriel Bortoleto.
He was talking with a mechanic, gesturing with his hands as he laughed. Nico remembered him from videos or brief meetings during practices – the young Brazilian, full of confidence and charm.
When he turned and spotted Nico, his face lit up even more.
“Nico! Man, it’s so good to finally meet you in person,” Gabi said, striding forward with a firm handshake. His accent curled around his words like music.
Nico returned the shake, measured but polite.
“Gabriel, right? Welcome to the team. I saw your laps from last year – good techniques."
“Thank you, and please, call me Gabi,” omega said easily. His eyes flicked to the small girl on Nico’s hip. “And who’s this?”
Noemi froze for a second, then hid her face in Nico’s shoulder.
“This is Noemi,” Nico said softly. “She’s shy around new people.”
Gabi crouched slightly so he wasn’t towering over her. “That’s okay, Noemi. I get shy too, sometimes.”
He smiled, then crossed his eyes and puffed out his cheeks in a ridiculous face. Noemi’s giggle broke the ice immediately. She peeked out again, smiling shyly.
Nico couldn’t help a small grin. “You’ve got a talent for that.”
“I’ve got nieces back home,” Gabi said with a shrug. “You learn how to earn a giggle.”
They talked for a bit before Gabi just stopped mid sentence just to stare at Nico, who raised an eyebrow questioningly.
"Seriously, though, it's an honor to be your teammate,” smiled Gabi, “I've watched your races since I was a kid."
"Kid? Now I feel ancient. Thanks, though. Just don't expect me to go easy on you out there. Teammates or not, I'm still fighting for those points," Nico chuckled and turned to the meeting room.
The meeting was long but Gabi’s enthusiasm didn’t dip for a second. He asked thoughtful questions, took notes, cracked light jokes that made even the engineers smile.
Noemi sat quietly beside Nico with crayons and paper, coloring little race cars in streaks of green and black.
Every so often, when she dropped a crayon or looked lost, Gabi would lean over with a smile, retrieve the runaway pencil, or whisper something funny that made her giggle again. It wasn’t forced. Gabi was just like that. Natural. Caring and smiling being coded in his omega nature, even strong suppressant prescribed for all of the sportsmen not being able to hide it.
Nico watched similar interactions for the next couple of days, a knot forming in his stomach. He knew that for Gabi it was instinctive, especially around vulnerable pup, but it still stirred something in Nico.
He cleared his throat.
“Gabi, we’re late for the interview,” Nico reminded him, though he didn’t really want to pull away from his daughter either – not when she looked so happy and relaxed.
“Right, sorry. Just… she’s adorable,” Gabi said, straightening up, a faint blush coloring his cheeks.
The interviews went as they always did – cameras, lights, the endless repetition of sponsor lines and polite smiles. Gabi stayed cheerful through it all, teasing Nico once or twice to get him to relax, while Nico just played along. After the last one, they checked the schedule for the following day and finally called it a day.
When they returned to the main office, Nico felt relief settle in his shoulders. The first thing he noticed was laughter – small, bubbling giggles echoing from the far corner where the children’s play area was set up.
He smiled when he saw that Noemi wasn’t alone anymore. Penelope was there, both girls surrounded by toy blocks and paper scraps. A young beta team assistant sat nearby, keeping an eye on them.
Noemi’s face was bright, her earlier shyness gone. Penelope was talking a mile a minute, explaining something about race cars made from cardboard, and Noemi nodded, handing her a glue stick.
Nico exhaled, warmth spreading through him. She was happy here. That was what mattered.
Then he noticed two familiar figures standing by the hospitality entrance – Max and Charles, both still in team gear, chatting with one of the mechanics.
“Stealing ideas to adjust your own cars?” Nico called with a grin as he walked over, reaching out a hand in greeting.
Max snorted, taking the hand.
“More like giving your engineers recommendations so your tractor is more driveable.”
“Funny,” Nico said, raising an eyebrow. “You should try driving it sometime.”
Charles chuckled, shaking his head.
“Don’t start, you two,” Charles' smile softened as he glanced toward the kids. “Can’t believe Noemi is this big already.”
“Yeah,” Nico said, following his gaze. “She grew up a lot over the winter. This Christmas felt… more normal than the last one.”
He didn’t elaborate, and the others didn’t press. The air between them stayed easy – friendly, respectful. Max and Charles knew enough of Nico’s past to fill in the blanks.
For a while, three of the alphas just talked: about car setup, travel fatigue. Charles mentioned Penelope’s latest obsession with pit crews and Max teased that she will be managing a team before any of them retire. Nico laughed, genuinely.
That was when Gabi came in — still a little windblown from the cool air outside, his jacket unzipped and hair messy from pulling off his green cap. He came in with Kimi and Isack. The guys nudged each other, laughing, relaxed and playful.
The other rookies ran ahead to the cafeteria to grab some snacks, chatting about how hungry they were and trying to drag Gabi along. He paused, though, when he noticed the small group nearby. Offering a quick, apologetic smile to his friends, he excused himself and walked over.
“Did I miss gossip hour?” Gabi asked, looking around but not really at anyone in particular.
Nico was the first to answer. “Just the part where Max tried to give me driving lessons.”
“Hey!” Max protested, grinning. “I think I’m qualified to give these.”
“Here he goes again,” Charles murmured, and the group laughed.
Gabi glanced past them toward the play area and brightened instantly, forgetting the alphas and rookies around him – who he had promised he’d catch up with, but they were already gone anyway. His scent seemed to spike with pure joy.
“Oh, Penelope’s also here!” He waved to the girls, who waved back enthusiastically. “Hey, you two, what are you building?”
“A garage!” Penelope said proudly. “For both daddy's cars.”
“And mine,” Noemi added, clutching a small cardboard cutout.
“Well, that’s ambitious,” Gabi said, crouching beside them. “Need a pit crew?”
The girls nodded and he started helping them balance paper ramps, completely absorbed in their project.
The sight made Charles smile.
“He’s good with them,” he murmured.
“Yeah,” Nico said quietly, eyes still on the scene. “Aren’t all omegas?”
Charles and Max exchanged a small, knowing look and both hummed in agreement. The two alphas, who had chosen to adopt Penelope together, understood better than most how hard it could be for someone without that natural caregiving instinct to raise a child. They had known from the start what they were signing up for.
But Nico hadn’t had that choice. He had expected to raise his daughter side by side with his mate, only to be left alone to figure it all out all by himself.
Eventually, Gabi stood up again, brushing bits of paper from his sleeves. He caught Nico’s gaze and smiled – a wide, genuine smile that made Nico, almost without realizing it, to smile back.
“We make a good team. The garage’s already better than half the ones I’ve been in,” stated Gabi.
“Don’t give the mechanics ideas,” Max said.
“Too late,” one of the engineers called from the side, and the group burst out laughing.
The laughter lingered for a moment, soft and genuine. Nico watched the others – the laughter, the easy way everyone talked, and how Gabi already seemed to be part of it. He was glad to see that. It was only his first week in the F1, but he fit in like he’d been there for much longer.
He turned back towards the play corner, where Noemi was holding up the little cardboard garage she had built with Gabi, beaming with pride.
“Look, daddy! It’s finished!”
Nico crouched down and smiled. “Looks perfect, sweetheart.”
Noemi grinned and lifted her arms. He picked her up, her head settling against his shoulder, the smell of crayons in her hair. A faint, sweet scent clung to her as well – a hint of Gabi’s mango-like warmth from earlier, lingering subtly on her clothes and hair, blending with the faint vanilla and leather.
As they said goodbye, Charles waved, Max smiled, and Gabi looked up from the table.
“See you tomorrow,” he said with a smile.
“Yeah,” Nico replied. “See you.”
Out in the quiet hallway, Nico glanced back once. Gabi was still inside, laughing at something Charles said, looking completely at ease.
That sound – light and easy – stayed with him as he walked away.
───── • ───── • ─────
A month later Nico and Gabi were forced – okay, maybe Gabi was actually quite willing – to film a new video for the F1 social media page. The task? Rate something called Brainrot. Nico wasn’t entirely sure why he, an older driver, alpha, had to do this, but apparently it was trending.
“Chimpanzini Banini has to be in third place,” Gabi declared, pressing closer to Nico's side so he could tap the screen of his phone, laughing as he did.
Nico squinted at the image – a banana with a chimpanzee’s head. “Why does this deserve third place?” he muttered.
Gabi shrugged, still grinning. “Man, you have a young kid at home, you need to know these things.”
“I’m not brain-rotting my daughter,” Nico huffed, but he couldn’t hide the small smile tugging at his lips.
Once he got a young teammate like Gabi, these trendy videos became part of their daily routine. Nico didn’t really hate it – he’d spent most of his career doing serious sponsorship videos and interviews, but times had changed. Clips with shark in sneakers or how Gabi called that thing Tralalelo Tralila drew attention in ways the old style never could.
After a few posts, social media started noticing them. People joked about their “millenian vs gen z” challenges – their shared chemistry – or even called it a bromance, which was funny considering their age difference, whenever Gabi got a little too close during filming, or when Nico put his hand over Gabi’s shoulder while showing him something.
Between post-race media, time with Noemi, and filming these goofy videos with Gabriel, Nico found that he actually enjoyed it.
What he didn’t enjoy was the track. The fourth race in a row had come and gone with zero points. And even though Saudi Arabia had never been his favorite circuit, he'd hoped for better than P15.
He looked over at Gabi, who was sitting quietly, staring at his tablet with that familiar disappointment written on his face. The young man had been pointless in every race so far. Nico felt a pang in his chest. The sweet mango warmth he liked in Gabi’s scent now seemed a little sour.
“It’s okay,” Nico said, trying to sound confident. “The car’s not stable, the pace isn’t great.”
“Yeah, it’s okay,” Gabi said, forcing a smile, though his big brown eyes still looked sad.
“I know you’re disappointed,” Nico said softly, ruffling Gabi’s hair. “But you’ll score points. Your time will come.”
“My brother gave up his dream so I could have a chance to race – and here I am, fifth race in, and I still have nothing… they’re going to kick me out.” Gabi murmured, almost to himself, tears starting to gather in his eyes.
Nico swallowed. He was never good with tears – never good with sensitive omegas. Shit, he was terrible at comforting people.
“Look,” Nico said, crouching in front of Gabi so he could meet his eyes, trying to release his calming pheromones. “I spent fifteen years without a podium. Yet I’m still here.”
Gabi blinked, a little surprised at the statement, even though he already knew it.
“Man, when you say it like that–” he started, his instincts pulling him to forget his own sorrow and comfort the alpha in front of him.
“No, no,” Nico interrupted, smiling. “It’s not about me. I’m trying to comfort you. Don’t be too sad – you’re in F1. That’s already a huge step. I bet your brother’s proud of you.”
Gabi’s lips curved into a small, reluctant smile, and for a moment, the weight of the season’s start felt lighter. Racing could be brutal. Social media could be cruel. But between them, it was something grounding – something that reminded them both why they loved being here in the first place.
Sadly, during the next race, Gabi had to retire early because of a power unit problem and he was nowhere to be found when Nico finished the race, also with no points.
Nico picked up Noemi from the nanny after the short interview, the little girl still excited from the race, but also a little aware of the disappointment on the screens.
“Gabi looked sad,” she said quietly, pointing at the TV where Gabi’s face was just moments ago.
“I know, sweetie,” Nico replied softly, lifting her into his arms.
Her tiny hands rested on his shoulders, and he squeezed her gently. He thanked the beta who had stayed with her during the race and made his way down the corridor toward Gabi’s driver room.
Even in the hallway, a faint sour mango scent – the remnants of Gabi’s frustration – lingered in the air. Noemi wrinkled her nose after sniffing the air curiously. Nico chuckled at her reaction.
“Yeah, that’s just a bit of Gabi’s bad mood,” he explained. “Let’s try to cheer him up, yeah?”
He put Noemi down and knocked on the door, and it opened quickly. Gabi appeared, already in his casual clothes, hair a little tousled from the day.
“Hey– oh, Noemi! Hey sweetie, long time no see,” Gabi said, and immediately his mood seemed lighter, as if the sight of her had chased away some of the frustration.
The sweet, warm scent of his pheromones mingled subtly with the lingering sourness, and Noemi giggled, pressing a little closer to Nico.
“Hi, Gabi,” she said shyly, but with a small smile.
“Hi, little racer,” Gabi replied, crouching down to meet her eye level. He ruffled her hair gently, careful not to startle her. “Did you watch the race?”
“Yes, but you looked sad,” she murmured, glancing at Nico and back at Gabi.
“Yeah, it didn’t go as we hoped,” Nico admitted. “But that’s racing. Sometimes it’s tough. Right, Gabi?”
Gabi nodded, his big brown eyes softening.
“Yeah… sometimes cars just don’t want to cooperate. But tomorrow’s another day, right?”
Noemi tilted her head, looking between them. “Will you be happy again, Gabi?”
A small smile tugged at his lips as the child’s genuine concern made him feel a little better.
“I will, thanks to you two.” Omega glanced at Nico somewhat shyly, then back at her. “And seeing you happy helps a lot.”
Nico couldn’t help but smile too, watching Gabi ease into the role of someone who could comfort, even while feeling frustrated himself. Noemi giggled a little, clearly approving of Gabi’s calm presence.
“You know, let’s go grab something to eat,” Nico said, a spontaneous idea lighting up his face. “Noemi’s been missing Penelope. I’ll invite Max and Charles too. What do you think?”
Before Gabi could answer, Nico added, almost as a precaution. “Unless you already have plans with the other rookies – heard they were thinking of partying.”
“No!” Gabi answered a little too loudly and too quickly, startling himself. Then he laughed and smiled. “I’m not in the mood for partying, but I could eat something.”
Luckily, Max and Charles were still around the paddock and happy to join them. Soon, they were all sitting in a simple restaurant a little further away from the track. Some fans still lingered, snapping photos, but the team managed to get a more separated area at the back.
The girls didn’t even wait for the menus, they dashed straight to the children’s corner to draw and play. The alphas immediately eased into discussion about the race after placing their orders.
Gabi was complaining about the car but then he trailed off when Noemi suddenly frowned, her little face scrunching up as Penelope drew over her picture. Gabi was up in a heartbeat, crossing the room to crouch beside them. A few soft words and a new sheet of paper later, both girls were smiling again.
Nico’s chest did that thing again – warm, unsteady. He hid it behind a sip of water.
Max caught him and smirked. “Careful, Hülk. You’re smiling.”
“Shut up,” Nico muttered, but there was no heat in it.
When Gabi came back he tried to follow the conversation, but his gaze kept drifting toward the girls, who were now playing a game that resembled hide-and-seek, disappearing under chairs, behind bigger toys, or even towards a small plant at the far end of the corner.
“Everything okay?” Nico asked, leaning slightly closer, noticing Gabi’s tension and the change in his pheromones.
“Yeah… it’s just… the girls are playing further away, and–”
“Mate, we will hear if anything happens,” Max interjected, trying to reason logically. “And they’re not that small anymore. Relax and eat.”
“Hard to relax. Omega thing. If they’re out of sight, my brain screams danger. Sorry.” Gabi’s laugh was thin, almost nervous.
“Never be sorry over something like that,” Nico said seriously, throwing a sharp look at Max, who shuffled in his seat.
“Girls!” Charles called first, stepping in to steer the situation away from a conflict. “Come to the table – your macaroni is here. Sit and eat a bit.”
Gabi smiled at Charles, feeling a flutter of relief as the girls returned.
The evening passed pleasantly. The food was good, and Gabi gradually relaxed, temporarily forgetting his disappointing race. Max and Charles left first, wanting to catch their flight, while Gabi and Nico lingered a little longer.
Noemi had fallen asleep leaning against Nico, and he told Gabi stories about his own rookie years, making Gabi laugh quietly. Every now and then, Gabi covered his mouth to keep from laughing and waking up the little girl, his amusement soft and restrained.
Luckily, Nico had rented a car before the race weekend, so there was no need to wait for a taxi. Noemi sat in the back, watching videos on YouTube, while Nico focused on driving. Gabi, exhausted, nodded off in the passenger seat, fighting sleep but eventually giving in.
“Gabi,” Nico’s gentle voice reached him through the fog of sleep. “Wake up. I’m not carrying you to your room.”
“Why not?” Gabi mumbled, still too zoned out to fully process.
“Because I’ll carry Noemi,” Nico laughed, his German accent softening the words. “Unless you want to sit in the car and wait for me to come back and carry you.”
“I’ll wait,” Gabi murmured, his head falling back down.
Nico chuckled at the tired young man and scooped his daughter out of the back seat, carrying her to their room. Once Noemi was tucked into bed, he returned for Gabi.
He opened the car door, undid Gabi’s seatbelt, and slid his hands under him to lift him when the omega stirred.
“Whoa– what are you doing?” Gabi exclaimed, instantly alert, making Nico grin.
“Trying to carry you to your bed, just like you wanted,” Nico teased lightly.
“I– shit, man, sorry, I zoned out,” Gabi said, clearly flustered, his sweet scent spiking, cheeks pink.
“It’s okay,” Nico replied, laughing. “Though I’m happy I won’t actually need to carry you – the lift’s out of service,” he locked the car once Gabi stepped out.
“I’m really sorry,” Gabi repeated, still blushing, as they stopped in front of his room.
“Relax. Go rest. You stressed a lot today,” Nico said, giving his shoulder a reassuring squeeze.
Gabi stiffened, brain still foggy from his nap. Nico’s scent was so close, his warm hand on his shoulder, and Gabi felt a funny tingling in his stomach. Panic and warmth mixed in a strange, distracting way.
“Yeah, sure… goodnight, Nico,” he murmured, smiling faintly, and slipped behind his door.
Once in his room, Gabi pressed his palms against his face, feeling his cheeks burn. He cursed himself silently for being so distracted, so affected by his older teammate.
But what could he do? Nico was calm, funny, gentle with his daughter, and kind to him. And he smelled… too good. Warm leather and autumn, a scent that seemed to wrap around Gabi every time the alpha came near.
“I’m screwed,” Gabi murmured to himself.