Purple - Lestappen

That Day

France had been amazing for Max. He was now comfortably leading the championship and had a sizeable gap between him and his rival. That's when it hit him and the smile he had painted across his face slowly vanished as the crash he had watched on the screen while waiting to collect his trophy played back in his head. One aspect no-one could forget was that scream... Charles wasn't just hurt, he was defeated and he was angry but not with anyone else, just with himself. Max felt as if he knew that feeling but not to this extent...

After his minor celebrations, he remembers walking over to the Ferrari garage, mechanics glancing at him with mixed emotions as he strolled through. He ignored the burning feeling of all the eyes on him until he made it to were he knew Charles was, a door with the number 16 and the Ferrari logo stood in front of him. He was prepared to knock, lifting up his fist when a rather firm and tense hand gripped his shoulder.

"I don't think he wants to be bothered right now" a voice sheathed by an Italian accent said softly. Max looked over his shoulder to the face of a young Italian mechanic who seemed to stiffen slightly under Max's tight and strict gaze. He slowly removes his hand from Max's shoulder and gulps nervously before taking a step back and quickly walking away.

Max sighs and closes his eyes, preparing for the worst before he eventually brings his fists up to the door, gently knocking against it. He anxiously adjusted his Red Bull hat as he waited for a reply, straining himself to hear shuffling from behind the door. The knob eventually twists, the door slowly open to reveal a flash of confident red adorned by a sunken man, his eyes slightly red and puffy. Charles stared at the sight before him, his expression unchanged as he examined the Red Bull driver in front of him. Max had adjusted his hat so it hung over his eyes, the removal of eye contact making the conversation several times easier.

"How are you?" Max asked softly, his tone lacking aggression for once. He didn't get a reply just a sad look front the Monégasque as he stared back at Max. "Obviously I'm not ok!" Charles snapped back in reply, his tone shocking himself before he sighs and pinches the bridge of his nose. "Sorry..." he mutters quietly after his outburst, his eyes glued to the floor. Max could've exploded, he could've punched Charles but he didn't. He would never. He instead smirked before leaning foward and embracing Charles softly in a warm hug.

Max noticed Charles gripped him tightly. Almost too tightly but he didn't complain. Instead, he just stood there and allowed Charles to grip him, concentrating as he tries to figure out if he can hear sniffling. "You smell of champagne..." Charles pointed out rather randomly, still gripping Max tightly who simply chuckled in response at the very unusual comment. "You got a nose for that stuff, huh?" Max responded teasingly as Charles pulled away, a slight smile wrinkling his cheeks. Max felt his Hart warm at this sight. He hated seeing Charles upset.

"I suppose I do" Charles said in reply, his French accent grazed by a rather solem tone despite his slight smile. Silenced filled the space suddenly as both men stood in front of one another, eyes nervously darling around the room and body language uncomfortable. They both wanted to say something but neither had the courage to say it.

Max was the first to brake the silence. "I'm really am sorry..." he said softly. Charles's eyes gleaned with something other than sadness as he heard those words but that fire was soon put out. "Thanks..." he chimed softly in response before Max heard his name being called in the distance.

"I should go..." he said as he pointed to the direction he was being called from. Charles nodded with understanding. "Of course... Thanks Max..." Charles said a final time before closing the door as Max walked away, sinking down against it once he was alone again. He buried his face into his knees, feeling sadness overwhelm him again but also feeling... Something more warm...

He was probably just feeling a bit flustered. But maybe... Just maybe...

He was feeling hot because of Max...