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Abu Dhabi 2018
Sebastian hadn’t expected anyone to still be at the track. The race finished hours ago and all of the team’s end of season parties were underway.
He’d managed to escape the Ferrari one after spending enough time with Kimi. It was his teammate’s last season with them but he knows they’d always stay close. There wasn’t a pressure to have one big last hurrah with the Finn.
He isn’t in the mood for a party anyway, the bitter taste of coming P2 in the championship after yet another Lewis Hamilton win overriding everything else.
He spots the kid sitting against a wall, knees tucked up under his arms and head tilted down. He looks dejected although he can’t imagine why. The kid is about to become the second youngest Ferrari driver ever.
He’d gotten to know Charles a bit better over the last year, and he’d made a point of seeking him out after races once it was announced he’d become his teammate next year.
The kid is quick and talented, he’s never doubted that. He’s so very young though. He's skinny and looks like a teenager. Well, he’s not too much older than a teenager having only turned 21 the other week.
He walks over and stops in front of him, but the kid doesn’t even register his presence.
“I thought you’d be out celebrating with Marcus and your team,” His voice seems too loud for the stillness around them and he clears his throat awkwardly.
Charles jolts out of his daydream and stares up at him with panicked eyes.
God, the kid looks more like a model than a race driver.
The bright green eyes, dimpled smile, and thick hair. He’s already won over the hearts of everyone in the Ferrari garage.
“What are you doing here?”
Sebastian smirks and tilts his head to the side. The kid seems almost offended.
“Just came for some peace and quiet. What’s your excuse?”
Charles sighs and rests his head back against the wall, "I wasn’t in the mood to celebrate. I’m pretty sure Marcus doesn’t want me around anyway,”
Sebastian smiles sadly. He knows all too well the issues that come with outperforming your teammate, especially your older and more experienced teammate.
He digs his shoe into the floor and quietly assesses the boy. It’s dark and he can’t quite make out the emotions on his face.
“He’s happy for you, no?”
Charles snorts, “He tells everyone he is but I’ve seen the way he looks at me. I don’t blame him though. He’s lost his seat,”
Sebastian hums thoughtfully. Formula 1 can be a cruel sport. A lot of shattered dreams and not enough chances given.
“Can I sit down?” He asks and he’s not sure why. He should go back to the party but there’s something about the kid sitting here looking like he has the weight of the world on his shoulders that stops him leaving.
He shouldn’t care about Charles. The kid is about to become his teammate, his direct rival. Yet he feels the same wave of protectiveness he always does when he’s around the boy.
Charles shrugs his shoulders and shuffles up slightly even though there is plenty of space.
Sebastian lowers himself down to the floor and copies the boy’s position, leaning his head back against the wall.
They sit in silence, the only sounds around them their quiet breathing. It’s peaceful compared to the roars of the crowds from earlier as Lewis passed the finish line first.
“Congratulations by the way, P2, that’s good,” Charles mumbles, fiddling with the hem of his designer shirt.
He sighs, “It’s not bad. I never had a chance of beating Lewis though,”
“You got more points than Kimi though,” Charles points out.
Sebastian flicks his head to the side on a raised eyebrow but the boy isn’t looking at him, he’s staring over the track.
He’d never been too fussed about beating Kimi. Obviously, he wanted to, but they had a good relationship and it wasn’t too important to him.
Charles is looking at him with narrowed eyes now though and he wonders if the kid is imagining beating him next year. The thrill of being 21 and coming ahead of your older, four-time world champion teammate.
That wouldn’t happen though. There’s no way Sebastian would let a rookie beat him. Even one as pretty as Charles Leclerc.
“I’m looking forward to having you as a teammate,” He eventually replies, ignoring the kid’s observation.
He pushes down the idea that Charles will be the kind of teammate who will wish for his downfall. Everyone saw how things turned out with Lewis and Nico, he didn’t want that to happen to them.
Charles brightens at this and turns to him on a grin, “I won’t go easy on you,”
Sebastian let’s out a loud laugh. Charles has the same unparalleled arrogance all young drivers have. They haven’t properly experienced the lows of the sport yet. They are desperate and hungry for victory.
He remembers being like that once, but the years went by and he learnt some tough lessons. Lessons Charles will one day learn himself.
“I wouldn’t expect you to. I won’t go easy on you either though,”
Charles just grins and nods his head as if he wasn’t expecting anything less.
Silence falls between them again, but then he feels Charles shift next to him.
“Can I ask you a question, Sebastian?”
He looks over at him and realises the boy has turned around and is now facing him, his shoulder brushing up against the wall. His high end trainers are tucked under his legs.
“I’ve told you to call me Seb, there’s no need for the formalities, Charles,” He replies on a smirk.
He had told the kid that several times but the boy normally just blushes and mumbles an apology.
This time though the kid just rolls his eyes and leans in a bit closer, “Can I ask you a question, Seb?”
“Sure, kid. Fire away,” He replies easily although the way the boy is looking at him with dark, pointed eyes should make him more apprehensive.
“Do you think we’ll get on as teammates?” Charles asks and his voice is quieter now. He can hear the nervousness in it.
He wasn’t expecting that to be the question he asked and he looks at the boy, taking in his youthful face.
There’s no reason they shouldn’t get on as teammates. The age gap might be a slight issue. Sebastian isn’t sure they’ll have anything in common besides racing. That’s okay though he’s not looking for a new friend, he’s happy to be a mentor.
He’s never had a young teammate before. Daniel was younger than him but not by much and anyway Daniel was 25, already a man. Charles is still all boyish innocence.
It’ll be a different dynamic to what he’s used to. He’s used to being the young hot shot driver but this time he’ll be the older, experienced one trying to reign in his teammate.
A part of him worries history will repeat itself and Charles will show him up on the track. The same way he had Mark Webber.
It shouldn’t happen though. Sebastian is still in his prime and the kid is still just a rookie.
“As long as you don’t go crashing into me on the track then we’ll get along fine,” He promises on a smirk and Charles grins, looking relieved.
It’s getting late now and he can feel his back starting to cry out in pain from sitting against the hard wall. Sometimes he forgets he’s not Charles’ age anymore, although he has a feeling he’ll find himself forgetting it much less next year.
“Come on, let’s get out of here. I’m too old to be sitting on floors now,”
Charles jumps up to his feet quickly and looks down at him on a cheeky grin, “Do you need help getting up?”
Sebastian narrows his eyes on him. The cheeky prick. So that’s how it’s going to be. He pulls himself up off the floor, ignoring the kid’s offered hand.
“I might be older than you, kid, but I’m not that old yet. Don’t forget it either,” He warns on a smirk, shoving the boy in the shoulder.
Charles laughs and shrugs his shoulders, as if to say he doesn’t quite believe him. He shoots the boy a faux-glare. He’s going to enjoy beating this kid.
Abu Dhabi 2019
Charles’ first year with Ferrari is done and he’s ecstatic. He’d won two races, got several podiums and managed to come ahead of his teammate in the championship.
Mattia had pulled him aside after the race and congratulated him on his incredible year. He’d smiled gracefully and thanked him, shooting a quick glance at his teammate who was staring at him from the other side of the garage.
The relationship between him and Sebastian had gradually worsened as the season went on. It was Brazil though that produced the most tension between them.
They had gotten good at lying to the cameras and even to the team, spewing the same PR lines and fake smiles.
It was all a lie though. They’d had confrontations in their drivers rooms and back at whatever hotels they’d been staying in.
Sebastian calling him reckless, dangerous, and arrogant. Charles calling him jealous and a sore loser.
Japan hadn’t been great either. He watched the smug smirk on his teammates face as they sat in the debrief, and wanted to punch it off.
It should have been his win. He had pole but Sebastian’s desire to put him in his place and a last minute change of strategy took it from him.
He sighs and looks around the empty track. His first year in a top team done and he’s not even at the party because the thought of seeing his teammates face is enough to make his blood boil.
Charles kicks a few rocks away and plops himself on the floor, closing his eyes and leaning back against the wall.
The adrenaline from the race is still pumping through his veins and he breathes heavily to try and relax himself.
“I thought you’d be hiding here,”
He doesn’t need to open his eyes to know who’s voice that is. He groans internally, there’s no way he’s going to be able to relax now.
He feels someone sit down next to him and he opens one eye to be met with a grinning German.
He hates Sebastian’s grin. Hates that it always looks so condescending. Hates that it’s never forced like his own. Hates that he actually loves it.
“I’m not helping you up off the floor this time, old man,”
Sebastian snorts and shakes his head, the grin never leaving his face. “You didn’t have to help me last time, you little shit,”
Charles opens both eyes and tries to stop the smile tugging at his lips. He doesn’t succeed.
“Why are you out here? You should be celebrating your first year. You did good, kid,”
He tilts his head and purses his lips trying to cover the surprise he feels because Sebastian has actually complimented him.
The older man used to compliment him a lot at the start of the season and he hung on to every word because this was Sebastian Vettel, four time world champion, praising him.
The second half of the season though the compliments stopped and were replaced with heated snarls and harsh whispers.
“I thought I’d let you have one more night of feeling like the king before next year when I make this team mine,”
He’s not sure why he said it. It’s harsh and not even true. Yes, he might he have beaten the man this year but he had still only won two races. Sebastian’s wins overshadow his by miles.
He also doesn’t expect Mattia to suddenly start bowing at his feet and push Sebastian aside. He might be the Ferrari Prince, the El-Presidento, but he’s not got anything on his teammate yet.
It has just been so long since the older man has said anything positive to him that he forgot how to accept the compliment.
Sebastian doesn’t seem to mind though. He just chuckles and rolls his eyes.
“You remind me of me when I was your age, have I ever told you that?”
He hasn’t ever told him that but Charles has seen interviews with Sebastian where he says it. His eyes are always a mix of pride and resentment as he does.
“Because I’m better than my washed up teammate?” He quips and curses himself internally.
He’s done it again. Why can he not just say something nice back? He wants to be friends with Sebastian again. He misses the sturdy support and easy camaraderie.
Sebastian’s eyes are sparkling with mischief, he’s gotten used to the harsh words over the year. They don’t cut as deep as they did to start off with.
“You’re a little shit,” Sebastian drawls but there’s no malice behind it.
Charles huffs out a laugh, “Yes, you’ve definitely told me that a few times,”
Almost everyday for the past four months but who’s counting.
“I mean it though. You remind me a lot of myself and I think that’s why I’m so hard on you. I don’t want you to make the same mistakes I did,”
Charles flicks his eyes to the older man’s bright blue ones. What is he talking about? Young Sebastian didn’t make any mistakes. He broke records.
“Winning four championships was a mistake?”
Sebastian rolls his eyes fondly, “No, but I did make mistakes. You’ll go far, Charles, but you are still only at the start of your journey,”
Charles smiles at that. Sebastian has the ability to make anything sound profound. He’s clever, much more intelligent than himself as was proved in every Ferrari challenge they did.
“Will I get more championships than you?” He asks because he’s not sure what else to say. The realisation that Sebastian still believes in him and wants him to succeed making his stomach feel weird.
“Not if I have anything to do with it,” The older man jokes, knocking their knees together, “You’ll get everything you want though, kid. Don’t rush, you’re so young,”
Charles looks him in the eye and smiles. The words are said with such conviction and certainty that he can’t not believe them. He trusts Sebastian, always has. If Sebastian says he’ll be a champion one day then he will be.
“Thanks Seb,” He murmurs, staring out into the track to avoid having to look the man in the eye.
Sebastian wraps an arm around his shoulders and he jolts at the sudden contact before melting into his hold.
They’d had a rocky year and a part of him still holds resentment for the older man. Mostly though he wants to kiss him, like he’s been wanting to do the whole season. He won’t though. He knows better.
“I’m proud of you, kid,” Sebastian whispers and they’re so close Charles can feel the warm breath on his cheek.
He can’t look at his teammate because if he does then he’ll kiss him. If he kisses him then Sebastian will push him off with an awkward chuckle and things between them will never be the same.
“We should get back to the party,” He rushes out, pulling out of the older man's hold and getting to his feet.
Sebastian looks taken a back but covers it quickly with a nod and stands up.
They look at each other and Charles can feel his heart almost bursting out of his chest. They need to be with other people, he doesn’t trust himself alone with the older man.
“Race you,” He shouts and sprints off in the direction of their hotel. It’s only a few streets away and he’ll be able to avoid his teammate at the party.
He hears Sebastian’s protests of it being unfair but then the tell tale sounds of his teammates feet pounding after him.
Abu Dhabi 2020
Sebastian makes it there before Charles this time. Well, he’s not even sure if Charles is coming.
They’ve sat there together for the last two years but they’ve never mentioned it to each other. It’s not something they arrange. It’s just that they both always seem to be there at the same time.
He slumps down against the wall and takes in the track. He’ll never drive for Ferrari again here. He’ll never drive for Ferrari again anywhere.
If he’s honest with himself he saw it coming. He saw it coming when Charles signed the longest contract Ferrari had ever given, and Mattia would just smile and assure him they’d get round to his renewal soon.
He saw it coming when it became obvious the team was favouring Charles. He was their golden boy. Even when the kid ruined both their races in Russia, Mattia had just patted him on the back and forgiven him.
Charles got the new upgrades, Charles got the better strategy. Not that any of it mattered because since the forced engine swap the car had been shit.
If it wasn’t for shit car he might have resented Charles. The arrogant kid who came into his team and instantly had everyone fawning all over him. The kid who joined and pushed him out.
Instead though they became closer this year. They bonded over their mutual destruction. They made jokes at Ferrari’s expense over drinks.
He didn’t blame Charles. The kid was just too good and he just hadn’t had a great couple of years.
He blamed Mattia though. He blamed him for making him despise the team he dreamt about as a child.
He’d given everything to this team for the past five years and they threw him out like he was nothing. Ferrari had a history of that though, throwing out their kings and putting their hopes in new blood. He was the new blood at one point, he just never thought he’d be thrown away.
He’s drawn out of his pondering by a small stone hitting his forehead. He looks up and sees the light in all of his dark days.
“Don’t throw stones, it’s dangerous,” He scolds but there’s no heat behind his words and he can feel the smirk plastering on his face.
Charles laughs and clumsily throws himself down on the ground next to him, practically falling into his lap.
Sebastian huffs and pushes him off, grabbing his shoulders to straighten him up next to him and eyeing the boy, “Are you drunk?”
The kid grins and pinches his fingers together in front of his face, “Maybe a little bit. Ferrari might have shit cars but they still have decent wine,”
Sebastian chuckles and nudges him in the arm, “You could have at least brought some with you,”
He hadn’t been at the party long enough to have a drink. The overwhelming feeling that he no longer belonged, enough to send him to the spot he felt most at home, with the person he felt happiest.
“I’ll bring some next year,” Charles retorts on an awful attempt at a wink. One of his favourite past times was mercilessly teasing Charles about not being able to wink properly.
The words though mean more than Charles could have possibly meant them to mean. The unspoken assurance that even though they’ll be on different teams, they’ll still meet here.
It warms his heart because after only two years he can’t imagine his life without Charles.
“I’ll hold you to that,”
Charles grins and turns on his side so he’s staring at him, “What a shit year,”
Sebastian hums in agreement, as far as F1 seasons go this was definitely one of the worst he’s ever had.
“Next year will be better,” He muses and Charles gives him an expression that shows he seems to disagree.
Next year will be better for Sebastian. He’s sure of it. He’ll have a new team with a dream that he believes in. A team not immersed in toxicity like Ferrari.
He sympathises with Carlos who is joining a team that only has eyes for their golden boy. Their Prince.
He sympathises with Charles too because by the looks of it he’s not going to get the car he deserves next year.
“I’ll miss you,” The boy whispers, reaching a hand out and squeezing his shoulder.
Sebastian grasps Charles’ arm and pulls him into his side, smiling when he can feel the younger man relax.
“I’ll miss you too, Charles,” He replies just as quietly.
He will miss Charles. He’ll miss the youthful positivity he brought with him to every meeting. He’ll miss the cheeky comments and mischievous eyes. He’ll even miss banging on the kid’s hotel door every morning shouting for him to get up because they’re late for something.
Mostly though he’ll just miss being around Charles. The boy has somehow managed to worm his way under his skin and lead his heart to beat erratically fast whenever he’s around.
Charles lifts his head and his green eyes look at him so hard he’s almost certain he can see right through him, “Do you think you’ll like Lance better than me?”
He wants to laugh at the seer absurdity of the question. It’s like they’re in school and they’ve switched seats in class. Although to be fair to Charles it wasn’t that long ago he was in school.
He pushes that thought down. He doesn’t like to dwell on their age gap because it makes him feel like an old creep when he looks at the boy and wants to kiss him.
“He certainly won’t piss me off as much as you did,” He tries to joke but the flash of hurt in the kid’s eyes shows he was asking the question seriously, “But no, Charles, I don’t think I’ll ever like anyone as much as I like you,”
Charles looks at him with narrowed eyes as if he’s waiting for the punch line. He’s not joking though.
“I won’t like Carlos as much as I like you either,”
Sebastian smiles and rests a hand on the boy’s hair, “You still need to be friendly with him though, kid. It’s important that you step up now. Don’t let the team walk all over you. You deserve everything,”
He looks directly at him as he says it because he needs the kid to know. He needs the reassurance too that Charles won’t drown in the often poisonous atmosphere of Ferrari.
He wants to hate Ferrari but how could he when Charles will be leading the team?
“I’ll make you proud, Seb,” Charles promises on a whisper.
He wants to kiss him. He wants to feel Charles’ lips leaving marks all over his body. He wants to lose himself in the boy’s mouth, kissing away the year that almost ruined him.
There’s no one that can take the pain away like Charles can.
“You already do, Charles. You always have,” He doesn’t kiss him. He wants to but he’s scared if he does he’ll never want to stop.
Instead he rests his cheek on the boy’s hair and they sit in silence, letting their last hours of being teammates fall between them.
Abu Dhabi 2021
Charles clutches the bottle of wine between his hands and leans his head back against the wall.
He had to lie to Carlos and tell him he was going to bed. There was no point in trying to explain where he was really going.
He’s never been more thankful for a season to be over. Carlos had fucking beaten him. He wanted to hate him for it but the man was just too damn nice.
It will be okay though. He knows that Mattia still pins their championship dreams on him. The Italian has spent the entire season promising him that they are going to come back strong next year and that he will be a Ferrari champion.
So that’s what he’s been doing. He’s only been thinking about next year. He tried to explain it to Sebastian at one of their monthly catch up dinners but the man just laughed and told him he was wishing his life away.
Sebastian didn’t get it though. He hasn’t been stuck in a failing team for two years now after signing a contract that means he’ll have to stick with them for another 3 years.
Still it’s at least better than what they did to his ex-teammate. He’d be lying if he said he didn’t like that last year he was receiving all the upgrades and praise, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t repulsed by how they treated Sebastian.
Sebastian deserved better than Ferrari and from what he’s been telling him he’s found it. The Aston Martin car might not be great but he’s glad the man has found peace there.
He smiles when he sees the German walking towards him with his hands in his pockets.
Sebastian stops in front of him on a smirk, “You remembered,”
Charles isn’t sure if he means about the wine or about turning up. It must be the wine though because Sebastian should know he’d never not turn up for him.
“Of course,” He replies. He points the top of the bottle slightly to the right of Sebastian, ignoring the man’s warning look and pops the top off.
He watches the cork fly through the air and then brings the bottle to his lips, gulping down almost a quarter of the bottle.
Sebastian laughs and sits down next to him. He wordlessly hands him the bottle and smiles when the man swallows a few large gulps.
“The Italians always have had the best wine,” Sebastian remarks, handing the bottle back.
He rolls the bottle between his fingers and takes another sip, “I think this is French actually,”
“Like you then,” Sebastian quips, grabbing the bottle back and drinking from it.
Charles glares at him. The older man had never let that joke go. He’d say it annoys him but the grin on the man’s face that always accompanies the teasing makes it worth it.
Sebastian hands him the bottle back and he holds it, not daring to drink anymore yet. He can already feel the haziness of the wine adding to the drinks he’d drank at the party before this.
“Carlos beat me,” He mutters, pulling at the label on the wine.
Sebastian tilts his head on a small smile, “I know. You should be happy for him. He’s your teammate,”
Charles scoffs in annoyance, moving the bottle out of the older man’s reach when he tries to grab it.
He smirks at him and takes another sip. “Were you happy for me when I beat you?”
Sebastian grins, wide and free, “No, but you were an egotistical little shit,” He retorts, digging his fingers into Charles’ ribs.
Charles giggles and pushes him off, glaring at Sebastian who managed to grab the wine out of his hand when he was distracted.
“Are you two getting on alright?”
Charles shrugs his shoulders. He does get on with Carlos. It’d be impossible not to seeing as the guy is so friendly. Still, he’s no Sebastian.
“Yeah, we have a lot in common. I’ve actually managed to win a few Ferrari challenges too,”
The older man grins at him and Charles just wants to kiss him. He’s pretty drunk now and he can’t take his eyes off the man’s plump lips.
“You were always such a sore loser after those challenges, storming off somewhere after and ignoring me. I hope you don’t do that with Carlos, he doesn’t know you as well as I do. It might upset him,”
Charles rolls his eyes but he can’t argue because he did used to be a very sore loser. Sebastian would have to bring him a hot chocolate and a donut just to get him to talk again.
“You never let me win anything that’s why!” Charles protests, grabbing the bottle of wine and downing what’s left in it.
He places the empty bottle by their feet and turns his head to look at the older man.
Sebastian rolls his eyes now, “It was a competition! I told you when you first joined that I’d never go easy on you,”
“Shut up,” Charles huffs, shoving the man in the shoulder and looking back over the track.
“Make me,”
Charles flicks his eyes to Sebastian’s and the man is looking back with wide, mischievous blue orbs. His tongue comes out to wet his lips and Charles follows it in a trance.
He looks back up at the man silently asking for permission. Sebastian smiles and it’s all he needs.
He dives forward and their lips smash together. Sebastian grabs his chin and forces his mouth open wider.
Charles moans when the man’s tongue licks into his mouth. He grips the back of Sebastian’s head and pulls him in closer, nibbling at his bottom lip.
They kiss for what feels like hours and Charles feels like he’s flying.
Sebastian pulls back first, breathless and red lipped. “I’ve wanted that for years,” He murmurs, cupping Charles’ cheek and stroking a finger across it.
Charles grins and drags the man up with him to a standing position, "My hotel is only down the road if you want to carry on,”
Sebastian arches an eyebrow at him and slips his hands around his waist, “How could I ever say no to that?”
Charles drags him away but Sebastian stops and he’s pulling against a dead weight.
He turns around hesitantly, worrying that he’s pushed this too far. That Sebastian thinks this is a mistake.
The German is looking at him with a disappointed look, “Don’t leave the bottle there, Charles!” He snaps, pointing down at the discarded empty bottle of wine.
He gives the man a sheepish smile and picks it up.
Sebastian let’s go of his hand and grins, “Good boy,” He teases.
Charles rolls his eyes and goes to push him but Sebastian is already a few steps away. The German looks back at him with a cheeky grin, shouts "Race you,” and takes off running.
Charles splutters and takes off after him, “You cheated!” He yells after the man, "You don’t even know where I’m staying! I’ll let you go the wrong way!”
Sebastian stops and turns to him on a bright grin. Charles makes it over to him and the man wraps his arms around him and presses a breathless kiss against his lips, “No you wouldn’t,"
Charles smiles into the kiss. No he wouldn’t.
Abu Dhabi 2022
He knows that even though they only saw each other a few hours ago when he wrapped Charles into a tight hug and whispered how proud he was, that he’ll still turn up.
They shouldn’t really be escaping from the parties tonight. Not when they are specifically for them.
Charles has his championship party and he has his own retirement party. Still, he knows Charles will show up because he always does.
He sits down against the wall and lets his mind replay the images of Charles being crowned the champion.
It had been a long season for Charles. He’d started in the lead and then through no fault of his own suffered a few DNFs that gave Max the lead.
Charles had been distraught and Sebastian had let him cry on his shoulder night after night as the boy felt the championship slipping further out of his reach.
Charles Leclerc was nothing if not determined though and he fought back race after to race, until today when Max was only 3 points ahead of him.
He’d wished the younger man luck this morning but Charles had just turned back and tried to wink. The boy knew he’d win. He was on pole and he’d never craved anything more than his first championship.
He watched Charles up on the top step of the podium, champagne spurting everywhere, confetti sticking to him, and tears dripping down his face.
No one had ever looked like they belonged on the top step as much as Charles.
He couldn’t help but feel overly emotional as he watched him though. There was the love and pride of course, he always felt that for Charles.
But there was also the realisation that he would never stand on the podium again. It was a bitter sweet feeling.
He’d announced his retirement over the summer break. Aston Martin had tried to convince him to sign on for another two years but he didn’t have the heart to race for two more years.
Being on the track didn’t feel the same as it did even five years ago. He was no longer competing for wins, he was just racing.
He needed to get out of the sport before he came to resent it.
He’s ready to watch the new generation of Formula 1 thrive. He’s at peace with his decision.
Charles had tried to convince him to stay, but he knew the younger man didn’t understand. Charles was too young and too enthralled by the sport still. Maybe in 10 years he would get it.
He hears a crunch on the gravel and looks over to see the 2022 World Champion swaying slightly as he walks. He looks like a work of art, his dark hair ruffled and green eyes hazy. The grin though. Sebastian would never get tired of seeing that grin.
He pushes himself off the floor and runs at the younger man, wrapping his arms around him so tightly he might not be able to breathe.
“I know I said it earlier but I’m so fucking proud of you and I love you so fucking much,” He exclaims pulling back and smashing their lips together.
Charles laughs into the kiss and grips him by the hips, pulling him closer and deepening it.
He pulls back and rests his forehead on Charles’. They smile at each other and Sebastian knows for sure he never wants to race again. He just wants to be with Charles.
“I’m the fucking world champion,” Charles mumbles as if he still can’t believe it.
Sebastian cups his chin and presses a chaste kiss to his lips, "I always knew you’d do it,” He assured him and drags the boy by the hand over to the wall.
He sits down first and pulls the younger man down next to him, their arms and legs tangled together.
“I love you, Sebastian,” Charles whispers, resting his head on his shoulder and sighing contently.
Sebastian cards a hand through the boy’s dark hair, “I love you more,” It’s always more, never too. He’ll always love Charles more than anything else.
“I can’t believe you’re retiring and leaving me all alone,”
Sebastian snorts and nudges his knee, “I am not leaving you all alone. We’ll still see each other all the time. You’re my whole life,”
Charles hums but doesn’t reply. Sebastian sighs.
Charles hasn’t taken his retirement very well. He worries that they’ll drift apart when they are not seeing each other everyday.
Sebastian knows they won’t. There’s nothing in this world that could keep him away from Charles.
He jolts the boy and cups his cheeks between his hands, “Nothing is going to change between us, Charles. I love you and I always will,”
The boy releases a long breath but nods on a small smile, “I know. I love you,” He mewls, “Are you sure it’s time?”
Sebastian smiles softly, “It’s time, Charles,” He confirms.
“I suppose you’re better off getting away from the cameras now before you get any more grey hairs,”
Sebastian narrows his eyes on the boy. He knows for a fact he doesn’t have any grey hairs. He checks every week.
“You’re a little shit,” He snaps, diving down on the boy and pushing him to the floor. His fingers run up and down the boy’s body, digging in all the places he knows will get a reaction.
Charles writhes underneath him, laughing hysterically and desperately trying to push him off.
“Seb! Please!” The boy begs breathlessly and because Sebastian does have some mercy he stops, and pulls the boy back into his side.
“If I get grey hairs it’ll be because of all the stress you cause me,”
Charles laughs and snuggles deeper into his side, “I’m probably going to have to get back to my party soon, they’ll realise I’m gone,”
Sebastian beans down at him, “Well you are the champion,”
Charles hums and leans up to press a kiss against his lips, “I’ll go soon,” He mutters, slipping a tongue into Sebastian’s mouth and drawing out a moan.
Abu Dhabi 2024
Sebastian paces around the empty track. He’d been planning this for months and yet now the moment has come he suddenly feels like it’s a terrible idea.
Charles has just won his second championship and this time he was able to celebrate it with him properly.
They’d announced their relationship last year and so Sebastian could watch his boyfriend’s races and kiss him after.
He’d watched Charles up on the podium again and was overcome with pride.
Charles had dedicated his first championship to the dead but this one was all his.
He was already the clear winner by the last race after being 31 points ahead of Max. Still, it felt just as special today.
He checks his pocket again digging around for the small square box. He knows it’s still there, it’s been there every other time he checked.
He’s never been so sure of anything in his life, he knows he wants to be with Charles forever. This is simply a formality. Yet he can’t help the part of him that worries Charles might say no.
Is Charles still too young? He’s just turned 27 so he’s not that young boy he was when he started at Ferrari anymore, but he’s still young.
What if he doesn’t want to marry him? Sebastian knows he’s never had anything on Charles in the looks department but it’s gotten worse over the years.
His hair has gotten curlier and he normally has scruffy four day stubble now. He’s not as slim as he used to be, granted he’s not overweight but he’s put some muscle on from spending time at the farm.
Charles though has only got better looking. He’s grown out of his baby face and is all high cheekbones and short stubble. He’s not skinny anymore but has a six pack from all the training he does.
He knows that Charles loves him and that he still thinks he’s hot, his words mind you. But would he want to marry him?
“Why are we meeting here? I thought you were coming to the party!” Charles yells.
Sebastian turns around and sees him sauntering over with narrowed eyes and a mischievous grin. He’s wearing a suit and he looks like he should be in a museum he’s that beautiful.
“I just wanted some time alone,” He replies, hugging the man when he’s close enough.
Charles pulls back on a smile, “We could have had that in the hotel room but you insisted on me coming here instead,”
Sebastian releases his grip on the man and lets out a long breath. This is it. He’s been preparing this speech for months.
He drops down to his knee and pulls the box out of his pocket. He pries it open and looks up at Charles who is looking at him with panicked eyes.
He ignores it and carries on. He’s already started. It’s now or never.
“Charles, I love you and I want to spend the rest of my life with you by my side. So will you -,”
“Fuck sake, Sebastian!” Charles snaps, throwing his hands in the air.
Sebastian looks up at him in confusion and can feel the tears at the back of his eyes. Why did he ever think Charles would want to marry him?
He closes his eyes and composes himself. This is okay. They’ll move past this and pretend it never happened.
When he opens them Charles is kneeling down opposite him, with a small black box containing a very expensive looking ring.
He gapes and looks into the green orbs opposite. The eyes he had come to be able to read as if they were his favourite story.
Charles shakes his head on a smirk, “You always had to fucking beat me didn’t you,”
Sebastian laughs deliriously because he can’t form any words.
Charles cups his cheek on a warm smile, “Will you marry me, Sebastian?”
Sebastian stops laughing and looks at his beautiful boyfriend. The absolute love of his life. There was only ever going to be one answer.
“I asked you first,” He retorts on a grin because he knows it’ll make Charles laugh and he loves his laugh.
“You didn’t actually ever ask me, you just started to,” Charles points out on a chuckle.
Sebastian narrows his eyes on him. They’re too competitive. They’re too stubborn. They’re made for each other.
“Of course I’ll marry you, Charles Leclerc,” He whispers and leans in to kiss him.
He knows that they will spend the rest of their lives competing with each other and constantly trying to one up another but he wouldn’t have it any other way.
Abu Dhabi 2032
He watches the three figures from a distance. One larger and two smaller ones. The smaller figures are running around after each other whilst the large one tries to grab them both.
The track isn’t as busy as it was earlier. The podium celebration finished a couple of hours ago and everyone has moved on to somewhere else.
He doesn’t plan on attending any parties tonight. He’s got more important people to see. Tomorrow he will celebrate but not tonight.
His fifth world championship with Ferrari and his last ever race. What a day and what a career.
He was always certain he’d never want to retire. He couldn’t imagine not racing almost every weekend. Then something changed and he started dreading leaving Sebastian lying in bed as he got up to catch a flight. He started missing home more and more, to the point where he would cry down the phone to Sebastian almost every night.
Sebastian had always said to him he’d know when it was the right time and he was right. It’s time.
He walks closer to the three figures and Sebastian sees him. The man leans down to the smaller two and says something.
The next thing Charles knows there’s two small boys running at him.
“Papa You won! You won!” They scream and pile into him.
Charles laughs and kneels down to wrap his arms around his sons. They cling onto him breathless and vibrating with excitement.
“You were so quick, Papa!” His youngest son, Liam boasts, pressing a wet kiss to his cheek.
“I hope I’m as quick as you one day,” His oldest son, Olly, exclaims.
He pulls both boys close and presses a kiss to each of their foreheads, “I love you both so much, I’m glad you enjoyed yourselves,”
“Are you really never going to race again, Papa?” Olly asks.
“Papa is an old man now, and he needs to get away from the cameras before he gets anymore grey hairs,” Sebastian taunts.
Charles stands up on narrowed eyes, picking both his boy’s up and holding one in each arm. He knows for a fact he doesn’t have any grey hairs, he checks every week.
Sebastian might still be looking good but Charles has definitely seen a couple of greys hairs mixed in with his blonde curls.
“Dad! You’re older than Papa!” Liam shouts giggling at the faux glare on his Dad's face.
Sebastian pulls their youngest son from his arms and tickles him, causing the six year old to erupt in giggles.
Sebastian kisses the small boy and places him back down on the floor and Charles releases his grip on Olly, letting him slide down to stand with his brother.
Sebastian steps towards him and cups his cheeks between his hands, “I’m so proud of you sweetheart. I can’t believe you’ve got one more championship than me,”
Charles grins and tilts his head to press a kiss to his husband’s hand, “I told you when I joined Ferrari that I’d never go easy on you,”
“You’ve given me more than I ever could have dreamed. I love you, Charles Vettel-Leclerc,”
He smiles and leans into press a kiss to his husband’s lips. “I love you Sebastian Vettel-Leclerc, always,”
It doesn’t take long for their sons to start complaining about how old people shouldn’t kiss.
They pull apart on a laugh and each grasp one of their son’s hands, before holding each other’s as they walk off the track for the last time.