A/N: F1's back with a bang! And so is this fanfic! Enjoy the final chapters, loves, and thank you for the support <3 After a year of Lacy edits, I had to use it at least once in this fic!
Charles awakens to the buzzing of his phone. Half-asleep he reaches for it. The lit up screen blinds him. Eyes shut firmly, he accepts the video call.
"Hello?"
"Happy birthday, schat!" Max's excited voice reaches his ears. Charles squints at the screen. Max's bright smile is the only thing he sees, but joy fills his chest.
"You know what time it is?" Charles chuckles, rubbing his eyes.
"Midnight in the States," Max replies, clicking his tongue. "I told you I'd be the first to congratulate you."
"Merci, mon amour," Charles answers, finally able to take in the sight. Max's behind his sim, wearing the out-of-office shirt Charles adores. "Why are you up already? Isn't it like 8 AM or something over there?"
"7 AM, to be exact." Max's grin directed at the screen makes Charles feel giddy. "I wanted to play some more video games before unpacking some of your stuff."
And just like that, the shame and guilt kick in. Charles's mind backtracks to the week before, when he officially moved into Max's apartment. He'd never seen the Dutchman that happy. He'd practically bounced around the house.
"You're the best thing that has ever happened to me." Those words have haunted Charles's nights ever since. Those words are the reason he flew to Austin a day early.
"Charles?" Max pulls the Monegasque out of his thoughts and back into reality. He has three days left. Three days until Carlos and Daniel pull the trigger on raceday.
"Yeah, mon amour?" Charles tries to sound cheerful, but it comes out flat.
"I'm flying in today. Will I see you tonight? We can celebrate your birthday for real."
"Sounds great," Charles nods, trying to hide the lump forming in his throat.
"Great! I'll let you go back to sleep."
"Thanks. See you tonight." Charles is about to end the call when Max calls out his name.
"Yeah?"
"I love you, destinato a me."
The pure love shining in those ocean blue eyes is too much. A tear escapes as Charles replies, "Love you too."
----
"Has he flown in yet?" Charles didn't expect his team principle's first words at breakfast to be about his own personal torture, but he guesses he's got himself to blame for that.
"No, today," Charles stares at his toast, his hunger gone.
"Good. And you've moved in?"
"Who told you so?" Charles's head snaps up. "We haven't told anyone."
"Please, Charles," Fred scoffs. "You think we wouldn't notice a move like that in Monaco of all places? Small world, you know."
Charles parts his lips to reply, but he can't find his voice. He'll never be able to end this. He can't tell Ferrari no. He can't tell Max the truth. He can't do anything. No matter what he'll say or what he'll do, it'll end in tears.
"Charles?" Fred lifts an eyebrow at his immobility. "You alright?"
"I-"
"Good morning!" Carlos pulls back the chair next to Fred before taking a seat. "How's your birthday so far, Cabron?"
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If Clarity's in Death, Then Why Won't This Die?
Romance"Max doesn't know what to say. His eyes draw over every inch of Charles's face. His green eyes with brown specks, the sweat dripping down his face, his lips curled in a small smile... "If only you saw yourself the way all of us do. The way I do." Ma...
