Trackside Tensions (Carlando Landoscar Charlos)

The Elevator

The elevator doors slid shut with a soft, final thud, trapping Carlos and Lando in the small, dimly lit space. The hum of the machinery was the only sound, a constant, low drone that seemed to amplify the tension between them. Carlos stood rigidly in one corner, his dark eyes fixed on the glowing numbers above the door, while Lando leaned against the opposite wall, arms crossed tightly over his chest. The silence was oppressive, thick with unspoken words and unresolved emotions.

As the elevator began its slow descent, Carlos couldn't shake the feeling of the walls closing in on him, not just physically, but emotionally. The air was heavy with the weight of everything left unsaid between them, the silence louder than any argument they could have had. Memories flickered through his mind—moments of closeness that now seemed tainted by distance and misunderstanding. He thought about Spain, how things had begun to unravel, how Charles's return had complicated everything, and how his own feelings had only become more confused.

Lando shifted uncomfortably, the confined space making it impossible to ignore Carlos's presence. Every breath felt heavy, laden with the resentment he'd been carrying around for weeks. He wanted to say something, anything, to break the silence, but the words were stuck in his throat, choked by anger and hurt.

Suddenly, the elevator jolted, the lights flickering before the machinery ground to a halt. The low hum ceased, replaced by an unsettling silence. Lando's heart skipped a beat, and he instinctively glanced at Carlos, who was already pulling out his phone.

Carlos dialed the emergency number, his voice tight and clipped as he explained their situation. "The elevator stopped between floors... Yes, we're inside... How long? Alright." He ended the call and slipped the phone back into his pocket, his expression darkening as he turned to Lando.

"We're stuck here for a bit," Carlos muttered, his frustration evident in his tone. "They're working on it, but it could take a few minutes."

Lando nodded, biting his lip to suppress the panic rising in his chest. He wasn't sure if it was the claustrophobia or the fact that he was trapped in a confined space with Carlos, but his nerves were fraying. The silence between them grew unbearable, each second stretching out painfully.

Finally, unable to hold back any longer, Lando let the words spill out, his voice dripping with sarcasm and unresolved resentment. "This is just perfect, isn't it? Stuck here with you. What more could I ask for?"

Carlos's jaw clenched, his dark eyes flashing with irritation. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"Oh, come on, Carlos. Don't play dumb," Lando shot back, pushing off the wall and stepping closer to him. "You've been avoiding me for weeks. Ever since Spain. Do you even care? Or was I just a convenient distraction until Charles came back into the picture?"

Carlos's temper flared, his frustration bubbling over. "Avoiding you? You've been the one running off to Oscar every chance you get. What was I supposed to do? Beg you to stay? I tried to reach out, but you never gave me a chance!"

Lando laughed bitterly, shaking his head in disbelief. "You tried to reach out? By what, inviting Charles over to every single moment we could have had together? By ignoring me when I came to your hotel room, only to find you and Charles cozying up like nothing had ever happened? You made it pretty damn clear where your priorities lie, Carlos."

Carlos took a step forward, his voice rising with indignation. "And what about you? Always with Oscar, acting like I don't exist. You think I didn't notice? Every time I tried to talk to you, you were with him, laughing, smiling—like I didn't even matter."

"You don't get it, do you?" Lando snapped, his voice cracking under the weight of his emotions. "I went to your hotel room that night to try and fix things, to talk to you about everything. But instead, I found you with Charles. And you didn't even care that I was there. It's like I was invisible."