Checo went to sleep with his boyfriend the Sunday night after the Saudi GP... he wakes up straight to dad mode by the sounds of a child crying, a child that is sitting next to him on the plush bed, but when he truly looks at that cherub face...
"Max...
With the world now aware of Max's de-aged status also came a series of memos on the Red Bull Racing intranet, one letting all the staff at the factory know Daniel was going to be Checo's teammate until Max could take back his seat, another was a notice that little Max would be around regularly since his chosen guardians were Christian and Checo, the main issue touched on the memos was to avoid staring or making the kid uncomfortable, talking about his adult self, lastly in case and if for any reason any staff member saw the child alone contact either of his guardians immediately.
As Christian promised Daniel, Max tags along with him to the factory the next day, getting the child into the safety seat was a struggle but after being provided with a juice box and a video call with Checo the child was much more receptive to the contraption.
From the moment Christian pulled over Max was clearly giddy, almost bouncing in his excitement to see all the things his Papa talked about on the way: the cars, the trophies, the sim but most importantly his Checo. And from Max's reaction to seeing the Mexican from the other side of the lobby one would've thought that he hadn't seen the man in months... it hadn't even been 12 hours, 8 of which Max slept through.
"Checooooooo!" Christian couldn't help but chuckle as little Max launched himself at Checo, and the brunet matched his energy.
"Maaaaaaaax!" Checo crouched to catch the toddler that immediately buried himself into his neck. "How did you sleep, Maxie?"
"On mijn side," Max answered taking the question literally and showing his right side pulling a smile from both his gardians, adult Max was better at understanding when questions were not meant to be taken literally, but it still was something he sometimes struggled with, so it was not weird this habit was present in his de-aged state.
"My, Max. On my side," Christian corrects gently.
"On my side," Max repeats slowly and beams when Sergio offers him a high-five and an "¡Eso!" of encouragement for saying it right, or at least that's what Max thinks it was from the big smile and the tone.
The factory buzzed with a mixture of curiosity and hushed conversations as news of little Max being around spread like wildfire. The small Dutch, hand in hand with Checo, took tentative steps around the familiar yet now-alien territory of the Red Bull Racing factory. The atmosphere was charged with a blend of excitement and uncertainty.
Papa Christian had left to attend to his duties as CEO and team principal and his Checo, the reassuring anchor in this sea of change, introduced the little blond to various team members, including the ever-friendly Alice and G.P. who Max found rather enigmatic with his bald head and steady voice that sounded so familiar to his little ears.
As they ventured deeper into the heart of the factory, Checo showed Max the older models of the RB, a rather vivacious figure with his ever-beaming smile approached. The Australian's presence was a burst of energy, his trademark grin lighting up the room. "Checo, my man! There you are, mate!" Daniel greeted with an exuberant fist bump, acknowledging the Mexican driver before turning his attention to the toddler version of his friend. The strong energy made Max hesitant filling him with a mixture of nerves and curiosity, he slowly peeked out from behind Checo's protective stance. "Hey, Max!" Danny crouched down to meet his eye level trying to somewhat ease the child's discomfort, a playful twinkle in his gaze. "Ki ki ra!" he exclaimed, throwing in a salute – a quirky tradition concocted during their earlier days as teammates.
"Ki ki ay!" Little Max responded the words flowing effortlessly from his lips. The exchange of nonsensical syllables elicited laughter from the onlookers, creating a moment of lightness amid the sea of adjustments, it was fascinating to see what things Max retained from his grown-up memory in this altered stage.
"Yeah you're definitely Max," Laughed Daniel.
"What? You thought it was a prank?" Checo asked amused.
"Nah, but you gotta admit," Ricciardo continued as he stood back to his full height, "he looks exactly like his nephews, or his nephews like him I guess? What'eva, you get it."
Checo would've scoffed but that was his first thought when he first saw his de-aged boyfriend, instead he just looked back to the kid, "This is our friend Danny, Max, he's going to be my teammate while you're small." They had opted not to hide from Max the fact that this was not his first childhood, it would only complicate things more if they started hiding things.
Max's little brows furrowed "But mijn Checo, ja?" (But my Checo, yes?)
"Yeah Max," Checo tried to keep a neutral expression and not frown himself, it was sad how much the three-year-old Max needed constant reassurance because they all knew that it was not only possessiveness the child felt over him it was a series of issues Max had that stemmed from abandonment and showed through insecurities, "still yours."
Daniel feeling the mood change in Checo addressed the kid again, "Have you seen the sim yet, Max?"
"Sim?" Max eyes lit up, he remembered the sim at home where he played with his Checo, it was fun even if he couldn't reach the pedals. "Nee, go now?" (No) Baby blues look excitedly at his guardian.
"Mira, I'll tell you what," (Look,) Starts the Mexican kneeling down next to little Max, "I have to go for something to the car that I forgot, what about Daniel takes you to the sim and I reach you there, hmm?" Checo looks at Daniel the request clear in his raised brows.
"Sure, I'll take the little man," Danny beams, "What do you say, mate?" the toddler thinks for a bit before nodding and reaching up a small hand for the Aussie to take.
Max thinks this sim isn't as fun as the one at home since he can't get on this one, but it's fascinating to watch it running. But it doesn't matter when Checo comes back hiding something behind his back.
Checo really hoped his gift was well received, he had never talked with Max about him having any childhood comfort toys, but he really hoped to give him one now, inspired by the infectious joy that had sparkled in the eyes of 3-year-old Max when they visited the park and encountered the ducks, Checo decided to surprise him with a fluffy yellow duck plushie.
"Here you go Max, this is what I forgot on the car, a little gift for you," The moment Checo presented the ducky to Max, the toddler's face lit up with unbridled delight followed by confusion when Checo invited him to take the fluffy plushie.
"Me?" Max points at himself.
"Yeah, Leoncito, for you." The care with which Max takes the toy from Checo's hands you would think the animal was an actual living duckling, except that a second later the toddler is squizzing the soft figure tightly to his chest and giving a couple little jumps before hugging Checo thanks. Clutching the yellow plush companion, Max wasted no time in proudly showcasing his newfound friend to anyone within his tiny reach starting with Daniel.
"¡Pato, pato!" he would exclaim with glee, his little voice punctuating the air with enthusiastic quacks.
Pato, as the toy got baptized as becomes a constant companion. Max always toddling around with the yellow ducky firmly in his grasp would become the norm in the days to follow.
Christian is happy Checo had the forethought to buy three of the same toy in case anything happens to the original.
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Heh hi, took a little longer now, but I just got a new job, and well, yeah getting used to a new schedule. It'll be funny when Max meets Pato and shows him his Pato hehe.
