Unbroken hopes|| Charles Leclerc x Max Verstappen(lestappen)Wildest dreams book2

Race

The early morning light seeped through the curtains of their hotel room, casting a soft golden glow over the bed. Max stirred first, blinking sleepily as he felt the warmth of Charles next to him. It was race day. Not just any race day, but the race day—the final showdown for the championship. He watched Charles, his chest rising and falling peacefully, still asleep, oblivious for just a few more precious moments to the weight they would soon face.

Max gently nudged him. "Hey, sleepyhead. Time to wake up."

Charles groaned softly, squinting as he shifted toward Max, burying his face in his chest. "Just five more minutes," he mumbled, voice thick with sleep.

Max smiled and ran a hand through Charles's messy hair. "I'd give you five more hours if I could, but we've got a pretty important day ahead."

Charles sighed, finally lifting his head and blinking his bleary eyes open. The reality of the day hit him instantly, the weight settling on his shoulders like a familiar yet oppressive presence. But as his eyes met Max's, that weight felt just a little lighter.

"I can't believe it's here," Charles whispered, his voice laced with nerves and anticipation.

Max leaned in, pressing a gentle kiss to his forehead. "I know. But we've made it. Whatever happens today, we've made it here together. And I'm proud of us for that."

Charles shifted fully onto his back, staring at the ceiling for a moment before turning to Max. "I keep telling myself that. That it's enough just to be here, to be fighting for the title against you. But..."

"But you want to win," Max finished for him, his voice understanding, not judging.

Charles nodded. "Yeah. I do. I want this so badly, Max. But it's not just about the title. It's about everything that's led to this moment. All the sacrifices, all the battles—both on and off the track."

Max sighed and rolled onto his side, propping himself up on one elbow as he gazed down at Charles. "I get it. I've been there, remember? And I know how much this means to you. But you need to know something. You're already a champion, Charles. Whether you win today or not, you're a champion. You've proven it to yourself, to me, and to the world."

Charles's eyes shimmered slightly, the weight of Max's words sinking in. "You really think that?"

Max nodded, his gaze never wavering. "I know that. I've known it since we were kids, karting together, pushing each other to the limit. You've always been destined for this."

Charles swallowed hard, feeling a swell of emotion rise in his chest. "I... I just don't want to let you down."

Max's face softened, and he reached over, cupping Charles's cheek. "You could never let me down. Not in racing, not in life. We're in this together, no matter what happens out there today. I'm with you, always."

Charles closed his eyes for a moment, letting those words wash over him, grounding him. He took a deep breath, and when he opened his eyes again, there was a new determination in them. "We fight together."

Max smiled. "Always."

They lay there for a few more minutes, sharing the silence, the calm before the storm. But soon, the inevitable pull of the day dragged them from their cocoon of warmth and safety. They got ready, dressed in their respective team gear, and shared a quiet breakfast before heading to the track.

As they arrived at the Yas Marina Circuit, the tension in the air was palpable. The media swarmed the paddock, eager to capture every moment of the unprecedented title fight between them two , two rivals, and two lovers. The world had never seen anything like this—a championship decider between partners at the pinnacle of motorsport. It was the kind of story that captured imaginations, that would be written about for years to come.