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Carlos didnt have a good quali. Going back to the garage, he let out a big sight. P5 and P7? This is not where Ferrari should be. And the Australian Grand Prix did not even start yet. Going to his private changing room, Carlos sat down. He made sure no one was able to hear him, and just let out a meow. Which is something he does often after races. Supressing his meows is hard. Its like an itch that has to be scratched. After that, he took off his helmet. Looking in the mirror, he let out another big sight. He hated looking like this. He let his hand go over the two soft-looking black cat ears poking out of his head, before putting on his Ferrari cap. Like normally, his mind went to how people have never seen him without any kind of headwear. Pathetic, isnt it. But he couldnt let anyone see him without it. What if he'd be removed from his seat?
Taking off his race suit felt like a huge relief. The long fluffy black tail that had popped out from its hiding place was now nervously twitching while Carlos took his shirt. He tried to ignore the mirror as much as possible. As soon as he was done with his clothes, he quickly made sure his tail was pressed against his leg in his pants again, as always. Just like he'd been doing for the last years. Maybe even decade. God, he could'nt even remember the last time anyone saw him without hiding his cat features.
Leaving the garage to go do interviews, he bumped into Charles. Carlos tried his best not to blush, which he isnt that good at. "Hey mate, sucks about your p5 , but its better than nothing." Charles said with a slight smile on his face. Carlos nodded. "Yeah, i agree. Hopefully we' improve and we'll have a good race." Charles smiled and walked away, back into the garage. Carlos thought about how amazing it would be to fall asleep with his head on Charles' shoulder one day. He felt a purr incoming, so quickly snapped back into reality and went to the interviews.
Sight.
Back at the hotel, Carlos let himself fall onto his bed. He quickly took off his cap and let his tail find its way out of his pants. Ah, finally. No hiding. He sat up, deciding to just quickly eat the salad he bought on his way back to the hotel. He then just turned on his tv, and watched whatever channel was on. Untill he heard a nock on his door. Shit. He quickly looked around for his cap, stuffed his tail back into his pants and opened the door, only to find Charles there.
"Hi, can i come in? Im a bit lonely on my room so i thought i'd come and eat my dinner with you here!"
Carlos nodded quickly, and let him in. Sitting back down on the bed, he waited for Charles who was warming up his meal in the microwave. A few minutes later, Charles was eating his microwave pasta while Carlos sat down a few centimeters away from him, fiddling with his fingers.
"Mate, do you always wear a cap?"
Carlos looked up. "Uh.. Yes." He started fiddling again and could feel his tail nervously brushing against his leg in his wide pants.
"Is there a reason why? Or do you not want to tell me?"
Charles put the now empty tray of food on the side, and sat down a bit closer to Carlos.
"I.. I dont know. Its comfy i guess." Charles noticed Carlos was clearly uncomfortable, so he stopped asking questions.
Carlos looked back at Charles, who was now looking at the tv. Supressing a purr, he looked back at the screen. He felt uncomfortable but... Safe.
An hour passed, and both Ferrari boys decided to play some chess to cure their boredom. Carlos was winning, for once.
"MATE YOU ARE CHEATING! YOU CANT GO DIAGONAL WITH THAT PIECE AND YOU KNOW IT!" Charles rolled back from laughing, while Carlos put the piece back where it was. In the end, Carlos did win the game. Carlos looked at Charles with a wide smile on his face. Charles looked back, suddenly getting lost in the Spaniard's deep dark eyes. Carlos noticed the Monegasque was drifting away from reality, so he snapped his fingers in front of his face, making Charles snap back to reality.
"What are you even looking at?" Charles let out a giggle. "Your eyes, of course!" Carlos couldnt help but feel flustered at that.
Charles looked deep inside Carlos' eyes again. This time, it felt like they were screaming something. The pleading in the younger boy's green-brown eyes was getting clearer by every centimeter that they got closer to each other.
But the moment Charles leaned over to actually do something, he bumped his head against Carlos' cap, which fell off his head.
His heart stood still. Fuck. Oh no no no this isnt good. Carlos started panicking when he noticed Charles was staring. No please. He started tearing up, ran to the bathroom, and locked it.
He cried. "He's gonna hate me now.. I fucked up please dont hate me.."
".. Carlos?"
Charles' voice came from outside the bathroom. He didnt know what he needed to do. Let Charles see him? Ignore him?
"Carlos, im not mad, please come out.."
Carlos didnt know what to do. He was nervously shaking, but didnt want Charles to feel ignored, so he went for it. He opened the door.
"Oh Carlos..." Carlos was looking at the floor, ashamed and in tears. He didnt want to see Charles' reaction. What if he'd laugh?
"Are they real?"
".. Yes." He nervously started fiddling with his fingers again.
But then, Charles lifted his head up, and Carlos' eyes met his.
"You're still just as beautiful to me." And he kissed him.
All sadness left Carlos' body when they kissed. He couldnt believe it.
"You dont hate me for it?" Carlos sat down on the bed, next to Charles. His tail was still nervously twitching next to him.
"Of course not! Not gonna lie, you're adorable even!" Charles let a hand go trough his hair, touching his ears. They're so soft...
Carlos couldnt hold it in anymore, so he started to purr.
Charles gasped, and looked at Carlos, who immediately stopped and laid his ears flat. "Did i do something wrong.. ?"
"YOU CAN PURR??" Charles fell back onto the bed, screaming into a pillow. "YOU'RE ADORABLE!!" Carlos felt really happy and very flustered by that comment. He purred again, and Charles hugged him thightly. "I waited for this moment for at least 2 years now since the first time i ever laid my eyes on you.. And even though its different from what i expected, im so happy im with you!" Charles smiled, and Carlos smiled back.
Finally he had someone to be himself with.