Alone In A Crowded Room (A Lestappen Story)

The Villain

Max's POV

Ever since Australia Max hadn't been able to stop thinking of Leclerc. The Monegasque filled his every thought and - though he was alive - Max felt a profound sense of grief. Maybe it was because he was thinking of him as a boy. Charles had been kind, sweet and so full of sunshine that he could bring it to Max's darkest days or maybe it was because that same boy showed up to his hospital room and he chased him out.

When Suzuka rolled around the corner he saw the way Leclerc's eyes were red. Everyone knew what had happened in Suzuka. Max had been at the track when it happened. Jules Bianchi, Charles' godfather, had gotten into a fatal accident.

It wasn't until the press conference when he found out Leclerc had designed a special helmet in honour of his godfather ten years on and put flowers down by the track. Max had never lost anyone so close to death. He couldn't imagine what it would be like - especially when the grief Charles felt became publicly exploited.

"Charles," An interviewer said, "Coming to race at the track where your own godfather last raced must be difficult. How are you feeling?"

Leclerc smiled, though his eyes seemed so full of pain that it was obviously fake, "It is always difficult coming to a track where someone you love crashed and didn't make it." Max could hear the undercurrents of pain in his voice and he knew it wasn't just Jules he was thinking of but Anthoine as well. Max had never been the closest with Anthoine but he, Charles, Pierre, and Anthoine had spent years in karting and working their way up. Anthoine had always been nice to him. He was supposed to make it to Formula One. The day Anthoine died . . . Max tried to stop thinking of it and focused back on the press conference, "I am, of course, feeling a lot of grief. So would anyone who knew Jules or even just raced with him."

Charles talked about the pain like it was all alright. "Charles," The interviewer said, "Do you ever fear that what happened to Jules will happen to you?"

Charles hesitated. That was when Max saw the part of him that was dying inside. Max suddenly felt an urge of protectiveness for the dimpled monegasque. He was a human. Friend or foe no one deserves to be treated like that. He leaned closer to his mic, "I believe this is a racing conference and that is a personal question. If you could kindly refrain from wasting time with things like this to a professional athlete who doesn't have to answer you it would be great, thanks." The words were out of his mouth before he could stop them.

Charles' eyes widened, a little shocked and Max didn't look at him. He just stared the reporter down till the man looked away at the ground.

The reporters couldn't get enough of Jules though. They kept asking about him and by the end of it Charles looked ready to cry. His hands shook and he kept breathing in deeply and exhaling like he was doing a breathing exercise. Because he was, Max realised, he was doing a breathing exercise.

When they left the room Charles immediately walked away, fast and fidgety. Max followed him and Charles didn't seem to notice as Max slipped into the bathroom behind him. Charles put his hands over his eyes and shook with an unuttered sob before breathing deep and opening his eyes.

"Max?" He asked and his voice was pinched and cracked and pitiful.

"Are you okay?"

Charles' throat seemed tied up so he just shook his head and Max wasn't a touchy person but he enveloped Charles and the usually smiley Ferrari driver broke in his arms. Max could imagine the front page of the newspaper with the title : Charles Leclerc, Prince Of Formula One Ugly Sobbing Into Rival, Max Verstappen : Villain Of The Sport's Shoulder and then Charles clutched Max like a lifeline and Charles forgot it all, holding him back.

When Charles finally calmed down he wiped his eyes, not looking Max in the eyes, "Sorry," He said, voice broken and eyes swollen.

"You don't have to be sorry for emotions."

"I'm sorry they're on your shirt, Verstappen."

Max frowned, "It's not like the dry cleaning bill is much of a dent in the World Champion bonus."

Extra chapter to be posted this Sunday btw, love you guys <3