BTS Series║The Little Smeraldo

MASTERLIST

Pairing: bts x (young) reader

Genre: gangster!au, gang!au, a little bit of fluff

Warnings: cursing, violence

Word Count: 3k

Summary: A group of seven take in a rival gang’s leader’s young sister in an attempt to make a new ally. At first, having cold souls, the seven boys dread the fact that they have to watch over a 5 year old girl. But, as they get to know her, she somehow finds a way into their hearts. The time to return her to her brother nears, but what if the seven aren’t ready to let her go?

A/N: Sorry for the slow updates!! School is really a pain, but I’ll try my best to update as fast as I can :) Anyways, hope you guys enjoy part 4!! Also,

Parts: ⑴│⑵│⑶│⑷│coming soon

(IM ACTUALLY SOBBING LOOK AT HOW MUCH THEY’VE CHANGED. THIS GIF IS GOLD AND I WILL CHERISH IF FOREVER. ((DO YOU SEE JUNGKOOK & TAEHYUNG’S EXPOSED FOREHEADS!?!?!”))

━

“Namjoon Hyung, you can’t be serious.”

Jimin crossed his arms as he looked at the leader. He felt an instant wave of emotions run through his body and looked over at (y/n), who went back to drawing. He felt as if he wanted to protect her. To him, she was like the most precious thing in the world, and he didn’t want anything to happen to her.

“I know, I know. But let me explain-”

Namjoon tried his best to calm down the other members as they began to retaliate taking the small child with them on their mission. Jungkook shook his head and gestured over at the girl.

“She’s a kid, Namjoon Hyung. Our work isn’t something that’s exactly…kid-friendly.”

Namjoon shook his head and sat on an empty couch as he explained the plan.

“Listen, it’s taking place at a harmless party. The party’s at the office building, downtown. You-know-who is hosting a party to promote the sales of over a million items. And, I don’t have to remind you about what exactly those items did to all seven of us.”

All the boys instantly grew quiet. Flashbacks filled their minds, flashbacks about their horrible past.

About 10 years ago, a large CEO by the name of Lee Shin started a business that was known for distributing medical supplies. To the media and most of the public, he was praised as a ‘hero’ for distributing these goods. But, underneath the surface, he was anything but a ‘hero’. He secretly sold drugs and weapons to thugs all around the world. And not only did he do that, but because if a user of his medical supplies dies, he earns thousands of dollars. So, to help the amount of money he earns grow, he decided to inject specific medications with drugs that would kill the users.

Sadly, many of the members of Bts’ families were users of some of those products. Namjoon’s dear sister was killed after she took some pain medications for her supposed headaches that were being caused by ‘stress’. Both Jungkook’s and Jimin’s brothers passed away after receiving some medications because they were in the same hospital. Yoongi’s mother, Hoseok’s father, Taehyung’s younger siblings, and Seokiin’s father, all of them, passed away because of one man.

Once they found each other and found out that all of their family members were killed because of Lee Shin, they vowed to take him down and not let their loved ones die in vain.

“It’ll be simple. In and out. Guys, this is the perfect opportunity. We know the place inside and out, we’ve been planning this for years. Plus, (y/n) can actually help. Since she’s really cute, she might be able to draw some attention away from us while we get our job done.”

All the boys looked at each other in silence. Many thoughts ran through their minds. ‘What if the plan fails?’ ‘Will (y/n) really be safe with us?’ ‘How will we pull it off?’. But, once the images of their loved ones ran through their heads, they all nodded in agreement. Yoongi stood up and nodded ans he looked at the other boys.

“Alright. We’re in. But, she has to stay with one of us at all times. No one, and I mean no one, will let her out of their sight, understood?”

All the boys nodded. Yoongi looked over at the small girl as she continued to work on her drawing and sighed. Namjoon then also sighed with relief and ran a hand through his soft hair.

“Good, because I already bought eight tickets to the party.”

━

As Jimin walked with (y/n) to her bedroom, she looked up at him and tugged at his shirt. He stopped and looked down at her with a soft smile.

“What is it, (y/n)?”

She hesitated, and then hugged his leg tightly. Jimin was caught a bit off guard by the sudden display of affection. He patted her back as he hugged her back, but looked at her with worry.

“What’s wrong? Are you ok?”

She nodded and continued to stay attached to his leg. Although she nodded, on the inside, she wasn’t ok.

“Come on (y/n)! We have to get ready so we can buy your outfit for the party!”

She didn’t move. Jimin smiled and began to walk with her still on his leg. A small smile formed on her face as she swung through the air.

“Wee~”

━

As all the boys entered the children’s clothing store, all eyes went to them. It was a bit unusual to see seven young men and a small child enter the children’s clothing department store.

“Ok (y/n), you can pick out any dress you want and we’ll buy it for you.”

She paused and just looked around the store as Namjoon patted her head. This was a foreign territory to her. She had never been inside of a store with clothing as beautiful as this. Small mannequins dressed in bright outfits with sparkles lined the walls of the store.

Jungkook elbowed the leader and whispered into his ear.

“Hyung, I don’t think she’s been inside of a clothing store before.”

Namjoon sighed and looked at the girl. She was looking around, almost as if they had dropped her off in the middle of the jungle. He looked over to Jimin and nodded.

“Jimin, you’re the one who loves to shop the most out of all of us. You know what to do.”

The boy nodded and ran a hand through his hair as he walked up to the child.

“Princess (y/n)~. Lets go get your dress! We have to make sure you’re the prettiest one there!”

She nodded her head and took his hand as he lead her away from the other boys and through the hundreds of racks of dresses.

“I guess we’ll go wait in the dressing room.”

Namjoon tilted his head, signaling for the rest to follow him.

━

“How about this one?”

Jimin smiled as he pointed at a dress that was on a blank, white mannequin. The dress was made out a beautiful satin material. The blue fabric was decorated with dozens of sparkling gems, which almost made the mannequin look like a standing disco ball.

(y/n) shook her head and eyed the dress up and down.

“I don’t like that one. It’s like all the other ones, too many of these.”

She pointed one of her tiny fingers at the gems and Jimin then realized her taste in clothing. Simple, but elegant. Nothing too flashy or will draw too much attention to her.

“Hm…ok. I have the perfect one right… here!”

He quickly shuffled through a rack full of dresses, remembering that he passed by one dress that fitted her taste perfectly.

He stopped shuffling once his eyes caught a glimpse of the light peach-colored fabric. He smiled and pulled it out. Once she saw it, her eyes instantly lit up.

“Oooo! Ji-Ji! I like that one!”

She began to jump up and down with joy, which caused Jimin to laugh.

“Ok, let’s go and try it on! The others should already be in the dressing room.”

━

After Jimin helped (y/n) get into the dress, she stepped out from behind the curtain, which blocked the other boys’ view and showed them the dress she picked out.

All their eyes instantly lit up and they dropped whatever they were doing to admire her. The dress was a light peach/pink color with small gems that lined her waist. They weren’t that distracting, but still added that finishing factor to the dress. (y/n) happily smiled as she skipped around the room and twirled around in the dress.

Yoongi, who was previously scrolling through his phone set it in his lap and couldn’t help but softly giggle at her. She had a brightest smile on her face, which the boys hadn’t seen in a while.

Taehyung stood up and cupped his own cheeks with his hands as his heart melted from seeing how adorable she was.

“(y/n)!! You look so cute!!!”

He ran over to her and began to skip around as well, almost as if he was a child too.

But, as (y/n) was running around, Jungkook noticed some marks on her body and froze in place. His eyes widened once he realized what was on her and quickly elbowed Namjoon in the arm. Scattered on her arms, legs, and back, were bruises.

“Hyung! Look at the bruises on her body!”

Namjoon raised a brow and looked at the girl. He then also noticed the bruises, causing him to grow a it worried.

“Do you think it has to do with her brother?”

Jungkook whispered to the leader, making sure that no one else was able to hear him.

“We shouldn’t talk about it now. She seems happy, you know how she is when we ask her about that kind of stuff.”

Jungkook nodded and watched as she ran around with Taehyung, a large smile spread across her face.

I swear to god… if he has something to do with this…

━

Jungkook raised a brow as he stood in front of the mirror. He was wearing a light grey suit that allowed his dark brown hair to pop more. He adjusted his sleeve and turned to the side, making sure that he looked presentable.

In the reflection of the mirror, he could see (y/n)’s little feet swinging off the edge of the bed as she drew in her notebook. He smiled and called her name, getting her attention to him and not the book.

“What do you think (y/n)? Do I look ok?”

She nodded and smiled.

“Cookie, you look very very very handsome. Almost like a superhero.”

He smiled and watched as she hopped off his bed and walked to her.

“But, I think it would look WAY better with this!”

He bent down so they were at eye-level and watched as she took his arm with her small hands.

On one of her fingers, she had a small heart sticker. Jungkook watched as she turned his arm until she found his watch. She then stuck it right in the center of the top of it.

“There!”

A large smile formed on his face as he turned his wrist so he could see the heart sticker on his expensive watch.

“I think you’re right. Thanks.”

“(y/n)!! Jungkookie!! It’s time to go!!” Seokjin called from downstairs.

Before (y/n) could pull Jungkook out of his room, he pulled out his phone and knelt down beside her.

“Let’s take a picture first!”

She nodded and got close to him for a selfie. She made a finger-heart while he made a kissy-face.

After taking the picture, (y/n) took his hand and quickly led him out of his room.

“Come on! I have more stickers for everyone else too!”

━

As the car passed by multiple buildings, (y/n) grew more anxious by the second. Her heart felt as if it was speeding up and her hands started to get a bit sweaty. She had left Mochi, her stuffed dog at home, so she had no way to comfort herself like she usually does.

Next to her, Seokjin looked down and saw that she was playing with her own fingers.

“(y/n)~ Are you getting nervous?”

She hesitated, but then nodded slowly.

“Mhm. Will there be a lot of people there, Jinnie?”

He nodded, but then pointed at Jungkook, who was humming along to the song that was playing on the radio.

“Yes, but it’ll be ok. Jungkookie will be with you the whole time.”

Jungkook then leaned over to (y/n) with a smile on his face as he sung to her.

━

Namjoon looked up in the rear-view mirror and nodded towareds (y/n) who was playing games on Taehyung’s phone. Jungkook then nodded and took out his headphones and slipped them on top of her head as he plugged them into the phone.

“Here (y/n). You can listen to the music better with this.”

Her hearing was now blocked, so she couldn’t understand what the boys were talking about.

Namjoon then sighed and looked at all the members while driving.

“You guys know the plan, right?”

They all nodded.

“So, Hoseok will stay in the car and monitor all of us, the security, and other stuff. Make sure your tracking devices are on. (y/n) will stay with me and Jungkookie, while everyone else heads to their positions. This is an in and out mission, ok? We are going to go in there, and Jungkookie, make sure you distract her while we take care of business. I don’t want her to get involved besides distracting some of the crowd from us. Alright, everyone got it?”

They all nodded, running the plan through their heads.

Jungkook wrapped an arm around the small girl’s shoulders and held her tightly to him, causing her to wine a little.

“Don’t worry (y/n), I’ll protect you~”

━

As the boys walked into the building, (y/n) held onto Jungkook’s hand tightly. He squeezed her hand back and gave her a soft smile, reassuring her that everything will be ok.

“Alright guys, here we go.”

All the boys adjusted their suits and tuxedos as they walked into the building.

Music was playing and filled the room. There were people everywhere. Women in elegant dresses, and men in sharp tuxedos.

(y/n) felt her feet grow heavy as she walked inside with the boys. She felt as if all eyes went to her and it made her want to bury herself in Jungkook’s arms as he carried her home.

“Look (y/n), snacks!” Taehyung said with a large smile as he grabbed a small napkin with a cracker and cheese on it from a waiter walking around with a tray in his hand.

He handed it to her and she smiled as she plopped it in her mouth.

“Mmm…”

Jungkook then smiled as he looked around at the crowd, to see if he could spot anyone suspicious. All the others were doing the same, except for Taehyung, who was too busy telling (y/n) the names of the different cheeses on the crackers he gave her.

Yoongi cleared his throat and elbowed Namjoon’s arm as he glanced at a few bodyguards standing in front of a few doorways.

“They have this place guarded up pretty well. I think there are at least five of them.”

Namjoon nodded and then brought his hand up to his earpiece and pressed a button, allowing him to speak to Hoseok.

━

In their large vehicle, Hoseok was sitting in the trunk with multiple devices open around him. He then heard a button sound off and pressed it as he spoke into a microphone.

“Namjoon? How’s everything going?”

Namjoon looked around the party and smiled as a few people walked past him.

“Smoothly as planned. Like we suspected, I don’t think they know that we’re here. But, there are about five bodyguards around the place. Can you see what you can do to help us get in? They’re blocking a lot of doorways, so I want you to try and find another way in.”

Hosoek nodded and began to type a few codes into one of his laptops as he spoke to the leader.

“It looks like…there’s a back-way entrance to your…left. Do you see it? It’s a pretty big doorway, it leads to a separate room for the party, which has a staircase that leads to where you need to go. Let me know if you see a bodyguard there too.”

Namjoon glanced to his left and nodded, seeing that the doorway was open.

“There’s no one there. Great job.”

Hoseok smiled and high-fived himself.

“Of course, I’m Jung Hoseok.”

━

As the party went on, (y/n) was able to distract most of the crowd with her cuteness as the other boys got to work. Slowly, they began to help Hoseok deactivate the security and surveillance systems so that they could carry out their plan.

Once all of the deactivating was done, Namjoon elbowed Jungkook and signaled for him to take (y/n) out of the room so they could begin their mission.

“Alright (y/n), let’s go take a restroom break. I bet you need to go after all of the fruit smoothies you drank, huh?”

She nodded and began to jump up and down.

“Let’s go~”

As they both skipped to the restroom, the others heard someone call out their leader’s name and turned to see a woman approaching them.

“Kim Namjoon, am I correct?”

Namjoon nodded and observed the woman. She was middle-aged, but still very beautiful. But, he didn’t know her, and was suspicious as to how she knew his name.

“Um, yes. And you are?”

While the boys were busy talking to the woman, they weren’t able to notice a man slyly glance at them before walking to the bathroom, almost directly behind (y/n) and Jungkook.

━

As Jungkook led (y/n) to the woman’s restroom, he waved to her and pointed at the spot where he was standing.

“Go ahead, I’ll be here when you come out.”

“Promise, Kookie?”

He nodded and smiled.

“Promise.”

She nodded and looked back at him one more time before going into the bathroom.

━

After a few minutes of waiting, Jungkook felt the need to use the restroom, so he decided to go in the men’s restroom, since he’d only take about a few minutes.

After he walked inside, he heard footsteps behind him and turned to see a man in a black suit behind him. Keeping his guard up, Jungkook allowed the man to enter the bathroom behind him, glancing at him every few seconds.

━

As (y/n) was washing her hands after using the restroom, she heard a loud ‘bang’ come from the other side of the wall, which startled her a bit.

“Ah! What was that?”

She quickly dried her hands and decided to exit the bathroom to see if Jungkook was still there and was ok.

After closing the bathroom door behind her, (y/n) turned to see that Jungkook was no where to be found.

“Kookie? Where did you go?”

As she took a step out into the hallway, she felt a hand grab her shoulder and screamed a little as she quickly turned around.

“Hello, little one.”

Speeding Bonds: A Sainz Siblings Story

This is my first F1 fanfiction, and I'm excited to share it with you all! It's a bit short, but I hope you enjoy it nonetheless. Your feedback means a lot to me, so if you like what you read, let me know! If there's interest, I'll definitely add more to the story. Thanks for taking the time to check it out!

Character: Name: Ji-min Sainz Age: 23

Background: Ji-min was adopted from South Korea into the Sainz family when she was just a baby. Growing up in Spain, she was immersed in Spanish culture but always felt a connection to her Korean roots. She has a warm relationship with her adoptive family.

Ji-min discovered her passion for music at a young age and pursued it fervently. She auditioned for a talent agency in Barcelona and was selected to be a part of a five-member girl group called "Eclipse." Despite her busy schedule as a K-pop idol.

Meanwhile, her older Carlos Sainz Jr. was making a name for himself in the world of Formula 1 racing. Their paths rarely crossed due to their different careers and lifestyles, but Ji-min secretly followed Carlos's races, feeling proud of his achievements yet also envious of the attention and recognition he received.

As Ji-min's popularity as a K-pop idol soared, she kept her family background a secret, fearing that it might overshadow her own accomplishments and potentially cause unwanted attention. However, deep down, she yearned to connect with her brother.

The story:

SMS

Ji-min: Hey Carlos, it's Ji-min. Hope you're doing awesome today! 🌟

Carlos: Ji-min! What's up, little sis? 😄 Everything good on your end?

Ji-min: Yeah, all good here! Hey, I was actually wondering... would it be cool if I came to one of your races? I've been dying to see you in action, big bro! 🏎️💨

Carlos: Of course it's cool, Ji-min! I'd love to have you there cheering me on. But... are you okay with everyone knowing we're family? I mean, it's kind of a big deal to go public with this stuff.

Ji-min: Totally cool with it, Carli! I've been wanting to shout it from the rooftops for ages. 😄 Plus, I'm super proud of you, big bro! Let's show the world what the Sains siblings are made of!

Carlos: Haha, you're the best, Ji-min! Thanks for always having my back. 😊 Alright then, I'll hook you up with a pass for the race. Get ready for the full VIP treatment!

Ji-min: Woo-hoo! VIP treatment, here I come! 🌟 Thanks a million, Carli. You're the best big bro a girl could ask for!

Carlos: Anytime, Ji-min! Can't wait to see you at the race, little sis. Get ready for some serious fun!

Ji-min: Counting down the days big bro! Vamos!

The day of the race:

At the Australian Grand Prix 2024

Ji-min made her way through the bustling crowds, the sun beating down on her as she walked. She was dressed in a simple sundress, a soft pastel blue that fluttered gently in the warm breeze. The fabric flowed loosely around her figure, offering comfort and ease as she navigated through the throngs of people.

A pair of oversized sunglasses shielded her eyes from the bright sunlight, partially concealing her face and adding a touch of mystery to her appearance. She pulled her hair back into a loose ponytail, strands of dark hair framing her delicate features.

Despite the casual attire, Ji-min moved with a graceful confidence, her steps light and purposeful as she weaved her way through the crowd. She kept her head down slightly, avoiding direct eye contact to minimize attention as she made her way towards the VIP area.

Occasionally, she caught snippets of excited chatter from nearby fans discussing the upcoming race and the drivers competing in it. Ji-min couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement coursing through her veins as she neared the entrance, her heart pounding with anticipation.

As she reached the designated entrance for VIP guests, Ji-min took a deep breath, her excitement bubbling beneath the surface. With a confident smile, she presented her pass to the security personnel and stepped inside, ready to witness her big brother's momentous victory firsthand.

Her eyes scanning the crowd for any sign of her brother. She was so absorbed in her search that she didn't notice the people around her, her gaze moving to her phone screen as she typed out a message to Carlos.

"Hey Carli, just arrived. Where are you? "

Lost in her phone, Ji-min didn't notice the figure approaching until it was too late. With a sudden jolt, she collided with someone, nearly dropping her phone in the process.

"Oh, I'm so sorry!" she exclaimed, looking up to see who she had bumped into.

Standing before her was none other than Lando Norris, one of the drivers competing in the race. Ji-min's eyes widened in surprise, recognizing him instantly from his racing gear and signature smile.

Lando grinned apologetically, his blue eyes sparkling with amusement. "No worries! "

Ji-min nodded, feeling a blush creeping up her cheeks. Sorry for not paying attention."

Lando chuckled, waving off her apology. "Not a problem at all." giving her a friendly nod before continuing on his way.

As Ji-min watched him disappear into the crowd, she couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement coursing through her veins. Little did she know, her encounter with Lando was just the beginning of an unforgettable day at the races.

----

Ji-min's heart raced as she finally spotted her brother amidst the hustle and bustle of the Ferrari garage. Carlos stood surrounded by his team, his familiar smile lighting up his face as he greeted them with enthusiasm.

"Carli!" Ji-min exclaimed, weaving her way through the crowd until she reached him. "There you are! I've been looking all over for you."

Carlos turned towards her, his eyes lighting up with delight as he caught sight of his little sister. "Ji-min! I'm so glad you made it!" he exclaimed, pulling her into a tight embrace.

Wrapped in her brother's arms, Ji-min felt a rush of warmth and contentment wash over her. It had been too long since they last saw each other, and she cherished every moment they spent together.

"I wouldn't miss it for the world," Ji-min replied, pulling back to look at Carlos with a beaming smile.

They spent the next few minutes catching up, exchanging stories and sharing laughs as they soaked in the atmosphere of the race day. Ji-min couldn't help but feel a surge of pride as she watched her brother interact with his team, his passion for racing shining through in every word and gesture.

----

Soft Launches and Soft Tyres

Part 1: The Princess of the Grid

A particular kind of silence falls in a garage before a race. It’s not quiet with radios crackling and the hum of tire warmers and mechanics shouting about torque and telemetry. But it’s a kind of silence in my head, like the calm just before I let the car swallow me whole.

I live for that silence. That, and the smell of burnt rubber. I’ve never fit into any neat little box anyway—not the way people expect, especially not when I got into F1 at 19. People expected me to be the new kid, quiet and compliant. And, well… okay, they were half right.

I was quiet. Still am, mostly. I don’t talk back, I let the track speak for me. That was something Seb used to say. “You don’t need to be loud to be heard, Moni.” He was my mentor before he became everyone’s eco-uncle and left us… left me. I still miss his hugs. And Daniel, god, Daniel was like my older brother, but funnier and worse at keeping secrets. He once said I had “golden retriever energy disguised in a kitten’s body.” Which is both cute and slightly concerning, but very him.

Anyway, it’s been five years now. I’m 24, and things have changed. There’s a new wave of younger drivers, some shinier, and I’m not the “baby” anymore. But I guess I still get called the “Princess of the Grid.” Mostly by Lando. Once, Carlos said it during a press conference, and Lando won’t let him live it down.

My mother raised me, just the two of us. She worked nights at a hospital and still managed to drive me to karting sessions on weekends. It wasn’t glamorous. We didn’t have the money that most kids in motorsport had. But I had her. She never yelled, never cried in front of me. Just kept going. Quiet strength. Maybe that’s where I get it from.

My dad left when I was six. I don’t remember much about him, and the stuff I remember feels more like watching someone else’s home video. He wasn’t cruel, just... unfinished. He didn’t know how to stay, and he missed a lot of things: my first race win, my Super Licence, and my debut in Formula One. Sometimes, people ask me if we’re in touch, and I say, “No, but I’m sure he knows where to find me.” I mean, it’s not like I’m hiding.

I signed my first F1 contract at nineteen with AlphaTauri, back when it was still AlphaTauri. It was a blur—media, pressure, more cameras in a week than I’d seen in my whole life. I kept my head down. Scored points when I could. Learned how to breathe in that car-shaped pressure cooker. I was never the loud headline, but I stayed consistent. That's what mattered. The paddock doesn’t always reward consistency, but it remembers it.

I still drive for VCARB even now, and I like it here. We’re not the underdog or the top dog. We’re the kind of team that sharpens you and makes you better.

-------------------------

Part 2: The Calm Before the Media Storm

Media day always smells like too much cologne and burnt coffee.

It’s a mix of waiting around in branded teamwear and pretending not to hear the questions asked in the next booth. My PR manager, Livia, clips a mic to my collar with practiced ease, gentleness usually reserved for bomb diffusers or hairstylists.

“You good?” she asks, smoothing the VCARB jacket over my shoulder.

“Define good,” I say, giving her a slight grin. She rolls her eyes.

“Smile. Be nice. Don’t swear.”

“Always nice. Almost never swear.”

“Almost being the keyword.”

She pats my arm and walks off, already on the phone.

The first few interviews are standard fare. Strategy questions, performance reviews, tyre talk — everything I’ve answered a hundred times, just repackaged in different accents and camera angles.

Interviewer: “Monica, do you think the team’s Q3 performance in Jeddah was a turning point?”

Me: “It was a data point. A good one. But one race doesn’t define a season.”

Interviewer: “You’ve been praised for your tyre management this season—”

Me: “I just don’t fight physics. That’s all.”

They laugh. One asks if I meditate. Another wants to know what I eat before a race.

“Toast,” I say. “Always toast.”

There’s a short break after the fourth interview. I peel off the mic and flop onto a couch in the VCARB media room. Isack’s already there, drinking a Red Bull while on his phone watching one of the videos the admin made us make on Instagram.

“You’re trending,” he says, not looking up.

I groan as I close my eyes to take the smallest nap a human is possible. “Again?”

He turns the screen toward me. A photo from last week, me again, blurry, exiting a hotel lobby at midnight. Someone had zoomed in on my hand touching someone else’s arm.

“Your mysterious shadow boyfriend strikes again,” he grins. “This time, people think it’s someone from the grid.”

“Great,” I mutter. “I love when my life makes headlines. You keep laughing, Isack, but one day, you won't even be able to pee in peace without getting on headlines."

He ignores me and keeps scrolling. “Also, apparently your ‘energy’ matched Pedro Pascal’s according to this fan edit.”

I blink. “What does that mean?”

“I have no idea. But I support it,” he says with a grin, and gets off the couch when his PR manager calls him for an interview.

I watch him walk away before my phone vibrates.

Groupchat: Who made this groupchat?

Carlos: MONICA.

Lando: Ma’am, why are YOU trending and not for overtaking someone???

Alex: Girl, you okay? Did you break the internet??

lewis: Princess, did I miss something, or did you go on a date with Pedro Pascal??

Charles: WHO IS THE MAN? Alex won't tell me anything.

Carlos: Becca won't either.

Max: I will find out. I know people.

Carlos: Moni. Seriously. Who is it?

Me: Stop spanning the group chat

Lando: We are not doing such thing, answer.

Oscar: We want to know?

Max: Does Daniel know? I bet he does.

Me:……

Charles: Young lady, come back here.

---

Sebastian (privately): 1 massage - unread

I stare at Seb’s message for a second too long. Then I press the side button and lock the phone without replying. The last interview of the day is with a lifestyle network—the ones who care more about what moisturizer I use than my racing line through Sector 3.

The questions start light.

“What’s always in your travel bag?” “How do you relax between races?” “If you weren’t an F1 driver, what would you be?”

I answer them all. (Sunscreen. Sleep. Veterinarian.)

And then

“So, Monica… the internet wants to know: Are you dating someone?”

There’s a beat of silence. Not awkward. Just quiet.

“I—uh.” I blink. “I don’t usually talk about my personal—”

“We know! That’s why everyone’s curious. There have been some pictures lately—late dinners, hotel lobbies. People are saying—”

I don’t hear the rest. My throat tightens. I nod slowly, a polite smile barely glued on. Livia appears out of nowhere, like a PR magician.

“I’m so sorry,” she cuts in. “We’re running late for a strategy debrief. Tight schedule today.”

The interviewer tried to hide their disappointment, but Livia was already guiding me out of the chair with a hand on my elbow and that fixed “this is fine” smile that PR people must practice in the mirror. Once we’re out of sight, she mutters, “You okay?”

“I’m fine,” I lie. In the hallway, I check my phone again. Seb’s message is still sitting there. Still unread.

-----------

Part 3: When the Internet Breaks

[Clip: ‘The Last of Us’ Season 2 – Press Junket | Interview With Pedro Pascal]

Pedro Pascal is seated comfortably and exudes his characteristic warmth and charm.

Interviewer: "Pedro, 'The Last of Us' season 2 episode 2….what an episode it was, it delves deep into love and loss themes. Has portraying Joel influenced your perspective on personal relationships?"

Pedro: "Absolutely. Joel's journey is one of profound connection and vulnerability. It's made me reflect on the importance of having someone who grounds you and brings light into your life amidst chaos, just like Ellie did for him in a daughter-father way."

Interviewer: "That sounds personal. Are you currently experiencing such a connection in your own life, maybe with a lover?"

Pedro: "Well, let's just say I've been fortunate to find someone who brings that kind of light and grounding into my world."

The interviewer raises an eyebrow, intrigued.

Interviewer: "Care to share more?"

Pedro Laughing, shaking his head, "I think I'll leave it at that for now. I don't want trouble."

Within hours, the internet was ablaze with speculation. Social media platforms were flooded with clips of the interview, and fans dissected every word and expression.

Twitter/X – Trending Topics:

PEDRO PASCAL GF???

"Someone who brings light" [1.3M posts]

Monica VCARB edit (soft launch??)

MONICA IS DATING PEDRO

PRINCESS OF THE GRID x INTERNET’S DADDY 😭

Comments under various posts range from excitement to disbelief:

“Imagine going home to the Princess of the Grid and she makes you toast while talking about tyre deg 😭” “She was quiet but had the rizz of a thousand suns.” “Oh my god. THE fanfic is real.”

Private Chat – Daniel Ricciardo & Monica Daniel: So. The internet’s on fire. Pedro and you?

Monica: He didn’t mean to I think He was just talking. That’s how he is. He gets soft and starts talking, and the words fall out

Daniel: That’s adorable. I’m vomiting a little, but it’s adorable. So it’s real? Like, real real?

Monica: Yeah. It’s been a few months now. Met him at an awards thing. He was nice. Didn’t treat me like a headline. Didn’t ask about fame at dinner. Just asked about my favorite books. Stuff no one’s asked in years.

Daniel: You deserve that. You so deserve that. But you’re freaking out, huh.

Monica : I feel like I’m standing on a trapdoor. Like the minute I smile too wide or hold his hand in daylight it’ll open and everyone will pile on. I worked so hard to be taken seriously. Being the first woman in F1 was hell at first. You remember. People said awful stuff. Called me Seb’s “pet project,” remember that? Or the “baby with daddy issues.”

Daniel: Yeah. I remember. I also remember you outqualifying half the grid with a migraine and two hours of sleep. You’ve got scars. Doesn’t mean you hide forever.

Monica: He’s older. People will tear it apart. Say I’m looking for a dad. Say I’m broken. And with mine leaving, I never really figured out how to not let that stuff crawl under my skin. I know it’s stupid. But I’m scared. Of the headlines. Of the comments. Of being too happy and getting punished for it.

Daniel: That’s not stupid. That’s human. But you don’t have to carry it alone. Talk to Seb, Mon. He’s worried. We both are. You’ve got us. You always have us.

Monica: I haven’t opened his text.

Daniel: Mon, you know you have to talk to him at some point

I sat curled up in the corner of the hotel bed, hoodie sleeves pulled over my hands. The room was too cold, not physically, but in that way hotel rooms are when you don’t feel like you belong in them. My phone sat in my lap like it weighed five kilos. Seb’s name had been at the top of my messages for three days. Unread. Unopened. But never ignored. I stared at the notification, thumb hovering over it like the screen might bite back. Then, finally, I tapped.

Sebastian Vettel [3 days ago]: Hey, little one. I saw the headlines. I just wanted to say, I hope it’s true. Not the rumors. The happiness. You’ve always deserved to be loved out loud, not in secret. And you don’t owe anyone an explanation for that. If people try to turn your joy into ammunition, that’s on them, not you. Call me if you want. I’m here. Always. 💛

It hit me in layers. I could hear his voice in my head as I read. His calm, that steady warmth he always had, even when the whole world was watching him. I didn’t cry. Not really. But something loosened in my chest — something I didn’t realize I’d been holding onto so tightly. Like someone had cracked open a window in my ribs and let the stale air out. I stared at the message momentarily before hitting his number and hearing the ringing sound.

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Part 4: Eyes on the Paddock

Practice day always feels like the calm before the circus. Except this morning, the circus was already rolling in. By 9 a.m., the paddock was alive, TV crews in place, PR managers buzzing like caffeinated bees, fans pressed against the barriers, phones ready. Security tried to keep a clear path, but the chaos was controlled at best. Sky Sports F1’s Rachel Brookes adjusted her earpiece and stood near the entrance gate, mic in hand, eyes trained on the team hospitality areas. She nodded to the cameraman. “Alright, we're rolling in three, two, one…”

“Good morning from the paddock,” she began, the signature warmth in her voice. “It’s Friday, it’s practice day, and we’re already seeing a few drivers arriving.”

From behind her, someone in the crowd screamed as Charles Leclerc strolled past in Ferrari red, smiling at Leo with Alexandra by his side. Moments later, George Russell appeared with Carmen beside him, both dressed like they had walked out of a campaign shoot.

Rachel turned slightly to the camera. “A few of the grid’s familiar faces are arriving with their partners today, a little off-track love before the focus shifts to race pace.”

Then the air shifted. It wasn’t loud at first. Just… aware. Phones lifted. People stood on their toes. There was a wave of murmurs, the kind that travels fast, faster than even a car down the straight. And then there she was. Monica, the grid princess, walked through the gates like she’d done a thousand times. Cool. Grounded. Calm with her usual sweet smile. Except this time, she wasn’t alone. Pedro Pascal walked beside her, their hands linked, his thumb brushing over her knuckles.

Rachel blinked, then leaned toward the camera with a slightly incredulous smile. “And… Monica Cruz is walking in this morning with none other than Pedro Pascal. That… is quite the entrance.”

Click. Flash. Shutter sounds like popcorn. Monica didn’t stop walking. She didn’t pose or break stride. But she looked up briefly, smiled toward the crowd, and gave a small wave with her free hand. Pedro leaned close to her ear, clearly saying something only she could hear. She laughed, genuinely, softly, like no cameras were watching. Rachel, still recovering, added, “Well, that’ll be the shot of the weekend before the engines even start.”

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Author note: I had this idea and just had to get it down, even if it’s rough or awkward. I know it’s not perfect, and I apologize if the writing feels unpolished, but I hope the story's heart came through and that you enjoyed the concept. I’d love to keep writing and improving, especially regarding details and dialogue. Next time, I want to include more of Monica interacting with the grid and the other drivers. I hope this first part of the story feels like a good start.

The Official “Log Off” Protest F.A.Q!

The “Log Off” protest is in response to the recent NSFW ban announced by Tumblr. The ban flags all content the filtering system detects as NSFW, reducing visibility to the community. The system has proven time and time again that is inefficient, oftentimes flagging SFW material as NSFW.

This SFW material includes art, memes and so on. This ban directly hurts the community and will not solve the actual problems at hand due to the poor flagging system. Because of this, the entire community will suffer.

So to respond, I propose that every user on Tumblr logs off of Tumblr for 24 hours on December 17th at 12 am EST.

Times are listed above depending on timezone!

This post responds to some very common questions about the protest. So make sure to read it over!