Chapter Text
The air hung heavy with the metallic tang of gasoline and the nervous energy of a thousand beating hearts. It was race day, the pinnacle of the season, and the roar of the crowd outside the garage was a constant tremor in the air. Yet, for Babe, the usual pre-race jitters were overshadowed by a gnawing disquiet. His gaze kept straying from the gleaming red car to Charlie, who sat hunched over his phone, a frown etched on his usually sunny face.
Charlie, typically a whirlwind of nervous excitement, was unusually quiet. His brow furrowed with concentration as he scrolled through his phone, a worry line etched deep between his eyes. Each time Babe tried to steal a glance, Charlie would flinch, his jaw clenching slightly as if caught in the act.
"Hey, Papa," Babe cleared his throat, the forced cheerfulness sounding hollow in the tense atmosphere. Silence. Charlie didn't even look up, his finger tapping a frantic rhythm against the screen. Babe's stomach twisted with a strange mix of frustration and a growing unease.
He tried again, leaning closer and lowering his voice. "You got a hot date planned for after the race or something? You can't even spare a glance for your favorite driver?"
A flicker of annoyance crossed Charlie's face before he finally met Babe's eyes. A strained smile flickered across his lips, but it didn't reach his eyes. "Sorry, P'Babe. Just... checking some emails. Nothing important."
His voice was flat, devoid of its usual warmth. Babe wasn't buying it. The way Charlie clutched the phone possessively, the way his gaze darted around the room as if avoiding something, it all screamed "secrets."
"Emails, huh?" Babe's voice mirrored Charlie's flatness, suspicion seeping into his tone. "Must be some really earth-shattering stuff."
He tried to keep his tone light, playful even, but the edge of suspicion was unmistakable. Charlie shut his phone down with a finality that made a clicking sound in the tense silence. He sighed, a deep breath that seemed to carry a weight Babe couldn't fathom.
"Just… some stuff you wouldn't understand," Charlie muttered distractedly, his voice barely a whisper. The words hung in the air, a barrier forming between them as thick as the gasoline fumes.
The silence after Charlie's muttered words stretched on, heavy and thick. The usual pre-race banter between mechanics and drivers was a distant hum, drowned out by the pounding in Babe's chest. He couldn't understand? What did that even mean? Frustration bubbled up, threatening to boil over.
Suddenly, Charlie shot up, his eyes wide. "Uh, hey P'Babe, just realized I am sorry…" He trailed off, glancing nervously at Babe before forcing a smile. "Need to use the restroom. Be right back."
As soon as Charlie disappeared around a corner, the air crackled with a tension Babe couldn't ignore. His gaze darted to Charlie's bag, carelessly slung on a nearby chair. The phone screen, left face up, glowed with an unread notification. An unsettling curiosity gnawed at Babe. He knew he shouldn't, but the suspicion festering within him wouldn't be quelled.
With a casualness he didn't quite feel, Babe strolled past the bag, brushing against it ever so slightly. As if by accident, his hand brushed the zipper, catching it with his thumb. He hesitated for a heartbeat, then with a swift, practiced movement, unzipped it a mere inch. The sliver of screen revealed was enough. An email header screamed at him in bold letters: "Congratulations! Internship Offer."
A prestigious university abroad, known for its top-notch engineering program. The blood drained from Babe's face. His breath hitched in his throat. This wasn't just any email. This was a life-altering opportunity, the kind Charlie had always hinted at wanting.
The world spun. The congratulatory email header burned into Babe's vision, the words blurring at the edges. Disbelief slammed into him, followed by a wave of icy anger. This internship, this dream opportunity Charlie had kept hidden – a secret locked away like a stolen glance. A bitter laugh escaped his lips, a sound devoid of humor. So much for "stuff I wouldn't understand."
Guilt gnawed at him too, a tiny voice whispering that maybe Charlie was right. Maybe he wouldn't understand. Maybe he'd be selfish, try to clip Charlie's wings to keep him by his side. But the anger roared louder, drowning out the doubts. How could Charlie keep this from him? After everything they'd been through, this secret felt like a betrayal.
The urge to confront Charlie was a physical ache, a knot tightening in his gut. He stuffed his hands into his pockets, knuckles white, and stalked out of the garage. He spotted Charlie heading towards Alan's office, a hesitant smile playing on his lips. Babe followed, his steps echoing in the empty hallway.
Through the partially open door, he could hear muffled voices. Charlie's voice, laced with nervous excitement, and Alan's gruff but encouraging tone. Then, Jeff's voice boomed – "Congrats again, P'Charlie! This is huge. Just make sure you tell Babe… gently, of course."
A wave of nausea washed over Babe. So even Alan and Jeff knew. He clenched his fists, the anger threatening to spill over. He couldn't take it anymore. Bursting into the office, he saw Charlie and Jeff turn towards him, shock etched on their faces.
"So, the 'nothing important' email was an internship offer, huh?" The words tumbled out, laced with sarcasm and a bitter edge. "Quite the opportunity, wouldn't you say?" His gaze landed on Charlie, his heart a tangled mess of happiness for his boyfriend and a suffocating sense of betrayal.
The air in Alan's office crackled with a tension thicker than the smog outside. Jeff and Alan exchanged a worried glance before excusing themselves, leaving Babe and Charlie alone in a tense silence. Charlie nervously tucked a stray strand of hair behind his ear, his eyes darting from Babe's clenched fists to the floor.
"So, Charlie, care to explain this internship offer?" The words tumbled out of Babe, laced with icy sarcasm. "The one that apparently wasn't important enough to mention to your boyfriend?"
Charlie flinched at the harshness in Babe's voice. He took a deep breath, trying to find his words. "P'Babe, it's… it's a huge opportunity. A chance to work with esteemed Professors. It's everything I've ever dreamed of."
He looked up at Babe, searching for a flicker of excitement, a hint of understanding. But all he saw was a simmering anger that sent a chill down his spine. The hope in Charlie's voice faltered.
"Dream of what, Charlie? Leaving me behind? Flying off to some fancy university while I'm stuck here, risking my neck on this stupid racetrack?"
Charlie's jaw clenched. He'd expected some resistance, maybe a little jealousy, but outright anger? "P'Babe, that's not what this is about! This has been my dream since I was a kid. You know that."
"Do I? Apparently not! You keep secrets like this, then act all surprised when I get mad! How could you not tell me?"
His voice broke on the last word, raw with a mix of anger and hurt that Charlie couldn't ignore. The anger in Charlie's eyes gave way to a deep sadness.
"I… I didn't want to get your hopes up. It's a long shot, and I knew you wouldn't want me to leave."
"And who the hell are you to decide what I want? Don't you trust me enough to be happy for you, even if it means you're not here?"
His voice broke on the last word, raw with a mix of anger and hurt that Charlie couldn't ignore. The flicker of understanding in Charlie's eyes struggled to find purchase against the storm brewing in Babe's.
"It's not about trust, P'Babe," Charlie said, his voice thick with a vulnerability that surprised even him. "It's about fear. Fear of your reaction, your opinion and your judgement and... frankly, it terrifies me."
Babe stared at him, a flicker of understanding finally breaking through the anger. Maybe it wasn't about a lack of trust in Charlie's dreams, but a fear rooted in something deeper. He knew his reputation – a daredevil not just on the racetrack, but in life. The thought stung. Charlie was scared, and with good reason. Babe's victories were celebrated, but the potential for disaster loomed large. Every win felt hollow knowing the fear he might be causing Charlie.
"So, you're just going to run away?" Babe's voice softened slightly, the anger tinged with a hint of regret. "Because you can't handle my reaction to this opportunity?"
Charlie flinched. "No, that's not it! This internship... it's everything I've ever wanted. But you know how you get, Babe. You get this all-or-nothing attitude, and the thought of you being impulsive about this... about me leaving..." He trailed off, unable to voice the fear that gnawed at him.
Babe knew exactly what Charlie wasn't saying. His impulsive nature, his tendency to make reckless decisions, on and off the track – it all fueled Charlie's fear. The possibility of Babe making a rash choice, acting out in anger at the thought of separation, was a terrifying prospect.
Shame coiled tight in Babe's gut. Charlie's fear, raw and exposed, hit him like a left hook. But the anger still simmered, fueled by the sting of betrayal.
"So you kept it a secret?" Babe's voice was a low rumble, the words laced with a bitter edge. "Because you were afraid of how I'd react? Like a baby throwing a tantrum if you dared to chase your dreams?"
Charlie flinched at the accusation. "That's not fair, Babe! You know this isn't about you. It's about me, and this chance I can't let slip away."
"Oh, really?" Babe scoffed. "Because it sure seems like you think I can't handle it. Like I'm some fragile little thing who'll fall apart if you're not here to hold my hand."
The words were cruel, dripping with hurt masquerading as anger. Charlie's jaw clenched tight, his eyes flashing with a mix of hurt and frustration.
"Maybe you're right," he shot back, his voice tight with anger. "Maybe I do worry about you! Every race, you push the limits, flirting with disaster. How am I supposed to just stand by and watch you gamble with your life?"
The accusation hung heavy in the air. Babe recoiled, a flicker of shame battling the anger. He knew Charlie was right. He pushed himself to the edge, a constant dance with danger that left a knot of worry in Charlie's stomach.
But the anger wouldn't be quelled so easily. "So you think I'm a reckless idiot? Incapable of making my own decisions?"
"If you act like a kid, I will treat you like one!" Charlie shouted, the words ripped from him in a burst of frustration.
The air crackled with the unspoken hurt. Both of them knew they'd crossed a line. The accusation hung heavy, a bitter truth wrapped in a cruel barb. Shame washed over Charlie, and a heavy silence descended only to be disturbed by the slamming of the door as Babe stormed out of the room.
The roar of the crowd was a dull thrum in Babe's ears. The carefully practiced pre-race routine, the calming mantras – all washed away by the white-hot anger that pulsed through him. Charlie's words echoed in his mind, a cruel refrain: "If you act like a kid, I will treat you like one!"
Fueled by a misguided need to prove himself, Babe felt a reckless urge blooming in his chest. He climbed into the car, a grim smile twisting his lips. This race wouldn't be about strategy or precision. It would be about raw power, about pushing the car, and himself, to the absolute limit.
The starting lights pulsed, a countdown to a potential disaster. Around him, the other drivers were focused, their movements precise and measured. Babe, however, was a whirlwind of barely controlled fury. He slammed his foot on the gas, the engine screaming in protest as he lurched forward.
The first few corners were a blur. He took them with a hair-raising aggressiveness, shaving off precious milliseconds but flirting with the edge of control. The car shuddered beneath him, protesting the abuse. But Babe ignored the warnings, his vision narrowed, fixated on proving something, even if he wasn't entirely sure what.
Halfway through the race, the opportunity presented itself: a risky maneuver, a shortcut that could potentially put him in the lead. It was a gamble, one that most experienced drivers wouldn't even consider. But for Babe, clouded by anger and a desperate need for validation, it was the only option.
He slammed the wheel, forcing the car into a tight turn onto the uncharted path. The tires screeched, tires losing their grip on the unfamiliar surface. For a heart-stopping moment, it seemed to work. He surged ahead, the lead within his grasp.
But then, the unforgiving reality struck. The makeshift track dipped unexpectedly, a hidden bump that sent the car jolting into the air. The world tilted on its axis. Time slowed down as Babe fought for control, the roar of the engine morphing into a high-pitched whine. But it was too late.
With a sickening crunch, the car slammed back down, careening out of control. The metal screamed in protest as it crumpled against the barrier. The world dissolved into darkness.