Enemies to lovers // C. Leclerc x C. Sainz

Chapter 4: Unforeseen Reactions

{{[SAME POV BTW. IN 2 CHAPTERS WILL BE OSCARS POV]}}

The paddock was alive with the usual pre-race buzz, but the tension from the previous altercation with Max Verstappen still lingered in the air. I could feel the eyes of the team on me, their concern palpable. I knew I needed to keep my cool, but the anger from our last encounter was still fresh. As I walked through the paddock, I spotted Max talking with his team. The sight of him, so casual and indifferent, made my blood boil. I couldn't let it go. I needed to confront him, to make him understand that his actions had consequences. I marched over, my steps heavy with anger. "Max," I called out, my voice sharp. "We need to talk." 

He turned to face me, his expression unreadable. "What is it, Charles?"

I took a deep breath, trying to keep my temper in check. "You can't just hit people off the track and act like it's nothing. You cost me the race."

Max shrugged, his demeanour infuriatingly casual. "It's racing, Charles. Sometimes things happen."

The nonchalance in his voice was the last straw. "You think you can just do whatever you want and get away with it?" I snapped, my voice rising. "You need to take responsibility for your actions."

Max's eyes narrowed, and I could see the anger flicker in his gaze. "Maybe you should learn to handle the pressure better," he retorted, his tone mocking.

The words hit me like a slap, and before I knew it, I had stepped closer, my fists clenched. "You have no idea what you're talking about," I growled. The tension between us was palpable, and I could feel the eyes of the paddock on us. The situation was escalating, and I knew it was about to boil over. 

"Back off, Charles," Max warned, his voice low and dangerous.

But I couldn't back down. The anger, the frustration—it all came to a head. "Make me," I challenged, my voice shaking with rage. Before I could react, Max's fist connected with my jaw, sending a sharp pain through my face. I stumbled back, tasting blood on my lip. The world seemed to blur for a moment, but then everything snapped back into focus. The anger erupted inside me like a volcano. I lunged at Max, my fist swinging, but before I could connect, strong arms pulled me back. "Charles, stop!" It was Carlos. He held me firmly, trying to prevent the situation from escalating any further. "This isn't the place for this."

Max stood his ground, wiping his knuckles and giving me a defiant look. "Yeah, listen to your teammate, Charles."

I struggled against Carlos's grip, the rage still burning inside me. "Let me go, Carlos! He needs to learn he can't just do whatever he wants!"

"Enough!" Carlos's voice was firm, and he tightened his grip on me. "This isn't going to solve anything. Calm down."

At that moment, Sergio "Checo" Perez appeared, stepping between Max and me. "Both of you need to cool it," he said, his voice calm yet authoritative. "This is not how professionals behave."

The other teams and personnel in the paddock were watching, their expressions a mix of shock and curiosity. The last thing I wanted was to cause a scene, but my emotions had gotten the better of me. I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. Carlos slowly released his hold but kept a wary eye on me. "You need to cool off, Charles. This won't help anyone."

Max smirked, his confidence unshaken. "Looking forward to our next encounter, Leclerc."

Carlos guided me away from the crowd, his grip still firm on my arm. "Come on, let's get out of here."

As we walked away, the reality of what had just happened began to sink in. My lip throbbed with pain, and the taste of blood lingered. I felt a wave of embarrassment, realizing how out of control I had been. Carlos led me to a quieter part of the paddock, away from prying eyes. "Charles," he said softly, his eyes filled with concern. "You need to find a way to calm down." Before I could respond, Carlos did something unexpected. He leaned in and pressed his lips to mine, his kiss gentle but firm. The shock of the kiss cut through my anger, leaving me momentarily stunned. When he pulled back, his eyes searched mine. "I just wanted to distract you," he said softly. "Did it work?" 

I blinked, the anger fading as confusion and a strange sense of calm took over. "Yeah," I whispered, touching my swollen lip. "It worked." I continue. "Is my lip bleeding? All i can taste is blood."

Carlos gave me a small, reassuring smile. "Good and yeah. We'll get you cleaned up"

As we walked back to the Ferrari garage, my mind was a whirlwind of emotions. The confrontation with Max, the unexpected kiss from Carlos—it was all too much to process. But for the first time since the incident on the track, I felt a sense of clarity. Carlos was right. I needed to find a way to manage my emotions, to channel that intensity into something productive. The road ahead was challenging, but I was ready to face it with determination and resilience. The game had changed, but I was still in it to win. With the taste of blood lingering on my lip and the surprising memory of Carlos's kiss grounding me, I knew I had to keep pushing forward. This sport was more than just a race; it was a test of character, resilience, and the ability to rise above conflict. And I was ready to meet that challenge head-on.