Max Verstappen
"52 thousands comments Max. Almost 600 thousand shared and 4 million likes. Can you believe it? Listen to this Max! One person said 'Dear Charles and Max, you have saved my life and because of you I came out to my family. Thank you both' We are doing something that matters!" Charles' excited pacing back and forth in our hotel room has already created a line in the carpet. But his huge smile and adorable little jumps when he reads another supportive comment makes all of this shitshow worth it.
P, suddenly runs through the joint door connecting our room with that she is sharing with Mira. She runs over to Charlie, excitedly grabbing his legs until lifts her up, twirls her around and carries her over to the bed to sit next to me.
"Daxie! Can we have more ice cream? Mira sayed I ask you. I want for the tea party"
"Sure Liefde, you can have as much ice cream as you'd like." I lean over to where she's seated on Charlie's lap and press a quick kiss to her forehead, "Go, we'll be there in a minute."
As P hops down and runs back through the open doorway my eyes finally meet Charlie's. For the first time since our meeting with the FIA our room is silent, the weight of the past few days hanging like thick smoke in the air.
"I love you, schat." I whisper into the silence, closing the inches between us and kissing him gently. Within seconds his hands weave into my hair and what started as a quick kiss moves into a full on make out.
ding. ding.
Charlie jumps back quickly and swipes his phone from where it's fallen to the floor.
"Look at this Max," he whispers, his voice tinged with disbelief, "Somebody leaked footage of the meeting and now Seb and Lewis and George are all getting support for standing up for us."
I move closer, feeling his warmth flood into my body as I rest my chin on his shoulder and peer at his screen. The comment section is overwhelmingly positive. Words of encouragement and an outpouring of love for not only us but also our teams and all the other drivers. It's a stark contrast to the fear and uncertainty I felt a few days ago with a gun pointed at my head.
- - -
We don't race again until over a month later in Australia, but waking up at the crack of dawn, Charlie curled with his body against mine, makes me feel alive.
"Schat we're going to be late if you don't hurry up and stop messing with your hair!" I poke my head into the bathroom, glancing around at the huge mess we'd left with towels on the floor, toothpaste tubes knocked over and at least twelve different hair gels that Charlie owns covering the counter top. "You don't need it anyway, love, you're already perfect."
Charlie barely spares me a glance, sticking out his tongue before turning back towards the mirror and fussing with his hair some more.
"I will be not even two minutes. Besides I am sure you can find some other red bull branded clothing to add to your already monstrous outfit." He looks over at me again, raising an eyebrow at my plain blue shorts, red bull polo, red bull hat and, believe it or not, red bull branded laces on my sneakers.
"Oh shush, you love me in blue."
Seconds later he walks over, pressing a quick kiss to my lips before striding into the main bedroom area and searching through his perfectly folded clothes. A minute later he is wearing an oversized t-shirt, printed jeans and shoes that cost more than anything I probably own.
Before I even have the chance to say another word he snatches the keys from my hand, laughing as he walks out the door.
I smile as I notice the packed bag still sitting on the bed. Of course he knew I would insist on carrying it.
Charles Leclerc
Once we are in the car, driving towards a day that feels like it would never arrive I turn to Max. Our hands are intertwined on the centre console and I watch his hand move surely on the wheel. (I had relinquished the drivers seat after Max said "Don't pretend you're not a passenger princess. Go where you belong")
Finally looking at his face I ask, "Do you think it will be different? Do you think they will still love us the same?" I tried to hide the nervousness in my voice but I could tell from the way Max squeezed my hand that I was not doing a very good job.
"Schat, they would love you even if you were death incarnate. You hear how they call you 'il Predestinato', 'the prince of Monaco', 'the most beautiful man to ever walk the Earth'," I roll my eyes at the last one, pretending to be annoyed since anything was better than anxiety. "Love, you don't need to be afraid." His tone grew more serious but I could tell from the tense of his jaw that perhaps he was not as sure as the words he spoke.
"Together?" I say, filling the silence after a moment.
"Charlie... did you really think it would be that easy to get rid of me?" I level a look at him, even though his eyes are focused on the road I know he can feel it. "Yes, schat, of course together."
A few minutes later we begin pulling up to the paddock parking lot and a dull roar fills my eyes.
"Max, do you hear that?"
He just nods, keeping his focus on driving as we slow. And that is when I spot the first people. They start in small groups, a few scattered around with signs and rainbow flags blazing in the wind. But the closer we draw to the paddock the more there are.
I stare out the window. Speechless.
As far as I can see there are hundreds of people lining the road. Rainbow flags, faceprint, signs, and t-shirts creating a sea of love. Something flew towards my window and it took a moment before I realized what is was. Flowers. Hundreds of carnations and tulips lined the road as we slowly pulled up to the private parking gates.
"Hey, schat, I guess you have your answer." I nearly jump at the sound of Max's voice, having completely been focused on everything happening around us.
"What?"
"You asked if it would be different. It is. But sometimes change isn't a bad thing."
I could not restrain my smile as we pulled into the paddock parking lot. Cheers still roaring in my ears as I stumbled out of the car and nearly fell head first into Lewis.
"You alright?" Lewis' voice was clearing trying to hide a laugh as I righted myself and moved away from the car, falling in step beside him. A second later Max was at my other side, fingers interlocking with mine as he shifted our bags to his other arm.
"Yes, sorry. Just a little bit overwhelmed I guess."
"Hey man, no worries. It's kind of amazing. I know it wasn't meant for me but driving through that crowd... it felt hopeful." His voice faltered on the last word and for a moment I wasn't sure what to say. Thankfully though, he kept talking. "I never thought we'd get here, not us I just mean F1 as a whole, but I'm happy to see this change. You guys are really lucky."
"Ya," I respond, squeezing Max's hand as we pass through the gates and into the heart of chaos that is a Formula 1 paddock on race day, "We really are."
Author's Note: Hi everyone! I know it's been a hot minute but I'm back! We'll see how the next few weeks go but hopefully I can get a few chapters out for you guys! On another note, Lando got his first win!!!! I was silently screaming at a restaurant when it happened and I swear half the people thought I was having a seizure or something. Happy Monaco weeks y'all! xoxo Elli
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End Game (Charles Leclerc x Max Verstappen)
Fanfic"I don't deserve you schat. But... I think I'll keep you anyway." I smile, trying to organize my thoughts on what we are about to do. "Yes, I am quite alright with that, I think." "You think?" He questions, slowly guiding my head from his shoulder...
