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It had been a good weekend in the end for the Ferrari Boys, 5th place for Charles, 6th place for Carlos, far from the podium but nice points for the constructor championship.
Carlos jumps out of the car and goes straight to Charles's one ready to start discussing the race.
They exchange a brief hug, but Charles notices that Carlos hand lingers on his lower back a little more than usual, he tries not to think about it too much, it doesn’t mean nothing.
It doesn’t mean nothing even though it's weeks that they are practically glued to each other, personal space it's not an option every time they walk, sit or do interviews together.
Carlos has become his bodyguard, everywhere he goes his teammate follows, but again it doesn't mean nothing right? They are just good friends.
"Carlos, I'm telling you mate, once we leave the circuit I don't want to hear about formula 1 until next week, I’m exhausted”
They part only for the weighing and later Charles continues
"It’s my birthday we have to celebrate! I want to get wasted and you'll give me a hand"
Carlos starts laughing and as usual he pushes jokingly his teammate, Charles heart every time skips a beat, he is thankful for the after race look to cover his red cheeks.
"As you wish lord percival"
They stop for a moment to chat with Lando, the British eyes full of devotion, respect and love for Carlos and he wonders if he looks the same while he looks at the spaniard. He’s a bit worried that his affection for Carlos is starting to be obvious.
He sees what people assume on social media, that he giggles anytime Carlos makes a joke, that he becomes red when is teammate compliments him but it’s not his fault, It’s Carlos’ his stupid jokes and nicknames.
Why does he keep calling him love?! It's not fair.
They say goodbye and return to the garage together, arms almost touching.
Alone in a corridor, Carlos looks at his teammate and smiles Charles can’t help it and starts smiling too
“What are you smiling at mate?”
“You”
“Me? What’s so fun-”
He can’t finish the phrase ‘cause Carlos takes one, two steps towards him, till his back hits the wall.
Charles's mind short-circuits, can’t think, can’t speak. Is this some sort of joke? He doesn't try to move though he wants to see where this is going
The Spaniard doesn't look at him in the eyes anymore, is he - is he scared?
With a hand under his chin he forces Carlos to look at him
“Me what Carlos?”
He sees his eyes jumping all over his face only to stop at his mouth
“You’re making me crazy”
“Just because I was in front of you the entire race and you didn’t beat me?”
“It’s more complicated”
He looks at him with a smirk on his face
“So what is ot then? You can tell me, love”
They are so close their nose touch
“Joder”
And by that Carlos mouth is on him
He’s taken by surprise, doesn’t know what to do, his inner voice breaks in “Just kiss him back you idiot!” “Yeah right, thanks”
When they hear some footsteps they part immediately, how much time has passed?
Fifteen seconds? one hour? two years?
Did they kiss or did their lips just touch each other?
Charles opens his mouth to speak but Silvia’s arrival precedes him.
“C’mon guys we are waiting for you! The debrief is starting, you can chit-chat later”
Charles feels his heart beating like a drum, he tries to regulate his breath, in and out, in and out, his mind is loud : “What happened?! What the fuck happened?”
He tries to stamp on his face his pr smile and enters the room, he can’t stand Carlos’s presence now, he sits far from him for the first time in weeks.
***
Charles, Carlos and some crew members including Fred go out to dinner to celebrate Charles’s birthday.
Carlos battles with Andrea for the seat next to him and wins, they didn't talk about what happened in the evening.
Charles has thought about their kiss again and again trying to understand the meaning, some post race adrenaline?
He watches Carlos having a laugh with two engineers, he seems so cool with it like nothing had happened just 2-3 hours ago.
This leaves him a little sad and angry. He really hoped that something would change at this point.
"Charles are you with us?"
He shakes his head a little to get rid of his thoughts, Fred is looking at him
"Yeah yeah sorry"
He smiles at him and Fred continues talking about that one time where he saw a shark.
Carlos moves closer and asks quietly if there's something wrong.
What a nerve!
"I don't know… you tell me? First you kiss me and then you act like nothing happened. Obviously there's something wrong"
He can’t help the cold tone
"I don't think this is the right place"
Carlos looks a bit sorry, Charles can't resist his big brown puppy eyes, he quickly apologises
"Yeah you're right I'm sorry, I didn't mean to be rude"
"Don't be… I…"
Fred interrupts again
"Guys the grand prix is finished, can you stop talking about work?"
The duo laugh embarrassed, Carlos saves them
"Sorry boss, we can't help it… but please continue with your fake story of you fighting the whole ocean"
Everyone laughs and the attention is again on Fred.
Charles hopes that this dinner ends soon he wants to dance and drink until he's too tired to think about everything 'cause this whole situation is making him crazy.
The dinner goes on without more problems.
The team surprises him with a birthday cake, twenty-six candles are ready to be blown.
Carlos next to him, puts his arm over his shoulder and squeezes gently.
He whispers in his ear
"Don't forget to make a wish, sharl "
then looks at him with a fond smile and Charles deep in his heart knows what to wish for.
Everyone cheers
"Happy birthday Charles!"
***
In the club the music is loud and not so good but the boys are too busy drinking to be aware of it.
Tired from all the dancing, sweaty and a little too tipsy, the Ferrari duo sit down on a little couch in the privè to rest a little far from prying eyes.
"I want another round"
Charles tries to get up but Carlos puts a hand on his stomach and drags him down again, but he's not very steady, he misses the couch and falls on Carlos lap instead.
Some giggles escape his mouth, he doesn't even tries to get up, too tired and too comfortable
"Stop drinking, it's time to go now"
"But I want to stay a little longer..."
Charles protests, his head on his teammate's shoulder so close to the collarbone that he can't resist and leaves a little kiss there, Carlos tightens the grip on Charles leg.
The monegasque smiles at his reaction and driven by a strange courage (the alcohol), starts licking, kissing and biting Carlos neck, by now the grip on Charles thigh is so strong that it will surely leave bruises.
"Dios - Charles we can't… not here"
"Why? I'm having fun"
With a smirk on his face he begins again where he left off.
Carlos growls, his skin burns whenever Charles is touching him. He wants to leave, he has to, the bulge in his pants getting bigger every second.
"We should go to my room"
He realizes that his offer is a little too bold so he quickly adds
" and I don't know about you but I'm very hungry and the hotel service room is open 24 hours so if you want..."
Charles caress Carlos's cheek and whispers in his ear even though they are alone
"Take me wherever you want, I'm all yours for tonight"
He tries really hard not to add “and you can do whatever you want to me” but he hopes that Carlos will understand the subtext.
"Only for tonight?"
"Will you order me some cheeseburger and fries?"
"Everything Charles"
"Then I'm yours forever"
***
It's not easy to be discreet, they try their best but their hands find each other and don't part till they are in Carlos' room.
Maybe the courage (the alcohol) is fading a little 'cause they stay silent for a bit sitting at the edge of the bed, unsure of the next move
Carlos scratches the back of his head embarrassed
"I don't know...If you want to take a shower, I can give you one of my pajamas..."
Charles is angry at himself, he should have done another round, maybe now he would have the audacity to be more flirty, he would've said something like "only if you come with me" and as the cherry on top he would do his signature wink.
Instead he mimics Carlos and scratches the back of his head
"Sure, I'll be quick"
"No worries"
He's happy to wash off the club's smell.
Puts Carlos shirt on, smells like him, he feels a little better now.
Even his bed smells like him, Charles thinks face looking at the ceiling waiting for Carlos to shower.
He starts wondering if he should go back to his room.
"What was I thinking? That something could happen between us?
I should go to my room. This is a mistake"
"Charles? Who are you talking with?"
Carlos pokes his head from the bathroom door, hair still wet.
"Nothing just thinking out loud"
"Okay"
The Spaniard orders them room service, then lies down next to Charles, arms brushing.
Carlos clears his voice
"If you want to go back to your room I don't be offended, I don't want to make you uncomfortable"
"I'm good"
He smiles embarrassed
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah… do you… do you want me to leave?"
Charles holds his breath waiting for the answer
"No, never. I like you Charles, actually I like you a lot"
His heart does a gigantic flip but he doesn't want to call victory yet
“I thought that you regretted what happened today”
“No Charles, don’t even think about it, I was just worried that I scared you”
Finally he can open himself too
“Not at all, I'm glad you did it 'cause I like you too Carlos"
Their hands find each other again. Charles moves closer to his teammate, head on his chest, Carlos heart beats fast like his.
They stay quiet for a bit, enjoying just each other presence, Carlos is the one to break the quiet again
"In my family we have a birthday tradition"
"What is it?"
"We give the birthday boy his age in kisses"
Charles shifts a little to look at him in the eyes
"It's very cute, kisses on cheeks?"
"Yeah... it depends on the relationship... "
The monegasque smiles
"I don’t know if you know but It's my birthday today, 26 years"
Carlos chuckles a little while he caresses Charles's face
"Oh wow 26 are a lot of kisses but we have some time before the food arrives"
Their lips so close almost touching
"Where do you want to kiss me?"
Carlos kisses him on the forehead
"Here"
Another kiss on the left cheek
"Here"
on the right one
"Here"
A little kiss on the nose
"Here"
puts his thumb on the mouth
"And here"
Charles is so happy he is worried his heart could burst with happiness... has someone died because of happiness?
"What are you waiting for?"
It's all Carlos wants to hear because his mouth is on him in a blink of an eye.
At first he's delicate, as if he's worried that Charles would run away from him but Charles tilts his head a little to have a better access and everything changes.
There is tongue, teeth, and passion.
Charles’s hands are on Carlos’s hair, he pulls gently to look at him in the eyes, he’s looking at him like he is the best thing in this world and he can’t resist a second more so he kisses him again and again.
Everything is just a blur, the world could end in this moment and they wouldn't care, there is only them, Carlos and Charles, Charles and Carlos.
Charles lets his hands discover the spaniard body like he always wanted to do and Carlos does the same with him until it isn't enough anymore, their mouths replace the hands.
They don't know anymore where one begins and the other ends, and it is magic.
***
It's almost 5 in the morning when the cheeseburger and the fries arrive but they eat everything till the last crumb.
Charles can't stop his thoughts, they fly out of his mouth
"I'm happy, very happy"
"You only saying this 'cause of the food"
Still with the burger in his hand Charles jumps on Carlos who falls against the bed.
"Que cabron"
He leaves a kiss on top of Charles' head
"I'm happy too, you don't even know"
***
With the tummy full and in each other’s arms, Charles draws imaginary pattern on Carlos’s arm
"I was thinking…I don't think you gave me 26 kisses before"
Carlos watches Charles dimples as he giggles and wants to dive into them.
With the softness you would use on a little flower, he caresses Charles face and moves his little curl from the forehead.
"How unlucky… I have to make up… come here"
And they start to kiss again and again 'cause we all know that Carlos and Charles aren't good with math…
The end
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[Post credit scene]
Some years in the future
“Remember the first night we kissed?”
Charles nods, happy with the memory
“At the restaurant the crew surprised you with a cake, I told you to make a wish. Do you remember?”
“Of course I remember”
“What did you wish for?”
He intertwines his hands with Carlos, a shiny gold band on their ring finger, a little happy tear falls off his eyes.
A waiter interrupts the cute moment
“Cheeseburger and fries for you sir and a bacon cheeseburger for you sir, enjoy your meal”
“I wished for this”
“A cheeseburger?”
Carlos pretends to be offended
“Don’t be silly, you and the cheeseburger, the best thing in this world”
“I love you”
“I mpf lo mpf ve youtoo mpf”
“Oh my god charles! I was trying to be romantic!”
He makes sure to finish his bite to reply this time
“I’m hungry, shut up and eat now, you can be romantic when we go back to our room”
The end (really this time)