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"red flag, charles, red flag. schumacher has crashed."
"how bad is it? is he okay? what happened?" charles responded frantically, worried about mick.
"we don't know his condition, we'll get back to you."
fuck.
charles pulled into pit lane anxiously, removing his helmet and climbing out of the car.
"please be okay, please be okay, please be okay." he repeated as he entered the garage. he caught a glance of mick's car; it was spilt in two. he inhaled sharply and fell to ground at the image. his eyes watered, he needed something or someone.
carlos pulled into the pits behind charles, he knew he'd be scared. before he could grab his arm charles ran into the garage, looked at the screen and fell to the ground. he slowly walked over to charles, placing a hand on his shoulder and kneeling down next to him, pulling him into a comforting hug.
tears slowly fell from charles' eyes as he buried his face into carlos' neck.
"it's okay, it's okay.." carlos reassured him.
"but what if he's not okay? what am i supposed to do? continue the race while my boyfriend could be out there unconscious?" his voice cracked.
"charles, i-i don't know. i'm sorry, just- take some time, rest. i'll let you know when there's an update, okay?" seeing charles like this made carlos' heart ache. he knew how much he loved mick and how much he meant to him. after mick's crash in jeddah a couple months earlier, charles had gotten more and more tense everytime mick came in contact with another driver. after the race the two would meet in charles' driver room, mick would apologize, charles would assure him that it was okay, and just be thankful he wasn't hurt.
but now here he was, sitting alone in a silent drivers room, shaking. carlos had told him he would be in touch as soon as any information was released, though he felt bad for having to leave charles alone.
"carlos, tell charles mick is out of the car and walking, being taken to the hospital." carlos nodded and went off to find charles. he knocked carefully on the door before being let in.
"he's okay, he's walking, out of the car, might be taken to the hospital. he had a small limp from what i saw, but, he's okay." carlos took charles in another hug, rubbing his back and speaking softly. charles let out a shaky breath in relief.
"what about the car?"
"what do you mean?"
"it-it was split in two- and it was his 2nd biggest crash in 3 months. do-do you think haas will fire him..?" charles mumbled as he looked out the window.
"what? no, no no, charles. haas won't fire him."
"but what if they do? did you not hear the things the team said about mick after jeddah?" charles snapped at carlos, raising his voice. "only one person asked if he was okay, only one said that they were glad he was okay. it made me mad when i heard it." carlos looked at charles who had tears down his cheek, a hand in a fist at his side.
carlos was at a loss for words. he didn't move, simply stared at charles until there was a knock at the door breaking the silence. charles turned back around as carlos answered.
"mick wants you at the hospital." carlos said in a hushed tone. "i'll see you later."
carlos shut the door behind him as charles processed what he heard. mick wants to see him. he checked his phone to see messages from mick telling him he's okay.
charles drove to the hospital, getting to mick's room.
"charlie..! i'm okay, see?"
"oh, mick!" charles ran to mick, enclosing him in a hug, burying his face in his neck.
"i'm so glad you're okay." he sobbed into mick. he pulled charles onto the bed, wrapping his arms around his waist.
"it's okay, char. i'm okay. let it out." mick rubbed his back, kissing his temple lightly.
"how long are you here?" charles broke the silence after the nurse had left.
"just overnight, can you pick me up tomorrow morning?" charles nodded. "thank you charlie, love you so much."
"love you too, micky. is it, um, okay if i stay here overnight? or would i have to ask the nurse or something?"
"ask a nurse, one should be coming soon." mick smiled softly at charles, giving him a peck on the cheek.
charles got the okay to stay overnight, sleeping next to mick's bed. when he woke, mick was still asleep. he smiled and rubbed his boyfriend's hand, waiting for him to wake. he admired mick's face; soft skin, light freckles danced across his face like stars in the sky. he was so beautiful. charles could get lost in his ocean blue eyes so easily, only a soft kiss from mick could stop him from drowning in them. he didn't notice mick woke up, looking at him lovingly.
"g'morning, charlie." charles jumped a little, clearing his throat.
"morning micky. you're so beautiful, did you know that?" a cherry blossom pink flew across mick's cheeks and nose.
"i do, you tell me everyday, and i'm so lucky to hear it." mick leaned up and pulled charles in for a kiss when the nurse walked in. it startled them both.
"oh! i'm so sorry, i'll just-"
"no no no, sorry, you can come in." reassured mick. charles sat back down.
"well, i just wanted to let you know you are discharged from the hospital, mr. schumacher. hope your day goes well." the nurse smiled at the two as she talked.
"mr. schumacher, i'll have to try that one." charles lightly elbowed mick as he flushed a bright red.
"charles!"
"what? i'm just saying." mick rolled his eyes as he got out of bed.
"oh yeah, could you hand me my shirt and shorts? they should be near you." mick said as he took the hospital gown off.
"already? didn't think you were that desperate."
"CHARLES!"
charles threw mick's clothes at him laughing while mick was red. he noticed a couple cuts and bruises on mick's torso but didn't mention it.
they arrived at charles' apartment shortly before noon.
"do you want anything to eat, mon ange?"
"oh, liebchen, i missed those nicknames." mick wrapped his arms around charles from behind, kissing his temple.
"me too.. do you want anything to eat, though?"
"you got tortellini?" charles nodded. "i'll take some of that, charlie." mick smiled and let go of his boyfriend.
"i'm gonna go steal some clothes, i'll be out in a bit."
mick rummaged through charles' closet, ending up with a pair of black athletic shorts and a '16 leclerc' sweater. he strolled back into the open area of the apartment, taking in the smell of cooking pasta. he felt at home with charles, no matter where they were; out partying, one of their drivers rooms, motorhomes, each others houses; he felt happy, safe.
after every bad race, he has someone to go to, same way for charles. he didn't mind comforting mick after a bad race, even if he did good. he puts his boyfriend before anything, even racing.
mick glanced at charles who was already looking at him and smiled. he walked over to him, wrapping his arm around his waist, laying his head on charles' shoulder.
he was home.