Charlos || Charles Leclerc x Carlos Sainz Jr.

Emilia Romagna

Update a little early cause we love you

***

It had been a long time since Charles had heard Carlos speak more than three words. It only confirmed what he thought was true. Carlos hated him. He couldn't pay attention during the strategy meeting. He kept glancing over at Carlos, but Carlos only looked forward, avoiding his eye.

When the meeting was over, and the team dispersed, Charles hung around a second longer, trying to catch Carlos's eye. Carlos looked at him for a split second. His expression was unreadable. Charles didn't smile, he didn't know what Carlos would make of it.

Carlos turned and left, leaving Charles in silence.

🏎 🏎 🏎

When Charles heard that Carlos crashed, his stomach dropped. Charles already knew Carlos walked away unscathed, but he still couldn't shake the creeping dread. Carlos crashing would do nothing to repair their friendship, if anything the chasm would only widen. Carlos always got so angsty after things like this, and Charles never knew what to say. He tried to push the thought aside, but to no avail. He couldn't help blaming himself. Carlos was probably too wrapped up in his own head to focus on driving, and it was Charles' fault. He was the one that kissed him. He was the one that refused to talk about his feelings. He was the one avoiding things.

The radio in his ear brought him back to reality and he tried to focus on the track once more. He would talk to Carlos after qualifying, he resolved. He could fix things then.

🏎 🏎 🏎

He did not fix things then. He had searched for Carlos around the garage, intent on making things right, but when he finally found him, all confidence drained from his body. One look at Carlos' stone cold expression was all it took to send Charles running in the other direction. He told himself they could talk tomorrow, but telling himself didn't make it true. Soon enough, it was race day and the two still hadn't communicated.

Something something, Charles spun out and got 6th place. Something something, Carlos got hit by Daniel Riccardo in the first lap and couldn't complete the race. Something something angst.

The sun had set hours ago, but Charles wasn't asleep. He paced around his hotel room replaying the race in his mind. Why did he do that? The more he thought about the race, the more he thought about Carlos, and the more he thought about Carlos the more he thought about the kiss, and the more he thought about the kiss the more he needed a drink.

He grabbed his phone off the nightstand and made his way to the hotel bar. He supposed drinking alone in his room would be even more pathetic. Taking a seat at one of the bar stools, he ordered a Persephone's kiss. The bartender nodded and the pomegranate mint drink was made promptly.

"Hey." Charles turned at the familiar sexy voice beside him. "Mind if I thit here?" Carlos asked. Charles nodded and took a sip of his drink.

Carlos turned toward the bartender. "Tequila Thunrise, pleathe," he said. The drink was delivered and Carlos twirled the straw around absentmindedly.

Charles' foot began tapping nervously. He pretended to focus on the football game on the tv above them. After what felt like hours of silence, Carlos spoke. "What are you drinking?"

"Persephone's kiss. It's like pomegranate and mint are sixty nining on my tongue."

Carlos nodded approvingly. "I'm jutht glad I'm not the only one who orderth fruity drinkth."

They were both dancing around what they were both thinking about, but at the same time were content to be just talking again. Charles held out his glass, "want to try some?"

Carlos took the drink and took a sip. "Oh wow that is pretty good." He handed the glass back. "Want some of mine?"

Charles took the ombre drink from Carlos and tried it. He smiled in delight. "There's orange juice in this! I love orange juice."

Carlos couldn't help smiling. "Apple is better, unless in combination with tequila." Charles handed the glass back. Their conversation lulled. Carlos trained his gaze on the TV above them, the results of the race scrolled past on the bottom of the screen. The bartender was shaking a drink for another customer, the ice cubes rattling violently.

Charles gently knocked his knee against Carlos's. Carlos turned to see Charles looking at him sideways, a small smile etched onto his face. "Well, I guess we both fucked up this time, huh?"

Carlos looked at him, raising a perfectly sculpted eyebrow. "You fucked up. I got hit," he replied with a smirk.

Charles chuckled. "That's fair. Fuck Daniel, am I right?"

"I'd really rather not," Carlos quipped, "I'm more into twinks."

Charles' heart nearly skipped a beat, he'd be described as twink-ish himself, but he managed to remain composed. "Oh, Daniel is not twinky enough for you?"
"Not nearly," Carlos replied, taking the orange slice off the rim of his glass and biting into it. A wave of silence washed over them once again.

Charles looked around the room awkwardly, trying to avoid Carlos' gaze. Across the bar a couple sat in a corner booth, kissing passionately. Carlos followed his line of sight. Without thinking Charles blurted, "Batman moment."

🏎 🏎 🏎

Did he really just say that? Carlos thought. Part of him was glad Charles brought up the kiss, but it hurt that Charles was just joking again. Carlos had no idea what Charles thought about the incident, but he was scared to ask. A voice in the back of his mind kept telling him he wouldn't get the answer he wanted. Charles would only laugh and say it was a joke. That's why he said what he had. I'm more into twinks??? Why did I say that?? If he joked first Charles wouldn't know his true feelings. Rejection wouldn't hurt so badly.

He took the last sip of his tequila sunrise. "I need to piss." He stood abruptly and walked out the door.

"The bathroom's that way!" Charles called after him, presumably pointing in the other direction.

Carlos ignored him. If he turned around now he was sure he wouldn't be able to resist kissing Charles again. 

***

If this gets 1000 votes someday, Abie, Reyrey, and advisor Lolo will get matching Charlos tattoos. This is not a joke. We will provide evidence should the event occur.