Trackside Tensions (Carlando Landoscar Charlos)

Spanish Summer 1/2

Carlos and Lando were deeply immersed in their FIFA match, the intensity palpable as Carlos was on the brink of scoring a crucial goal. Carlos's fingers danced expertly over the controller, his eyes locked on the screen, but the sudden buzz of his phone on the coffee table interrupted his focus. The screen lit up with Charles's name, casting a faint glow on the polished wood.

Carlos's attention wavered from the game. Curiosity furrowed his brow. "Charles? Why's he calling now?"

Lando, fully absorbed in the match, glanced up from the TV, puzzled. "It's literally 3am, maybe something happened?"

Carlos nodded, a flicker of concern crossing his face. This wasn't just a casual call, Charles would never call this late if it wasn't something important. He picked up the phone, trying to keep his voice casual. "Hey, Charles, what's up?"

Charles's voice came through, ragged and weary. "Carlos, hey. I hope I'm not interrupting anything."

Carlos glanced at Lando, who was watching him with a questioning look. He shook his head slightly. "No, you're not interrupting. What's going on?"

Lando's eyes narrowed, a subtle unease washing over him as he noted the serious tone in Carlos's voice. There was something in the air that didn't sit right, though he couldn't quite place it.

Charles hesitated before speaking again. "I just... I needed to talk. Things with Alexandra... they're over. I broke up with her."

Carlos's eyes widened slightly, his voice dropping to a sympathetic murmur. "I'm sorry to hear that, mate. Are you alright?"

"I don't know," Charles admitted, his voice thick with confusion and exhaustion. "Everything's so messed up. I keep thinking about... Oscar and that kiss. I can't get it out of my head."

Carlos leaned back, trying to remain calm and supportive despite the gravity of the situation. "That's a lot to handle all at once. Do you want to talk about it?"

Charles's voice was hesitant, almost shy. "Are you sure I'm not interrupting?"

Carlos shot a quick glance at Lando, who was now watching him intently, his grip on the controller visibly tightening. "You're not interrupting, Charles. I'm here if you need to talk."

Lando's chest tightened as he felt a pang of discomfort. Carlos's immediate reassurance and his intense focus on the call made Lando feel oddly sidelined, a surge of jealousy bubbling up that he struggled to understand.

Charles continued, his vulnerability evident. "I just don't know what to do. After everything with Alexandra, and now this confusion with Oscar... I don't even know if it's about him or just the fact that the kiss was with a guy."

Carlos's voice was gentle, trying to provide comfort. "It's normal to feel confused, especially with everything happening at once. Maybe it's just the whole situation messing with your head."

Lando's grip on the controller tightened even more, his gaze never leaving Carlos. The room felt charged with a strange tension, the air thick with unspoken emotions. Lando's jealousy and frustration were growing, though he couldn't fully articulate why.

Charles's voice grew softer, revealing a more personal side. "I mean, I can't stop thinking about the dinner we had. We talked about everything, and I felt this... connection. But then I feel guilty, like I shouldn't be thinking about Oscar this way, especially after what just happened with Alexandra."

Carlos listened intently, his voice steady and reassuring. "It sounds like you're going through a lot, Charly. It's okay to feel this way, to be confused. You don't have to have all the answers right now."

Charles paused, a hint of softness in his voice. "Charly, huh? I kinda like that."

Carlos smiled, though Lando, sitting beside him, couldn't see. "Yeah, Charly. It suits you."

The warmth in Charles's response made Carlos's chest tighten slightly. "Thanks, Carlos. That means a lot."

Carlos leaned back further into the couch, glancing at Lando, who was now staring at the TV screen with a tight jaw. The game seemed secondary, overshadowed by the gravity of the conversation.

"Maybe you just need some time away to clear your head," Carlos suggested. "Why don't you come down here and join us in Spain for a bit? It'll be good to get away from everything, and we can help you figure things out."

Lando's heart sank at the suggestion. His eyes narrowed slightly, though he tried to keep his expression neutral. Carlos inviting Charles felt like an intrusion, stirring a sense of unease he couldn't fully articulate. The thought of Charles joining them in Spain seemed to disrupt the balance Lando had enjoyed, and he struggled with the feeling of being overshadowed.

Charles's voice softened with relief. "You think that would help?"

Carlos's tone was warm and inviting. "Absolutely. We're having a great time here, and it'll give you a chance to relax and get some perspective. Plus, you'll be with friends who care about you."

Lando forced himself to focus on the game screen, but his mind was racing. The ease with which Carlos invited Charles over, without a second thought, only added to Lando's discomfort. He hated the way Carlos's attention was so fully on Charles, feeling like a disruption to the dynamic he had come to enjoy.

"Alright," Charles finally agreed, his voice lighter. "I'll come over. Thanks, Carlos. I appreciate it."

"No problem, Charly," Carlos replied, his voice full of affection. "We'll take care of you."

Charles chuckled softly. "I'm really looking forward to it. See you soon, then?"

"See you soon," Carlos echoed, ending the call with a sense of finality.

As Carlos put his phone down, he turned back to Lando with a casual smile, but Lando couldn't quite return it. The tightness in his chest was a mix of frustration and confusion that he didn't know how to express.

Lando forced a smirk, his tone edged with sarcasm. "So, it's 'Charly' now, huh?"

Carlos laughed lightly, oblivious to the undercurrent of tension in Lando's voice. "Yeah, just something that slipped out."

Lando's eyes flickered with a mix of emotions—jealousy, frustration, and a deep-seated fear that he was losing his place in Carlos's world. He tried to play it off, but the unease was growing, a quiet storm brewing just beneath the surface.

Carlos didn't notice the strain in Lando's voice, too focused on the game resuming. But Lando's mind was elsewhere, grappling with the realization that Carlos's attention would soon be divided. The game continued, but the atmosphere was charged with a silent discord that neither could fully address