*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧—chapter twenty-three: it's always worth it

THE MIDDAY SUN BEATS DOWN OVER THE BAHRAIN INTERNATIONAL CIRCUIT, THE DESERT AIR DRY AND UNRELENTING. Heat waves ripple off the asphalt, and the faint scent of burning rubber and fuel lingers in the air, carried by the occasional gust of wind. The paddock is buzzing with activity—team personnel darting between garages, journalists chatting in clusters, and the intermittent roar of engines echoing across the sprawling circuit.

Poe and Vivian stand near the Williams garage, their team-issued passes dangling around their necks. Both of them are dressed for the heat—Poe in a lightweight short-sleeved shirt and chinos, and Vivian in a breezy sundress paired with oversized sunglasses and a wide-brimmed hat that makes her look like she belongs on the cover of a fashion magazine.

"God, it's like standing in an oven," Vivian mutters, fanning herself with her paddock pass. "How do they even race in this heat?"

"They're insane," Poe replies, his gaze fixed on the track as a car zips by in a blur of blue and white. The distinct scream of the V8 engine sends a shiver down his spine, despite the oppressive warmth. He knows it's Nico—he can tell by the way the car moves, smooth and precise, as if it's an extension of him. Poe's chest tightens with a mix of pride and nerves, his fingers gripping the strap of his bag.

Vivian follows his gaze, adjusting her sunglasses. "Is that him?"

"Yeah," Poe says softly, his voice barely audible over the noise. "That's him."

Vivian tilts her head, watching as the Williams FW28 disappears around the bend. "He looks... fast."

"He is fast," Poe murmurs, though his tone is laced with worry. His eyes stay glued to the track, even as the car vanishes from view. "Too fast, sometimes."

Vivian glances at him, her expression softening. "You're nervous, aren't you?"

Poe lets out a quiet laugh, shaking his head. "Is it that obvious?"

"A little," Vivian teases, nudging him lightly with her elbow. "But I get it. Watching someone you love do something so... dangerous—it's intense. I don't think I'd be able to handle it."

Poe exhales deeply, his shoulders slumping slightly. "It's not easy," he admits. "But this is his dream. He's worked so hard to get here, and I can't let my fear hold him back. He deserves this."

Vivian smiles, resting a reassuring hand on his arm. "You're a good husband, Poe. Nico's lucky to have you."

Poe's lips twitch into a small smile, though his gaze remains distant. "I think I'm the lucky one."

✧ ✧ ✧

They're invited into the Williams garage about an hour later, the harsh sunlight giving way to the cooler, shadowed interior. The space is alive with activity—mechanics swarming over the car as it's wheeled back into the garage, engineers poring over data on their screens, and the faint hum of fans working overtime to keep the equipment from overheating.

Nico steps out of the car, pulling off his helmet to reveal damp, sweat-soaked blonde hair. His face is flushed from the heat, but his blue eyes are sharp, alive with the adrenaline of being on track. He spots Poe almost immediately, a grin breaking across his face as he unzips his racing suit down to his waist and peels off the top half.

"Hey," he says, his voice warm despite the exhaustion in it. He steps over to Poe, who's hovering near the edge of the garage, and leans in to press a quick kiss to his cheek. "I didn't think you'd be here. Your class is when, Tuesday?"

"Yeah. Decided I needed to see this for myself." Poe smiles, his nerves easing slightly at the sight of Nico's familiar grin. "I might be back here for the first race, too. We'll see."

Nico nods and then glances at Vivian, who's standing a few feet away, watching the exchange with an amused smile. "Viv," he says, nodding in greeting. "Good to see you."

"You too," she replies, her tone playful. "Though I think I'm melting out here. How are you not passed out from the heat?"

"Years of practice," Nico quips, running a hand through his damp hair. He turns back to Poe, his expression softening. "What do you think so far?"

Poe hesitates for a moment, his gaze flicking to the car behind Nico. It's still being worked on, its tyres slick with wear, its body streaked with dust from the track. "It's... impressive," he says finally. "Terrifying, but impressive."

Nico chuckles, his hand brushing against Poe's briefly before dropping to his side. "You don't have to be scared for me, you know. I've got this."

"I know," Poe says, though his voice is quieter now. "I just can't help it."

Nico steps closer, lowering his voice so only Poe can hear him. "I'm careful out there. I promise."

Poe nods, his chest feeling tight. "I know you are. But that doesn't make it any easier."

Nico smiles gently, his hand reaching out to squeeze Poe's shoulder. "I'll make it worth it, I promise. One day, this will all pay off."

"It already has," Poe says softly, his gaze meeting Nico's. "You're here. You're living your dream. That's all that matters."

Nico's smile widens, and for a moment, the chaos of the garage fades into the background. It's just the two of them, standing together in the middle of it all, their connection grounding them both.

✧ ✧ ✧

Later, Poe and Vivian watch from the team's hospitality suite as Nico heads back out onto the track. The view from the balcony is incredible, offering a clear line of sight to the main straight and the first corner. Poe leans against the railing, his headset back on, while Vivian sips a cold drink beside him.

"You know," Vivian says after a while, her eyes following Nico's car as it speeds down the straight, "I think you're handling this better than you give yourself credit for."

Poe glances at her, raising an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"

"I mean," Vivian says, gesturing toward the track, "you're here. You're watching him do what he loves, even though it scares the hell out of you. That takes guts, Poe. A lot of people wouldn't be able to do it."

Poe huffs a quiet laugh, his gaze drifting back to the track. "I don't feel brave. Most of the time, I feel like my heart's about to jump out of my chest."

"Maybe," Vivian says, shrugging. "But that doesn't mean you're not brave. Love makes people brave, even when they don't realize it."

Poe doesn't respond right away. He watches as Nico rounds the corner, his car hugging the edge of the track with precision and grace. His chest swells with pride, despite the ever-present knot of worry in his stomach.

"Maybe you're right," he says finally, his voice barely audible over the roar of the engines.

Vivian smiles, her gaze soft. "I'm always right."

And for the first time that day, Poe feels a flicker of peace. Maybe he doesn't have to understand everything about Nico's world to support him. Maybe just being here—watching, waiting, loving—is enough.

author's note
as promised, a triple update

i was gonna add more to this
chapter, but i'm too lazy to
go rewatch the 2006 bahrain
gp, so this is all y'all are
getting for this chapter

01.09.25