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Carlos was thirteen the first time he got his period. He panicked and sobbed alone in his room for hours before finally telling his mom in hushed tones. He’d already learned by that age that being a male omega was something to be ashamed of. His father ingrained that into him from the time he was old enough to understand. That his existence was disgusting. He was an abomination. His mom gave him some pads. He begged her not to tell his father, but she did anyway. He then spent hours listening to his father rant about his disappointment and disgust. He told Carlos he needed to get him on scent blockers and birth control as soon as possible. Nobody could find out he was an omega.
Carlos is twenty seven now. And he’s no less ashamed of his assignation, despite the efforts of his alpha and his friends. He’s in the bathroom of his motor home before the Spanish Grand Prix, realizing he left his birth control at his apartment in Italy. He only realized because his period started. Now he’s sitting on the toilet, panicking and sobbing as if he was thirteen again.
He picks up his phone off the floor and calls Max, the only other omega on the grid. Max is openly an omega, which Jos hates, but Max doesn’t give a shit. Carlos admires him for that.
“Hello?” Max answers.
“Max, did you bring any pads or tampons with you?” Carlos asks in between sobs.
Max knows Carlos is an omega. He’s known since their Toro Rosso days. They’re in a pack together now, along with Lando, Daniel, and Checo. Daniel is Max’s mate, as well as the pack alpha. Checo is a beta. They only got together as a pack recently, during the offseason.
“Of course.” Max replies. “I always bring some pads with me, just in case. Do you need one?”
“Yes, please.”
“I’ll bring one over. Are you in your motor home?”
“Yes. Thank you.”
“No problem.”
Max is over a few minutes later with the pad. He slips it under the bathroom door for Carlos. Carlos puts it on and tries to dry his tears before he leaves the bathroom. He’s only semi-successful.
He opens the bathroom door to see Max still there, waiting for him.
“Are you alright, Carlos?”
Carlos shakes his head and breaks down again, all his previous efforts to calm down wasted. Max takes his hand and guides him to the couch. Carlos cuddles up with Max and breathes in his scent. That usually calms him down. But it doesn’t today.
“You’re gonna be okay. I promise.” Max tells him, rubbing his back comfortingly.
Carlos shakes his head.
“My father is here.” He tells him. “He’s gonna find out. He’s gonna be so mad.”
“He’s not gonna find out, okay? I’ll protect you, I promise.”
After a few minutes, Lando shows up. Max must’ve texted him.
“Oh, sweetheart.” Lando says, sitting down on the couch and wrapping his arms around Carlos. “I’m so sorry.”
Sandwiched between Max and Lando, and enveloped by their scents, he finally begins to calm down.
Later, after the race, Carlos sits on the couch crying again. He’s alone now. It wasn’t the race he’d hoped for. He’d disappointed his father once again. As if his father wasn’t going to be upset enough with him if he figured out he was on his period, and Carlos was still convinced he would. He’s been nothing but a worthless failure from the day he was born.
His pity party is interrupted by a knock at the door.
“Come in.” He calls.
Lando enters the room, along with the rest of the pack.
“Carlos, love, come here.” Lando says, sitting down on the couch and pulling him into his arms.
Carlos rests his head on his chest. Max sits down on the other side of him. Checo and Daniel squat down in front of the couch.
Max takes Carlos’ hand.
“My father…,” he trails off.
“I know, baby, I know.” Max says, and Carlos knows he does. Jos is the exact same way with Max. Worse actually. “Hey, do you need another pad?”
Carlos starts crying harder.
“I don’t know.” He chokes out.
“Let’s go check and see.” Max tells him. “I brought an extra one with me in case you do.”
Max tries to gently tug him off the couch, but Carlos resists. He shakes his head and presses himself closer to Lando.
“Carlos, honey, come on.” Daniel coaxes him, rubbing his thigh softly. “I know it’s hard to deal with, but you need to go check.”
“He’s right, baby.” Lando tells him. “Go on, go with Max.”
Carlos sighs and gets up, following Max to the bathroom. They check his pad and decide he doesn’t need another one yet, but Max gives him the extra one to hold on to. Carlos puts it in his pocket and follows Max out of the bathroom.
Carlos goes back to the couch and curls up with Lando again. Lando holds him tight and kisses the top of his head.
“You’re gonna be alright, my love.” He tells him.
Carlos almost believes him.