Charlos || Charles Leclerc x Carlos Sainz Jr.

Japan

Sorry for the late (and short) chapter. My brain is dissolving like a bath bomb. 

***

The championship was over, and although Charles was disappointed, he didn't feel as bad as he thought he should. It had felt like a long time coming. Losing stung as much as it always did. The disappointment and frustration he had felt when races first started going South had been reduced to a dull ache – a sort of numbness.

Standing on the podium was more of a chore than a sign of success. It was salt in the wound. He could have kept the fight going if he was one step higher, but instead, it was over. He tried not to focus on what could have been. Maybe it was pessimistic, but he had already accepted that he would lose to Max, although having it become reality was still a struggle. It didn't have to end so soon. To avoid spiraling, his eyes scanned for Carlos, knowing it would calm him.

Carlos was standing in a sea of red, but Charles recognized him nonetheless. He was the only one who was sexy as fuck, so it wasn't hard to pick him out of a crowd.

Even from a distance, he looked contemplative, his eyebrows furrowed and mouth drawn in a thin line. Charles willed him to look up, and by some miracle he did, making eye contact for a mere moment before Charles had to look away. It was enough, and the lines on both of their faces softened.

🏎 🏎 🏎

"Where are we going?" Charles asked again, Carlos tugging him through the deserted track. It was pretty much abandoned at this point, the track dark save for the glowing dots of advertisers and scoreboards.

Carlos answered with a grin, leading him to the far side of the track, practically opposite the paddock. They had been walking for a few minutes, and Carlos still wouldn't give any hints.

Passing a merch stand, a burst of colorful lights came into view. Towering above them was a red and white ferris wheel, spokes illuminated in bright green. Charles had seen glimpses of it across the track, but it was much more impressive up close. He let out a small gasp, turning to grin at Carlos with child-like glee.

As they approached, Charles realized the ferris wheel wasn't moving, but there was a man dressed in a blue uniform waiting at the bottom. He smiled jovially and let them on the ride, giving a mandatory safety spiel before the cart started moving.

Charles, who had previously sat a safe distance away, snuggled into Carlos's side as they were lifted higher in the air. "How'd you manage this?"

Carlos laughed lightly, one arm wrapping around Charles's shoulders, pulling him closer.

"It wasn't too difficult," was all Carlos said in reply.

"Well it's nice up here," Charles said, taking in the land below them. The air was crisp and the white lights of the surrounding city could be seen from this angle.

"I thought so too," Carlos said, speaking softly as if anything louder would break the spell that had fallen over them. They crested the top of the ferris wheel and began the descent down. Charles untangled himself from Carlos's arm, waiting for them to pass the bottom where the employee was still standing to cuddle up to his side once more.

Reaching the top of the arc again, the wheel came to a stop, the cart swaying gently. There was a beat of silence before Carlos spoke, "I'm sorry about today."

Charles sighed. "Don't. It's not your fault."

"I know... I just feel bad. Let's be honest, I was never in the running for champion, but you–" Carlos trailed off.

Charles laughed dryly. "I haven't been either, at least not for a while."

"Maybe, but you should have been. After all the mistakes the team has made, how are we supposed to trust them?"

"Do you... trust them?" Charles asked, turning to look at Carlos, who was fiddling awkwardly with the buttons of his shirt.

"Not really. I know we're all trying our best, but damn."

"Yeah. Damn."

There was another pause, and Carlos stopped his fiddling to look Charles in the eyes. "I trust you though." There was a certainty in his voice that wasn't there before. "You're going to get P2, and I will do everything I can to help you."

Charles smiled softly, not believing in himself as much as Carlos seemed to believe in him, but wanting to. Carlos was so sincere he couldn't help but nod along. He snuggled closer, pressing their lips together in a soft kiss. "Thank you."

Instead of replying, Carlos pulled him into another kiss. When the cart began moving again, they both felt a little better.